Arnold Schwarzenegger, the people's choice to be governor of California, prepared to move swiftly yesterday to shape his administration after fears of a chaotic transition of power faded.

Campaign sources said Schwarzenegger was expected to name an experienced Republican political veteran to the post.

Ousted Governor Gray Davis, recalled by voters in a vote virtually unprecedented in US political history, ordered Democratic Party loyalists to cooperate with the incoming Republican administration to ensure a smooth hand-over.

But it remained unclear exactly when the Austrian-born former bodybuilder turned Hollywood idol would formally take office. First the state election board must certify the election, a process that could take several weeks. Most did not expect Schwarzenegger to take the oath of office in Sacramento until next month.

Schwarzenegger, who never spent a day in political office and hardly ever voted, easily won the governorship of the state in a recall election on Tuesday that saw voters boil over in anger, flock to the poll in huge numbers and throw out Davis less than 10 months into his second term.

"I want to be the governor for the people. I want to represent everybody," he said in a victory speech.

"We have tough choices ahead," he told a crowd of wildly enthusiastic supporters. "Shall we rebuild our state together or shall we fight among ourselves? ... For the people to win, politics as usual must lose. I will reach out to Republicans and Democrats and independents - to those who supported the recall and those who did not."

Traditional Democratic voters abandoned Davis en masse and were not enthused by his Lt. Governor Cruz Bustamante, either. Schwarzenegger won among voters in all age groups on his way to a smashing popular mandate. He even outpolled his rivals among labour union households.

Voters brushed aside allegations that surfaced in the final days of the campaign that Schwarzenegger had sexually harassed 16 women.