LOS ANGELES - Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger will be baaack.

The bodybuilder-turned-action-star-turned-politician coasted to an easy victory over Democrat Phil Angelides on Tuesday, completing a comeback from a disastrous bid a year ago to realign political power in Sacramento.

Republican California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger stands in-line to cast his vote at the Crestwood Hills Recreation Center in Los Angeles Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2006. Democrat Phil Angelides is running against Schwarzenegger. [AP]

Schwarzenegger admitted his mistakes and changed course. Aided by a rolling state economy, his campaign won back Democratic and independent support by blending Reaganesque optimism with a return to the middle-ground politics that helped propel him to office amid the historic recall of Gov. Gray Davis in 2003.

The 59-year-old Schwarzenegger was seen as a bright spot for Republicans in a year when the party has struggled to hold on nationwide amid frustration with the war in Iraq.

Two Republicans linked to the Jack Abramaoff lobbying scandal were fighting for survival. Rep. Richard Pombo, the chairman of the House Resources Committee, was challenged by Democrat Jerry McNerney, a 53-year-old wind-energy engineer who holds a doctorate in mathematics. Meanwhile, Republican Rep. John Doolittle faced Democrat Charlie Brown, a retired Air Force officer and decorated war veteran.

Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., easily won her third term by a wide margin.

Voters also decided on a massive rebuilding package for highways, schools, housing and levees totaling US$37 billion, a pillar of Schwarzenegger's agenda.

They were asked for the second time in a year to weigh in on an initiative to require parents to be notified 48 hours before their minor child has an abortion, unless the parents or a judge waived the requirement. A nearly identical measure was rejected last November.

Hollywood and political celebrities including Bill Clinton, Al Gore and Julia Roberts got involved in campaigining for Proposition 87, which would tax companies drilling for oil in California. The money from the tax would be set aside to promote clean energy, with the goal of promoting clean energy.

Also put before voters was a plan to finance campaigns with tax dollars and "Jessica's Law," which would prohibit paroled sex offenders from living in many urban areas. Voters also considered whether to boost tobacco taxes to pay for health care.