2008Final results
2008 election for California's 46th District
U.S. House · California
Dana Rohrabacher (R) won with 52.5% of the vote, defeating Debbie Cook (D) by 9.4 points.
Dana RohrabacherRepublican · winner
52.5%149,818
Debbie CookDemocrat
43.1%122,891
Thomas LashGreen
2.9%8,257
Ernst P. GasteigerLibertarian
1.5%4,311
285,277 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.
Debbie CookDana Rohrabacher
$482.1K
Raised by the campaign
$746.8K
$481.7K
Spent by the campaign
$741.8K
$408
Cash on hand
$257.4K
Campaign money: FEC, through Dec 31, 2008.
Source: FEC campaign filingsUpdated Dec 31, 2008
The candidates
Dana Rohrabacher (R)Debbie Cook (D)
Also on the ballot: Thomas Lash (Green), 2.9%; Ernst P. Gasteiger (Libertarian), 1.5%