Posted on 11/08/2006 6:22:53 AM PST by calcowgirl
LOS ANGELES - Democrat John Garamendi won a close race for lieutenant governor, as Republicans faltered in their efforts to win statewide offices and gain power in Sacramento.
Garamendi, who currently serves as insurance commissioner, edged out conservative Republican state Sen. Tom McClintock, an anti-tax ideologue, in Tuesday's election.
Democrats also won races for California attorney general, treasurer and controller.
"The conclusion to be drawn here is that California is still a true progressive state even though it has a nominally Republican governor," Garamendi said.
With 93 percent of precincts reporting, Democratic state Sen. Debra Bowen had a slim lead in the race for secretary of state over incumbent Bruce McPherson, a Republican former state legislator appointed last year by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.
The state GOP had hoped to ride Schwarzenegger's popularity to victories in more statewide races - four years after Democrats made a clean sweep of the statewide ballot.
Republican candidates captured two executive offices on Tuesday - at least equaling their total going into the election.
Republican Steve Poizner, a Silicon Valley multimillionaire, defeated two-term Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante in the race for insurance commissioner, a setback for state Democrats. Poizner spent more than $8.5 million of his own money in the race.
He said he didn't think people saw insurance commissioner as a partisan post.
"I think voters on both sides of the aisle are sick of career politicians," he said.
His win came as Schwarzenegger was re-elected in his race against Democratic challenger Phil Angelides by one of the most lopsided margins in California history.
Democrat Jerry Brown, a two-term former governor and current Oakland mayor, won the race for attorney general against Republican state Sen. Chuck Poochigian.
Outgoing Attorney General Bill Lockyer, also a Democrat, became state treasurer by defeating Republican Claude Parrish, a member of the Board of Equalization from Los Angeles.
And Democrat John Chiang, a member of the state Board of Equalization from Los Angeles, won the contest for state controller against McClintock protege Tony Strickland.
Republicans account for 34.3 percent of registered voters in the state, compared with 42.5 percent for Democrats.
When Schwarzenegger rode the recall wave to the governorship in 2003, he became the lone Republican holding statewide office.
The Democratic grip on those constitutional positions was eroded further in 2005 when Schwarzenegger appointed McPherson as secretary of state after Democrat Kevin Shelley resigned amid fundraising and spending scandals.
In another statewide office, Jack O'Connell, a Democrat, was re-elected as schools superintendent in June.
Top statewide races |
STATEWIDE RESULTS:
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So much for McClintock being the next Ronald Reagan.
Celebrity trumps ideology - a lesson both parties will take to heart. We can expect to be governed by actors for the remainder of our natural lives. ;)
"nominally Republican governor," Garamendi said. "
Arnold is a democrap amd will govern like one.
The Republicans did well in Texas but they ran as conservatives so it was expected.
Congrats! We're jealous!
Damn it. Tom's internal polling numbers were right, but in the wrong direction. He predicted a win by 5%.
McClintock Ping List.
Please freepmail me if you want on or off this list
I want to be the first to thank RINOld for all his "support" of Tom McClintock.
Now we only have four more years of this clown and then we can back to electing a TRUE BLUE CONSERVATIVE for governor!
BTTT
The most troubling result in Texas to me was the very substantial wins by Democrats in Dallas County in many down-ballot races (D.A., judges, etc.).
It was downright frightening that Democrat Chris Bell got substantially more votes than Republican Rick Perry for Governor in Dallas County (40% to 35%). What the heck is happening in Dallas!?
The big win for Dan Patrick (69% to 31%) in TX State Senate District 7 (Houston area) was a glorious affirmation that strong social and fiscal conservative positions are a winning strategy.
How many defeats did Abraham Lincoln endure?
Darn I have been so into the House and Senate that I forgot about Tom. I had no idea he lost. Man we were creamed last night!!!!!! Gosh we can't even blame anyone which kinda sucks.
The Republicans did well in Texas but they ran as conservatives so it was expected.
I certainly hope so and expect it. If Texas starts to go purple or blue than Republicans might as well pack up the store and leave.
BTW, Congratulations!!!!!
If you want change in California we should review changing the CA GOP leadership. The Chair and Vice Chair, Duf and Ron can be contacted via the CA Gop website or:
chairman@sandiegorepublicans.org or
duf@sbcglobal.net
We have two years to get re-organized.
I'm ready. Duf is on record as wanting to turn this into a "purple" party and the CA GOP's performance on the propositions was atrocious. Time for some housecleaning.
Duf and Ron and a lot of the cocktail set can afford to buy the bonds and get 16% tax free for the next 30 years.
We all know who benefits from bonds, the bond holders. Don't expect any change there.
Ahnold's a liberal and a RINO. Expecting the GOP to gain statewide positions in Kalifornia was pure fallacy.
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