# 2008 California elections

Elections in California :
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30th
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vte :
State government
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vte :
State propositions
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4
7
8
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14
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1978
6
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13
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8
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64
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187
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227
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53
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1A
55
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73
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81
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13
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1
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6
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11
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19
20
21
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1
26
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2024
1
2
3
4
5
6
32
33
34
35
36
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Sacramento
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San Diego Mayor
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Other localities
Bakersfield
Mayoral elections:
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Mayoral elections:
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vte :
vte :
The 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 Assembly, and all of the odd-numbered seats of the State Senate. Twelve propositions also appeared on the ballot. Numerous local elections also took place throughout the state.

## President

United States presidential election in California, 2008 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Running mate | Votes | Percentage | Electoral votes |
| | Democratic | Barack Obama | Joe Biden | 8,274,473 | 61.01% | 55 |
| | Republican | John McCain | Sarah Palin | 5,011,781 | 36.95% | 0 |
| | Peace and Freedom | Ralph Nader | Matt Gonzalez | 108,381 | 0.80% | 0 |
| | Libertarian | Bob Barr | Wayne Allyn Root | 67,582 | 0.50% | 0 |
| | American Independent | Alan Keyes | Brian Rohrbough | 40,673 | 0.30% | 0 |
| | Green | Cynthia McKinney | Rosa Clemente | 38,774 | 0.29% | 0 |
| | Independent | Ron Paul (write-in) | Gail Lightfoot | 17,006 | 0.13% | 0 |
| | Independent | Chuck Baldwin (write-in) | Darrell Castle | 3,145 | 0.02% | 0 |
| | Independent | James Harris (write-in) | Alyson Kennedy | 49 | 0.00% | 0 |
| | Independent | Frank Moore (write-in) | Susan Block | 36 | 0.00% | 0 |
| Valid votes | Valid votes | Valid votes | Valid votes | 13,561,900 | 98.68% | — |
| Invalid or blank votes | Invalid or blank votes | Invalid or blank votes | Invalid or blank votes | 181,277 | 1.32% | — |
| Totals | Totals | Totals | Totals | 13,743,177 | 100.00% | 55 |
| Voter turnout | Voter turnout | Voter turnout | Voter turnout | 79.42% | 79.42% | — |

## United States House of Representatives

All 53 seats of the United States House of Representatives in California were up for election. Before and after the election, 34 seats were under Democratic control and 19 were under Republican control.
United States House of Representatives elections in California, 2008 :
| Party | Party | Votes | Percentage | Seats | +/– |
| | Democratic | 7,380,825 | 59.90% | 34 | 0 |
| | Republican | 4,515,925 | 36.65% | 19 | 0 |
| | Libertarian | 220,118 | 1.79% | 0 | 0 |
| | Independent | 90,340 | 0.73% | 0 | 0 |
| | Green | 60,926 | 0.49% | 0 | 0 |
| | Peace and Freedom | 47,659 | 0.39% | 0 | 0 |
| | American Independent | 6,286 | 0.05% | 0 | 0 |
| Valid votes | Valid votes | 12,322,079 | 89.66% | — | — |
| Invalid or blank votes | Invalid or blank votes | 1,421,098 | 10.34% | — | — |
| Totals | Totals | 13,743,177 | 100.00% | 53 | — |
| Voter turnout | Voter turnout | 79.42% | 79.42% | | |

## California State Senate

The California State Senate is the upper house of California's bicameral State Legislature. There are a total of 40 seats and only the 20 odd-numbered ones were up for election. The Democratic Party maintained a majority of 25, with the remaining 15 seats under the control of the Republican Party. Neither party lost or gained any seats.
California State Senate elections, 2008 :
| Party | Party | Votes | Percentage | Seats up | Seats not up | Total seats | +/– |
| | Democratic | 3,786,204 | 55.06% | 11 | 14 | 25 | 0 |
| | Republican | 2,837,361 | 41.27% | 9 | 6 | 15 | 0 |
| | Independent | 131,248 | 1.91% | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| | Libertarian | 94,132 | 1.37% | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| | Peace and Freedom | 26,996 | 0.39% | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Totals | Totals | 6,875,941 | 100.00% | 20 | 20 | 40 | — |
| Voter turnout | Voter turnout | 72.60% | 72.60% | | | | |

## California State Assembly

The California State Assembly is the lower house of California's State Legislature. All 80 seats were up for election every two years. Before the election, the Democrats controlled 48 seats, while the Republicans controlled 32. After the election, the Democrats increased its majority to 51, while the Republican minority shrank to 29. A total of five seats changed parties: four to the Democrats and one to the Republicans.
California State Assembly elections, 2008 :
| Party | Party | Votes | Percentage | Seats | +/– |
| | Democratic | 6,905,219 | 57.80% | 51 | +3 |
| | Republican | 4,830,252 | 40.43% | 29 | –3 |
| | Libertarian | 171,324 | 1.43% | 0 | 0 |
| | Peace and Freedom | 33,212 | 0.28% | 0 | 0 |
| | Green | 6,505 | 0.05% | 0 | 0 |
| | Independent | 27 | 0.00% | 0 | 0 |
| Valid votes | Valid votes | 11,946,539 | 86.93% | — | — |
| Invalid or blank votes | Invalid or blank votes | 1,796,638 | 13.07% | — | — |
| Totals | Totals | 13,743,177 | 100.00% | 80 | — |
| Voter turnout | Voter turnout | 79.42% | 79.42% | | |

## Propositions
### Proposition 1A

Proposition 1A is a bond measure to fund the California High-Speed Rail line from Los Angeles to San Francisco.
Proposition 1A :
| Choice | Votes | % |
| Yes | 6,680,485 | 52.62 |
| No | 6,015,944 | 47.38 |
| Valid votes | 12,696,429 | 92.38 |
| Invalid or blank votes | 1,046,748 | 7.62 |
| Total votes | 13,743,177 | 100.00 |

### Proposition 2

Proposition 2 is an initiative statute regarding standards for confining farm animals.
Proposition 2 :
| Choice | Votes | % |
| Yes | 8,203,769 | 63.42 |
| No | 4,731,738 | 36.58 |
| Valid votes | 12,935,507 | 94.12 |
| Invalid or blank votes | 807,670 | 5.88 |
| Total votes | 13,743,177 | 100.00 |

### Proposition 3

Proposition 3 is an initiative statute that authorizes children's hospital bonds and grants.
Proposition 3 :
| Choice | Votes | % |
| Yes | 6,984,319 | 55.26 |
| No | 5,654,586 | 44.74 |
| Valid votes | 12,638,905 | 91.96 |
| Invalid or blank votes | 1,104,272 | 8.04 |
| Total votes | 13,743,177 | 100.00 |

### Proposition 4

Proposition 4 is an initiative constitutional amendment regarding waiting periods and parental notification before termination of a minor's pregnancy.
Proposition 4 :
| Choice | Votes | % |
| No | 6,728,478 | 51.96 |
| Yes | 6,220,473 | 48.04 |
| Valid votes | 12,948,951 | 94.22 |
| Invalid or blank votes | 794,226 | 5.78 |
| Total votes | 13,743,177 | 100.00 |

### Proposition 5

Proposition 5 is an initiative statute regarding nonviolent offenders, sentencing, parole, and rehabilitation.
Proposition 5 :
| Choice | Votes | % |
| No | 7,566,783 | 59.48 |
| Yes | 5,155,206 | 40.52 |
| Valid votes | 12,721,989 | 92.57 |
| Invalid or blank votes | 1,021,188 | 7.43 |
| Total votes | 13,743,177 | 100.00 |

### Proposition 6

Proposition 6 is an initiative statute regarding criminal penalties and public safety funding.
Proposition 6 :
| Choice | Votes | % |
| No | 8,559,647 | 69.12 |
| Yes | 3,824,372 | 30.88 |
| Valid votes | 12,384,019 | 90.11 |
| Invalid or blank votes | 1,359,158 | 9.89 |
| Total votes | 13,743,177 | 100.00 |

### Proposition 7

Proposition 7 is an initiative statute regarding renewable energy.
Proposition 7 :
| Choice | Votes | % |
| No | 8,155,181 | 64.43 |
| Yes | 4,502,235 | 35.57 |
| Valid votes | 12,657,416 | 92.10 |
| Invalid or blank votes | 1,085,761 | 7.90 |
| Total votes | 13,743,177 | 100.00 |

### Proposition 8

Proposition 8 is an initiative constitutional amendment that would ban same-sex marriage in California.
Proposition 8 :
| Choice | Votes | % |
| Yes | 7,001,084 | 52.24 |
| No | 6,401,482 | 47.76 |
| Valid votes | 13,402,566 | 97.52 |
| Invalid or blank votes | 340,611 | 2.48 |
| Total votes | 13,743,177 | 100.00 |

### Proposition 9

Proposition 9 is an initiative constitutional amendment and statute that deals with the criminal justice system, victims' rights, and parole.
Proposition 9 :
| Choice | Votes | % |
| Yes | 6,682,465 | 53.84 |
| No | 5,728,968 | 46.16 |
| Valid votes | 12,411,433 | 90.31 |
| Invalid or blank votes | 1,331,744 | 9.69 |
| Total votes | 13,743,177 | 100.00 |

### Proposition 10

Proposition 10 is an initiative statute that authorizes bonds for alternative fuel vehicles and renewable energy.
Proposition 10 :
| Choice | Votes | % |
| No | 7,464,154 | 59.41 |
| Yes | 5,098,666 | 40.59 |
| Valid votes | 12,562,820 | 91.41 |
| Invalid or blank votes | 1,180,357 | 8.59 |
| Total votes | 13,743,177 | 100.00 |

### Proposition 11

Proposition 11 is an initiative constitutional amendment and statute that deals with redistricting.
Proposition 11 :
| Choice | Votes | % |
| Yes | 6,095,033 | 50.82 |
| No | 5,897,655 | 49.18 |
| Valid votes | 11,992,688 | 87.26 |
| Invalid or blank votes | 1,750,489 | 12.74 |
| Total votes | 13,743,177 | 100.00 |

### Proposition 12

Proposition 12 is a bond measure that would assist veterans with buying property.
Proposition 12 :
| Choice | Votes | % |
| Yes | 7,807,630 | 63.53 |
| No | 4,481,196 | 36.47 |
| Valid votes | 12,288,826 | 89.42 |
| Invalid or blank votes | 1,454,351 | 10.58 |
| Total votes | 13,743,177 | 100.00 |