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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 |
| Nominee1 | Jerry Brown |
| Party1 | Democratic Party (United States) |
| Popular vote1 | 5,354,026 |
| Percentage1 | 53.8% |
| Nominee2 | Meg Whitman |
| Party2 | Republican Party (United States) |
| Popular vote2 | 4,167,803 |
| Percentage2 | 41.9% |
| 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 The 2010 California gubernatorial election was held on November 2, 2010, to elect the Governor of California. The race featured former Governor Jerry Brown of the Democratic Party (United States) against business executive Meg Whitman of the Republican Party (United States), with the contest shaped by debates over the Great Recession (2007–2009), state budget deficits, and ballot propositions such as Proposition 13-related tax debates. Incumbent Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger was term-limited and could not seek re-election.
The election occurred against the aftermath of the Great Recession (2007–2009), ongoing fiscal crises in the state, and political fallout from the 2008 presidential contest between Barack Obama and John McCain. The fiscal shortfall traced to revenue declines, clashes in the California State Legislature involving the California State Assembly and the California State Senate, and competing plans tied to budget reserve discussions. High-profile reforms and initiatives from the Schwarzenegger administration intersected with earlier administrations including those of Pete Wilson and Gray Davis.
Major party nominees included former Governor Jerry Brown, Attorney General from 2006 to 2010, and former chairman of the California Democratic Party with prior campaigns in 1974, 1978, and 1992; and former eBay chief executive officer Meg Whitman, who previously ran for Congress and served on corporate boards. Other primary notable figures included Antonio Villaraigosa, then-Mayor of Los Angeles, briefly considered for the Democratic primary, and Tom Campbell, who had served in the United States House of Representatives and ran in the Republican primary. Third-party candidates included cannabis legalization proponent Jeffrey "Zach" Ze'ev and representatives of the Green Party and Libertarian Party (United States).
California used a partisan primary system at the time. The Democratic primary featured Jerry Brown against lesser-known challengers; Brown hinged his campaign on fiscal expertise and prior executive experience from his administrations in the 1970s. The Republican primary included Meg Whitman, Tom Campbell, and business figures who emphasized market-oriented solutions. Primary contests intersected with national politics, including reactions to the Tea Party movement, the 2010 United States House of Representatives elections, and the gubernatorial primaries in states such as New York and Texas that year.
The general election campaign was dominated by extensive advertising, debates over state deficits, and policy disputes involving environmental rollbacks and marijuana legalization. Jerry Brown positioned himself as a pragmatic progressive, invoking ties to earlier governors and reforms from the administrations of Franklin D. Roosevelt-era state policies, while promising budgetary discipline and tax negotiation. Meg Whitman spent substantial personal wealth drawn from her tenure at eBay on television and online ads that targeted Brown's record and connected to national Republican themes from figures like John Boehner and Sarah Palin. The race drew attention from interest groups, including labor unions such as the California Labor Federation and business organizations including the California Chamber of Commerce.
Debates featured Brown and Whitman at venues in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and the California State University and University of California systems, with moderators from outlets like KQED, KCAL-TV, and Los Angeles Times. Endorsements flowed from elected officials and institutions: Brown received backing from Dianne Feinstein, influential unions including the Service Employees International Union and California Teachers Association, and progressive organizations aligned with MoveOn.org. Whitman drew endorsements from GOP activists, business leaders, and figures associated with the Republican Governors Association and national donors connected to Karl Rove-era networks.
Polling throughout 2010 showed fluctuating leads for both candidates in statewide surveys conducted by organizations such as Field Research Corporation, PollingReport summaries, and media outlets including the Los Angeles Times and San Francisco Chronicle. Fundraising was record-setting: Whitman invested over $100 million of personal funds, a level compared to wealthy candidates like Ross Perot and Michael Bloomberg, while Brown raised substantial contributions through party apparatus and unions. Independent expenditures came from PACs and 527 organizations aligned with national campaigns tied to the 2010 midterm elections.
On November 2, 2010, Jerry Brown won the governorship with 53.8% of the vote to Meg Whitman's 41.9%, carrying major counties including Los Angeles County, San Francisco County, and Santa Clara County. The result reflected Democratic strength in coastal metropolitan regions contrasted with Republican performance in inland areas such as Central Valley counties. Voter turnout paralleled patterns from the 2010 United States elections, with influences from ballot propositions and local races for offices such as California Secretary of State and California Controller.
Brown's victory returned him to the California Governor's office after a 32-year interval and shaped subsequent policy debates on budget reform, pension changes involving the CalPERS, and implementation of initiatives like those concerning climate change regulations tied to California Air Resources Board. Whitman's defeat led to withdrawals from elective politics and later corporate and philanthropic activities, while the election influenced strategies for the Democratic National Committee and Republican National Committee in statewide and federal contests. The 2010 election affected later reforms including discussions that led to changes in the California primary system adopted in later years.
2010