1988 United States Senate election in California

1988 United States Senate election in California

November 8, 1988
 
Nominee Pete Wilson Leo T. McCarthy
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 5,143,409 4,287,253
Percentage 52.79% 44.00%

County results

Wilson:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%

McCarthy:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%

U.S. senator before election

Pete Wilson
Republican

Elected U.S. Senator

Pete Wilson
Republican

The 1988 United States Senate election in California took place on November 8, 1988. Incumbent Senator Pete Wilson won re-election to a second term.

As of 2025, this is the last time a Republican won a U.S. Senate election in California. This was also the first time since 1952 that an incumbent Senator was re-elected to this seat, and the last time until 2022 that a man would win a Senate election in California.