Hasta la Vista, Davis

LOS ANGELES (voa) – Arnold Schwarzenegger, who U.S. television networks project has been elected to replace Gray Davis as governor of California, has given a victory speech.

The Austrian-born actor thanked the people of California for placing their trust in him. Mr. Schwarzenegger said he would not fail or disappoint them.

The Tonight Show host Jay Leno introduced Arnold Schwarzenegger “the governor of the great state of California,” The governor-elect announced his candidacy at a taping of the show in early August.

Earlier, Governor Davis conceded defeat in Tuesday’s recall election, saying the voters have decided it is time for someone else to serve as governor. He said he called Mr. Schwarzenegger to congratulate him, and promised to help in the transition.

Preliminary vote tallies show 55 percent of voters cast their ballots in favor of removing Mr. Davis, a Democrat, from office.

The returns also show Mr. Schwarzenegger, a Republican, well ahead of more than 130 other candidates seeking the governorship.

Official results may not be known for several days or weeks, because there is a large number of mail-in ballots. An estimated 10 million people voted in the special election.

Support for Mr. Schwarzenegger slipped in recent surveys after a number of women accused him of sexual misconduct in separate incidents over the last three decades.

Mr. Schwarzenegger dismissed the reports as “campaign trickery,” although he did apologize last week for behaving badly towards women in the past. The unprecedented election — with several celebrity candidates — has received massive attention from U.S. and international media.