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Gov. Gavin Newsom signs bills into law. (Photo: gov.ca.gov)

How Many Bills Historically Get to the Governor’s Desk?

The lowest veto rate was just over 1% by Governor Jerry Brown and the highest was 35% by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger

By Chris Micheli, October 10, 2024 3:45 pm

Over the past four decades, thousands of bills have reached the Governor’s Desk. The vast majority of those measures get signed into law, with a small percentage being vetoed. The lowest veto rate was just over 1% by Governor Jerry Brown (in his first time in office), and the highest was 35% by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. The average veto rate over the past 32 years is 15.8%.

Looking back at the first term and a half of Governor Newsom’s actions, as well as the prior five governors, the following are general statistics:

  • During Governor Newsom’s 6 years in office, between 425 – 1,200 bills were sent to him annually, and he vetoed between 8% – 16.5% of them. (Note the low number was due to the substantial reduction in bills considered in the pandemic-shortened 2020 Session.)
  • During Governor Brown’s (second) 8 years in office, between 870 – 1,200 bills were sent to him annually, and he vetoed between 10% – 15% of them.
  • During Governor Schwarzenegger’s 7 years in office, between 890 – 1,265 bills were sent to him annually, and he vetoed between 22% – 35% of them.
  • During Governor Davis’ 5 years in office, between 965 – 1,455 bills were sent to him annually, and he vetoed between 6% – 25% of them.
  • During Governor Wilson’s 8 years in office, between 1,075 – 1,700 bills were sent to him annually, and he vetoed between 8% – 24% of them.
  • During Governor Deukmejian’s 8 years in office, between 1,455 – 2,140 bills were sent to him annually, and he vetoed between 9.5% – 20% of them.
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