November 2008 California elections

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.[1][2]

November 2008 California elections

President

United States presidential election in California, 2008[3]
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				13,561,900	98.68%	—
Invalid or blank votes				181,277	1.32%	—
Totals				13,743,177	100.00%	55
Voter turnout				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[3]
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		12,322,079	89.66%	—	—
Invalid or blank votes		1,421,098	10.34%	—	—
Totals		13,743,177	100.00%	53	—
Voter turnout		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[3]
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		6,875,941	100.00%	20	20	40	—
Voter turnout		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[3]
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		11,946,539	86.93%	—	—
Invalid or blank votes		1,796,638	13.07%	—	—
Totals		13,743,177	100.00%	80	—
Voter turnout		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[3]

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[3]

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[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[3]

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[3]

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[3]

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[3]

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.[4]

Proposition 8[3]

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[3]

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[3]

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[3]

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[3]

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

See also

• California state elections, February 2008
• California state elections, June 2008

References

1. "2008 California Election Calendar". California Secretary of State. Archived from the original on 2008-06-05. Retrieved 2008-06-06.
2. "2008 Ballot Measure Update". California Secretary of State. 2008-08-05. Archived from the original on 2009-06-17. Retrieved 2008-06-06.
3. "Statement of Vote: 2008 General Election" (PDF). California Secretary of State. 2008-12-13. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-10-18. Retrieved 2008-12-14.
4. Emerald, Ashton (2009). The $20 Million Mormon Opposition to Same-Sex Marriage: The Why Behind LDS Opposition to Prop 8. ISBN 978-1520581095.