The Recall was a "Take All Comers" affair. If ya had some signatures and some money for fees, you were in.
The NO primary was done at the next GOP convention after the Recall went down..
Not sure if it was 2006 only ..
maybe one of the attendees can clarify or I'll dig it up later. I am headed for a dip in the pool. It's mid 90s here right now.
Thanks.
GOVERNATOR GOP'S FAST CHOICE FOR '06
Daily News of Los Angeles , February 14, 2005
David M. Drucker
California Republicans on Sunday formally endorsed Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's candidacy, signaling his intention to run for re-election in 2006 and squashing any chance for a legitimate GOP challenger.GOP to give its nod to governorSchwarzenegger has yet to announce his re-election plans, but that didn't stop the California Republican Party from adopting a rules change enabling the organization to endorse a candidate before the emergence of a victor in the party's June primary election.
By endorsing the governor now, the party can immediately begin raising money to aid his re-election, rather than wait until just five months before the November 2006 contest to promote his bid.
SACRAMENTO - To jump-start spending for Arnold Schwarzenegger's 2006 re-election campaign, California Republican Party leaders will seek to endorse the governor this weekend even before he officially declares himself a candidate.Governor energizes state GOPThe move prompted a prominent GOP activist to resign from the party's rules committee in protest Friday, calling it an ill-advised proposal that will hurt the governor's credibility with voters and discourage primary competition.
The party should first let Republican voters in the June 2006 primary cast their ballots, said Dora Kingsley, a veteran member of the state party.
"It doesn't meet the smell-test," she said. "It puts the governor in an untenable position."
The plan calls for delegates meeting here this weekend for the GOP statewide convention to vote Sunday on a one-time suspension of a rule that bars pre-primary endorsements. An endorsement vote for Schwarzenegger would follow.
If successful, the move would free the party, under its own rules, to spend money on Schwarzenegger before the primary. It would put the GOP on even footing with Democrats, who do not prohibit pre-primary spending, said Republican Party Chairman Duf Sundheim.
(snip)Calif. GOP changes rule to back governorAfter years of "king of the hill'' politics in California, Sundheim said, Republicans of all stripes have become less ideological and more pragmatic, more interested in winning and less interested in wrestling over issues such as same-sex marriage and abortion.
In the afterglow of Schwarzenegger's victory in the unprecedented 2003 recall election, Sundheim -- once bitterly attacked as a "moderate" by some conservative Republicans -- was re-elected party chair by acclamation Sunday.
"Do you think his goal is really to build up the Republican Party or to beat Democrats?'' Sundheim said of Schwarzenegger. "That's the whole thing: If these guys (Democrats) would come on board, he would embrace them in a heartbeat."
But party insiders also acknowledge the sunny state of the California GOP rides on developments that may be out of its control.
That's "the question for 2006," Whelan said: When will the governor announce whether he will run for re-election?
"Whether or not he runs ... will that make the difference" to the future of the party? Sundheim said, "Yes."
So eager are Republicans to see their hero reprise his role that the convention delegates suspended the party rules Sunday and voted overwhelmingly to endorse Schwarzenegger's re-election, even though he hasn't said he will run for a new term.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Although Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has not revealed whether he will seek re-election, the California Republican Party on Sunday changed a party rule and endorsed him 16 months before the 2006 gubernatorial primary.Delegates at the state GOP convention decided to make an exception to the party's policy of not endorsing candidates before the primary elections so Republicans can pay some early expenses - such as bulk mailing and voter registration- should Schwarzenegger decide to run again.
"The Democratic Party is already raising money to field candidates for this office," said Karen Hanretty, a party spokeswoman. "To remain competitive, the party had to make this necessary, one-time rule change."
A voice vote on the endorsement was "overwhelmingly supportive of the governor," Hanretty said.
The proposal caused longtime GOP activist Dora Kingsley to resign her seat on the party rules committee on Friday. Kingsley, who did not attend Sunday's convention, said she thought making an exception for Schwarzenegger could result in the loss of voter confidence by discouraging challengers.