February 2008 California elections

The 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. Seven ballot propositions were also decided on.

February 2008 California elections

← 2006February 5, 2008Jun 2008 →

Presidential primaries

Key:Withdrew prior to contest

American Independent presidential primary

Three candidates were on the ballot of the American Independent Party, a state political party.

California American Independence presidential primary, 2008[1]
CandidateVotesPercentage
Donald Grundmann16,60336.08%
Diane Templin15,30233.25%
Mad Max Riekse14,09930.64%
David Larson (write-in)180.04%
Totals46,022100.00%
Voter turnout[A]

Democratic presidential primary

California Democratic presidential primary, 2008[1]
CandidateVotesPercentageNational delegates
Hillary Clinton2,608,18451.47%204
Barack Obama2,186,66243.16%166
John Edwards193,6173.82%0
Dennis Kucinich24,1260.48%0
Bill Richardson19,9390.39%0
Joe Biden18,2610.36%0
Mike Gravel8,1840.16%0
Christopher Dodd8,0050.16%0
Willie Carter (write-in)40.00%0
Eric Hinzman (write-in)40.00%0
Phil Epstein (write-in)30.00%0
Brian Calef (write-in)20.00%0
David Frey (write-in)10.00%0
Joseph McAndrew (write-in)10.00%0
Keith Judd (write-in)00.00%0
Julius Mogyorossy (write-in)00.00%0
Totals5,066,993100.00%370
Voter turnout[A]

Green presidential primary

Seven candidates participated in the Green Party's presidential primary, which is a non-binding contest.

California Green presidential primary, 2008[1]
CandidateVotesPercentageNational delegates[2]
Ralph Nader21,72660.61%102
Cynthia McKinney9,53426.60%45
Elaine Brown1,5984.46%7
Kat Swift1,0843.02%5
Kent Mesplay7272.03%3
Jesse Johnson6191.73%3
Jared Ball5561.55%3
Totals35,844100.00%168
Voter turnout28.21%

Libertarian presidential primary

California Libertarian presidential primary, 2008[1]
CandidateVotesPercentage
Christine Smith4,24125.16%
Steve Kubby2,87617.06%
Wayne Root2,36014.00%
Bob Jackson1,4868.81%
Barry Hess8915.29%
George Phillies8525.05%
Michael Jingozian7744.59%
Robert Milnes7214.28%
Daniel Imperato7074.19%
John Finan7064.19%
Dave Hollist6784.02%
Alden Link5653.35%
Leon Ray (write-in)10.01%
Totals16,858100.00%
Voter turnout20.96%

Peace and Freedom presidential primary

Seven candidates participated in the Peace and Freedom presidential primary, a non-binding "beauty contest". Ralph Nader received a plurality of the votes, followed by Gloria La Riva and Cynthia McKinney. Stewart Alexander was nominated to be Socialist Party candidate Brian Moore's running mate in October 2007, but remained on the Peace and Freedom ballot.

California Peace and Freedom presidential primary, 2008[1]
CandidateVotesPercentage
Ralph Nader2,62040.66%
Cynthia McKinney1,38521.49%
Gloria La Riva1,29220.05%
Brian Moore3555.51%
John Crockford3465.37%
Stewart Alexander3405.28%
Stanley Hetz1061.64%
Totals6,444100.00%
Voter turnout11.27%

Republican presidential primary

California Republican presidential primary, 2008[1]
CandidateVotesPercentageNational delegates
John McCain1,238,98842.25%116
Mitt Romney1,013,47134.56%3
Mike Huckabee340,66911.62%0
Rudy Giuliani128,6814.39%0
Ron Paul125,3654.27%0
Fred Thompson50,2751.71%0
Duncan Hunter14,0210.48%0
Alan Keyes11,7420.40%0
John Cox3,2190.11%0
Tom Tancredo3,8840.13%0
Sam Brownback2,4860.08%0
Karen Irish (write-in)60.00%0
Michael Shaw (write-in)20.00%0
Edward Marshall (write-in)10.00%0
Joel Neuberg (write-in)10.00%0
Robert Brickell (write-in)00.00%0
Brian Calef (write-in)00.00%0
David Frey (write-in)00.00%0
Walter Rothnie (write-in)00.00%0
John Sutherland (write-in)00.00%0
Totals2,932,811100.00%119
Voter turnout56.08%

Propositions

Proposition 91

Proposition 91 sought to amend the California Constitution to prohibit motor vehicle fuel sales taxes that are earmarked for transportation purposes from being retained in the state's General Fund.

Proposition 91[3]
ChoiceVotes%
No4,794,77658.31
Yes3,427,58841.69
Valid votes8,222,36490.67
Invalid or blank votes846,0519.33
Total votes9,068,415100.00

Proposition 92

Proposition 92 sought to amend Proposition 98 of 1988, which sets a mandate for the minimum level of funding each year for elementary and secondary schools and community colleges.

Proposition 92[3]
ChoiceVotes%
No4,831,44557.21
Yes3,613,33242.79
Valid votes8,444,77793.12
Invalid or blank votes623,6386.88
Total votes9,068,415100.00

Proposition 93

Proposition 93 sought to change the term limits for members of the California State Legislature in both the State Assembly and State Senate.

Proposition 93[3]
ChoiceVotes%
No4,574,82653.59
Yes3,961,46646.41
Valid votes8,536,29294.13
Invalid or blank votes532,1235.87
Total votes9,068,415100.00

Proposition 94

Proposition 94 sought to expand the Indian Gaming Compact with the Pechanga Band of Luiseño Mission Indians.

Proposition 94[3]
ChoiceVotes%
Yes4,812,31355.56
No3,848,99844.44
Valid votes8,661,31195.51
Invalid or blank votes407,1044.49
Total votes9,068,415100.00

Proposition 95

Proposition 95 sought to expand the Indian Gaming Compact with the Morongo Band of Mission Indians.

Proposition 95[3]
ChoiceVotes%
Yes4,809,57355.60
No3,841,35244.40
Valid votes8,650,92595.40
Invalid or blank votes417,4904.60
Total votes9,068,415100.00

Proposition 96

Proposition 96 sought to expand the Indian Gaming Compact with the Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation.

Proposition 96[3]
ChoiceVotes%
Yes4,785,41355.45
No3,844,40844.54
Valid votes8,629,82195.16
Invalid or blank votes438,5944.84
Total votes9,068,415100.00

Proposition 97

Proposition 97 sought to expand the Indian Gaming Compact with the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians.

Proposition 97[3]
ChoiceVotes%
Yes4,786,88455.50
No3,838,89244.50
Valid votes8,625,77695.12
Invalid or blank votes442,6394.88
Total votes9,068,415100.00

55th State Assembly district special election

The seat of California's 55th State Assembly district was vacated by Assemblymember Laura Richardson, who won a special election to fill California's 37th congressional district on June 26, 2007. The congressional district was vacant after Juanita Millender-McDonald died of cancer on April 22, 2007.

Primary election

A primary election for the special election was held on December 11, 2007. Since no candidate won a majority, the candidates with the top votes for each party appeared on the ballots for the special election.[4]

California's 55th State Assembly district special primary, 2007[4]
PartyCandidateVotes%
DemocraticWarren Furutani9,57848.52
DemocraticMike Gipson7,60238.51
LibertarianHerb Peters1,1375.76
American IndependentCharlotte Gibson7763.93
DemocraticMervin Evans5312.69
Valid ballots19,62499.41
Invalid or blank votes1160.59
Total votes19,740 100.00
Turnout 11.56

Special election

California's 55th State Assembly district special election, 2008[5]
PartyCandidateVotes%
DemocraticWarren Furutani 48,419 69.80
American IndependentCharlotte Gibson10,78515.55
LibertarianHerb Peters10,16814.66
Valid ballots69,37279.80
Invalid or blank votes17,67020.30
Total votes87,042 100.00
Turnout 50.96
Democratic hold

Notes

A Voter turnout information is listed where applicable.[6] Turnout information is not available for the American Independent or Democratic primaries because both parties allowed Decline to State voters to participate.[7] There were a total of 328,261 eligible registered voters registered with the American Independent Party, 6,749,406 with the Democratic Party, and 3,043,164 who declined to state. There was a total of 15,712,753 eligible registered voters regardless of party affiliation in the entire state.[6]

See also

References