Akashic EdgeAKASHIC EDGE
ElectionsCandidates
HistorianCartographer2026 ForecastArticlesAPIPricing

Latest Articles

    View all articles →

    Browse by Category

      Data Tools

      • Elections
      • Candidates
      • The Historian
      • The Cartographer
      • American Nations
      • States & Counties
      • Congressional Districts

      About

      Akashic HQ provides deep political data analysis covering 165 years of U.S. elections.

      • Data Sources & Methodology
      • Pricing
      • API Documentation
      • Contact

      © 2026 Akashic HQ. All rights reserved.

      Data: MIT Election Lab, VEST, Census Bureau
      Home/Elections/1988/US Senate/California
      1988·US Senate·California

      California US Senate

      Winner
      REP
      Pete Wilson
      52.8%5,143,409 votes
      Runner-up
      DEM
      Leo T McCarthy
      44.0%4,287,253 votes
      Margin
      R+8.8
      9,743,598 total votes
      3 candidates9,743,598 total votes
      CandidatePartyVotes ▼%Vote Share
      Pete WilsonREP✓
      		REP5,143,40952.8%
      Leo T McCarthyDEM
      		DEM4,287,25344.0%
      OtherOTH
      		OTH312,9363.2%

      Seat History

      US Senate in California(Class II)

      2024
      Adam B SchiffDEM
      D+17.8
      2022
      Alex PadillaDEM
      D+22.1
      2018(JP)
      Dianne FeinsteinDEM
      ---
      2016(JP)
      Kamala HarrisDEM
      ---
      2012
      Dianne FeinsteinDEM
      D+25.1
      2010
      Barbara BoxerDEM
      D+10.0
      2006
      Dianne FeinsteinDEM
      D+24.4
      2004
      Barbara BoxerDEM
      D+19.9
      2000
      Dianne FeinsteinDEM
      D+19.3
      1998
      Barbara BoxerDEM
      D+10.1
      1994
      Dianne FeinsteinDEM
      D+1.9
      1992(S)
      Dianne FeinsteinDEM
      D+16.3
      1992
      Barbara BoxerDEM
      D+4.9
      1986
      Alan CranstonDEM
      D+1.4
      View all US Senate history for California →

      Candidates

      Pete WilsonREP
      Record6W-0L
      Avg MarginR+20.5
      Career1968-1994
      Governor / US Senate / State House
      Full profile →
      Leo T McCarthyDEM
      Record7W-1L
      Avg MarginD+39.2
      Career1968-1988
      US Senate / State House
      Full profile →

      Also in California, 1988

      President1 contest →US House45 contests →
      ← All 1988 US Senate races1988 overviewCalifornia profileAll elections