This Day in History:
Arnold Schwarzenegger
Becomes California Governor October 7, 2003 The four-time Mr. Universe
and action film star replaced
Grey Davis. Davis had been
recalled by CA voters. Schwarzenegger ran as
a Republican, appealing to
voters of the world's fifth largest
economy with promises of reform. He announced his 11 week
campaign on 'The Tonight Show With Jay Leno.' Perhaps most well-known for
his role in James Cameron's
'The Terminator,' Schwarzenegger
had almost no political experience. Regardless, he handily defeated
the closest challenger in the race,
Lieutenant Governor Cruz Bustamante,
by more than a million votes. Schwarzenegger was
re-elected in 2007, serving
as CA governor until 2011.