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 , 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, and the last time until 2022 that a man would win a Senate election in California.

Democratic primary Candidates John Hancock Abbott, perennial candidate Robert John Banuelos, candidate for Senate in 1986 Charles Greene, candidate for Senate in 1986 and Los Angeles County Sheriff in 1982 Leo T. McCarthy, Lieutenant Governor of California and former Speaker of the California State Assembly

Results

Peace and Freedom primary Candidates Gloria Garcia, nominee for California Secretary of State in 1986 Maria Elizabeth Muñoz, Chicana activist and nominee for Governor in 1986

Results

General election Candidates Joel Britton (Independent) Jack Dean (Libertarian) Leo T. McCarthy, Lieutenant Governor of California and former Speaker of the California State Assembly (Democratic) Maria Elizabeth Muñoz, Chicana activist and nominee for Governor in 1986 (Peace and Freedom) Merton D. Short (American Independent) Pete Wilson, incumbent Senator (Republican)

Results

Results by county County Pete WilsonRepublican Leo McCarthyDemocratic Maria Elizabeth MuñozPeace & Freedom Jack DeanLibertarian All others # % # % # % # % # % Orange 68.23% 593,614 28.88% 251,264 1.48% 12,919 0.85% 7,418 0.55% 4,783 Inyo 65.37% 4,986 31.79% 2,425 1,28% 98 0.63% 48 0.92% 70 San Diego 64.06% 549,367 33.07% 283,554 1.34% 11,490 0.86% 7,343 0.68% 5,811 Mono 63.97% 2,397 31.49% 1,180 2.38% 89 1.12% 42 1.04% 39 Sutter 63.61% 12,724 32.33% 6,466 2.06% 413 1.17% 234 0.82% 165 Ventura 62.55% 149,958 34.14% 81,831 1.77% 4,235 0.84% 2,025 0.70% 1,678 Glenn 62.24% 5,006 34.40% 2,767 1.28% 103 0.81% 65 1.27% 102 Tulare 61.42% 46,958 35.29% 26,980 2.13% 1,630 0.63% 478 0.53% 408 Kern 60.77% 91,303 35.55% 53,415 2.09% 3,146 0.80% 1,202 0.79% 1,188 Modoc 60.72% 2,441 35.17% 1,414 1.47% 59 1.00% 40 1.67% 66 El Dorado 60.62% 30,738 35.47% 17,986 1.95% 990 0.96% 488 1.00% 507 Placer 60.41% 42,643 35.76% 25,243 1.97% 1,389 1.00% 709 0.85% 603 Shasta 60.38% 30,821 36.02% 18,384 1.37% 699 1.04% 532 1.19% 606 San Bernardino 59.44% 230,772 36.95% 143,465 1.90% 7,371 0.73% 2,821 0.99% 3,821 Nevada 59.10% 21,815 36.84% 13,598 2.10% 776 1.17% 433 0.78% 289 Riverside 58.60% 195,956 38.40% 128,422 1.73% 5,791 0.56% 1,866 0.71% 2,369 Colusa 58.69% 2,960 38.44% 1,942 1.66% 84 0.42% 21 0.89% 45 San Luis Obispo 58.13% 49,564 38.13% 32,452 1.80% 1,528 1.06% 904 0.77% 653 Tehama 57.64% 10,338 38.56% 6,916 1.23% 221 1,24% 222 1.32% 237 Yuba 57.53% 8,828 38.97% 5,980 1.74% 267 0.85% 131 0.91% 139 Madera 56.85% 13,324 38.90% 9,117 2.47% 580 0.84% 196 0.94% 220 Santa Barbara 56.85% 81,282 39.81% 56,916 1.99% 2,850 0.83% 1,187 0.52% 750 Calaveras 56.65% 7,584 39.81% 5,310 1.44% 193 1.13% 151 1.12% 150 Kings 56.33% 12,238 40.19% 8,737 2.10% 456 0.63% 136 0.76% 165 Mariposa 56.33% 3,895 39.65% 2,742 1.62% 112 1.08% 75 1.32% 91 Amador 56.23% 6,896 40.02% 4,912 1.61% 197 0.97% 119 1.15% 141 Alpine 56.14% 311 35.02% 194 5.05% 28 1.26% 7 2.53% 14 Tuolumne 55.80% 10,781 40.85% 7,892 1.65% 319 0.81% 156 0.90% 173 Butte 55.59% 40,056 40.09% 28,886 1.77% 1,272 1.26% 909 1.29% 933 San Joaquin 55.30% 75,753 41.12% 56,330 1.93% 2,650 0.61% 840 1.03% 1,416 Lassen 54.96% 4,780 40.71% 3,541 1.93% 168 0.94% 82 1.46% 127 Trinity 54.01% 3,337 39.80% 2,459 2.06% 127 1.96% 121 2.17% 134 Stanislaus 53.28% 51,423 43.97% 42,440 1.53% 1,476 0.57% 554 0.65% 623 Fresno 53.00% 99,315 43-62% 81,733 1.97% 3,696 0.71% 1,336 0.69% 1,291 Siskiyou 52.84% 9,448 42.38% 7,577 1.78% 319 1.30% 232 1.70% 304 Imperial 52.36% 12,391 42.67% 10,099 3.47% 822 0.77% 182 0.73% 173 Plumas 52.13% 4,635 43.60% 3,877 2.10% 187 1.12% 100 1.05% 93 Merced 52.04% 20,513 43.75% 17,247 2.32% 913 0.82% 325 1.07% 421 Sacramento 51.85% 201,827 44.47% 173,110 1.93% 7,496 0.76% 2,960 1.00% 3,885 Napa 51.83% 24,071 44.40% 20,619 1.82% 843 1.12% 519 0.84% 392 San Benito 51.82% 5,331 43.73% 4,499 2.54% 261 0.92% 95 0.99% 102 Contra Costa 51.10% 168,760 46.24% 152,714 1.29% 4,549 0.77% 2,549 0.60% 1,991 Sierra 51.04% 880 44.05% 759 2.69% 46 0.81% 14 1.39% 24 Monterey 49.83% 50,136 46.11% 46,401 2.33% 2,340 1.01% 1,012 0.73% 732 Lake 48.86% 9,516 47.28% 9,210 1.64% 320 1.24% 241 0.98% 191 Los Angeles 48.61% 1,265,582 48.46% 1,261,449 1.74% 45,427 0.67% 17,458 0.51% 13,375 Solano 48.22% 47,288 48.36% 47,420 1.57% 1,536 0.97% 955 0.88% 860 Santa Clara 47.69% 253,865 48.36% 257,463 1.96% 10,436 1.26% 6,734 0.73% 3,867 San Mateo 45.21% 111,187 51.12% 125,724 1.49% 3,659 0.98% 2,408 1.19% 2,940 Del Norte 45.08% 3,418 50.95% 3,863 1.74% 132 0.71% 54 1.52% 115 Sonoma 44.95% 71,775 51.19% 81,747 1.99% 3,185 1.05% 1,677 0.82% 1,304 Yolo 44.51% 23,459 51.78% 27,291 2.15% 1,133 0.87% 456 0.70% 370 Mendocino 43.71% 13,318 51.97% 15,835 2.10% 640 1.26% 385 0.96% 292 Marin 43.02% 49,942 54.35% 63,101 1.11% 1,288 1.06% 1,232 0.46% 536 Santa Cruz 38.16% 39,104 57.30% 58,715 2.60% 2,666 1.28% 1,307 0.65% 669 Humboldt 37.70% 19,384 59.27% 30,472 1.56% 804 0.73% 376 0.73% 375 Alameda 36.81% 173,204 60.22% 283,548 1.56% 7,327 0.85% 4,017 0.56% 2,656 San Francisco 28.70% 70,102 68.83% 167,613 1.29% 3,153 0.75% 1818 0.34% 841

Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic Humboldt Sonoma Mendocino San Mateo Santa Clara Solano Marin Del Norte

Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican Los Angeles

See also 1988 United States Senate elections

Notes

References