Pete Wilson

Pete Wilson (born 1930) is an American politician from California, although born in Illinois. He moved to California to attend law school at the University of California, Berkeley. After serving on Richard M. Nixon's campaign for Governor of California in 1962, he served in the California Assembly and then became mayor of San Diego before serving one term in the United States Senate from 1983 to 1989 and then two terms as Governor of California from 1989 to 1999.

Originally a moderate Republican known for his stand on environmental issues and outreach to minorities as mayor, Wilson moved to the right with his party at large over the course of his career. As governor, he was known for a hard line on crime, welfare and immigration issues. His two terms were characterized by severe economic recession, the flight of the aerospace and defense industries from California, and the 1992 Rodney King riots. Despite having the lowest popularity of any governor in the history of the state up to that time, he was re-elected by a wide margin in 1994 after a campaign which involved considerable ethnic and racial demagoguery against the Hispanic communities of California.

Wilson made an unsuccessful run for the GOP nomination for President in 1996, changing course on the issue of abortion. Previously pro-choice, he switched to a pro-life position in pursuit of the nomination.