Pacific: California

50-state roundup

California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger celebrates his election to a second term with actor and friend Tom Arnold. The Republican beat state Treasurer Phil Angelides with 55 percent of the vote. (By David Mcnew -- Getty Images)

As expected, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) breezed to a second term by handily defeating Phil Angelides, the state treasurer since 1998. Schwarzenegger had experienced a political conversion of sorts when voters in a special election last year spurned his bid for more authority, and he kept his balance in dealing with Angelides, a former state Democratic Party chairman and lackluster campaigner.

Under the tutelage of a new chief of staff with a Democratic pedigree, Schwarzenegger dropped his "girlie men" attacks on Democrats, backed a minimum-wage increase, endorsed a trendsetting, state-enforced limit on greenhouse emissions, and spoke against President Bush's plan to put state troops along the Mexican border. Governing mostly from the center gave him the support of 55 percent of voters.

The former actor's strong showing did not help the GOP candidate for attorney general, state Sen. Chuck Poochigian, who lost to Oakland Mayor Jerry Brown, a former governor. Brown stepped into a job once held by his father.

Four Republican House members were hit before the election by corruption-related accusations, to varying effect:

Rep. Richard W. Pombo, who chaired the House Resources Committee, lost to Jerry McNerney (D), a wind-power businessman and engineer. Pombo was wounded by charges that he had taken actions to benefit Indian casinos after becoming one of the top recipients of tribal donations. He was also targeted by a $1 million campaign by environmental groups, which Pombo angered by trying to alter protections for endangered species.

But Rep. John T. Doolittle, a House Appropriations Committee member, kept his seat despite repeated attacks by challenger Charlie Brown for accepting contributions and foreign trips from lobbyist Jack Abramoff. Doolittle's wife also drew controversy by taking payments from Abramoff's lobbying firm and for retaining a set percentage of the campaign contributions she solicited on his behalf.

Similarly, Rep. Jerry Lewis, a 28-year Capitol Hill veteran and the chairman of the Appropriations Committee, easily won his race against a poorly financed former probation officer, despite a continuing Justice Department probe of Lewis's favors for clients of a lobbying firm run by a close friend. Lewis barely campaigned, and he used more than 70 percent of the $1.2 million he collected from donors since January 2005 to pay his legal bills.

Brian Bilbray, a registered Washington lobbyist and former congressman who was returned to the House by a special vote in June, held a majority of his conservative district by emphasizing an anti-immigration theme. His predecessor was Randy "Duke" Cunningham (R), who is in prison for accepting $2.4 million worth of bribes from lobbyists; Bilbray's campaign biography listed him gingerly as the former manager of a "public affairs business." Bilbray's opponent was Francine Busby, a former travel agent and school board member.

Washington

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Despite seeming vulnerable early in the campaign, Sen. Maria Cantwell (D) won a second term, defeating former insurance executive Mike McGavick, who invested more than $2 million of his own money in the race.

Former Microsoft executive Darcy Burner, a Democrat who attracted the support of national party leaders, narrowly lost her bid against Rep. David G. Reichert, a former sheriff. Reichert succeeded in distancing himself from Bush despite Burner's efforts to tag him as a GOP loyalist.

Oregon

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Gov. Ted Kulongoski (D) had a tough first four years in office feuding with the state legislature, but he was able to fend off a challenge from Ron Saxton, an energy lawyer and former school board member, winning a second term with nearly 53 percent of the vote.

Alaska

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After unpopular Gov. Frank H. Murkowski (R) was defeated in the primary, Alaskans chose former Wasilla mayor Sarah Palin, a Republican, to take the reins instead of Tony Knowles, a former Democratic governor and Anchorage mayor.

Hawaii

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Gov. Linda Lingle (R) breezed to victory over Randy Iwase, winning more than 62 percent of the vote.

Longtime Sen. Daniel K. Akaka (D) similarly trounced Cynthia Thielen.

Hawaii

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Gov. Linda Lingle (R) breezed to victory over Randy Iwase, winning more than 62 percent of the vote.

Longtime Sen. Daniel K. Akaka (D) similarly trounced Cynthia Thielen.