2010 California gubernatorial election
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| 2010 California gubernatorial election | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Election name | 2010 California gubernatorial election |
| Country | California |
| Type | presidential |
| Previous election | 2006 California gubernatorial election |
| Previous year | 2006 |
| Next election | 2014 California gubernatorial election |
| Next year | 2014 |
| Election date | November 2, 2010 |
| Turnout | 59.6% |
| Nominee1 | Jerry Brown |
| Party1 | Democratic Party (United States) |
| Popular vote1 | 5,428,458 |
| Percentage1 | 53.8% |
| Nominee2 | Meg Whitman |
| Party2 | Republican Party (United States) |
| Popular vote2 | 4,127,371 |
| Percentage2 | 40.9% |
| Title | Governor |
| Before election | Arnold Schwarzenegger |
| Before party | Republican Party (United States) |
| After election | Jerry Brown |
| After party | Democratic Party (United States) |
2010 California gubernatorial election was held on November 2, 2010, to elect the Governor of California. The contest featured a historic and expensive battle between former Governor and Attorney General Jerry Brown, the Democratic nominee, and former eBay CEO Meg Whitman, the Republican nominee. Brown ultimately defeated Whitman, returning to the state's highest office after a 28-year hiatus and succeeding termed-out Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. The election was characterized by record-breaking campaign spending, particularly from Whitman's personal fortune, and took place against the backdrop of the ongoing Great Recession and a severe state budget crisis.
Background
The election was an open contest due to the term limits imposed by Proposition 140, which prevented the incumbent, Arnold Schwarzenegger, from seeking re-election. Schwarzenegger, a Republican, had been elected in the 2003 recall election that removed Gray Davis from office. The state was grappling with the profound effects of the Great Recession, including high unemployment, a massive budget deficit, and ongoing political gridlock in the State Legislature. This economic turmoil set the stage for a campaign heavily focused on job creation, fiscal policy, and the role of government. The political environment was also influenced by the national Tea Party movement and the 2010 midterm elections, which saw a major Republican wave in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Candidates
The Democratic primary was decisively won by Jerry Brown, who faced only nominal opposition. Brown, a seasoned political figure who had previously served as Governor of California from 1975 to 1983 and as Mayor of Oakland, was the sitting Attorney General of California. The Republican primary was a fiercely contested and expensive battle between former eBay CEO Meg Whitman and State Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner. Whitman, a political newcomer, utilized her vast personal wealth to fund an extensive advertising campaign, ultimately securing the nomination. Other candidates qualifying for the general election ballot included Libertarian Dale F. Ogden, American Independent Chelene Nightingale, and Green candidate Laura Wells.
Campaign
The general election campaign between Jerry Brown and Meg Whitman broke state and national records for spending, with total expenditures exceeding $280 million. Whitman's campaign, largely self-funded, spent over $140 million of her personal fortune, setting a new record for self-funding in a American political race. The campaign was notably negative, with both sides airing relentless television advertisements. Whitman attacked Brown's long political career in Sacramento as part of the problem, while Brown criticized Whitman's lack of government experience and her tenure at eBay. A major controversy erupted in late September when Whitman's former housekeeper, Nicky Diaz Santillan, alleged she had been an undocumented immigrant, a story publicized by the Los Angeles Times. The final weeks also featured a series of high-profile debates, including one moderated by NBC News anchor Tom Brokaw and broadcast from University of California, Davis.
Results
On Election Day, Jerry Brown defeated Meg Whitman by a margin of nearly 13 percentage points, winning 53.8% of the vote to Whitman's 40.9%. Brown carried the major population centers of coastal California, including Los Angeles County, the San Francisco Bay Area, and San Diego County. Whitman performed strongly in the state's inland regions, such as the Central Valley and the Inland Empire, but failed to make sufficient inroads with Latino voters and independents. Voter turnout was 59.6%, with over 10.2 million ballots cast. The victory marked Brown's return to the governor's office; he had previously been elected in 1974 and 1978. The down-ballot races saw Democrats retain all other statewide constitutional offices.
Aftermath
Jerry Brown was inaugurated as the 39th Governor of California on January 3, 2011, in a ceremony at the California State Capitol. He immediately faced the monumental task of addressing a state budget deficit estimated at over $25 billion. His administration pursued a platform of fiscal austerity, spending cuts, and a successful campaign to pass Proposition 30, a tax increase measure, in 2012. Brown's victory was seen as a rare bright spot for Democrats in an otherwise strong Republican year nationally. For Meg Whitman, the loss concluded her first foray into electoral politics; she would later serve as CEO of Hewlett Packard Enterprise and as United States Ambassador to Kenya. The election's legacy includes ongoing debates about the influence of money in California politics and the efficacy of self-funded campaigns.
Category:2010 California elections Category:California gubernatorial elections