California Gov. Gavin Newsom can't identify himself as a Democrat on the ballot in the upcoming recall election, a judge ruled on Monday.

Driving the news: Newsom filed a lawsuit against California Secretary of State Shirley Weber last month after he missed a deadline for the Sept. 14 election to state his political affiliation following a paperwork oversight.

What they're saying: Sacramento County Superior Court Judge James Arguelles said in his decision that circumstances "do not justify excuse from the deadline."

• The law "unambiguously precludes party information from appearing on a recall ballot where the elected officer fails timely to make the designation," the judge said.