1988Final results
1988 election for California's 31st District
U.S. House · California
Mervyn Dymally (D) won with 71.6% of the vote, defeating Arnold C. May (R) by 46.0 points.
Mervyn DymallyDemocrat · winner
71.6%100,919
Arnold C. MayRepublican
25.5%36,017
B. Kwaku DurenPeace and Freedom
2.9%4,091
141,027 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 1988
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.
Mervyn DymallyArnold C. May
$488.1K
Raised by the campaign
$10.4K
$482K
Spent by the campaign
$10.2K
$9.9K
Cash on hand
$258
Campaign money: FEC, through Dec 31, 1988; FEC, through Nov 28, 1988.
Source: FEC campaign filingsUpdated Dec 31, 1988