Thank you all for being here.

It’s tough competing for airtime with the Los Angeles Lakers, so I appreciate that all of you are here with us tonight.

I am so grateful to have with me tonight the family I love: Carol, my wife of 22 years, and our daughter Rebecca.

They have been a constant source of support during this demanding campaign. And they have been—and always will be—my pride and joy.

During this campaign, I was gratified to have the support of great conservative leaders like Tom McClintock, George Deukmejian, and Jim Brulte.

All of you gathered in this room—and all of our supporters across California—should take pride in knowing that you were the heart and soul of this great cause.

Thank you for your unwavering support and steadfast commitment to conservative change.

A little while ago, I called Meg Whitman to congratulate her and to wish her well in her continuing campaign for governor.

I enjoyed our spirited debates and I hope we’ll get a chance to know each other better in the future.

Running for governor has been one of the greatest experiences of my life.

Even though we were outspent four-to-one, I know that this campaign was an overwhelming victory for our solutions, values, and ideals.

I believe that being a Republican must be about more than just winning an election.

When we surrender our ideals—and the principles we hold dear in the name of victory—that victory is hollow.

Our task is to press ahead, fighting for these conservative principles, to ensure that they prevail in the Fall.

Meg Whitman began this campaign as a skeptic of our conservative ideals.

We challenged her. And by the end, she embraced our positions on many issues.

Without our fight and your efforts, that never would have happened.

We believe in the urgent need to secure our borders, and vigorously fight any effort to grant amnesty to those who are here illegally.

We believe that broad-based tax relief will grow our economy and create the jobs that Californians so desperately need.

We believe that we should fight President Obama’s big-government takeover of our healthcare system.

We believe in driving the number of abortions to zero by ending all taxpayer funding of abortions.

We believe that our state’s last, best hope is to defeat Jerry Brown and reform Sacramento.

If Meg Whitman runs on conservative principles, she deserves our full support.

I am confident that California’s best days are still ahead of us.

I’ve seen it in entrepreneurs and small business owners—with the boldness and courage to pursue new ideas.

I’ve seen it in the men and women who lay their lives on the line each and every day to protect our state’s citizens.

And I’ve seen it in the moms and dads who want their kids to be the first in their families to go on to college.

We did not prevail today.

But that does not mean that our fight ends here.

We go forward boldly and confidently, secure in the conviction that only our conservative ideals can turn the tide.

Together, we can save California.

You know it.

I know it.

Let’s fight on!

Thank you very much.

Republican candidate for governor Steve Poizner announced the endorsement today from Arizona Sheriff Joe Arpaio. Arpaio, who has been Sheriff of Maricopa County since 1992, has been a leader in the fight to end illegal immigration in Arizona and supports Arizona’s law to crack down on those who enter this country illegally.

“Steve Poizner has been a staunch supporter of Arizona’s illegal immigration law,” said Sheriff Arpaio. “I have witnessed firsthand the effect that this law has had on curbing illegal immigration in our state in its early stages, and I believe that as governor, Steve Poizner would enact a similar law to secure California’s borders. Steve Poizner will be tough on illegal immigration, and California and Arizona must work together to fix this problem once and for all.”

“I’m proud to receive the endorsement from Sheriff Arpaio. Being on the frontline of America’s immigration battles, Sheriff Arpaio truly understands the burden that illegal immigration can have on our nation,” said Poizner. “As the only candidate in this race who supports Arizona’s immigration law, voters can trust that as governor, I will cut off taxpayer-funded benefits for illegal immigrants and other economic incentives that draw illegal immigrants to California.”

The endorsement from Sheriff Joe Arpaio continues the growing wave of support in the conservative community for Steve Poizner. Poizner has already earned the endorsement of Rep. Tom McClintock, Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, the Gun Owners of California, and the California Republican Assembly. In addition, Steve Poizner’s list of endorsers includes Governor George Deukmejian, LA County Supervisor Michael Antonovich, CA Americans for Prosperity Chairman Peter Foy, former CRA President Mike Spence, former State Senator Richard Mountjoy, Ward Connerly, Orange County GOP Chairman Emeritus Tom Fuentes, Orange County Supervisor Pat Bates, President of the National Tax Limitation Committee Lew Uhler, and eight former Chairs of the California Republican Party.

The Gun Owners of California announced its endorsement of Steve Poizner for Governor today, praising his strong support for the Second Amendment and his call for the repeal of AB 962, the Ammo Registration Bill. The Gun Owners of California Campaign Committee is a grassroots membership organization of California gun owners and was founded 35 years ago by conservative California State Senator H.L. Richardson.

“We appreciate that Steve Poizner has openly criticized Arnold Schwarzenegger for signing AB 962, the handgun ammunition registration bill last year,” said Tim Macy, GOC Vice Chairman. “His decision to seek a repeal of the bill if elected, as well as his open dialogue with GOC staff, gives us confidence that Steve Poizner will fight to protect our Second Amendment rights and also help us try and rid Californians of the anti-gun laws Schwarzenegger has signed during his tenure as our State’s most anti-Second Amendment governor.”

“The Gun Owners of California is one of the state’s most prominent Second Amendment advocacy groups and a key advocate for individual liberty and personal responsibility,” said Poizner. “I’m proud to have earned their support in my race to be the next governor of California and I look forward to working closely with them during the campaign to advance conservative principles.”

The endorsement from the Gun Owners of California continues the growing wave of support in the conservative community for Steve Poizner. Poizner has already earned the endorsement of Rep. Tom McClintock, Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, and the California Republican Assembly. In addition, Steve Poizner’s list of endorsers includes Governor George Deukmejian, LA County Supervisor Michael Antonovich, CA Americans for Prosperity Chairman Peter Foy, former CRA President Mike Spence, former State Senator Richard Mountjoy, Ward Connerly, Orange County GOP Chairman Emeritus Tom Fuentes, Orange County Supervisor Pat Bates, President of the National Tax Limitation Committee Lew Uhler, and eight former Chairs of the California Republican Party.

Republican candidate for governor Steve Poizner today joined L.A. County Supervisor Michael Antonovich to condemn the recent vote by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors to boycott Arizona because of the state’s new immigration law, SB 1070. Poizner stood with Supervisor Antonovich today in Los Angeles to applaud Antonovich’s vote against the boycott and to announce a new policy to help stop employers from hiring illegal immigrants in California.

“Supervisor Antonovich demonstrated both courage and wisdom in standing up for a state’s right to demand that federal immigration laws be enforced. Supervisor Antonovich is correct to focus the Board on the real needs of the citizens of Los Angeles County, such as trying to stop the flow of illegal immigration,” said Poizner. “As governor, I will crack down on illegal immigration by ending the economic magnets that draw undocumented workers to California. I’m the only candidate to call for the revocation of business licenses of any employer that knowingly hires undocumented workers.”

Today, Poizner announced a new policy initiative that builds on his bold immigration proposals. As governor, Steve will issue an executive order requiring all businesses contracting with California state agencies to verify the employment eligibility of their employees. Furthermore, he will conduct an extensive audit of all state contractors to identify any that have hired illegal immigrants. Steve will also rescind the contract of any state contractor that has violated the law by hiring illegal immigrants.

“States must engage in bold, definitive action to stop illegal immigration. That’s why I support both the 2007 Arizona law, which cracked down on employer hiring of illegal immigrants, as well as Arizona’s recently passed immigration law. As governor, I will take the steps necessary to ensure that employers are following the law and that taxpayer dollars aren’t going to state contractors that hire illegal immigrants. Californians are tired of politicians like Meg Whitman who are soft on illegal immigration. She has made her opposition to Arizona’s actions crystal clear and I couldn’t disagree with her more.”

“Meg Whitman’s new ad represents nothing more than another baseless and false attack against Steve Poizner. Her previous ads have already been proven false, and this one takes it one step further by implying that Steve Poizner wasn’t enough of a Republican during the same years when Meg Whitman was supporting Barbara Boxer and attending events with Bill Clinton and Al Gore. Voters won’t be fooled by this latest attack because they know Steve Poizner is the true conservative in this race.”

Watch Team Poizner’s latest web video below that explains why Steve Poizner has received over 70% of Tea Party support in California:

“Just like Jerry Brown’s failed tenure as governor, this ad looks like it was produced in the late 1970’s. Steve Poizner has been offering specific plans to fix California for the past year, while Jerry Brown has sat on the sidelines coddling the unions that are bankrupting California. Voters are not looking to be led back down the broken path that Jerry Brown dragged them through 30 years ago, they are looking for a reformer and that is exactly what Steve Poizner will offer in November.”

In a memo distributed by Marc Harris, Southern California Coordinator for the Coalition of Tea Party Groups, after his in-depth, one-on-one interview with Steve on behalf of Tea Parties groups across the state, Steve was described as a gubernatorial candidate who is “completely aligned with our Tea Party values.”

The poll was conducted by a combination of telephone (1,417 respondents), and emails forwarded within and among one hundred eighty seven (187) established, grassroots Tea Party groups.

Marc Harris further states in the memo that on “issue after issue, Steve was forthright, candid, and did not evade or hedge on any question or issue. … [Steve] is really tough on illegal immigration and supports Arizona’s law. … [Steve] is just a very down-to-earth, concerned citizen, and identifies much more with the Tea Partiers than with Sacramento insiders. … In the end, I am convinced he is the real deal and ‘one of us.’”

“I am honored to have the overwhelming support of Tea Party members from across California. It’s clear Tea Partiers do not want an establishment candidate in the governor’s office, and that is exactly who Meg Whitman is,” said Poizner. “As governor, I will uphold the ideas of limited government, individual liberty, and a free-market system and I will bring this set of core principles with me to the governor’s office. Ultimately, I believe these core principles will benefit our state and help to bring California back from the brink.”

The other twenty-eight percent (28%) broke down as follows: Undecided 18%; Meg Whitman 8%; Other Candidates 2%

It is worthwhile to note that in a similar poll taken in the first week of March, 2010, (sample size: 814) the percentages were: Undecided 53%; Poizner 14%, Whitman 23%; Larry Naritelli 9%; Others 1%.

Read the results of the Straw Poll here.

Read the Memo from Marc Harris here.

“Meg Whitman sounds more like a status quo politician every day, making more empty promises she has no understanding of. She says she’ll cut spending, yet she’s done nothing but shatter spending records over the last year. She says she’s against amnesty, but openly admits to not even understanding the immigration issue. California needs a new, bold reformer like Steve Poizner, not more broken promises from a rookie trying to buy the Republican nomination with $100 million.”

Pick Poizner: He’s The Worthiest Of The Candidates In GOP Gubernatorial Primary
Editorial
Los Angeles Daily News
May 30, 2010
Article link

In choosing the nominee for the gubernatorial primary, we urge GOP voters to ignore the ubiquitous and nasty ads and ask themselves which of the two candidates – Steve Poizner or Meg Whitman – is best prepared to be governor of a state in dire financial trouble.

They should consider which candidate has the experience in both government as well as private industry, which has been willing to meet with the press and public, and which one has a record of public service and an interest in public policy long before this election.

If Republican voters do that they will find that Poizner, the current insurance commissioner, is the worthier candidate.

Whitman, the former CEO of eBay, may have solid business background, but she lacks the political and public service background essential for the state’s top executive. She didn’t even bother to vote in many California elections.

Poizner, by contrast, was co-founder of two education groups, EdVoice and the California Charter Schools Association. He also was a White House fellow, focusing on cybersecurity and emergency communications and taught a semester of 12th-grade American government at a San Jose high school. In 2006, Poizner won a statewide election to become California’s insurance commissioner. …

Both would attack the state’s chronic fiscal problems, illegal immigration and pension problems, but only Poizner truly grasps what it takes to solve problems in government.

More importantly, of the two, only Poizner stands a chance in the election against Jerry Brown, the master politician who will have the might of the Democratic Party political machine on his side. That alone makes him the best choice in this primary.