A special primary election to determine the member of the United States House of Representatives for California's 5th congressional district was held on April 7, 1987, with a special general election held two months later on June 2.

Incumbent Representative Sala Burton, who herself was elected during a special election following the death of her husband Phillip Burton, the previous incumbent, died on February 1, 1987, from colon cancer. Her death triggered a special election, leading to multiple people running to finish her term. No candidate received 50% in the primary, leading to a special general election won by former California Democratic Party chair and future Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi.

Candidates Fourteen candidates ran in the special primary.

Democratic Party

Nancy Pelosi, former chairwoman of the California Democratic Party and daughter of former Baltimore mayor Thomas D'Alesandro Jr. Harry Britt, LGBT rights advocate and former member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors William Maher, San Francisco Board of Supervisors member Doris M. Ward, San Francisco Board of Supervisors member Carol Ruth Silver, gun rights advocate and San Francisco Board of Supervisors memberMiller, Johnny (January 20, 2010) "Top cop shoots down supe on guns." San Francisco Chronicle. (Retrieved June 3, 2015). Brian Lantz

Republican Party

Harriet Ross Kevin W. Wadsworth Tom Spinosa, World War II and Vietnam War veteran and San Francisco County Republican Party official Mike Garza

Libertarian Party

Sam Grove

Peace and Freedom Party

Theodore Zuur

Independents

Karen Edwards Catherine Renee Sedwick

Special primary

The nonpartisan blanket primary was held on April 7, 1987. A candidate winning 50% of the vote would automatically fill the vacant seat. If no candidate won 50%, a special general election (essentially a runoff) would be triggered with the top candidates in each party advancing to it.

Special general election The special general election took place on June 2, 1987, with Nancy Pelosi gaining a majority of the vote and winning Sala Burton's seat.

References