2010Flipped from RepublicanFinal results
2010 election for California Governor
Governor · California
Jerry Brown (D) won with 53.8% of the vote, defeating Meg Whitman (R) by 12.9 points, a seat Republicans won last time.
Jerry BrownDemocrat · winner
53.8%5,428,149
Meg WhitmanRepublican
40.9%4,127,391
Chelene NightingaleIndependent
1.6%166,312
Dale OgdenLibertarian
1.5%150,895
Laura WellsGreen
1.3%129,224
Carlos AlvarezPeace and Freedom
0.9%92,851
10,094,822 votes
Source: English WikipediaUpdated Oct 5, 2026, 4:05 AM ET
The seat over time
D − R margin in this seat's races around 2010
Races before and after
Source: English WikipediaUpdated Oct 5, 2026, 4:05 AM ET
The candidates
Jerry Brown (D)Meg Whitman (R)
Also on the ballot: Chelene Nightingale (Independent), 1.6%; Dale Ogden (Libertarian), 1.5%; Laura Wells (Green), 1.3%; Carlos Alvarez (Peace and Freedom), 0.9%