The 1988 United States Senate election in California took place on November 8, 1988. Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Pete Wilson won re-election to a second term. As of 2022, this is the last time the Republicans won a U.S. Senate election in California, and also the last time a male nominee won a U.S. Senate election in California, although not the last time a male has held a Senate seat in the state, as California Secretary Of State Alex Padilla was appointed to its Class 3 seat in December 2020 upon the resignation of Senator Kamala Harris, who had recently been elected Vice President, along with Joe Biden winning election to the presidency.[1] This was also the first time since 1952 that an incumbent Senator holding this seat was re-elected.