1988Final results
1988 election for California's 5th District
U.S. House · California
Nancy Pelosi (D) won with 76.4% of the vote, defeating Bruce Michael O'Neill (R) by 57.1 points.
Nancy PelosiDemocrat · winner
76.4%133,530
Bruce Michael O'NeillRepublican
19.3%33,692
Theodore "ted" ZuurPeace and Freedom
2.3%3,975
Sam GroveLibertarian
2.0%3,561
174,758 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.
Nancy PelosiBruce Michael O'Neill
$1.9M
Raised by the campaign
$19.2K
$1.8M
Spent by the campaign
$19.2K
$72.9K
Cash on hand
$0
Campaign money: FEC, through Dec 31, 1988; FEC, through Nov 28, 1988.
Source: FEC campaign filingsUpdated Dec 31, 1988
The candidates
Nancy Pelosi (D)Bruce Michael O'Neill (R)
Also on the ballot: Theodore "ted" Zuur (Peace and Freedom), 2.3%; Sam Grove (Libertarian), 2.0%