Status quo won the day here in California yesterday. State Treasurer Phil Angelides, who had the endorsement of labor unions as well as both of California’s U.S. senators, won the Democrative primary for governor, with nearly 48 percent of the vote (as of 5AM PST). Steve Westly, the state controller, received about 44 percent of the vote.
Gov. Schwarzenegger ran unopposed in the Republican primary and his handlers have done an effective job of keeping him quiet and out of the headlines over the past few months. As a result, the governor’s polling has “rebounded” to about 44 percent.
Schwarzenegger embarks on a bus tour of the state today. At the same time, the state’s labor unions — who soundly defeated four voter initiatives proposed by the governor last year, and who are credited with handing victory to Angelides yesterday — are said to be readying a new fusilage of ads against the governor to begin airing over the summer.
Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi appears to have won the Democratic primary for lieutenant governor against state Sen. Jackie Speier.
Former governor and Oakland Mayor Jerry Brown won the nomination for state attorney general, and is predicted to walk to victory in November. (Former congressman Ron Dellums appears to have won the nomination for Brown’s old job as mayor of Oakland.)
In the fight to win the CA 50 seat of jailed former congressman Duke Cunningham north of San Diego, Republican Brian Bilbray defeated Democrat Francine Busby 49 percent to 45 percent. The two could face each other again in November.
