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
Results
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
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.
CQ Politics had forecast the race in this traditionally Republican district as 'No Clear Favorite'. Two polls sponsored by Brown showed Brown in the lead; two polls sponsored by McClintock showed McClintock in the lead.
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