Schwarzenegger’s go-it-alone style put him at odds with the legislature. When he appealed directly to voters with ballot initiatives, he got mixed results. Voters approved measures backed by Schwarzenegger to do away with party-specific primaries and create more competitive legislative districts, which were aimed at bringing more moderate politicians to the fore.

But in the face of rising unemployment and state fiscal woes, voters rejected his efforts to remake the budget and take on unions. He also failed to gain consensus from interest groups necessary to pass universal health care, a goal of his administration.

In the waning months of his governorship, Schwarzenegger has fashioned himself as an old-style reformer whose radical agenda will be vindicated by history. Indeed, many of his most significant accomplishments, such as redistricting reform and the primary system overhaul, will be felt in the long term.