Arnold Schwarzenegger Elected Governor of California

Conan The Republican

Celebrities becoming huge, influential political figures? Why, I’ve never heard of such a thing! The current US Presidential election might feature a candidate better known for his televised bon mots and bizarre hair than his stance on international trade treaties, but the notion of unusual stars of stage and screen becoming elected officials was nudged further into reality on this day in 2003 when Arnold Schwarzenegger was elected as the governor of California.

After campaigning for various Republican candidates throughout his career and appearing in the Ronald Reagan backed ‘Stop the Madness’ anti-drug music video, Arnold decided to take the plunge himself and run for office, after the incumbent Gray Davis was sacked mid-term. He won the election by around 1.3 million votes, despite scandals concerning the sexual harassment of women and an allegation that he once praised Hitler. He was soon dubbed ‘The Governator’ and served until 2011.