CALIFORNIA

The Senate:...No Race


The House:...

• California's 4th congressional district: On January 10, 2008, nine-term incumbent John Doolittle (R) announced he would retire when his term expires in 2009, to the relief of his fellow Republicans. He has been associated with the corruption scandals of Jack Abramoff and defense contractor Brent Wilkes. In 2006, Doolittle received only 49% of the vote compared to 46% for his opponent, retired Lt. Colonel and War Veteran Charlie Brown (D). Brown is again the Democratic nominee. The FBI raided Doolitte's home in April 2007 in search of incriminating evidence,^[31] and speculation abounds that Doolittle will be indicted. This district leans Republican - George W. Bush won 61% here in 2004 (CPVI=R+11) - and normally could be expected to be a safe seat for the GOP. However, many pundits believed Doolittle faced almost certain defeat if he ran again. The Republican nominee is State Senator Tom McClintock, a conservative who was ran near-successful races for state Controller in 1994 and 2002.

• California's 11th congressional district: Republicans will look to oppose Jerry McNerney (D), who defeated scandal-plagued incumbent Richard Pombo in 2006 with 53%. The district includes portions of the rural Sacramento Valley, as well as parts of the East Bay. It has a slight Republican lean (CPVI=R+3), but has become more Democratic recently with the arrival of transplants from the Bay Area. Pombo has ruled out a rematch. Former Assemblyman Dean Andal is the Republican nominee.^[32] Bush won here with 54% to 46% in 2004.

• California's 46th congressional district: Incumbent Dana Rohrabacher has won by wide margins in past elections and represents a fairly safe district. The district covers parts of Orange County and Los Angeles County including the cites of Huntington Beach, Rancho Palos Verdes and Costa Mesa. In 2008 however he faces a potentially formidable opponent in Huntington Beach City Councilwoman Debbie Cook, who is well known throughout the district.

• California's 52nd congressional district: This race is for an open seat, being vacated by former Republican presidential nominee, Representative Duncan Hunter. The Republican nominee is Iraq War Veteran C.P.T. Duncan Duane Hunter Jr. The Democratic nominee is Iraq War Veteran C.M.D.R. Mike Lumpkin. The Libertarian nominee is 2002 congressional candidate Mike Benoit.

Retirements:...
California's 4th congressional district: John Doolittle (R)

Completed Special Elections:...California's 12th congressional district: Tom Lantos (D) died February 11, 2008. In this heavily Democratic district, Jackie Speier (D) was elected to succeed him on April 8, 2008.