1980Final results
1980 election for California's 38th District
U.S. House · California
Jerry M. Patterson (D) won with 55.5% of the vote, defeating Art Jacobson (R) by 15.5 points.
Jerry M. PattersonDemocrat · winner
55.5%91,880
Art JacobsonRepublican
40.0%66,256
Charles E. "chuck" HeiserLibertarian
4.4%7,301
165,437 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.
Jerry M. PattersonArt Jacobson
$215.3K
Raised by the campaign
$30.8K
$199.5K
Spent by the campaign
$31.9K
$0
Cash on hand
$0
Campaign money: FEC, through Dec 31, 1980.
Source: FEC campaign filingsUpdated Dec 31, 1980
The candidates
Jerry M. Patterson (D)Art Jacobson (R)
Also on the ballot: Charles E. "chuck" Heiser (Libertarian), 4.4%