Female Republican Candidates Nab Key Spots in California Races

June 9, 2010— -- Two former female chief executives emerged as clear victors in California's expensive and divisive Republican primaries, paving the way for a fierce midterm election in November.

At the same time, Proposition 14, a historic ballot initiative that will dramatically change the electoral process, also passed by an easy margin.

Former eBay chief executive Meg Whitman beat state insurance commissioner Steve Poizner for the GOP nomination for Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's seat.

In the heated battle for the seat to challenge incumbent Democratic Sen. Barbara Boxer in November, former Hewlett Packard chief executive Carly Fiorina emerged ahead of former Rep. Tom Campbell and state Assemblyman Chuck DeVore.

Both Whitman and Poizner faced a conundrum in their campaigns -- how to please the conservative base of the Republican party while preserving their broader appeal for the general election.

Schwarzenegger, a moderate Republican, saw his popularity diminish greatly, particularly among conservative voters who dominated today's Republican primary.

Poizner, to separate himself from Whitman, made immigration the defining issue of his campaign. He expressed strong support for the controversial Arizona immigration law and attacked Whitman for opposing it.

Poizner criticized the decision by the City of Los Angeles to boycott Arizona businesses to protest the immigration law. He pledged to require all state contractors to provide proof of their employee's immigration status, boycotting any firms that have hired illegal immigrants.

Whitman, who consistently led Poizner in the polls, sought to show that while she opposed the Arizona law, she was not weak on illegal immigration. In her own television advertising, she promised "to secure our border with absolutely no amnesty," as part of her effort to "save California."

The immigration debate could compromise Republicans' chances of winning in November. Hispanics comprise approximately 37 percent of California's population and candidates cannot afford to alienate Latino voters, a large majority of whom oppose the Arizona law and favor earned legalization.

In the fall, Whitman will face Democrat Jerry Brown, the state's Attorney General, who served as governor from 1975 to 1983.

Funding could be a challenge for Brown. The GOP primary has seen massive levels of spending, with Whitman spending over $60 million of her own money and $80 million overall, and pledging to spend up to $150 million of her own money in the general election.