Editing Arnold Schwarzenegger (section)

===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>