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# Governor’s race neck and neck
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/governors-race-neck-and-neck/
- Published: 2006-06-07T15:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-23T18:15:59.000Z
- Author: Guest Author
- Tags: local, Santa Monica, #archive-import

*Losing propositions PRIMARY, from page 1*

*By Daily Press staff*

Statewide races remained tight Tuesday night, particularly the Democratic primary for governor, with State Treasurer Phil Angelides leading State Controller Steve Westly by a few thousand votes.

With only 35 percent of precincts reporting at 11:10 p.m., Angelides had captured 530,017 votes, or 47.5 percent. Westly was close behind with 485,864 votes, or 43.6 percent.

Many races are expected to be close, with winners not likely to be known until later today.

That isn’t the case in the Republican primary as Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger faced little competition, earning 90.2 percent of votes cast. His challengers, Bill Chambers and Robert C. Newman II tied for second, each winning 3.4 percent of the vote.

It was a bad day for propositions, with both measures on the ballot, Proposition 81 and 82, failing to capture the support of voters.

With 35 percent of precincts reporting, Prop. 81, the Public Library Bond Act that would authorize a $600 million bond to fund the construction and renovation of public libraries, was losing with 53.7 percent voting against the measure. Supporters argued that new libraries fight illiteracy, create partnerships between schools and provide “safe havens” for children. Opponents pointed to the estimated $1.2 billion price tag over 30 years as a reason to vote no and force elected officials to come up with the money out of the state’s budget.

Prop. 82, which would create a free, voluntary, half-day public preschool for all 4-year-olds by imposing a tax on individuals who earn more than $400,000 a year, or $800,000 for couples, didn’t do any better, with 58.8 percent of voters opposing it.

Supporters of the proposition said it would prepare children to learn, encourage parental involvement, expand teacher training and provide independent audits and criminal penalties for the misuse of funds. Critics argue the measure would create more bureaucracy and siphon money away from K-12 education.

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on June 7, 2006.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/060706.pdf?ref=smdp.com)