2008 California's 12th congressional district special election

California's 12th congressional district special election, 2008 occurred on April 8, 2008. California's 12th congressional district was vacated following the death of Democrat Tom Lantos on February 11, 2008.^[1] The special election was called by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to fill the vacancy for the remainder of Lantos's term ending on January 3, 2009.^[2] The special election took the form of an open primary. Another election would have taken place on June 3 had no candidate received a majority.^[3]

2008 California's 12th congressional district special election

← 2006 April 8, 2008 2008 (Nov.) →

Candidate Jackie Speier Greg Conlon Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 66,279 7,990 Percentage 77.72% 9.37%   Candidate Michelle McMurry Mike Moloney Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 4,546 4,517 Percentage 5.33% 5.30%

Representative before election Tom Lantos Democratic Elected Representative Jackie Speier Democratic

Democrat Jackie Speier won a majority of the votes in the open primary and therefore won the election.

Candidates

The following individuals appeared in the certified list of candidates and the certified list of write-in candidates published by the California Secretary of State, and were thus eligible to receive votes in the special primary election.^[4][5]

Green

• Barry Hermanson, an equity lawyer

Democratic

• Michelle T. McMurry, a health policy director
• Jackie Speier, a former State Senator who was endorsed by Lantos as his successor^[6]

Libertarian

• Kevin Peterson, a write-in candidate

Republican

• Robert "Rock" Brickell-Viagra, a write-in candidate
• Greg Conlon, a businessman and former member of the California Public Utilities Commission, who favored deregulation.
• Mike Moloney, a retired businessman who ran for the seat in 2002 and 2006

Results

California's 12th congressional district special election, 2008^[7]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Jackie Speier	66,279	77.72
	Republican	Greg Conlon	7,990	9.37
	Democratic	Michelle McMurry	4,546	5.33
	Republican	Mike Moloney	4,517	5.30
	Green	Barry Hermanson	1,947	2.28
	Libertarian	Kevin Peterson (write-in)	2	0.00
Valid ballots			85,281	98.95
Invalid or blank votes			903	1.05
Total votes			86,184	100.00
Turnout			{{{votes}}}	25.69
	Democratic hold

References

1. Kucinich, Jackie (February 11, 2008). "Lantos dies of cancer". The Hill. Retrieved February 26, 2008.
2. "Governor Schwarzenegger Orders Proclamation for Special Election to Fill Vacancy in 12th Congressional District". California Secretary of State. February 12, 2008. Retrieved March 21, 2008.
3. . San Mateo County Elections Office. Archived from the original on April 6, 2008. Retrieved March 21, 2008.
4. (PDF). California Secretary of State. March 3, 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 11, 2008. Retrieved June 9, 2008.
5. (PDF). California Secretary of State. March 25, 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 11, 2008. Retrieved June 9, 2008.
6. Wildermuth, John; Carolyn Lochhead (February 12, 2008). "Speier looks to be shoo-in to replace Lantos". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved February 26, 2008.
7. (PDF). Secretary of State of California. April 22, 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 23, 2008. Retrieved April 24, 2008.

External links

• Jackie Speier's campaign