1988Final results
1988 election for California's 44th District
U.S. House · California
Jim Bates (D) won with 59.7% of the vote, defeating Rob Butterfield (R) by 23.2 points.
Jim BatesDemocrat · winner
59.7%90,796
Rob ButterfieldRepublican
36.5%55,511
Dennis ThompsonLibertarian
3.8%5,782
152,089 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.
Jim BatesRob Butterfield
$480.9K
Raised by the campaign
$252K
$481.2K
Spent by the campaign
$250.9K
$80
Cash on hand
$1.3K
Campaign money: FEC, through Dec 31, 1988.
Source: FEC campaign filingsUpdated Dec 31, 1988