Editing Arnold Schwarzenegger (section)

== Political career ==
{{Main|Governorship of Arnold Schwarzenegger}}

=== Early politics ===
[[File:Arnold-Cheney.jpg|thumb|Vice President [[Dick Cheney]] meets with Schwarzenegger for the first time at the [[White House]].]]
[[File:President Ronald Reagan with Arnold Schwarzenegger Retouched (cropped).jpg|thumb|upright|right|Schwarzenegger with President [[Ronald Reagan]] in 1984]]
Schwarzenegger has been a registered [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] for many years. When he was an actor, his political views were always well known as they contrasted with those of many other prominent Hollywood stars, who are generally considered to be a left-wing and [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]-leaning community. At the [[2004 Republican National Convention]], Schwarzenegger gave a speech and explained that he was a Republican because he believed the Democrats of the 1960s sounded too much like [[Social Democratic Party of Austria|Austrian socialists]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=August 31, 2004 |title=Schwarzenegger: No country more welcoming than the USA |url=http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/08/31/gop.schwarzenegger.transcript/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080408110102/http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/08/31/gop.schwarzenegger.transcript/ |archive-date=April 8, 2008 |access-date=April 18, 2008 |publisher=CNN}}</ref>

{{blockquote|I finally arrived here in 1968. What a special day it was. I remember I arrived here with empty pockets but full of dreams, full of determination, full of desire. The [[1968 United States presidential election|presidential campaign]] was in full swing. I remember watching the [[Richard Nixon|Nixon]]–[[Hubert Humphrey|Humphrey]] presidential race on TV. A friend of mine who spoke German and English translated for me. I heard Humphrey saying things that sounded like socialism, which I had just left.

But then I heard Nixon speak. He was talking about free enterprise, getting the government off your back, lowering the taxes and strengthening the military. Listening to Nixon speak sounded more like a breath of fresh air. I said to my friend, I said, "What party is he?" My friend said, "He's a Republican." I said, "Then I am a Republican." And I have been a Republican ever since.}}

[[File:Arnold Schwarzenegger on Capitol Hill (cropped).jpg|thumb|upright|Arnold Schwarzenegger on Capitol Hill in 1991 for an event related to the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports]]
In 1985, Schwarzenegger appeared in "[[Stop the Madness]]", an anti-drug music video sponsored by the [[Presidency of Ronald Reagan|Reagan administration]]. He first came to wide public notice as a Republican during the [[1988 United States presidential election|1988 presidential election]], accompanying then–Vice President [[George H. W. Bush]] at a campaign rally.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Noonan |first=Peggy |author-link=Peggy Noonan |title=What I Saw at the Revolution: A Political Life in the Reagan Era |date=October 14, 2003 |publisher=Random House |isbn=978-0-8129-6989-4 |location=New York |page=384}}</ref>

Schwarzenegger famously introduced the first episode of the 1990 [[Milton Friedman]] hosted [[PBS]] series ''[[Free to Choose]]'' stating:

{{blockquote|I truly believe that the series has changed my life, and when you have such a powerful experience as that, I think you shouldn't keep it to yourself, so I wanted to share it with you. Being 'free to choose' for me means being free to make your own decisions, free to live your own life, pursue your own goals, chase your own rainbow without the government breathing down on your neck or standing on your shoes. For me that meant coming here to America, because I came from a socialistic country where the government controls the economy. It's a place where you can hear 18-year-old kids already talking about their pension. But me, I wanted more. I wanted to be the best. Individualism like that is incompatible with socialism. So I felt I had to come to America.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Foster |first=Peter |date=January 26, 2011 |title=Peter Foster: Whatever happened to muscular capitalism? |url=https://financialpost.com/opinion/peter-foster-whatever-happened-to-muscular-capitalism |access-date=November 15, 2022 |work=Financial Post}}</ref><ref name="Hoover Institution-1990">{{Cite web |last=Schwarzenegger |first=Arnold |title=A clip from episode Volume 1 of the 1990 Free to Choose television series |url=https://digitalcollections.hoover.org/objects/56646 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221115183645/https://digitalcollections.hoover.org/objects/56646 |archive-date=November 15, 2022 |access-date=November 15, 2022 |website=digitalcollections.hoover.org |publisher=Hoover Institution: Library & Archives}}</ref>}} Schwarzenegger goes on to tell of how he and his then wife Maria Shriver were in [[Palm Springs, California|Palm Springs]] preparing to play a game of [[mixed doubles]] when Milton Friedman's famous show came on the television. Schwarzenegger recalls that while watching Friedman's ''Free to Choose'', Schwarzenegger, "...recognized Friedman from the study of my own degree in economics, but I didn't know I was watching Free to Choose... it knocked me out. Dr. Friedman expressed, validated and explained everything I ever thought or experienced or observed about the way the economy works, and I guess I was really ready to hear it."<ref name="Hoover Institution-1990" /> Numerous critics state that Schwarzenegger strayed from much of Friedman's economic ways of thinking in later years, especially upon being elected Governor of California from 2003 through 2011.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Passantino |first=George |date=February 9, 2007 |title=Schwarzenegger Goes From Milton Friedman to Big Government |url=https://reason.org/commentary/schwarzenegger-goes-from-milto/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221115183648/https://reason.org/commentary/schwarzenegger-goes-from-milto/ |archive-date=November 15, 2022 |access-date=November 15, 2022 |website=Reason}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Meyerson |first=Harold |date=May 25, 2005 |title=Arnold Meets His Match |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/opinions/2005/05/25/arnold-meets-his-match/6d87ac3e-eeed-441e-8cb0-393a85c368ae/ |access-date=November 15, 2022 |newspaper=The Washington Post}}</ref>

Schwarzenegger's first political appointment was as chairman of the [[President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports]], on which he served from 1990 to 1993.<ref name="Schwarzenegger.com" /> He was nominated by the then-President Bush, who dubbed him "[[Conan the Barbarian|Conan]] the Republican". He later served as chairman for the California Governor's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports under Governor [[Pete Wilson]].

Between 1993 and 1994, Schwarzenegger was a [[Red Cross]] ambassador (a ceremonial role fulfilled by celebrities), recording several television and radio [[public service announcement]]s to donate blood.

In an interview with ''[[Talk (magazine)|Talk]]'' magazine in late 1999, Schwarzenegger was asked if he thought of running for office. He replied, "I think about it many times. The possibility is there because I feel it inside." ''[[The Hollywood Reporter]]'' claimed shortly after that Schwarzenegger sought to end speculation that he might run for [[governor of California]]. Following his initial comments, Schwarzenegger said, "I'm in show business&nbsp;– I am in the middle of my career. Why would I go away from that and jump into something else?"<ref>{{Cite news |date=October 4, 1999 |title=Arnold cast as Governor? |url=http://www.schwarzenegger.com/news.asp?id=90 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080523203946/http://www.schwarzenegger.com/news.asp%3Fid%3D90 |archive-date=May 23, 2008 |access-date=April 18, 2008 |publisher=Schwarzenegger.com}}</ref>

===Governor of California===
{{main|Governorship of Arnold Schwarzenegger}}
{{redirect|Governator|the song|American Idiot{{!}}''American Idiot''}}
[[File:A. Schwarzenegger.jpg|thumb|upright|Schwarzenegger's official portrait as Governor of California, 2003]]
Schwarzenegger announced his candidacy in the [[2003 California gubernatorial recall election|2003 California recall election]] for Governor of California on the August 6, 2003, episode of ''[[The Tonight Show with Jay Leno]]''.<ref name="Profile-2004" /> Schwarzenegger had the most name recognition in a crowded field of candidates, but he had never held public office and his political views were unknown to most Californians. His candidacy immediately became national and international news, with media outlets dubbing him the "Governator" (referring to ''The Terminator'' movies, see above) and "[[The Running Man (1987 film)|The Running Man]]" (the name of another one of his films), and calling the recall election "[[Total Recall (1990 film)|Total Recall]]" (another movie starring Schwarzenegger). Schwarzenegger declined to participate in several debates with other recall replacement candidates, and appeared in only one debate on September 24, 2003.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Grey |first=Barry |date=November 6, 2003 |title=First debate in California recall election: Snapshot of a political system in crisis |url=http://www.wsws.org/articles/2003/sep2003/cali-s06.shtml |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080508191758/http://www.wsws.org/articles/2003/sep2003/cali-s06.shtml |archive-date=May 8, 2008 |access-date=April 18, 2008 |publisher=wsws.org}}</ref>

[[File:Schwarzenegger Bush.jpg|thumb|President [[George W. Bush]] meets with Schwarzenegger after his successful election to the California Governorship.]]
On October 7, 2003, the recall election resulted in Governor [[Gray Davis]] being removed from office with 55.4% of the ''Yes'' vote in favor of a recall. Schwarzenegger was elected Governor of California under the second question on the ballot with 48.6% of the vote to choose a successor to Davis. Schwarzenegger defeated Democrat [[Cruz Bustamante]], fellow Republican [[Tom McClintock]], and others. His nearest rival, Bustamante, received 31% of the vote. In total, Schwarzenegger won the election by about 1.3&nbsp;million votes. Under the regulations of the [[California Constitution]], no runoff election was required. Schwarzenegger was the second foreign-born governor of California after Irish-born Governor [[John G. Downey]] in 1862.

Schwarzenegger is a [[Rockefeller Republican|moderate Republican]].<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Nagourney |first1=Adam |last2=Fuller |first2=Thomas |date=March 22, 2018 |title=California Today: Schwarzenegger's Republican Manifesto |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/22/us/california-today-arnold-schwarzenegger-republican-party.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180728071358/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/22/us/california-today-arnold-schwarzenegger-republican-party.html |archive-date=July 28, 2018 |access-date=July 28, 2018 |work=[[The New York Times]] |language=en}}</ref> He says he is fiscally conservative and socially liberal.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Kilgore |first=Ed |title=Schwarzenegger, Kasich Are Going to Try to Pull the California GOP to the Middle |url=https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2018/03/schwarzenegger-kasich-promote-moderate-gop-in-california.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180728071127/http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2018/03/schwarzenegger-kasich-promote-moderate-gop-in-california.html |archive-date=July 28, 2018 |access-date=December 29, 2021 |work=Intelligencer}}</ref> On the issue of abortion, he describes himself as [[pro-choice]], but supports parental notification for minors and a ban on partial-birth abortion.<ref>{{Cite web |date=August 28, 2003 |title=Schwarzenegger on abortion, gays, environment |url=http://www.cnn.com/2003/ALLPOLITICS/08/27/schwarzenegger.views/index.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170916190026/http://www.cnn.com/2003/ALLPOLITICS/08/27/schwarzenegger.views/index.html |archive-date=September 16, 2017 |access-date=July 28, 2018 |publisher=CNN}}</ref> He has supported gay rights, such as domestic partnerships, and he performed a same-sex marriage as governor.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Sieczkowski |first=Cavan |date=September 30, 2012 |title=Arnold Schwarzenegger Married Two Gay Couples As Republican Governor Of California |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/arnold-schwarzenegger-married-gay-couples-same-sex-marriage-republican-governor-california_n_1927215 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160417064827/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/30/arnold-schwarzenegger-married-gay-couples-same-sex-marriage-republican-governor-california_n_1927215.html |archive-date=April 17, 2016 |access-date=December 29, 2021 |work=HuffPost}}</ref> However, Schwarzenegger vetoed bills that would have legalized [[same-sex marriage]] in California in 2005 and 2007.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Buchanan |first=Wyatt |date=September 13, 2005 |title=Gay rights advocates still trying to change Schwarzenegger's mind |url=https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/SAN-FRANCISCO-Gay-rights-advocates-still-trying-2608851.php |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211229202404/https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/SAN-FRANCISCO-Gay-rights-advocates-still-trying-2608851.php |archive-date=December 29, 2021 |access-date=December 29, 2021 |work=San Francisco Chronicle}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=AB 43 Assembly Bill - Veto |url=http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/07-08/bill/asm/ab_0001-0050/ab_43_vt_20071012.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120111151709/http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/07-08/bill/asm/ab_0001-0050/ab_43_vt_20071012.html |archive-date=January 11, 2012 |access-date=January 23, 2021 |website=leginfo.ca.gov}}</ref> He additionally vetoed two bills that would have implemented a [[single-payer health care]] system in California in 2006<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Korcok |first=Milan |date=October 10, 2006 |title=Schwarzenegger vetoes single-payer bill |journal=Canadian Medical Association Journal |volume=175 |issue=8 |page=860 |doi=10.1503/cmaj.061200 |issn=0820-3946 |pmc=1586096 |pmid=17030932}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Bill Status |url=https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=200520060SB840 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210614235141/https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=200520060SB840 |archive-date=June 14, 2021 |access-date=April 9, 2021 |website=leginfo.legislature.ca.gov}}</ref> and 2008,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rojas |first=Aurelio |date=September 30, 2008 |title=Gov. Schwarzenegger again vetoes single payer bill |url=http://www.pnhp.org/news/2008/october/gov_schwarzenegger_.php |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210513132112/http://www.pnhp.org/news/2008/october/gov_schwarzenegger_.php |archive-date=May 13, 2021 |access-date=April 9, 2021 |website=Physicians for a National Health Program}}</ref> respectively.

Schwarzenegger was entrenched in what he considered to be his mandate in cleaning up [[Gridlock (politics)|political gridlock]]. Building on a catchphrase from the sketch "[[Hans and Franz]]" from ''[[Saturday Night Live]]'' (which partly parodied his bodybuilding career), Schwarzenegger called the Democratic State politicians "[[girlie men]]".<ref>{{Cite news |last=Nicholas |first=Peter |date=July 18, 2004 |title=Schwarzenegger deems opponents 'girlie-men' |url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2004/07/18/MNGH57NKAF1.DTL |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080504060359/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=%2Fchronicle%2Farchive%2F2004%2F07%2F18%2FMNGH57NKAF1.DTL |archive-date=May 4, 2008 |access-date=April 18, 2008 |work=The San Francisco Chronicle}}</ref>
[[File:ArnoldSchwarzeneggerSDJun10.jpg|thumb|upright|Arnold Schwarzenegger in June 2010]]
Schwarzenegger's early victories included repealing an unpopular increase in the vehicle registration fee as well as preventing driver's licenses from being given out to illegal immigrants, but later he began to feel the backlash when powerful state unions began to oppose his various initiatives. Key among his reckoning with political realities was a [[2005 California special election|special election]] he called in November 2005, in which four ballot measures he sponsored were defeated. Schwarzenegger accepted personal responsibility for the defeats and vowed to continue to seek consensus for the people of California. He later commented that "no one could win if the opposition raised 160&nbsp;million dollars to defeat you". The U.S. Supreme Court later found the public employee unions' use of compulsory fundraising during the campaign had been illegal in ''[[Knox v. Service Employees International Union, Local 1000]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |date=June 25, 2012 |title=Opinion analysis: Knox knocks unions on mid-year assessment for non-members |url=http://www.scotusblog.com/2012/06/opinion-analysis-knox-knocks-unions-on-mid-year-assessment-for-non-members/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150415065401/http://www.scotusblog.com/2012/06/opinion-analysis-knox-knocks-unions-on-mid-year-assessment-for-non-members/ |archive-date=April 15, 2015 |access-date=April 18, 2015 |website=SCOTUSblog}}</ref>

[[File:Dmitry Medvedev in the United States 23 June 2010-5.jpeg|thumb|right|Schwarzenegger with Russian President [[Dmitry Medvedev]] and [[Cisco Systems|Cisco]] CEO [[John T. Chambers|John Chambers]]]]
{{citation needed span|Schwarzenegger, against the advice of fellow Republican strategists, appointed a Democrat, Susan Kennedy, as his Chief of Staff. He gradually moved towards a more politically moderate position, determined to build a winning legacy with only a short time to go until the next gubernatorial election.|date=April 2025}}

Schwarzenegger ran for re-election against Democrat [[Phil Angelides]], the [[California State Treasurer]], in the [[2006 California gubernatorial election|2006 elections]], held on November 7, 2006. Despite a poor year nationally for the Republican party, Schwarzenegger won re-election with 56.0% of the vote compared with 38.9% for Angelides, a margin of well over 1 million votes.<ref>{{Cite web |title=General Election&nbsp;– Governor |url=http://vote.ss.ca.gov/Returns/gov/00.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070219111658/http://vote.ss.ca.gov/Returns/gov/00.htm |archive-date=February 19, 2007 |access-date=April 18, 2008 |publisher=California Secretary of State}}</ref> Around this time, many commentators saw Schwarzenegger as moving away from the right and towards the center of the political spectrum. After hearing a speech by Schwarzenegger at the 2006 [[Martin Luther King Jr. Day]] breakfast, in which Schwarzenegger said, in part "How wrong I was when I said everyone has an equal opportunity to make it in America ... the state of California does not provide [equal] education for all of our children", San Francisco mayor and future governor of California [[Gavin Newsom]] said: "He's becoming a Democrat ... He's running back, not even to the center. I would say center-left."<ref>{{Cite news |last=Marinucci |first=Carla |date=January 17, 2006 |title='New' Schwarzenegger gets surprisingly warm welcome / His talk at King Day breakfast has a Democratic sound |url=https://www.sfgate.com/politics/article/New-Schwarzenegger-gets-surprisingly-warm-2543455.php |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190630050329/https://www.sfgate.com/politics/article/New-Schwarzenegger-gets-surprisingly-warm-2543455.php |archive-date=June 30, 2019 |access-date=June 30, 2019 |work=[[San Francisco Chronicle]]}}</ref>

Some speculated that Schwarzenegger might run for the [[United States Senate]] in 2010, as his governorship would be term-limited by that time. Such rumors turned out to be false.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Pomfret |first=John |date=December 23, 2006 |title=Schwarzenegger Remakes Himself as Environmentalist |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/12/22/AR2006122201476.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081010215332/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/12/22/AR2006122201476.html |archive-date=October 10, 2008 |access-date=July 13, 2008 |newspaper=The Washington Post}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Marinucci, Carla |date=March 22, 2009 |title=Predictions for Schwarzenegger's Next Big Role |url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2009/03/22/MNJH16KC5G.DTL |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090326025246/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=%2Fc%2Fa%2F2009%2F03%2F22%2FMNJH16KC5G.DTL |archive-date=March 26, 2009 |access-date=March 23, 2009 |work=San Francisco Chronicle}}</ref>

[[File:Visit wildfires 2007.jpg|thumb|With Schwarzenegger and Senator [[Dianne Feinstein]] behind him, President [[George W. Bush]] comments on [[October 2007 California wildfires|wildfires and firefighting efforts]] in California, October 2007.]]
Wendy Leigh, who wrote an unofficial biography on Schwarzenegger, claims he plotted his political rise from an early age using the movie business and bodybuilding as the means to escape a depressing home.<ref name="Brooks-2003" /> Leigh portrays Schwarzenegger as obsessed with power and quotes him as saying, "I wanted to be part of the small percentage of people who were leaders, not the large mass of followers. I think it is because I saw leaders use 100% of their potential&nbsp;– I was always fascinated by people in control of other people."<ref name="Brooks-2003" /> Schwarzenegger has said that it was never his intention to enter politics, but he says, "I married into a political family. You get together with them and you hear about policy, about reaching out to help people. I was exposed to the idea of being a public servant and Eunice and [[Sargent Shriver]] became my heroes."<ref name="Bradley-2002" />  {{citation needed span|Eunice Kennedy Shriver was the sister of [[John F. Kennedy]], and mother-in-law to Schwarzenegger; Sargent Shriver is husband to Eunice and father-in-law to Schwarzenegger.|date=April 2025}}

Schwarzenegger cannot run for U.S. president as he is not a [[natural-born citizen of the United States]]. Schwarzenegger is a [[Multiple citizenship|dual]] Austrian and United States citizen.<ref name="BBC News-2005">{{Cite news |date=January 22, 2005 |title=BBC News: Schwarzenegger 'damages Austria' |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4198633.stm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080408114325/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4198633.stm |archive-date=April 8, 2008 |access-date=April 18, 2008 |work=BBC News |quote=He said Mr Schwarzenegger, who has dual nationality...}}</ref> He has held [[Austrian nationality law|Austrian citizenship]] since birth and [[United States nationality law|U.S. citizenship]] since becoming naturalized in 1983. Being Austrian and thus European, he was able to win the 2007 [[European Voice]] campaigner of the year award for taking action against climate change with the California [[Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006]] and plans to introduce an emissions trading scheme with other US states and possibly with the EU.<ref>{{Cite web |date=November 27, 2007 |title=Schwarzenegger wins European Voice campaigner of the year award |url=http://www.europeanvoice.com/page/the-evawards-europeans-of-the-year/784.aspx |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080919214944/http://www.europeanvoice.com/page/the-evawards-europeans-of-the-year/784.aspx |archive-date=September 19, 2008 |access-date=April 18, 2008 |publisher=European Voice}}</ref>

[[File:US Navy 100729-N-0208R-156 California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger speaks with Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class Anthony Ameen, center, and Marine Sgt. Maj. Patrick A. Wilkinson.jpg|thumb|Governor Schwarzenegger during his visit to [[Naval Medical Center San Diego|Naval Medical Center]] in San Diego, July 2010]]
Because of his personal wealth from his acting career, Schwarzenegger did not accept his governor's salary of $175,000 per year.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Nelson |first=Soraya |date=April 15, 2006 |title=News: Schwarzenegger releases tax returns |url=http://www.ocregister.com/ocregister/news/atoz/article_1102616.php |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080413151328/http://www.ocregister.com/ocregister/news/atoz/article_1102616.php |archive-date=April 13, 2008 |access-date=April 18, 2008 |publisher=OCRegister.com}}</ref>

Schwarzenegger's endorsement in the [[2008 Republican Party presidential primaries|Republican primaries]] of the [[2008 United States presidential election|2008 presidential election]] was highly sought; despite being good friends with candidates [[Rudy Giuliani]] and Senator [[John McCain]], Schwarzenegger remained neutral throughout 2007 and early 2008. Giuliani dropped out of the presidential race on January 30, 2008, largely because of a poor showing in Florida, and endorsed McCain. Later that night, Schwarzenegger was in the audience at a Republican debate at the [[Ronald Reagan Presidential Library]] in California. The following day, he endorsed McCain, joking, "It's Rudy's fault!" (in reference to his friendships with both candidates and that he could not make up his mind). Schwarzenegger's endorsement was thought to be a boost for Senator McCain's campaign; both spoke about their concerns for the environment and economy.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Arnold opens 'flood' of McCain endorsements |url=http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/news/politics/blog/2008/01/arnold_opens_flood_of_mccain_e.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080307072727/http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/news/politics/blog/2008/01/arnold_opens_flood_of_mccain_e.html |archive-date=March 7, 2008 |access-date=May 7, 2008 |website=The Baltimore Sun}}</ref>

In its April 2010 report, [[Progressivism|Progressive]] ethics watchdog group [[Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington]] named Schwarzenegger one of 11 "worst governors" in the United States because of various ethics issues throughout Schwarzenegger's term as governor.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Vogel |first=Ed |date=April 21, 2010 |title=Gibbons named on list of worst governors |url=http://www.lvrj.com/news/gibbons-named-on-list-of-worst-governors-91723774.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100424192548/http://www.lvrj.com/news/gibbons-named-on-list-of-worst-governors-91723774.html |archive-date=April 24, 2010 |access-date=May 5, 2010 |work=[[Las Vegas Review-Journal]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Crew's Worst Governors |url=http://www.citizensforethics.org/worstgovernors#Gibbons |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100424212401/http://www.citizensforethics.org/worstgovernors#Gibbons |archive-date=April 24, 2010 |access-date=May 5, 2010 |publisher=[[Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington]]}}</ref>

Governor Schwarzenegger played a significant role in opposing [[California Proposition 66 (2004)|Proposition 66]], a proposed amendment of the Californian [[Three Strikes Law]], in November 2004. This amendment would have required the third felony to be either violent or serious to mandate a 25-years-to-life sentence. In the last week before the ballot, Schwarzenegger launched an intense campaign<ref>{{Cite web |date=April 7, 2008 |title=TV-commercial of Arnold Schwarzenegger against Proposition 66 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7F6PBldQxZc |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100328232600/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7F6PBldQxZc |archive-date=March 28, 2010 |access-date=March 8, 2010 |via=YouTube}}</ref> against Proposition 66.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Garvey |first1=Megan |last2=Salladay |first2=Robert |date=November 1, 2004 |title=Prop. 66 in Tough Fight |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2004-nov-01-me-campaign1-story.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100123000753/http://articles.latimes.com/2004/nov/01/local/me-campaign1 |archive-date=January 23, 2010 |access-date=March 8, 2010 |work=Los Angeles Times}}</ref> He stated that "it would release 26,000 dangerous criminals and rapists".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jaffe |first=Ina |date=October 28, 2009 |title=Two Torn Families Show Flip Side Of 3 Strikes Law |url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=114219922 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170303152234/http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=114219922 |archive-date=March 3, 2017 |access-date=March 4, 2017 |publisher=NPR}}</ref>

Although he began his tenure as governor with record high approval ratings (as high as 65% in May 2004),<ref>[http://www.sfgate.com/politics/article/Schwarzenegger-a-big-hit-with-voters-polls-2755624.php Schwarzenegger a big hit with voters, polls report / Soaring popularity cuts across party, geographical lines] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180102144704/http://www.sfgate.com/politics/article/Schwarzenegger-a-big-hit-with-voters-polls-2755624.php |date=January 2, 2018 }}; San Francisco Chronicle; May 27, 2004</ref> he left office with a near-record low 23%,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jaffe |first=Ina |date=January 3, 2011 |title=No Hollywood Ending To Schwarzenegger's Term |url=https://www.npr.org/2011/01/03/132445643/no-hollywood-ending-to-schwarzeneggers-term |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230616161118/https://www.npr.org/2011/01/03/132445643/no-hollywood-ending-to-schwarzeneggers-term |archive-date=June 16, 2023 |access-date=June 16, 2023 |website=NPR}}</ref> only one percent higher than that of Gray Davis, his predecessor, when he was recalled in October 2003.<ref>{{Cite news |date=March 22, 2010 |title=Approval for Schwarzenegger, Legislature at record lows |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/blogs/politi-cal/story/2010-03-22/approval-for-schwarzenegger-legislature-at-record-lows |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230617010604/https://www.latimes.com/archives/blogs/politi-cal/story/2010-03-22/approval-for-schwarzenegger-legislature-at-record-lows |archive-date=June 17, 2023 |access-date=June 16, 2023 |work=Los Angeles Times}}</ref>

====Death of Luis Santos====
{{main|Death of Luis Santos}}
In May 2010, Esteban Núñez pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter and was sentenced to 16 years in prison for the [[death of Luis Santos]]. Núñez is the son of [[Fabian Núñez]], then [[California Assembly]] Speaker of the House and a close friend and staunch political ally of then governor Schwarzenegger.<ref name="The Reporter-2006">{{Cite web |date=March 10, 2006 |title=Judge: Former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's sentence cutting of Esteban Nunez was legal |url=http://www.thereporter.com/article/zz/20120908/NEWS/120907396 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161011223803/http://www.thereporter.com/article/zz/20120908/NEWS/120907396 |archive-date=October 11, 2016 |access-date=October 12, 2016 |publisher=Thereporter.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=May 7, 2013 |title=Dan Walters: Schwarzenegger leaves a foul stench |url=http://www.dailynews.com/article/ZZ/20110105/NEWS/110108106 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161013105720/http://www.dailynews.com/article/ZZ/20110105/NEWS/110108106 |archive-date=October 13, 2016 |access-date=October 12, 2016 |publisher=Dailynews.com}}</ref><ref name="Dillon-2016">{{Cite news |last=Dillon |first=Nancy |date=April 11, 2016 |title=Calif. pol's son who killed college student out of prison |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/calif-pol-son-killed-college-student-prison-article-1.2596545 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161011060905/http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/calif-pol-son-killed-college-student-prison-article-1.2596545 |archive-date=October 11, 2016 |access-date=October 12, 2016 |work=Daily News |location=New York}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Goffard |first=Christopher |author-link=Christopher Goffard |date=December 23, 2014 |title=On the eve of a murder trial, a deal is struck. But will it stick? |url=http://graphics.latimes.com/nunez-santos-part-2/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160905151052/http://graphics.latimes.com/nunez-santos-part-2/ |archive-date=September 5, 2016 |access-date=October 12, 2016 |work=Los Angeles Times}}</ref>

As a personal favor to "a friend", just hours before he left office, and as one of his last official acts, Schwarzenegger [[Commutation of sentence|commuted]] Núñez's sentence by more than half, to seven years.<ref name="Dillon-2016" /><ref>{{Cite news |last=Lovett |first=Ian |date=January 3, 2011 |title=Schwarzenegger Commutes Sentence of Politician's Son |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/04/us/04pardon.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170730204846/http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/04/us/04pardon.html |archive-date=July 30, 2017 |access-date=March 13, 2017 |work=The New York Times}}</ref><ref name="Lah-2015">{{Cite web |last=Lah |first=Kyung |date=July 8, 2015 |title=Arnold Schwarzenegger's last act as governor follows him |url=http://www.cnn.com/2015/07/07/us/arnold-schwarzenegger-clemency/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161011142512/http://www.cnn.com/2015/07/07/us/arnold-schwarzenegger-clemency/ |archive-date=October 11, 2016 |access-date=October 12, 2016 |publisher=CNN}}</ref> He believed that Núñez's sentence was "excessive" in comparison with the same prison term imposed on Ryan Jett, the man who fatally stabbed Santos.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Dobuzinskis |first=Alex |date=January 4, 2011 |title=Schwarzenegger criticized after commuting Nunez sentence |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-schwarzenegger-commutation-idUSTRE7030DC20110104 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220608215014/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-schwarzenegger-commutation-idUSTRE7030DC20110104 |archive-date=June 8, 2022 |access-date=June 8, 2022 |work=Reuters |language=en}}</ref> Against protocol, Schwarzenegger did not inform Santos' family or the San Diego County prosecutors about the commutation. They learned about it in a call from a reporter.<ref name="Lah-2015" />

The Santos family, along with the San Diego district attorney, sued to stop the commutation, claiming that it violated [[Marsy's Law]]. In September 2012, Sacramento County superior court judge Lloyd Connelly stated, "Based on the evidentiary records before this court involving this case, there was an abuse of discretion... This was a distasteful commutation. It was repugnant to the bulk of the citizenry of this state." However, Connelly ruled that Schwarzenegger remained within his executive powers as governor.<ref name="The Reporter-2006" /> Subsequently, as a direct result of the way the commutation was handled, Governor [[Jerry Brown]] signed a bipartisan bill that allows offenders' victims and their families to be notified at least 10 days before any commutations.<ref>{{Cite web |last=McGreevy |first=Patrick |date=October 4, 2011 |title=Gov. Jerry Brown signs notification bill on reducing sentences |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2011-oct-04-la-me-brown-legislation-20111004-story.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161011223323/http://articles.latimes.com/2011/oct/04/local/la-me-brown-legislation-20111004 |archive-date=October 11, 2016 |access-date=October 12, 2016 |website=Los Angeles Times}}</ref> Núñez was released from prison after serving less than six years.<ref>{{Cite news |date=April 10, 2016 |title=Esteban Nuñez is released from prison after his sentence was drastically reduced by Schwarzenegger |url=https://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-esteban-nunez-released-from-prison-20160410-story.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161012035352/http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-esteban-nunez-released-from-prison-20160410-story.html |archive-date=October 12, 2016 |access-date=March 4, 2017 |work=Los Angeles Times |agency=Associated Press}}</ref>

=== Allegations of sexual misconduct ===
[[File:Arnold Schwarzenegger sexual harassment protestors750.jpg|thumb|[[Code Pink]] protesting against Schwarzenegger]]
During his [[2003 California gubernatorial recall election|initial campaign for governor in 2003]], allegations of sexual and personal misconduct were raised against Schwarzenegger.<ref name="BBC-2004">{{Cite news |date=March 10, 2004 |title=Sex scandal draws Arnie apology |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/3159122.stm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071218154557/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/3159122.stm |archive-date=December 18, 2007 |access-date=April 18, 2008 |publisher=BBC}}</ref> Within the last five days before the election, news reports appeared in the ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' recounting decades-old allegations of sexual misconduct from six individual women.<ref>{{Cite news |date=October 3, 2003 |title=Schwarzenegger sorry for behaving 'badly' toward women |url=http://www.cnn.com/2003/ALLPOLITICS/10/02/recall.schwarzenegger/index.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080408110108/http://www.cnn.com/2003/ALLPOLITICS/10/02/recall.schwarzenegger/index.html |archive-date=April 8, 2008 |access-date=April 18, 2008 |publisher=CNN}}</ref><ref name="BBC-2004" /> Schwarzenegger responded to the allegations in 2004 admitting that he has "behaved badly sometimes" and apologized, but also stated that "a lot of [what] you see in the stories is not true".<ref>{{Cite web |date=October 3, 2003 |title=Schwarzenegger admits behaving badly after groping claims |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2003/oct/03/usa.filmnews |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210112230648/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2003/oct/03/usa.filmnews |archive-date=January 12, 2021 |access-date=January 11, 2021 |website=The Guardian}}</ref> One of the women who came forward was British television personality [[Anna Richardson]], who settled a libel lawsuit in August 2006 against Schwarzenegger; his top aide, Sean Walsh; and his publicist, Sheryl Main.<ref name="Schwarzenegger libel-2006">{{Cite news |date=August 26, 2006 |title=Schwarzenegger libel 'settled' |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/film/5288194.stm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070909074501/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/film/5288194.stm |archive-date=September 9, 2007 |access-date=April 18, 2008 |publisher=BBC}}</ref> A joint statement read: "The parties are content to put this matter behind them and are pleased that this legal dispute has now been settled."<ref name="Schwarzenegger libel-2006" /><ref>{{Cite news |date=March 23, 2005 |title=UK judge allows Arnie libel case |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/film/4375679.stm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070821025435/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/film/4375679.stm |archive-date=August 21, 2007 |access-date=April 18, 2008 |publisher=BBC}}</ref> In 2023, Schwarzenegger revisited the issue while promoting his new three-part biographical documentary on Netflix called ''[[Arnold (TV series)|Arnold]]''. Schwarzenegger stated that he was "totally wrong".<ref>{{Cite news |last=Shoard |first=Catherine |date=June 6, 2023 |title='Forget all the excuses': Arnold Schwarzenegger expresses regret over groping claims |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2023/jun/06/arnold-schwarzenegger-expresses-regret-over-groping-claims |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230606134207/https://www.theguardian.com/film/2023/jun/06/arnold-schwarzenegger-expresses-regret-over-groping-claims |archive-date=June 6, 2023 |access-date=June 6, 2023 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB}}</ref>

=== Marijuana use ===
During this time a 1977 interview in adult magazine ''[[Oui (magazine)|Oui]]'' gained attention, in which Schwarzenegger discussed using substances such as [[cannabis (drug)|marijuana]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=May 18, 2011 |title=Schwarzenegger's Sex Talk |url=http://www.thesmokinggun.com/documents/celebrity/schwarzeneggers-sex-talk |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120704170517/http://www.thesmokinggun.com/documents/celebrity/schwarzeneggers-sex-talk |archive-date=July 4, 2012 |access-date=July 23, 2012 |publisher=The Smoking Gun}}</ref> Schwarzenegger is shown smoking a marijuana joint after winning Mr. Olympia in 1975 in the documentary film ''[[Pumping Iron]]'' (1977). In an interview with ''[[GQ]]'' magazine in October 2007, Schwarzenegger said, "[Marijuana] is not a drug. It's a leaf. My drug was pumping iron, trust me."<ref name="Cannabis">{{Cite news |date=October 29, 2007 |title=Governor says marijuana is not a drug, 'it's a leaf' |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2007-oct-29-me-arnold29-story.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081220144632/http://articles.latimes.com/2007/oct/29/local/me-arnold29 |archive-date=December 20, 2008 |access-date=October 7, 2008 |work=Los Angeles Times}}</ref> His spokesperson later said the comment was meant to be a joke.<ref name="Cannabis" />

=== Citizenship ===
[[File:Arnold Schwarzenegger 2004-01-30.jpg|thumb|right|Schwarzenegger in 2004]]
Schwarzenegger became a [[naturalized U.S. citizen]] on September 17, 1983.<ref>{{Cite news |date=September 17, 1983 |title=Actor Becomes U.S. Citizen |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1983/09/17/us/actor-becomes-us-citizen.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150122051700/http://www.nytimes.com/1983/09/17/us/actor-becomes-us-citizen.html |archive-date=January 22, 2015 |access-date=January 22, 2015 |work=The New York Times |agency=[[United Press International]]}}</ref> Shortly before he gained his citizenship, he asked the Austrian authorities for the right to keep his [[Austrian citizenship]], as Austria does not usually allow [[dual citizenship]]. His request was granted, and he retained his Austrian citizenship.<ref>Leamer, p. 199-200</ref>

In 2005, [[Peter Pilz]], a member of the [[Austrian Parliament]] from the [[Austrian Green Party]], unsuccessfully advocated for Parliament to revoke Schwarzenegger's Austrian citizenship under Article 33 of the Austrian Citizenship Act, which states: "A citizen, who is in the public service of a foreign country, shall be deprived of his citizenship if he heavily damages the reputation or the interests of the Austrian Republic.". Pilz felt that Schwarzenegger's decision not to intervene in the executions of [[Donald Beardslee]] and [[Stanley Williams]] had done so.<ref name="BBC News-2005" /> The death penalty in Austria had been abolished in 1968.

=== Environmental record ===
On September 27, 2006, Schwarzenegger signed the [[Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006]], creating the nation's first cap on [[greenhouse gas emissions]]. The law set new regulations on the amount of emissions utilities, refineries, and manufacturing plants are allowed to release into the atmosphere. Schwarzenegger also signed a second global warming bill that prohibits large utilities and corporations in California from making long-term contracts with suppliers who do not meet the state's greenhouse gas emission standards. The two bills are part of a plan to reduce California's emissions by 25 percent to 1990s levels by 2020. In 2005, Schwarzenegger issued an executive order calling to reduce greenhouse gases to 80 percent below 1990 levels by 2050.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Young |first=Samantha |date=September 27, 2006 |title=Schwarzenegger Signs Global Warming Bill |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/09/27/AR2006092700174.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121105054329/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/09/27/AR2006092700174.html |archive-date=November 5, 2012 |access-date=May 15, 2008 |newspaper=The Washington Post}}</ref>

Schwarzenegger signed another executive order on October 17, 2006, allowing California to work with the Northeast's [[Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative]]. They plan to reduce [[carbon dioxide]] emissions by issuing a limited amount of carbon credits to each power plant in participating states. Any power plants that exceed emissions for the number of carbon credits will have to purchase more credits to cover the difference. The plan took effect in 2009.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Matthews |first=Karen |date=October 17, 2006 |title=Cal Joins Northeast Global Warming Fight |url=http://www.foxnews.com/wires/2006Oct17/0,4670,GlobalWarmingSchwarzenegger,00.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170525191041/http://www.foxnews.com/wires/2006Oct17/0,4670,GlobalWarmingSchwarzenegger,00.html |archive-date=May 25, 2017 |access-date=May 15, 2008 |publisher=Fox News}}</ref> In addition to using his political power to fight global warming, the governor has taken steps at his home to reduce his personal carbon footprint. Schwarzenegger has adapted one of his [[Hummer H1|Hummers]] to run on hydrogen and another to run on biofuels. He has also installed solar panels to heat his home.<ref>[https://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/2007/04/02/8403410/index.htm "The Governator's green agenda"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131106005149/https://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/2007/04/02/8403410/index.htm |date=November 6, 2013 }} ''Fortune''. March 23, 2007. Retrieved May 15, 2008.</ref>

In respect for his contribution to the direction of the US motor industry, Schwarzenegger was invited to open the 2009 [[Society of Automotive Engineers|SAE]] World Congress in Detroit on April 20, 2009.<ref>[http://www.sae.org/servlets/pressRoom?OBJECT_TYPE=PressReleases&PAGE=showRelease&RELEASE_ID=970 "SAE 2009 World Congress Special Opening Ceremonies to Feature Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160403143304/http://www.sae.org/servlets/pressRoom?OBJECT_TYPE=PressReleases&PAGE=showRelease&RELEASE_ID=970 |date=April 3, 2016 }} ''[[SAE International|SAE]]''. March 10, 2009. Retrieved April 6, 2009.</ref>

In 2011, Schwarzenegger founded the [[R20 Regions of Climate Action]] to develop a sustainable, [[low-carbon economy]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=A New Obsession |url=http://theglobaljournal.net/article/view/410/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120501054335/http://theglobaljournal.net/article/view/410/ |archive-date=May 1, 2012 |access-date=May 3, 2012 |website=The Global Journal}}</ref> In 2017, he joined French President [[Emmanuel Macron]] in calling for the adoption of a [[Global Pact for the Environment]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=June 24, 2017 |title=Macron, Schwarzenegger back global pact on environment |url=https://www.france24.com/en/20170624-macron-launches-global-environment-pact-paris |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112010719/http://www.france24.com/en/20170624-macron-launches-global-environment-pact-paris |archive-date=November 12, 2020 |access-date=September 24, 2020 |publisher=France 24 |language=en}}</ref>
In 2017, Schwarzenegger launched the Austrian World Summit,<ref>{{Cite web |date=July 2021 |title=Schwarzenegger: Climate activists should focus on pollution |url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/climate-and-environment/schwarzenegger-climate-activists-should-focus-on-pollution-1.5493128 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211213142303/https://www.ctvnews.ca/climate-and-environment/schwarzenegger-climate-activists-should-focus-on-pollution-1.5493128 |archive-date=December 13, 2021 |access-date=December 13, 2021}}</ref> an international climate conference that is held annually in Vienna, Austria. The Austrian World Summit is organized by the Schwarzenegger Climate Initiative and aims is to bring together representatives from politics, civil society and business to create a broad alliance for climate protection and to identify concrete solutions to the climate crisis.

=== Electoral history ===
{{Election box begin no change|title=[[2003 California gubernatorial recall election]]}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|
|party      = California Republican Party
|candidate = Arnold Schwarzenegger
|votes = 4,206,284
|percentage = 48.6

}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
|party = Democratic Party (United States)
|candidate = [[Cruz Bustamante]]
|votes = 2,724,874
|percentage = 31.5
|change =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
|party = Republican Party (United States)
|candidate = [[Tom McClintock]]
|votes = 1,161,287
|percentage = 13.5
|change =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
|party = Green Party of the United States
|candidate = [[Peter Camejo]]
|votes = 242,247
|percentage = 2.8
|change =
}}
{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no change|title=[[2006 California gubernatorial election]]}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|
  |party      = California Republican Party
  |candidate  = Arnold Schwarzenegger (incumbent)
  |votes      = 4,850,157
  |percentage = 55.9
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change|
  |party      = California Democratic Party
  |candidate  = [[Phil Angelides]]
  |votes      = 3,376,732
  |percentage = 38.9
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change|
  |party      = Green Party of California
  |candidate  = [[Peter Camejo]]
  |votes      = 205,995
  |percentage = 2.4
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change|
  |party      = Libertarian Party of California
  |candidate  = [[Art Olivier]]
  |votes      = 114,329
  |percentage = 1.3
}}
{{Election box end}}

=== Presidential ambitions ===
Presidential aspirations by the Austrian-born Schwarzenegger would be blocked by a [[United States Constitution|constitutional]] hurdle; [[Natural-born-citizen clause|Article II, Section I, Clause V]], prevents individuals who are not natural-born citizens of the United States from assuming the office. The [[Equal Opportunity to Govern Amendment]] in 2003 was widely accredited as the "Amend for Arnold" bill, which would have added an [[List of amendments to the United States Constitution|amendment]] to the U.S. Constitution allowing his run. In 2004, the "Amend for Arnold" campaign was launched, featuring a website and TV advertising promotion.<ref>[http://www.sfgate.com/politics/article/Amend-for-Arnold-campaign-launched-Web-site-2635267.php "'Amend for Arnold' campaign launched / Web site, TV spot promote change to Constitution"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170525192620/http://www.sfgate.com/politics/article/Amend-for-Arnold-campaign-launched-Web-site-2635267.php |date=May 25, 2017 }}, John Wildermuth. San Francisco Chronicle. November 18, 2004. Retrieved February 8, 2017</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=October 24, 2003 |title=The 'Arnold Amendment' |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/the-arnold-amendment/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20171023050026/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/the-arnold-amendment/ |archive-date=October 23, 2017 |access-date=January 21, 2020 |publisher=CBS News}}</ref>

In June 2007, Schwarzenegger was featured on the cover of ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' magazine with [[Michael Bloomberg]], and subsequently, the two joked about a presidential ticket together.<ref>[http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2007/06/19/bloomberg-schwarzenegger-ponder-presidential-ticket/ "Bloomberg, Schwarzenegger ponder presidential ticket"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170211075312/http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2007/06/19/bloomberg-schwarzenegger-ponder-presidential-ticket/ |date=February 11, 2017 }}, CNN. June 19, 2007. Retrieved February 8, 2017</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=April 21, 2008 |title=My Conversation with Michael Bloomberg and Arnold Schwarzenegger |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/my-conversation-with-mich_b_97778 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210112081335/https://www.huffpost.com/entry/my-conversation-with-mich_b_97778 |archive-date=January 12, 2021 |access-date=January 10, 2021 |website=Huffpost}}</ref>