California — 1988 U.S. Senate election
Recent presidential results
Akashicstate1988 Senate electionCalifornia · U.S. SenateWilsonR+8.8
How it voted
Share of the 1988 vote
| Pete Wilson (i) ✓Republican | 52.8% | 5,143,409 |
|---|---|---|
| Leo McCarthyDemocrat | 44.0% | 4,287,253 |
| M. Elizabeth MunozPeace And Freedom | 1.7% | 166,600 |
1988Senate margin
D+60R+60
58 counties, each filled by 1988 D-vs-R margin. Hover any county for its result.
County-level results (58 counties) — table
| County | Winner | Margin |
|---|---|---|
| ALAMEDA, CA | Democratic | D+23.4 |
| ALPINE, CA | Republican | R+21.1 |
| AMADOR, CA | Republican | R+16.2 |
| BUTTE, CA | Republican | R+15.5 |
| CALAVERAS, CA | Republican | R+17.0 |
| COLUSA, CA | Republican | R+20.2 |
| CONTRA COSTA, CA | Republican | R+4.9 |
| DEL NORTE, CA | Democratic | D+5.9 |
| EL DORADO, CA | Republican | R+25.1 |
| FRESNO, CA | Republican | R+9.4 |
| GLENN, CA | Republican | R+27.8 |
| HUMBOLDT, CA | Democratic | D+21.6 |
| IMPERIAL, CA | Republican | R+9.7 |
| INYO, CA | Republican | R+33.6 |
| KERN, CA | Republican | R+25.2 |
| KINGS, CA | Republican | R+16.1 |
| LAKE, CA | Republican | R+1.6 |
| LASSEN, CA | Republican | R+14.2 |
| LOS ANGELES, CA | Republican | R+0.2 |
| MADERA, CA | Republican | R+18.0 |
| MARIN, CA | Democratic | D+11.3 |
| MARIPOSA, CA | Republican | R+16.7 |
| MENDOCINO, CA | Democratic | D+8.3 |
| MERCED, CA | Republican | R+8.3 |
| MODOC, CA | Republican | R+25.5 |
| MONO, CA | Republican | R+32.5 |
| MONTEREY, CA | Republican | R+3.7 |
| NAPA, CA | Republican | R+7.4 |
| NEVADA, CA | Republican | R+22.3 |
| ORANGE, CA | Republican | R+39.4 |
| PLACER, CA | Republican | R+24.7 |
| PLUMAS, CA | Republican | R+8.5 |
| RIVERSIDE, CA | Republican | R+20.2 |
| SACRAMENTO, CA | Republican | R+7.4 |
| SAN BENITO, CA | Republican | R+8.1 |
| SAN BERNARDINO, CA | Republican | R+22.5 |
| SAN DIEGO, CA | Republican | R+31.0 |
| SAN FRANCISCO, CA | Democratic | D+40.0 |
| SAN JOAQUIN, CA | Republican | R+14.2 |
| SAN LUIS OBISPO, CA | Republican | R+20.1 |
| SAN MATEO, CA | Democratic | D+5.9 |
| SANTA BARBARA, CA | Republican | R+17.0 |
| SANTA CLARA, CA | Democratic | D+0.7 |
| SANTA CRUZ, CA | Democratic | D+19.1 |
| SHASTA, CA | Republican | R+24.4 |
| SIERRA, CA | Republican | R+7.0 |
| SISKIYOU, CA | Republican | R+10.5 |
| SOLANO, CA | Democratic | D+0.1 |
| SONOMA, CA | Democratic | D+6.2 |
| STANISLAUS, CA | Republican | R+9.3 |
| SUTTER, CA | Republican | R+31.3 |
| TEHAMA, CA | Republican | R+19.1 |
| TRINITY, CA | Republican | R+14.2 |
| TULARE, CA | Republican | R+26.1 |
| TUOLUMNE, CA | Republican | R+15.0 |
| VENTURA, CA | Republican | R+28.4 |
| YOLO, CA | Democratic | D+7.3 |
| YUBA, CA | Republican | R+18.6 |
presidential baselinePresident 1988R+3.6Senate 1988R+8.8vs. baselineR+5.2
California's 1988 Senate race ran 5.2 points more Republican than the presidential race on the same ballot.
California's Senate margins
Every comparable D–R contest in our store, 1976–2024
| Year | Margin (D minus R) |
|---|---|
| 1976 | −3.3% |
| 1980 | +19.4% |
| 1982 | −6.8% |
| 1986 | +1.4% |
| 1988 | −8.8% |
| 1992 | +4.9% |
| 1994 | +1.9% |
| 1998 | +10.0% |
| 2000 | +19.3% |
| 2004 | +19.9% |
| 2006 | +24.4% |
| 2010 | +10.0% |
| 2012 | +25.0% |
| 2016 | +100.0% |
| 2018 | +100.0% |
| 2022 | +22.1% |
| 2024 | +17.7% |
Same ballot, 1988CA
Source. MIT Election Data + Science Lab — 1988 US Senate returns, party-classified by literal ballot party · county returns aggregated from precinct-level results. Real returns — nothing estimated.