I think you actually replaced a recalled Dim governor with a celebrity who ran as a Republican. Many had high hopes for Whitman and Fiorina, but I don’t what it will take for a Republican to win again in a statewide race in California.
The CAGOP decided who would win and they eliminated the conservative, Tom McClintock. He had a real shot at winning until he was torpedoed by the CAGOP and the “celebrity”.
I will give Arnold some credit, he made some efforts to correct some of the problems in Sacramento. But he couldn’t overcome the massive amounts of spending the unions and statists and his reforms were soundly defeated.
A true conservative stands a shot since there are many DTS and Independents in this state that can swing an election.