1998Final results
1998 election for California's 44th District
U.S. House · California
Mary Bono (R) won with 60.1% of the vote, defeating Ralph Waite (D) by 24.3 points.
Mary BonoRepublican · winner
60.1%97,013
Ralph WaiteDemocrat
35.7%57,697
Jim MeuerNatural Law
4.2%6,818
161,528 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 1998
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.
Ralph WaiteMary Bono
$206.7K
Raised by the campaign
$865K
$206.6K
Spent by the campaign
$788.3K
$58
Cash on hand
$76.8K
Campaign money: FEC, through Dec 31, 1998.
Source: FEC campaign filingsUpdated Dec 31, 1998