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1987 California's 5th congressional district special election
Incumbent Representative Sala Burton, who herself was elected during a special election following the previous incumbent's death, died on February 1, 1987, from colon cancer. Her death triggered a special election, leading to multiple people running to finish her term. No candidate received a 50% election in the general, leading to a run-off which former California Democratic Party chair Nancy Pelosi won.
Tom Spinosa, World War II and Vietnam War veteran and San Francisco County Republican Party official
Mike Garza
Libertarian Party
Sam Grove
Peace and Freedom Party
Theodore Zurr
Independents
Karen Edwards
Catherine Renee Sedwick
Special primaries
Primary results by neighborhood. Pelosi
Pelosi—40-50%
Pelosi—30-40%
Britt
Britt—60–70%
Britt—50-60%
Britt—40–50%
Britt—30-40%
The special election primaries were held on April 7, 1987. Every candidate ran in a nonpartisan blanket primary. If a candidate won 50% of the vote, they would automatically fill in the vacant seat. If no candidate won 50% of the vote, a runoff would be triggered with the top candidates in each party advancing to the runoff.
1987 California's 5th congressional district special election
The runoff election took place on June 2, 1987, with Nancy Pelosi gaining the majority of the vote, winning her the special election for Burton's seat.
1987 California's 5th congressional district special general election
