LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- CNN projects that California's electorate will recall Democratic Gov. Gray Davis and choose actor-turned-politician, Republican Arnold Schwarzenegger as the Golden State's next governor, based on statewide exit polls.
Davis, re-elected to a second term less than a year ago, would become the first governor recalled from office since 1921, when North Dakota voters ousted Gov. Lynn Frazier.
The race -- borne out of voter discontent with the California economy and dissatisfaction with the incumbent Democrat's leadership -- tightened in the closing days, marked by accusations against front-running replacement candidate Schwarzenegger, and charges of ugly politics.
Polls closed at 8 p.m. (11 p.m. EDT).
"So far, at least, we've been hearing that turnout is on a par with what we've seen in some record-breaking years for governor's elections," Secretary of State Kevin Shelley said.
The respected Field Poll predicted as many as 10 million voters would cast ballots -- 30 percent more than the 7.7 million who elected the 60-year-old Democrat to a second term in November 2002 and a record in the state for a non-presidential contest.
http://www.cnn.com/2003/ALLPOLITICS/10/07/recall.main/index.html
Davis, re-elected to a second term less than a year ago, would become the first governor recalled from office since 1921, when North Dakota voters ousted Gov. Lynn Frazier.
The race -- borne out of voter discontent with the California economy and dissatisfaction with the incumbent Democrat's leadership -- tightened in the closing days, marked by accusations against front-running replacement candidate Schwarzenegger, and charges of ugly politics.
Polls closed at 8 p.m. (11 p.m. EDT).
"So far, at least, we've been hearing that turnout is on a par with what we've seen in some record-breaking years for governor's elections," Secretary of State Kevin Shelley said.
The respected Field Poll predicted as many as 10 million voters would cast ballots -- 30 percent more than the 7.7 million who elected the 60-year-old Democrat to a second term in November 2002 and a record in the state for a non-presidential contest.
http://www.cnn.com/2003/ALLPOLITICS/10/07/recall.main/index.html