Corzine, a multimillionaire and former Wall Street executive, replaces former Gov. James McGreevey, who resigned last year after revealing a homosexual affair with an aide. As governor, Corzine will appoint his replacement as senator.
Possibly no one had more at stake than Schwarzenegger, the once immensely popular governor of the nation's largest state who faces re-election next year.
The former actor campaigned heavily for four ballot initiatives, which were among 39 measures facing voters in seven states on issues ranging from gay rights to election reform.
One of the California initiatives would shift the right to draw political districts from politicians to retired judges. A similar measure in Ohio, pushed by Democrats, was soundly defeated.
Maine was deciding whether to keep a law protecting homosexuals from discrimination, while Texas approved a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage.
In mayor's races, incumbent Kwame Kilpatrick was in a tough battle in Detroit, while cities from Boston to San Diego also elected mayors.
Smaller communities were deciding their own local issues. In Dover, Pennsylvania, where a court battle over teaching intelligent design is raging, voters were deciding whether to retain eight Republicans on the nine-member school board.
The Democratic slate calls for removing intelligent design, which they say is a version of creationism and brings religion into the teaching of science, from the curriculum.
