1982Final results
1982 election for California's 16th District
U.S. House · California
Leon Panetta (D) won with 85.4% of the vote, defeating G. Richard Arnold (R) by 70.7 points.
Leon PanettaDemocrat · winner
85.4%142,630
G. Richard ArnoldRepublican
14.6%24,448
167,078 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.
Leon PanettaNo Republican
$124.8K
Raised by the campaign
—
$72.4K
Spent by the campaign
—
$0
Cash on hand
—
Campaign money: FEC, through Dec 31, 1982.
Source: FEC campaign filingsUpdated Dec 31, 1982