1980Final results
1980 election for California's 16th District
U.S. House · California
Leon Panetta (D) won with 71.0% of the vote, defeating Wa Jack Roth (R) by 46.5 points.
Leon PanettaDemocrat · winner
71.0%158,360
Wa Jack RothRepublican
24.5%54,675
Kenton H. BowersLibertarian
3.0%6,802
Jeff MauroIndependent
1.4%3,198
223,035 votes
Source: MIT Election Data and Science LabUpdated Sep 30, 2026, 7:25 AM ET
The seat over time
D − R margin in this seat's races around 1980
Races before and after
Source: MIT Election Data and Science LabUpdated Sep 30, 2026, 7:25 AM ET
Money in this race
Each line compares the two campaigns on one scale.
Leon PanettaWa Jack Roth
$102.4K
Raised by the campaign
$5.7K
$55.5K
Spent by the campaign
$5.8K
$0
Cash on hand
$0
Other candidates' campaigns: Jeff Mauro $2.5K · Kenton H. Bowers $1.4K.
Campaign money: FEC, through Dec 31, 1980.
Source: FEC campaign filingsUpdated Dec 31, 1980
The candidates
Leon Panetta (D)Wa Jack Roth (R)
Also on the ballot: Kenton H. Bowers (Libertarian), 3.0%; Jeff Mauro (Independent), 1.4%