United States presidential election in California, 2008
Encyclopedia
The 2008 United States presidential election in California took place on November 4, 2008 in California
as part of the 2008 United States presidential election
. Voters chose 55 electors, the most out of any of the 50 states, to the Electoral College, who voted for President
and Vice President
. California
was won by Democratic
nominee Barack Obama
with a 24.0% margin of victory. No Republican
has carried the state in a presidential election since 1988
.
were held by all parties with ballot access
in the state:
s taken prior to the election. In the final three polls he averaged 59%, while McCain averaged 34%; which is close to the results on election day.
regions such as the San Francisco Bay Area
and Los Angeles County. The last time the state was won by a Republican candidate was in 1988
by George H. W. Bush
. Bill Clinton
won it handily in 1992, and the state has not been seriously contested since then.
Obama won by a historic margin, with 61.01% of the votes. The last time the margin was higher in the state was in 1936
when Franklin D. Roosevelt
won by 66.95%.
In San Francisco and Alameda County
(which encompass Oakland and Berkeley
), four out of five voters backed the Democratic candidate. Elsewhere in the Bay Area, Obama won every county by a three to two margin or greater. In Los Angeles County, Obama won almost 70% of the votes.
Obama also made considerable headway in historically Republican areas of the state. Fresno County, for example, a heavily populated county in the Central Valley, went from giving Bush a 16% margin to a 1% margin for Obama. San Diego County moved from a six-percent margin for Bush to a 10-point margin for Obama--only the second time since World War II
that a Democrat has carried this military-dominated county. San Bernardino
and Riverside
went from double-digit Republican victories to narrow Democratic wins. Ventura County also moved from Republican to Democratic.
Voter turnout was also fairly higher in the election. The 79% turnout of registered voters was the highest since the 1976 presidential election
.
.
.
.
The electors of each state and the District of Columbia met on December 15, 2008 to cast their votes for President and Vice President. The Electoral College itself never meets as one body. Instead the electors from each state and the District of Columbia met in their respective capitols. In California the 55 electors meet in the State Capitol building
in Sacramento
to cast their ballots.
The following were the members of the Electoral College from California. All were pledged to and voted for Barack Obama and Joe Biden.
in the state to alter the way the state's electors would be distributed among presidential candidates, but the initiative failed to get onto the ballot.
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
as part of the 2008 United States presidential election
United States presidential election, 2008
The United States presidential election of 2008 was the 56th quadrennial presidential election. It was held on November 4, 2008. Democrat Barack Obama, then the junior United States Senator from Illinois, defeated Republican John McCain, the senior U.S. Senator from Arizona. Obama received 365...
. Voters chose 55 electors, the most out of any of the 50 states, to the Electoral College, who voted for President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
and Vice President
Vice President of the United States
The Vice President of the United States is the holder of a public office created by the United States Constitution. The Vice President, together with the President of the United States, is indirectly elected by the people, through the Electoral College, to a four-year term...
. California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
was won by Democratic
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
nominee Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
with a 24.0% margin of victory. No Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
has carried the state in a presidential election since 1988
United States presidential election in California, 1988
The 1988 United States presidential election in California took place on November 8, 1988 throughout all 50 states and D.C., which was part of the 1988 United States presidential election. Voters chose 47 representatives, or electors to the Electoral College, who voted for President and Vice...
.
Primaries
On February 5, 2008 presidential primariesPrimary election
A primary election is an election in which party members or voters select candidates for a subsequent election. Primary elections are one means by which a political party nominates candidates for the next general election....
were held by all parties with ballot access
Ballot access
Ballot access rules, called nomination rules outside the United States, regulate the conditions under which a candidate or political party is either entitled to stand for election or to appear on voters' ballots...
in the state:
- California Democratic primary, 2008California Democratic primary, 2008The 2008 California Democratic primary took place on February 5, 2008, also known as Super Tuesday. California was dubbed the "Big Enchilada" by the media because it offers the most delegates out of any other delegation. Hillary Clinton won the primary....
- California Republican primary, 2008California Republican primary, 2008The California Republican primary, 2008 was held on February 5, 2008, with a total of 173 national delegates at stake.- Process :The delegates represented California at the Republican National Convention. There were three delegates to every congressional district and fourteen bonus delegates...
- For other parties, see California state elections, February 2008California state elections, February 2008The California state elections, February 2008 were held on February 5, 2008 throughout California. Presidential primaries and a special election for a State Assembly seat were among the contests held...
.
Predictions
There were at least ten news organizations, publications, Web sites, and radio and television shows that made state by state predictions of the election before election day:| Name | Prediction |
|---|---|
| Associated Press | Democrat |
| CNN | Safe Democrat |
| Solid Democrat | |
| CQ Politics | Safe Democrat |
| D.C. Political Report | Democrat |
| Election Projection | Solid Obama |
| Electoral-vote.com | Strong Democrat |
| Fox News | Democrat |
| Solid Democrat | |
| Politico | Solid Obama |
| Real Clear Politics | Solid Obama |
| Rasmussen Reports | Safe Democrat |
| Solid Obama |
Polling
Obama won most opinion pollOpinion poll
An opinion poll, sometimes simply referred to as a poll is a survey of public opinion from a particular sample. Opinion polls are usually designed to represent the opinions of a population by conducting a series of questions and then extrapolating generalities in ratio or within confidence...
s taken prior to the election. In the final three polls he averaged 59%, while McCain averaged 34%; which is close to the results on election day.
Fundraising
Obama raised a total of $124,325,459 from the state. McCain raised a total of $26,802,024.Advertising and visits
The Obama campaign spent almost $5,570,641. The McCain campaign spent $1,885,142. Obama visited the state six times. McCain visited the state eight times.Analysis
California was once a Republican stronghold, supporting Republican candidates in every election from 1952 through 1988, except in 1964. However, since the 1990s, California has become a reliably Democratic state with a diverse ethnic and Hispanic or Latino population and liberalLiberalism
Liberalism is the belief in the importance of liberty and equal rights. Liberals espouse a wide array of views depending on their understanding of these principles, but generally, liberals support ideas such as constitutionalism, liberal democracy, free and fair elections, human rights,...
regions such as the San Francisco Bay Area
San Francisco Bay Area
The San Francisco Bay Area, commonly known as the Bay Area, is a populated region that surrounds the San Francisco and San Pablo estuaries in Northern California. The region encompasses metropolitan areas of San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose, along with smaller urban and rural areas...
and Los Angeles County. The last time the state was won by a Republican candidate was in 1988
United States presidential election in California, 1988
The 1988 United States presidential election in California took place on November 8, 1988 throughout all 50 states and D.C., which was part of the 1988 United States presidential election. Voters chose 47 representatives, or electors to the Electoral College, who voted for President and Vice...
by George H. W. Bush
George H. W. Bush
George Herbert Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 41st President of the United States . He had previously served as the 43rd Vice President of the United States , a congressman, an ambassador, and Director of Central Intelligence.Bush was born in Milton, Massachusetts, to...
. Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
won it handily in 1992, and the state has not been seriously contested since then.
Obama won by a historic margin, with 61.01% of the votes. The last time the margin was higher in the state was in 1936
United States presidential election in California, 1936
The 1936 United States presidential election in California refers to how California participated in the 1936 United States presidential election. California voted for the Democratic incumbent, Franklin Roosevelt, in a landslide over the Republican challenger, Kansas Governor Alfred Landon, carrying...
when Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin Delano Roosevelt , also known by his initials, FDR, was the 32nd President of the United States and a central figure in world events during the mid-20th century, leading the United States during a time of worldwide economic crisis and world war...
won by 66.95%.
In San Francisco and Alameda County
Alameda County, California
Alameda County is a county in the U.S. state of California. It occupies most of the East Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area. As of the 2010 census it had a population of 1,510,271, making it the 7th most populous county in the state...
(which encompass Oakland and Berkeley
Berkeley, California
Berkeley is a city on the east shore of the San Francisco Bay in Northern California, United States. Its neighbors to the south are the cities of Oakland and Emeryville. To the north is the city of Albany and the unincorporated community of Kensington...
), four out of five voters backed the Democratic candidate. Elsewhere in the Bay Area, Obama won every county by a three to two margin or greater. In Los Angeles County, Obama won almost 70% of the votes.
Obama also made considerable headway in historically Republican areas of the state. Fresno County, for example, a heavily populated county in the Central Valley, went from giving Bush a 16% margin to a 1% margin for Obama. San Diego County moved from a six-percent margin for Bush to a 10-point margin for Obama--only the second time since World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
that a Democrat has carried this military-dominated county. San Bernardino
San Bernardino County, California
San Bernardino County is a county in the U.S. state of California. As of the 2010 census, the population was 2,035,210, up from 1,709,434 as of the 2000 census...
and Riverside
Riverside County, California
Riverside County is a county in the U.S. state of California. One of 58 California counties, it covers in the southern part of the state, and stretches from Orange County to the Colorado River, which forms the state border with Arizona. The county derives its name from the city of Riverside,...
went from double-digit Republican victories to narrow Democratic wins. Ventura County also moved from Republican to Democratic.
Voter turnout was also fairly higher in the election. The 79% turnout of registered voters was the highest since the 1976 presidential election
United States presidential election in California, 1976
The 1976 United States presidential election in California refers to how California participated in the 1976 United States presidential election. California narrowly voted for the Republican incumbent, Gerald Ford, over the Democratic challenger, Jimmy Carter.-Results:-Results by county:...
.
Results
The following are official results from the California Secretary of StateCalifornia Secretary of State
The Secretary of State of California is the chief elections officer of that U.S. state. The Secretary of State is also responsible for the California State Archives, as well as chartering corporations. The Secretary of State is elected to four year terms, concurrent with the other constitutional...
.
| United States presidential election in California, 2008 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Running mate | Votes | Percentage | Electoral votes | |
| Democratic California Democratic Party The California Democratic Party is the state branch of the Democratic Party in the state of California, headquartered in Sacramento. It is chaired by veteran Democratic politician and former United States Representative John L. Burton, who succeeded Art Torres in April 2009. It is the majority... |
Barack Obama Barack Obama Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in... |
Joe Biden Joe Biden Joseph Robinette "Joe" Biden, Jr. is the 47th and current Vice President of the United States, serving under President Barack Obama... |
8,274,473 | 61.01% | 55 | |
| Republican California Republican Party The California Republican Party is the California affiliate of the United States Republican Party. The party chairman is Tom Del Beccaro and is based in Burbank, California, a suburb of Los Angeles. The RPC also has a headquarters in Sacramento.... |
John McCain John McCain John Sidney McCain III is the senior United States Senator from Arizona. He was the Republican nominee for president in the 2008 United States election.... |
Sarah Palin Sarah Palin Sarah Louise Palin is an American politician, commentator and author. As the Republican Party nominee for Vice President in the 2008 presidential election, she was the first Alaskan on the national ticket of a major party and first Republican woman nominated for the vice-presidency.She was... |
5,011,781 | 36.95% | 0 | |
| Peace and Freedom | Ralph Nader Ralph Nader Ralph Nader is an American political activist, as well as an author, lecturer, and attorney. Areas of particular concern to Nader include consumer protection, humanitarianism, environmentalism, and democratic government.... |
Matt Gonzalez Matt Gonzalez Matthew Edward Gonzalez is an American politician, lawyer, and activist prominent in San Francisco politics. He currently serves as chief attorney in the San Francisco Public Defender's office.... |
108,381 | 0.80% | 0 | |
| Libertarian Libertarian Party of California The Libertarian Party of California is the California affiliate of the Libertarian Party. The state chair is Kevin Takenaga.- Libertarians in office in California :-See also:*David Bergland*Steve Kubby*James P. Gray*Gail Lightfoot*George Monty Davis... |
Bob Barr Bob Barr Robert Laurence "Bob" Barr, Jr. is a former federal prosecutorand a former member of the United States House of Representatives. He represented Georgia's 7th congressional district as a Republican from 1995 to 2003. Barr attained national prominence as one of the leaders of the impeachment of... |
Wayne Allyn Root Wayne Allyn Root Wayne Allyn Root is an American politician, entrepreneur, television and radio personality, author and political commentator. He was the 2008 Libertarian Party vice-presidential nominee. In June 2009 Richard Winger wrote he was the front runner for the 2012 Libertarian Presidential nomination... |
67,582 | 0.50% | 0 | |
| American Independent American Independent Party The American Independent Party is a right-wing political party of the United States that was established in 1967 by Bill and Eileen Shearer. In 1968, the American Independent Party nominated George C. Wallace as its presidential candidate and retired Air Force General Curtis E. LeMay as the vice... |
Alan Keyes Alan Keyes Alan Lee Keyes is an American conservative political activist, author, former diplomat, and perennial candidate for public office. A doctoral graduate of Harvard University, Keyes began his diplomatic career in the U.S... |
Brian Rohrbough Brian Rohrbough Brian Rohrbough was the 2008 vice presidential candidate of America's Independent Party in the 2008 United States presidential election, running on the ticket with presidential candidate Alan Keyes.-Career:... |
40,673 | 0.30% | 0 | |
| Green Green Party of California The Green Party of California is the California affiliate of the Green Party. The party is a ballot-qualified in California, first established as such in 1991, using the petition method of gaining state recognition.... |
Cynthia McKinney Cynthia McKinney Cynthia Ann McKinney is a former US Congresswoman and a member of the Green Party since 2007. As a member of the Democratic Party, she served six terms as a member of the United States House of Representatives. In 2008, the Green Party nominated McKinney for President of the United States... |
Rosa Clemente Rosa Clemente Rosa Alicia Clemente is a United States community organizer, independent journalist and hip-hop activist. She was the vice presidential running mate of 2008 Green Party Presidential candidate Cynthia McKinney in the 2008 U.S. Presidential election.Clemente was born and raised in South Bronx, New... |
38,774 | 0.29% | 0 | |
| Independent Independent (politician) In politics, an independent or non-party politician is an individual not affiliated to any political party. Independents may hold a centrist viewpoint between those of major political parties, a viewpoint more extreme than any major party, or they may have a viewpoint based on issues that they do... |
Ron Paul Ron Paul Ronald Ernest "Ron" Paul is an American physician, author and United States Congressman who is seeking to be the Republican Party candidate in the 2012 presidential election. Paul represents Texas's 14th congressional district, which covers an area south and southwest of Houston that includes... (write-in Write-in candidate A write-in candidate is a candidate in an election whose name does not appear on the ballot, but for whom voters may vote nonetheless by writing in the person's name. Some states and local jurisdictions allow a voter to affix a sticker with a write-in candidate's name on it to the ballot in lieu... ) |
Gail Lightfoot | 17,006 | 0.13% | 0 | |
| Independent Independent (politician) In politics, an independent or non-party politician is an individual not affiliated to any political party. Independents may hold a centrist viewpoint between those of major political parties, a viewpoint more extreme than any major party, or they may have a viewpoint based on issues that they do... |
Chuck Baldwin Chuck Baldwin Charles Obadiah "Chuck" Baldwin is an American politician and founder-pastor of Crossroad Baptist Church in Pensacola, Florida. He was the presidential nominee of the Constitution Party for the 2008 U.S. presidential election and had previously been its nominee for U.S. vice president in 2004... (write-in) |
Darrell Castle Darrell Castle Darrell Castle is an American political figure, activist and attorney from Memphis, Tennessee, and was the vice presidential candidate of the Constitution Party in the 2008 United States presidential election.-Early life and education:... |
3,145 | 0.02% | 0 | |
| Independent Independent (politician) In politics, an independent or non-party politician is an individual not affiliated to any political party. Independents may hold a centrist viewpoint between those of major political parties, a viewpoint more extreme than any major party, or they may have a viewpoint based on issues that they do... |
James Harris James Harris (politician) James Harris is an African American communist politician and member of the National Committee of the Socialist Workers Party. He was the party's candidate for President of the United States in 1996 receiving 8,463 votes and again in 2000 when his ticket received 7,378 votes... (write-in) |
Alyson Kennedy Alyson Kennedy Alyson Kennedy is an American politician, a member of the Socialist Workers Party and was the party's candidate for vice president in the 2008 United States presidential election. The ticket campaigned for young voters especially... |
49 | 0.00% | 0 | |
| Independent Independent (politician) In politics, an independent or non-party politician is an individual not affiliated to any political party. Independents may hold a centrist viewpoint between those of major political parties, a viewpoint more extreme than any major party, or they may have a viewpoint based on issues that they do... |
Frank Moore Frank Moore (performance artist) Frank Moore is an American performance artist, poet, essayist, painter, musician and Internet/television personality who has experimented in art, performance, ritual, and shamanistic teaching since the late 1960s.... (write-in) |
Susan Block Susan Block Susan Marilyn Block , also known as Dr. Susan Block and Dr. Suzy, is an American sexologist, author, filmmaker, therapist, cable TV talk show host and cultural commentator... |
36 | 0.00% | 0 | |
| Valid votes | 13,561,900 | 98.68% | — | |||
| Invalid or blank votes | 181,277 | 1.32% | — | |||
| Totals | 13,743,177 | 100.00% | 55 | |||
| Voter turnout | 79.42% | — | ||||
By county
The results below are primarily compiled from the final reports available from the Secretary of State. The "others" category also includes write-in votes.| County | Obama | Votes | McCain | Votes | Others | Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco | 84.2% | 322,220 | 13.7% | 52,292 | 2.2% | 8,353 |
| Alameda Alameda County, California Alameda County is a county in the U.S. state of California. It occupies most of the East Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area. As of the 2010 census it had a population of 1,510,271, making it the 7th most populous county in the state... |
78.8% | 489,106 | 19.3% | 119,555 | 1.9% | 12,368 |
| Marin Marin County, California Marin County is a county located in the North San Francisco Bay Area of the U.S. state of California, across the Golden Gate Bridge from San Francisco. As of 2010, the population was 252,409. The county seat is San Rafael and the largest employer is the county government. Marin County is well... |
78.0% | 109,320 | 20.3% | 28,384 | 1.7% | 2,866 |
| Santa Cruz Santa Cruz County, California Santa Cruz County is a county located on the Pacific coast of the U.S. state of California, on the California Central Coast. The county forms the northern coast of the Monterey Bay. . As of the 2010 U.S. Census, its population was 262,382. The county seat is Santa Cruz... |
77.5% | 98,745 | 19.9% | 25,244 | 2.9% | 3,747 |
| Sonoma Sonoma County, California Sonoma County, located on the northern coast of the U.S. state of California, is the largest and northernmost of the nine San Francisco Bay Area counties. Its population at the 2010 census was 483,878. Its largest city and county seat is Santa Rosa.... |
73.7% | 168,888 | 24.1% | 55,127 | 2.5% | 5,817 |
| San Mateo San Mateo County, California San Mateo County is a county located in the San Francisco Bay Area of the U.S. state of California. It covers most of the San Francisco Peninsula just south of San Francisco, and north of Santa Clara County. San Francisco International Airport is located at the northern end of the county, and... |
73.5% | 222,826 | 24.8% | 75,057 | 1.6% | 4,965 |
| Mendocino Mendocino County, California Mendocino County is a county located on the north coast of the U.S. state of California, north of the greater San Francisco Bay Area and west of the Central Valley. As of the 2010 census, the population was 87,841, up from 86,265 at the 2000 census... |
69.6% | 27,843 | 26.8% | 10,721 | 4.0% | 1,620 |
| Santa Clara Santa Clara County, California Santa Clara County is a county located at the southern end of the San Francisco Bay Area in the U.S. state of California. As of 2010 it had a population of 1,781,642. The county seat is San Jose. The highly urbanized Santa Clara Valley within Santa Clara County is also known as Silicon Valley... |
69.5% | 462,241 | 28.6% | 190,039 | 1.8% | 12,255 |
| Los Angeles Los Angeles County, California Los Angeles County is a county in the U.S. state of California. As of 2010 U.S. Census, the county had a population of 9,818,605, making it the most populous county in the United States. Los Angeles County alone is more populous than 42 individual U.S. states... |
69.2% | 2,295,853 | 28.9% | 956,425 | 1.9% | 64,352 |
| Monterey Monterey County, California Monterey County is a county located on the Pacific coast of the U.S. state of California, its northwestern section forming the southern half of Monterey Bay. The northern half of the bay is in Santa Cruz County. As of 2010, the population was 415,057. The county seat and largest city is Salinas... |
68.2% | 88,453 | 29.9% | 38,797 | 2.0% | 2,533 |
| Contra Costa Contra Costa County, California Contra Costa County is a primarily suburban county in the San Francisco Bay Area of the U.S. state of California. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 1,049,025... |
68.0% | 306,983 | 30.3% | 136,436 | 2.2% | 9,825 |
| Yolo Yolo County, California Yolo County is a county located in the northern part of the U.S. state of California, bordered by the other counties of Sacramento, Solano, Napa, Lake, Colusa, and Sutter. The city of Woodland is its county seat, though Davis is its largest city.... |
67.1% | 53,488 | 30.9% | 24,592 | 2.1% | 1,669 |
| Napa Napa County, California Napa County is a county located north of the San Francisco Bay Area in the U.S. state of California. It is coterminous with the Napa, California, Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of 2010 the population is 136,484. The county seat is Napa.... |
65.2% | 38,849 | 32.7% | 19,484 | 2.0% | 1,214 |
| Solano Solano County, California Solano County is a county located in Bay-Delta region of the U.S. state of California, about halfway between San Francisco and Sacramento and is one of the nine San Francisco Bay Area counties. The county's population was reported by the U.S. Census to be 413,344 in 2010... |
63.5% | 102,095 | 34.9% | 56,035 | 2.1% | 3,458 |
| Humboldt Humboldt County, California Humboldt County is a county in the U.S. state of California, located on the far North Coast 200 miles north of San Francisco. According to 2010 Census Data, the county’s population was 134,623... |
62.3% | 39,692 | 34.1% | 21,713 | 4.0% | 2,559 |
| Imperial Imperial County, California Imperial County is a county located in the Imperial Valley, in the far southeast of the U.S. state of California, bordering both Arizona and Mexico. It is part of the El Centro Metropolitan Area, which encompasses all of Imperial County. The population as of 2000 was 142,361. The county seat is the... |
62.3% | 24,162 | 36.1% | 14,008 | 1.6% | 631 |
| Alpine Alpine County, California Alpine County is the smallest county, by population, in the U.S. state of California. As of 2010, it had a population of 1,175, all rural. There are no incorporated cities in the county. The county seat is Markleeville... |
61.0% | 422 | 36.4% | 252 | 2.6% | 18 |
| San Benito San Benito County, California San Benito County is a county located in the Coast Range Mountains of the U.S. state of California, south of San Jose. As of 2010 the population was 55,269. The county seat is Hollister, which includes nearly two-thirds of the county's population. El Camino Real passes through the county and... |
60.5% | 11,917 | 37.7% | 7,425 | 2.3% | 446 |
| Santa Barbara Santa Barbara County, California Santa Barbara County is a county located in the southern portion of the U.S. state of California, on the Pacific coast. As of 2010 the county had a population of 423,895. The county seat is Santa Barbara and the largest city is Santa Maria.-History:... |
60.4% | 105,614 | 37.5% | 65,585 | 2.4% | 4,208 |
| Sacramento Sacramento County, California Sacramento County is a county in the U.S. state of California. Its county seat is Sacramento, which is also the state capital. As of 2010 the county had a population of 1,418,788.... |
58.5% | 316,506 | 39.5% | 213,583 | 2.4% | 12,770 |
| Lake Lake County, California Lake County is a county located in the north central portion of the U.S. state of California, north of the San Francisco Bay Area. It takes its name from Clear Lake, the dominant geographic feature in the county and the largest natural lake wholly within California... |
58.2% | 14,854 | 38.9% | 9,935 | 3.3% | 840 |
| Mono Mono County, California Mono County is a county located in the east central portion of the U.S. state of California, to the east of the Sierra Nevada between Yosemite National Park and Nevada. As of the 2010 census, the population was 14,202, up from 12,853 at the 2000 census... |
55.6% | 3,093 | 42.3% | 2,354 | 2.2% | 124 |
| Ventura Ventura County, California Ventura County is a county in the southern part of the U.S. state of California. It is located on California's Pacific coast. It is often referred to as the Gold Coast, and has a reputation of being one of the safest populated places and one of the most affluent places in the country... |
55.3% | 187,601 | 43.0% | 145,853 | 2.2% | 7,587 |
| San Joaquin San Joaquin County, California San Joaquin County is a county located in Central Valley of the U.S. state of California, just east of the San Francisco Bay Area. As of the 2010 census, the population was 685,306. The county seat is Stockton.-History:... |
54.5% | 113,974 | 43.8% | 91,607 | 2.2% | 4,727 |
| San Diego San Diego County, California San Diego County is a large county located in the southwestern corner of the US state of California. Hence, San Diego County is also located in the southwestern corner of the 48 contiguous United States. Its county seat and largest city is San Diego. Its population was about 2,813,835 in the 2000... |
54.2% | 666,581 | 44.0% | 541,032 | 2.3% | 27,890 |
| Merced Merced County, California Merced County , is a county located in the Central Valley of the U.S. state of California, north of Fresno and southeast of San Jose. As of the 2010 census, the population was 255,793, up from 210,554 at the 2000 census. The county seat is Merced... |
53.4% | 34,031 | 45.0% | 28,704 | 2.1% | 1,316 |
| San Bernardino San Bernardino County, California San Bernardino County is a county in the U.S. state of California. As of the 2010 census, the population was 2,035,210, up from 1,709,434 as of the 2000 census... |
52.1% | 315,720 | 45.8% | 277,408' | 2.2% | 13,206 |
| Nevada Nevada County, California Nevada County is a county located in the Sierra Nevada of California, in the Mother Lode country. As of 2010 its population was 98,764. The county seat is Nevada City.-History:Nevada County was created in 1851 from parts of Yuba County.... |
51.5% | 28,617 | 46.2% | 25,663 | 2.1% | 1,138 |
| San Luis Obispo San Luis Obispo County, California San Luis Obispo County is a county located along the Pacific Ocean in the Central Coast of the U.S. state of California, between Los Angeles and the San Francisco Bay Area. As of the 2010 census its population was 269,637, up from 246,681 at the 2000 census... |
51.4% | 68,176 | 46.1% | 61,055 | 2.0% | 3,924 |
| Trinity Trinity County, California Trinity County is a large, rugged and mountainous, heavily forested county located in the northwestern portion of the U.S. state of California, along the Trinity River and within the Salmon/Klamath Mountains. It covers an area of over two million acres , and as of the 2010 census its population... |
50.8% | 3,233 | 46.2% | 2,940 | 4.0% | 257 |
| Riverside Riverside County, California Riverside County is a county in the U.S. state of California. One of 58 California counties, it covers in the southern part of the state, and stretches from Orange County to the Colorado River, which forms the state border with Arizona. The county derives its name from the city of Riverside,... |
50.3% | 325,017 | 47.9% | 310,041 | 1.7% | 11,216 |
| Fresno Fresno County, California Fresno County is a county located in the Central Valley of the U.S. state of California, south of Stockton and north of Bakersfield. As of the 2010 census, it is the tenth most populous county in California with a population of 930,450, and the sixth largest in size with an area of . The county... |
50.3% | 136,706 | 48.2% | 131,015 | 2.1% | 5,727 |
| Butte Butte County, California Butte County is a county located in the Central Valley of the US state of California, north of the state capital of Sacramento. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 220,000. The county seat is Oroville. Butte County is the "Land of Natural Wealth and Beauty."Butte County is watered by the... |
49.9% | 49,013 | 47.6% | 46,706 | 2.7% | 2,606 |
| Stanislaus Stanislaus County, California Stanislaus County is a county located in the Central Valley of the U.S. state of California. As the price of housing has increased in the San Francisco Bay Area, many people who work in the southern reaches of the Bay Area have opted for the longer commute and moved to Stanislaus County for the... |
49.9% | 80,279 | 48.2% | 77,497 | 2.3% | 3,736 |
| Orange Orange County, California Orange County is a county in the U.S. state of California. Its county seat is Santa Ana. As of the 2010 census, its population was 3,010,232, up from 2,846,293 at the 2000 census, making it the third most populous county in California, behind Los Angeles County and San Diego County... |
47.7% | 549,558 | 50.2% | 579,064 | 2.2% | 25,065 |
| Del Norte Del Norte County, California Del Norte County is a county located at the far northwest corner of the U.S. state of California on the Pacific adjacent to the Oregon border. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 28,610. The county seat is Crescent City, the county's only incorporated city. Del Norte is the abbreviated... |
45.4% | 4,323 | 52.2% | 4,967 | 2.4% | 231 |
| Inyo Inyo County, California -National protected areas:* Death Valley National Park * Inyo National Forest * Manzanar National Historic Site-Major highways:* U.S. Route 6* U.S. Route 395* State Route 127* State Route 136* State Route 168* State Route 178... |
43.9% | 3,743 | 53.1% | 4,523 | 2.9% | 243 |
| El Dorado El Dorado County, California El Dorado County is a county located in the historic Gold Country in the Sierra Nevada Mountains and foothills of the U.S. state of California. The 2010 population was 181,058. The El Dorado county seat is in Placerville.... |
43.7% | 40,529 | 54.2% | 50,314 | 2.6% | 2,466 |
| Placer Placer County, California Placer County is a county located in both the Sacramento Valley and Sierra Nevada regions of the U.S. state of California, in what is known as the Gold Country. It stretches from the suburbs of Sacramento to Lake Tahoe and the Nevada border. Because of the expansion of the Greater Sacramento,... |
43.4% | 75,112 | 54.7% | 94,647 | 2.3% | 4,053 |
| Siskiyou Siskiyou County, California Siskiyou County is a county located in the far northernmost part of the U.S. state of California, in the Shasta Cascade region on the Oregon border. Yreka is the county seat. Because of its substantial natural beauty, outdoor recreation opportunities, and Gold Rush era history, it is an important... |
43.3% | 9,292 | 53.7% | 11,520 | 3.5% | 752 |
| Plumas Plumas County, California Plumas County is a county located in the Sierra Nevada of the U.S. state of California. The county gets its name from the Spanish words for the Feather River , which flows through the county. As of the 2010 census, the population 20,007, down from 20,824 at the 2000 census... |
42.8% | 4,715 | 54.8% | 6,035 | 3.1% | 343 |
| Mariposa Mariposa County, California Mariposa County is a county in the U.S. state of California, located in the western foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains. It lies north of Fresno, east of Merced, and southeast of Stockton. As of the 2010 census, the population was 18,251 up from 17,130 at the 2000 census... |
42.5% | 4,100 | 54.9% | 5,298 | 2.9% | 279 |
| Tuolumne Tuolumne County, California Tuolumne County is a county in the Sierra Nevada of the U.S. state of California. The northern half of Yosemite National Park is located in the eastern part of the county. As of the 2010 census, the population was 55,365, up from 54,501 at the 2000 census... |
42.5% | 11,532 | 55.2% | 14,988 | 2.3% | 631 |
| Madera Madera County, California Madera County is a county of the U.S. state of California, located in the Central Valley and the Sierra Nevada north of Fresno County. It comprises the Madera-Chowchilla, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2010 census the population was 150,865... |
42.4% | 17,952 | 55.7% | 23,583 | 2.2% | 939 |
| Calaveras Calaveras County, California Calaveras County is a county located in the Gold Country of the U.S. state of California. Calaveras is the Spanish word for skulls; the county was reportedly named for the remains of Native Americans discovered by the Spanish explorer Captain Gabriel Moraga. As of the 2010 census, the county had a... |
42.2% | 9,813 | 55.1% | 12,835 | 3.3% | 773 |
| Kings Kings County, California Kings County is a county located in the Central Valley of the U.S. state of California. It is located in a rich agricultural region. Kings County is also home to NAS Lemoore, which is the U.S. Navy's newest and largest master jet air station. The county seat is Hanford... |
42.1% | 14,747 | 56.2% | 19,710 | 1.8% | 618 |
| Amador Amador County, California Amador County is a county located in the Sierra Nevada of the U.S. state of California. As of the 2010 census, the population was 38,091. The county seat is Jackson.Amador County bills itself as "The Heart of the Mother Lode" and lies within the Gold Country... |
41.5% | 7,813 | 56.1% | 10,561 | 2.3% | 436 |
| Yuba Yuba County, California Yuba County is a county located in the U.S. state of California's Central Valley, north of Sacramento, along the Feather River. As of the 2010 census, its population was 72,155. The county seat is Marysville. Yuba County is part of the Greater Sacramento area.-History:Yuba County was one of the... |
41.5% | 8,866 | 56.2% | 12,007 | 2.3% | 492 |
| Tulare Tulare County, California Tulare County is a county located in the Central Valley of the U.S. state of California, south of Fresno. Sequoia National Park is located in the county, as are part of Kings Canyon National Park, in its northeast corner , and part of Mount Whitney, on its eastern border... |
41.5% | 43,634 | 56.9% | 59,765 | 2.0% | 2,126 |
| Sutter Sutter, California Sutter is a census-designated place in Sutter County, California, United States. It is part of the Yuba City Metropolitan Statistical Area within the Greater Sacramento CSA... |
40.8% | 13,412 | 57.5% | 18,911 | 2.1% | 698 |
| Kern Kern County, California Spreading across the southern end of the California Central Valley, Kern County is the fifth-largest county by population in California. Its economy is heavily linked to agriculture and to petroleum extraction, and there is a strong aviation and space presence. Politically, it has generally... |
40.2% | 93,457 | 57.9% | 134,793 | 1.8% | 4,111 |
| Colusa Colusa County, California Colusa County is a county located in the Central Valley of the U.S. state of California, northwest of state capital Sacramento. As of the 2010 census, its population was 21,419. The county seat is Colusa.-History:... |
40.0% | 2,569 | 58.1% | 3,733 | 2.3% | 146 |
| Glenn Glenn County, California Glenn County is in the California Central Valley. As of 2010, it had a population of 28,122. The county seat is the city of Willows.-History:Glenn County was formed in 1891 from parts of Colusa County. It was named for Dr. Hugh J... |
37.8% | 3,734 | 59.9% | 5,910 | 2.3% | 225 |
| Sierra Sierra County, California Sierra County is a county located in the Sierra Nevada of the U.S. state of California, northeast of Sacramento on the border with Nevada. As of the 2010 census the population was 3,240, down from 3,555 at the 2000 census. The county seat is Downieville.... |
37.4% | 743 | 58.2% | 1,158 | 4.9% | 97 |
| Tehama Tehama County, California Tehama County is a county located in the northern part of the U.S. state of California. It is bisected by the Sacramento River. As of 2010 its population was 63,463, up from 56,039 as of 2000. The county seat is Red Bluff.-History:... |
36.7% | 8,945 | 60.8% | 14,843 | 3.1% | 772 |
| Shasta Shasta County, California Shasta County is a county located in the northern portion of the U.S. state of California. The county occupies the northern reaches of the Sacramento Valley, with portions extending into the southern reaches of the Cascade Range. As of the 2010 census, the population was 177,223, up from 163,256... |
36.0% | 28,867 | 61.7% | 49,588 | 2.2% | 1,734 |
| Lassen Lassen County, California Lassen County is a county located in the northeastern portion of the U.S. state of California. As of the 2010 census, the population was 34,895, up from 33,828 at the 2000 census... |
31.5% | 3,586 | 65.8% | 7,483 | 3.2% | 364 |
| Modoc Modoc County, California Modoc County is a county located in the far northeast corner of the U.S. state of California, bounded by the state of Oregon to the north and the state of Nevada to the east. As of the 2010 census, its population was 9,686, up from 9,449 at the 2000 census. The current county seat is Alturas, the... |
29.8% | 1,313 | 67.5% | 2,981 | 2.2% | 95 |
By congressional district
Obama carried 42 congressional districts in California, including all 34 districts held by Democrats and eight districts held by Republicans in the U.S. House of RepresentativesUnited States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
.
| District | McCain | Obama | Representative |
|---|---|---|---|
| 31.69% | 65.60% | Mike Thompson Mike Thompson Michael C. Thompson , is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1999. He is a member of the Democratic Party. The district includes Napa, Lake, Mendocino, Humboldt and Del Norte Counties as well as parts of Yolo and Sonoma Counties.... |
|
| 56.10% | 41.43% | Wally Herger Wally Herger Walter William "Wally" Herger, Jr. , American politician, has been a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives since 1987, representing the California's 2nd congressional district. The second district is physically large... |
|
| 48.81% | 49.28% | Dan Lungren Dan Lungren Daniel Edward "Dan" Lungren is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2005. The district covers most of Sacramento County and part of Solano County, as well as all of Alpine, Amador and Calaveras counties... |
|
| 53.98% | 43.83% | John Doolittle John Doolittle John Taylor Doolittle , American politician, was a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives from 1991 to 2009, representing . In the 109th Congress, he held a leadership role as the Deputy Whip for the Republican party in the House... (110th Congress 110th United States Congress The One Hundred Tenth United States Congress was the meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, between January 3, 2007, and January 3, 2009, during the last two years of the second term of President George W. Bush. It was composed of the Senate and the House of... ) |
|
| Tom McClintock Tom McClintock Thomas Miller McClintock II is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2009. He is a member of the Republican Party. He is a former Assemblyman and state Senator... (111th Congress 111th United States Congress The One Hundred Eleventh United States Congress was the meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government from January 3, 2009 until January 3, 2011. It began during the last two weeks of the George W. Bush administration, with the remainder spanning the first two years of... ) |
|||
| 28.40% | 69.62% | Doris Matsui Doris Matsui Doris Okada Matsui is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2005. She is a member of the Democratic Party. The district consists of the city of Sacramento and the surrounding area... |
|
| 22.01% | 75.95% | Lynn Woolsey Lynn Woolsey Lynn C. Woolsey is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1993. She is a member of the Democratic Party. The district includes all of Marin County and most of Sonoma County. She is a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, and its co-chair... |
|
| 26.43% | 71.40% | George Miller George Miller (politician) George Miller III is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1975. He is a member of the Democratic Party. From 2007 through 2010, Miller served as chairman of the Education and Labor Committee, formerly known as the Education and the Workforce Committee.-Early life, education, and early... |
|
| 12.38% | 85.22% | Nancy Pelosi Nancy Pelosi Nancy Patricia D'Alesandro Pelosi is the Minority Leader of the United States House of Representatives and served as the 60th Speaker of the United States House of Representatives from 2007 to 2011... |
|
| 9.87% | 88.13% | Barbara Lee Barbara Lee Barbara Jean Lee is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1998. She is a member of the Democratic Party. She is the first woman to represent that district. Lee was the Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus and was the Co-Chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus... |
|
| 33.14% | 64.66% | Ellen Tauscher Ellen Tauscher Ellen O'Kane Tauscher is an American politician and Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security Affairs... |
|
| 44.47% | 53.79% | Jerry McNerney Jerry McNerney Gerald "Jerry" McNerney is an engineer, energy specialist, and the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2007. He is a member of the Democratic Party... |
|
| 23.88% | 74.32% | Jackie Speier Jackie Speier Karen Lorraine Jacqueline "Jackie" Speier is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2008. She is a member of the Democratic Party. The district includes the northern two-thirds of San Mateo County and the southwest quarter of San Francisco.She is also a former member of the California State... |
|
| 23.81% | 74.38% | Pete Stark Pete Stark Fortney Hillman "Pete" Stark, Jr. is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1973. He is a member of the Democratic Party. Currently he is the 5th most senior Representative, as well as 6th most senior member of Congress overall... |
|
| 24.88% | 73.11% | Anna Eshoo Anna Eshoo Anna Georges Eshoo is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1993. She is a member of the Democratic Party. The district, which includes part of Silicon Valley, includes the cities of Redwood City, Sunnyvale, Mountain View and Palo Alto... |
|
| 29.69% | 68.42% | Mike Honda Mike Honda Michael Makoto "Mike" Honda is an American Democratic Party politician. He currently serves as the U.S. Representative for , encompassing western San Jose and Silicon Valley... |
|
| 28.83% | 69.55% | Zoe Lofgren Zoe Lofgren Zoe Lofgren is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1995. She is a member of the Democratic Party. The district is based in San Jose.-Early life, education, and early career:... |
|
| 25.78% | 72.14% | Sam Farr Sam Farr Samuel S. "Sam" Farr is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1993. He is a member of the Democratic Party. He was elected to Congress in a 1993 special election when longtime Democratic Rep... |
|
| 38.98% | 59.24% | Dennis Cardoza Dennis Cardoza Dennis A. Cardoza is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2003. The district takes in a large swath of the Central Valley, from Stockton to Fresno. He is a member of the Democratic Party... |
|
| 52.12% | 46.03% | George Radanovich George Radanovich George Purdy Radanovich is a former U.S. Representative for , serving from 1995 to 2011. The district includes most of northern Fresno, as well as several rural areas northeast of the city. On December 29, 2009, Radanovich announced he would not seek reelection in 2010... |
|
| 38.70% | 59.55% | Jim Costa Jim Costa James Manuel "Jim" Costa is the U.S. Representative for , serving since his initial election in 2004. He is a member of the Democratic Party. The district takes in large and predominantly Latino portions of Fresno and Bakersfield in the Central Valley.-Early life and education:Born in Fresno,... |
|
| 56.32% | 42.06% | Devin Nunes Devin Nunes Devin Nunes is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2003. He is a member of the Republican Party. The district, located in the San Joaquin Valley, includes all of Tulare County, as well as much of eastern Fresno County. He is also the author of the book Restoring the Republic, published by... |
|
| 59.67% | 38.30% | Kevin McCarthy | |
| 32.31% | 65.30% | Lois Capps | |
| 47.65% | 50.49% | Elton Gallegly Elton Gallegly Elton William Gallegly is the U.S. Representative for , and previously the 23rd and 21st, serving in Congress since 1993. He is a member of the Republican Party.-Early life, education, and pre-congressional career:... |
|
| 48.34% | 49.45% | Howard McKeon Howard McKeon Howard Philip "Buck" McKeon is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1993. He is a member of the Republican Party.-Early life, education and career:... |
|
| 46.96% | 51.03% | David Dreier David Dreier David Timothy Dreier is the U.S. Representative for , serving in Congress since 1981. He is a member of the Republican Party.-Early life, education, and business career:... |
|
| 31.69% | 66.12% | Brad Sherman Brad Sherman Bradley J. "Brad" Sherman is an American politician. He has been a Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives since 1997, representing .... |
|
| 22.04% | 76.16% | Howard Berman Howard Berman Howard Lawrence Berman is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2003. He is a member of the Democratic Party. He earlier served in the California State Assembly from 1974 to 1982, and as the U.S... |
|
| 30.37% | 67.59% | Adam Schiff Adam Schiff Adam Bennett Schiff is the U.S. Representative for . He has served in Congress since 2001. He is a member of the Democratic Party... |
|
| 27.90% | 70.44% | Henry Waxman Henry Waxman Henry Arnold Waxman is the U.S. Representative for , serving in Congress since 1975. He is a member of the Democratic Party. He is considered to be one of the most influential liberal members of Congress... |
|
| 17.83% | 79.87% | Xavier Becerra Xavier Becerra Xavier Becerra is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2003. He is a member of the Democratic Party. The district is based in Los Angeles.-Early life, education and career:... |
|
| 29.81% | 68.17% | Hilda Solis Hilda Solis Hilda Lucia Solis is the 25th United States Secretary of Labor, serving in the Obama administration. She is a member of the Democratic Party and served in the United States House of Representatives from 2001 to 2009, representing the 31st and 32nd congressional districts of California that include... |
|
| 11.69% | 86.81% | Diane Watson Diane Watson Diane Edith Watson is a former US Representative for , serving from 2003 until 2011. She is a member of the Democratic Party... |
|
| 23.15% | 74.73% | Lucille Roybal-Allard | |
| 14.14% | 84.37% | Maxine Waters Maxine Waters Maxine Waters is the U.S. Representative for , and previously the 29th district, serving since 1991. She is a member of the Democratic Party.... |
|
| 33.52% | 64.39% | Jane Harman Jane Harman Jane Margaret Lakes Harman is the former U.S. Representative for , serving from 1993 to 1999, and from 2001 to 2011. She is a member of the Democratic Party.... |
|
| 18.70% | 79.59% | Laura Richardson Laura Richardson Laura Richardson is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2007. She is a member of the Democratic Party. The district encompasses the inland section of Long Beach, Carson, Compton and Signal Hill, as well as parts of other municipalities.She previously represented the 55th district in the... |
|
| 26.62% | 71.27% | Grace Napolitano Grace Napolitano Graciela Flores Napolitano is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2003. She is a member of the Democratic Party. She previously served in the California State Assembly and the Norwalk, City Council.... |
|
| 32.43% | 65.48% | Linda Sánchez Linda Sánchez Linda T. Sánchez is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2003. She is a member of the Democratic Party.-Early life, education and career:... |
|
| 51.14% | 46.63% | Ed Royce Ed Royce Edward Randall "Ed" Royce is the U.S. Representative for , and previously the 39th, serving in Congress since 1993. He is a member of the Republican Party. The district lies in northern Orange County, including portions of Stanton, Cypress, Buena Park, Fullerton, Anaheim, Placentia, and Orange... |
|
| 54.18% | 43.66% | Jerry Lewis Jerry Lewis (politician) Charles Jeremy Lewis is the U.S. Representative for , and previously the 40th, 35th and 37th, serving since 2003. He is a member of the Republican Party. He is a former chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, serving in the role during the 109th Congress.-Early life, education, and... |
|
| 53.19% | 44.88% | Gary Miller Gary Miller Gary Gene Miller is the U.S. Representative for , and previously the 41st, serving since 2003. He is a member of the Republican Party.-Early life, education and career:... |
|
| 30.09% | 67.96% | Joe Baca Joe Baca Joseph N. "Joe" Baca is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2003. He is a member of the Democratic Party. The district, numbered as the 42nd from 1999 to 2003, is located in southwestern San Bernardino County and includes Fontana, Rialto, Ontario and parts of the city of San... |
|
| 48.57% | 49.51% | Ken Calvert Ken Calvert Kenneth Stanton "Ken" Calvert is the U.S. Representative for , and previously the 43rd, serving since 1993. He is a member of the Republican Party. The district is part of the Inland Empire and south Orange County areas of Southern California.-Early life, education and career:Calvert was born in... |
|
| 46.94% | 51.52% | Mary Bono Mack | |
| 49.77% | 47.94% | Dana Rohrabacher Dana Rohrabacher Dana Tyron Rohrabacher is the U.S. Representative for , and previously the 45th and 42nd, serving since 1989. He is a member of the Republican Party... |
|
| 37.78% | 60.14% | Loretta Sanchez Loretta Sanchez Loretta Sanchez is the U.S. Representative for , and previously the 46th, serving since 2003. She is a member of the Democratic Party, and a member of the Blue Dog Coalition. The district lies in central Orange County.... |
|
| 48.55% | 49.30% | John B. T. Campbell III | |
| 53.01% | 45.14% | Darrell Issa Darrell Issa Darrell Edward Issa is the U.S. Representative for , and previously the 48th, serving since 2001. He is a member of the Republican Party. He was formerly a CEO of Directed Electronics, the Vista, California-based manufacturer of automobile security and convenience products... |
|
| 47.08% | 51.26% | Brian Bilbray Brian Bilbray Brian Phillip Bilbray is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2006, and previously for the 49th district from 1995 to 2001. He is a member of the Republican Party. Bilbray is Chairman of the House Immigration Reform Caucus and a member of the influential... |
|
| 35.48% | 63.11% | Bob Filner Bob Filner Robert Earl Filner is the U.S. Representative for , and previously the 50th, serving since 1993, and Chairman of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs since 2007. He is a member of the Democratic Party... |
|
| 53.42% | 44.98% | Duncan Hunter Duncan Hunter Duncan Lee Hunter is an American politician. He was a Republican member of the House of Representatives from California's 52nd, 45th and 42nd districts from 1981 to 2009.... |
|
| 29.87% | 68.17% | Susan Davis |
Electors
Technically the voters of California cast their ballots for electors: representatives to the Electoral College. California is allocated 55 electors because it has 53 congressional districts and 2 senators. All candidates who appear on the ballot or qualify to receive write-in votes must submit a list of 55 electors, who pledge to vote for their candidate and his or her running mate, to the California Secretary of State. Whoever wins the majority of votes in the state is awarded all 55 electoral votes. Their chosen electors then vote for President and Vice President. Although electors are pledged to their candidate and running mate, they are not obligated to vote for them. An elector who votes for someone other than his or her candidate is known as a faithless electorFaithless elector
In United States presidential elections, a faithless elector is a member of the Electoral College who does not vote for the candidate they have pledged to vote for...
.
The electors of each state and the District of Columbia met on December 15, 2008 to cast their votes for President and Vice President. The Electoral College itself never meets as one body. Instead the electors from each state and the District of Columbia met in their respective capitols. In California the 55 electors meet in the State Capitol building
California State Capitol
The California State Capitol is home to the government of California. The building houses the bicameral state legislature and the office of the governor....
in Sacramento
Sacramento
Sacramento is the capital of the state of California, in the United States of America.Sacramento may also refer to:- United States :*Sacramento County, California*Sacramento, Kentucky*Sacramento – San Joaquin River Delta...
to cast their ballots.
The following were the members of the Electoral College from California. All were pledged to and voted for Barack Obama and Joe Biden.
- Jaime Alvarado
- William Ayer
- Joe Baca, Jr.Joe Baca, Jr.Joseph N. "Joe" Baca, Jr. is an American politician served one term as a member of the California State Assembly from the 62nd District from 2004 until 2006. He stepped down to make an unsuccessful run for the State Senate in 2006, losing the primary to Gloria Negrete McLeod. Baca currently serves...
- Ian Blue
- Roberta Brooks
- Nathan Brostrom
- Mark Cibula
- Robert Conaway
- Ray Cordova
- Lawrence Du Bois
- James Farley
- John Freidenrich
- Mark Friedman
- Bobby Glaser
- Audrey Gordon
- Robert Handy
- Ilene Haber
- Mary Hubert
- Aleita Huguenin
- Richard Hundrieser
- Fred Jackson
- Patrick Kahler
- Mary Keadle
- LeRoy King
- Vinz Koller
- Mark Macarro
- Alma Marquez
- Ana Mascarenas
- Betty McMillion
- Michael McNerney
- Gwen Moore
- Jeremy Nishihara
- Gregory Olzack
- Joe Perez
- Nancy Parrish
- Lou Paulson
- Anthony Rendon
- Frank Salazar
- David Sanchez
- Larry Sheingold
- Lane Sherman
- Stephen Smith
- Juadina Stallings
- Kenneth Sulzer
- Aaruni Thakur
- Norma TorresNorma TorresNorma Torres is an American politician. She is currently a member of the California State Assembly, representing the 61st district which includes the cities of Pomona, Montclair, Ontario, and Chino. She is a Democrat....
- Silissa Uriarte-Smith
- Sid Voorakkara
- Greg Warner
- Karen Waters
- Sanford Weiner
- Gregory Willenborg
- Kelley Willis
- James Yedor
- Christine Young
Failed election reform
There was a proposed ballot propositionCalifornia ballot proposition
In California, a ballot proposition is a proposed law that is submitted to the electorate for approval in a direct vote . It may take the form of a constitutional amendment or an ordinary statute. A ballot proposition may be proposed by the State Legislature or by a petition signed by members of...
in the state to alter the way the state's electors would be distributed among presidential candidates, but the initiative failed to get onto the ballot.
See also
- California state elections, February 2008California state elections, February 2008The California state elections, February 2008 were held on February 5, 2008 throughout California. Presidential primaries and a special election for a State Assembly seat were among the contests held...
- California state elections, November 2008California state elections, November 2008The California state elections, November 2008 were held on November 4, 2008 throughout California. Among the elections taking place were those for the office of President of the United States, all the seats of California's delegation to the House of Representatives, all of the seats of the State...
- Opinion polling by state for the United States presidential election, 2008 (California)Opinion polling by state for the United States presidential election, 2008 (California)This article is a collection of individual state-wide opinion polls for the state of California. This relates to the 2008 United States presidential election.-California:55 electoral votes...