Gray Davis was a politician.
Arnold Schwarzenegger . As a Republican , Schwarzenegger was first elected on October 7 , 2003 , in a special recall election to replace then-Governor Gray Davis . Joseph Graham `` Gray '' Davis , Jr. ( born December 26 , 1942 ) is a retired American politician and attorney who served as the 37th Governor of California from 1999 to 2003 . During his time as governor , Davis made education his top priority and California spent eight billion dollars more than was required under Proposition 98 during his first term .