# Douglas H. Bosco

Douglas Harry Bosco (born July 28, 1946) is an American lawyer, politician, and newspaper owner from California. He is a former U.S. Representative, serving four terms as a Democrat from 1983 to 1991.

## Early life

Born in Brooklyn, New York, Bosco attended Fremont High School in Sunnyvale, California. He graduated from the Capitol Page School in Washington, D.C. in 1963, received a B.A. from Willamette University in 1968 and a J.D. from the Willamette University College of Law in 1971. Bosco was admitted to the California bar in 1971 and commenced practice in San Rafael. He served as director of the California Department of Human Relations in 1973, and became executive director of the Marin County (California) Housing Authority in 1974.

## Political career
### California State Assembly (1978-82)

Bosco was elected to the California State Assembly in 1978 and was re-elected in 1980. In 1979 he wrote, with then-governor Jerry Brown, the Renewable Resources Investment Act, which set up a state fund to protect fisheries, forests, urban forests and the coastline. He served as a delegate to the 1980 Democratic National Convention and to the California Democratic State Convention in 1982.

### United States House of Representatives (1983-91)

In 1982 Bosco won the Democratic nomination for California's 1st congressional district, which had been renumbered from the 2nd District after redistricting. Then, in a major upset, he defeated 20-year Republican incumbent Donald H. Clausen by just over two points. In Congress Bosco, an advocate of fishery and natural resource conservation, authored the California Wilderness Act and the Smith River National Recreation Area Act. In 1989, along with Barbara Boxer and Nancy Pelosi, Bosco co-authored legislation to preserve the Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary, protecting the coast of northern California from offshore oil drilling.
Bosco went on to serve four terms in the House, but lost in 1990 by 42%-43% (with 15% to a Peace and Freedom Party candidate) to Republican Frank D. Riggs, who in turn was defeated for re-election in 1992 by Democrat Daniel E. Hamburg. In 1994, Bosco attempted a comeback to his congressional seat by challenging Hamburg in the primary, but lost by 38%-62%. Hamburg went on to lose the general election to Riggs in a rematch, 47%-53%.

## Post-political career

Bosco continues to be influential in state and local politics. He serves as chairman of the California State Coastal Conservancy, preserving public access to California's coastline.
In 2012, Bosco became a part-owner of the local newspaper in Santa Rosa, California, The Press Democrat. Formerly a resident of Occidental, California, Bosco currently resides with his family in Santa Rosa.

## Electoral history

1982 United States House of Representatives elections :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Douglas H. Bosco | 107,749 | 49.8 |
| | Republican | Donald H. Clausen (Incumbent) | 102,043 | 47.2 |
| | Libertarian | David Redick | 6,374 | 2.9 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 216,166 | 100.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | |
| | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican |
1984 United States House of Representatives elections :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Douglas H. Bosco (Incumbent) | 157,037 | 62.3 |
| | Republican | Floyd G. Sampson | 95,186 | 37.7 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 252,223 | 100.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |
1986 United States House of Representatives elections :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Douglas H. Bosco (Incumbent) | 138,174 | 67.5 |
| | Republican | Floyd G. Sampson | 54,436 | 26.6 |
| | Peace and Freedom | Elden McFarland | 12,149 | 5.9 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 204,759 | 100.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |
1988 United States House of Representatives elections :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Douglas H. Bosco (Incumbent) | 159,815 | 62.9 |
| | Republican | Samuel "Mark" Vanderbilt | 72,189 | 28.4 |
| | Peace and Freedom | Eric Fried | 22,150 | 8.7 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 254,154 | 100.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |
1990 United States House of Representatives elections :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Frank Riggs | 99,782 | 43.3 |
| | Democratic | Douglas H. Bosco (Incumbent) | 96,468 | 41.9 |
| | Peace and Freedom | Darlene G. Comingore | 34,011 | 14.8 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 230,261 | 100.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | |
| | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic |