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1988 United States Senate election in California

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1988 United States Senate election in California

← 1982 November 8, 1988 1992 (special) →
 
Nominee Pete Wilson Leo T. McCarthy
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 5,143,409 4,287,253
Percentage 52.79% 44.00%

County results

Wilson:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%

McCarthy:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%

U.S. senator before election

Pete Wilson
Republican

Elected U.S. Senator

Pete Wilson
Republican

The 1988 United States Senate election in California took place on November 8, 1988. Incumbent Senator Pete Wilson won re-election to a second term.

As of 2024, this is the last time a Republican won a U.S. Senate election in California. This was also the first time since 1952 that an incumbent Senator was re-elected to this seat.

Democratic primary

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Candidates

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Results

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1988 Democratic Senate primary[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Leo T. McCarthy 2,367,067 81.69%
Democratic John H. Abbott 220,331 7.60%
Democratic Robert J. Banuelos 163,882 5.66%
Democratic Charles Greene 146,307 5.05%
Total votes 2,897,587 100.0%

Peace and Freedom primary

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Candidates

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  • Gloria Garcia, nominee for California Secretary of State in 1986
  • Maria Elizabeth Muñoz, Chicana activist and nominee for Governor in 1986

Results

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1988 Peace and Freedom Senate primary[2]
Party Candidate Votes %
Peace and Freedom Maria Elizabeth Muñoz 3,701 58.52%
Peace and Freedom Gloria Garcia 2,623 41.48%
Total votes 6,324 100.0%

General election

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Candidates

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Results

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1988 U.S. Senate election in California[3]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Pete Wilson (incumbent) 5,143,409 52.79% Increase1.25
Democratic Leo T. McCarthy 4,287,253 44.00% Decrease0.78
Peace and Freedom Maria Elizabeth Muñoz 166,600 1.71% Increase0.47
Libertarian Jack Dean 79,997 0.82% Decrease0.51
American Independent Merton D. Short 66,291 0.68% Decrease0.39
Independent Joel Britton 51 0.00% N/A
Total votes 9,743,601 100.00%
Republican hold Swing

See also

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Notes

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References

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  1. ^ "Statement of vote". 1968.
  2. ^ "Our Campaigns - CA US Senate - PFP Primary Race - Jun 07, 1988".
  3. ^ "Our Campaigns - CA US Senate Race - Nov 08, 1988". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved April 6, 2018.