1980Final results
1980 election for California's 43rd District
U.S. House · California
Clair W. Burgener (R) won with 86.6% of the vote, defeating Tom Metzger (D) by 73.1 points.
Clair W. BurgenerRepublican · winner
86.6%298,815
Tom MetzgerDemocrat
13.4%46,361
345,176 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.
Tom MetzgerClair W. Burgener
$19.2K
Raised by the campaign
$259.2K
$20.6K
Spent by the campaign
$175K
$0
Cash on hand
$0
Campaign money: FEC, through Dec 31, 1980.
Source: FEC campaign filingsUpdated Dec 31, 1980