Governorship of Ronald Reagan Governorship of Ronald Reagan Ronald Reagan was the Governor of California for two terms, the first beginning in 1967 and the second in 1971. He left office in 1975, declining to run for a third term. Robert Finch, Edwin Reinecke, and John L. Harmer served as lieutenant governors over the course of his governorship. California Republicans were impressed with Reagan's political views and charisma after his "A Time for Choosing" speech, and nominated him as the Republican party candidate for Governor in 1966. Reagan's campaign emphasized two main themes: "to send the welfare bums back to work", and regarding burgeoning
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