Actor-turned-politician ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER has breezed to re-election as Governor of California, defeating Democrat rival PHIL ANGELIDES.
The TERMINATOR star won a landslide second term in office with his campaign team allegedly declaring victory at a Beverly Hills reception around 20 minutes after polls closed last night (07NOV06).
After casting his vote yesterday the Hollywood star admitted he was confident of victory, saying, "I think that the campaign was, in comparison to other campaigns, very positive, very upbeat." On hearing he'd been re-elected, Schwarzenegger said he couldn't wait to bring all voters together to "live the Californian dream".
He added, "I'm honoured to serve as your Governor." Schwarzenegger's Republican win comes as the rest of America saw a tilt towards the Democrat party in the mid-term elections.
But the 59-year-old hasn't left himself much time to savour the victory - he leaves later today (08NOV06) for a trade mission to Mexico.