JoinCalifornia: Election History for the State of California

Information Home Elected Offices Elections by Decade Longest Service Shortest Service Most & Fewest Votes Uncontested Races Closest Contests Redistricting Recalls
Elections 2025 SD-36 Special 2025 AD-32 Special 2024 General Prior 2020s Elections Elections by Decade
Other Stuff Advanced Search CA Constitution CA in Congress Line of Succession Highest Ranking SCOTUS Cases

[search tips] [advanced search]

Searching tips

  • Enter a candidate's name to find a candidate
  • Enter the name of a political party to find the party and all candidates
  • Enter a date to find an election
  • Enter a year to find all elections within that year

November 7, 1978

General Election

Note: A total of 7,132,210 Californians voted in this election.

Governor
Jerry Brown Democratic 56% Win
Ed Clark Independent 5.5% Loss
Theresa F. "Tena" Dietrich American Independent 1% Loss
Marilyn Seals Peace and Freedom 1% Loss
Evelle J. Younger Republican 36.5% Loss
 
Lieutenant Governor
Mike Curb Republican 51.6% Win
Mervyn M. Dymally Democratic 43.3% Loss
Houston A. Myers American Independent 2.7% Loss
Jan B. Tucker Peace and Freedom 2.4% Loss
 
Secretary of State
March Fong Eu Democratic 62.5% Win
Jacob "Jay" Margosian Republican 30.2% Loss
Valerie C. Seeman American Independent 3.2% Loss
David Wald Peace and Freedom 4.1% Loss
 
Controller
Elizabeth Cervantes Barron Peace and Freedom 4.6% Loss
Ken Cory Democratic 60.5% Win
Edmon V. Kaiser American Independent 2.1% Loss
James A. Ware Republican 32.8% Loss
 
Treasurer
Donald J. French Republican 35.3% Loss
Thomas M. Goodloe Jr. American Independent 3.2% Loss
Lewis J. Shireman Peace and Freedom 2.8% Loss
Jesse M. Unruh Democratic 58.7% Win
 
Attorney General
Yvonne Brathwaite Burke Democratic 43.4% Loss
George Deukmejian Republican 52.9% Win
Robert J. Evans Peace and Freedom 1.8% Loss
Dallas Wendell Reid American Independent 1.9% Loss
 
SBOE1
Henry "Hank" Arklin Republican 42% Loss
Mark T. Radcliffe Peace and Freedom 6.3% Loss
George R. Reilly Democratic 51.7% Win
 
SBOE2
Fred E. Barber American Independent 7.2% Loss
Ernest J. Dronenburg Jr. Republican 49.8% Win
Iris G. Sankey Democratic 43% Loss
 
SBOE3
Bill Bennett Democratic 52.3% Win
Pat Graham American Independent 10.7% Loss
Janet Quaife Peace and Freedom 4.3% Loss
Raymond E. Vandegriff Republican 32.7% Loss
 
SBOE4
Irene E. Maggio American Independent 10.7% Loss
Lewis B. McCammon Peace and Freedom 11.8% Loss
Richard Nevins Democratic 77.5% Win
 
CD-01
Harold T. "Bizz" Johnson Democratic 59.4% Win
James E. Taylor Republican 40.6% Loss
 
CD-02
Norma K. Bork Democratic 45.3% Loss
Don H. Clausen Republican 52% Win
Irv Sutley Peace and Freedom 2.8% Loss
 
CD-03
Robert T. Matsui Democratic 53.4% Win
Sandy Smoley Republican 46.6% Loss
 
CD-04
Vic Fazio Democratic 55.4% Win
Rex Hime Republican 44.6% Loss
 
CD-05
John Burton Democratic 66.8% Win
Dolores Skore Republican 33.2% Loss
 
CD-06
Phil Burton Democratic 68.3% Win
Raymond O. "Ray" Heaps American Independent 3.7% Loss
Tom Spinosa Republican 28% Loss
 
CD-07
Paula Gordon Republican 33.7% Loss
George Miller Democratic 63.4% Win
Melvin E. Stanley American Independent 2.8% Loss
 
CD-08
Ron Dellums Democratic 57.4% Win
Charles V. Hughes Republican 42.6% Loss
 
CD-09
Robert S. Allen Republican 30.5% Loss
Lawrence J. "Larry" Phillips Peace and Freedom 4.1% Loss
Pete Stark Democratic 65.4% Win
 
CD-10
Don Edwards Democratic 67.1% Win
Rudy Hansen Republican 32.9% Loss
 
CD-11
Nicholas W. Kudrovzeff American Independent 3.9% Loss
Leo J. Ryan Democratic 60.5% Win
Dave Welch Republican 35.6% Loss
 
CD-12
Harold Boylan American Independent 3.5% Loss
Adele Fumino Peace and Freedom 1.9% Loss
Pete McCloskey Republican 73.1% Win
Kirsten Olsen Democratic 21.5% Loss
 
CD-13
Robert Goldsborough Peace and Freedom 3% Loss
Norm Mineta Democratic 57.5% Win
Dan O'Keefe Republican 39.5% Loss
 
CD-14
John J. McFall Democratic 42.6% Loss
Norman D. Shumway Republican 53.4% Win
George D. Waldron American Independent 4% Loss
 
CD-15
Tony Coelho Democratic 60.1% Win
Chris Patterakis Republican 39.9% Loss
 
CD-16
Leon E. Panetta Democratic 61.4% Win
Eric Seastrand Republican 38.6% Loss
 
CD-17
John Krebs Democratic 45.5% Loss
Charles "Chip" Pashayan Jr. Republican 54.5% Win
 
CD-18
Bob Sogge Democratic 40.7% Loss
William M. "Bill" Thomas Republican 59.3% Win
 
CD-19
Robert J. "Bob" Lagomarsino Republican 71.7% Win
Milton Takei Peace and Freedom 4% Loss
Jerry Zamos Democratic 24.3% Loss
 
CD-20
Barry M. Goldwater Jr. Republican 66.4% Win
Patty Lear Corman Democratic 33.6% Loss
 
CD-21
James C. Corman Democratic 59.5% Win
Bill Hill Peace and Freedom 4.6% Loss
G. Rod Walsh Republican 35.9% Loss
 
CD-22
Robert S. Henry Democratic 35.4% Loss
Carlos J. Moorhead Republican 64.6% Win
 
CD-23
Joseph Joe Barbara Republican 34.4% Loss
Anthony C. Beilenson Democratic 65.6% Win
 
CD-24
Kevin Casey "K.C." Peters Peace and Freedom 4.8% Loss
Howard C. Schaefer Republican 32.6% Loss
Henry A. Waxman Democratic 62.7% Win
 
CD-25
Edward R. Roybal Democratic 67.4% Win
Robert T. Watson Republican 32.6% Loss
 
CD-26
John H. Rousselot Republican 100% Win
 
CD-27
Bob Dornan Republican 51% Win
Carey Peck Democratic 49% Loss
 
CD-28
Julian C. Dixon Democratic 100% Win
 
CD-29
Uriah J. Fields Republican 15% Loss
Augustus F. "Gus" Hawkins Democratic 85% Win
 
CD-30
Henry Ares Republican 28.6% Loss
George E. Danielson Democratic 71.4% Win
 
CD-31
Don Grimshaw Republican 32.2% Loss
Charles H. Wilson Democratic 67.8% Win
 
CD-32
Glenn M. Anderson Democratic 71.4% Win
Ida Bader American Independent 6.1% Loss
Sonya Sonny Mathison Republican 22.4% Loss
 
CD-33
Wayne Grisham Republican 56% Win
Dennis S. Kazarian Democratic 44% Loss
 
CD-34
Mark W. Hannaford Democratic 43.7% Loss
Dan Lungren Republican 53.7% Win
Lawrence J. Stafford American Independent 2.6% Loss
 
CD-35
David Dreier Republican 46% Loss
Jim Lloyd Democratic 54% Win
 
CD-36
George Brown Democratic 62.9% Win
Dana Warren Carmody Republican 37.1% Loss
 
CD-37
Dan Corcoran Democratic 34.8% Loss
Jerry Lewis Republican 61.4% Win
Bernard Wahl American Independent 3.8% Loss
 
CD-38
Don Goedeke Republican 41.4% Loss
Jerry M. Patterson Democratic 58.6% Win
 
CD-39
Bill Dannemeyer Republican 63.7% Win
William E. "Bill" Farris Democratic 36.3% Loss
 
CD-40
Robert E. Badham Republican 65.9% Win
Jim McGuy Democratic 34.1% Loss
 
CD-41
King Golden Jr. Democratic 41.9% Loss
Robert C. "Bob" Wilson Republican 58.1% Win
 
CD-42
Lawrence C. Mattera Republican 26.3% Loss
Lionel Van Deerlin Democratic 73.7% Win
 
CD-43
Clair W. Burgener Republican 68.7% Win
Ronald Brooks Cameron Democratic 31.3% Loss
 
SD-02
Gary Giacomini Republican 45.1% Loss
Barry Keene Democratic 50.5% Win
Linda D. Wren Peace and Freedom 4.4% Loss
 
SD-04
John F. Dunlap Democratic 45.4% Loss
Joseph F. Hawkes Peace and Freedom 2.3% Loss
Jim Nielsen Republican 52.3% Win
 
SD-06
John Francis Foran Democratic 68.1% Win
Max Woods (I) Republican 31.9% Loss
 
SD-08
Patrick V. "Pat" Colglazier Republican 29.2% Loss
John W. Holmdahl Democratic 70.8% Win
 
SD-10
Marz Garcia Republican 50% Win
Arlen F. Gregorio Democratic 50% Loss
 
SD-12
Clark L. Bradley Republican 38.9% Loss
Jerry Smith Democratic 61.1% Win
 
SD-14
Kenneth Kessler Republican 28.3% Loss
George N. Zenovich Democratic 71.7% Win
 
SD-16
W. R. "Bill" Snyder Republican 40.9% Loss
Walter W. Stiern Democratic 59.1% Win
 
SD-18
Omer L. Rains Democratic 65.8% Win
E. G. "Wally" Wallenbrock Republican 34.2% Loss
 
SD-20
John C. Kennedy Republican 27.1% Loss
Jason Lucas Peace and Freedom 5.1% Loss
Alan Robbins Democratic 67.8% Win
 
SD-22
Sarah Kelly Republican 31.2% Loss
Alan Sieroty Democratic 68.8% Win
 
SD-24
Alex P. Garcia Democratic 69% Win
Kay McGlachlin Peace and Freedom 4.8% Loss
Loyal A. Weaver Republican 26.1% Loss
 
SD-26
Ernest Duncan Republican 35.3% Loss
Joseph B. Montoya Democratic 64.7% Win
 
SD-28
Ralph C. Dills Democratic 86.2% Win
Michael W. Hennessy American Independent 13.8% Loss
 
SD-30
Robert L. Moody Republican 31.1% Loss
Diane Watson Democratic 68.9% Win
 
SD-32
Ruben S. Ayala Democratic 62.3% Win
John Ridley Republican 37.7% Loss
 
SD-34
Robert B. Presley Democratic 55.7% Win
John E. Stanton Republican 44.3% Loss
 
SD-36
David Bergland Libertarian 5.8% Loss
Ronald Cordova Democratic 44.7% Loss
John G. Schmitz Republican 49.5% Win
 
SD-38
William A. Craven Republican 62.9% Win
Jerry C. Harmon Democratic 37.1% Loss
 
SD-40
James R. Mills Democratic 71.5% Win
Gerri Rickman Republican 28.5% Loss
 
AD-01
Stan Statham Republican 100% Win
 
AD-02
Douglas H. Bosco Democratic 56.2% Win
E. R. "Bob" Dryden Republican 38.4% Loss
Joel Meza Peace and Freedom 5.4% Loss
 
AD-03
Eugene A. Chappie Republican 65.6% Win
Jim Pharris Democratic 34.4% Loss
 
AD-04
Thomas M. Hannigan Democratic 62.4% Win
Jeff Ketelson Republican 37.6% Loss
 
AD-05
Jean Moorhead Duffy Republican 61.8% Win
Ben W. Franklin Democratic 38.2% Loss
 
AD-06
Dan Benvenuti Sr. Republican 37.4% Loss
Leroy F. Greene Democratic 62.6% Win
 
AD-07
Norman S. Waters Democratic 100% Win
 
AD-08
Gerald A. Burney Jr. Republican 37.3% Loss
Michael Gage Democratic 57.3% Win
Nancy V. Gunn Peace and Freedom 5.3% Loss
 
AD-09
Stephen E. Dias Peace and Freedom 4.9% Loss
William J. "Bill" Filante Republican 51.7% Win
Michael Wornum Democratic 43.4% Loss
 
AD-10
Daniel Boatwright Democratic 100% Win
 
AD-11
Joseph "Ed" Eichar Republican 24.4% Loss
John T. Knox Democratic 69.9% Win
William L. Ward American Independent 5.8% Loss
 
AD-12
Tom Bates Democratic 54.4% Win
Tom Condit Peace and Freedom 2.8% Loss
Robert M. Niemann Republican 42.9% Loss
 
AD-13
Elihu M. Harris Democratic 74.6% Win
Todd Lewis Roust Republican 25.4% Loss
 
AD-14
Alma Clark Republican 22.1% Loss
Bill Lockyer Democratic 74.6% Win
Albert L. Sargis Peace and Freedom 3.3% Loss
 
AD-15
S. Floyd Mori Democratic 65.9% Win
Beverly Sedgwick Republican 34.1% Loss
 
AD-16
Art Agnos Democratic 74.9% Win
John Ryan Marlow Peace and Freedom 8.1% Loss
Dwight K. Tripp III Republican 17% Loss
 
AD-17
Willie L. Brown Democratic 63% Win
Mike Henderson Republican 37% Loss
 
AD-18
Joseph C. Faulkner Republican 26.3% Loss
Leo T. McCarthy Democratic 69.2% Win
Patrick A. Walters American Independent 4.6% Loss
 
AD-19
Dorothy D. Adams Republican 29.7% Loss
Joseph W. Kerska American Independent 6.9% Loss
Lou Papan Democratic 63.4% Win
 
AD-20
Chris Cobey Democratic 47.6% Loss
Robert W. Naylor Republican 52.4% Win
 
AD-21
Victor Calvo Democratic 53.8% Win
Greg Morris Republican 46.2% Loss
 
AD-22
Russell J. "Rusty" Hammer Democratic 43.3% Loss
Richard D. Hayden Republican 52.8% Win
Max Kernaghan American Independent 3.9% Loss
 
AD-23
Lynn Knapp Republican 37.6% Loss
John Vasconcellos Democratic 62.4% Win
 
AD-24
Leona H. Egeland Democratic 66.4% Win
Jack Sandoval Republican 33.6% Loss
 
AD-25
Carl H. Bocchini Republican 34.6% Loss
Alister McAlister Democratic 65.4% Win
 
AD-26
Douglas F. Carter Republican 48.9% Loss
Carmen Perino Democratic 51.1% Win
 
AD-27
John E. Thurman Jr. Democratic 100% Win
 
AD-28
Henry Mello Democratic 58.4% Win
Harry Wiens Republican 31.7% Loss
Michael G. Zaharakis Peace and Freedom 9.9% Loss
 
AD-29
Carol Hallett Republican 76.4% Win
Shane Kramer Democratic 23.6% Loss
 
AD-30
Jim Costa Democratic 63.8% Win
Octavia Diener Republican 36.2% Loss
 
AD-31
Richard H. Lehman Democratic 57.4% Win
Tom Marsella Republican 42.6% Loss
 
AD-32
Gordon W. Duffy Republican 72.6% Win
Frank Rocha Democratic 27.4% Loss
 
AD-33
Alastair McTaggart Democratic 36% Loss
Don Rogers Republican 64% Win
 
AD-34
Larry Chimbole Democratic 45.7% Loss
Phil Wyman Republican 54.3% Win
 
AD-35
Gary K. Hart Democratic 59% Win
De Wayne Holdahl Republican 41% Loss
 
AD-36
Ed Albrecht Democratic 33.2% Loss
Charles R. Imbrecht Republican 66.8% Win
 
AD-37
Bob Cline Republican 71.3% Win
Hal Goldman Democratic 28.7% Loss
 
AD-38
Roger Bollinger Democratic 32.9% Loss
Paul V. Priolo Republican 67.1% Win
 
AD-39
Rene Herz Engel Peace and Freedom 4.1% Loss
J. Robert Hayes Republican 48.9% Win
Jim Keysor Democratic 47% Loss
 
AD-40
Tom Bane Democratic 65.9% Win
Dolores LeFevre Republican 34.1% Loss
 
AD-41
Pat Nolan Republican 67.7% Win
John G. Triphon Democratic 32.3% Loss
 
AD-42
Earl C. Harper American Independent 1.4% Loss
William H. "Bill" Ivers Republican 54.7% Win
Ed Ogawa Independent 2.7% Loss
Judy Binch Tejeda Democratic 41.2% Loss
 
AD-43
Howard L. Berman Democratic 100% Win
 
AD-44
David McKay Barlow Republican 31.3% Loss
Mel Levine Democratic 68.7% Win
 
AD-45
Mark Hupf Peace and Freedom 3.5% Loss
Herschel Rosenthal Democratic 67.8% Win
Gary E. Wheelock Republican 28.7% Loss
 
AD-46
William "Bill" Lovett Republican 30% Loss
Mike Roos Democratic 70% Win
 
AD-47
Teresa P. Hughes Democratic 85.2% Win
Armando Soto Mayor Republican 14.8% Loss
 
AD-48
Timothy F. Faulkner Republican 19.2% Loss
Maxine Waters Democratic 80.8% Win
 
AD-49
Gary R. Gottlieb Republican 29.5% Loss
Gwen Moore Democratic 70.5% Win
 
AD-50
Nancy E. Allen Republican 29% Loss
Curtis R. Tucker Democratic 71% Win
 
AD-51
Dave Helgevold Democratic 31.9% Loss
Marilyn G. Ryan Republican 68.1% Win
 
AD-52
Gerald N. Felando Republican 55.1% Win
Vincent Thomas Democratic 44.9% Loss
 
AD-53
Paul T. Bannai Republican 56.8% Win
Cindy Wear Democratic 43.2% Loss
 
AD-54
Richard G. Coxson Republican 21.8% Loss
Frank Vicencia Democratic 78.2% Win
 
AD-55
Richard Alatorre Democratic 59.4% Win
John Miguel Feliz Republican 40.6% Loss
 
AD-56
J. Raul Blacksten Republican 19.3% Loss
Art Torres Democratic 80.7% Win
 
AD-57
David Elder Democratic 67.1% Win
W. L. "Bill" Patrick Republican 32.9% Loss
 
AD-58
Dennis L. Brown Republican 54% Win
Fred W. Chel Democratic 46% Loss
 
AD-59
Jackie L. Clair Republican 15.1% Loss
Jack R. Fenton Democratic 67.4% Win
Armando "The Man" Muniz Independent 17.6% Loss
 
AD-60
Murray Happy Cluff Republican 33.4% Loss
Myron L. Guarnett American Independent 4.1% Loss
Sally Tanner Democratic 62.5% Win
 
AD-61
Dick Mountjoy Republican 83.4% Win
Pearl M. Scanlon American Independent 16.6% Loss
 
AD-62
Sally Baldonado Democratic 46.9% Loss
William H. "Bill" Lancaster Republican 53.1% Win
 
AD-63
Bruce E. Young Democratic 100% Win
 
AD-64
George M. Juric Democratic 35.2% Loss
Dave Stirling Republican 64.8% Win
 
AD-65
Don Donnelly Republican 40.9% Loss
Bill McVittie Democratic 59.1% Win
 
AD-66
Terry Goggin Democratic 65.3% Win
Tamara J. "Tammy" Wolfinbarger Republican 34.7% Loss
 
AD-67
Steve Hauser Democratic 45.7% Loss
Bill Leonard Republican 54.3% Win
 
AD-68
William E. "Bill" Engel Republican 43.7% Loss
Walter M. "Walt" Ingalls Democratic 56.3% Win
 
AD-69
Paul Bell Democratic 45.1% Loss
Ross Johnson Republican 54.9% Win
 
AD-70
Robert B. Music Democratic 29% Loss
Bruce Nestande Republican 71% Win
 
AD-71
Doris Allen Republican 44% Loss
Chester B. "Chet" Wray Democratic 56% Win
 
AD-72
David L. Brandt Republican 37.8% Loss
Richard H. Robinson Democratic 62.2% Win
 
AD-73
Jim Gallagher Libertarian 4.4% Loss
Charles M. "Chuck" Gibson Republican 43.4% Loss
Dennis Mangers Democratic 52.1% Win
 
AD-74
Marian C. Bergeson Republican 74.1% Win
John C. Harrison Democratic 25.9% Loss
 
AD-75
David G. Kelley Republican 57.7% Win
Tom Suitt Democratic 42.3% Loss
 
AD-76
Austin Childs Democratic 32.9% Loss
Robert Frazee Republican 67.1% Win
 
AD-77
Wiley Davis Democratic 33.1% Loss
Jim Ellis Republican 66.9% Win
 
AD-78
Lawrence Kapiloff Democratic 55% Win
Terry Knoepp Republican 45% Loss
 
AD-79
Virginia Bridge Republican 35.5% Loss
Peter R. "Pete" Chacon Democratic 64.5% Win
 
AD-80
Wadie P. Deddeh Democratic 70.6% Win
Lorraine Green Republican 29.4% Loss