Doug Ose - 2008 Election

2008 Election

After Congressman John Doolittle, who represents California's 4th congressional district, announced on January 10, 2008 his intent to retire from the U.S. House of Representatives after completing his 9th term, Ose weighed in on possibly running for Doolittle's seat during the 2008 elections. On February 1, 2008, Ose formally announced that he would run for California's 4th congressional district seat even though he lived outside the 4th district (the United States Constitution requires only a person to be a resident of the state where the congressional district is located). He picked up endorsements from Congressmen Dan Lungren, Duncan Hunter, and Wally Herger, as well as State Senator Dave Cox, and Assemblyman Roger Niello and Assemblyman Doug LaMalfa. Additionally, Ose was endorsed by Placer County Sheriff Ed Bonner (who appeared in at least one local TV ad for Ose and did other events for him).

Ose originally faced opposition from former State Senator Rico Oller, who officially entered the race immediately after Doolittle announced his retirement. Oller dropped out when State Senator Tom McClintock announced on March 4 that he was running. According to The Sacramento Bee, Oller said his decision to drop out was "a bitter pill indeed for me to swallow." However, he said he was endorsing McClintock to prevent the election of Ose, whom he labeled as "an unarguably liberal Republican."

Ose lost to McClintock but came in ahead of two other opponents: Suzanne Jones and Theodore Terbolizard. Ose was criticized by many for airing many negative advertisements against McClintock. The Butte County Republican Party voted to censure Ose for what they called "negative and misleading campaign ads"