When Ronald Reagan was sworn in as governor of California in 1967, the state had a population of 19,176,000, according to the Census Bureau. Eight years later, when he left that office in 1975, the state's population had grown to 21,537,849 -- an increase of 2,361,849.

That was not an unusual pattern for governors of the Golden State. Under Reagan's predecessor, Democratic Gov. Pat Brown, the state's population grew from 15,467,000 in 1959 to the 19,176,000 of 1967 -- an increase of 3,709,000.

This longstanding pattern of population growth in California continued through the terms of each of the next six governors of the state, three of whom were Republicans and three of whom were Democrats.

Jerry Brown Jr., who followed Reagan as governor of California, served his initial two terms from 1975 to 1983. During that time, the state's population climbed from 21,537,849 to 25,360,026, an increase of 3,822,177.

Brown was succeeded in his initial two terms by Republican Gov. George Deukmejian. In Deukmejian's eight years, the California population climbed from 25,360,026 in 1983 to 30,414,114 in 1991, an increase of 5,054,088.

Deukmejian was followed in office by Republican Gov. Pete Wilson. In his eight years, the California population grew from 30,414,114 in 1991 to 33,145,121 in 1999, an increase of 2,731,007.

Democrat Gray Davis then served as governor of California from 1999........

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