California Gubernatorial Election, 2006

The 2006 California gubernatorial election is scheduled to occur on November 7 , 2006 . The Primary Election is scheduled for June 6 , 2006 . Under the Constitution of California , the Governor serves a four-year term, with a maximum Limit of two terms.

Incumbent Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger was elected during the 2003 California Recall . His decision to call the 2005 Special Election , as well as his propositions dealing with Teachers ' and Nurses ' Unions and other political missteps have brought his approval rating down to 39% as of April 2006, {Link without Title} making many Democrats optimistic about their chances of ousting him from office. Recently he has come under fire from both conservatives, for supporting several taxes on Californians, and from liberals, for refusing to sign a bill allowing gay marriage. Yet, recent polls have had Schwarzenegger either leading or within five percentage points of his two most-likely Democratic opponents.

For the Republican nomination, current Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger faces no serious opposition and is widely expected to win the nomination and seek a second term.

Regarding the Democratic nomination, the two front-runners are California State Treasurer Phil Angelides and California State Controller Steve Westly . A recent poll has Westly leading Angelides by six percentage points. The Field Poll conducted on April 17, 2006 shows that both Democratic candidates have low recognition factors amongst the state's electorate, with only 45% having any opinion on Angelides and 40% for Westly. Out of registered Democrats surveyed, 59% know enough about Angelides to have any opinion about him and 58% for Westly. [http://field.com/fieldpollonline/subscribers/RLS2193.pdf

The period for candidate nominations closed on March 24, 2006. {Link without Title}

CANDIDATES

Democrats