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  CA Governor Recall
RACE DETAILS
Parents > United States > California > Governor
OfficeGovernor
HonorificGovernor - Abbr: Gov.
Type Special Election
Filing Deadline August 09, 2003 - 12:00pm Central
Polls Open October 07, 2003 - 09:00am Central
Polls Close October 07, 2003 - 10:00pm Central
Term Start November 17, 2003 - 12:00pm
Term End January 03, 2007 - 12:00pm
Invalid Votes Under Votes: 755,575
Contributor411 Name Removed
Last ModifiedRBH March 16, 2021 07:31pm
Data Sources[Link]
Description
Candidates have until 5 p.m. August 9, 2003 to file papers with the supporting signatures of 65 registered voters and pay a $3,500 filing fee. Elections officials have until Aug. 13 to verify signatures and announce which candidates have qualified.

Question instructing voters to choose a successor to Gray Davis in case Question 1 passes. Gray Davis is not an eligible candidate.

One legacy of early 20th century political reformer Hiram Johnson is the recall election.

In a recall, voters decide whether to throw out an elected official. It's been tried 118 times in 90 years against state officials. It has succeeded exactly four times - two of them in the 1990s in Orange County, when Assembly members Paul Horcher and Doris Allen were tossed from office in the wake of a fight over the speakership.

Democratic Gov. Culbert Olson faced five recall drives, including three his first year in office, and the ugly campaigns helped seal his 1942 defeat at the hands of Earl Warren.

Govs. Pat Brown, Ronald Reagan, Jerry Brown, Pete Wilson all faced recall attempts. In all, there have been 32 recall drives against California governors.

Gov. Gray Davis is the latest target. If past is prologue, this attempt will go nowhere. But Davis, burdened with negatives, is seen as vulnerable, and even a failed recall would roil California's political landscape.

Davis was indeed recalled on a vote of 55.4% yes, 44.6% no. See [Link]

[More...]
LAST GENERAL ELECTION
  PartyDemocratic Won11/05/2002
NameGray Davis Votes3,533,490 (47.26%)
Term01/03/2003 - 11/17/2003 Margin363,689 (+4.86%)
NEXT GENERAL ELECTION
  PartyRepublican Won11/07/2006
NameArnold Schwarzenegger Votes4,850,157 (55.88%)
Term01/03/2007 - 01/03/2011 Margin1,473,425 (+16.98%)
PRIMARY/OTHER SCHEDULE
LEANING PREDICTIONS    Detail
Leaning Graph
02/12/2003 10/07/2003
CandidateSlightLeanStrongSafe
Richard Riordan 3 ------
Arnold Schwarzenegger 9 18 8 1
Cruz M. Bustamante 3 5 ----
Tom McClintock 4 ------
Leaning Call: Arnold Schwarzenegger (78.49%)
Weighted Call: Arnold Schwarzenegger (99.97%)
MATCHUP POLL GRAPH
Poll Graph

04/01/2003 10/01/2003

CANDIDATES
Photo
Name Arnold Schwarzenegger Lt. Gov. Cruz M. Bustamante St. Sen. Tom McClintock Peter M. Camejo Arianna Huffington Commissioner Peter V. Ueberroth Larry C. Flynt
PartyRepublican Democratic Republican Green Independent Republican Democratic
Campaign Logo
Certified Votes 4,206,284 (48.58%) 2,724,874 (31.47%) 1,161,287 (13.41%) 242,247 (2.80%) 47,505 (0.55%) 25,134 (0.29%) 17,458 (0.20%)
Margin0 (0.00%) -1,481,410 (-17.11%) -3,044,997 (-35.17%) -3,964,037 (-45.79%) -4,158,779 (-48.03%) -4,181,150 (-48.29%) -4,188,826 (-48.38%)
Predict Avg.23.98% 13.00% 12.33% 0.55% 0.00% 0.00% 0.27%
Cash On Hand 9/28 $3,451,488.00 9/28 $100,114.25 9/28 $305,415.37 9/28 $19,190.94 10/13 $-235,000.01 $-- 8/28 $30,000.00
Website [Website] [Website] [Website] [Website] [Website] [Website]
Entry Date 08/06/2003 08/07/2003 07/23/2003 06/13/2003 08/06/2003 08/09/2003 08/01/2003
Bar
MATCHUP POLLS (21 from 10 pollsters)
Adj Poll Avg36.02%-- 25.88%-- 15.07%-- 2.90%-- 0.92%-- 5.94%-- 0.94%--
Field Poll 
09/29/03-10/01/03
36.00% 9.0 26.00% 6.0 16.00% 2.0 6.00% 4.0 0.00% 3.0 0.00% -- 0.00% --
Los Angeles Times 
09/30/03-09/30/03
40.00% 15.0 32.00% 2.0 15.00% 3.0 0.00% 2.0 0.00% 3.0 0.00% 8.0 0.00% --
Survey USA 
09/28/03-09/30/03
45.00% 6.0 28.00% 11.0 16.00% 11.0 0.00% -- 3.00% 2.0 0.00% 7.0 0.00% --
Gallup 
09/28/03-09/28/03
40.00% -- 25.00% -- 18.00% -- 5.00% -- 2.00% -- 0.00% -- 0.00% --
Baselice & Associates (R) 
09/24/03-09/25/03
35.00% -- 31.00% -- 17.00% -- 4.00% -- 3.00% -- 1.00% -- 1.00% --
Public Policy Institute 
09/08/03-09/19/03
26.00% -- 28.00% -- 14.00% -- 0.00% 3.0 0.00% 2.0 0.00% -- 0.00% --
ENDORSEMENTS
Endorsements
MORE CANDIDATES
Photo
Name Gary Coleman George B. Schwartzman Mary "Mary Carey" Cook Bruce Martin Margolin Bill Simon Van Vo John Christopher Burton
PartyIndependent Independent Independent Democratic Republican Republican Independent
Campaign Logo
Certified Votes 14,242 (0.16%) 12,382 (0.14%) 11,179 (0.13%) 9,188 (0.11%) 8,913 (0.10%) 7,226 (0.08%) 6,748 (0.08%)
Margin-4,192,042 (-48.42%) -4,193,902 (-48.44%) -4,195,105 (-48.45%) -4,197,096 (-48.48%) -4,197,371 (-48.48%) -4,199,058 (-48.50%) -4,199,536 (-48.51%)
Predict Avg.0.00% 0.00% 0.09% 0.00% 4.00% 0.00% 0.14%
Cash On Hand $-- $-- $-- $-- $-- $-- $--
Website [Website] [Website] [Website]
Entry Date 08/01/2003 -- 08/01/2003 -- 04/12/2003 08/00/2003 07/00/2003
MATCHUP POLLS (21 from 10 pollsters)
Adj Poll Avg0.00%-- 0.00%-- 0.00%-- 0.00%-- 8.27%-- 0.00%-- 0.00%--
Field Poll 
09/29/03-10/01/03
0.00% -- 0.00% -- 0.00% -- 0.00% -- 0.00% -- 0.00% -- 0.00% --
Los Angeles Times 
09/30/03-09/30/03
0.00% -- 0.00% -- 0.00% -- 0.00% -- 0.00% -- 0.00% -- 0.00% --
Survey USA 
09/28/03-09/30/03
0.00% -- 0.00% -- 0.00% -- 0.00% -- 0.00% 6.0 0.00% -- 0.00% --
Gallup 
09/28/03-09/28/03
0.00% -- 0.00% -- 0.00% -- 0.00% -- 0.00% -- 0.00% -- 0.00% --
Baselice & Associates (R) 
09/24/03-09/25/03
0.00% -- 0.00% -- 0.00% -- 0.00% -- 0.00% -- 0.00% -- 0.00% --
Public Policy Institute 
09/08/03-09/19/03
0.00% -- 0.00% -- 0.00% -- 0.00% -- 0.00% -- 0.00% -- 0.00% --
ENDORSEMENTS
Endorsements
VIEW 149 MORE CANDIDATES

DROPPED OUT - NO VOTES
John Garamendi (D)
Aug 07, 2003 - Aug 09, 2003
Michael Huffington (R)
Jun 25, 2003 - Aug 07, 2003
Darrell Issa (R)
Jun 15, 2003 - Aug 07, 2003
None of the Above (I)
Aug 06, 2003
Others (I)
Aug 06, 2003
Richard Riordan (R)
Aug 06, 2003

EVENTS
Start Date End Date Type Title Contributor

VIDEO ADVERTISEMENTS
Start Date Candidate Category Ad Tone Lng Title Run Time Contributor
10/06/2003 Mary Carey TVAd Issue eng Mary Carey for Governor   00:00:30 Green Pigs 

BOOKS
Title Purchase Contributor

INFORMATION LINKS

NEWS
Date Category Headline Article Contributor
Feb 21, 2004 12:00am News Schwarzenegger Is Raising Funds Faster Than Davis  Article Gerald Farinas 
Feb 04, 2004 12:00am Humor DAVIS ACTING UP  Article BILLYW 
Dec 12, 2003 12:00am Analysis Schwarzenegger breaking campaign vows  Article RP 
Oct 08, 2003 12:00am News Davis concedes, Schwarzenegger wins  Article None Entered 
Oct 08, 2003 12:00am News Davis, Democrats lock in successes as GOP reality sets in  Article CA Pol Junkie 
Oct 08, 2003 12:00am News Bush congratulates victorious Schwarzenegger  Article None Entered 
Oct 07, 2003 12:00am News Polls: Davis Out, Schwarzenegger Leads  Article None Entered 
Oct 06, 2003 12:00am News McClintock Calls on Schwarzenegger to Resign If Charges Prove True  Article particleman 
Oct 06, 2003 12:00am Humor With Huffington Out, Gary Coleman Surges to 1%  Article Servo 
Oct 06, 2003 12:00am News California Engineers Stake Claim to Be Governor  Article None Entered 
Oct 05, 2003 12:00am News 4 More Women Go Public Against Schwarzenegger  Article CA Pol Junkie 
Oct 05, 2003 12:00am News Readers Angry at The [L.A.] Times for Schwarzenegger Stories  Article Tony82 
Oct 04, 2003 12:00am News A Davis Successor Would Have to Wait  Article Tony82 
Oct 02, 2003 12:00am News Bustamante expected to withdraw  Article User 13 
Oct 02, 2003 12:00am News Schwarzenegger acknowledges `offensive' behavior, apologizes  Article CA Pol Junkie 
Oct 02, 2003 12:00am News Arnold's New Battle: His Past  Article Eric 
Sep 30, 2003 12:00am News Huffington considering leaving governor's race; Support Bustamante  Article User 13 
Sep 30, 2003 12:00am News Democrats fear defeat if vote splits  Article karin1492 
Sep 25, 2003 12:00am General Debate becomes verbal jousting match  Article Ced 
Sep 23, 2003 12:00am Amusing King Okays `King of Kings'' Endorsement  Article Servo 
Sep 21, 2003 12:00am Poll Opposition to Calif. Recall Gains in Poll  Article ArmyDem 
Sep 19, 2003 12:00am News Indian Gaming Money Sticking To Bustamante  Article Mr. Techno 
Sep 19, 2003 12:00am News Testing Bush v. Gore(It's Not Gonna be an Easy Cruz)  Article Mr. Techno 
Sep 17, 2003 12:00am Commentary Terminating the Terminator  Article Tony82 
Sep 17, 2003 12:00am General Provided in Advance: Twelve Questions For September 24 Debate  Not Available James in Sacramento 
Sep 09, 2003 12:00am News Sources: Ueberroth to leave California recall race  Article User 13 
Sep 04, 2003 12:00am News Top California recall candidates debate -- without Schwarzenegger  Article Ced 
Sep 04, 2003 12:00am News Fund raising: Bustamante faces suit over large donations  Article Eddie 
Sep 03, 2003 12:00am News Schwarzenegger Skips Calif. Recall Debate  Article Servo 
Aug 31, 2003 12:00am News UFW Backs Bustamante in Calif. Recall  Article None Entered 
Aug 27, 2003 12:00am Poll New Poll Shows Schwarzenegger Up 16 Points  Article Servo 
Aug 26, 2003 12:00am News LA Times' "Phantom Latinos"  Article Mr. Techno 
Aug 26, 2003 12:00am Analysis An Analysis of a New Arianna Huffington Ad  Article RP 
Aug 24, 2003 12:00am Poll Bustamante leads big in Recall: LA Times Poll  Article Stephen Yellin 
Aug 23, 2003 12:00am News Statement by Arnold Schwarzenegger Regarding Simon Announcement  Article User 13 
Aug 22, 2003 12:00am Humor A Focus on the 87 Front-Runners  Article Servo 
Aug 22, 2003 12:00am General Calif. Parties Seek Two-Man Recall Race  Article Ced 
Aug 21, 2003 12:00am Amusing CALIFORNIA'S NEW ELECTION HEADQUARTERS: TACO BELL LAUNCHES VOTE!  Article *crickets chirp* 
Aug 21, 2003 12:00am News California congressional Dems may endorse Bustamante  Article Ced 
Aug 21, 2003 12:00am General Schwarzenegger Would Consider Tax Hikes-Aide  Article RP 
Aug 20, 2003 12:00am News Top Calif. Democrat Gov. Candidate Seeks New Taxes  Article None Entered 
Aug 20, 2003 12:00am News Ueberroth Unveils Fiscal Plan for State  Article Ced 
Aug 19, 2003 12:00am News Ueberroth called 'sleeper' in race  Article User 13 
Aug 18, 2003 12:00am News Bustamante campaign: Gov. Davis is sabotaging Democrats' hopes  Article User 13 
Aug 17, 2003 12:00am News Anti-Arnold Ads Ready to Roll  Article Tony82 
Aug 15, 2003 12:00am News Schwarzenegger's liberal views leave GOP flummoxed  Article User 13 
Aug 15, 2003 12:00am News Federal judge says he may delay California's Oct. 7 recall  Article Tony82 
Aug 14, 2003 12:00am Commentary Bush's Terminator  Article None Entered 
Aug 14, 2003 12:00am News Sept. 17 debate set for top California gubernatorial candidates  Article particleman 
Aug 13, 2003 12:00am News TV's Leno Invites Calif. Recall Candidates on Show  Article None Entered 
Aug 12, 2003 12:00am News Schwarzenegger Films Will Trigger FCC Equal Time Rule  Article Servo 
Aug 11, 2003 12:00am News Schwarzenegger Leads California Gubernatorial Race  Article User 13 
Aug 11, 2003 12:00am Poll Recall: Poll Reveals Stunning Results  Article *crickets chirp* 
Aug 09, 2003 12:00am News Garamendi Drops Out Of Recall Race Under Pressure  Article Stephen Yellin 
Aug 08, 2003 12:00am News Court Allows Recall to Proceed; Schwarzenegger Gains Support  Article User 13 
Aug 08, 2003 12:00am News Ueberroth Enters Recall Race: Will Run as Independent  Article Stephen Yellin 
Aug 07, 2003 12:00am News Calif. Recall Leader Says He Won't Run  Article Ced 
Aug 07, 2003 12:00am Amusing Schwarzenegger Candidacy Would "Terminate" Moral Leadership in California  Article Servo 
Aug 07, 2003 12:00am General Riordan "Stunned" by Friend, Aide Says  Article RP 
Aug 06, 2003 12:00am News Feinstein Won't Run for Calif. Governor  Article Ced 
Aug 06, 2003 12:00am News `Diff'rent Strokes' actor could join the state's recall sitcom  Article User 13 
Aug 05, 2003 12:00am News Calif. Dems Mull Fielding New Candidate  Article Ced 
Aug 04, 2003 12:00am News Davis is told: No trash talk  Article None Entered 
Aug 04, 2003 12:00am News Site asks Californians to run for governor  Article User 13 
Aug 01, 2003 12:00am News Hustler publisher Larry Flynt files to run in recall election  Article User 13 
Jul 31, 2003 12:00am Commentary Davis' camp ready to put hurt on Riordan in election  Article User 13 
Jul 30, 2003 12:00am News Feinstein Urged to Run in Recall Race  Article ArmyDem 
Jul 30, 2003 12:00am News Democratic unity on recall shatters  Article User 13 
Jul 28, 2003 12:00am News Jerry Brown Reportedly Eyeing Gubernatorial Run  Article User 13 
Jul 27, 2003 12:00am General GOP Recall Candidates Spar Against Each Other  Article James in Sacramento 
Jul 26, 2003 12:00am News Kemp Won't Run in Recall: "I'm Retired"  Article Stephen Yellin 
Jul 25, 2003 12:00am Statement Former Green Party assemblywoman Bock to run in recall  Article RP 
Jul 25, 2003 12:00am News Michael Huffington pays filing fee for CA Gov Recall race  Article RP 
Jul 24, 2003 12:00am News Date set for recall  Article User 13 
Jul 24, 2003 12:00am Speculative JACK KEMP THINKING OF RUN FOR CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR  Article *crickets chirp* 
Jul 23, 2003 12:00am General Bustamante to set ballot date quickly, let court rule on succession process  Article ArmyDem 
Jul 23, 2003 12:00am News Gray Davis Will Face Recall Election  Article Mr. Techno 
Jul 23, 2003 12:00am News Davis Comes Out Swinging  Article Default User 
Jul 21, 2003 12:00am News Feinstein governor bid called unlikely  Article SC-Conservative 
Jul 17, 2003 12:00am News DNC Head Says No Dem. Will Replace Davis  Article *crickets chirp* 
Jul 15, 2003 12:00am News Arnold In Negotiations with New Line  Article Default User 
Jul 15, 2003 12:00am News Gray Davis lags at filling judicial appointments  Article SC-Conservative 
Jul 05, 2003 12:00am News Davis Opponents Say They Have Enough Support to Oust  Article None Entered 
Jul 04, 2003 12:00am News Backers Of Davis Recall Claim Sufficient Signatures  Article None Entered 
Jul 04, 2003 12:00am News Davis Recall Group Claims Petition Goal  Article None Entered 
Jul 03, 2003 12:00am News Group: Republicans Against The Recall  Article James in Sacramento 
Jun 25, 2003 12:00am News Calif. Governor Recall Move Advances, Arnold Looms  Article Ced 
Jun 25, 2003 12:00am General California Recall Petition Numbers At Only 40% Needed As Of June 16  Article James in Sacramento 
Jun 24, 2003 12:00am News U.S. Calif. Delegation Mixed on Davis Recall Bid  Article eddy 9_99 
Jun 23, 2003 12:00am News Feinstein swears off joining possible recall election of Calif. governor  Article Ced 
Jun 23, 2003 12:00am General California's Davis says he won't resign despite recall effort  Article COSDem 
Jun 22, 2003 12:00am Commentary Will Gray Davis quit?  Article None Entered 
Jun 22, 2003 12:00am General Schwarzenegger is far from finished  Article COSDem 
Jun 20, 2003 12:00am News Calif. Lt. Gov. Bustamante Won't Run for Governor if Davis Recall Measure on Ballot  Article Mr. Techno 
Jun 17, 2003 12:00am Opinion Feinstein: The next governor of California?  Article COSDem 
Jun 16, 2003 12:00am News Davis Recall Vote Now Likely  Article Default User 
Jun 15, 2003 12:00am News Recall of Democratic Calif. Governor, Once a Longshot, Now Seen as Likely  Article Mr. Techno 
Jun 11, 2003 12:00am News Schwarzenegger, sounding like a candidate, calls for voter revolution  Article Tony82 
Jun 10, 2003 12:00am News Move to Recall Governor Spins California Into Political Turmoil  Article ArmyDem 
Apr 27, 2003 05:13pm General California Governor Recall Low on Cash, Losing Steam  Article James in Sacramento 
Apr 20, 2003 05:24pm General Single Reliant Trader Costs California $3 Billion During Energy Crisis  Article James in Sacramento 
Apr 18, 2003 10:54am Humor AG Lockyer To Marry, Expecting Child This Summer (cough)  Article Sherlock Holmes (a retired OC public servant collecting his pension) 
Mar 08, 2003 10:40am General Despite 27% Approval for Governor, Recall Not Wanted By Most  Article James in Sacramento 
Mar 06, 2003 10:56am General Petition firm shuns Davis recall role  Article James in Sacramento 
Feb 19, 2003 10:00am General GOP leader Cox says he won't back Davis recall try  Article James in Sacramento 
Feb 18, 2003 02:42pm General Cost of Davis recall election: $25 million  Article James in Sacramento 

DISCUSSION