Davis defeats Lungren, Boxer pummels Fong

Wednesday, November 4, 1998

Davis defeats Lungren, Boxer pummels Fong

RESULTS: Democrats win governor, Senate races; GOP controls
legislature

By Hannah Miller

Daily Bruin Senior Staff

Democratic Lt. Governor Gray Davis was carried by an unlikely
consortium of organized labor, women and moderate Republicans to
victory Tuesday night over Attorney General Dan Lungren, winning 58
percent of the vote, with 50.7 percent of precincts reporting.

Democratic Sen. Barbara Boxer won a hard-fought race against
Republican challenger Matt Fong, coming from behind to win by 53 to
43 percent, also with 50.7 percent of precincts reporting.

Democratic pollsters heralded the double victory as a complete
break from the last 16 years of Republican-led Californian
policy.

"This great victory tonight is more than just electing a
candidate for governor," said Davis in his victory speech. "It is a
clear affirmation that Californians want to take a moderate path to
the future. That is who I am. That is how I ran. And that is how I
will govern."

Davis, who in his six-year term, will oversee crucial
Congressional redistricting after the next census and appoint five
U.C. Regents, has promised to start his term with a three-day
session on reforming education in California.

Lungren"s defeat marked the first failure of the tough-on-crime
theme that had worked electoral magic for California"s Republican
governors George Deukmeijan and Pete Wilson.

Boxer, who was neck-and-neck in the returns with Fong all night,
claimed her victory as a reaffirmation of California
liberalism.

"They said we couldn"t do it, that I was a fluke of history,"
Boxer told supporters.

"They said that I was too progressive. They said that I was too
supportive of the president. They missed the deep support that I
have in every part of this beautiful state because we stand
together on the issues.""

Fong, who stressed entrepreneurial opportunity and military
strength in his platform, had garnered support from many quarters
in his bid to be California"s first Asian American senator.

"I wish them well, but watch out," said the state treasurer,
dabbing his eyes at the Republican election-night headquarters.

"Tomorrow in America is another day. We"re coming back."

Nationally, Democrats scored minor gains in the House of
Representatives. Some Senate seats and governorships changed hands,
although the balance between the parties remained the same
nationwide.

But by no means was this a landslide ­ Democrats picked up
four seats in the House ­ but it was significantly better than
the typical mid-term election, in which the party controlling the
White House loses turf in Congress.

Democrats, who asked voters to make Nov. 3 into a referendum on
President Bill Clinton"s sex scandal, were jubilant.

"The Republicans overplayed their hand," said Bob Mulholland of
the California Democratic Party.

One exit poll showed the scandal playing a fairly minor role.
Only 9 percent of voters said the Lewinsky scandal mattered most in
deciding how they voted for senator.

Locally, incumbent Democrat Henry Waxman won re-election to the
29th Congressional district, beating out Republican challenger and
former Bruin Mike Gottlieb, with 73 to 24 percent of popular votes
and 37 percent of precincts reporting. Waxman, a 12-term Westside
politician, had stressed his support for environmental issues.

In the messy, lightning-rod race for the congressional seat in
Orange County"s Garden Grove, incumbent Loretta Sanchez beat out
Republican Robert Dornan, a long-time former U.S. Representative,
with 57 percent of voter support.

But this election day did not necessarily represent a turn to
the left. Overall, the Republicans kept control of the House of
Representatives, 284-210, and the Senate, 54-44.

The upcoming impeachment inquiry of President Bill Clinton will
continue, but analysts predict that it will be toned down because
Republicans failed to gain seats in Congress.

Outside of California, 23 of 36 gubernatorial races went for the
GOP. Democrats scored some upset victories, however, ousting a pair
of Southern governors and electing a governor in Iowa for the first
time since 1966.

Republicans also retain their gubernatorial control, running 32
out of 50 statehouses.

In Texas, Gov. George W. Bush won re-election, increasing his
chances to springboard to the White House in 2000.

His brother Jeb won the Florida statehouse for the Republicans.
Republicans also won governorships in Illinois, Ohio, Michigan and
New York.

The California legislature, which has been under Democratic
control for years, added another seven Democratic seats.

UCLA"s local state-assembly member, Wally Knox, who spoke on
campus two years ago when launching his first campaign, beat
challenger Republican Kevin Davis with 73 percent of the vote. Knox
stepped into the spotlight last year with the release of a report
on the widening income gap in L.A. county.

The ghost of Proposition 209 lives on in Washington state, where
a measure banning affirmative action in public-sector employment
and admissions passed by a wide majority.

Washington"s Initiative 200, which was championed and partially
bankrolled by UC Regent Ward Connerly, could catch on in other
states after implementation.

With reports from Daily Bruin wire services and Lawrence
Ferchaw, Daily Bruin staff.DAVID HILL

At voting booths around campus, students and faculty turned out
to vote for state leaders and ballot propositions.

Related site:

California Secretary of State

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