Washington, June 9 (DPA) Several American states held party elections Tuesday, with Californians voting to begin the process of picking a successor to Republican Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, who cannot run again under term-limit laws.

Former EBay chief executive Meg Whitman, who spent more than $80 million, trounced Steve Poizner, the state's insurance commissioner, who had opened his own wallet for $24 million. Early results showed Whitman winning by about 2-to-1.

Whitman will square off in November against Democrat Jerry Brown, the state's attorney general and former governor who faced little opposition for his centre-left party's nod.

The race to become the centre-right Republican Party's gubernatorial nominee became the state's most expensive primary contest ever, with the two main candidates pouring more than a combined $100 million into their campaigns.

The other key race in the Republican campaign featured another big name from the high-technology industry. Former Hewlett-Packard chief executive Carly Fiorina won well over 50 percent against two other candidates, setting her up to challenge longtime Democratic incumbent Barbara Boxer for a US Senate seat from California.

In all, 12 states held primary elections.

In another closely watched race, Senator Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas won a runoff for the Democratic nomination by 52 to 48 percent over the state's Lieutenant Governor Bill Halter. She still faces a Republican challenge for re-election in November.