1996Final results
1996 election for California's 50th District
U.S. House · California
Bob Filner (D) won with 61.9% of the vote, defeating Jim Baize (R) by 29.4 points.
Bob FilnerDemocrat · winner
61.9%73,200
Jim BaizeRepublican
32.4%38,351
Dan ClarkReform
2.7%3,253
Earl M. ShepardNatural Law
1.8%2,138
Philip ZoebischLibertarian
1.2%1,398
118,340 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 1996
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.
Bob FilnerJim Baize
$1.1M
Raised by the campaign
$129.2K
$1.1M
Spent by the campaign
$120.6K
$8.1K
Cash on hand
$8.7K
Campaign money: FEC, through Dec 31, 1996.
Source: FEC campaign filingsUpdated Dec 31, 1996
The candidates
Bob Filner (D)Jim Baize (R)
Also on the ballot: Dan Clark (Reform), 2.7%; Earl M. Shepard (Natural Law), 1.8%; Philip Zoebisch (Libertarian), 1.2%