[1] Her two more conservative rivals in the GOP primary, Irvine city councilman Barry Hammond and attorney Tom Reinecke (son former California Lt. Gov.
In 2005 Brewer ran in a special election for California's 48th congressional district left vacant after incumbent Congressman Christopher Cox resigned to become Chairman of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
Brewer lost the nomination to State Senator John Campbell by a 28% margin, but did beat eight other Republicans in the primary election.
The American Independent Party candidate, Minuteman Project founder Jim Gilchrist, fell only 2.3% short of overtaking Brewer in the open primary.
In October 2006, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger appointed Brewer to serve as a member of the "Little Hoover Commission".