2008Final results
2008 election for California's 20th District
U.S. House · California
Jim Costa (D) won with 74.3% of the vote, defeating Jim Lopez (R) by 48.7 points.
Jim CostaDemocrat · winner
74.3%93,023
Jim LopezRepublican
25.7%32,118
125,141 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 2008
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 CostaJim Lopez
$1M
Raised by the campaign
$27.5K
$922.4K
Spent by the campaign
$28.1K
$309.2K
Cash on hand
-$557
Campaign money: FEC, through Dec 31, 2008; FEC, through Nov 4, 2008.
Source: FEC campaign filingsUpdated Dec 31, 2008