California governor’s race

With Arnold Schwarzenegger term-limited out of office, more than 16 candidates are vying to replace him in a race that’s considered a toss-up.  Front-runners include former governor and current attorney general Jerry Brown (D), former eBay CEO Meg Whitman (R), and state Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner (R), though U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D) could certainly stir things up if she decides to enter the race: she is polling almost even with Brown, and ahead of the Republicans, even though she hasn’t declared her candidacy. Whitman has said that her first move as governor would be to freeze implementation of California’s landmark climate law, AB 32, and Poizner wants to do it too.  Brown, in contrast, wants vigorous enforcement of the state’s climate law; as attorney general, he’s aggressively pushed for environmental protection and fought the feds for California’s right to regulate tailpipe emissions. Feinstein also has a strong green record, consistently earning high scores from the League of Conservation Voters.  The June 8 primary will determine who heads into the general election.