1986Final results
1986 election for California's 44th District
U.S. House · California
Jim Bates (D) won with 64.2% of the vote, defeating Bill Mitchell (R) by 31.1 points.
Jim BatesDemocrat · winner
64.2%70,557
Bill MitchellRepublican
33.1%36,359
Shirley IsaacsonPeace and Freedom
1.5%1,676
Dennis ThompsonLibertarian
1.1%1,244
109,836 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 1986
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.
Jim BatesBill Mitchell
$410.1K
Raised by the campaign
$135.6K
$410K
Spent by the campaign
$135K
$377
Cash on hand
$658
Campaign money: FEC, through Dec 31, 1986.
Source: FEC campaign filingsUpdated Dec 31, 1986
The candidates
Jim Bates (D)Bill Mitchell (R)
Also on the ballot: Shirley Isaacson (Peace and Freedom), 1.5%; Dennis Thompson (Libertarian), 1.1%