Statewide Races See Little Change

While generally, elections that are considering changes in statewide offices hold more appeal and tend to bring out the voters, this year’s statewide elections brought little in the way of change or surprises for California.

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger easily won his reelection campaign against State Treasurer Phil Angelides. The Governor, after placing a poorly received special election before the voters last fall, took a more conciliatory stride with the legislature, acknowledged his mistakes and reached out to the legislative leadership to address issues important to the state. The highlight of this collaboration, the voters were given the opportunity to investment in the state’s infrastructure – roads, schools, resources, water and flood protection, and of course college and university campuses. In addition the Governor approved a major green house gasses bill working with Speaker Nunez; and signed a bill to increase minimum wage. All of these moves helped to secure Schwarzenegger his re-election campaign and to help him gain more footing with both his colleagues and the public for the next four years.

Steve Poizner, a wealthy businessman and candidate for Insurance Commissioner was the only other Republican to win statewide this year as he was able to defeat the current Lt. Governor Cruz Bustamante. Poizner easily won this race with 51 percent of the vote to Bustamante’s 38.6 percent.

Attorney General Bill Lockyer had an easy time running and winning his campaign for Treasurer against Claude Parrish and came in with just under 17 percent more votes. Lockyer is rumored to be interested in a future gubernatorial candidacy after deferring to others during this year’s grueling democratic primary between Angiledes and Steve Westly.

Candidate for State Controller, John Chiang also easily prevailed over his opponent Tony Strickland, a conservative member of the Assembly Republican Caucus until he was termed out this year.

Despite being the incumbent Secretary of State, moderate Republican Bruce McPherson lost the closest of the statewide races to State Senator Debra Bowen, 48 percent to 44 percent. Political observers suggest that several things worked against McPherson’s election – lack of funding support in light of the Governor’s race and initiative battles, little or no coattails from the Governor’s race for down ticket candidates, and Senator Bowen the only female nominee for statewide office on the ballot.

Finally, after labor redirected its energies and money from State Treasurer Phil Angelides’ failed run for Governor, they helped Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi beat State Senator Tom McClintock in another close race by 49.5 percent to 44.9 percent of the vote.

The CSU is fortunate enough to have three of the California’s statewide officers as ex-officio members on its Board of Trustees. Lt. Governor-Elect John Garamendi will join current members, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and State Superintendent Jack O’Connell (who won outright in the primary) after he is sworn in this December.