Electoral history of Nancy Pelosi

The electoral history of Nancy Pelosi spans more than three decades, from the mid-1980s to the present. A member of the Democratic Party in the United States, Nancy Pelosi was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in a 1987 special election, after the death of Congresswoman Sala Burton that February. In the Democratic primary, Pelosi defeated San Francisco Supervisor Harry Britt, considered the more progressive candidate, with 36 percent of the vote to his 32 percent.[1] In the subsequent run-off, she defeated Republican Harriet Ross, her closest competitor, by more than a 2–1 margin.[2]

Now in her 18th two-year term, Pelosi has enjoyed overwhelming voter support throughout her congressional career. Since 2013, she has represented California's 12th congressional district, which consists of four-fifths of the city and county of San Francisco. She initially represented the 5th district (1987–1993), and then, when district boundaries were redrawn after the 1990 Census, the 8th district (1993–2013). She served as the House Democratic Party leader from 2003 to 2023, and sought election to the office of Speaker of the United States House of Representatives every two years during that time, of which four campaigns were successful.

U.S. House of Representatives

[edit]

1987 special election

[edit]
California's 5th congressional district special election, 1987[3][4]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Nancy Pelosi 38,927 36.1
Democratic Harry Britt 35,008 32.5
Democratic William Maher 15,355 14.2
Democratic Doris M. Ward 6,498 6.0
Republican Harriet Ross 3,016 2.8
Democratic Carol Ruth Silver 2,896 2.7
Republican Jeff Smith 1,755 1.6
Republican Tom Spinosa 1,712 1.6
Republican Mike Garza 1,262 1.2
independent (politician) Karen Edwards 447 0.4
Libertarian Sam Grove 408 0.4
Peace and Freedom Theodore "Ted" Zuur 187 0.2
independent (politician) Catherine P. Sedwick 164 0.2
Democratic Brian Lantz 141 0.1
Total votes 107,776 100
Runoff election
Democratic Nancy Pelosi 46,428 63.3
Republican Harriet Ross 22,478 30.7
independent (politician) Karen Edwards 1,602 2.2
Peace and Freedom Theodore "Ted" Zuur 1,105 1.5
Libertarian Sam Grove 1,007 1.4
independent (politician) Catherine P. Sedwick 659 0.9
Total votes 73,279 100

1988 election

[edit]
California's 5th congressional district election, 1988
* denotes incumbent     Source:[5]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Nancy Pelosi* 133,530 76.4
Republican Bruce Michael O'Neill 33,692 19.3
Peace and Freedom Theodore "Ted" Zuur 3,975 2.3
Libertarian Sam Grove 3,561 2.0
Total votes 174,758 100

1990 election

[edit]
California's 5th congressional district election, 1990
* denotes incumbent     Source:[6]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Nancy Pelosi* 120,633 77.2
Republican Alan Nichols 35,671 22.8
Total votes 156,304 100

1992 election

[edit]
California's 8th congressional district election, 1992
* denotes incumbent     Source:[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Nancy Pelosi* 191,906 82.5
Republican Marc Wolin 25,693 11.0
Peace and Freedom Cesar G. Cadabes 7,572 3.3
Libertarian James R. Elwood 7,511 3.2
No party (write-in) 9 0.0
Total votes 232,691 100

1994 election

[edit]
California's 8th congressional district election, 1994 primary
* denotes incumbent     Source:[8]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Nancy Pelosi* 66,247 92.4
Democratic Robert Ingraham 5,476 7.6
Total votes 71,723 100
California's 8th congressional district election, 1994
* denotes incumbent     Source:[9]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Nancy Pelosi* 137,642 81.8
Republican Elsa C. Cheung 30,528 18.2
No party (write-in) 1 0.0
Total votes 168,171 100

1996 election

[edit]
California's 8th congressional district election, 1996
* denotes incumbent     Source:[10]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Nancy Pelosi* 175,216 84.3
Republican Justin Raimondo 25,739 12.4
Natural Law David Smithstein 6,783 3.3
Total votes 207,738 100

1998 election

[edit]
California's 8th congressional district election, 1998
* denotes incumbent     Source:[11]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Nancy Pelosi* 148,027 85.8
Republican David J. Martz 20,781 12.1
Natural Law David Smithstein 3,654 2.1
Total votes 172,462 100

2000 election

[edit]
California's 8th congressional district election, 2000
* denotes incumbent     Source:[12]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Nancy Pelosi* 181,847 84.5
Republican Adam Sparks 25,298 11.7
Libertarian Erik Bauman 5,645 2.6
Natural Law David Smithstein 2,638 1.2
Total votes 215,428 100

2002 election

[edit]
California's 8th congressional district election, 2002 primary
* denotes incumbent     Source:[13]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Nancy Pelosi* 65,949 93.1
Democratic Robert Ingraham 4,898 6.9
Total votes 70,847 100
California's 8th congressional district election, 2002
* denotes incumbent     Source:[14]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Nancy Pelosi* 127,684 79.6
Republican G. Michael German 20,063 12.6
Green Jay Pond 10,033 6.2
Libertarian Ira Spivack 2,659 1.6
independent (politician) Deborah Liatos 2 0.0
Total votes 160,441 100

2004 election

[edit]
California's 8th congressional district election, 2004
* denotes incumbent     Source:[15]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Nancy Pelosi* 224,017 83.0
Republican Jennifer Depalma 31,074 11.5
Peace and Freedom Leilani Dowell 9,527 3.5
independent (politician) Terry Baum 5,446 2.0
Total votes 270,064 100

2006 election

[edit]
California's 8th congressional district election, 2006
* denotes incumbent     Source:[16]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Nancy Pelosi* 148,435 80.4
Republican Mike DeNunzio 19,800 10.8
Green Krissy Keefer 13,653 7.4
Libertarian Philip Zimt Berg 2,751 1.4
Total votes 184,639 100

2008 election

[edit]
California's 8th congressional district election, 2008 primary
* denotes incumbent     Source:[17]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Nancy Pelosi* 83,510 89.2
Democratic Shirley Golub 10,105 10.8
Total votes 93,615 100
California's 8th congressional district election, 2008
* denotes incumbent     Source:[18]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Nancy Pelosi* 204,996 71.9
independent (politician) Cindy Sheehan 46,118 16.2
Republican Dana Walsh 27,614 9.7
Libertarian Philip Z. Berg 6,504 2.2
independent (politician) Lea Sherman 11 0.0
independent (politician) Michelle Wong Clay 4 0.0
Total votes 285,247 100

2010 election

[edit]
California's 8th congressional district election, 2010
* denotes incumbent     Source:[19]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Nancy Pelosi* 167,957 80.1
Republican John Dennis 31,711 15.2
Peace and Freedom Gloria La Riva 5,161 2.4
Libertarian Philip Zimt Berg 4,843 2.3
Total votes 209,672 100

2012 election

[edit]
California's 12th congressional district election, 2012
* denotes incumbent     Source:[20][21]
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Nancy Pelosi* 89,446 74.9
Republican John Dennis 16,206 13.6
Green Barry Hermanson 6,398 5.4
Democratic David Peterson 3,756 3.1
Democratic Summer Shields 2,146 1.8
Democratic Americo Arturo Diaz 1,499 1.3
Total votes 119,451 100
General election
Democratic Nancy Pelosi* 253,709 85.1
Republican John Dennis 44,478 14.9
Total votes 298,181 100

2014 election

[edit]
California's 12th congressional district election, 2014
* denotes incumbent     Source:[22][23]
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Nancy Pelosi* 79,816 73.6
Republican John Dennis 12,922 11.9
Green Barry Hermanson 6,156 5.7
Democratic David Peterson 3,774 3.5
Peace and Freedom Frank Lara 2,107 1.9
Democratic Michael Steger 1,514 1.4
No party preference A.J. "Desmond" Thorsson 1,270 1.2
No party preference James Welles 879 0.8
Total votes 108,438 100.0
General election
Democratic Nancy Pelosi* 160,067 83.3
Republican John Dennis 32,197 16.7
Total votes 192,264 100.0

2016 election

[edit]
California's 12th congressional district election, 2016
* denotes incumbent     Source:
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Nancy Pelosi* 169,537 78.1
No party preference Preston Picus 16,633 7.7
Republican Bob Miller 16,583 7.6
Green Barry Hermanson 14,289 6.6
Total votes 217,042 100.0
General election
Democratic Nancy Pelosi* 274,035 80.9
No party preference Preston Picus 64,810 19.1
Total votes 338,845 100.0

2018 election

[edit]
California's 12th congressional district election, 2018
* denotes incumbent     Source:
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Nancy Pelosi* 141,365 68.5
Republican Lisa Remmer 18,771 9.1
Democratic Shahid Buttar 17,597 8.5
Democratic Stephen Jaffe 12,114 5.9
Democratic Ryan A. Khojasteh 9,498 4.6
Green Barry Hermanson 4,217 2.0
No party preference Michael Goldstein 2,820 1.4
Total votes 206,382 100.0
General election
Democratic Nancy Pelosi* 275,292 86.8
Republican Lisa Remmer 41,780 13.2
Total votes 317,072 100.0

2020 election

[edit]
California's 12th congressional district election, 2020
* denotes incumbent     Source:
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Nancy Pelosi* 89,460 72.5
Democratic Shahid Buttar 15,645 12.7
Republican John Dennis 11,387 9.2
Republican Deanna Lorraine 2,653 2.1
Democratic Tom Gallagher 2,598 2.1
Democratic Agatha Bacelar 1,679 1.4
Total votes 123,422 100
General election
Democratic Nancy Pelosi* 281,776 77.6
Democratic Shahid Buttar 81,174 22.4
Total votes 362,950 100

2022 election

[edit]
California's 11th congressional district, 2022
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Nancy Pelosi (incumbent) 133,798 71.7
Republican John Dennis 20,054 10.7
Democratic Shahid Buttar 19,471 10.4
Republican Eve Del Castello 7,319 3.9
Democratic Jeffrey Phillips 3,595 1.9
Democratic Bianca Von Krieg 2,499 1.3
Total votes 186,736 100.0
General election
Democratic Nancy Pelosi (incumbent) 220,848 84.0
Republican John Dennis 42,217 16.0
Total votes 263,065 100.0

2024 election

[edit]
Primary results by precinct:
  Pelosi—40–50%
  Pelosi—50–60%
  Pelosi—60–70%
  Pelosi—70–80%
  Pelosi—80-90%
  No Data
California's 11th congressional district, 2024[24]
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Nancy Pelosi (incumbent) 138,285 73.3
Republican Bruce Lou 16,285 8.6
Democratic Marjorie Mikels 9,363 5.0
Democratic Bianca Von Krieg 7,634 4.0
Republican Jason Zeng 6,607 3.5
Democratic Jason Boyce 4,325 2.3
Republican Larry Nichelson 3,482 1.8
Republican Eve Del Castello 2,751 1.5
Total votes 188,732 100.0
General election
Democratic Nancy Pelosi (incumbent)
Republican Bruce Lou
Total votes

Speaker of the House

[edit]

2003 election

[edit]
2003 election for Speaker – 108th Congress[25]
* denotes incumbent
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Dennis Hastert* (IL 14) 228 52.53
Democratic Nancy Pelosi (CA 8) 201 46.31
Democratic John Murtha (PA 12) 1 0.23
       Present 4 0.93
Total votes 434 100
Votes necessary 218 >50

2005 election

[edit]
2005 election for Speaker – 109th Congress[26]
* denotes incumbent
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Dennis Hastert* (IL 14) 226 52.92
Democratic Nancy Pelosi (CA 8) 199 46.60
Democratic John Murtha (PA 12) 1 0.24
       Present 1 0.24
Total votes 427 100
Votes necessary 214 >50

2007 election

[edit]
2007 election for Speaker – 110th Congress[27]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Nancy Pelosi (CA 8) 233 53.56
Republican John Boehner (OH 8) 202 46.44
Total votes 435 100
Votes necessary 218 >50

2009 election

[edit]
2009 election for Speaker – 111th Congress[28]
* denotes incumbent
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Nancy Pelosi* (CA 8) 255 59.44
Republican John Boehner (OH 8) 174 40.56
Total votes 429 100
Votes necessary 215 >50

2011 election

[edit]
2011 election for Speaker – 112th Congress[29]
* denotes incumbent
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican John Boehner (OH 8) 241 55.88
Democratic Nancy Pelosi* (CA 8) 173 39.96
Democratic Heath Shuler (NC 11) 11 2.53
Democratic John Lewis (GA 5) 2 0.48
Democratic Dennis Cardoza (CA 18) 1 0.23
Democratic Jim Costa (CA 20) 1 0.23
Democratic Jim Cooper (TN 5) 1 0.23
Democratic Steny Hoyer (MD 5) 1 0.23
Democratic Marcy Kaptur (OH 9) 1 0.23
Total votes 432 100
Votes necessary 217 >50

2013 election

[edit]
2013 election for Speaker – 113th Congress[30]
* denotes incumbent
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican John Boehner* (OH 8) 220 51.64
Democratic Nancy Pelosi (CA 12) 192 45.04
Republican Eric Cantor (VA 7) 3 0.70
Democratic Jim Cooper (TN 5) 2 0.47
Republican Allen West[a] 2 0.47
Republican Justin Amash (MI 3) 1 0.24
Democratic John Dingell (MI 12) 1 0.24
Republican Jim Jordan (OH 4) 1 0.24
Republican Raúl Labrador (ID 1) 1 0.24
Democratic John Lewis (GA 5) 1 0.24
Republican Colin Powell[a] 1 0.24
Republican David Walker[a] 1 0.24
Total votes 426 100
Votes necessary 214 >50

2015 regular election

[edit]
2015 election for Speaker (Regular) – 114th Congress[32]
* denotes incumbent
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican John Boehner* (OH 8) 216[b] 52.95
Democratic Nancy Pelosi (CA 12) 164 40.20
Republican Dan Webster (FL 10) 12 2.95
Republican Louie Gohmert (TX 1) 3 0.74
Republican Ted Yoho (FL 3) 2 2.50
Republican Jim Jordan (OH 4) 2 0.50
Republican Jeff Duncan (SC 3) 1 0.24
Republican Rand Paul[a] 1 0.24
Republican Colin Powell[a] 1 0.24
Republican Trey Gowdy (SC 4) 1 0.24
Republican Kevin McCarthy (CA 23) 1 0.24
Democratic Jim Cooper (TN 5) 1 0.24
Democratic Peter DeFazio (OR 4) 1 0.24
Republican Jeff Sessions[a] 1 0.24
Democratic John Lewis (GA 5) 1 0.24
Total votes 408 100
Votes necessary 205 >50

2015 special election

[edit]
2015 election for Speaker (Special) – 114th Congress[33]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Paul Ryan (WI 1) 236 54.63
Democratic Nancy Pelosi (CA 12) 184 42.60
Republican Dan Webster (FL 10) 9 2.08
Democratic Jim Cooper (TN 5) 1 0.23
Democratic John Lewis (GA 5) 1 0.23
Republican Colin Powell[a] 1 0.23
Total votes 432 100
Votes necessary 217 >50

2017 election

[edit]
2017 election for Speaker – 115th Congress[34]
* denotes incumbent
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Paul Ryan* (WI 1) 239 55.19
Democratic Nancy Pelosi (CA 12) 189 43.65
Democratic Tim Ryan (OH 13) 2 0.47
Democratic Jim Cooper (TN 5) 1 0.23
Democratic John Lewis (GA 5) 1 0.23
Republican Dan Webster (FL 10) 1 0.23
Total votes 433 100
Votes necessary 217 >50

2019 election

[edit]
2019 election for Speaker – 116th Congress[35]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Nancy Pelosi (CA 12) 220 51.17
Republican Kevin McCarthy (CA 23) 192 44.66
Republican Jim Jordan (OH 4) 5 1.16
Democratic Cheri Bustos (IL 17) 4 0.93
Democratic Tammy Duckworth[a] 2 0.47
Democratic Stacey Abrams[a] 1 0.23
Democratic Joe Biden[a] 1 0.23
Democratic Marcia Fudge (OH 11) 1 0.23
Democratic Joe Kennedy III (MA 4) 1 0.23
Democratic John Lewis (GA 5) 1 0.23
Republican Thomas Massie (KY 4) 1 0.23
Democratic Stephanie Murphy (FL 7) 1 0.23
Total votes 430 100
Votes necessary 216 >50

2021 election

[edit]
2021 election for Speaker – 117th Congress
* denotes incumbent
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Nancy Pelosi* (CA 12) 216[b] 50.2%
Republican Kevin McCarthy (CA 23) 209 48.6%
Democratic Tammy Duckworth[a] 1 0.2%
Democratic Hakeem Jeffries (NY 8) 1 0.2%
Total votes 427 100
Votes necessary 214 >50

See also

[edit]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Not a member of the House at the time.[31]
  2. ^ a b Received a majority of the votes cast, and thus won the election, but failed to obtain a majority of the full membership (218).[31]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Nichols, John (November 20, 2018). "If Nancy Pelosi Is the Most Progressive Candidate, She Should Be the Next Speaker". The Nation. Retrieved January 30, 2019.
  2. ^ "Pelosi Wins Easily in S.F. Congress Race". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. June 3, 1987. Retrieved January 30, 2019.
  3. ^ "California District 5 Special Election - April 7, 1987", Our Campaigns, retrieved August 2, 2009.
  4. ^ "California District 5 - Special Election Race - June 2, 1987", Our Campaigns, retrieved August 2, 2009.
  5. ^ "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 8, 1988", Office of the Clerk of the United States House of Representatives, retrieved August 2, 2009.
  6. ^ "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 6, 1990", Office of the Clerk of the United States House of Representatives, retrieved August 2, 2009.
  7. ^ "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 3, 1992", Office of the Clerk of the United States House of Representatives, retrieved August 2, 2009.
  8. ^ "June 7, 1994 Primary Election - Statement of Vote". Secretary of State of California. Archived from the original on December 25, 2013. Retrieved December 24, 2013.
  9. ^ "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 8, 1994", Office of the Clerk of the United States House of Representatives, retrieved August 2, 2009.
  10. ^ "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 5, 1996", Office of the Clerk of the United States House of Representatives, retrieved August 2, 2009.
  11. ^ "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 3, 1998", Office of the Clerk of the United States House of Representatives, retrieved August 2, 2009).
  12. ^ "United States Representative in Congress" (PDF). Office of the California Secretary of State. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 24, 2009. Retrieved August 2, 2009.
  13. ^ "March 5, 2002 Primary Election - Statement of Vote". Secretary of State of California. Archived from the original on December 25, 2013. Retrieved December 24, 2013.
  14. ^ "United States Representative in Congress" (PDF). Office of the California Secretary of State. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 11, 2010. Retrieved August 2, 2009.
  15. ^ "United States Representative in Congress" (PDF). Office of the California Secretary of State. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 25, 2009. Retrieved August 2, 2009.
  16. ^ "United States Representative in Congress" (PDF). Office of the California Secretary of State. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 15, 2012. Retrieved August 2, 2009..
  17. ^ "June 3, 2008 Statewide Primary Election - Statement of Vote". Secretary of State of California. Archived from the original on December 25, 2013. Retrieved December 24, 2013.
  18. ^ "United States Representative in Congress" (PDF). Office of the California Secretary of State. Retrieved March 8, 2016.
  19. ^ "Official report of 2010 elections results" (PDF). California Secretary of State. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 20, 2011.
  20. ^ "Statement of Vote - June 5, 2012 Presidential Primary Election". Secretary of State of California. Archived from the original on December 25, 2013. Retrieved December 24, 2013.
  21. ^ "United States Representative" (PDF). California Secretary of State. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013.
  22. ^ "Statewide Direct Primary Election - Statement of Vote, June 3, 2014". Secretary of State of California. Retrieved November 21, 2015.
  23. ^ "General Election - Statement of Vote - November 4, 2014". Secretary of State of California. Retrieved November 21, 2015.
  24. ^ "Presidential Primary Election - Official Election Results, March 5, 2024 - U.S. House of Representatives" (PDF). California Secretary of State. March 5, 2024. Retrieved April 16, 2024.
  25. ^ "149 Cong. Rec. H2–3 (2003)" (PDF). Washington, D.C.: United States Government Publishing Office. January 7, 2003. Retrieved March 24, 2019.
  26. ^ "151 Cong. Rec. 37 (2005)" (PDF). Congressional Record. Washington, D.C.: United States Government Publishing Office. Retrieved March 24, 2019.
  27. ^ "153 Cong. Rec. 2 (2007)" (PDF). Congressional Record. Washington, D.C.: United States Government Publishing Office. Retrieved March 24, 2019.
  28. ^ "155 Cong. Rec. 3 (2009)" (PDF). Congressional Record. Washington, D.C.: United States Government Publishing Office. Retrieved March 24, 2019.
  29. ^ "157 Cong. Rec. 75 (2011)" (PDF). Congressional Record. Washington, D.C.: United States Government Publishing Office. Retrieved March 24, 2019.
  30. ^ "159 Cong. Rec. 21 (2013)" (PDF). Congressional Record. Washington, D.C.: United States Government Publishing Office. Retrieved March 24, 2019.
  31. ^ a b Heitshusen, Valerie; Beth, Richard S. (January 4, 2019). "Speakers of the House: Elections, 1913–2019" (PDF). CRS Report for Congress. Washington, D.C.: Congressional Research Service, the Library of Congress. Retrieved January 28, 2019.
  32. ^ "161 Cong. Rec. 29 (2015)" (PDF). Congressional Record. Washington, D.C.: United States Government Publishing Office. Retrieved March 24, 2019.
  33. ^ "161 Cong. Rec. H7337–38 (2015)" (PDF). Washington, D.C.: United States Government Publishing Office. October 29, 2015. Retrieved March 24, 2019.
  34. ^ "163 Cong. Rec. H3–4 (2017)" (PDF). Washington, D.C.: United States Government Publishing Office. January 3, 2017. Retrieved March 24, 2019.
  35. ^ "165 Cong. Rec. H2–4 (2019)" (PDF). Washington, D.C.: United States Government Publishing Office. January 3, 2019. Retrieved March 24, 2019.