Republican losses were blamed on several factors, ranging from the national anti-GOP mood to last-minute spending by labor groups to help boost Democrats to the simple fact that Democrats outnumber Republicans—“the Democratic Party is still the default position for the California electorate,“ said Jack Pitney, a political science professor at Claremont McKenna College.
But the results left some Republicans complaining that Schwarzenegger hadn’t done enough to help GOP candidates or increase Republican turnout, which was a major disappointment.
Tuesday’s vote sets up several Democrats for a potential gubernatorial run in 2010, which could feature a crowded field. One Democratic blog listed 12 potential candidates, including San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, new state Treasurer Bill Lockyer, new Lt. Gov. John Garamendi and new Attorney General—and former governor—Jerry Brown. (Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O’Connell, a Democrat, won re-election to the nonpartisan post in the June primary.)
“The only person Arnold has helped is Arnold,“ said Roger Sal- azar, a spokesman for the state Democratic Party. “We’re in a very good spot.“
Polls in the last two weeks showed neck-and-neck races between Garamendi and Republican state Sen. Tom McClintock for lieutenant governor, Democrat Debra Bowen and GOP Secretary of State Bruce McPherson for McPherson’s job, and Democrat John Chiang and Republican Tony Strickland for state controller.
