According to a report in the New York Times, the 60-second spot, called "initial", shows Schwarzenegger strolling along a path in a lavish home, saying "Politicians are not doing their job". He then walks into an office, and says "Give California back its future".
The ad was created by Sipple Strategic Communications, with producer Don Sipple best known for a 1994 ad showing illegal immigrants coming in to California.
It is more or less the first time Schwarzenegger has publicly said anything. His Democratic opponents have accused him of being too scared to speak or to lay out his plans for California.
In the spot, Schwarzenegger says: "This historic election has come about because there is a tremendous disconnect between the people of California and the leaders of California. We, the people, are doing our job, working hard, raising our families and paying our taxes, but the politicians are not doing their job. We can do better than that."
Arnie then goes on to talk about California's farming and technology sectors, and how he will rebuild the economy.
Finally, he says: "I want to be the people's governor. I will work honestly, without fear or favour, to do what is right for all Californians."
The ads ends with a voiceover that says: "Join Arnold, and let's bring California back."
Schwarzenegger has donated $1m of his own money to his fund, but faces more than 100 other candidates to become the governor of California, including the usual array of strippers, along with a somewhat smaller celebrity, the former 'Diff'rent Strokes' star Gary Coleman.
Austrian film star Schwarzenegger is notoriously shy about appearing in advertisements in the US, and recently sued a car dealership in Ohio for using the image of the Terminator without permission. But in overseas markets, he is less wary of using his fame to flog goods -- he was the face of the noodle brand Nissin in Japan for three years.
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