California’s Race for Governor

A little old, a little new as former Gov takes on businesswoman 

California Attorney General Jerry Brown is hoping to win the title of Governor for the third time in 35 years. Trying to keep him from regaining the state house is former E-Bay head Meg Whitman.

While Brown, a Democrat, has the family name (his father was also Governor), Whitman, a Republican, has money. She has spent more than $140 million in her effort to become the state’s first female Governor.

The main issues on the table in California are the economy, environment, education, and immigration. Both stress the importance of fixing these issues in California. However, Brown and Whitman firmly disagree on what should be done and how.What the two do have in common is that they are both running increasingly negative campaign ads accusing each other of lying.

Brown comes into the race having already served two terms as governor from 1975-1983. The maximum of two terms does not apply to him because that law did not exist when he first served. Brown is backed by the Democratic Party and currently has a small lead in opinion polls. Former President Bill Clinton has endorsed him and current President Barack Obama is showing his support by campaigning at a Moving America Forward rally this week.

Whitman is a newcomer to politics and a former businesswoman. Being a member of the Republican Party, the candidate agrees with most of the party’s current policies. However, she has avoided most appearances with Tea Party politicians such as Sarah Palin (who has a disapproval rating of over 50 percent in California). Most of the $140 million she has spent on her campaign is her own money rather than donations from supporters.

I’ll be covering the race as the election season draws to a close. In fact, there's only a week to go! Between now and then, I’ll be covering the Moving America Forward rally with President Obama in Los Angeles and a mock-election at my school.

You can also check back here on election night to see who wins the race!

—Miranda Rector

PHOTO: California Attorney General Jerry Brown (top); Republican businesswoman Meg Whitman (bottom). Photos Courtesy Jerry Brown and Meg Whitman)

Comments

[Emily]

i dn't get y we have to learn about this stuff since we dont vote anyways! Do you agree?!?!?!?

[Judy]

@Emily We r going to vote someday! w shld lrn now about process

[Trevor]

@Emily Dude! elections are cool! I am going to run for office someday.