Ronald Reagan He also strongly advocated the Republican ideal of less government regulation of the economy, including that of undue federal taxation. Reagan did not seek re-election to a third term as governor in 1974; he was succeeded by the Secretary of State, Democrat Jerry Brown, who took office on January 6, 1975. In 1976, Reagan challenged incumbent President Gerald Ford in a bid to become the Republican Party's candidate for president. Reagan soon established himself as the conservative candidate with the support of like-minded organizations such as the American Conservative Union, which became key components of his political base, while Ford
Ronald Reagan Day California and that state's only governor to become President of the United States, several of his successors proclaimed February 6 as Ronald Reagan Day in California in his honor. Governor Gray Davis, a Democrat, proclaimed February 6 "Ronald Reagan Day" in both 2002 and 2003. Davis's Republican successor, Arnold Schwarzenegger proclaimed February 6 Ronald Reagan Day in 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, and 2010. Senator George Runner introduced Senate Bill 944 on February 3, 2010. The bill passed the Senate Education Committee on March 24, 2010, by a 7–0 vote. SB 944 was approved by the full Senate on