California Elections: Jerry Brown Defeats Meg Whitman for Governor; Sen. Barbara Boxer Re-elected; Pot Legalization Measure Fails

Democrat Jerry Brown is the winner in California’s gubernatorial race, according to the Associated Press.

Whitman, the former eBay CEO who spent a record $141 million on her campaign, conceded after 10:30 p.m. Tuesday, telling supporters, “I gave it my all and so did you.”

At around 10 p.m., outgoing California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger told his Twitter followers that he had called Brown, who served two terms as California governor in the 1970s and ’80s, to congratulate him, saying he and wife Maria Shriver were ready to meet with Brown and his wife.

“Looking forward to Maria & me getting together w/ him & Anne to talk abt a smooth transition,” the Republican actor-politician tweeted.

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California’s gubernatorial race was considered the most expensive governor’s race in state history. Whitman reportedly spent more than $160 million during her campaign, including $141.5 million of her own money.

Brown raised more than $32 million, with labor unions and other organizations ponying up an additional $25 million for his campaign. Hollywood’s elite also were big contributors to Brown’s campaign. In October, George Lucas, J.J. Abrams, Annette Bening and Warren Beatty, Ari and Sarah Emanuel, Alan and Cindy Horn and others paid $25,000 apiece for the privilege of being named “co-chairs” of a lavish fundraising bash at West Hollywood’s Soho House.

Meanwhile, Democratic Sen. Barbara Boxer won her fourth Senate term, defeating Republican candidate Carly Fiorina.

Elsewhere, Democrat Gavin Newsom was leading California’s lieutenant governor race at press time, while Democrat incumbent Debra Bowen was ahead in the secretary of state race. Steve Cooley, a Republican, was leading the votes for attorney general.

Meanwhile, California’s Prop. 19, which would have legalized marijuana, has been defeated. The measure also would have allowed local governments to place a tax on the sale of the drug.