"California has tried all manner of design in choosing its governor. Democrat Gray Davis, to name a recent example, had an extensive background in government and politics and a bland demeanor that suggested his first name was also a fitting adjective. Republican Arnold Schwarzenegger, by contrast, was a novice candidate who ran for governor on a whim. His super-sized action hero persona dazzled Californians like the pyrotechnics in one of his Hollywood blockbusters. In the end, however, their political fates were the same."
"There are roughly a dozen major candidates for California governor in 2026 and, taken together, they lack even a small fraction of Schwarzenegger's celebrity wattage. Nor do any have the extensive Sacramento experience of Davis, who was a gubernatorial chief of staff under Jerry Brown before serving in the Legislature, then winning election as state controller and lieutenant governor. That's not, however, to disparage those running."
California's recent gubernatorial history includes very different profiles: Gray Davis brought deep Sacramento experience and a bland demeanor, while Arnold Schwarzenegger brought novice status and blockbuster celebrity. Both left office humbled, with low approval and voter discontent despite Schwarzenegger winning a recall and reelection before later falling in popularity. For 2026, about a dozen major candidates lack Schwarzenegger's celebrity and Davis's long institutional experience. The field includes experienced figures—Antonio Villaraigosa, Xavier Becerra, Tony Thurmond, Betty Yee, Katie Porter, Eric Swalwell, and Chad Bianco—offering variety despite perceptions that the race is comparatively dull.
Read at www.mercurynews.com
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