The year of Republican women

Two Silicon Valley veterans, Meg Whitman and Carly Fiorina, looked to become the Republican Party's standard bearers in 2010, moving easily to the front of the pack in early election returns.
Whitman, the former head of e-Bay, held a wide lead over Insurance Commisisoner Steve Poizner in the race for the nomination for governor, to face Democrat Attorney General Jerry Brown in November.
In the race for the Senate nomination, Fiorina, the former head of HP, was easily leading over former. Rep. Tom Campbell for the right to face Democratic incumbent Sen. Barbara Boxer.
In other top races, San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom was trailing Los Angeles Councilwoman Janice Hahn in Los Angeles returns in the race for the Democratic nomination for lieutenant governor. However, Newsom was leading statwide Appointed Lt. Gov. Abel Maldonado was easily winning the GOP nomination.