2008 United States House of Representatives elections in California

The 2008 United States House of Representatives elections in California were held on November 4, 2008, to determine who would represent California various congressional districts in the United States House of Representatives. In the 111th Congress, California has 53 seats in the House, apportioned accordingly after the 2000 United States census. Representatives are elected to two-year terms; those elected will serve in the 111th Congress from January 3, 2009, to January 3, 2011. The election coincides with the United States presidential election as well as other elections in California.

According to CQ Politics, the districts considered the most competitive were the 4th and 11th, with the 3rd, 8th, 26th, 46th and 50th as less than safe as well. However, the partisan balance of the state's congressional delegation did not change, despite the strong Democratic dominance during the broader elections.

Overview United States House of Representatives elections in California, 2008PartyVotesPercentageSeats+/– Democratic 7,380,825 59.90% 34 0 Republican 4,515,925 36.65% 19 0 Libertarian 220,118 1.79% 0 0 Independent 90,340 0.73% 0 0 Green 60,926 0.49% 0 0 Peace and Freedom 47,659 0.39% 0 0 American Independent 6,286 0.05% 0 0 Valid votes 12,322,079 89.66% — — Invalid or blank votes 1,421,098 10.34% — — Totals 13,743,177 100.00% 53 — Voter turnout 79.42%

Below are the final official results as reported by the Secretary of State.

District 1 (map) Race ranking and details from CQ Politics Campaign contributions from OpenSecrets

Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political Report November 6, 2008 Rothenberg November 2, 2008 Sabato's Crystal Ball November 6, 2008 Real Clear Politics November 7, 2008 CQ Politics November 6, 2008

District 2 (map) Race ranking and details from CQ Politics Campaign contributions from OpenSecrets

District 3 (map) Race ranking and details from CQ Politics Campaign contributions from OpenSecrets

District 4 (map) California’s 4th District (New Rating: No Clear Favorite. Previous Rating: Leans Republican) from CQ Politics Campaign contributions from OpenSecrets

On December 2, 2008, Republican Tom McClintock declared victory over Democrat Charlie Brown in the race in the 4th congressional district. Brown conceded his defeat the next day. The race had been so close that it took four weeks of counting all mailed and provisional ballots before McClintock could be assured of victory.

Pollster Dates Respondents McClintock Brown Other Undecided Val Smith (R-McClintock) 10/21-22/08 400 likely voters 49% 40% - - Val Smith (R-McClintock) 9/22-24/08 400 likely voters 47% 39% - - Benenson Strategy (D-Brown) 8/21-24/08 500 likely voters 41%43% - 15% Benenson Strategy (D-Brown) 5/14-15/08 400 likely voters 40%42% - 18%

Charlie Brown is a retired Air Force officer who first ran for this seat in 2006, losing to incumbent John Doolittle by three percent of the vote. Brown announced in February 2007 that he would run again in 2008. Doolittle's prospects for reelection suffered because of a federal investigation into his alleged ties to Jack Abramoff. In April 2007, the FBI raided Doolittle's Virginia home. Doolittle denies all wrongdoing, and has not been charged with any crime. On January 10, 2008, Doolittle announced that he would finish his term but not run for re-election.

On March 4, 2008, State Senator Tom McClintock of Thousand Oaks officially launched his campaign for this district at the Placer County Courthouse in Auburn. McClintock received immediate endorsements from local and state Republicans, including State Senator Sam Aanasted, State Assemblyman Ted Gaines, State Assemblyman Rick Keene, Auburn City Councilman Kevin Hanley, Yuba County Supervisor Dan Logue, and Nevada County Supervisor Sue Horne.

Brown was endorsed by Senator Max Cleland, former General Wesley Clark, former Republican Congressman Pete McCloskey, Senator Jim Webb of Virginia, and many veterans' groups including the Veterans' Alliance for Security and Democracy and VoteVets.org.

In the primary election on June 3, 2008, Tom McClintock won the Republican primary with 54% of the vote ahead of Doug Ose, Suzanne Jones, and Theodore Terbolizard, in that order. Other Republican candidates had withdrawn from the race and thus did not appear on the ballot, including Rico Oller, Eric Egland, and Auburn City Councilman Mike Holmes. Charlie Brown won the Democratic primary with 88% of the vote, ahead of John "Wolf" Wolfgram, who had little financial support.

District 5 (map) Race ranking and details from CQ Politics Campaign contributions from OpenSecrets

District 6 (map) Race ranking and details from CQ Politics Campaign contributions from OpenSecrets

District 7 (map) Race ranking and details from CQ Politics Campaign contributions from OpenSecrets

District 8 (map) Race ranking and details from CQ Politics Campaign contributions from OpenSecrets

The eighth congressional district has been represented by Democrat Nancy Pelosi since 1993, when the area was redistricted from the 5th congressional district. Pelosi, who is Speaker of the House, is considered safe for re-election, but Iraq War activist Cindy Sheehan announced that she would consider running against Pelosi if Pelosi did not put in an article of impeachment against President George W. Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney. She qualified for the ballot as an independent candidate and was endorsed by the Peace and Freedom Party.

District 9 (map) Race ranking and details from CQ Politics Campaign contributions from OpenSecrets

District 10 (map) Race ranking and details from CQ Politics Campaign contributions from OpenSecrets

District 11 (map) Race ranking and details from CQ Politics Campaign contributions from OpenSecrets

District 12 (map) Race ranking and details from CQ Politics Campaign contributions from OpenSecrets

California's 12th congressional district is represented by Democrat Jackie Speier. She won a special election months before the general election to replace Tom Lantos, who represented the district from 1981 until his death due to esophageal cancer at the age of 80 in 2008. Lantos had announced that he would not seek re-election due to his declining health. This overwhelmingly Democratic district comprises mainly northern San Mateo County and the Sunset area of San Francisco.

District 13 (map) Race ranking and details from CQ Politics Campaign contributions from OpenSecrets

California's 13th congressional district has been represented by Democrat Pete Stark since 1973. Often regarded as the most liberal member of Congress (and its only atheist), Stark ran for re-election and was unopposed for the Democratic nomination. His overwhelmingly Democratic district is centered in the East Bay and includes Hayward.

District 14 (map) Race ranking and details from CQ Politics Campaign contributions from OpenSecrets

District 15 (map) Race ranking and details from CQ Politics Campaign contributions from OpenSecrets

District 16 (map) Race ranking and details from CQ Politics Campaign contributions from OpenSecrets

District 17 (map) Race ranking and details from CQ Politics Campaign contributions from OpenSecrets

District 18 (map) Race ranking and details from CQ Politics Campaign contributions from OpenSecrets

District 19 (map) Race ranking and details from CQ Politics Campaign contributions from OpenSecrets

District 20 (map) Race ranking and details from CQ Politics Campaign contributions from OpenSecrets

District 21 (map) Race ranking and details from CQ Politics Campaign contributions from OpenSecrets

District 22 (map) Race ranking and details from CQ Politics Campaign contributions from OpenSecrets

Predictions

2008 United States House of Representatives elections in California

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