California's 12th congressional district special election, 2008
Encyclopedia
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. 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.
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.
Democrat Jackie Speier
won a majority of the votes in the open primary and therefore won the election.
s published by the California Secretary of State
, and were thus eligible to receive votes in the special primary election.
California's 12th congressional district
California's 12th congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of California that spans from the southwestern portions of San Francisco in the north down to San Mateo in the south, and from Moss Beach in the west to the edge of San Mateo in the east, where it borders...
was vacated following the death of Democrat
California Democratic Party
The California Democratic Party is the state branch of the Democratic Party in the state of California, headquartered in Sacramento. It is chaired by veteran Democratic politician and former United States Representative John L. Burton, who succeeded Art Torres in April 2009. It is the majority...
Tom Lantos
Tom Lantos
Thomas Peter "Tom" Lantos was a Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives from 1981 until his death, representing the northern two-thirds of San Mateo County and a portion of southwest San Francisco...
on February 11, 2008. The special election
By-election
A by-election is an election held to fill a political office that has become vacant between regularly scheduled elections....
was called by Governor
Governor of California
The Governor of California is the chief executive of the California state government, whose responsibilities include making annual State of the State addresses to the California State Legislature, submitting the budget, and ensuring that state laws are enforced...
Arnold Schwarzenegger
Arnold Schwarzenegger
Arnold Alois Schwarzenegger is an Austrian-American former professional bodybuilder, actor, businessman, investor, and politician. Schwarzenegger served as the 38th Governor of California from 2003 until 2011....
to fill the vacancy for the remainder of Lantos's term ending on January 3, 2009.
The special election took the form of an open primary
Open primary
An open primary is a primary election that does not require voters to be affiliated with a political party in order to vote for partisan candidates. In a traditional open primary, voters may select one party's ballot and vote for that party's nomination. As in a closed primary, the highest voted...
. Another election would have taken place on June 3 had no candidate received a majority.
Democrat Jackie Speier
Jackie Speier
Karen Lorraine Jacqueline "Jackie" Speier is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2008. She is a member of the Democratic Party. The district includes the northern two-thirds of San Mateo County and the southwest quarter of San Francisco.She is also a former member of the California State...
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 candidateWrite-in candidate
A write-in candidate is a candidate in an election whose name does not appear on the ballot, but for whom voters may vote nonetheless by writing in the person's name. Some states and local jurisdictions allow a voter to affix a sticker with a write-in candidate's name on it to the ballot in lieu...
s published by the California Secretary of State
California Secretary of State
The Secretary of State of California is the chief elections officer of that U.S. state. The Secretary of State is also responsible for the California State Archives, as well as chartering corporations. The Secretary of State is elected to four year terms, concurrent with the other constitutional...
, and were thus eligible to receive votes in the special primary election.
Democratic
- Michelle T. McMurry, a health policy director
- Jackie SpeierJackie SpeierKaren Lorraine Jacqueline "Jackie" Speier is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2008. She is a member of the Democratic Party. The district includes the northern two-thirds of San Mateo County and the southwest quarter of San Francisco.She is also a former member of the California State...
, a former State Senator who was endorsed by Lantos as his successor
Republican
- Robert "Rock" Brickell-Viagra, a write-in candidate
- Greg Conlon, a businessman and former member of the California Public Utilities CommissionCalifornia Public Utilities CommissionThe California Public Utilities Commission is a regulatory agency which regulates privately owned public utilities in the state of California, including electric power, telecommunications, natural gas and water companies...
, who favored deregulation. - Mike Moloney, a retired businessman who ran for the seat in 2002United States House of Representatives elections in California, 2002The United States House of Representatives elections in California, 2002 was an election for California's delegation to the United States House of Representatives, which occurred as part of the general election of the House of Representatives on November 5, 2002. California gained 1 seat because of...
and 2006United States House of Representatives elections in California, 2006The United States House of Representatives elections in California, 2006 were elections for California's delegation to the United States House of Representatives, which occurred along with congressional elections nationwide and state elections on November 7, 2006...