2010Final results
2010 election for California's 23rd District
U.S. House · California
Lois Capps (D) won with 57.8% of the vote, defeating Tom Watson (R) by 20.2 points.
Lois CappsDemocrat · winner
57.8%111,768
Tom WatsonRepublican
37.6%72,744
John V. HagerIndependent
2.9%5,625
Darrell M. StaffordLibertarian
1.7%3,326
193,463 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 2010
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.
Lois CappsTom Watson
$955.6K
Raised by the campaign
$611.9K
$991.1K
Spent by the campaign
$607.3K
$321K
Cash on hand
$4.6K
Other candidates' campaigns: John V. Hager $113.4K.
Campaign money: FEC, through Dec 31, 2010.
Source: FEC campaign filingsUpdated Dec 31, 2010
The candidates
Lois Capps (D)Tom Watson (R)
Also on the ballot: John V. Hager (Independent), 2.9%; Darrell M. Stafford (Libertarian), 1.7%