1982Final results
1982 election for California's 15th District
U.S. House · California
Tony Coelho (D) won with 63.7% of the vote, defeating Ed Bates (R) by 29.7 points.
Tony CoelhoDemocrat · winner
63.7%86,022
Ed BatesRepublican
34.0%45,948
Stephen L. GerringerLibertarian
2.3%3,073
135,043 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 1982
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.
Tony CoelhoEd Bates
$745.4K
Raised by the campaign
$107.6K
$768.6K
Spent by the campaign
$107.5K
$0
Cash on hand
$0
Campaign money: FEC, through Dec 31, 1982.
Source: FEC campaign filingsUpdated Dec 31, 1982