1984Flipped from DemocraticFinal results
1984 election for California's 38th District
U.S. House · California
Robert Dornan (R) won with 53.2% of the vote, defeating Jerry M. Patterson (D) by 8.2 points, a seat Democrats won last time.
Robert DornanRepublican · winner
53.2%86,545
Jerry M. PattersonDemocrat
45.0%73,231
Michael Schuyles BrightPeace and Freedom
1.9%3,021
162,797 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 1984
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. PattersonRobert Dornan
$714K
Raised by the campaign
$1M
$699.7K
Spent by the campaign
$1M
$18.8K
Cash on hand
$0
Campaign money: FEC, through Dec 31, 1984.
Source: FEC campaign filingsUpdated Dec 31, 1984
The candidates
Robert Dornan (R)Jerry M. Patterson (D)
Also on the ballot: Michael Schuyles Bright (Peace and Freedom), 1.9%