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OAKLAND — If you doubted that the campaign to recall Gov. Gavin Newsom will feature a heavy dose of political absurdity, consider this: Former porn actress Mary Carey is running to be governor of California.

Again.

The star of such films as “Dirty Angels: Welcome to Lust Angeles” and “The Big Bust Theory” — and a candidate in the 2003 gubernatorial recall — announced that she would join the field of candidates vying to replace Newsom in the likely event a recall effort goes before voters in the fall. Her announced platform of aiding the entertainment and tech industries and addressing homelessness came with a heavy dose of puns (“I am ready to be on top!”).

Days earlier, reality TV star and transgender rights activist Caitlyn Jenner had begun seriously exploring her own run for California governor. Jenner, 71, would potentially benefit from ties to national Republicans who could help raise money and land endorsements. Among those working with Jenner is Brad Parscale, a former campaign manager to former President Donald Trump.

Is Carey for real? She is about as likely to be the next governor of California as she was when she ran in the 2003 recall — which is to say, not likely.

But that doesn’t mean she’ll get no support. She came in 10th place in the 2003 campaign, securing about 11,000 votes and finishing a few thousand votes behind actor Gary Coleman and adult entertainment mogul Larry Flynt. That race was won by A-list movie star Arnold Schwarzenegger, a Republican who went on to serve two terms as California governor.

Despite announcing her bid, Carey’s statement said “she feels the recall is a waste of resources considering the governor’s current term ends next year.”

Why does this matter? It’s a reminder that the Newsom recall campaign is likely to attract scores of candidates — some serious, others less so — and turn into a political circus. California elections law sets a relatively low bar of $3,916.12 or 7,000 signatures to get on the ballot.

County elections officials are set to report in a few weeks on whether recall proponents have submitted enough signatures to trigger an election. But Newsom is treating a campaign as a foregone conclusion and multiple Republicans have already declared their candidacies, including former San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer, former Rep. Doug Ose and businessperson John Cox.