Arnold Schwarzenegger has announced that he will run for the Governorship of California.
The vote was ordered after more than 1.3m people backed a petition calling for Governor Gray Davis to face the electorate again as he came under severe public criticism over California's worsening economic crisis.
Schwarzenegger, a long time supporter of the Republican Party, announced his decision to run on the Tonight show with Jay Leno on NBC television.
He said he had made his decision after lengthy talks with his wife and children, advisors and supporters.
