California today ditched its governor and overwhelmingly elected Arnold Schwarzenegger — a Hollywood ending to one of the most extraordinary political melodramas in American history.
"I will not fail you, I will not disappoint you, and I will not let you down," the victorious actor vowed today.
Voters swapped career Democratic politician Gray Davis, who became one of the state's most despised chief executives, for a Republican megastar who had never run for office.
"Tonight, the voters did decide it's time for someone else to serve, and I accept their judgment," Mr Davis said early today.
Mr Schwarzenegger appeared before a delirious crowd at his campaign headquarters in a Los Angeles hotel. "Everything I have is because of California. I came here with absolutely nothing, and California has given me absolutely everything. And today, California has given me the greatest gift of all, you have given me your trust by voting for me," the 'Terminator' said.
California, which is mired in economic troubles and awash with deficits, is now governed by am Austrian-born former body-builder with no political experience.
Early returns showed the recall of Mr Davis won the backing of 55.9 per cent of the electorate. Mr Schwarzenegger led the field of candidates with 1.2m votes, followed by Democratic Cruz Bustamante, Republican Senator Tom McClintock and Green Party candidate Peter Camejo.
Mr Schwarzenegger, aged 56, prevailed despite a flurry of negative publicity in the campaign's final days, surviving allegations that he had groped women and accusations that as a young man he expressed admiration for Adolf Hitler.
The husband of television journalist Maria Shriver, niece of Senator Edward Kennedy, finds himself in charge of America's most populous state with the world's sixth biggest ecomony. He takes office next month..
Voters faced two questions — whether to recall Mr Davis, and who among the other candidates should replace him if he was removed. About seven in 10 voters interviewed in exit polls said they had made up their minds how they would vote on the recall question more than a month before the election.
The turnout was around 60 per cent, the highest in a gubernatorial election since 1982.
Re-elected last year with less than 50 per cent of the vote, Mr Davis fell victim to a groundswell of discontent in a state that has struggled with a perilous financial condition.
As colourless as his name, Mr Davis was also known as a canny politician. He rose through the political ranks as a state assemblyman, controller and lieutenant governor before becoming governor in 1999. By contrast, Mr Schwarzenegger's political inexperience seemed a virtue to many voters.
The actor's improbable rise to political power played out before a rapt international audience. He announced his candidacy in August on a late night television talk show after aides said it was certain he wouldn't run.
The campaign included a parade of bit players among the 135 candidates, including Hustler publisher Larry Flynt, former child actor Gary Coleman, a publicity-hungry porn actress who wanted to tax breast implants and an artist who dressed only in blue and described his candidacy as the ultimate piece of performance art.
Though Mr Schwarzenegger held a commanding lead going into the final week, his campaign was shaken by allegations in the Los Angeles Times days before the election from six women who said he groped them or made unwanted sexual advances. By election day, a total of 16 women had come forward.
Responding to the sexual misconduct charges, he acknowledged he had "behaved badly sometimes."
Mr Davis's plight reverberated across America, to the 18 other states that have referendum or recall provisions. If California is pioneer, perpetual campaigns could become common.
The last governor in US history to be recalled was North Dakota's Lynn Frazier in 1921. The cost of the election to California taxpayers was estimated at $67 million.
"I will not fail you, I will not disappoint you, and I will not let you down," the victorious actor vowed today.
Voters swapped career Democratic politician Gray Davis, who became one of the state's most despised chief executives, for a Republican megastar who had never run for office.
"Tonight, the voters did decide it's time for someone else to serve, and I accept their judgment," Mr Davis said early today.
Mr Schwarzenegger appeared before a delirious crowd at his campaign headquarters in a Los Angeles hotel. "Everything I have is because of California. I came here with absolutely nothing, and California has given me absolutely everything. And today, California has given me the greatest gift of all, you have given me your trust by voting for me," the 'Terminator' said.
California, which is mired in economic troubles and awash with deficits, is now governed by am Austrian-born former body-builder with no political experience.
Early returns showed the recall of Mr Davis won the backing of 55.9 per cent of the electorate. Mr Schwarzenegger led the field of candidates with 1.2m votes, followed by Democratic Cruz Bustamante, Republican Senator Tom McClintock and Green Party candidate Peter Camejo.
Mr Schwarzenegger, aged 56, prevailed despite a flurry of negative publicity in the campaign's final days, surviving allegations that he had groped women and accusations that as a young man he expressed admiration for Adolf Hitler.
The husband of television journalist Maria Shriver, niece of Senator Edward Kennedy, finds himself in charge of America's most populous state with the world's sixth biggest ecomony. He takes office next month..
Voters faced two questions — whether to recall Mr Davis, and who among the other candidates should replace him if he was removed. About seven in 10 voters interviewed in exit polls said they had made up their minds how they would vote on the recall question more than a month before the election.
The turnout was around 60 per cent, the highest in a gubernatorial election since 1982.
Re-elected last year with less than 50 per cent of the vote, Mr Davis fell victim to a groundswell of discontent in a state that has struggled with a perilous financial condition.
As colourless as his name, Mr Davis was also known as a canny politician. He rose through the political ranks as a state assemblyman, controller and lieutenant governor before becoming governor in 1999. By contrast, Mr Schwarzenegger's political inexperience seemed a virtue to many voters.
The actor's improbable rise to political power played out before a rapt international audience. He announced his candidacy in August on a late night television talk show after aides said it was certain he wouldn't run.
The campaign included a parade of bit players among the 135 candidates, including Hustler publisher Larry Flynt, former child actor Gary Coleman, a publicity-hungry porn actress who wanted to tax breast implants and an artist who dressed only in blue and described his candidacy as the ultimate piece of performance art.
Though Mr Schwarzenegger held a commanding lead going into the final week, his campaign was shaken by allegations in the Los Angeles Times days before the election from six women who said he groped them or made unwanted sexual advances. By election day, a total of 16 women had come forward.
Responding to the sexual misconduct charges, he acknowledged he had "behaved badly sometimes."
Mr Davis's plight reverberated across America, to the 18 other states that have referendum or recall provisions. If California is pioneer, perpetual campaigns could become common.
The last governor in US history to be recalled was North Dakota's Lynn Frazier in 1921. The cost of the election to California taxpayers was estimated at $67 million.
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