1998Final results
1998 election for California's 46th District
U.S. House · California
Loretta Sanchez (D) won with 56.4% of the vote, defeating Robert Dornan (R) by 17.1 points.
Loretta SanchezDemocrat · winner
56.4%47,964
Robert DornanRepublican
39.3%33,388
Thomas E. ReimerLibertarian
2.7%2,316
Larry G. EngwallNatural Law
1.6%1,334
85,002 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.
Loretta SanchezRobert Dornan
$3.4M
Raised by the campaign
$3.8M
$2.5M
Spent by the campaign
$3.9M
$848.2K
Cash on hand
$20.7K
Campaign money: FEC, through Dec 31, 1998.
Source: FEC campaign filingsUpdated Dec 31, 1998
The candidates
Loretta Sanchez (D)Robert Dornan (R)
Also on the ballot: Thomas E. Reimer (Libertarian), 2.7%; Larry G. Engwall (Natural Law), 1.6%