Eleven months before the election, I predicted: Eshoo 68% Haugen 28% Holtz 4%.  The outcome stands at Eshoo 69.8%, Haugen 26.6%, and Holtz 3.6%.

Still, I fell well short of my 4% goal, and well short of the best recent 3-way Libertarian outcome in California (Maad Abu-Ghazalah's $50K 7.1% effort just north of here in 2002).

I am grateful for everyone who voted for free minds and free markets in my district, and for everyone from down the aisle at work and around the world who wished me well in my race. I'm grateful for the dedicated folks around here in the Libertarian Party who invited me to run and through their hard work made it so easy for me to get on the ballot. I'm grateful to the other Libertarian candidates across the state who were my comrades at arms, as we encouraged each other in what I believe will be our long but successful march to Liberty. I'm grateful to those in the media who covered this race even-handedly, and to the League of Women Voters for their forums both electronic and physical. I am especially grateful to my family and my darling wife Melisse, who was so patient and supportive during this effort.

I congratulate Rep. Eshoo on her victory. Despite its predictability, she took time out for each of the three candidate forums, and was always gracious. I made a new friend in Chris Haugen, my Republican opponent. Despite our differences over how the government should legislate morality, we share enough common ground on federalism, free markets, free trade, and privatization that he once called himself a "libertarian Republican". He's close enough in my book, and he's welcome to vie for the Libertarian endorsement in our 2004 primary, just as I probably will.