2008 United States Senate elections
{{Short description|none}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2023}}
{{Infobox election
| election_name = 2008 United States Senate elections
| country = United States
| type = legislative
| ongoing = no
| previous_election = 2006 United States Senate elections
| previous_year = 2006
| next_election = 2010 United States Senate elections
| next_year = 2010
| previous_seat_election = 2002 United States Senate elections
| previous_seat_year = 2002
| next_seat_election = 2014 United States Senate elections
| next_seat_year = 2014
| seats_for_election = 35 of the 100 seats in the United States Senate
| majority_seats = 51
| election_date = November 4, 2008
{{small|December 2 (Georgia runoff)}}
| image_size = 160x180px
| 1blank = Seats up
| 2blank = Races won
| party1 = Democratic Party (US)
| image1 = Harry Reid official portrait 2009 (3x4b).jpg
| leader1 = Harry Reid
| leaders_seat1 = Nevada
| seats_before1 = 49
| seats_after1 = 57
| seat_change1 = {{increase}} 8
| popular_vote1 = 33,650,061{{efn|name="georgiarunoff"|For the Georgia senate race, votes from the runoff election are counted.}}
| percentage1 = 51.88%
| 1data1 = 12
| 2data1 = 20
| party2 = Republican Party (US)
| image2 = Sen Mitch McConnell official (3x4a).jpg
| leader2 = Mitch McConnell
| leaders_seat2 = Kentucky
| seats_before2 = 49
| seats_after2 = 41
| seat_change2 = {{decrease}} 8
| popular_vote2 = 28,863,067{{efn|name="georgiarunoff"|For the Georgia senate race, votes from the runoff election are counted.}}
| percentage2 = 44.5%
| 1data2 = 23
| 2data2 = 15
| party4 = Independent (US)
| seats_before4 = 2{{efn | name="Lieberman" | Although Joe Lieberman (CT) was elected in 2006 on the Connecticut for Lieberman ticket, most sources (including himself) refer to him as an independent Democrat and he is included here as an independent.}}
| seats_after4 = 2{{Efn|name="Indy2" | Both independents caucused with the Democrats.}}
| seat_change4 = {{steady}}
| percentage4 = 0.27%
| 1data4 = 0
| 2data4 = 0
| map_image = {{2008 United States Senate elections imagemap}}
| map_size = 320px
| map_caption = Results of the elections:
{{legend0|#92C5DE|Democratic hold}} {{legend0|#0671B0|Democratic gain}}
{{legend0|#F48882|Republican hold}}
{{legend0|#D3D3D3|No election}}
Rectangular inset (Miss. & Wyo.): both seats up for election
| title = Majority Leader
| before_election = Harry Reid
| before_party = Democratic Party (US)
| after_election = Harry Reid
| after_party = Democratic Party (US)
| leader_since1 = January 3, 2005
| leader_since2 = January 3, 2007
}}
The 2008 United States Senate elections were held on November 4, 2008, with 35 of the 100 seats in the Senate being contested. 33 seats were up for regular elections; the winners were eligible to serve 6-year terms from January 3, 2009, to January 3, 2015, as members of Class 2. There were also 2 special elections, the winners of those seats would finish the terms that ended on January 3, 2013. The presidential election, which was won by Democrat Barack Obama, elections for all House of Representatives seats; elections for several gubernatorial elections; and many state and local elections occurred on the same date.
Going into these elections, the Senate consisted of 49 Democrats, 49 Republicans, and 2 Independents who caucused with the Democrats, giving the Democratic caucus the slightest 51–49 majority.{{Cite news |last=Sherman |first=Emily |date=October 8, 2008 |title='Perfect storm' could give Dems 'magic 60' in Senate |publisher=CNN |url=http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/10/08/senate.election |access-date=November 19, 2008}} Of the seats up for election in 2008, 23 were held by Republicans and 12 by Democrats. The Republicans, who openly conceded early on that they would not be able to regain the majority in this election,{{Cite magazine |last=Newton-Small |first=Jay |date=October 15, 2007 |title=The Republicans' Big Senate Fear |url=http://www.time.com/time/politics/article/0,8599,1671599,00.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071016162747/http://www.time.com/time/politics/article/0,8599,1671599,00.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 16, 2007 |magazine=TIME}}{{Cite news |last=Hook |first=Janet |date=July 6, 2008 |title=Senate outlook bad for GOP |work=Los Angeles Times |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2008-jul-06-na-senate6-story.html}} lost 8 seats. Democratic candidates defeated Republican incumbents in Alaska, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Oregon, and, after a lengthy recount process, Minnesota. Additionally, they won Republican-held open seats in Colorado, New Mexico, and Virginia.
Each major party has Hill committees that work to support its candidates for the House and Senate, chiefly by providing funds. On the Senate side, the committees are the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) and the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC). In this cycle, the DSCC was more successful at fundraising. As of June 30, 2008, data from the Federal Election Commission showed the NRSC with $24.6 million on hand, as compared with the DSCC's $43 million.{{Cite web |last=Jansen |first=Bart |date=August 22, 2008 |title=Ensign Fumes Over Failed GOP Fundraising Effort |url=http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?parm1=5&docID=news-000002940207 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080824183146/http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?parm1=5&docID=news-000002940207 |archive-date=August 24, 2008 |access-date=August 22, 2008 |publisher=Congressional Quarterly }} The NRSC chair, senator John Ensign, took the unusual step of chastising the Republican Senators who, like him, were not facing re-election, and who he thought should have done more to help raise money for their colleagues.
This election cycle was the second cycle in a row in which no seats switched from Democratic to Republican, and the first since 1990 in which the Democrats retained all their seats. In addition, this was the largest Democratic Senate gain since 1986, where they also won 8 seats. These elections marked the first time since 1964 in which a Democratic presidential candidate who won the White House had a Senate coattail effect. As of 2024, this is the last time Democrats won U.S. Senate seats in Alaska, Arkansas, Iowa, Louisiana, North Carolina, and South Dakota.
Along with 2 independents who caucus with them, Democrats held at least 58 seats as a result of the elections. The April 2009 party switch of Pennsylvania senator Arlen Specter from Republican to Democrat and the July 2009 resolution of the Minnesota election in favor of Democrat Al Franken increased the Democratic majority to 60–40 (briefly providing the Democrats a filibuster-proof majority, and thus they were able to hypothetically override any filibusters). Republicans gained a seat in a January 2010 special election in Massachusetts, thereby making the balance 59–41 before the start of the next election cycle.
Results summary
| style="width:40em; text-align:center"
|+ ↓ |
| style="color:white"
| style="background:{{party color|Democratic Party (US)}}; width:57%" | 57 | style="background:{{party color|Independent (US)}}; color:black; width:2%" | 2 | style="background:{{party color|Republican Party (US)}}; width:41%" | 41 |
| style="width:40em; text-align:center" |
| style="width:57%;color:{{party color|Democratic Party (US)}}"| Democratic
| style="width:2%" | Independent | style="width:41%;color:{{party color|Republican Party (US)}}"| Republican |
| class=wikitable style=text-align:center |
| colspan=2 rowspan=2 | Parties
| style="background-color:{{party color|Democratic Party (US)}}" | | style="background-color:{{party color|Republican Party (US)}}" | | style="background-color:{{party color|Independent (US)}}" | | style="background-color:{{party color|Libertarian Party (US)}}" | | style="background-color:{{party color|Independence Party (US)}}" | | style="background-color:{{party color|Green Party (US)}}" | | style="background-color:{{party color|Other Party (US)}}" | ! rowspan=2 | Total |
|---|
| Democratic
! Green ! Others |
| colspan=2 | Before these elections
! {{Party shading/Democratic}} | 49 ! 49 ! 2 ! — ! — ! — ! — ! 100 |
| rowspan=3 style="background:#cccccc" | Not up ! style="background:#dddddd" | {{Small|Class 1 (2006→2012)}} | {{Party shading/Democratic}} | 22 | 8 | 2 | — | — | — | — ! 31 |
| style="background:#dddddd" | {{Small|Class 3 (2004→2010)}}
| 15 | {{Party shading/Republican}} | 19 | — | — | — | — | — ! 34 |
| Total
| {{Party shading/Democratic}} | 37 | 26 | 2 | — | — | — | — ! 65 |
| rowspan=4 style="background:#cccccc" | Up
! style="background:#dddddd" | {{Small|Class 1}} | — | {{Party shading/Republican}} | 2 | — | — | — | — | — ! 2 |
| style="background:#dddddd" | {{Small|Class 2}}
| 12 | {{Party shading/Republican}} | 21 | — | — | — | — | — ! 33 |
| Total
| 12 | {{Party shading/Republican}} | 23 | — | — | — | — | — ! 35 |
| colspan=99 | |
| rowspan=4 style="background:#cccccc" | Incumbent retired ! Total before | — | {{Party shading/Republican}} | 5 | — | — | — | — | — ! 5 |
| {{Small|Held by same party}}
| — | {{Party shading/Republican}} | 2 | — | — | — | — | — ! 2 |
| {{Small|Replaced by other party}}
| colspan=2 {{Party shading/Democratic}} | {{Decrease}} 3 Republicans | — | — | — | — | — ! 3 |
| Result after
! {{Party shading/Democratic}} | 3 ! 2 ! — ! — ! — ! — ! — ! 5 |
| rowspan=4 style="background:#cccccc" | Incumbent ran ! Total before | 12 | {{Party shading/Republican}} | 18 | — | — | — | — | — ! 30 |
| {{Small|Won election}}
| 12 | {{Party shading/Republican}} | 13 | — | — | — | — | — ! 25 |
| {{Small|Lost election}}
| colspan=2 {{Party shading/Democratic}} | {{Decrease}} 5 Republicans | — | — | — | — | — ! 5 |
| Result after
! {{Party shading/Democratic}} | 17 ! 13 ! — ! — ! — ! — ! — ! 30 |
| colspan=2 | Net gain/loss
| {{Party shading/Democratic}} | {{Increase}} 8 | {{Decrease}} 8 | — | — | — | — | — ! 8 |
| colspan=2 | Total elected
! {{Party shading/Democratic}} | 20 ! 15 ! — ! — ! — ! — ! — ! 35 |
| colspan=99 | |
| rowspan=2 style="background:#cccccc" | Nation-wide vote
! VotesFor the Georgia senate race, votes from the runoff election are counted. ! {{Party shading/Democratic}} | 33,650,061 | 28,863,067 | 176,752 | 798,154 | 450,702 | 427,427 | 496,124 ! 64,862,287 |
| Share
! {{Party shading/Democratic}} | 51.88% | 44.50% | 0.27% | 1.23% | 0.69% | 0.66% | 0.76% ! 100% |
| colspan=2 | Result
! {{Party shading/Democratic}} | 57 ! 41 ! 2 ! — ! — ! — ! — ! 100 |
{{reflist|group=upper-alpha}}
Sources:
- Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives{{Cite web |last=Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives |author-link=Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives |date=July 10, 2009 |title=Statistics of the Presidential and Congressional Election of November 4, 2008 |url=https://history.house.gov/Institution/Election-Statistics/2008election/ |pages=37, 68, 72 |publisher=U.S. Government Printing Office}}
- [http://www.thegreenpapers.com/G08/SenateVoteByParty.phtml U.S. Senate Popular Vote and FEC Total Receipts by Party], via TheGreenPapers.com
- {{Cite news | url=http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/results/main.results/#val=S | title=U.S. Senate (Full results) | publisher=CNN | date=July 1, 2009 | access-date=November 29, 2017}}
- {{Cite web | url=http://www.thegreenpapers.com/G08/SenateVoteByParty.phtml | title=The Green Papers 2008 U.S. Senate Popular Vote and FEC Total Receipts by Party | publisher=The Green Papers | access-date=November 19, 2008}}
Change in composition
= Before the elections =
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; " |
| {{party shading/Democratic}} | D{{Sub|1}}
| {{party shading/Democratic}} | D{{Sub|2}} | {{party shading/Democratic}} | D{{Sub|3}} | {{party shading/Democratic}} | D{{Sub|4}} | {{party shading/Democratic}} | D{{Sub|5}} | {{party shading/Democratic}} | D{{Sub|6}} | {{party shading/Democratic}} | D{{Sub|7}} | {{party shading/Democratic}} | D{{Sub|8}} | {{party shading/Democratic}} | D{{Sub|9}} | {{party shading/Democratic}} | D{{Sub|10}} |
| width=10% {{party shading/Democratic}} | D{{Sub|20}}
| width=10% {{party shading/Democratic}} | D{{Sub|19}} | width=10% {{party shading/Democratic}} | D{{Sub|18}} | width=10% {{party shading/Democratic}} | D{{Sub|17}} | width=10% {{party shading/Democratic}} | D{{Sub|16}} | width=10% {{party shading/Democratic}} | D{{Sub|15}} | width=10% {{party shading/Democratic}} | D{{Sub|14}} | width=10% {{party shading/Democratic}} | D{{Sub|13}} | width=10% {{party shading/Democratic}} | D{{Sub|12}} | width=10% {{party shading/Democratic}} | D{{Sub|11}} |
| {{party shading/Democratic}} | D{{Sub|21}}
| {{party shading/Democratic}} | D{{Sub|22}} | {{party shading/Democratic}} | D{{Sub|23}} | {{party shading/Democratic}} | D{{Sub|24}} | {{party shading/Democratic}} | D{{Sub|25}} | {{party shading/Democratic}} | D{{Sub|26}} | {{party shading/Democratic}} | D{{Sub|27}} | {{party shading/Democratic}} | D{{Sub|28}} | {{party shading/Democratic}} | D{{Sub|29}} | {{party shading/Democratic}} | D{{Sub|30}} |
| {{party shading/Democratic/active}} | D{{Sub|40}} {{Small|Ill.}} {{Small|Ran}} | {{party shading/Democratic/active}} | D{{Sub|39}} | {{party shading/Democratic/active}} | D{{Sub|38}} | {{party shading/Democratic}} | D{{Sub|37}} | {{party shading/Democratic}} | D{{Sub|36}} | {{party shading/Democratic}} | D{{Sub|35}} | {{party shading/Democratic}} | D{{Sub|34}} | {{party shading/Democratic}} | D{{Sub|33}} | {{party shading/Democratic}} | D{{Sub|32}} | {{party shading/Democratic}} | D{{Sub|31}} |
| {{party shading/Democratic/active}} | D{{Sub|41}} {{Small|Iowa}} {{Small|Ran}} | {{party shading/Democratic/active}} | D{{Sub|42}} | {{party shading/Democratic/active}} | D{{Sub|43}} | {{party shading/Democratic/active}} | D{{Sub|44}} | {{party shading/Democratic/active}} | D{{Sub|45}} | {{party shading/Democratic/active}} | D{{Sub|46}} | {{party shading/Democratic/active}} | D{{Sub|47}} | {{party shading/Democratic/active}} | D{{Sub|48}} | {{party shading/Democratic/active}} | D{{Sub|49}} | {{party shading/Independent (US)}} | I{{Sub|1}} |
| colspan=9 style="text-align:right" | Majority (with Independents) ↑
| rowspan=2 {{party shading/Independent (US)}} | I{{Sub|2}} |
| {{party shading/Republican/active}} | R{{Sub|41}} {{Small|Tenn.}} {{Small|Ran}} | {{party shading/Republican/active}} | R{{Sub|42}} | {{party shading/Republican/active}} | R{{Sub|43}} | {{party shading/Republican/active}} | R{{Sub|44}} | {{party shading/Republican/active}} | R{{Sub|45}} | {{party shading/Republican/active}} | R{{Sub|46}} | {{party shading/Republican/active}} | R{{Sub|47}} | {{party shading/Republican/active}} | R{{Sub|48}} | {{party shading/Republican/active}} | R{{Sub|49}} |
| {{party shading/Republican/active}} | R{{Sub|40}} {{Small|S.C.}} {{Small|Ran}} | {{party shading/Republican/active}} | R{{Sub|39}} | {{party shading/Republican/active}} | R{{Sub|38}} | {{party shading/Republican/active}} | R{{Sub|37}} | {{party shading/Republican/active}} | R{{Sub|36}} | {{party shading/Republican/active}} | R{{Sub|35}} | {{party shading/Republican/active}} | R{{Sub|34}} | {{party shading/Republican/active}} | R{{Sub|33}} | {{party shading/Republican/active}} | R{{Sub|32}} | {{party shading/Republican/active}} | R{{Sub|31}} |
| {{party shading/Republican}} | R{{Sub|21}}
| {{party shading/Republican}} | R{{Sub|22}} | {{party shading/Republican}} | R{{Sub|23}} | {{party shading/Republican}} | R{{Sub|24}} | {{party shading/Republican}} | R{{Sub|25}} | {{party shading/Republican}} | R{{Sub|26}} | {{party shading/Republican/active}} | R{{Sub|27}} | {{party shading/Republican/active}} | R{{Sub|28}} | {{party shading/Republican/active}} | R{{Sub|29}} | {{party shading/Republican/active}} | R{{Sub|30}} |
| {{party shading/Republican}} | R{{Sub|20}}
| {{party shading/Republican}} | R{{Sub|19}} | {{party shading/Republican}} | R{{Sub|18}} | {{party shading/Republican}} | R{{Sub|17}} | {{party shading/Republican}} | R{{Sub|16}} | {{party shading/Republican}} | R{{Sub|15}} | {{party shading/Republican}} | R{{Sub|14}} | {{party shading/Republican}} | R{{Sub|13}} | {{party shading/Republican}} | R{{Sub|12}} | {{party shading/Republican}} | R{{Sub|11}} |
| {{party shading/Republican}} | R{{Sub|1}}
| {{party shading/Republican}} | R{{Sub|2}} | {{party shading/Republican}} | R{{Sub|3}} | {{party shading/Republican}} | R{{Sub|4}} | {{party shading/Republican}} | R{{Sub|5}} | {{party shading/Republican}} | R{{Sub|6}} | {{party shading/Republican}} | R{{Sub|7}} | {{party shading/Republican}} | R{{Sub|8}} | {{party shading/Republican}} | R{{Sub|9}} | {{party shading/Republican}} | R{{Sub|10}} |
= After the elections =
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" |
| {{party shading/Democratic}} | D{{Sub|1}}
| {{party shading/Democratic}} | D{{Sub|2}} | {{party shading/Democratic}} | D{{Sub|3}} | {{party shading/Democratic}} | D{{Sub|4}} | {{party shading/Democratic}} | D{{Sub|5}} | {{party shading/Democratic}} | D{{Sub|6}} | {{party shading/Democratic}} | D{{Sub|7}} | {{party shading/Democratic}} | D{{Sub|8}} | {{party shading/Democratic}} | D{{Sub|9}} | {{party shading/Democratic}} | D{{Sub|10}} |
| width=10% {{party shading/Democratic}} | D{{Sub|20}}
| width=10% {{party shading/Democratic}} | D{{Sub|19}} | width=10% {{party shading/Democratic}} | D{{Sub|18}} | width=10% {{party shading/Democratic}} | D{{Sub|17}} | width=10% {{party shading/Democratic}} | D{{Sub|16}} | width=10% {{party shading/Democratic}} | D{{Sub|15}} | width=10% {{party shading/Democratic}} | D{{Sub|14}} | width=10% {{party shading/Democratic}} | D{{Sub|13}} | width=10% {{party shading/Democratic}} | D{{Sub|12}} | width=10% {{party shading/Democratic}} | D{{Sub|11}} |
| {{party shading/Democratic}} | D{{Sub|21}}
| {{party shading/Democratic}} | D{{Sub|22}} | {{party shading/Democratic}} | D{{Sub|23}} | {{party shading/Democratic}} | D{{Sub|24}} | {{party shading/Democratic}} | D{{Sub|25}} | {{party shading/Democratic}} | D{{Sub|26}} | {{party shading/Democratic}} | D{{Sub|27}} | {{party shading/Democratic}} | D{{Sub|28}} | {{party shading/Democratic}} | D{{Sub|29}} | {{party shading/Democratic}} | D{{Sub|30}} |
| {{party shading/Democratic/active}} | D{{Sub|40}} {{Small|Ill.}} {{Small|Re-elected}} | {{party shading/Democratic/active}} | D{{Sub|39}} | {{party shading/Democratic/active}} | D{{Sub|38}} | {{party shading/Democratic}} | D{{Sub|37}} | {{party shading/Democratic}} | D{{Sub|36}} | {{party shading/Democratic}} | D{{Sub|35}} | {{party shading/Democratic}} | D{{Sub|34}} | {{party shading/Democratic}} | D{{Sub|33}} | {{party shading/Democratic}} | D{{Sub|32}} | {{party shading/Democratic}} | D{{Sub|31}} |
| {{party shading/Democratic/active}} | D{{Sub|41}} {{Small|Iowa}} {{Small|Re-elected}} | {{party shading/Democratic/active}} | D{{Sub|42}} | {{party shading/Democratic/active}} | D{{Sub|43}} | {{party shading/Democratic/active}} | D{{Sub|44}} | {{party shading/Democratic/active}} | D{{Sub|45}} | {{party shading/Democratic/active}} | D{{Sub|46}} | {{party shading/Democratic/active}} | D{{Sub|47}} | {{party shading/Democratic/active}} | D{{Sub|48}} | {{party shading/Democratic/active}} | D{{Sub|49}} | {{party shading/Democratic/active}} | D{{Sub|50}} |
| colspan=9 style="text-align:right" | Majority →
| rowspan=2 {{party shading/Democratic/active}} | D{{Sub|51}} |
| {{party shading/Republican/active}} | R{{Sub|41}} {{Small|Wyo. (sp)}} {{Small|Elected{{efn|name="appointee elected"|Appointee elected}}}} | Vacant | {{party shading/Independent (US)}} | I{{Sub|2}} | {{party shading/Independent (US)}} | I{{Sub|1}} | {{party shading/Democratic/active}} | D{{Sub|56}} | {{party shading/Democratic/active}} | D{{Sub|55}} | {{party shading/Democratic/active}} | D{{Sub|54}} | {{party shading/Democratic/active}} | D{{Sub|53}} | {{party shading/Democratic/active}} | D{{Sub|52}} |
| {{party shading/Republican/active}} | R{{Sub|40}} {{Small|Wyo. (reg)}} {{Small|Re-elected}} | {{party shading/Republican/active}} | R{{Sub|39}} | {{party shading/Republican/active}} | R{{Sub|38}} | {{party shading/Republican/active}} | R{{Sub|37}} | {{party shading/Republican/active}} | R{{Sub|36}} | {{party shading/Republican/active}} | R{{Sub|35}} | {{party shading/Republican/active}} | R{{Sub|34}} | {{party shading/Republican/active}} | R{{Sub|33}} | {{party shading/Republican/active}} | R{{Sub|32}} | {{party shading/Republican/active}} | R{{Sub|31}} |
| {{party shading/Republican}} | R{{Sub|21}}
| {{party shading/Republican}} | R{{Sub|22}} | {{party shading/Republican}} | R{{Sub|23}} | {{party shading/Republican}} | R{{Sub|24}} | {{party shading/Republican}} | R{{Sub|25}} | {{party shading/Republican}} | R{{Sub|26}} | {{party shading/Republican/active}} | R{{Sub|27}} | {{party shading/Republican/active}} | R{{Sub|28}} | {{party shading/Republican/active}} | R{{Sub|29}} | {{party shading/Republican/active}} | R{{Sub|30}} |
| {{party shading/Republican}} | R{{Sub|20}}
| {{party shading/Republican}} | R{{Sub|19}} | {{party shading/Republican}} | R{{Sub|18}} | {{party shading/Republican}} | R{{Sub|17}} | {{party shading/Republican}} | R{{Sub|16}} | {{party shading/Republican}} | R{{Sub|15}} | {{party shading/Republican}} | R{{Sub|14}} | {{party shading/Republican}} | R{{Sub|13}} | {{party shading/Republican}} | R{{Sub|12}} | {{party shading/Republican}} | R{{Sub|11}} |
| {{party shading/Republican}} | R{{Sub|1}}
| {{party shading/Republican}} | R{{Sub|2}} | {{party shading/Republican}} | R{{Sub|3}} | {{party shading/Republican}} | R{{Sub|4}} | {{party shading/Republican}} | R{{Sub|5}} | {{party shading/Republican}} | R{{Sub|6}} | {{party shading/Republican}} | R{{Sub|7}} | {{party shading/Republican}} | R{{Sub|8}} | {{party shading/Republican}} | R{{Sub|9}} | {{party shading/Republican}} | R{{Sub|10}} |
= Beginning of the first session =
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" |
| {{party shading/Democratic}} | D{{Sub|1}}
| {{party shading/Democratic}} | D{{Sub|2}} | {{party shading/Democratic}} | D{{Sub|3}} | {{party shading/Democratic}} | D{{Sub|4}} | {{party shading/Democratic}} | D{{Sub|5}} | {{party shading/Democratic}} | D{{Sub|6}} | {{party shading/Democratic}} | D{{Sub|7}} | {{party shading/Democratic}} | D{{Sub|8}} | {{party shading/Democratic}} | D{{Sub|9}} | {{party shading/Democratic}} | D{{Sub|10}} |
| width=10% {{party shading/Democratic}} | D{{Sub|20}}
| width=10% {{party shading/Democratic}} | D{{Sub|19}} | width=10% {{party shading/Democratic}} | D{{Sub|18}} | width=10% {{party shading/Democratic}} | D{{Sub|17}} | width=10% {{party shading/Democratic}} | D{{Sub|16}} | width=10% {{party shading/Democratic}} | D{{Sub|15}} | width=10% {{party shading/Democratic}} | D{{Sub|14}} | width=10% {{party shading/Democratic}} | D{{Sub|13}} | width=10% {{party shading/Democratic}} | D{{Sub|12}} | width=10% {{party shading/Democratic}} | D{{Sub|11}} |
| {{party shading/Democratic}} | D{{Sub|21}}
| {{party shading/Democratic}} | D{{Sub|22}} | {{party shading/Democratic}} | D{{Sub|23}} | {{party shading/Democratic}} | D{{Sub|24}} | {{party shading/Democratic}} | D{{Sub|25}} | {{party shading/Democratic}} | D{{Sub|26}} | {{party shading/Democratic}} | D{{Sub|27}} | {{party shading/Democratic}} | D{{Sub|28}} | {{party shading/Democratic}} | D{{Sub|29}} | {{party shading/Democratic}} | D{{Sub|30}} |
| {{party shading/Democratic}} | D{{Sub|40}}
| {{party shading/Democratic}} | D{{Sub|39}} | {{party shading/Democratic}} | D{{Sub|38}} | {{party shading/Democratic}} | D{{Sub|37}} | {{party shading/Democratic}} | D{{Sub|36}} | {{party shading/Democratic}} | D{{Sub|35}} | {{party shading/Democratic}} | D{{Sub|34}} | {{party shading/Democratic}} | D{{Sub|33}} | {{party shading/Democratic}} | D{{Sub|32}} | {{party shading/Democratic}} | D{{Sub|31}} |
| {{party shading/Democratic}} | D{{Sub|41}}
| {{party shading/Democratic}} | D{{Sub|42}} | {{party shading/Democratic}} | D{{Sub|43}} | {{party shading/Democratic}} | D{{Sub|44}} | {{party shading/Democratic}} | D{{Sub|45}} | {{party shading/Democratic}} | D{{Sub|46}} | {{party shading/Democratic}} | D{{Sub|47}} | {{party shading/Democratic}} | D{{Sub|48}} | {{party shading/Democratic}} | D{{Sub|49}} | {{party shading/Democratic}} | D{{Sub|50}} |
| colspan=9 style="text-align:right" | Majority →
| rowspan=2 {{party shading/Democratic}} | D{{Sub|51}} |
| {{party shading/Independent (US)}} | I{{Sub|2}}
| {{party shading/Independent (US)}} | I{{Sub|1}} | {{party shading/Democratic/active}} | D{{Sub|58}} | {{party shading/Democratic/active}} | D{{Sub|57}} | {{party shading/Democratic}} | D{{Sub|56}} | {{party shading/Democratic}} | D{{Sub|55}} | {{party shading/Democratic}} | D{{Sub|54}} | {{party shading/Democratic}} | D{{Sub|53}} | {{party shading/Democratic}} | D{{Sub|52}} |
| {{party shading/Republican}} | R{{Sub|40}}
| {{party shading/Republican}} | R{{Sub|39}} | {{party shading/Republican}} | R{{Sub|38}} | {{party shading/Republican}} | R{{Sub|37}} | {{party shading/Republican}} | R{{Sub|36}} | {{party shading/Republican}} | R{{Sub|35}} | {{party shading/Republican}} | R{{Sub|34}} | {{party shading/Republican}} | R{{Sub|33}} | {{party shading/Republican}} | R{{Sub|32}} | {{party shading/Republican}} | R{{Sub|31}} |
| {{party shading/Republican}} | R{{Sub|21}}
| {{party shading/Republican}} | R{{Sub|22}} | {{party shading/Republican}} | R{{Sub|23}} | {{party shading/Republican}} | R{{Sub|24}} | {{party shading/Republican}} | R{{Sub|25}} | {{party shading/Republican}} | R{{Sub|26}} | {{party shading/Republican}} | R{{Sub|27}} | {{party shading/Republican}} | R{{Sub|28}} | {{party shading/Republican}} | R{{Sub|29}} | {{party shading/Republican}} | R{{Sub|30}} |
| {{party shading/Republican}} | R{{Sub|20}}
| {{party shading/Republican}} | R{{Sub|19}} | {{party shading/Republican}} | R{{Sub|18}} | {{party shading/Republican}} | R{{Sub|17}} | {{party shading/Republican}} | R{{Sub|16}} | {{party shading/Republican}} | R{{Sub|15}} | {{party shading/Republican}} | R{{Sub|14}} | {{party shading/Republican}} | R{{Sub|13}} | {{party shading/Republican}} | R{{Sub|12}} | {{party shading/Republican}} | R{{Sub|11}} |
| {{party shading/Republican}} | R{{Sub|1}}
| {{party shading/Republican}} | R{{Sub|2}} | {{party shading/Republican}} | R{{Sub|3}} | {{party shading/Republican}} | R{{Sub|4}} | {{party shading/Republican}} | R{{Sub|5}} | {{party shading/Republican}} | R{{Sub|6}} | {{party shading/Republican}} | R{{Sub|7}} | {{party shading/Republican}} | R{{Sub|8}} | {{party shading/Republican}} | R{{Sub|9}} | {{party shading/Republican}} | R{{Sub|10}} |
| valign=top
! Key: | {| class=wikitable |
| align=center width=35px {{Party shading/Democratic}} | D{{Sub|#}} |
| align=center width=35px {{Party shading/Independent (US)}} | I{{Sub|#}} |
| align=center width=35px {{Party shading/Republican}} | R{{Sub|#}} |
|}
Race summary
= Special elections during the 110th Congress =
In these special elections, the winner was seated during 2008 or before January 3, 2009, sorted by election date, then state, then class.
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| valign=bottom
! rowspan=2 | State ! colspan=3 | Incumbent ! rowspan=2 | Results ! rowspan=2 | Candidates |
| Senator
! Party ! Electoral history |
|---|
| Mississippi (Class 1) | {{Sortname|Roger|Wicker}} | {{Party shading/Republican}} | Republican | data-sort-value="2007-12-31" | 2007 {{Small|(appointed)}} | Interim appointee elected. | nowrap | {{Plainlist |
}} |
| Wyoming (Class 1) | {{Sortname| John|Barrasso}} | {{Party shading/Republican}} | Republican | data-sort-value="2007-06-22" | 2007 {{Small|(appointed)}} | Interim appointee elected. | nowrap | {{Plainlist |
}} |
= Elections leading to the next Congress =
In these general elections, the winners were elected for the term beginning January 3, 2009; ordered by state.
All of the elections involved the Class 2 seats.
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| valign=bottom
! rowspan=2 | State ! colspan=3 | Incumbent ! rowspan=2 | Results ! rowspan=2 | Candidates |
| Senator
! Party ! Electoral history |
|---|
| Alabama
| {{Sortname|Jeff|Sessions}} | {{party shading/Republican}} | Republican | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap | {{Plainlist |
}} |
| Alaska
| {{Sortname|Ted|Stevens}} | {{party shading/Republican}} | Republican | 1968 {{Small|(appointed)}} | {{party shading/Democratic}} | Incumbent lost re-election. | nowrap | {{Plainlist |
}}{{collapsible list|title={{nobold|Others}} | {{Party stripe|Libertarian Party (US)}}David Haase (Libertarian) 0.8% | {{Party stripe|Independent (US)}}Ted Gianoutsos (Independent) 0.4% }} |
| Arkansas
| {{Sortname|Mark|Pryor}} | {{party shading/Democratic}} | Democratic | 2002 | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap | {{Plainlist |
}} |
| Colorado
| {{Sortname|Wayne|Allard}} | {{party shading/Republican}} | Republican | {{party shading/Democratic}} | Incumbent retired. | nowrap | {{Plainlist |
}} |
| Delaware
| {{Sortname|Joe|Biden}} | {{party shading/Democratic}} | Democratic | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap | {{Plainlist |
}} |
| Georgia
| {{Sortname|Saxby|Chambliss}} | {{party shading/Republican}} | Republican | 2002 | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap | {{Plainlist |
}} |
| Idaho
| {{Sortname|Larry|Craig}} | {{party shading/Republican}} | Republican | {{party shading/Republican/Hold}} | Incumbent retired. | nowrap | {{Plainlist |
}}{{collapsible list|title={{nobold|Others}} | {{Party stripe|Libertarian Party (US)}}Kent Marmon (Libertarian) 1.5% | {{Party stripe|Independent (US)}}Pro-Life (Independent) 1.3% }} |
| Illinois
| {{Sortname|Dick|Durbin}} | {{party shading/Democratic}} | Democratic | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap | {{Plainlist |
}}{{collapsible list|title={{nobold|Others}} | {{Party stripe|Green Party (US)}}Kathy Cummings (Green) 2.2% | {{Party stripe|Libertarian Party (US)}}Larry Stafford (Libertarian) 0.9% | {{Party stripe|Constitution Party (US)}}Chad Koppie (Constitution) 0.5% }} |
| Iowa
| {{Sortname|Tom|Harkin}} | {{party shading/Democratic}} | Democratic | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap | {{Plainlist |
}} |
| Kansas
| {{Sortname|Pat|Roberts}} | {{party shading/Republican}} | Republican | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap | {{Plainlist |
}}{{collapsible list|title={{nobold|Others}} | {{Party stripe|Libertarian Party (US)}}Randall Hodgkinson (Libertarian) 2.1% | {{Party stripe|Reform Party (US)}}Joseph Martin (Reform) 1.3% }} |
| Kentucky
| {{Sortname|Mitch|McConnell}} | {{party shading/Republican}} | Republican | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap | {{Plainlist |
}} |
| Louisiana
| {{Sortname|Mary|Landrieu}} | {{party shading/Democratic}} | Democratic | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap | {{Plainlist |
}}{{collapsible list|title={{nobold|Others}} | {{Party stripe|Libertarian Party (US)}}Richard Fontanesi (Libertarian) 1.0% | {{Party stripe|Independent (US)}}Jay Patel (Independent) 0.7% | {{Party stripe|Independent (US)}}Robert Stewart (Independent) 0.5% }} |
| Maine
| {{Sortname|Susan|Collins}} | {{party shading/Republican}} | Republican | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap | {{Plainlist |
}} |
| Massachusetts
| {{Sortname|John|Kerry}} | {{party shading/Democratic}} | Democratic | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap | {{Plainlist |
}} |
| Michigan
| {{Sortname|Carl|Levin}} | {{party shading/Democratic}} | Democratic | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap | {{Plainlist |
}}{{collapsible list|title={{nobold|Others}} | {{Party stripe|Libertarian Party (US)}}Scott Boman (Libertarian) 1.6% | {{Party stripe|Green Party (US)}}Harley Mikkelson (Green) 0.9% | {{Party stripe|Constitution Party (US)}}Michael Nikitin (Constitution) 0.6% | {{Party stripe|Natural Law Party (US)}}Doug Dern (Natural Law) 0.4% }} |
| Minnesota
| {{Sortname|Norm|Coleman}} | {{party shading/Republican}} | Republican | 2002 | {{party shading/Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor}} | Incumbent lost re-election. | nowrap | {{Plainlist |
}}{{collapsible list|title={{nobold|Others}} | {{Party stripe|Libertarian Party (US)}}Charles Aldrich (Libertarian) 0.48% | {{Party stripe|Constitution Party (US)}}James Niemackl (Constitution) 0.31% | {{Party stripe|Write-in}}Write-ins 0.08% }} |
| Mississippi
| {{Sortname|Thad|Cochran}} | {{party shading/Republican}} | Republican | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap | {{Plainlist |
}} |
| Montana
| {{Sortname|Max|Baucus}} | {{party shading/Democratic}} | Democratic | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap | {{Plainlist |
}} |
| Nebraska
| {{Sortname|Chuck|Hagel}} | {{party shading/Republican}} | Republican | {{party shading/Republican/Hold}} | Incumbent retired. | nowrap | {{Plainlist |
}}{{collapsible list|title={{nobold|Others}} | {{Party stripe|Constitution Party (US)}}Kelly Rosberg (Nebraska) 1.4% | {{Party stripe|Green Party (US)}}Steve Larrick (Green) 1.0% }} |
| New Hampshire
| {{sortname|John E.|Sununu}} | {{party shading/Republican}} | Republican | 2002 | {{party shading/Democratic}} | Incumbent lost re-election. | nowrap | {{Plainlist |
}} |
| New Jersey
| {{Sortname|Frank|Lautenberg}} | {{party shading/Democratic}} | Democratic | 1982 | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap | {{Plainlist |
}}{{collapsible list|title={{nobold|Others}} | {{Party stripe|Libertarian Party (US)}}Jason Scheurer (Libertarian) 0.5% | {{Party stripe|Independent (US)}}J. M. Carter (Independent) 0.5% | {{Party stripe|Independent (US)}}Daryl Mikell Brooks (Independent) 0.5% | {{Party stripe|Independent (US)}}Jeffrey Boss (Independent) 0.3% | {{Party stripe|Socialist Workers Party (US)}}Sara Lobman (Socialist Workers) 0.3% }} |
| New Mexico
| {{sortname|Pete|Domenici}} | {{party shading/Republican}} | Republican | {{party shading/Democratic}} | Incumbent retired. | nowrap | {{Plainlist |
}} |
| North Carolina
| {{sortname|Elizabeth|Dole}} | {{party shading/Republican}} | Republican | 2002 | {{party shading/Democratic}} | Incumbent lost re-election. | nowrap | {{Plainlist |
}} |
| Oklahoma
| {{Sortname|Jim|Inhofe}} | {{party shading/Republican}} | Republican | 1994 {{Small|(special)}} | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap | {{Plainlist |
}} |
| Oregon
| {{Sortname|Gordon H.|Smith}} | {{party shading/Republican}} | Republican | {{party shading/Democratic}} | Incumbent lost re-election. | nowrap | {{Plainlist |
}} |
| Rhode Island
| {{Sortname|Jack|Reed|Jack Reed (Rhode Island politician)}} | {{party shading/Democratic}} | Democratic | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap | {{Plainlist |
}} |
| South Carolina
| {{Sortname|Lindsey|Graham}} | {{party shading/Republican}} | Republican | 2002 | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap | {{Plainlist |
}} |
| South Dakota
| {{Sortname|Tim|Johnson|Tim Johnson (South Dakota politician)}} | {{party shading/Democratic}} | Democratic | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap | {{Plainlist |
}} |
| Tennessee
| {{Sortname|Lamar|Alexander}} | {{party shading/Republican}} | Republican | 2002 | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap | {{Plainlist |
}}{{collapsible list|title={{nobold|Others}} | {{Party stripe|Independent (US)}}Edward Buck (Independent) 1.3% | {{Party stripe|Independent (US)}}Christopher Fenner (Independent) 0.5% | {{Party stripe|Libertarian Party (US)}}Daniel Lewis (Libertarian) 0.4% | {{Party stripe|Green Party (US)}}Chris Lugo (Green) 0.4% | {{Party stripe|Independent (US)}}Ed Lawhorn (Independent) 0.4% | {{Party stripe|Independent (US)}}David Gatchell (Independent) 0.3% }} |
| Texas
| {{Sortname|John|Cornyn}} | {{party shading/Republican}} | Republican | 2002 | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap | {{Plainlist |
}} |
| Virginia
| {{Sortname|John|Warner}} | {{party shading/Republican}} | Republican | {{party shading/Democratic}} | Incumbent retired. | nowrap | {{Plainlist |
}}{{collapsible list|title={{nobold|Others}} | {{Party stripe|Libertarian Party (US)}}Bill Redpath (Libertarian) 0.6% | {{Party stripe|Independent Green}}Gail Parker (Independent Green) 0.6% }} |
| West Virginia
| {{Sortname|Jay|Rockefeller}} | {{party shading/Democratic}} | Democratic | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap | {{Plainlist |
}} |
| Wyoming
| {{Sortname|Mike|Enzi}} | {{party shading/Republican}} | Republican | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap | {{Plainlist |
}} |
= Special elections during the next Congress =
There were no special elections in 2009.
Closest races
In nine races the margin of victory was under 10%. However, Georgia proceeded to a runoff election where the Republican candidate won by over 10%.
| class="wikitable sortable"
! District ! Winner ! Margin |
| Minnesota
| data-sort-value=-1 {{Party shading/Democratic}} | Democratic (flip) | 0.01% |
| Alaska
| data-sort-value=-1 {{Party shading/Democratic}} | Democratic (flip) | 1.3% |
| Oregon
| data-sort-value=-1 {{Party shading/Democratic}} | Democratic (flip) | 3.6% |
| Georgia general
| data-sort-value=0.5 {{Party shading/Republican}} | Republican | 3.0% |
| Kentucky
| data-sort-value=0.5 {{Party shading/Republican}} | Republican | 5.9% |
| New Hampshire
| data-sort-value=-1 {{Party shading/Democratic}} | Democratic (flip) | 6.3% |
| Louisiana
| data-sort-value=-0.5 {{Party shading/Democratic}} | Democratic | 6.4% |
| North Carolina
| data-sort-value=-1 {{Party shading/Democratic}} | Democratic (flip) | 8.5% |
| Mississippi special
| data-sort-value=0.5 {{Party shading/Republican}} | Republican | 9.9% |
South Dakota was the tipping point state, decided by a margin of 25.0%.
Final pre-election predictions
Several sites and individuals published predictions of competitive seats. These predictions looked at factors such as the strength of the incumbent (if the incumbent was running for re-election) and the other candidates, and the state's partisan lean (reflected in part by the state's Cook Partisan Voting Index rating). The predictions assigned ratings to each seat, indicating the predicted advantage that a party had in winning that seat. Most election predictors used:
- "tossup": no advantage
- "tilt" (used by some predictors): advantage that is not quite as strong as "lean"
- "lean": slight advantage
- "likely": significant, but surmountable, advantage
- "safe" or "solid": near-certain chance of victory
class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center; font-size:90%" style="vertical-align:bottom" ! Constituency
! colspan=2 | Incumbent
! colspan="5" | 2008 election ratings
style="vertical-align:bottom" ! State
! Senator
! data-sort-type="number"| Last
election{{efn|The last elections for this group of senators were in 2002, except for those elected in a special election or who were appointed after the resignation or passing of a sitting senator, as noted.}}!Cook{{cite web | title=2008 Senate Race ratings for October 23, 2008 | url=https://cookpolitical.com/ratings/senate-race-ratings/139080 |website=The Cook Political Report | access-date=April 1, 2021}}
!CQ Politics[http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=ratings-senate Race Ratings Chart: Senate] {{webarchive | url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081031142743/http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=ratings-senate | date=October 31, 2008 }} CQ Politics
!Rothenberg{{cite web | title=2008 Senate ratings | url=https://www.insideelections.com/ratings/senate/2008-senate-ratings |website= Inside Elections | access-date=April 1, 2021}}
!RCP{{cite web | title=2008 RCP Averages & Senate Results | url=https://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2008/senate/election_2008_senate_races.html| publisher=Real Clear Politics | access-date=August 31, 2021}}
!Result
Alabama | {{Party shading/Republican}} data-sort-value="Sessions, Jeff" | Jeff Sessions
| {{Party shading/Republican}} data-sort-value="58.6" | 58.6% R
| {{USRaceRating|Safe|R}}
| {{USRaceRating|Safe|R}}
| {{USRaceRating|Safe|R}}
| {{USRaceRating|Safe|R}}
| {{party shading/Republican}} data-sort-value="63.4" | Sessions
(63.4%)Alaska | {{Party shading/Republican}} data-sort-value="Stevens, Ted" | Ted Stevens
| {{Party shading/Republican}} data-sort-value="78.2" | 78.2% R
| {{USRaceRating|Lean|D|flip}}
| {{USRaceRating|Lean|D|flip}}
| {{USRaceRating|Lean|D|flip}}
| {{USRaceRating|Lean|D|flip}}
| {{party shading/Democratic}} data-sort-value="-47.8" | Begich
(47.8%){{Small|(flip)}}Arkansas | {{Party shading/Democratic}} data-sort-value="Pryor, Mark" | Mark Pryor
| {{Party shading/Democratic}} data-sort-value="-53.9" | 53.9% D
| {{USRaceRating|Safe|D}}
| {{USRaceRating|Safe|D}}
| {{USRaceRating|Safe|D}}
| {{USRaceRating|Safe|D}}
| {{party shading/Democratic}} data-sort-value="-79.5" | Pryor
(79.5%)Colorado | {{Party shading/Republican}} data-sort-value="Allard, Wayne" | Wayne Allard
{{Small|(retiring)}}| {{Party shading/Republican}} data-sort-value="50.7" | 50.7% R
| {{USRaceRating|Lean|D|flip}}
| {{USRaceRating|Likely|D|flip}}
| {{USRaceRating|Likely|D|flip}}
| {{USRaceRating|Likely|D|flip}}
| {{party shading/Democratic}} data-sort-value="-52.8" | M. Udall
(52.8%) {{Small|(flip)}}Delaware | {{Party shading/Democratic}} data-sort-value="Biden, Joe" | Joe Biden
| {{Party shading/Democratic}} data-sort-value="-58.2" | 58.2% D
| {{USRaceRating|Safe|D}}
| {{USRaceRating|Safe|D}}
| {{USRaceRating|Safe|D}}
| {{USRaceRating|Safe|D}}
| {{party shading/Democratic}} data-sort-value="-64.7" | Biden
(64.7%)Georgia | {{Party shading/Republican}} data-sort-value="Chambliss, Saxby" | Saxby Chambliss
| {{Party shading/Republican}} data-sort-value="52.8" | 52.8% R
| {{USRaceRating|Tossup}}
| {{USRaceRating|Tossup}}
| {{USRaceRating|Lean|R}}
| {{USRaceRating|Tossup}}
| {{party shading/Republican}} data-sort-value="57.4" | Chambliss
(57.4%){{efn|This race was decided in a run-off on December 2, 2008, after no candidate reached 50% of the vote on November 3.|name=run-off}}Idaho | {{Party shading/Republican}} data-sort-value="Craig, Larry" | Larry Craig
{{Small|(retiring)}}| {{Party shading/Republican}} data-sort-value="65.2" | 65.2% R
| {{USRaceRating|Safe|R}}
| {{USRaceRating|Safe|R}}
| {{USRaceRating|Safe|R}}
| {{USRaceRating|Safe|R}}
| {{party shading/Republican}} data-sort-value="57.7" | Risch
(57.7%)Illinois | {{Party shading/Democratic}} data-sort-value="Durbin, Dick" | Dick Durbin
| {{Party shading/Democratic}} data-sort-value="-60.3" | 60.3% D
| {{USRaceRating|Safe|D}}
| {{USRaceRating|Safe|D}}
| {{USRaceRating|Safe|D}}
| {{USRaceRating|Safe|D}}
| {{party shading/Democratic}} data-sort-value="-67.8" | Durbin
(67.8%)Iowa | {{Party shading/Democratic}} data-sort-value="Harkin, Tom" | Tom Harkin
| {{Party shading/Democratic}} data-sort-value="-54.2" | 54.2% D
| {{USRaceRating|Safe|D}}
| {{USRaceRating|Safe|D}}
| {{USRaceRating|Safe|D}}
| {{USRaceRating|Safe|D}}
| {{party shading/Democratic}} data-sort-value="-62.7" | Harkin
(62.7%)Kansas | {{Party shading/Republican}} data-sort-value="Roberts, Pat" | Pat Roberts
| {{Party shading/Republican}} data-sort-value="82.5" | 82.5% R
| {{USRaceRating|Safe|R}}
| {{USRaceRating|Likely|R}}
| {{USRaceRating|Safe|R}}
| {{USRaceRating|Safe|R}}
| {{party shading/Republican}} data-sort-value="60.1" | Roberts
(60.1%)Kentucky | {{Party shading/Republican}} data-sort-value="McConnell, Mitch" | Mitch McConnell
| {{Party shading/Republican}} data-sort-value="64.7" | 64.7% R
| {{USRaceRating|Lean|R}}
| {{USRaceRating|Lean|R}}
| {{USRaceRating|Lean|R}}
| {{USRaceRating|Tossup}}
| {{party shading/Republican}} data-sort-value="53.0" | McConnell
(53.0%)Louisiana | {{Party shading/Democratic}} data-sort-value="Landrieu, Mary" | Mary Landrieu
| {{Party shading/Democratic}} data-sort-value="-51.7" | 51.7% D
| {{USRaceRating|Lean|D}}
| {{USRaceRating|Lean|D}}
| {{USRaceRating|Lean|D}}
| {{USRaceRating|Lean|D}}
| {{party shading/Democratic}} data-sort-value="-52.1" | Landrieu
(52.1%)Maine | {{Party shading/Republican}} data-sort-value="Collins, Susan" | Susan Collins
| {{Party shading/Republican}} data-sort-value="58.4" | 58.4% R
| {{USRaceRating|Likely|R}}
| {{USRaceRating|Lean|R}}
| {{USRaceRating|Likely|R}}
| {{USRaceRating|Likely|R}}
| {{party shading/Republican}} data-sort-value="61.3" | Collins
(61.3%)Massachusetts | {{Party shading/Democratic}} data-sort-value="Kerry, John" | John Kerry
| {{Party shading/Democratic}} data-sort-value="-80.0" | 80.0% D
| {{USRaceRating|Safe|D}}
| {{USRaceRating|Safe|D}}
| {{USRaceRating|Safe|D}}
| {{USRaceRating|Safe|D}}
| {{party shading/Democratic}} data-sort-value="-65.9" | Kerry
(65.9%)Michigan | {{Party shading/Democratic}} data-sort-value="Levin, Carl" | Carl Levin
| {{Party shading/Democratic}} data-sort-value="-60.6" | 60.6% D
| {{USRaceRating|Safe|D}}
| {{USRaceRating|Safe|D}}
| {{USRaceRating|Safe|D}}
| {{USRaceRating|Safe|D}}
| {{party shading/Democratic}} data-sort-value="-62.7" | Levin
(62.7%)Minnesota | {{Party shading/Republican}} data-sort-value="Coleman, Norm" | Norm Coleman
| {{Party shading/Republican}} data-sort-value="49.5" | 49.5% R
| {{USRaceRating|Tossup}}
| {{USRaceRating|Tossup}}
| {{USRaceRating|Tossup}}
| {{USRaceRating|Tossup}}
| {{party shading/DFL}} data-sort-value="-42.0" | Franken
(42.0%){{Small|(flip)}}Mississippi (regular) | {{Party shading/Republican}} data-sort-value="Cochran, Thad" | Thad Cochran
| {{Party shading/Republican}} data-sort-value="84.6" | 84.6% R
| {{USRaceRating|Safe|R}}
| {{USRaceRating|Safe|R}}
| {{USRaceRating|Safe|R}}
| {{USRaceRating|Safe|R}}
| {{party shading/Republican}} data-sort-value="61.4" | Cochran
(61.4%)Mississippi (special) | {{Party shading/Republican}} data-sort-value="Wicker, Roger" | Roger Wicker
| {{Party shading/Vacant}} | Appointed
{{small|(2007)}}{{efn|Republican Trent Lott won with 63.6% of the vote in 2006, but resigned on December 18, 2007.}}| {{USRaceRating|Tossup}}
| {{USRaceRating|Lean|R}}
| {{USRaceRating|Lean|R}}
| {{USRaceRating|Lean|R}}
| {{party shading/Republican}} data-sort-value="55.0" | Wicker
(55.0%)Montana | {{Party shading/Democratic}} data-sort-value="Baucus, Max" | Max Baucus
| {{Party shading/Democratic}} data-sort-value="-62.7" | 62.7% D
| {{USRaceRating|Safe|D}}
| {{USRaceRating|Safe|D}}
| {{USRaceRating|Safe|D}}
| {{USRaceRating|Safe|D}}
| {{party shading/Democratic}} data-sort-value="-72.9" | Baucus
(72.9%)Nebraska | {{Party shading/Republican}} data-sort-value="Hagel, Chuck" | Chuck Hagel
{{Small|(retiring)}}| {{Party shading/Republican}} data-sort-value="82.8" | 82.8% R
| {{USRaceRating|Likely|R}}
| {{USRaceRating|Likely|R}}
| {{USRaceRating|Safe|R}}
| {{USRaceRating|Likely|R}}
| {{party shading/Republican}} data-sort-value="57.5" | Johanns
(57.5%)New Hampshire | {{Party shading/Republican}} data-sort-value="Sununu, John" | John Sununu
| {{Party shading/Republican}} data-sort-value="50.8" | 50.8% R
| {{USRaceRating|Tossup}}
| {{USRaceRating|Lean|D|flip}}
| {{USRaceRating|Likely|D|flip}}
| {{USRaceRating|Lean|D|flip}}
| {{party shading/Democratic}} data-sort-value="-51.6" | Shaheen
(51.6%){{Small|(flip)}}New Jersey | {{Party shading/Democratic}} data-sort-value="Lautenberg" | Frank Lautenberg
| {{Party shading/Democratic}} data-sort-value="-53.9" | 53.9% D
| {{USRaceRating|Safe|D}}
| {{USRaceRating|Likely|D}}
| {{USRaceRating|Safe|D}}
| {{USRaceRating|Likely|D}}
| {{party shading/Democratic}} data-sort-value="-56.0" | Lautenberg
(56.0%)New Mexico | {{Party shading/Republican}} data-sort-value="Domenici, Pete" | Pete Domenici
{{Small|(retiring)}}| {{Party shading/Republican}} data-sort-value="65.0" | 65.0% R
| {{USRaceRating|Lean|D|flip}}
| {{USRaceRating|Likely|D|flip}}
| {{USRaceRating|Likely|D|flip}}
| {{USRaceRating|Likely|D|flip}}
| {{party shading/Democratic}} data-sort-value="-61.3" | T. Udall
(61.3%){{Small|(flip)}}North Carolina | {{Party shading/Republican}} data-sort-value="Dole, Elizabeth" | Elizabeth Dole
| {{Party shading/Republican}} data-sort-value="53.5" | 53.5% R
| {{USRaceRating|Tossup}}
| {{USRaceRating|Lean|D|flip}}
| {{USRaceRating|Lean|D|flip}}
| {{USRaceRating|Tossup}}
| {{party shading/Democratic}} data-sort-value="-52.6" | Hagan
(52.6%){{Small|(flip)}}Oklahoma | {{Party shading/Republican}} data-sort-value="Inhofe, Jim" | Jim Inhofe
| {{Party shading/Republican}} data-sort-value="57.3" | 57.3% R
| {{USRaceRating|Likely|R}}
| {{USRaceRating|Likely|R}}
| {{USRaceRating|Safe|R}}
| {{USRaceRating|Safe|R}}
| {{party shading/Republican}} data-sort-value="56.7" | Inhofe
(56.7%)Oregon | {{Party shading/Republican}} data-sort-value="Smith, Gordon" | Gordon Smith
| {{Party shading/Republican}} data-sort-value="56.2" | 56.2% R
| {{USRaceRating|Tossup}}
| {{USRaceRating|Tossup}}
| {{USRaceRating|Lean|D|flip}}
| {{USRaceRating|Tossup}}
| {{party shading/Democratic}} data-sort-value="-48.9" | Merkley
(48.9%){{Small|(flip)}}Rhode Island | {{Party shading/Democratic}} data-sort-value="Reed, Jack" | Jack Reed
| {{Party shading/Democratic}} data-sort-value="-78.4" | 78.4% D
| {{USRaceRating|Safe|D}}
| {{USRaceRating|Safe|D}}
| {{USRaceRating|Safe|D}}
| {{USRaceRating|Safe|D}}
| {{party shading/Democratic}} data-sort-value="-73.4" | Reed
(73.4%)South Carolina | {{Party shading/Republican}} data-sort-value="Graham, Lindsey" | Lindsey Graham
| {{Party shading/Republican}} data-sort-value="54.4" | 54.4% R
| {{USRaceRating|Safe|R}}
| {{USRaceRating|Safe|R}}
| {{USRaceRating|Safe|R}}
| {{USRaceRating|Safe|R}}
| {{party shading/Republican}} data-sort-value="57.5" | Graham
(57.5%)South Dakota | {{Party shading/Democratic}} data-sort-value="Johnson, Tim" | Tim Johnson
| {{Party shading/Democratic}} data-sort-value="-49.6" | 49.6% D
| {{USRaceRating|Likely|D}}
| {{USRaceRating|Safe|D}}
| {{USRaceRating|Safe|D}}
| {{USRaceRating|Safe|D}}
| {{party shading/Democratic}} data-sort-value="-62.5" | Johnson
(62.5%)Tennessee | {{Party shading/Republican}} data-sort-value="Alexander, Lamar" | Lamar Alexander
| {{Party shading/Republican}} data-sort-value="54.3" | 54.3% R
| {{USRaceRating|Safe|R}}
| {{USRaceRating|Likely|R}}
| {{USRaceRating|Safe|R}}
| {{USRaceRating|Safe|R}}
| {{party shading/Republican}} data-sort-value="65.1" | Alexander
(65.1%)Texas | {{Party shading/Republican}} data-sort-value="Cornyn, John" | John Cornyn
| {{Party shading/Republican}} data-sort-value="55.3" | 55.3% R
| {{USRaceRating|Safe|R}}
| {{USRaceRating|Likely|R}}
| {{USRaceRating|Safe|R}}
| {{USRaceRating|Safe|R}}
| {{party shading/Republican}} data-sort-value="54.8" | Cornyn
(54.8%)Virginia | {{Party shading/Republican}} data-sort-value="Warner, John" | John Warner
{{Small|(retiring)}}| {{Party shading/Republican}} data-sort-value="82.6" | 82.6% R
| {{USRaceRating|Likely|D|flip}}
| {{USRaceRating|Safe|D|flip}}
| {{USRaceRating|Likely|D|flip}}
| {{USRaceRating|Safe|D|flip}}
| {{party shading/Democratic}} data-sort-value="-65.0" | M. Warner
(65.0%){{Small|(flip)}}West Virginia | {{Party shading/Democratic}} data-sort-value="Rockefeller, Jay" | Jay Rockefeller
| {{Party shading/Democratic}} data-sort-value="-63.1" | 63.1% D
| {{USRaceRating|Safe|D}}
| {{USRaceRating|Safe|D}}
| {{USRaceRating|Safe|D}}
| {{USRaceRating|Safe|D}}
| {{party shading/Democratic}} data-sort-value="-63.7" | Rockefeller
(63.7%)Wyoming (regular) | {{Party shading/Republican}} data-sort-value="Enzi, Mike" | Mike Enzi
| {{Party shading/Republican}} data-sort-value="73.0" | 73.0% R
| {{USRaceRating|Safe|R}}
| {{USRaceRating|Safe|R}}
| {{USRaceRating|Safe|R}}
| {{USRaceRating|Safe|R}}
| {{party shading/Republican}} data-sort-value="75.6" | Enzi
(75.6%)Wyoming (special) | {{Party shading/Republican}} data-sort-value="Barrasso, John" | John Barrasso
| {{Party shading/Vacant}} | Appointed
{{small|(2007)}}{{efn|Republican Craig L. Thomas won with 70.0% of the vote in 2006, but died on June 4, 2007.}}| {{USRaceRating|Safe|R}}
| {{USRaceRating|Safe|R}}
| {{USRaceRating|Safe|R}}
| {{USRaceRating|Safe|R}}
| {{party shading/Republican}} data-sort-value="73.4" | Barrasso
(73.4%)
Gains and losses
[[File:2008 United States Senate elections retirements map.svg|thumb|349x349px|Map of retirements:
{{legend|#FF9998|Republican incumbent}}
{{legend|#93C5DD|Democratic incumbent}}
{{legend|#CA0020|Republican incumbent retired}}]]
=Retirements=
Five Republicans retired rather than seek re-election.
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" |
| scope="col" |State
! scope="col" |Senator ! scope="col" |Replaced by |
|---|
| Colorado
| {{Party shading/Republican}} | {{sortname|Wayne|Allard}} | {{Party shading/Democratic}} | {{sortname|Mark|Udall}} |
| Idaho
| {{Party shading/Republican}} | {{sortname|Larry|Craig}} | {{Party shading/Republican}} | {{sortname|Jim|Risch}} |
| Nebraska
| {{Party shading/Republican}} | {{sortname|Chuck|Hagel}} | {{Party shading/Republican}} | {{sortname|Mike|Johanns}} |
| New Mexico
| {{Party shading/Republican}} | {{sortname|Pete|Domenici}} | {{Party shading/Democratic}} | {{sortname|Tom|Udall}} |
| Virginia
| {{Party shading/Republican}} | {{sortname|John|Warner}} | {{Party shading/Democratic}} | {{sortname|Mark|Warner}} |
=Defeats=
Five Republicans sought re-election but lost in the general election.
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" |
| scope="col" |State
! scope="col" |Senator ! scope="col" |Replaced by |
|---|
| Alaska
| {{Party shading/Republican}} | {{sortname|Ted|Stevens}} | {{Party shading/Democratic}} | {{sortname|Mark|Begich}} |
| Minnesota
| {{Party shading/Republican}} | {{sortname|Norm|Coleman}} | {{Party shading/DFL}} | {{sortname|Al|Franken}} |
| New Hampshire
| {{Party shading/Republican}} | {{sortname|John| E. Sununu}} | {{Party shading/Democratic}} | {{sortname|Jeanne|Shaheen}} |
| North Carolina
| {{Party shading/Republican}} | {{sortname|Elizabeth|Dole}} | {{Party shading/Democratic}} | {{sortname|Kay|Hagan}} |
| Oregon
| {{Party shading/Republican}} | {{sortname|Gordon|H. Smith}} | {{Party shading/Democratic}} | {{sortname|Jeff|Merkley}} |
=Post-election changes=
Four Democrats resigned and were replaced by Democrats. One Republican was switched to Democrat on April 28, 2009. Two other Democrats died on August 25, 2009, and June 28, 2010, respectively, while another Republican resigned on September 9, 2009.
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" |
| scope="col" |State
! scope="col" |Senator ! scope="col" |Replaced by |
|---|
| Colorado (Class 3) | {{Party shading/Democratic}} | {{sortname|Ken|Salazar}} | {{Party shading/Democratic}} | {{sortname|Michael|Bennet}} |
| Delaware (Class 2) | {{Party shading/Democratic}} | {{sortname|Joe|Biden}} | {{Party shading/Democratic}} | {{sortname|Ted|Kaufman}} |
| Florida (Class 3) | {{Party shading/Republican}} | {{sortname|Mel|Martínez}} | {{Party shading/Republican}} | {{sortname|George|LeMieux}} |
| Illinois (Class 3) | {{Party shading/Democratic}} | {{sortname|Barack|Obama}} | {{Party shading/Democratic}} | {{sortname|Roland|Burris}} |
| Massachusetts (Class 1) | {{Party shading/Democratic}} | {{sortname|Ted|Kennedy}} | {{Party shading/Democratic}} | {{sortname|Paul G.|Kirk}} |
| New York (Class 1) | {{Party shading/Democratic}} | {{sortname|Hillary|Clinton}} | {{Party shading/Democratic}} | {{sortname|Kirsten|Gillibrand}} |
| Pennsylvania (Class 3) | {{Party shading/Republican}} | {{sortname|Arlen|Specter}} | {{Party shading/Democratic}} | {{sortname|Arlen|Specter}} |
| West Virginia (Class 1) | {{Party shading/Democratic}} | {{sortname|Robert|Byrd}} | {{Party shading/Democratic}} | {{sortname|Carte|Goodwin}} |
Alabama
{{Infobox election
| election_name = Alabama election
| country = Alabama
| type = presidential
| ongoing = no
| previous_election = 2002 United States Senate election in Alabama
| previous_year = 2002
| next_election = 2014 United States Senate election in Alabama
| next_year = 2014
| image_size = 125x136px
| image1 = Jeff Sessions official portrait.jpg
| nominee1 = Jeff Sessions
| party1 = Republican Party (US)
| popular_vote1 = 1,305,383
| percentage1 = 63.36%
| image2 = Vivian Figures.jpg
| nominee2 = Vivian Davis Figures
| party2 = Democratic Party (US)
| popular_vote2 = 752,391
| percentage2 = 36.52%
| map_image = 2008 United States Senate election in Alabama results map by county.svg
| map_size = 200px
| map_caption = Sessions: {{legend0|#e27f7f|50–60%}} {{legend0|#d75d5d|60–70%}} {{legend0|#d72f30|70–80%}} {{legend0|#c21b18|80–90%}}
Figures: {{legend0|#7996e2|50–60%}} {{legend0|#6674de|60–70%}} {{legend0|#584cde|70–80%}} {{legend0|#3933e5|80–90%}}
| title = U.S. senator
| before_election = Jeff Sessions
| before_party = Republican Party (US)
| after_election = Jeff Sessions
| after_party = Republican Party (US)
}}
{{Main|2008 United States Senate election in Alabama}}
{{See also|List of United States senators from Alabama}}
Alabama senator Jeff Sessions sought re-election to a third term. Johnny Swanson announced his candidacy in March 2006 for the Democratic nomination.{{Cite web |title=| Susan Swanson |url=https://swansonforsenate.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927225032/http://www.swansonforsenate.com/ |archive-date=September 27, 2007 |url-status=dead |access-date=February 26, 2021 }}
Despite voting heavily for Bush in 2004, Alabama still had a strong Democratic presence; Democrats controlled majorities of both chambers in the state legislature. Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries Ron Sparks appeared to be preparing for a run, but on June 12, 2007, Sparks announced that he would not seek the Senate seat, in order to avoid a primary battle with state senator Vivian Davis Figures.{{Cite news |last=Birmingham News staff |date=June 12, 2007 |title=Sparks says he won't seek U.S. Senate seat |work=Everything Alabama |publisher=Alabama Live |url=http://blog.al.com/spotnews/2007/06/sparks_says_he_wont_seek_us_se.html |access-date=June 13, 2007}} Figures has won elections in the Republican-leaning Mobile area. In the Democratic primary, Figures won the nomination and face Sessions in November.
Not on the ballot, but running a write-in campaign, was Darryl W. Perry, the 2004 Libertarian Party nominee for Pennsylvania State Treasurer and 2007 candidate for Mayor of Birmingham, Alabama.{{Cite web |url=http://senate.dwp2016.org/ |title=senate.dwp2016.org |access-date=July 26, 2017 |archive-date=July 16, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080716172427/http://senate.dwp2016.org/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |title=al.com |url=http://www.al.com/press-register/stories/index.ssf?/base/news/1214212543252990.xml&coll=3 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080919162949/http://www.al.com/press-register/stories/index.ssf?%2Fbase%2Fnews%2F1214212543252990.xml&coll=3 |archive-date=September 19, 2008 |access-date=December 20, 2017 }} Perry was endorsed by Alabama Statesmen,{{Cite web |url=http://alstatesmen.org/ |title=ALStatesmen.org |access-date=July 26, 2017 |archive-date=July 4, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080704052833/http://alstatesmen.org/ |url-status=live }} Boston Tea Party,{{Cite web |title=bostontea.us |url=http://bostontea.us/voterguide |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080718134148/http://bostontea.us/voterguide |archive-date=July 18, 2008 |url-status=dead}} and Christians for Life and Liberty.{{Cite web |url=http://c4ll.dwp2016.org/ |title=Christians for Life and Liberty |access-date=July 26, 2017 |archive-date=July 6, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080706122422/http://c4ll.dwp2016.org/ |url-status=live }}
Sessions defeated Figures, taking 63% of the vote to Figures's 37%
{{Election box begin no change
| title = Republican primary{{Cite web |date=June 13, 2008 |title=Certified Primary Election Results: Republican Party |url=http://www.sos.state.al.us/downloads/election/2008/primary2/certification-republicanparty-2008-06-13.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081119161854/http://www.sos.state.al.us/downloads/election/2008/primary2/certification-republicanparty-2008-06-13.pdf |archive-date=November 19, 2008 |access-date=December 3, 2008 |publisher=Alabama Republican Party }}
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Jeff Sessions (incumbent)
| party = Republican Party (US)
| votes = 199,690
| percentage = 92.27%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Earl Mack Gavin
| party = Republican Party (US)
| votes = 16,718
| percentage = 7.73%
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 216,408
| percentage = 100.00%
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin no change
| title = Democratic primary{{Cite web |date=June 17, 2008 |title=Certified Primary Election Results: Democratic Party |url=http://www.sos.state.al.us/downloads/election/2008/primary2/certification-democraticparty-2008-06-13.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081119161908/http://www.sos.state.al.us/downloads/election/2008/primary2/certification-democraticparty-2008-06-13.pdf |archive-date=November 19, 2008 |access-date=December 3, 2008 |publisher=Alabama Democratic Party }}
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Vivian Davis Figures
| party = Democratic Party (US)
| votes = 112,074
| percentage = 63.72%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Johnny Swanson
| party = Democratic Party (US)
| votes = 38,757
| percentage = 22.03%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Mark Townsend
| party = Democratic Party (US)
| votes = 25,058
| percentage = 14.25%
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 175,889
| percentage = 100.00%
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin no change
| title = Alabama general{{Cite web |date=November 25, 2008 |title=Certified General Election Results without write-in appendix |url=http://www.sos.alabama.gov/downloads/election/2008/general/statecert-2008-general-election-11-25-2008-without-write-in-appendix.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081127012656/http://www.sos.alabama.gov/downloads/election/2008/general/statecert-2008-general-election-11-25-2008-without-write-in-appendix.pdf |archive-date=November 27, 2008 |access-date=December 3, 2008 |publisher=Secretary of State of Alabama }}
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| party = Republican Party (Alabama)
| candidate = Jeff Sessions (Incumbent)
| votes = 1,305,383
| percentage = 63.36%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = Democratic Party (Alabama)
| candidate = Vivian Davis Figures
| votes = 752,391
| percentage = 36.52%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = Write-in candidate
| candidate = Write-ins
| votes = 2,417
| percentage = 0.12%
}}
{{Election box invalid no change
| votes =
| percentage =
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 2,060,191
| percentage = 100.00%
}}
{{Election box turnout no change
| percentage = N/A
}}
{{Election box hold with party link without swing
| winner = Republican Party (Alabama)
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Clear}}
Alaska
{{Infobox election
| election_name = Alaska election
| country = Alaska
| type = presidential
| ongoing = no
| previous_election = 2002 United States Senate election in Alaska
| previous_year = 2002
| next_election = 2014 United States Senate election in Alaska
| next_year = 2014
| image_size = 125x136px
| image1 = Mark Begich, official Senate photo portrait, 2009.jpg
| nominee1 = Mark Begich
| party1 = Democratic Party (US)
| popular_vote1 = 151,767
| percentage1 = 47.8%
| image2 = Ted Stevens at AFN cropped (3x4).jpg
| nominee2 = Ted Stevens
| party2 = Republican Party (US)
| popular_vote2 = 147,814
| percentage2 = 46.5%
| map_image = 2008 United States Senate election in Alaska results map by borough and census area.svg
| map_size = 300px
| map_caption = Borough and census area results
Begich: {{legend0|#A5B0FF|40–50%}} {{legend0|#7996e2|50–60%}} {{legend0|#6674de|60–70%}}
Stevens: {{legend0|#FFB2B2|40–50%}} {{legend0|#E27F7F|50–60%}} {{legend0|#d75d5d|60–70%}}
| title = U.S. senator
| before_election = Ted Stevens
| before_party = Republican Party (US)
| after_election = Mark Begich
| after_party = Democratic Party (US)
}}
{{Main|2008 United States Senate election in Alaska}}
{{See also|List of United States senators from Alaska}}
{{Election box begin no change
| title = Alaska ADL senatorial primary, 2008{{Cite web |date=September 18, 2008 |title=Official Primary Election Results |url=http://www.elections.alaska.gov/08prim/data/results.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081127073932/http://www.elections.alaska.gov/08prim/data/results.pdf |archive-date=November 27, 2008 |access-date=December 3, 2008 |publisher=State of Alaska: Division of Elections }}
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| party = Democratic Party (Alaska)
| candidate = Mark Begich
| votes = 63,747
| percentage = 84.12%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = Democratic Party (Alaska)
| candidate = Ray Metcalfe
| votes = 5,480
| percentage = 7.23%
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| party = Alaskan Independence Party
| candidate = Bob Bird
| votes = 4,216
| percentage = 5.56%
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| party = Libertarian Party (US)
| candidate = Fredrick Haase
| votes = 1,375
| percentage = 1.81%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = Democratic Party (Alaska)
| candidate = Frank Vondersaar
| votes = 965
| percentage = 1.27%
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 75,783
| percentage = 100.00%
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin no change
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Ted Stevens (incumbent)
| party = Republican Party (US)
| votes = 66,900
| percentage = 63.52%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = David Cuddy
| party = Republican Party (US)
| votes = 28,364
| percentage = 26.93%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Vic Vickers
| party = Republican Party (US)
| votes = 6,102
| percentage = 5.79%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Michael Corey
| party = Republican Party (US)
| votes = 1,496
| percentage = 1.42%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Roderic Sikma
| party = Republican Party (US)
| votes = 1,133
| percentage = 1.08%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Rich Wanda
| party = Republican Party (US)
| votes = 732
| percentage = 0.69%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Gerald Heikes
| party = Republican Party (US)
| votes = 599
| percentage = 0.57%
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 105,326
| percentage = 100.00%
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin
| title = Alaska general{{Cite web |title=STATISTICS OF THE PRESIDENTIAL AND CONGRESSIONAL ELECTION OF NOVEMBER 4, 2008 |url=http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/2008election.pdf |access-date=December 20, 2017}}
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link
| party = Democratic Party (US)
| candidate = Mark Begich
| votes = 151,767
| percentage = 47.77%
| change = +37.26%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|party=Republican Party (US)|candidate=Ted Stevens (Incumbent)|votes=147,814|percentage=46.52%|change=-31.65%}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|party=Alaskan Independence Party|candidate=Bob Bird|votes=13,197|percentage=4.15%|change=+1.22%}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|party=Libertarian Party (US)|candidate=Fredrick Haase|votes=2,483|percentage=0.78%|change=-0.25%}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|party=Independent|candidate=Ted Gianoutsos|votes=1,385|percentage=0.44%|change=}}
{{Election box candidate
| party = Write-ins
| candidate =
| votes = 1,077
| percentage = 0.34%
| change =
}}
{{Election box majority|votes=3,953|percentage=1.24%|change=-66.42%}}
{{Election box turnout|votes=317,723|percentage=|change=}}
{{Election box gain with party link
| winner = Democratic Party (US)
| loser = Republican Party (US)
| swing =
}}
{{Election box end}}
Dispelling rumors that he would retire due to advanced age (he was 84 years old on election day) and ongoing federal investigations into his conduct, senator Ted Stevens filed papers for re-election for an eighth term.{{Cite web |title=Stevens files for re-election |url=http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/stevens-filed-for-re-election-2008-02-21.html |publisher=TheHill.com }}{{dead link|date=April 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}
An ex-oil company executive, Bill Allen, paid for part of the renovation costs on Stevens's personal residence. The FBI investigated the remodeling of Stevens home by Veco Corp., which is part of a broader corruption investigation involving Stevens's son, former State Senate President Ben Stevens.{{Cite news |last=Mauer |first=Richard |date=May 29, 2007 |title=Feds eye Stevens's home remodeling project |work=Alaska Daily News |publisher=McClatchy Company |url=http://www.adn.com/news/politics/story/8928969p-8829178c.html |access-date=May 29, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070601172547/http://www.adn.com/news/politics/story/8928969p-8829178c.html |archive-date=June 1, 2007}} Two former Veco executives have pleaded guilty to paying the younger Stevens $242,000 in bribes.{{Cite news |last=McGann |first=Laura |date=May 29, 2007 |title=Extreme Makeover: Veco Edition |work=TPMmuckraker |publisher=TPM Media |url=http://www.tpmmuckraker.com/archives/003309.php |url-status=dead |access-date=May 29, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070531064547/http://www.tpmmuckraker.com/archives/003309.php |archive-date=May 31, 2007 }} On July 30, 2007, the IRS and FBI raided Stevens's home in Alaska. On September 14, 2007, former Veco CEO Bill Allen testified at the trial of former State House Speaker Pete Kott that Veco paid people working to double the size of Stevens's home.{{Cite news |last=Joling |first=Dan |date=September 14, 2007 |title=Oil exec: Workers remodeled Stevens home |agency=Associated Press |url=http://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/2007/09/oil_exec_workers_remodeled_ste.php |url-status=dead |access-date=September 14, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071022202418/http://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/2007/09/oil_exec_workers_remodeled_ste.php |archive-date=October 22, 2007 }}
On July 29, 2008, a federal grand jury indicted Stevens on seven felony counts for making false statements,{{Cite news |last=Raju |first=Manu |date=July 29, 2008 |title=Stevens Indicted |work=The Hill |publisher=Capitol Hill Publishing Corp. |url=http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/stevens-indicted-according-to-reports-2008-07-29.html |access-date=July 29, 2008 |archive-date=August 5, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080805104241/http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/stevens-indicted-according-to-reports-2008-07-29.html |url-status=dead }} and on October 26, a jury found Stevens guilty on all charges.{{Cite news |date=October 26, 2008 |title=Jury finds Stevens guilty on corruption charges |work=CNN |url=http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/10/27/stevens.jurors/index.html |access-date=October 26, 2008}}
The Democratic candidate was Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich, the son of popular former Democratic Representative Nick Begich. Begich announced his candidacy for the Senate seat on April 22, 2008.{{Cite news |title=Begich to officially enter race vs. Stevens |work=The Hill |url=http://thehill.com/campaign-2008/begich-to-officially-enter-race-vs.-stevens-2008-04-20.html |access-date=April 22, 2008 |archive-date=April 26, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080426031650/http://thehill.com/campaign-2008/begich-to-officially-enter-race-vs.-stevens-2008-04-20.html |url-status=dead }}
On October 19, 2007, the AP reported that despite the allegations and FBI probe, several veteran GOP Senators—including Orrin Hatch (R-UT), Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX), and Kit Bond (R-MO)—donated enough money to Stevens's re-election campaign to make it one of Stevens's most successful fund raising quarters ever.{{Cite news |last=Apuzzo |first=Matt |date=October 19, 2007 |title=Senators back Stevens despite FBI probe |agency=Associated Press |url=http://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/2007/10/senators_back_stevens_despite.php |url-status=dead |access-date=October 19, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071025062835/http://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/2007/10/senators_back_stevens_despite.php |archive-date=October 25, 2007 }}
Stevens's conviction on seven felony counts of corruption damaged his re-election bid, coming just over a week before the election, though Stevens appealed the conviction. Nevertheless, Stevens was narrowly ahead in the vote count after election day, with only about two-thirds of all votes counted. It only became clear Begich had prevailed when early votes, absentee ballots, and questioned ballots were counted.
On November 18, the race was called for Begich, who won with 47.8% to Stevens's 46.5%. Stevens was the most senior U.S. Senator to ever lose re-election, defeating Warren Magnuson's 1980 record. As of 2023, Stevens still holds this record.
On April 1, 2009, U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, citing serious prosecutorial misconduct during the trial, decided to drop all charges against Stevens—an action that vacated his conviction.{{Cite web |last=Gerstein |first=Josh |date=1 April 2009 |title=Holder abandons Stevens prosecution |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2009/04/holder-abandons-stevens-prosecution-020754 |access-date=3 June 2024 |website=Politico}}
{{Clear}}
Arkansas
{{Infobox election
| election_name = Arkansas election
| country = Arkansas
| flag_year = 1924
| type = presidential
| ongoing = no
| previous_election = 2002 United States Senate election in Arkansas
| previous_year = 2002
| next_election = 2014 United States Senate election in Arkansas
| next_year = 2014
| image_size = 125x136px
| image1 = Mark Pryor, head and shoulders photo portrait with flag, 2006.jpg
| nominee1 = Mark Pryor
| party1 = Democratic Party (US)
| popular_vote1 = 804,678
| percentage1 = 79.5%
| image2 = No image.svg
| nominee2 = Rebekah Kennedy
| party2 = Green Party (US)
| popular_vote2 = 207,076
| percentage2 = 20.5%
| map_image = 2008 United States Senate election in Arkansas results map by county.svg
| map_size = 200px
| map_caption = County results
Pryor: {{legend0|#6674de|60–70%}} {{legend0|#584cde|70–80%}} {{legend0|#3933e5|80–90%}}
| title = U.S. senator
| before_election = Mark Pryor
| before_party = Democratic Party (Arkansas)
| after_election = Mark Pryor
| after_party = Democratic Party (Arkansas)
}}
{{Main|2008 United States Senate election in Arkansas}}
{{See also|List of United States senators from Arkansas}}
{{Election box begin no change
| title = Arkansas general{{Cite web |date=December 2, 2008 |title=U.S. Senate Statewide Results |url=http://www.arelections.org/index.php?ac:show:contest_statewide=1&elecid=181&contestid=9 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081001210932/http://www.arelections.org/index.php?ac:show:contest_statewide=1&elecid=181&contestid=9 |url-status=usurped |archive-date=October 1, 2008 |access-date=December 9, 2008 |publisher=Secretary of State of Arkansas}}
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| party = Democratic Party (Arkansas)
| candidate = Mark Pryor (Incumbent)
| votes = 804,678
| percentage = 79.53%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = Green Party (Arkansas)
| candidate = Rebekah Kennedy
| votes = 207,076
| percentage = 20.47%
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 1,011,754
| percentage = 100.00%
}}
{{Election box invalid no change
| votes = 75,586
| percentage = n/a
}}
{{Election box hold with party link without swing
| winner = Democratic Party (Arkansas)
}}
{{Election box end}}
Despite being a first-term senator in a state George W. Bush won twice, Democrat Mark Pryor faced no opposition from Republicans in his re-election bid. Although Bush carried the state twice, Arkansas Democrats swept the seven state races held in the 2006 general election. Pryor is the son of longtime U.S. senator and former Arkansas Governor David Pryor. It was rumored that Lt. Governor Bill Halter would challenge Pryor in the primary, but Halter declined to file as a candidate.{{Cite web |title=Arkansas Sen. Pryor Now Safe, as GOP Fails to Field Challenger |url=http://cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?parm1=5&docID=news-000002684828 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080311233549/http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?parm1=5&docID=news-000002684828 |archive-date=March 11, 2008 |publisher=CQ Politics }} Rebekah Kennedy of the Green Party was Pryor's only opposition. Pryor won on election day, with 79.53% of the vote. Kennedy took 20.47%.
{{Clear}}
Colorado
{{Infobox election
| election_name = Colorado election
| country = Colorado
| type = presidential
| ongoing = no
| previous_election = 2002 United States Senate election in Colorado
| previous_year = 2002
| next_election = 2014 United States Senate election in Colorado
| next_year = 2014
| image_size = 125x136px
| image1 = MarkUdall-Senate Portrait.jpg
| nominee1 = Mark Udall
| party1 = Democratic Party (US)
| popular_vote1 = 1,230,994
| percentage1 = 52.8%
| image2 = Bob Schaffer Head Shot.jpg
| nominee2 = Bob Schaffer
| party2 = Republican Party (US)
| popular_vote2 = 990,755
| percentage2 = 42.5%
| map_image = 2008 United States Senate election in Colorado results map by county.svg
| map_size = 250px
| map_caption = Udall: {{legend0|#A5B0FF|40–50%}} {{legend0|#7996e2|50–60%}} {{legend0|#6674de|60–70%}} {{legend0|#584cde|70–80%}}
Schaffer: {{legend0|#FFB2B2|40–50%}} {{legend0|#E27F7F|50–60%}} {{legend0|#d75d5d|60–70%}} {{legend0|#D72F30|70–80%}}
| title = U.S. senator
| before_election = Wayne Allard
| before_party = Republican Party (US)
| after_election = Mark Udall
| after_party = Democratic Party (US)
}}
{{Main|2008 United States Senate election in Colorado}}
{{See also|List of United States senators from Colorado}}
{{Election box begin no change
| title = Democratic primaryhttp://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/elections/ElectionArchives/2008/2008_Abstract.pdf {{dead link | date=July 2016 | bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes}}
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Mark Udall
| party = Democratic Party (US)
| votes = 194,227
| percentage = 100.00%
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 194,227
| percentage = 100.00%
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin no change
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Bob Schaffer
| party = Republican Party (US)
| votes = 239,212
| percentage = 100.00%
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 239,212
| percentage = 100.00%
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin
| title = Colorado general{{Cite web |title=2008 Election Statistics |url=http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/2008/2008Stat.htm#stateCO |access-date=December 20, 2017 |website=clerk.house.gov}}
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link
| party = Democratic Party (US)
| candidate = Mark Udall
| votes = 1,230,994
| percentage = 52.80%
| change = +7.03%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
| party = Republican Party (US)
| candidate = Bob Schaffer
| votes = 990,755
| percentage = 42.49%
| change = -8.20%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
| party = Constitution Party (US)
| candidate = Douglas Campbell
| votes = 59,733
| percentage = 2.56%
| change = +1.04%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
| party = Green Party (US)
| candidate = Bob Kinsey
| votes = 50,004
| percentage = 2.14%
| change =
}}
{{Election box candidate
| party = Write-ins
| candidate =
| votes = 135
| percentage = 0.01%
| change =
}}
{{Election box majority
| votes = 240,239
| percentage = 10.30%
| change = +5.38%
}}
{{Election box turnout
| votes = 2,331,621
| percentage =
| change =
}}
{{Election box gain with party link
| winner = Democratic Party (US)
| loser = Republican Party (US)
| swing =
}}
{{Election box end}}
On January 15, 2007, incumbent senator Wayne Allard (R) announced he would not seek re-election, honoring his pledge to serve no more than two terms.{{Cite news |date=January 16, 2007 |title=Allard won't run again in 2008 |work=Cañon City Daily Record |agency=Associated Press |url=http://www.canoncitydailyrecord.com/Top-Story.asp?ID=5889 |url-status=dead |access-date=February 5, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070222234931/http://www.canoncitydailyrecord.com/Top-Story.asp?ID=5889 |archive-date=February 22, 2007 }}
Former Representative Bob Schaffer of Fort Collins was the Republican nominee. Former Denver Broncos quarterback John Elway was rumored to be considering a run, but declined to do so.{{Cite news |date=January 17, 2007 |title=Elway nixes '08 Senate run |work=Rocky Mountain News |url=http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/elections/article/0,2808,DRMN_24736_5285524,00.html |url-status=dead |access-date=February 5, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070211143007/http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/elections/article/0%2C2808%2CDRMN_24736_5285524%2C00.html |archive-date=February 11, 2007 }} Other possible Republican candidates included former Congressman Scott McInnis and Colorado Attorney General John Suthers.
The Democratic nominee was 2nd district Congressman Mark Udall of Boulder who announced on January 15, 2007, that he would seek the seat and did not draw significant primary opposition.{{Cite news |last=Sealover |first=Ed |date=November 8, 2006 |title=Shift puts key state issues in question |work=Colorado Springs Gazette |url=http://www.gazette.com/display.php?id=1326323 |access-date=November 11, 2006}}{{dead link | date=June 2016 | bot=medic}}{{cbignore | bot=medic}}
Other candidates included Bob Kinsey of Denver as the Green Party nominee,{{Cite web |title=Bob Kinsey for US Senate |url=http://www.kinseyforsenate.org/ |access-date=December 20, 2017 |website=www.kinseyforsenate.org |archive-date=November 4, 2010 |archive-url=http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20101104224840/http://www.kinseyforsenate.org/ |url-status=usurped}} Douglas "Dayhorse" Campbell as the American Constitution Party's nominee,{{Cite web |title=American Constitution Party Colorado Candidates |url=http://www.americanconstitutionparty.com/id95.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081014162815/http://www.americanconstitutionparty.com/id95.html |archive-date=October 14, 2008 |url-status=dead}} and Independent candidate Buddy Moore, unaffiliated any party.[http://www.buddymooreforsenate.com エックスサーバー サーバー初期ページ] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090130094528/http://www.buddymooreforsenate.com/ |date=January 30, 2009 }}. Buddymooreforsenate.com. Retrieved on August 16, 2013.
On Election Day, Udall defeated Schaffer 53% to 43%.
{{Clear}}
Delaware
{{Infobox election
| election_name = Delaware election
| country = Delaware
| type = presidential
| ongoing = no
| previous_election = 2002 United States Senate election in Delaware
| previous_year = 2002
| next_election = 2010 United States Senate special election in Delaware
| next_year = 2010 (special)
| image_size = 125x136px
| image1 = Joe Biden, official photo portrait 2-cropped.jpg
| nominee1 = Joe Biden
| party1 = Democratic Party (US)
| popular_vote1 = 257,539
| percentage1 = 64.7%
| image2 = Christine O'Donnell by Gage Skidmore.jpg
| nominee2 = Christine O'Donnell
| party2 = Republican Party (US)
| popular_vote2 = 140,595
| percentage2 = 35.3%
| map_image = 2008 United States Senate election in Delaware results map by county.svg
| map_size = 200px
| map_caption = Biden: {{legend0|#7996e2|50–60%}} {{legend0|#584cde|70–80%}}
| title = U.S. senator
| before_election = Joe Biden
| before_party = Democratic Party (US)
| after_election = Joe Biden
| after_party = Democratic Party (US)
}}
{{Main|2008 United States Senate election in Delaware}}
{{See also|List of United States senators from Delaware}}
{{Election box begin
| title = Delaware general{{Cite web |title=2008 Election Statistics |url=http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/2008/2008Stat.htm#stateDE |access-date=December 20, 2017 |website=clerk.house.gov}}
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link
| party = Democratic Party (US)
| candidate = Joe Biden (Incumbent)
| votes = 257,539
| percentage = 64.69%
| change = +6.47%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
| party = Republican Party (US)
| candidate = Christine O'Donnell
| votes = 140,595
| percentage = 35.31%
| change = -5.49%
}}
{{Election box majority
| votes = 116,944
| percentage = 29.37%
| change = +11.96%
}}
{{Election box turnout
| votes = 398,134
| percentage =
| change =
}}
{{Election box hold with party link
| winner = Democratic Party (US)
| swing =
}}
{{Election box end}}
On August 23, 2008, the Democratic nominee for president, Barack Obama, announced that Biden would be joining him on the ticket as the vice presidential nominee.[https://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/24/us/politics/24biden.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss Obama chooses Biden as running mate] Adam Nagourney and Jeff Zeleny August 23, 2008. The New York Times Delaware law allowed Biden to run for vice president and senator at the same time, so he would have kept the Senate seat if the presidential ticket had lost. In 1988 and 2000, the Democratic vice presidential nominees Lloyd Bentsen and Joe Lieberman, ran similarly for their seat in Texas and Connecticut, respectively. On November 4, 2008, Barack Obama won the presidential election, making Biden the next VP. Biden vacated his senate seat shortly after the election, allowing for the Governor of Delaware to appoint a successor. There was speculation as to whether the outgoing Governor, Ruth Ann Minner, or the incoming Governor-elect Jack Markell would make the appointment, and if Biden's son, Delaware Attorney General Beau Biden would receive the appointment. On November 24, 2008, Governor Minner appointed Biden's longtime Chief of Staff Ted Kaufman to fill the seat. Kaufman subsequently announced that he would not seek election to a full term in 2010, effectively making him a caretaker. Biden's Republican opponent in the Senate race, conservative political commentator Christine O'Donnell, tried to make an issue of Biden's dual campaigns, claiming that serving his constituents is not important to him.
Biden was re-elected with 65% of the vote, or 257,484 votes. O'Donnell received 140,584 votes (35% of the vote).
{{Clear}}
Georgia
{{Infobox election
| election_name = 2008 United States Senate election in Georgia
| flag_image = Flag of Georgia (U.S. state).svg
| type = presidential
| ongoing = no
| previous_election = 2002 United States Senate election in Georgia
| previous_year = 2002
| next_election = 2014 United States Senate election in Georgia
| next_year = 2014
| election_date = November 4, 2008 (first round)
December 2, 2008 (runoff)
| image_size = 125x136px
| 1blank = First round
| 2blank = Runoff
| image1 = Saxby Chambliss.jpg
| nominee1 = Saxby Chambliss
| 1data1 = 1,867,097
49.8%
| 2data1 = 1,228,033
57.4%
| party1 = Republican Party (United States)
| image2 = Jim Martin october 2008.png
| nominee2 = Jim Martin
| party2 = Democratic Party (United States)
| 1data2 = 1,757,393
46.8%
| 2data2 = 909,923
42.6%
| map = {{switcher |250px |First round county results| 250px |Runoff county results |default=2}}
| map_caption = Chambliss: {{legend0|#ffb2b2|40–50%}} {{legend0|#e27f7f|50–60%}} {{legend0|#d75d5d|60–70%}} {{legend0|#d72f30|70–80%}} {{legend0|#c21b18|80–90%}}
Martin: {{legend0|#a5b0ff|40-50%}} {{legend0|#7996e2|50–60%}} {{legend0|#6674de|60–70%}} {{legend0|#584cde|70–80%}} {{legend0|#3933e5|80–90%}}
Tie: {{legend0|#CDAFDC|40–50%}}
| title = U.S. Senator
| before_election = Saxby Chambliss
| before_party = Republican Party (United States)
| after_election = Saxby Chambliss
| after_party = Republican Party (United States)
}}
{{Main|2008 United States Senate election in Georgia}}
{{See also|List of United States senators from Georgia}}
{{Election box begin no change
| title = 2008 Georgia U.S. Senate Republican primary
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| party = Republican Party (US)
| candidate = Saxby Chambliss
| votes = 392,902
| percentage = 100.0%
| change =
}}
{{Election box turnout no change
| votes = 392,928
| percentage = 100.0%
| change =
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin no change| title=2008 Georgia U.S. Senate Democratic primary
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| party = Democratic Party (US)
| candidate = Vernon Jones
| votes = 199,026
| percentage = 40.4%
| change =
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| party = Democratic Party (US)
| candidate = Jim Martin
| votes = 169,635
| percentage = 34.4%
| change =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = Democratic Party (US)
| candidate = Dale Cardwell
| votes = 79,181
| percentage = 16.1%
| change =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = Democratic Party (US)
| candidate = Rand Knight
| votes = 25,667
| percentage = 5.2%
| change =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = Democratic Party (US)
| candidate = Josh Lanier
| votes = 19,717
| percentage = 4.0%
| change =
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 493,226
| percentage = 100.0%
| change =
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin
| title = 2008 Georgia U.S. Senate Democratic primary election runoff
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link
| party = Democratic Party (US)
| candidate = Jim Martin
| votes = 191,061
| percentage = 59.9%
| change = +25.5%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
| party = Democratic Party (US)
| candidate = Vernon Jones
| votes = 127,993
| percentage = 40.1%
| change = -0.3%
}}
{{Election box total
| votes = 319,054
| percentage = 100.0%
| change =
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin
| title = Georgia general{{Cite web |date=November 10, 2008 |title=Georgia Election Results: United States Senator |url=http://www.sos.georgia.gov/elections/election_results/2008_1104/003.htm |access-date=November 11, 2008 |publisher=Georgia Secretary of State |archive-date=November 12, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081112234720/http://sos.georgia.gov/elections/election_results/2008_1104/003.htm |url-status=dead }}{{Cite web |title=Georgia 2008 General Election |url=http://www.thegreenpapers.com/G08/GA.phtml |access-date=November 11, 2008 |publisher=The Green Papers}}
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link
| party = Republican Party (US)
| candidate = Saxby Chambliss (Incumbent)
| votes = 1,867,097
| percentage = 49.8%
| change = -3.0%
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link
| party = Democratic Party (US)
| candidate = Jim Martin
| votes = 1,757,393
| percentage = 46.8%
| change = +0.9%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
| party = Libertarian Party (US)
| candidate = Allen Buckley
| votes = 127,923
| percentage = 3.4%
| change = +2.1%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
| party = Socialist Workers Party (US)
| candidate = Eleanor Garcia (write-in)
| votes = 43
| percentage = 0.0%
| change = n/a
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
| party = Independent
| candidate = William Salomone Jr. (write-in)
| votes = 29
| percentage = 0.0%
| change = n/a
}}
{{Election box majority
| votes = 109,704
| percentage = 2.92%
| change =
}}
{{Election box turnout
| votes = 3,752,577
| percentage =
| change =
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin
| title = Runoff election{{Cite news |date=December 2, 2008 |title=Georgia Election Results |work=State of Georgia Secretary of State |url=http://sos.georgia.gov/elections/election_results/2008_1202/003.htm |access-date=December 3, 2008}}
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link
| party = Republican Party (US)
| candidate = Saxby Chambliss (Incumbent)
| votes = 1,228,033
| percentage = 57.4%
| change = +7.6%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
| party = Democratic Party (US)
| candidate = Jim Martin
| votes = 909,923
| percentage = 42.6%
| change = -4.2%
}}
{{Election box majority
| votes = 318,110
| percentage = 14.8%
| change =
}}
{{Election box turnout
| votes = 2,137,956
| percentage =
| change =
}}
{{Election box hold with party link
| winner = Republican Party (US)
| loser =
| swing =
}}
{{Election box end}}
In the 2008 election, first-term incumbent Republican senator Saxby Chambliss was opposed primarily by Democrat Jim Martin, as well as third-party candidates, including Libertarian Allen Buckley and Eleanor Garcia of the Socialist Workers Party.
Martin, current Georgia Commissioner of Human Resources, former member of the Georgia General Assembly, Vietnam War veteran, and 2006 candidate for lieutenant governor, secured the Democratic nomination after defeating DeKalb County CEO Vernon Jones by a 59% to 41% margin in the August 5 run-off election.
In December 2007, Chambliss had an approval rating of 53% and a disapproval rating of 34% according to Strategic Vision, a Republican polling firm.{{Cite web |title=strategicvision.biz |url=http://www.strategicvision.biz/political/georgia_poll_121207.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071216011100/http://www.strategicvision.biz/political/georgia_poll_121207.htm |archive-date=December 16, 2007 |url-status=dead}} For most of the campaign, Chambliss maintained a comfortable lead in most polls. However, in the weeks leading up to the 2008 general election, polls showed the race tightening, reflecting a general nationwide trend.
On November 4, 2008, Chambliss received 49.8% of the vote,{{Cite web |title=11/4/2008 - Federal and Statewide |url=http://sos.georgia.gov/elections/election_results/2008_1104/swfed.htm |access-date=December 20, 2017 |website=sos.georgia.gov |archive-date=April 15, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160415035347/http://sos.georgia.gov/elections/election_results/2008_1104/swfed.htm |url-status=dead }} with Martin about 3% behind and Buckley receiving 3% of the vote.{{Cite news |title=Local and National Election Results - Election Center 2008 - Elections & Politics from CNN.com |work=CNN |url=http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/results/individual/#GAS01 |access-date=May 27, 2010}} However, Georgia law stated that if no candidate receives a simple majority of the popular vote, then the election will be decided in a run-off. On December 2, 2008, Chambliss won the run-off with 57% of vote to Martin's 43%.{{Cite news |title=Local and National Election Results - Election Center 2008 - Elections & Politics from CNN.com |work=CNN |url=http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/results/individual/#mapSGA |access-date=May 27, 2010}}
{{Clear}}
Idaho
{{Infobox election
| election_name = Idaho election
| country = Idaho
| type = presidential
| ongoing = no
| previous_election = 2002 United States Senate election in Idaho
| previous_year = 2002
| next_election = 2014 United States Senate election in Idaho
| next_year = 2014
| image_size = 125x136px
| image1 = James E. Risch, official Senate photo portrait, 2009.jpg
| nominee1 = Jim Risch
| party1 = Republican Party (US)
| popular_vote1 = 371,744
| percentage1 = 57.7%
| image2 = Larry LaRocco 2.jpg
| nominee2 = Larry LaRocco
| party2 = Democratic Party (US)
| popular_vote2 = 219,903
| percentage2 = 34.1%
| nominee4 = Rex Rammell
| party4 = Independent
| popular_vote4 = 34,510
| percentage4 = 5.4%
| map_image = 2008 United States Senate election in Idaho results map by county.svg
| map_size = 200px
| map_caption = County results
Risch: {{legend0|#e27f7f|50–60%}} {{legend0|#d75d5d|60–70%}} {{legend0|#d72f30|70–80%}}
LaRocco: {{legend0|#a5b0ff|40–50%}} {{legend0|#7996e2|50–60%}}
| title = U.S. senator
| before_election = Larry Craig
| before_party = Republican Party (US)
| after_election = Jim Risch
| after_party = Republican Party (US)
}}
{{Main|2008 United States Senate election in Idaho}}
{{See also|List of United States senators from Idaho}}
{{Election box begin no change
| title = Democratic Primary results{{Cite web |title = 2008 Primary Results statewide |url=http://www.sos.idaho.gov/elect/RESULTS/2008/Primary/tot_stwd.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090416030919/http://www.sos.idaho.gov/elect/RESULTS/2008/Primary/tot_stwd.htm |archive-date=April 16, 2009 |access-date=March 7, 2009}}
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Larry LaRocco
| party = Democratic Party (US)
| votes = 29,023
| percentage = 72.35%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = David J. Archuleta
| party = Democratic Party (US)
| votes = 11,074
| percentage = 27.60%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Write-ins
| party = Democratic Party (US)
| votes = 20
| percentage = 0.05%
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 40,117
| percentage = 100.00%
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin no change
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Jim Risch
| party = Republican Party (US)
| votes = 80,743
| percentage = 65.34%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Scott Syme
| party = Republican Party (US)
| votes = 16,660
| percentage = 13.48%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Richard Phenneger
| party = Republican Party (US)
| votes = 6,532
| percentage = 5.29%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Neal Thompson
| party = Republican Party (US)
| votes = 5,375
| percentage = 4.35%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Fred M. Adams
| party = Republican Party (US)
| votes = 4,987
| percentage = 4.04%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Bill Hunter
| party = Republican Party (US)
| votes = 4,280
| percentage = 3.46%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Brian E. Hefner
| party = Republican Party (US)
| votes = 2,915
| percentage = 2.36%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Hal James Styles Jr.
| party = Republican Party (US)
| votes = 2,082
| percentage = 1.68%
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 123,574
| percentage = 100.00%
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin
| title = Idaho general{{Cite web |title=2008 Election Statistics |url=http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/2008/2008Stat.htm#stateID |access-date=December 20, 2017 |website=clerk.house.gov}}
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link
| party = Republican Party (US)
| candidate = Jim Risch
| votes = 371,744
| percentage = 57.65%
| change = -7.51%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
| party = Democratic Party (US)
| candidate = Larry LaRocco
| votes = 219,903
| percentage = 34.11%
| change = +1.56%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
| party = Independent
| candidate = Rex Rammell
| votes = 34,510
| percentage = 5.35%
| change =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
| party = Libertarian Party (US)
| candidate = Kent Marmon
| votes = 9,958
| percentage = 1.54%
| change = -0.75%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
| party = Independent
| candidate = Pro-Life
| votes = 8,662
| percentage = 1.35%
| change =
}}
{{Election box candidate
| party = Write-ins
| candidate =
| votes = 3
| percentage = 0.00%
| change =
}}
{{Election box majority
| votes = 151,841
| percentage = 23.55%
| change = -9.06%
}}
{{Election box turnout
| votes = 644,780
| percentage =
| change =
}}
{{Election box hold with party link
| winner = Republican Party (US)
| loser =
| swing =
}}
{{Election box end}}
On September 1, 2007, senator Larry Craig announced his intent to resign from the Senate effective September 30, 2007.{{Cite news |title=Amid sex scandal, Sen. Craig resigns |publisher=CNN.com |url=http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/09/01/craig.arrest/index.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081211120643/http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/09/01/craig.arrest/index.html |archive-date=December 11, 2008}} The announcement followed by just six days the disclosure that he had pleaded guilty on August 1, 2007, to a reduced misdemeanor charge arising out of his arrest on June 11 at the Minneapolis airport for soliciting sex with a man in the restroom. Craig found almost no support among Republicans in his home state or Washington. On October 4, 2007, senator Craig announced he will not seek re-election, but would remain in office until the end of his term.{{Cite web |title=Craig announces he will not resign |url=https://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071004/ap_on_go_co/craig_senate;_ylt=AsmmtH1yfkzJMiQO3n977k2yFz4D}}
Lieutenant Governor Jim Risch was the Republican candidate; U.S. Army veteran and former congressman Larry LaRocco was the Democratic candidate.{{Cite web |title=As Craig's Problems Continue, Focus Turns to Possible 2008 Idaho Senate Race Without Him |url=http://www.sos.idaho.gov/elect/results/enr/statewide_total.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150220191630/http://www.sos.idaho.gov/ELECT/results/ENR/statewide_total.html |archive-date=February 20, 2015}} Risch and LaRocco ran against each other in the 2006 Lieutenant Governor race, which Risch won by a wide margin. Libertarian Kent Marmon also ran.{{Cite web |title=婚活パーティーQ&Aサイト |url=http://www.marmonforidaho.com/ |access-date=December 20, 2017 |website=www.marmonforidaho.com |archive-date=October 31, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081031225427/http://www.marmonforidaho.com/ |url-status=dead }} The last Democratic senator from Idaho was Frank Church, who was defeated in the Republican landslide of 1980 after serving four terms.
Risch won the election with approximately 58% of the vote.{{Cite web |title=2008 results |url=http://www.sos.idaho.gov/ELECT/results/ENR/statewide_total.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150220191630/http://www.sos.idaho.gov/ELECT/results/ENR/statewide_total.html |archive-date=February 20, 2015 |url-status=dead}}
{{Clear}}
Illinois
{{Infobox election
| election_name = Illinois election
| country = Illinois
| type = presidential
| ongoing = no
| previous_election = 2002 United States Senate election in Illinois
| previous_year = 2002
| next_election = 2014 United States Senate election in Illinois
| next_year = 2014
| image_size = 125x136px
| image1 = Richard Durbin official photo.jpg
| nominee1 = Dick Durbin
| party1 = Democratic Party (US)
| popular_vote1 = 3,615,844
| percentage1 = 67.84%
| image2 = No image.svg
| nominee2 = Steve Sauerberg
| party2 = Republican Party (US)
| popular_vote2 = 1,520,621
| percentage2 = 28.53%
| map_size = 170px
| map_image = 2008 United States Senate election in Illinois results map by county.svg
| map_caption = County results
Durbin: {{legend0|#a5b0ff|40–50%}} {{legend0|#7996e2|50–60%}} {{legend0|#6674de|60–70%}} {{legend0|#584cde|70–80%}}
Sauerberg: {{legend0|#ffb2b2|40–50%}} {{legend0|#e27f7f|50–60%}}
| title = U.S. senator
| before_election = Dick Durbin
| before_party = Democratic Party (US)
| after_election = Dick Durbin
| after_party = Democratic Party (US)
}}
{{Main|2008 United States Senate election in Illinois}}
{{See also|List of United States senators from Illinois}}
{{Election box begin no change
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Dick Durbin (Incumbent)
| party = Democratic Party (US)
| votes = 1,653,833
| percentage = 100.00%
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 1,653,833
| percentage = 100.00%
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin no change
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Steve Sauerberg
| party = Republican Party (US)
| votes = 395,199
| percentage = 55.62%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Andy Martin
| party = Republican Party (US)
| votes = 240,548
| percentage = 33.85%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Mike Psak
| party = Republican Party (US)
| votes = 74,829
| percentage = 10.53%
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 710,576
| percentage = 100.00%
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link
| party = Democratic Party (US)
| candidate = Dick Durbin (Incumbent)
| votes = 3,615,844
| percentage = 67.84%
| change = +7.51%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
| party = Republican Party (US)
| candidate = Steve Sauerberg
| votes = 1,520,621
| percentage = 28.53%
| change = -9.49%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
| party = Green Party (US)
| candidate = Kathy Cummings
| votes = 119,135
| percentage = 2.24%
| change = 0.00%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
| party = Libertarian Party (US)
| candidate = Larry A. Stafford
| votes = 50,224
| percentage = 0.94%
| change = -0.70%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
| party = Constitution Party (US)
| candidate = Chad N. Koppie
| votes = 24,059
| percentage = 0.45%
| change = 0.00%
}}
{{Election box majority
| votes = 2,095,223
| percentage = 39.31%
| change = +17.00%
}}
{{Election box turnout
| votes = 5,329,884
| percentage =
| change =
}}
{{Election box hold with party link
| winner = Democratic Party (US)
| loser = Republican Party (US)
| swing =
}}
{{Election box end}}
Senate Majority Whip Richard Durbin remained favored in Illinois. He sought to be re-elected in a state that has steadily become more Democratic since 1992. CQpolitics.com rated the contest as "safe Democrat".
Physician Steve Sauerberg of La Grange won the February 5 Republican primary.{{Cite web |title=Sauerberg to take on Durbin |url=http://www.nwherald.com/articles/2008/02/06/news/state/doc47a97787a74ce109171390.txt}}{{dead link | date=September 2017 | bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes}} Kathy Cummings, a retired special education teacher was nominated via convention by the Green Party.{{Cite web |title=Illinois Green Party chooses retired teacher as senate candidate |url=http://www.morrisdailyherald.com/articles/2008/03/29/state_news/516green.txt |publisher=Morris Daily Herald }}{{Dead link|date=April 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} Chad Koppie, a retired airline pilot and vice-chairman of the Illinois Center Right Coalition, was the nominee of the Constitution Party.
Durbin won with 68% of the vote. Sauerberg had 29%.
{{Clear}}
Iowa
{{Infobox election
| election_name = Iowa election
| country = Iowa
| type = presidential
| ongoing = no
| previous_election = 2002 United States Senate election in Iowa
| previous_year = 2002
| next_election = 2014 United States Senate election in Iowa
| next_year = 2014
| image_size = 125x136px
| image1 = Tom Harkin official portrait (cropped).jpg
| nominee1 = Tom Harkin
| party1 = Democratic Party (US)
| popular_vote1 = 941,665
| percentage1 = 62.66%
| image2 = Christopher Reed announcment1-300x226 (cropped).jpg
| nominee2 = Christopher Reed
| party2 = Republican Party (US)
| popular_vote2 = 560,006
| percentage2 = 37.26%
| map_image = 2008 United States Senate election in Iowa results map by county.svg
| map_size = 230px
| map_caption = County results
Harkin: {{legend0|#7996e2|50–60%}} {{legend0|#6674de|60–70%}} {{legend0|#584cde|70–80%}}
Reed: {{legend0|#e27f7f|50–60%}} {{legend0|#d75d5d|60–70%}} {{legend0|#d72f30|70–80%}}
| title = U.S. senator
| before_election = Tom Harkin
| before_party = Democratic Party (US)
| after_election = Tom Harkin
| after_party = Democratic Party (US)
}}
{{Main|2008 United States Senate election in Iowa}}
{{See also|List of United States senators from Iowa}}
{{Election box begin no change
| title = Democratic primary{{Cite web |date=2008 |title=Primary results |url=http://sos.iowa.gov/elections/pdf/2008/OfficialResultsReport2008Primary.pdf |website=sos.iowa.gov}}
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Tom Harkin (Incumbent)
| party = Democratic Party (US)
| votes = 90,785
| percentage = 98.83%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Write-ins
| party = Democratic Party (US)
| votes = 1,074
| percentage = 1.17%
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 91,859
| percentage = 100.00%
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin no change
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Christopher Reed
| party = Republican Party (US)
| votes = 24,964
| percentage = 35.32%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = George Eichhorn
| party = Republican Party (US)
| votes = 24,390
| percentage = 34.52%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Steve Rathje
| party = Republican Party (US)
| votes = 21,062
| percentage = 29.80%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Write-ins
| party = Republican Party (US)
| votes = 256
| percentage = 0.36%
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 70,672
| percentage = 100.00%
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link
| party = Democratic Party (US)
| candidate = Tom Harkin (Incumbent)
| votes = 941,665
| percentage = 62.66%
| change = +8.48%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
| party = Republican Party (US)
| candidate = Christopher Reed
| votes = 560,006
| percentage = 37.26%
| change = -6.52%
}}
{{Election box candidate
| party = Write-ins
| candidate =
| votes = 1,247
| percentage = 0.08%
| change =
}}
{{Election box majority
| votes = 381,659
| percentage = 25.39%
| change = +15.00%
}}
{{Election box turnout
| votes = 1,502,918
| percentage =
| change =
}}
{{Election box hold with party link
| winner = Democratic Party (US)
| loser = Republican Party (US)
| swing =
}}
{{Election box end}}
In a state that had been trending to the Democratic party recently, senator Tom Harkin faced the Republican nominee, small business owner Christopher Reed, whom he defeated with 63% of the vote to Reed's 37%.
{{Clear}}
Kansas
{{Infobox election
| election_name = Kansas election
| country = Kansas
| type = presidential
| ongoing = no
| previous_election = 2002 United States Senate election in Kansas
| previous_year = 2002
| next_election = 2014 United States Senate election in Kansas
| next_year = 2014
| image_size = 125x136px
| image1 = Pat Roberts official photo 2.jpg
| nominee1 = Pat Roberts
| party1 = Republican Party (US)
| popular_vote1 = 712,396
| percentage1 = 60.1%
| image2 = Jim Slattery.jpg
| nominee2 = Jim Slattery
| party2 = Democratic Party (US)
| popular_vote2 = 429,691
| percentage2 = 36.5%
| map_image = 2008 United States Senate election in Kansas results map by county.svg
| map_size = 250px
| map_caption = County results
Roberts: {{legend0|#ffb2b2|40–50%}} {{legend0|#e27f7f|50–60%}} {{legend0|#d75d5d|60–70%}} {{legend0|#d72f30|70–80%}}
{{legend0|#c21b18|80–90%}} {{legend0|#a80000|>90%}}
Slattery: {{legend0|#a5b0ff|40–50%}} {{legend0|#7996e2|50–60%}} {{legend0|#6674de|60–70%}}
| title = U.S. senator
| before_election = Pat Roberts
| before_party = Republican Party (US)
| after_election = Pat Roberts
| after_party = Republican Party (US)
}}
{{Main|2008 United States Senate election in Kansas}}
{{See also|List of United States senators from Kansas}}
{{Election box begin no change
| title = Republican Party primary{{Cite web |date=2008 |title=Results |url=http://www.kssos.org/elections/08elec/2008ElectionOfficialVoteTotals.pdf |website=www.kssos.org}}
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Pat Roberts (Incumbent)
| party = Republican Party (US)
| votes = 214,911
| percentage = 100.00%
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 214,911
| percentage = 100.00%
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin no change
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Jim Slattery
| party = Democratic Party (US)
| votes = 68,106
| percentage = 68.93%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Lee Jones
| party = Democratic Party (US)
| votes = 30,699
| percentage = 31.07%
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 98,805
| percentage = 100.00%
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin
| title = Kansas general{{Cite web |title=2008 Election Statistics |url=http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/2008/2008Stat.htm#stateKS |access-date=December 20, 2017 |website=clerk.house.gov}}
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link
| party = Republican Party (US)
| candidate = Pat Roberts (Incumbent)
| votes = 727,121
| percentage = 60.06%
| change = -22.46%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
| party = Democratic Party (US)
| candidate = Jim Slattery
| votes = 441,399
| percentage = 36.46%
| change =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
| party = Libertarian Party (US)
| candidate = Randall Hodgkinson
| votes = 25,727
| percentage = 2.12%
| change = -6.98%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
| party = Reform Party (US)
| candidate = Joseph L. Martin
| votes = 16,443
| percentage = 1.36%
| change = -7.02%
}}
{{Election box majority
| votes = 285,722
| percentage = 23.60%
| change = -49.82%
}}
{{Election box turnout
| votes = 1,210,690
| percentage =
| change =
}}
{{Election box hold with party link
| winner = Republican Party (US)
| loser =
| swing =
}}
{{Election box end}}
Senator Pat Roberts sought re-election to a third term. Although Kansas has not elected a Democrat to the Senate since 1932, former Democratic Congressman and army veteran Jim Slattery was nominated to run against Roberts. Pat Roberts currently has an approval rating of 56%.{{Cite web |title=SurveyUSA News Poll #12482 |url=http://www.surveyusa.com/client/PollReport.aspx?g=937b1d64-bf06-46a2-b1c8-f2e0c24909a1/surveyusa.com |access-date=December 20, 2017}}
Roberts was re-elected with 60% to Slattery's 36%.
{{Clear}}
Kentucky
{{Infobox election
| election_name = Kentucky election
| country = Kentucky
| type = presidential
| ongoing = no
| previous_election = 2002 United States Senate election in Kentucky
| previous_year = 2002
| next_election = 2014 United States Senate election in Kentucky
| next_year = 2014
| image_size = 125x136px
| image1 = Sen Mitch McConnell official cropped.jpg
| nominee1 = Mitch McConnell
| party1 = Republican Party (US)
| popular_vote1 = 953,816
| percentage1 = 53.0%
| image2 = Bruce Lunsford (cropped).jpg
| nominee2 = Bruce Lunsford
| party2 = Democratic Party (US)
| popular_vote2 = 847,005
| percentage2 = 47.0%
| map_image = 2008 United States Senate election in Kentucky results map by county.svg
| map_size = 300px
| map_caption = County results
McConnell: {{legend0|#e27f7f|50–60%}} {{legend0|#d75d5d|60–70%}} {{legend0|#d72f30|70–80%}}
Lunsford: {{legend0|#7996e2|50–60%}} {{legend0|#6674de|60–70%}} {{legend0|#584cde|70–80%}}
| title = U.S. senator
| before_election = Mitch McConnell
| before_party = Republican Party (US)
| after_election = Mitch McConnell
| after_party = Republican Party (US)
}}
{{Main|2008 United States Senate election in Kentucky}}
{{See also|List of United States senators from Kentucky}}
{{Election box begin no change
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Mitch McConnell (incumbent)
| party = Republican Party (US)
| votes = 168,127
| percentage = 86.09%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Daniel Essek
| party = Republican Party (US)
| votes = 27,170
| percentage = 13.91%
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 195,297
| percentage = 100.00%
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin no change
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Bruce Lunsford
| party = Democratic Party (US)
| votes = 316,992
| percentage = 51.15%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Greg Fischer
| party = Democratic Party (US)
| votes = 209,827
| percentage = 33.85%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = David L. Williams
| party = Democratic Party (US)
| votes = 34,363
| percentage = 5.54%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Michael Cassaro
| party = Democratic Party (US)
| votes = 17,340
| percentage = 2.80%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Kenneth Stepp
| party = Democratic Party (US)
| votes = 13,451
| percentage = 2.17%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = David Wylie
| party = Democratic Party (US)
| votes = 7,528
| percentage = 1.21%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = James E. Rice
| party = Democratic Party (US)
| votes = 2,365
| percentage = 3.28%
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 619,904
| percentage = 100.00%
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link
| party = Republican Party (US)
| candidate = Mitch McConnell (incumbent)
| votes = 953,816
| percentage = 52.97%
| change = -11.7%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
| party = Democratic Party (US)
| candidate = Bruce Lunsford
| votes = 847,005
| percentage = 47.03%
| change = +11.7%
}}
{{Election box turnout
| votes = 1,800,821
| percentage = 62.00%
| change = +19.2%
}}
{{Election box hold with party link
| winner = Republican Party (US)
| loser =
| swing =
}}
{{Election box end}}
Democrats made Senate Minority Leader, four-term senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky a target due to his leadership of Senate Republicans and his ties to President Bush, as well as his mediocre approval rating in the state, which was below 50%.{{Cite web |date=July 25, 2006 |title=Results of SurveyUSA News Poll #12351 |url=http://www.surveyusa.com/client/PollReport.aspx?g=2af0e9e9-1367-4a5e-a14e-ceea49e93fff |access-date=August 2, 2007 |publisher=SurveyUSA}}
Businessman and U.S. Army veteran Bruce Lunsford, who lost the 2007 Democratic gubernatorial primary to Governor Steve Beshear, was the Democratic nominee.
Once thought to be secure in his re-election, McConnell's lead had shrunk dramatically thanks to the financial crisis and polling showed the race tightening between him and Lunsford.{{Cite web |last=Naylor |first=Brian |date=October 23, 2008 |title=Sen. McConnell In A Tough Race In Kentucky |url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=96019353 |access-date=November 19, 2008 |publisher=National Public Radio}} Nevertheless, McConnell was re-elected by a margin of 53% to 47%.
{{Clear}}
Louisiana
{{Infobox election
| election_name = Louisiana election
| country = Louisiana
| flag_year = 2006
| type = presidential
| ongoing = no
| previous_election = 2002 United States Senate election in Louisiana
| previous_year = 2002
| image_size = 125x136px
| next_election = 2014 United States Senate election in Louisiana
| next_year = 2014
| image1 = Mary Landrieu, official photo portrait, 2007.jpg
| nominee1 = Mary Landrieu
| party1 = Democratic Party (US)
| popular_vote1 = 988,298
| percentage1 = 52.1%
| map_image = 2008 United States Senate election in Louisiana results map by parish.svg
| map_size = 250px
| map_caption = Landrieu: {{legend0|#a5b0ff|40-50%}} {{legend0|#7996e2|50–60%}} {{legend0|#6674de|60–70%}} {{legend0|#3933E5|80–90%}}
Kennedy: {{legend0|#ffb2b2|40–50%}} {{legend0|#e27f7f|50–60%}} {{legend0|#d75d5d|60–70%}} {{legend0|#D72F30|70–80%}}
| title = U.S. senator
| before_election = Mary Landrieu
| before_party = Democratic Party (US)
| after_election = Mary Landrieu
| after_party = Democratic Party (US)
| image2 = John Neely Kennedy official portrait.jpg
| nominee2 = John Neely Kennedy
| party2 = Republican Party (US)
| popular_vote2 = 867,177
| percentage2 = 45.7%
}}
{{Main|2008 United States Senate election in Louisiana}}
{{See also|List of United States senators from Louisiana}}
{{Election box begin
| title = General election results
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link
| party = Democratic Party (US)
| candidate = Mary Landrieu (Incumbent)
| votes = 988,298
| percentage = 52.11%
| change = +0.41%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
| party = Republican Party (US)
| candidate = John Neely Kennedy
| votes = 867,177
| percentage = 45.72%
| change = -2.58%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
| party = Libertarian Party (US)
| candidate = Richard Fontanesi
| votes = 18,590
| percentage = 0.98%
| change = n/a
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
| party = Independent
| candidate = Jay Patel
| votes = 13,729
| percentage = 0.72%
| change = n/a
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
| party = Independent
| candidate = Robert Stewart
| votes = 8,780
| percentage = 0.46%
| change = n/a
}}
{{Election box majority
| votes = 121,121
| percentage = 6.39%
| change = +2.99%
}}
{{Election box turnout
| votes = 1,896,574
| percentage = 100.0%
| change =
}}
{{Election box hold with party link
| winner = Democratic Party (US)
| loser =
| swing =
}}
{{Election box end}}
Incumbent Mary Landrieu was elected in 1996 following a recount and was narrowly re-elected in 2002 in a runoff election. Since those elections, Democrats have had to endure the loss of some reliable voters because Hurricane Katrina dispersed many African-Americans from New Orleans, although the vast majority still live within Louisiana. The state has become more Republican over the past 12 years. Louisiana elected David Vitter in 2004, the state's first Republican senator since Reconstruction, as well as Republican Bobby Jindal as the first Indian-American Governor in the country's history in 2007. Louisiana's electoral votes easily went to George W. Bush in 2000 and 2004.
On August 27, 2007, state Treasurer John Neely Kennedy announced he was switching parties from Democrat to Republican. On November 29, after being personally recruited by Vitter and former Bush administration official Karl Rove, Kennedy announced plans to challenge Landrieu in 2008.{{Cite web |title=Treasurer bolts to GOP - Breaking News Updates New Orleans |url=http://blog.nola.com/times-picayune/2007/08/treasurer_bolts_to_gop.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140427093222/http://blog.nola.com/times-picayune/2007/08/treasurer_bolts_to_gop.html |archive-date=April 27, 2014 |access-date=August 27, 2007 |publisher=New Orleans Times-Picayune (NOLA.com)}}{{Cite web |title=Kennedy seeking Senate seat |url=http://www.2theadvocate.com/news/politics/11924956.html |publisher=2theadvocate.com}}
In the end, Landrieu was re-elected with 52% of the vote, Kennedy having 46%.
{{Clear}}
Maine
{{Infobox election
| election_name = Maine election
| country = Maine
| type = presidential
| ongoing = no
| previous_election = 2002 United States Senate election in Maine
| previous_year = 2002
| next_election = 2014 United States Senate election in Maine
| next_year = 2014
| image_size = 125x136px
| image1 = 2008 Susan Collins 2 by 3 crop.jpg
| nominee1 = Susan Collins
| party1 = Republican Party (US)
| popular_vote1 = 444,300
| percentage1 = 61.3%
| image2 = Tom Allen crop.jpg
| nominee2 = Tom Allen
| party2 = Democratic Party (US)
| popular_vote2 = 279,510
| percentage2 = 38.6%
| map = {{switcher
|County results
|Municipality results}}
| map_caption = Collins: {{legend0|#E27F7F|50–60%}} {{legend0|#D75D5D|60–70%}} {{legend0|#D72F30|70–80%}} {{legend0|#C21B18|80–90%}} {{legend0|#a80000|>90%}}
Allen: {{legend0|#7996E2|50–60%}} {{legend0|#6674DE|60–70%}}
| title = U.S. senator
| before_election = Susan Collins
| before_party = Republican Party (US)
| after_election = Susan Collins
| after_party = Republican Party (US)
}}
{{Main|2008 United States Senate election in Maine}}
{{See also|List of United States senators from Maine}}
{{Election box begin
| title = 2008 Maine U.S. Senate Democratic primary
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link
| party = Democratic Party (US)
| candidate = Tom Allen
| votes = 69,932
| percentage = 85.6%
| change =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
| party = Democratic Party (US)
| candidate = Tom Ledue
| votes = 11,795
| percentage = 14.4%
| change =
}}
{{Election box turnout
| votes = 81,727
| percentage =
| change =
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin
| title = General election results
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link
| party = Republican Party (US)
| candidate = Susan Collins (incumbent)
| votes = 444,300
| percentage = 61.33%
| change = +2.9%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
| party = Democratic Party (US)
| candidate = Tom Allen
| votes = 279,510
| percentage = 38.58%
| change = -3.0%
}}
{{Election box candidate
| party =
| candidate = write-ins
| votes = 620
| percentage = 0.09%
| change = n/a
}}
{{Election box majority
| votes = 164,790
| percentage =
| change =
}}
{{Election box turnout
| votes = 724,430
| percentage =
| change =
}}
{{Election box hold with party link
| winner = Republican Party (US)
| loser =
| swing =
}}
{{Election box end}}
In Maine, Susan Collins sought a third term in the Senate. She has maintained a high approval rating, and also in her favor is the landslide re-election of Maine's senior Senator, Olympia Snowe, who had the largest margin of victory of any GOP Senate candidate - besides the largely unopposed Richard Lugar (R-IN) - in the 2006 election cycle. Collins was re-elected with 58% of the vote in 2002 over State Sen. Chellie Pingree. Fellow senator Joe Lieberman, citing his status as an independent, endorsed Collins in her 2008 re-election bid.
On May 8, 2007, Rep. Tom Allen (ME-1) announced his candidacy on [http://www.tomallen.org his website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070510025437/http://www.tomallen.org/ |date=May 10, 2007 }}. He had already expressed interest in running and had been building the apparatus necessary to wage a Senate campaign.{{Cite news |last=Duran |first=Nicole |date=December 12, 2006 |title=Allen Ponders 2008 Senate Race |work=Roll Call |url=http://www.rollcall.com/issues/52_56/politics/16249-1.html |access-date=February 15, 2007}}
Collins won on election day with 61% of the vote, compared to 39% for Allen.
{{Clear}}
Massachusetts
{{Infobox election
| election_name = Massachusetts election
| country = Massachusetts
| type = presidential
| ongoing = no
| previous_election = 2002 United States Senate election in Massachusetts
| previous_year = 2002
| next_election = 2013 United States Senate special election in Massachusetts
| next_year = 2013 (special)
| image_size = 125x136px
| image1 = John Kerry headshot with US flag.jpg
| nominee1 = John Kerry
| party1 = Democratic Party (US)
| popular_vote1 = 1,959,843
| percentage1 = 65.8%
| image2 = Jeffbeatty.jpg
| nominee2 = Jeff Beatty
| party2 = Republican Party (US)
| popular_vote2 = 922,727
| percentage2 = 31.0%
| map_image = {{switcher
|County results
|File:2008 United States Senate Election in Massachusetts by Municipality.svg
|Municipality results
|default=1
}}
| map_size = 250px
| map_caption =
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
Kerry
{{legend|#A5B0FF|40–50%}}
{{legend|#7996E2|50–60%}}
{{legend|#6674DE|60–70%}}
{{legend|#584CDE|70–80%}}
{{legend|#3933E5|80–90%}}
{{col-2}}
Beatty
{{legend|#FFB2B2|40–50%}}
{{col-end}}
| title = U.S. senator
| before_election = John Kerry
| before_party = Democratic Party (US)
| after_election = John Kerry
| after_party = Democratic Party (US)
}}
{{Main|2008 United States Senate election in Massachusetts}}
{{See also|List of United States senators from Massachusetts}}
{{Election box begin
| title = Democratic primary in Massachusetts
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link
| party = Democratic Party (US)
| candidate = John Kerry (incumbent)
| votes = 335,923
| percentage = 68.92%
| change =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
| party = Democratic Party (US)
| candidate = Edward O'Reilly
| votes = 151,473
| percentage = 31.08%
| change =
}}
{{Election box turnout
| votes = 487,396
| percentage =
| change =
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin
| title = General election results
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link
| party = Democratic Party (US)
| candidate = John Kerry (Incumbent)
| votes = 1,959,843
| percentage = 65.82%
| change = -14.2%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
| party = Republican Party (US)
| candidate = Jeff Beatty
| votes = 922,727
| percentage = 30.99%
| change = +30.99%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
| party = Libertarian Party (US)
| candidate = Robert J. Underwood
| votes = 94,727
| percentage = 3.18%
| change = -15.1%
}}
{{Election box majority
| votes = 1,037,116
| percentage =
| change =
}}
{{Election box turnout
| votes = 2,977,631
| percentage =
| change =
}}
{{Election box hold with party link
| winner = Democratic Party (US)
| loser =
| swing =
}}
{{Election box end}}
Incumbent John Kerry sought another Senate term in Massachusetts.{{Cite news |last=Klein |first=Rick |date=January 24, 2007 |title=Kerry won't run for president in '08 |work=The Boston Globe |url=https://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2007/01/24/kerry_to_bow_out_of_08_presidential_race |access-date=February 5, 2007}} Republican author and conservative activist Jerome Corsi, known for his public criticism of Kerry, had stated that he would run for the seat in 2008 but later changed his mind. Jim Ogonowski, a retired Air Force pilot who was closely defeated by now-Representative Niki Tsongas in a 2007 special election, was running against Kerry.{{Cite web |title=Ogonowski set to battle Kerry for Senate seat |url=http://www.bostonherald.com/news/regional/politics/view.bg?articleid=1069400 |publisher=BostonHerald.com}} but failed to obtain the required candidacy signatures. The Republican challenger turned out to be Jeff Beatty, an ex-Army Delta Force officer who garnered 30% of the vote in a challenge to Democratic Congressman Bill Delahunt in 2006. Kerry was challenged by defense attorney Edward O'Reilly for the Democratic nomination, winning 69% of the vote to O'Reilly's 31%.
Kerry won with 66% of the vote to Beatty's 31%. Libertarian Robert J. Underwood had 3%.
{{Clear}}
Michigan
{{Infobox election
| election_name = Michigan election
| country = Michigan
| type = presidential
| ongoing = no
| previous_election = 2002 United States Senate election in Michigan
| previous_year = 2002
| next_election = 2014 United States Senate election in Michigan
| next_year = 2014
| image_size = 125x136px
| image1 = Carl Levin official portrait.jpg
| nominee1 = Carl Levin
| party1 = Democratic Party (US)
| popular_vote1 = 3,038,386
| percentage1 = 62.7%
| image2 = jackhoogendyk (cropped).jpg
| nominee2 = Jack Hoogendyk
| party2 = Republican Party (US)
| popular_vote2 = 1,641,070
| percentage2 = 33.8%
| map_image = 2008 United States Senate election in Michigan results map by county.svg
| map_size = 250px
| map_caption = Levin: {{legend0|#a5b0ff|40–50%}} {{legend0|#7996e2|50–60%}} {{legend0|#6674de|60–70%}} {{legend0|#584CDE|70–80%}}
Hoogendyk: {{legend0|#ffb2b2|40–50%}} {{legend0|#e27f7f|50–60%}}
| title = U.S. senator
| before_election = Carl Levin
| before_party = Democratic Party (US)
| after_election = Carl Levin
| after_party = Democratic Party (US)
}}
{{Main|2008 United States Senate election in Michigan}}
{{See also|List of United States senators from Michigan}}
{{Election box begin
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link
| party = Democratic Party (US)
| candidate = Carl Levin (Incumbent)
| votes = 3,038,386
| percentage = 62.7%
| change = +2.1%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
| party = Republican Party (US)
| candidate = Jack Hoogendyk
| votes = 1,641,070
| percentage = 33.8%
| change = -4.1%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
| party = Libertarian Party (US)
| candidate = Scotty Boman
| votes = 76,347
| percentage = 1.6%
| change = n/a
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
| party = Green Party (US)
| candidate = Harley Mikkelson
| votes = 43,440
| percentage = 0.9%
| change = +0.1%
}}
{{Election box candidate
| party = U.S. Taxpayers
| candidate = Michael Nikitin
| votes = 30,827
| percentage = 0.6%
| change = n/a
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
| party = Natural Law Party (US)
| candidate = Doug Dern
| votes = 18,550
| percentage = 0.4%
| change = +0.1%
}}
{{Election box majority
| votes = 1,397,316
| percentage =
| change =
}}
{{Election box turnout
| votes = 4,848,620
| percentage =
| change =
}}
{{Election box hold with party link
| winner = Democratic Party (US)
| loser =
| swing =
}}
{{Election box end}}
With the Democratic Party takeover of Capitol Hill in the 2006 midterm elections, senator Carl Levin had become one of the most powerful people in Washington as chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee. He was expected{{by whom | date=March 2013}} to easily win re-election.
Challenging Levin were Republican State Representative Jack Hoogendyk, Green candidate Harley G. Mikkelson, [http://www.ustaxpayerspartyofmichigan.com US Taxpayers'] candidate [http://mikenikitin.com Mike Nikitin], Libertarian professor Scotty Boman, and Natural Law's candidate Doug Dern.Official Ballot; General Election; Tuesday, November 4, 2008; Ottawa County, Michigan; Holland Chater Township, Absent Voter Counting Board, Precinct 13B
Levin won re-election with 63% of the vote, to Hoogendyk's 34%.
{{Clear}}
Minnesota
{{Infobox election
| election_name = Minnesota election
| country = Minnesota
| type = presidential
| ongoing = no
| previous_election = 2002 United States Senate election in Minnesota
| previous_year = 2002
| next_election = 2014 United States Senate election in Minnesota
| next_year = 2014
| image_size = 125x136px
| image1 = Al Franken Official Senate Portrait.jpg
| nominee1 = Al Franken
| party1 = Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party (Minnesota)
| popular_vote1 = 1,212,629
| percentage1 = 41.99%
| image2 = NormColemanCrop2.jpg
| nominee2 = Norm Coleman
| party2 = Republican Party (Minnesota)
| popular_vote2 = 1,212,317
| percentage2 = 41.98%
| image3 = Dean Barkley.jpg
| nominee3 = Dean Barkley
| party3 = Independence Party (Minnesota)
| popular_vote3 = 437,505
| percentage3 = 15.15%
| map_image = 2008 United States Senate election in Minnesota results map by county.svg
| map_caption = Franken: {{legend0|#A5B0FF|40–50%}} {{legend0|#7996e2|50–60%}}
Coleman: {{legend0|#FFB2B2|40–50%}} {{legend0|#E27F7F|50–60%}}
| title = U.S. senator
| before_election = Norm Coleman
| before_party = Republican Party (Minnesota)
| after_election = Al Franken
| after_party = Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party (Minnesota)
}}
{{Main|2008 United States Senate election in Minnesota}}
{{See also|List of United States senators from Minnesota}}
{{Election box begin no change
| title = Democratic–Farmer–Labor primary{{Cite web |title=Primary Election Results |url=http://electionresults.sos.state.mn.us/20080909/ElecRslts.asp?M=S&R=all |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081114193353/http://electionresults.sos.state.mn.us/20080909/ElecRslts.asp?M=S&R=all |archive-date=November 14, 2008 |publisher=Minnesota Secretary of State Website }}
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| party = Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party (Minnesota)
| candidate = Al Franken
| votes = 164,136
| percentage = 65.34%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party (Minnesota)
| candidate = Priscilla Lord Faris
| votes = 74,655
| percentage = 29.72%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party (Minnesota)
| candidate = Dick Franson
| votes = 3,923
| percentage = 1.56%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party (Minnesota)
| candidate = Bob Larson
| votes = 3,152
| percentage = 1.25%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party (Minnesota)
| candidate = Rob Fitzgerald
| votes = 3,095
| percentage = 1.23%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party (Minnesota)
| candidate = Ole Savior
| votes = 1,227
| percentage = 0.49%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party (Minnesota)
| candidate = Alve Erickson
| votes = 1,017
| percentage = 0.40%
}}
{{Election box turnout no change
| votes = 251,205
| percentage =
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin no change
| title = Independence primary
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| party = Independence Party (Minnesota)
| candidate = Dean Barkley
| votes = 6,678
| percentage = 58.88%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = Independence Party (Minnesota)
| candidate = Jack Uldrich
| votes = 1,405
| percentage = 12.39%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = Independence Party (Minnesota)
| candidate = Stephen Williams
| votes = 800
| percentage = 7.05%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = Independence Party (Minnesota)
| candidate = Kurt Michael Anderson
| votes = 761
| percentage = 6.71%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = Independence Party (Minnesota)
| candidate = Doug Williams
| votes = 639
| percentage = 5.63%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = Independence Party (Minnesota)
| candidate = Darryl Stanton
| votes = 618
| percentage = 5.45%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = Independence Party (Minnesota)
| candidate = Bill Dahn
| votes = 440
| percentage = 3.88%
}}
{{Election box turnout no change
| votes = 11,341
| percentage =
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin no change
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| party = Republican Party (Minnesota)
| candidate = Norm Coleman (Incumbent)
| votes = 130,973
| percentage = 91.32%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = Republican Party (Minnesota)
| candidate = Jack Shepard
| votes = 12,456
| percentage = 8.68%
}}
{{Election box turnout no change
| votes = 143,429
| percentage =
}}
{{Election box end}}
2007 year-end reports filed with the Federal Election Commission showed that Al Franken had raised $7.04 million through December 31, 2007, while Norm Coleman had raised $6.24 million. Year-end cash on hand was $6.04 million for Coleman and $3.10 million for Franken.[http://www.fec.gov/DisclosureSearch/mapHSApp.do?drillLevel=state&stateName=MN Candidate Filings], Federal Election Commission, year-end 2007
File:Minnesota Senate 2008 Polls.png
{{Election box begin no change
| title = General election (Results certified November 18){{Cite web |date=November 18, 2008 |title=State of Minnesota Canvassing Report |url=http://www.sos.state.mn.us/docs/postpercanvassingreport1117250p.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081119133226/http://www.sos.state.mn.us/docs/postpercanvassingreport1117250p.pdf |archive-date=November 19, 2008 |access-date=January 7, 2009 |publisher=Minnesota Secretary of State}}{{Cite web |date=November 18, 2008 |title=Canvassing Report of Votes Cast at the State General Election, November 4, 2008 |url=http://www.sos.state.mn.us/docs/postpercanvassingreport1117250p.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081119133226/http://www.sos.state.mn.us/docs/postpercanvassingreport1117250p.pdf |archive-date=November 19, 2008 |access-date=January 6, 2009 |publisher=Minnesota Secretary of State }}{{Cite web |date=November 18, 2008 |title=Canvassing Board Meeting—Nov. 18, 2008: Official minutes |url=http://www.sos.state.mn.us/docs/state_canvassing_board_meeting_minutes_november_18_2008.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090203035510/http://www.sos.state.mn.us/docs/state_canvassing_board_meeting_minutes_november_18_2008.pdf |archive-date=February 3, 2009 |access-date=January 6, 2009 |publisher=Minnesota Secretary of State }}
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| party = Republican Party (Minnesota)
| candidate = Norm Coleman (Incumbent)
| votes = 1,211,590
| percentage = 41.988%
| change = −7.541%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party (Minnesota)
| candidate = Al Franken
| votes = 1,211,375
| percentage = 41.981%
| change = −5.355%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = Independence Party (Minnesota)
| candidate = Dean Barkley
| votes = 437,404
| percentage = 15.19%
| change = +13.16%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = Libertarian Party (US)
| candidate = Charles Aldrich
| votes = 13,916
| percentage = 0.48%
| change = n/a
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = Constitution Party (US)
| candidate = James Niemackl
| votes = 8,905
| percentage = 0.31%
| change = +0.21%
}}
{{Election box candidate no change
| party = Write-ins
| candidate =
| votes = 2,365
| percentage = 0.08%
}}
{{Election box plurality no change
| votes = 215
| percentage = 0.007%
}}
{{Election box turnout no change
| votes = 2,885,555
| percentage =
}}
{{Election box end}}
Note: The ±% column reflects the change in total number of votes won by each party from the previous election. Additionally, votes cast for Paul Wellstone in the 2002 election are not factored into the DFL's total from that year.
File:Minnesota Senate Recount.jpg
{{Election box begin no change
| title = General election (Results certified January 5, 2009){{Cite web |title=Election Reporting |url=http://electionresults.sos.state.mn.us/20081104/ElecRslts.asp?M=S&R=all&P=A&Races=%27%27 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081120032829/http://electionresults.sos.state.mn.us/20081104/ElecRslts.asp?M=S&R=all&P=A&Races=%27%27 |archive-date=November 20, 2008 |access-date=January 7, 2009 |publisher=Minnesota Secretary of State }}{{Cite web |date=January 5, 2009 |title=Signing Off On A 225 Vote Franken Lead (webcast of Canvassing Board Meeting) |url=http://the-uptake.groups.theuptake.org/en/videogalleryView/id/1573 |access-date=January 5, 2009 |publisher=The Uptake |archive-date=February 3, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090203095837/http://the-uptake.groups.theuptake.org/en/videogalleryView/id/1573 |url-status=dead }}{{Cite web |date=January 5, 2009 |title=Final Recount Summary by County |url=http://www.sos.state.mn.us/docs/recount_summary_with_ab.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090121144412/http://www.sos.state.mn.us/docs/recount_summary_with_ab.pdf |archive-date=January 21, 2009 |access-date=January 7, 2009 |publisher=Minnesota Secretary of State }}
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| party = Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party (Minnesota)
| candidate = Al Franken
| votes = 1,212,431
| percentage = 41.991%
| change = −5.35%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = Republican Party (Minnesota)
| candidate = Norm Coleman (Incumbent)
| votes = 1,212,206
| percentage = 41.984%
| change = −7.55%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = Independence Party (Minnesota)
| candidate = Dean Barkley
| votes = 437,505
| percentage = 15.15%
| change = +13.15%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = Libertarian Party (US)
| candidate = Charles Aldrich
| votes = 13,923
| percentage = 0.48%
| change = n/a
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = Constitution Party (US)
| candidate = James Niemackl
| votes = 8,907
| percentage = 0.31%
| change = +0.21%
}}
{{Election box candidate no change
| party = Write-ins
| candidate =
| votes = 2,365
| percentage = 0.08%
| change =
}}
{{Election box plurality no change
| votes = 225
| percentage = 0.007%
| change =
}}
{{Election box turnout no change
| votes = 2,887,337
| percentage =
| change =
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin no change
| title =General election (Results certified after election contest){{Cite web |last1=Judges Elizabeth Hayden |last2=Kurt Marben |last3=Denise Reilley |name-list-style=amp |title=Finding of Facts, Conclusion of Law, and Order for Judgment |url=http://dl-client.getdropbox.com/u/60825/COLEMANvFRANKENfinalfindingsoffact.pdf |publisher=Minnesota Judicial Branch}}
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| party = Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party (Minnesota)
| candidate = Al Franken
| votes = 1,212,629
| percentage = 41.994%
| change = −5.35%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = Republican Party (Minnesota)
| candidate = Norm Coleman (Incumbent)
| votes = 1,212,317
| percentage = 41.983%
| change = −7.55%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = Independence Party (Minnesota)
| candidate = Dean Barkley
| votes = 437,505
| percentage = 15.151%
| change = +13.15%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = Libertarian Party (US)
| candidate = Charles Aldrich
| votes = 13,923
| percentage = 0.48%
| change = n/a
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = Constitution Party (US)
| candidate = James Niemackl
| votes = 8,907
| percentage = 0.31%
| change = +0.21%
}}
{{Election box candidate no change
| party = Write-ins
| candidate =
| votes = 2,365
| percentage = 0.08%
| change =
}}
{{Election box plurality no change
| votes = 312
| percentage = 0.011%
| change =
}}
{{Election box turnout no change
| votes = 2,887,646
| percentage =
| change =
}}
{{Election box gain with party link no change
| winner = Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party (Minnesota)
| loser = Republican Party (Minnesota)
| swing =
}}
{{Election box end}}
The 2008 U.S. Senate election in Minnesota featured first-term Republican incumbent senator Norm Coleman, Democrat Al Franken, a comedian and radio personality, and former U.S. senator Dean Barkley, a member of the Independence Party of Minnesota.
A December 2007 poll showed Coleman's approval rating among Minnesota voters at 53%.{{Cite web |title=SurveyUSA News Poll #13108 |url=http://www.surveyusa.com/client/PollReport.aspx?g=06a4642a-85b1-4c38-b31d-a222f0f39c41 |access-date=December 20, 2017 |website=www.surveyusa.com}} The seat was heavily targeted by the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee because of Minnesota's Democratic leanings and recent Democratic gains in national and statewide elections. These factors, coupled with a national political climate favorable to Democrats, made the Minnesota Senate race one of the most competitive and closely watched of the cycle.
Franken announced his candidacy on February 14, 2007, more than 20 months before the election.{{Cite news |last=Smith |first=Dane |date=February 14, 2007 |title=Franken jumps into Senate race |work=Minneapolis Star Tribune |url=http://www.startribune.com/587/story/1002254.html |url-status=dead |access-date=February 15, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070216010922/http://www.startribune.com/587/story/1002254.html |archive-date=February 16, 2007 }} Jack Nelson-Pallmeyer, a professor at the University of St. Thomas (St. Paul, Minnesota), joined the race in October 2007.{{Cite web |title=startribune.com |website=Star Tribune |url=http://www.startribune.com/politics/national/senate/11760986.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080112092842/http://www.startribune.com/politics/national/senate/11760986.html |archive-date=January 12, 2008}} Attorney Mike Ciresi, an unsuccessful candidate in the 2000 Democratic U.S. Senate primary, was considered a serious candidate, but withdrew from the race on March 10, 2008, clearing the path for Franken to secure the party's nomination.
Barkley, who had briefly been appointed Senator after the death of Paul Wellstone in 2002, ran under the banner of the Independence Party, the largest third party in Minnesota.{{Cite web |title=kstp.com |url=http://kstp.com/article/stories/s510995.shtml?cat=1 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080802035051/http://kstp.com/article/stories/s510995.shtml?cat=1 |archive-date=August 2, 2008}}[http://www.minnpost.com/dailyglean/2008/07/15/2566/daily_glean_jesse_the_diva_gives_way_to_bravado-lite_barkley Jesse the Diva Gives Way To Bravado Lite Barkely] {{Webarchive | url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080719111342/http://www.minnpost.com/dailyglean/2008/07/15/2566/daily_glean_jesse_the_diva_gives_way_to_bravado-lite_barkley | date=July 19, 2008}}, minnpost.com He was included in most of the debates and ultimately received 15% of the vote in the general election, a strong showing for a third-party candidate. It is not clear whether Barkley detracted more votes from Coleman or Franken.
Polls over the course of the campaign indicated that the race was very competitive, with many polls showing Franken and Coleman virtually tied or within the margin of error, as well as several polls showing each candidate with a significant lead at one point or another. The presence of a serious third-party candidate further complicated matters.
On November 4, 2008, Coleman received 1,211,590 votes to Franken's 1,211,375 votes, a margin of 215 votes, far less than 0.1%, thereby triggering an automatic recount. Barkley received 437,404 votes, about 15% of total votes cast.{{Cite news |title=Local and National Election Results - Election Center 2008 - Elections & Politics from CNN.com |work=CNN |url=http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/results/individual/#mapSMN |access-date=May 27, 2010}}
On January 3, 2009, with the recount apparently completed, Franken had an unofficial lead of 225 votes, but former senator Coleman's attorneys contested the official results in the courts.[http://www.startribune.com/politics/national/senate/37047159.html?elr=KArksLckD8EQDUoaEyqyP4O:DW3ckUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUac8HEaDiaMDCinchO7DU Senate race certification set for Monday with Franken up 225 votes]. Star Tribune. Retrieved on August 16, 2013. During the recount process, Minnesota was represented by only one senator, Amy Klobuchar.
On April 13, 2009, a three-judge panel ruled that Al Franken received the most votes in Minnesota's 2008 Senate race and ruled against Coleman's claims on all counts.{{Cite web |title=Sheehan and Coleman v. Franken Findings, Judgment, and Memoranda |url=http://www.mncourts.gov/Documents/2/Public/Civil/41309%20coleman%20franken/Findings_of_Fact_Conclusions_of_Law_and_Order_for_Judgment.pdf |access-date=December 20, 2017}} Coleman appealed this decision.{{Cite web |title=Coleman: 'I think the law is on our side' |website = Star Tribune|url=http://www.startribune.com/politics/national/senate/43113327.html?elr=KArksLckD8EQDUoaEyqyP4O:DW3ckUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUUs |access-date=December 20, 2017}} On June 30, 2009, the Minnesota Supreme Court ruled unanimously that Al Franken received the most votes, and Norm Coleman conceded defeat after the ruling, allowing Al Franken to be Senator-elect of Minnesota.{{Cite news |last=MacAskill |first=Ewen |date=2009-06-30 |title=Al Franken declared winner of Minnesota seat by state supreme court |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2009/jun/30/al-franken-norm-coleman-minnesota |access-date=2024-06-03 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}} Franken was sworn in as Minnesota's junior senator on July 7.
{{Clear}}
Mississippi
{{See also|List of United States senators from Mississippi}}
= Mississippi (regular) =
{{Infobox election
| election_name = Mississippi election
| country = Mississippi
| flag_image = Flag of Mississippi (2001–2020).svg
| type = presidential
| ongoing = no
| previous_election = 2002 United States Senate election in Mississippi
| previous_year = 2002
| next_election = 2014 United States Senate election in Mississippi
| next_year = 2014
| image_size = 125x136px
| image1 = CochranThad(R-MS) (cropped)1.jpg
| nominee1 = Thad Cochran
| party1 = Republican Party (US)
| popular_vote1 = 766,111
| percentage1 = 61.4%
| image2 = Erik Fleming cropped.jpg
| nominee2 = Erik Fleming
| party2 = Democratic Party (US)
| popular_vote2 = 480,915
| percentage2 = 38.6%
| map_image = 2008 United States Senate election in Mississippi results map by county.svg
| map_size = 200px
| map_caption = Cochran: {{legend0|#e27f7f|50–60%}} {{legend0|#d75d5d|60–70%}}{{legend0|#d72f30|70–80%}} {{legend0|#c21b18|80–90%}}
Fleming: {{legend0|#7996e2|50–60%}} {{legend0|#6674de|60–70%}} {{legend0|#584cde|70–80%}} {{legend0|#3933e5|80–90%}}
| title = U.S. senator
| before_election = Thad Cochran
| before_party = Republican Party (US)
| after_election = Thad Cochran
| after_party = Republican Party (US)
}}
{{Main|2008 United States Senate election in Mississippi}}
Incumbent Republican Thad Cochran announced that he would seek re-election for a sixth term.{{Cite web |title=Senator Thad Cochran Announces Intent To Seek Re-Election |url=http://www.nrsc.org/news/Read.aspx?ID=647 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071123092543/http://www.nrsc.org/news/Read.aspx?ID=647 |archive-date=November 23, 2007 |publisher=Nation Republican Senatorial Committee (nrsc.org) }} Cochran, who has not faced serious opposition since he was re-elected in 1984, faced Democratic state Representative Erik R. Fleming, whom he defeated with 61% of the vote.
{{Election box begin
| title = Mississippi general{{Cite web |title=US Senate Election Official Certification |url=http://www.sos.state.ms.us/elections/2008/08%20Certification%20Results/Cert/US%20Senate%20Regular.pdf |access-date=January 10, 2009 |publisher=Mississippi Secretary of State}}
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link
| party = Republican Party (US)
| candidate = Thad Cochran (Incumbent)
| votes = 766,111
| percentage = 61.44%
| change = -23.2%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
| party = Democratic Party (US)
| candidate = Erik Fleming
| votes = 480,915
| percentage = 38.56%
| change = n/a
}}
{{Election box majority
| votes = 285,196
| percentage =
| change =
}}
{{Election box turnout
| votes = 1,247,026
| percentage =
| change =
}}
{{Election box hold with party link
| winner = Republican Party (US)
| loser =
| swing =
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Clear}}
= Mississippi (special) =
{{Infobox election
| election_name = Mississippi special election
| country = Mississippi
| flag_image = Flag of Mississippi (2001–2020).svg
| type = presidential
| ongoing = no
| previous_election = 2006 United States Senate election in Mississippi
| previous_year = 2006
| next_election = 2012 United States Senate election in Mississippi
| next_year = 2012
| election_date = November 4, 2008
| image_size = 125x136px
| image1 = SenatorRogerWicker(R-MS).jpg
| nominee1 = Roger Wicker
| party1 = Republican Party (US)
| popular_vote1 = 683,409
| percentage1 = 55.0%
| image2 = David Ronald Musgrove.jpg
| nominee2 = Ronnie Musgrove
| party2 = Democratic Party (US)
| popular_vote2 = 560,064
| percentage2 = 45.0%
| map_image = 2008 United States Senate special election in Mississippi results map by county.svg
| map_size = 200px
| map_caption = Wicker: {{legend0|#e27f7f|50–60%}} {{legend0|#d75d5d|60–70%}} {{legend0|#d72f30|70–80%}}
Musgrove: {{legend0|#7996e2|50–60%}} {{legend0|#6674de|60–70%}} {{legend0|#584cde|70–80%}} {{legend0|#3933e5|80–90%}}
| title = U.S. senator
| before_election = Roger Wicker
| before_party = Republican Party (US)
| after_election = Roger Wicker
| after_party = Republican Party (US)
}}
{{Main|2008 United States Senate special election in Mississippi}}
Roger Wicker, formerly the representative of Mississippi's 1st congressional district, was appointed by Governor Haley Barbour on December 31, 2007, to fill the vacancy caused by the December 18 resignation of Trent Lott.{{Cite web |title=Miss. Congressman Replacing Sen. Lott |url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=4069254 |work=ABC News}}{{Cite web |title=Lott Officially Resigns, All Eyes Now on Barbour |url=http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?parm1=5&docID=news-000002646810 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090104042116/http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?parm1=5&docID=news-000002646810 |archive-date=January 4, 2009 |publisher=CQ Politics }} It had been speculated that Lott wished to resign before a new lobbying reform law, effective the first day of 2008, took effect; having resigned before the end of 2007, Lott may become a lobbyist in 2009 instead of 2010. Controversy arose when Barbour called for the special election to be held on the same day as the general election. As a result, Mississippi's Attorney General Jim Hood challenged Barbour in court, claiming that the special election needed to be held within 100 days of Lott's resignation, as per state law.{{Cite web |title=Hood Files Suit to Have Special Election Earlier |url=http://www.wlbt.com/Global/story.asp?S=7568072&nav=menu119_3 |publisher=WLBT 3 - Jackson, MS |access-date=January 3, 2008 |archive-date=January 4, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080104175026/http://www.wlbt.com/Global/story.asp?S=7568072&nav=menu119_3 |url-status=dead }} Initially, a Mississippi Circuit Court judge sided with Hood, ruling that the election take place on or before March 19, 2008.{{Cite news |title=Miss. judge cancels special election to replace Lott |publisher=USATODAY.com |url=http://blogs.usatoday.com/ondeadline/2008/01/miss-judge-canc.html |url-status=dead |access-date=May 27, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080220125057/http://blogs.usatoday.com/ondeadline/2008/01/miss-judge-canc.html |archive-date=February 20, 2008}} However, Barbour filed an appeal to the Mississippi Supreme Court, which overturned the earlier ruling and set the special election for November 4, 2008.{{Cite web |title=Barbour's Attorney Appeals Special-Elex Ruling |url=http://www.wlbt.com/Global/story.asp?S=7690497&nav=menu119_2 |publisher=WLBT 3 - Jackson, MS |access-date=January 17, 2008 |archive-date=December 6, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081206095106/http://www.wlbt.com/Global/story.asp?S=7690497&nav=menu119_2 |url-status=dead }}{{Cite web |title=Mississippi Supreme Court sets election for November |url=http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/mississippi-supreme-court-sets-election-for-november-2008-02-06.html |access-date=February 7, 2008 |archive-date=February 8, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080208035514/http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/mississippi-supreme-court-sets-election-for-november-2008-02-06.html |url-status=dead }}
Democratic former Governor Ronnie Musgrove challenged Wicker. Another Democrat, former Congressman Ronnie Shows, also filed to run, but he withdrew in February 2008 and endorsed Musgrove.{{Cite web |title=Former Rep. Shows running for Lott's seat |url=http://www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080105/NEWS/80105003 |publisher=clarionledger.com }}{{Dead link|date=June 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}{{Cite web |title=Shows drops out of race to replace Lott |url=http://www.sunherald.com/306/story/380141.html}}{{dead link | date=July 2017 | bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes}} Wicker beat Musgrove 55% to 45%.
{{Election box begin
| title = 2008 Mississippi U.S. Senate special election{{Cite web |title=US Senate Special Election Official Certification |url=http://www.sos.state.ms.us/elections/2008/08%20Certification%20Results/Cert/US%20Senate%20Special.pdf |access-date=January 10, 2009 |publisher=Mississippi Secretary of State}}
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link
| party = Republican Party (US)
| candidate = Roger Wicker (incumbent)
| votes = 683,409
| percentage = 54.96%
| change = -8.6%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
| party = Democratic Party (US)
| candidate = Ronnie Musgrove
| votes = 560,064
| percentage = 45.04%
| change = +9.9%
}}
{{Election box majority
| votes = 123,345
| percentage =
| change =
}}
{{Election box turnout
| votes = 1,243,473
| percentage =
| change =
}}
{{Election box hold with party link
| winner = Republican Party (US)
| loser =
| swing =
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Clear}}
Montana
{{Infobox election
| election_name = Montana election
| country = Montana
| type = presidential
| ongoing = no
| previous_election = 2002 United States Senate election in Montana
| previous_year = 2002
| next_election = 2014 United States Senate election in Montana
| next_year = 2014
| image_size = 125x136px
| image1 = Max S Baucus.jpg
| nominee1 = Max Baucus
| party1 = Democratic Party (US)
| popular_vote1 = 345,937
| percentage1 = 72.9%
| image2 = Bob Kelleher (cropped).jpg
| nominee2 = Robert Kelleher
| party2 = Republican Party (US)
| popular_vote2 = 128,762
| percentage2 = 27.1%
| map_image = 2008 United States Senate election in Montana results map by county.svg
| map_size = 300px
| map_caption = County results
Baucus: {{legend0|#7996e2|50–60%}} {{legend0|#6674de|60–70%}} {{legend0|#584cde|70–80%}} {{legend0|#3933e5|80–90%}}
| title = U.S. senator
| before_election = Max Baucus
| before_party = Democratic Party (US)
| after_election = Max Baucus
| after_party = Democratic Party (US)
}}
{{Main|2008 United States Senate election in Montana}}
{{See also|List of United States senators from Montana}}
Senator Max Baucus was a popular Democrat in Montana, representing a state that has long been fairly Republican but also receptive to Democrats in state and local elections. President Bush won Montana by more than 20 points in both 2000 and 2004, but Montana also had a popular Democratic governor, Brian Schweitzer, and a newly elected Democratic junior senator, Jon Tester. Baucus was not expected to face a significant challenge from the 85-year-old Republican nominee, Bob Kelleher, who surprised observers by winning the June 3 Republican primary despite supporting a number of positions that put him to the political left of Baucus, such as nationalization of the American oil and gas industry.{{Cite news |title=16th time a charm for veteran candidate |url=http://www.missoulian.com/articles/2008/06/05/news/local/news03.txt}}
Baucus easily won re-election, taking 73% of the vote, with Kelleher taking 27%.
{{Election box begin no change
| title = Democratic Party primary{{Cite web |title=Archived copy |url=http://sos.mt.gov/Elections/archives/2000s/2002/2002-PrimState.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110111235031/http://sos.mt.gov/Elections/archives/2000s/2002/2002-PrimState.pdf |archive-date=January 11, 2011 |access-date=April 22, 2011 }}
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Max Baucus (Incumbent)
| party = Democratic Party (US)
| votes = 165,050
| percentage = 100.00%
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 165,050
| percentage = 100.00%
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin no change
| title = Republican Party primary
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Bob Kelleher
| party = Republican Party (US)
| votes = 26,936
| percentage = 36.32%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Michael Lange
| party = Republican Party (US)
| votes = 17,044
| percentage = 22.98%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Kirk Bushman
| party = Republican Party (US)
| votes = 15,507
| percentage = 20.91%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Patty Lovaas
| party = Republican Party (US)
| votes = 7,632
| percentage = 10.29%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Anton Pearson
| party = Republican Party (US)
| votes = 4,257
| percentage = 5.74%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Shay Joshua Garnett
| party = Republican Party (US)
| votes = 2,788
| percentage = 3.76%
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 74,164
| percentage = 100.00%
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link
| party = Democratic Party (US)
| candidate = Max Baucus (incumbent)
| votes = 348,289
| percentage = 72.92%
| change = +10.18%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
| party = Republican Party (US)
| candidate = Bob Kelleher
| votes = 129,369
| percentage = 27.08%
| change = -4.65%
}}
{{Election box majority
| votes = 218,920
| percentage = 45.84%
| change = +14.84%
}}
{{Election box turnout
| votes = 477,658
| percentage =
| change =
}}
{{Election box hold with party link
| winner = Democratic Party (US)
| loser =
| swing =
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Clear}}
Nebraska
{{Infobox election
| election_name = Nebraska election
| country = Nebraska
| type = presidential
| ongoing = no
| previous_election = 2002 United States Senate election in Nebraska
| previous_year = 2002
| next_election = 2014 United States Senate election in Nebraska
| next_year = 2014
| image_size = 125x136px
| image1 = Mike Johanns official Senate photo.jpg
| nominee1 = Mike Johanns
| party1 = Republican Party (US)
| popular_vote1 = 455,854
| percentage1 = 57.5%
| image2 = Scott Kleeb portrait (cropped).jpg
| nominee2 = Scott Kleeb
| party2 = Democratic Party (US)
| popular_vote2 = 317,456
| percentage2 = 40.1%
| map_image = 2008 United States Senate election in Nebraska results map by county.svg
| map_size = 250px
| map_caption = Johanns: {{legend0|#E27F7F|50–60%}} {{legend0|#d75d5d|60–70%}} {{legend0|#D72F30|70–80%}}
Kleeb: {{legend0|#A5B0FF|40–50%}} {{legend0|#7996e2|50–60%}} {{legend0|#6674de|60–70%}}
| title = U.S. senator
| before_election = Chuck Hagel
| before_party = Republican Party (US)
| after_election = Mike Johanns
| after_party = Republican Party (US)
}}
{{Main|2008 United States Senate election in Nebraska}}
{{See also|List of United States senators from Nebraska}}
In Nebraska, incumbent Republican Chuck Hagel chose to retire rather than run for a third term.
Former Governor Mike Johanns, who recently resigned as Agriculture Secretary, was the Republican nominee, having defeated opponent Pat Flynn 87–13 in the primary. Scott Kleeb, 2006 candidate for Nebraska's 3rd congressional district, defeated businessman Tony Raimondo, a former Republican, by a wide margin in the Democratic primary.
Nebraska state Green Party Co-Chairman Steve Larrick was also a candidate,{{Cite web |title=Green Party's Larrick to enter Senate race |url=http://www.kptm.com/Global/story.asp?S=7326242&nav=menu606_2_4 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080918150008/http://www.kptm.com/Global/story.asp?S=7326242&nav=menu606_2_4 |archive-date=September 18, 2008 |publisher=kptm.com }} as was Kelly Rosberg of the Nebraska Party.
Johanns won, taking 58% of the vote, with Kleeb taking 40%.
{{Election box begin no change
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Mike Johanns
| party = Republican Party (US)
| votes = 112,191
| percentage = 78.61%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Pat Flynn
| party = Republican Party (US)
| votes = 31,560
| percentage = 21.12%
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 143,751
| percentage = 100.00%
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin no change
| title = Democratic primary{{Cite web |date=June 20, 2008 |title=Official Results of Nebraska Primary Election, May 13, 2008 |url=http://www.sos.ne.gov/elec/2008/pdf/2008%20primary%20official%20results.pdf |publisher=Government of Nebraska |access-date=December 11, 2017 |archive-date=December 20, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220205237/http://www.sos.ne.gov/elec/2008/pdf/2008%20primary%20official%20results.pdf |url-status=dead }}
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Scott Kleeb
| party = Democratic Party (US)
| votes = 65,582
| percentage = 68.37%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Tony Raimondo
| party = Democratic Party (US)
| votes = 24,141
| percentage = 25.17%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = James Bryan Wilson
| party = Democratic Party (US)
| votes = 3,224
| percentage = 3.36%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Larry Marvin
| party = Democratic Party (US)
| votes = 2,672
| percentage = 2.80%
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 95,919
| percentage = 100.00%
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin no change
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Steve Larrick
| party = Green Party (US)
| votes = 123
| percentage = 100.00%
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 123
| percentage = 100.00%
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin no change
| title = Nebraska Party primary
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Barry Richards
| party = Nebraska Party
| votes = 209
| percentage = 100.00%
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 209
| percentage = 100.00%
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin
| title = General election
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link
| party = Republican Party (US)
| candidate = Mike Johanns
| votes = 455,854
| percentage = 57.5%
| change = -25.2%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
| party = Democratic Party (US)
| candidate = Scott Kleeb
| votes = 317,456
| percentage = 40.1%
| change = +25.5%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
| party = Nebraska Party
| candidate = Kelly Renee Rosberg
| votes = 11,438
| percentage = 1.4%
| change = n/a
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
| party = Green Party (US)
| candidate = Steve Larrick
| votes = 7,763
| percentage = 1.0%
| change = n/a
}}
{{Election box majority
| votes = 138,398
| percentage =
| change =
}}
{{Election box turnout
| votes = 792,511
| percentage =
| change =
}}
{{Election box hold with party link
| winner = Republican Party (US)
| loser =
| swing =
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Clear}}
New Hampshire
{{Infobox election
| election_name = New Hampshire election
| country = New Hampshire
| type = presidential
| ongoing = no
| previous_election = 2002 United States Senate election in New Hampshire
| previous_year = 2002
| next_election = 2014 United States Senate election in New Hampshire
| next_year = 2014
| image_size = 125x136px
| image1 = Jeanne Shaheen, official Senate portrait cropped.jpg
| nominee1 = Jeanne Shaheen
| party1 = Democratic Party (US)
| popular_vote1 = 358,438
| percentage1 = 51.6%
| image2 = John E. Sununu.jpg
| nominee2 = John E. Sununu
| party2 = Republican Party (US)
| popular_vote2 = 314,403
| percentage2 = 45.3%
| map = {{switcher
|County results
|Municipality results}}
| map_caption = Shaheen: {{legend0|#a5b0ff|40–50%}} {{legend0|#7996E2|50–60%}} {{legend0|#6674DE|60–70%}} {{legend0|#584cde|70–80%}} {{legend0|#0d056c|>90%}}
Sununu: {{legend0|#FFB2B2|40–50%}} {{legend0|#E27F7F|50–60%}} {{legend0|#D75D5D|60–70%}} {{legend0|#D72F30|70–80%}}
Tie: {{legend0|#D2B1D9|40–50%}}
| title = U.S. senator
| before_election = John E. Sununu
| before_party = Republican Party (US)
| after_election = Jeanne Shaheen
| after_party = Democratic Party (US)
}}
{{Main|2008 United States Senate election in New Hampshire}}
{{See also|List of United States senators from New Hampshire}}
Incumbent Republican John E. Sununu represented the swing state of New Hampshire. The state traditionally leaned Republican, but John Kerry from neighboring Massachusetts narrowly won the state in the 2004 Presidential election. New Hampshire also saw major Democratic gains in the 2006 elections, when Democrats took both of the previously Republican-held House seats, the gubernatorial race with a record vote share of 74%, and majorities in the State House and Senate, giving them concurrent control of both bodies for the first time since 1874. However, New Hampshire had not elected a Democratic United States senator since 1975.
Sununu's 2002 opponent, former Governor Jeanne Shaheen, decided to run and was generally considered to be a very formidable challenger.{{Cite web |title=U.S. News - National News |url=https://abcnews.go.com/US |access-date=December 20, 2017 |website=ABC News}} Three consecutive monthly Rasmussen Reports poll showed Shaheen defeating Sununu by 49% to 41%.{{Cite web |title=Rasmussen Reports on New Hampshire |url=http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/election_20082/2008_senate_elections/new_hampshire/election_2008_new_hampshire_senate |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080430222636/http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/election_20082/2008_senate_elections/new_hampshire/election_2008_new_hampshire_senate |archive-date=April 30, 2008 |url-status=dead}} Prior to Shaheen's entry, Portsmouth Mayor Steve Marchand,{{Cite news |last=Haberman |first=Shir |date=January 11, 2007 |title=Marchand says he'll run for Senate |work=The Portsmouth Herald |url=http://www.seacoastonline.com/news/01112007/nhnews-ph-por-marchand.runs.html |url-status=dead |access-date=February 6, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070128084150/http://www.seacoastonline.com/news/01112007/nhnews-ph-por-marchand.runs.html |archive-date=January 28, 2007 }} Katrina Swett, wife of former Democratic congressman Richard Swett,{{Cite news |last=Moskowitz |first=Eric |date=January 19, 2007 |title=Swett plans campaign for U.S. Senate |work=Concord Monitor |url=http://www.concordmonitor.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070119/REPOSITORY/701190342/1043/48HOURS |url-status=dead |access-date=February 6, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130608040237/http://www.concordmonitor.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20070119%2FREPOSITORY%2F701190342%2F1043%2F48HOURS |archive-date=June 8, 2013 }} and former astronaut Jay Buckey{{Cite news |date=February 13, 2008 |title=NH-Sen: Jay Buckey's Out}} had announced that they were running for the Democratic nomination. After Shaheen's entry, however, all three withdrew and endorsed the former governor.
On election day, Shaheen defeated Sununu, 52% to 45%.
File:Jeanne Shaheen 2008 NH.jpg
{{Election box begin
| title = Democratic primary
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link
| party = Democratic Party (US)
| candidate = Jeanne Shaheen
| votes = 43,968
| percentage = 88.5%
| change =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
| party = Democratic Party (US)
| candidate = Raymond Stebbins
| votes = 5,281
| percentage = 10.6%
| change =
}}
{{Election box candidate
| party =
| candidate = write-ins
| votes = 407
| percentage = 0.8%
| change =
}}
{{Election box turnout
| votes = 49,656
| percentage =
| change =
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin
| title = Republican primary
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link
| party = Republican Party (US)
| candidate = John Sununu (Incumbent)
| votes = 60,852
| percentage = 88.7%
| change =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
| party = Republican Party (US)
| candidate = Tom Alciere
| votes = 7,084
| percentage = 10.3%
| change =
}}
{{Election box candidate
| party =
| candidate = write-ins
| votes = 685
| percentage = 1.0%
| change =
}}
{{Election box turnout
| votes = 68,621
| percentage =
| change =
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin
| title = General election
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link
| party = Democratic Party (US)
| candidate = Jeanne Shaheen
| votes = 358,438
| percentage = 51.6%
| change = +5.2%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
| party = Republican Party (US)
| candidate = John Sununu (Incumbent)
| votes = 314,403
| percentage = 45.3%
| change = -5.5%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
| party = Libertarian Party (US)
| candidate = Ken Blevens
| votes = 21,516
| percentage = 3.1%
| change = +0.9%
}}
{{Election box majority
| votes = 44,035
| percentage =
| change =
}}
{{Election box turnout
| votes = 694,357
| percentage =
| change =
}}
{{Election box gain with party link
| winner = Democratic Party (US)
| loser = Republican Party (US)
| swing =
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Clear}}
New Jersey
{{Infobox election
| election_name = 2008 United States Senate election in New Jersey
| country = New Jersey
| type = presidential
| ongoing = no
| previous_election = 2002 United States Senate election in New Jersey
| previous_year = 2002
| next_election = 2013 United States Senate special election in New Jersey
| next_year = 2013 (special)
| image_size = 125x136px
| image1 = Frank Lautenberg, official portrait, 112th portrait crop.jpg
| nominee1 = Frank Lautenberg
| party1 = Democratic Party (US)
| popular_vote1 = 1,951,218
| percentage1 = 56.0%
| image2 = Richard Alan Zimmer portrait.gif
| nominee2 = Dick Zimmer
| party2 = Republican Party (US)
| popular_vote2 = 1,461,025
| percentage2 = 42.0%
| map_image = {{switcher |280px|County results |280px|Congressional district results |150px|Municipality results}}
| map_size = 250px
| map_caption = Lautenberg: {{legend0|#A5B0FF|40–50%}} {{legend0|#7996e2|50–60%}} {{legend0|#6674de|60–70%}} {{legend0|#584cde|70–80%}} {{legend0|#3933E5|80–90%}} {{legend0|#0D0596|90–100%}}
Zimmer: {{legend0|#FFB2B2|40–50%}} {{legend0|#e27f7f|50–60%}} {{legend0|#d75d5d|60–70%}} {{legend0|#D72F30|70–80%}} {{legend0|#C21B18|80–90%}}
| title = U.S. senator
| before_election = Frank Lautenberg
| before_party = Democratic Party (US)
| after_election = Frank Lautenberg
| after_party = Democratic Party (US)
}}
{{Main|2008 United States Senate election in New Jersey}}
{{See also|List of United States senators from New Jersey}}
Incumbent Democrat Frank Lautenberg sought re-election in 2008, though he was 84. In the Primary, Lautenberg soundly defeated Representative Rob Andrews (NJ-1) by a margin of 62% to 32%. In November 2006, the senator had the lowest approval rating of any Democrat running for re-election in 2008 (with 39% approving and 45% disapproving),{{Cite web |date=November 2006 |title=Results of SurveyUSA News Poll #11152 |url=http://www.surveyusa.com/client/PollReport.aspx?g=7f2453b4-1590-478a-bbf4-29bb08ae42da |access-date=February 5, 2007 |publisher=SurveyUSA}} with his approval standing only at 42% as of September 2007 with voters saying he does not deserve re-election 46%-36%.{{Cite web |date=September 25, 2007 |title=Voters still say Lautenberg is too old |url=http://politickernj.com/voters-still-say-lautenberg-too-old-12097 |access-date=November 30, 2007 |publisher=NJ.com.}} The Republican nominee was former Congressman and 1996 senatorial candidate Dick Zimmer.
Sara Lobman of the Socialist Workers Party and Independent Anthony Fisher were also declared candidates.{{Cite web |title=Anthony B. Fisher for U.S. Senate in 2008 official website |url=http://www.geocities.com/fisher4senate/fisher4NJsenate.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080927092036/http://www.geocities.com/fisher4senate/fisher4NJsenate.html |archive-date=September 27, 2008 |access-date=March 14, 2008 }}{{Cite web |title=Politics1 - Online Guide to New Jersey Politics |url=http://politics1.com/nj.htm}} Furthermore, in the wake of the financial crisis, Carl Peter Klapper entered the race as a write-in candidate.{{Cite web |title=Write In Carl Peter Klapper for United States Senator |url=http://www.carlpeterklapper.org}}
Lautenberg won re-election, winning 56%-42%.
{{Election box begin
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link
| party = Democratic Party (US)
| candidate = Frank Lautenberg (incumbent)
| votes = 203,012
| percentage = 58.9%
| change =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
| party = Democratic Party (US)
| candidate = Rob Andrews
| votes = 121,777
| percentage = 35.3%
| change =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
| party = Democratic Party (US)
| candidate = Donald Cresitello
| votes = 19,743
| percentage = 5.7%
| change =
}}
{{Election box turnout
| votes = 344,532
| percentage =
| change =
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link
| party = Republican Party (US)
| candidate = Dick Zimmer
| votes = 84,663
| percentage = 45.8%
| change =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
| party = Republican Party (US)
| candidate = Joseph Pennacchio
| votes = 74,546
| percentage = 40.3%
| change =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
| party = Republican Party (US)
| candidate = Murray Sabrin
| votes = 25,576
| percentage = 13.8%
| change =
}}
{{Election box turnout
| votes = 184,785
| percentage =
| change =
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin
| title = General election
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link
| party = Democratic Party (US)
| candidate = Frank Lautenberg (incumbent)
| votes = 1,951,218
| percentage = 56.0%
| change = +2.1%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
| party = Republican Party (US)
| candidate = Dick Zimmer
| votes = 1,461,025
| percentage = 42.0%
| change = -2.0%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
| party = Independent
| candidate = Daryl Mikell Brooks
| votes = 20,920
| percentage = 1.0%
| change = n/a
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
| party = Libertarian Party (US)
| candidate = Jason Scheurer
| votes = 18,810
| percentage = 0.5%
| change = n/a
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
| party = Independent
| candidate = J.M. Carter
| votes = 15,935
| percentage = 0.5%
| change = n/a
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
| party = Independent
| candidate = Jeff Boss
| votes = 10,345
| percentage = 0.3%
| change = n/a
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
| party = Socialist Workers Party (US)
| candidate = Sara Lobman
| votes = 9,187
| percentage = 0.3%
| change = n/a
}}
{{Election box majority
| votes = 490,193
| percentage =
| change =
}}
{{Election box turnout
| votes = 3,482,445
| percentage =
| change =
}}
{{Election box hold with party link
| winner = Democratic Party (US)
| loser =
| swing =
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Clear}}
New Mexico
{{Infobox election
| election_name = New Mexico election
| country = New Mexico
| type = presidential
| ongoing = no
| previous_election = 2002 United States Senate election in New Mexico
| previous_year = 2002
| next_election = 2014 United States Senate election in New Mexico
| next_year = 2014
| image_size = 125x136px
| image1 = Tom Udall official Senate portrait.jpg
| nominee1 = Tom Udall
| party1 = Democratic Party (US)
| popular_vote1 = 505,128
| percentage1 = 61.3%
| image2 = Steve Pearce, Official Portrait, 112th Congress (cropped).jpg
| nominee2 = Steve Pearce
| party2 = Republican Party (US)
| popular_vote2 = 318,522
| percentage2 = 38.7%
| map_image = 2008 United States Senate election in New Mexico results map by county.svg
| map_size = 200px
| map_caption = County results
Udall: {{legend0|#7996e2|50–60%}} {{legend0|#6674de|60–70%}} {{legend0|#584cde|70–80%}} {{legend0|#3933e5|80–90%}}
Pearce: {{legend0|#e27f7f|50–60%}} {{legend0|#d75d5d|60–70%}} {{legend0|#d72f30|70–80%}}
| title = U.S. senator
| before_election = Pete Domenici
| before_party = Republican Party (US)
| after_election = Tom Udall
| after_party = Democratic Party (US)
}}
{{Main|2008 United States Senate election in New Mexico}}
{{See also|List of United States senators from New Mexico}}
While senator Pete Domenici had declared that he would seek re-election in New Mexico, he changed his mind and announced on October 4, 2007, that he was retiring at the end of his current term due to a degenerative brain disorder.{{Cite news |last=Herszenhorn |first=David M. |date=October 4, 2007 |title=Republican Senator From New Mexico Is Said to Be Retiring |work=The New York Times |url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E04EFD91530F937A35753C1A9619C8B63 |access-date=May 27, 2010}} Domenici normally would have been expected to win re-election easily, having won his current term with the support of two out of three New Mexico voters; however, he was to be investigated by the Senate Ethics Committee for his role in firing U.S. Attorney David Iglesias. Domenici's role in the developing scandal had reduced the probability he would have been re-elected, and a SurveyUSA poll showed his approval ratings at 41%, with 54% disapproving.{{Cite web |title=SurveyUSA Approval Ratings for New Mexico Senators |url=http://www.surveyusa.com/client/PollReport.aspx?g=da4d5db4-4d96-4318-9af1-da83f4798b17}} The potential scandal may have also contributed to his decision to leave the Senate.
Tom Udall, the popular Representative from New Mexico's 3rd District, was the Democratic nominee. The Republican nominee was Rep. Steve Pearce, who represented the more conservative southern part of the state.
When asked whether the Republicans were abandoning their hopes of holding onto Domenici's seat, senator John Ensign, the chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, responded that "You don't waste money on races that don't need it or you can't win."{{Cite news |last=Carnevale |first=Mary Lu |date=June 12, 2008 |title=Sen. Ensign Says GOP Majority Would Be 'Fairly Miraculous' |newspaper=Wall Street Journal |url=https://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2008/06/12/sen-ensign-says-gop-majority-would-be-fairly-miraculous |access-date=December 20, 2017}}
Udall won the election with 61% of the vote, with Pearce taking 39%.
{{Election box begin no change
| title = Democratic Party primary{{Cite web |title=Archived copy |url=http://www.sos.state.nm.us/08PrimResults/StatewidePrim08.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120314170523/http://www.sos.state.nm.us/08PrimResults/StatewidePrim08.pdf |archive-date=March 14, 2012 |access-date=December 14, 2015}}
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Tom Udall
| party = Democratic Party (US)
| votes = 141,629
| percentage = 100.00%
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 141,629
| percentage = 100.00%
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin no change
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Steve Pearce
| party = Republican Party (US)
| votes = 57,953
| percentage = 51.29%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Heather Wilson
| party = Republican Party (US)
| votes = 55,039
| percentage = 48.71%
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 112,992
| percentage = 100.00%
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin
| title = New Mexico general{{Cite web |title=2008 Election Statistics |url=http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/2008/2008Stat.htm#stateNM |access-date=December 20, 2017 |website=clerk.house.gov}}
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link
| party = Democratic Party (US)
| candidate = Tom Udall
| votes = 505,128
| percentage = 61.33%
| change = +26.37%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
| party = Republican Party (US)
| candidate = Steve Pearce
| votes = 318,522
| percentage = 38.67%
| change = -26.37%
}}
{{Election box majority
| votes = 186,606
| percentage = 22.66%
| change = -7.43%
}}
{{Election box turnout
| votes = 823,650
| percentage =
| change =
}}
{{Election box gain with party link
| winner = Democratic Party (US)
| loser = Republican Party (US)
| swing =
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Clear}}
North Carolina
{{Infobox election
| election_name = North Carolina election
| country = North Carolina
| type = presidential
| ongoing = no
| previous_election = 2002 United States Senate election in North Carolina
| previous_year = 2002
| next_election = 2014 United States Senate election in North Carolina
| next_year = 2014
| image_size = 125x136px
| image1 = Kay Hagan official photo.jpg
| nominee1 = Kay Hagan
| party1 = Democratic Party (US)
| popular_vote1 = 2,249,311
| percentage1 = 52.7%
| image2 = Elizabeth Dole official photo.jpg
| nominee2 = Elizabeth Dole
| party2 = Republican Party (US)
| popular_vote2 = 1,887,510
| percentage2 = 44.2%
| map_image = 2008 United States Senate election in North Carolina results map by county.svg
| map_size = 300px
| map_caption = Hagan: {{legend0|#A5B0FF|40–50%}} {{legend0|#7996e2|50–60%}} {{legend0|#6674de|60–70%}} {{legend0|#584cde|70–80%}}
Dole: {{legend0|#FFB2B2|40–50%}} {{legend0|#E27F7F|50–60%}} {{legend0|#d75d5d|60–70%}}
| title = U.S. senator
| before_election = Elizabeth Dole
| before_party = Republican Party (US)
| after_election = Kay Hagan
| after_party = Democratic Party (US)
}}
{{Main|2008 United States Senate election in North Carolina}}
{{See also|List of United States senators from North Carolina}}
In North Carolina, there had been rumors that senator Elizabeth Dole would retire from the Senate and run for governor, but she said in 2006 that she intended to run for re-election.{{Cite news |last=Christensen |first=Rob |date=June 12, 2006 |title=Mary Easley has active public life, but she's no Hillary Clinton |work=The News & Observer |url=http://www.newsobserver.com/659/story/449646.html |access-date=February 5, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061209204249/http://www.newsobserver.com/659/story/449646.html |archive-date=December 9, 2006}} There was early speculation that North Carolina Governor Mike Easley might be pressured into running against her but this did not come to pass.{{Cite news |last1=Kane |first1=Dan |last2=Christensen |first2=Rob |last3=Curliss |first3=J. Andrew |date=January 25, 2007 |title=Poll puts Easley over Dole |work=The News & Observer |url=http://www.newsobserver.com/659/story/535828.html |url-status=dead |access-date=February 5, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080918135433/http://www.newsobserver.com/659/story/535828.html |archive-date=September 18, 2008}} The Democratic nominee was state senator Kay Hagan,[http://projects.newsobserver.com/blogs/hagan_to_run Hagan to run {{!}} newsobserver.com projects] {{webarchive | url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080511045650/http://projects.newsobserver.com/blogs/hagan_to_run | date=May 11, 2008}} who defeated Jim Neal and Dustin Lassiter in the Democratic primary. A Rasmussen poll released May 11, 2008, showed Hagan leading Dole by a statistically insignificant margin, 48% - 47%,{{Cite web |title=rasmussenreports.com on North Carolina |url=http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/election_20082/2008_senate_elections/north_carolina/election_2008_north_carolina_senate |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080513042405/http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/election_20082/2008_senate_elections/north_carolina/election_2008_north_carolina_senate |archive-date=May 13, 2008 |url-status=dead}} suggesting a competitive race. Hagan's poll numbers continued to best Dole's, however, and Hagan defeated Dole by a wider than expected[http://www.skdknick.com/work/beating-a-popular-incumbent Beating a Popular Incumbent {{!}} SKDKnickerbocker] {{webarchive | url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130705001448/http://www.skdknick.com/work/beating-a-popular-incumbent | date=July 5, 2013}}. Skdknick.com. Retrieved on August 16, 2013. margin of 53% to 44%.
{{Election box begin
| title = Democratic Primary election{{Cite web |title=NC - Election Results |url=http://results.enr.clarityelections.com/NC/1875/3985/en/summary.html |access-date=December 20, 2017 |website=results.enr.clarityelections.com}}
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link
| party = Democratic Party (US)
| candidate = Kay Hagan
| votes = 801,920
| percentage = 60.1%
| change =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
| party = Democratic Party (US)
| candidate = Jim Neal
| votes = 239,623
| percentage = 18.0%
| change =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
| party = Democratic Party (US)
| candidate = Marcus W. Williams
| votes = 170,970
| percentage = 12.8%
| change =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
| party = Democratic Party (US)
| candidate = Duskin Lassiter
| votes = 62,136
| percentage = 4.6%
| change =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
| party = Democratic Party (US)
| candidate = Howard Staley
| votes = 60,403
| percentage = 4.5%
| change =
}}
{{Election box turnout
| votes = 1,335,052
| percentage =
| change =
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link
| party = Republican Party (US)
| candidate = Elizabeth Dole (Incumbent)
| votes = 460,665
| percentage = 90.0%
| change =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
| party = Republican Party (US)
| candidate = Pete DiLauro
| votes = 51,406
| percentage = 10.0%
| change =
}}
{{Election box turnout
| votes = 512,071
| percentage =
| change =
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin
| title = North Carolina general{{Cite web |title=NC - Election Results |url=http://results.enr.clarityelections.com/NC/7937/13859/en/summary.html# |access-date=December 20, 2017 |website=results.enr.clarityelections.com}}
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link
| party = Democratic Party (US)
| candidate = Kay Hagan
| votes = 2,249,311
| percentage = 52.65%
| change = +7.7%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
| party = Republican Party (US)
| candidate = Elizabeth Dole (Incumbent)
| votes = 1,887,510
| percentage = 44.18%
| change = -9.4%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
| party = Libertarian Party (US)
| candidate = Chris Cole
| votes = 133,430
| percentage = 3.17%
| change = +2.1%
}}
{{Election box candidate
| party = Other
| candidate = Write-Ins
| votes = 1,719
| percentage = 0.0%
| change = 0.0%
}}
{{Election box majority
| votes = 361,801
| percentage =
| change =
}}
{{Election box turnout
| votes = 4,271,970
| percentage =
| change =
}}
{{Election box gain with party link
| winner = Democratic Party (US)
| loser = Republican Party (US)
| swing =
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Clear}}
Oklahoma
{{Infobox election
| election_name = Oklahoma election
| country = Oklahoma
| type = presidential
| ongoing = no
| previous_election = 2002 United States Senate election in Oklahoma
| previous_year = 2002
| next_election = 2014 United States Senate election in Oklahoma
| next_year = 2014
| image_size = 125x136px
| image1 = Jim Inhofe, 2007 official photo (cropped).jpg
| nominee1 = Jim Inhofe
| party1 = Republican Party (US)
| popular_vote1 = 763,375
| percentage1 = 56.7%
| image2 = ParadeHighRes (cropped).jpg
| nominee2 = Andrew Rice
| party2 = Democratic Party (US)
| popular_vote2 = 527,736
| percentage2 = 39.2%
| map_image = 2008 United States Senate election in Oklahoma results map by county.svg
| map_size = 300px
| map_caption = County results
Inhofe: {{legend0|#ffb2b2|40–50%}} {{legend0|#e27f7f|50–60%}} {{legend0|#d75d5d|60–70%}} {{legend0|#d72f30|70–80%}} {{legend0|#c21b18|80–90%}}
Rice: {{legend0|#7996e2|50–60%}}
| title = U.S. senator
| before_election = Jim Inhofe
| before_party = Republican Party (US)
| after_election = Jim Inhofe
| after_party = Republican Party (US)
}}
{{Main|2008 United States Senate election in Oklahoma}}
{{See also|List of United States senators from Oklahoma}}
In Oklahoma, senator Jim Inhofe announced that he would seek a third full term. A September 2007 poll put Inhofe's approval rating at 47%, with 41% disapproving of his performance.{{Cite web |date=September 27, 2007 |title=OK Sr Sen Approval |url=http://www.surveyusa.com/client/PollTrack.aspx?g=7e53e4b6-1473-4716-a3ba-410dff324733 |access-date=October 19, 2007 |publisher=SurveyUSA}} Inhofe's opponent was State senator Andrew Rice. Inhofe was re-elected, 57% to 39%.
{{Election box begin no change
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Andrew Rice
| party = Democratic Party (US)
| votes = 113,795
| percentage = 59.65%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Jim Rogers
| party = Democratic Party (US)
| votes = 76,981
| percentage = 40.35%
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 190,776
| percentage = 100.00%
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin no change
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Jim Inhofe (Incumbent)
| party = Republican Party (US)
| votes = 116,371
| percentage = 84.18%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Evelyn R. Rogers
| party = Republican Party (US)
| votes = 10,770
| percentage = 7.79%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Ted Ryals
| party = Republican Party (US)
| votes = 7,306
| percentage = 5.28%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Dennis Lopez
| party = Republican Party (US)
| votes = 3,800
| percentage = 2.75%
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 138,247
| percentage = 100.00%
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin
| title = Oklahoma general{{Cite web |title=2008 Election Statistics |url=http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/2008/2008Stat.htm#stateOK |access-date=December 8, 2012 |publisher=Clerk.house.gov}}
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link
| party = Republican Party (US)
| candidate = Jim Inhofe (Incumbent)
| votes = 763,375
| percentage = 56.68%
| change = -0.62%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
| party = Democratic Party (US)
| candidate = Andrew Rice
| votes = 527,736
| percentage = 39.18%
| change = +2.87%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
| party = Independent
| candidate = Stephen Wallace
| votes = 55,708
| percentage = 4.14%
| change =
}}
{{Election box majority
| votes = 235,639
| percentage = 17.50%
| change = -3.50%
}}
{{Election box turnout
| votes = 1,346,819
| percentage =
| change =
}}
{{Election box hold with party link
| winner = Republican Party (US)
| loser =
| swing =
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Clear}}
Oregon
{{Infobox election
| election_name = Oregon election
| country = Oregon
| type = presidential
| ongoing = no
| previous_election = 2002 United States Senate election in Oregon
| previous_year = 2002
| next_election = 2014 United States Senate election in Oregon
| next_year = 2014
| image_size = 125x136px
| image1 = Jeff Merkley (cropped).jpg
| nominee1 = Jeff Merkley
| party1 = Democratic Party (US)
| popular_vote1 = 864,392
| percentage1 = 48.9%
| image2 = Gordon Smith official portrait (cropped).jpg
| nominee2 = Gordon Smith
| party2 = Republican Party (US)
| popular_vote2 = 805,159
| percentage2 = 45.6%
| image3 = No image.png
| nominee3 = David Brownlow
| party3 = Constitution Party (US)
| popular_vote3 = 92,565
| percentage3 = 5.2%
| map_image = 2008 United States Senate election in Oregon results map by county.svg
| map_size = 250px
| map_caption = Merkley: {{legend0|#a5b0ff|40–50%}} {{legend0|#7996e2|50–60%}} {{legend0|#6674de|60–70%}}
Smith: {{legend0|#ffb2b2|40–50%}} {{legend0|#e27f7f|50–60%}} {{legend0|#d75d5d|60–70%}} {{legend0|#d72f30|70–80%}}
| title = U.S. senator
| before_election = Gordon H. Smith
| before_party = Republican Party (US)
| after_election = Jeff Merkley
| after_party = Democratic Party (US)
}}
{{Main|2008 United States Senate election in Oregon}}
{{See also|List of United States senators from Oregon}}
Senator Gordon Smith of Oregon ran for a third term. He defeated ophthalmologist Gordon Leitch{{Cite web |title=Oregon Voters' Pamphlets: May 20, 2008 |url=http://records.sos.state.or.us/ORSOSWebDrawer/Record?q=recTitle:2008+primary&sortBy=recCreatedOn- |access-date=May 8, 2008 |publisher=Oregon Secretary of State}} in the May 20 Republican primary. Smith faced Democratic Oregon House of Representatives Speaker Jeff Merkley in the November general election. Merkley beat longtime Democratic activist Steve Novick and three other candidates in a hotly contested primary.{{Cite news |last=Walsh |first=Edward |date=May 21, 2008 |title=Merkley scores chance to take on Smith |work=The Oregonian |url=http://www.oregonlive.com/politics/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/news/1211352909172240.xml&coll=7 |access-date=May 21, 2008 |archive-date=May 30, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080530113042/http://www.oregonlive.com/politics/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/news/1211352909172240.xml&coll=7 |url-status=dead }}
In a July 16, 2008, poll, Merkley overtook Smith for the first time 43% to 41%.{{Cite news |date=July 16, 2008 |title=Oregon Senate: Merkley tops Smith for first time 43% to 41% |work=Rasmussen Reports |url=http://rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/election_20082/2008_senate_elections/oregon/election_2008_oregon_senate |access-date=July 16, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080714200626/http://rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/election_20082/2008_senate_elections/oregon/election_2008_oregon_senate |archive-date=July 14, 2008}}
On November 6, 2008, Jeff Merkley was projected the winner of the contest, with 48.9% to Smith's 45.6%. Gordon Smith formally conceded soon afterward.{{Cite news |title=Merkley ready for Senate race victory lap |work=The Oregonian |url=http://www.oregonlive.com/news/index.ssf/2008/11/merkley_declares_victory_thurs.html}}
{{Election box begin no change
| title = Democratic primary{{Cite web |title=Oregon Secretary of State: Official Results May 2008 Primary Election |url=http://records.sos.state.or.us/ORSOSWebDrawer/Recordpdf/6873621 |access-date=December 20, 2017 |website=sos.oregon.gov}}
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Jeff Merkley
| party = Democratic Party (US)
| votes = 246,482
| percentage = 44.82%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Steve Novick
| party = Democratic Party (US)
| votes = 230,889
| percentage = 41.98%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Candy Neville
| party = Democratic Party (US)
| votes = 38,367
| percentage = 6.98%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Roger S. Obrist
| party = Democratic Party (US)
| votes = 12,647
| percentage = 2.30%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Pavel Goberman
| party = Democratic Party (US)
| votes = 12,056
| percentage = 2.19%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = David Loera
| party = Democratic Party (US)
| votes = 6,127
| percentage = 1.11%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Write-ins
| party = Democratic Party (US)
| votes = 3,398
| percentage = 0.62%
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 549,966
| percentage = 100.00%
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin no change
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Gordon Smith (Incumbent)
| party = Republican Party (US)
| votes = 296,330
| percentage = 85.41%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Gordon Leitch
| party = Republican Party (US)
| votes = 48,560
| percentage = 14.00%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Write-ins
| party = Republican Party (US)
| votes = 2,068
| percentage = 0.69%
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 309,943
| percentage = 100.00%
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link
| party = Democratic Party (US)
| candidate = Jeff Merkley
| votes = 864,392
| percentage = 48.90%
| change = +9.30%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
| party = Republican Party (US)
| candidate = Gordon H. Smith (Incumbent)
| votes = 805,159
| percentage = 45.55%
| change = -10.66%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
| party = Constitution Party (US)
| candidate = David Brownlow
| votes = 92,565
| percentage = 5.24%
| change = +3.52%
}}
{{Election box candidate
| party = Write-ins
| candidate =
| votes = 5,388
| percentage = 0.30%
| change =
}}
{{Election box majority
| votes = 59,233
| percentage = 3.35%
| change = -13.25%
}}
{{Election box turnout
| votes = 1,767,504
| percentage =
| change =
}}
{{Election box gain with party link
| winner = Democratic Party (US)
| loser = Republican Party (US)
| swing =
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Clear}}
Rhode Island
{{Infobox election
| election_name = Rhode Island election
| country = Rhode Island
| type = presidential
| ongoing = no
| previous_election = 2002 United States Senate election in Rhode Island
| previous_year = 2002
| next_election = 2014 United States Senate election in Rhode Island
| next_year = 2014
| image_size = 125x136px
| image1 = Jack Reed 113th Congress.jpg
| nominee1 = Jack Reed
| party1 = Democratic Party (US)
| popular_vote1 = 320,644
| percentage1 = 73.4%
| image2 = 3x4.svg
| nominee2 = Robert Tingle
| party2 = Republican Party (US)
| popular_vote2 = 116,174
| percentage2 = 26.6%
| map = {{switcher
|County results
|Municipality results}}
| map_caption = Reed: {{legend0|#7996e2|50–60%}} {{legend0|#6674de|60–70%}} {{legend0|#584cde|70–80%}} {{legend0|#3933e5|80–90%}}
| title = U.S. senator
| before_election = Jack Reed
| before_party = Democratic Party (US)
| after_election = Jack Reed
| after_party = Democratic Party (US)
}}
{{Main|2008 United States Senate election in Rhode Island}}
{{See also|List of United States senators from Rhode Island}}
In Rhode Island, Democratic senator Jack Reed had an approval rating of 66% in November 2006.{{Cite web |date=November 22, 2006 |title=Results of SurveyUSA News Poll #11161 |url=http://www.surveyusa.com/client/PollReport.aspx?g=97e8b51c-a325-4ce2-a466-e45187d5508a |access-date=February 5, 2007 |publisher=SurveyUSA}} National Journal has declared that "Reed is probably the safest incumbent of the 2008 cycle". Reed's opponent was Robert Tingle, a pit manager at the Foxwoods Resort Casino in Connecticut, whom Reed defeated in his re-election campaign in 2002.{{Cite web |date=July 2, 2008 |title=Candidate From Casino Knows Odds |url=http://www.theday.com/re.aspx?re=c51c6849-23ce-4804-9819-ace578873127 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110524020841/http://www.theday.com/re.aspx?re=c51c6849-23ce-4804-9819-ace578873127 |archive-date=May 24, 2011 |publisher=theDay.com }}
Reed won the election, with 73% of the vote.
{{Election box begin
| title = 2008 Rhode Island U.S. Senate Democratic primary
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link
| party = Democratic Party (US)
| candidate = Jack Reed (incumbent)
| votes = 48,038
| percentage = 86.8%
| change =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
| party = Democratic Party (US)
| candidate = Christopher Young
| votes = 7,277
| percentage = 13.2%
| change =
}}
{{Election box turnout
| votes = 55,315
| percentage =
| change =
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin
| title = 2008 Rhode Island U.S. Senate general election
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link
| party = Democratic Party (US)
| candidate = Jack Reed (incumbent)
| votes = 320,644
| percentage = 73.4%
| change = -5.0%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
| party = Republican Party (US)
| candidate = Bob Tingle
| votes = 116,174
| percentage = 26.6%
| change = +5.0%
}}
{{Election box majority
| votes = 204,470
| percentage =
| change =
}}
{{Election box turnout
| votes = 436,818
| percentage =
| change =
}}
{{Election box hold with party link
| winner = Democratic Party (US)
| loser =
| swing =
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Clear}}
South Carolina
{{Infobox election
| election_name = South Carolina election
| country = South Carolina
| type = presidential
| ongoing = no
| previous_election = 2002 United States Senate election in South Carolina
| previous_year = 2002
| next_election = 2014 United States Senate election in South Carolina
| next_year = 2014
| image_size = 125x136px
| image1 = Lindsey Graham, Official Portrait 2006.jpg
| nominee1 = Lindsey Graham
| party1 = Republican Party (US)
| popular_vote1 = 1,076,150
| percentage1 = 57.5%
| image2 = No image.png
| nominee2 = Bob Conley
| party2 = Democratic Party (US)
| popular_vote2 = 790,216
| percentage2 = 42.3%
| map_image = 2008 United States Senate election in South Carolina results map by county.svg
| map_size = 250px
| map_caption = Graham: {{legend0|#e27f7f|50–60%}} {{legend0|#d75d5d|60–70%}} {{legend0|#d72f30|70–80%}}
Conley: {{legend0|#7996e2|50–60%}} {{legend0|#6674de|60–70%}} {{legend0|#584cde|70–80%}}
| title = U.S. senator
| before_election = Lindsey Graham
| before_party = Republican Party (US)
| after_election = Lindsey Graham
| after_party = Republican Party (US)
}}
{{Main|2008 United States Senate election in South Carolina}}
{{See also|List of United States senators from South Carolina}}
Senator Lindsey Graham, as a popular Republican incumbent in strongly conservative South Carolina, had been considered unlikely to be vulnerable to a Democratic challenge. Graham's support for a compromise immigration bill, however, drew an angry response from many South Carolina conservatives, who recruited Buddy Witherspoon, a former South Carolina Republican Party leader, to challenge Graham for the nomination. Graham easily bested Witherspoon in the June 10 primary.{{Cite web |title=Graham beats GOP challenger in SC Senate primary |url=http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5i23h4XqvR0Ph96aWYyZ4PgI54YCwD917PSEG0 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080613223012/http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5i23h4XqvR0Ph96aWYyZ4PgI54YCwD917PSEG0 |archive-date=June 13, 2008 |url-status=dead}}
First-time candidate Bob Conley, an airline pilot, was the Democratic nominee.{{Cite web |title=US Senate primary recount: Conley to face Graham |url=http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5iwcaSiECkybS5TyWgUa4bPD3m8qAD91BFIHO0 }}{{Dead link|date=April 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} Conley, whose victory in the Democratic primary over Michael Cone was a surprise, is a former Republican who supported Ron Paul in 2008 and campaigned as the more conservative candidate on some issues, notably illegal immigration and the bailout of Wall Street.
The South Carolina Working Families Party had also nominated Michael Cone. South Carolina's election law allows for electoral fusion. This was the first time the party nominated a candidate for statewide office.{{Cite web |title=South Carolina Working Families Party Nominates - Ballot Access News |url=http://www.ballot-access.org/2008/05/21/south-carolina-working-families-party-nominates |access-date=December 20, 2017 |website=www.ballot-access.org}} However, because he lost the Democratic primary, Cone was not listed on the ballot under the state's sore loser law.{{Cite web |title=SC - Election Results |url=http://www.enr-scvotes.org/SC/8562/13685/en/summary.html |access-date=December 20, 2017 |website=www.enr-scvotes.org}}
Graham easily won re-election with 58% of the vote to Conley's 42%.
{{Election box begin
| title = 2008 South Carolina U.S. Senate Democratic primary
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link
| party = Democratic Party (US)
| candidate = Bob Conley
| votes = 74,125
| percentage = 50.3%
| change =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
| party = Democratic Party (US)
| candidate = Michael Cone
| votes = 73,127
| percentage = 49.7%
| change =
}}
{{Election box turnout
| votes = 147,252
| percentage =
| change =
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin
| title = 2008 South Carolina U.S. Senate Republican primary
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link
| party = Republican Party (US)
| candidate = Lindsey Graham (incumbent)
| votes = 187,736
| percentage = 66.8%
| change =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
| party = Republican Party (US)
| candidate = Buddy Witherspoon
| votes = 93,125
| percentage = 33.2%
| change =
}}
{{Election box turnout
| votes = 280,861
| percentage =
| change =
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin
| title = South Carolina general{{Cite news |date=November 4, 2008 |title=U.S. Senate: South Carolina |publisher=CNN |url=http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/results/individual/#mapSSC |access-date=November 4, 2008}}
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link
| party = Republican Party (US)
| candidate = Lindsey Graham (incumbent)
| votes = 1,076,534
| percentage = 57.52%
| change = +3.1%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
| party = Democratic Party (US)
| candidate = Bob Conley
| votes = 790,621
| percentage = 42.25%
| change = -1.9%
}}
{{Election box candidate
| party = Write-ins
| candidate =
| votes = 4,276
| percentage = 0.23%
| change = +0.1%
}}
{{Election box majority
| votes = 285,913
| percentage =
| change =
}}
{{Election box turnout
| votes = 1,871,431
| percentage =
| change =
}}
{{Election box hold with party link
| winner = Republican Party (US)
| loser =
| swing =
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Clear}}
South Dakota
{{Infobox election
| election_name = South Dakota election
| country = South Dakota
| type = presidential
| ongoing = no
| previous_election = 2002 United States Senate election in South Dakota
| previous_year = 2002
| next_election = 2014 United States Senate election in South Dakota
| next_year = 2014
| image_size = 125x136px
| image1 = Tim Johnson official portrait, 2009.jpg
| nominee1 = Tim Johnson
| party1 = Democratic Party (US)
| popular_vote1 = 237,835
| percentage1 = 62.5%
| image2 = No image.svg
| nominee2 = Joel Dykstra
| party2 = Republican Party (US)
| popular_vote2 = 142,766
| percentage2 = 37.5%
| map_image = 2008 United States Senate election in South Dakota results map by county.svg
| map_size = 250px
| map_caption = County results
Johnson: {{legend0|#7996e2|50–60%}} {{legend0|#6674de|60–70%}} {{legend0|#584cde|70–80%}} {{legend0|#3933e5|80–90%}}
Dykstra: {{legend0|#e27f7f|50–60%}} {{legend0|#d75d5d|60–70%}}
| title = U.S. senator
| before_election = Tim Johnson
| before_party = Democratic Party (US)
| after_election = Tim Johnson
| after_party = Democratic Party (US)
}}
{{Main|2008 United States Senate election in South Dakota}}
{{See also|List of United States senators from South Dakota}}
In South Dakota, senator Tim Johnson's seat was considered a top GOP target in 2008, considering Johnson's narrow 524-vote victory in 2002 over then-Representative and current U.S. senator John Thune, as well as his recent health problems. Johnson underwent surgery in December 2006 for a cerebral arteriovenous malformation and was discharged from the hospital on April 30, 2007. On October 19, 2007, Johnson formally announced that he was seeking re-election.{{Cite news |date=June 9, 2007 |title=The Associated Press: Johnson to Run for Senate After Illness |url=http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5gAtgiTwP1wYCx1CQ8-Xzw2mTx3eQD8SCFJJ00 |url-status=dead |access-date=December 20, 2017 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20070609092030/http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5gAtgiTwP1wYCx1CQ8-Xzw2mTx3eQD8SCFJJ00 |archive-date=June 9, 2007}} According to a November 2006 SurveyUSA poll, Johnson had an approval rating of 70%, with just 26% disapproving of his performance,{{Cite web |date=November 2006 |title=Results of SurveyUSA News Poll #11163 |url=http://www.surveyusa.com/client/PollReport.aspx?g=03bd2c48-6b0b-41c9-85b6-5828f49a2c8c |access-date=February 5, 2007 |publisher=SurveyUSA}} making him an early favorite despite the state's Republican lean.
Republicans were unsuccessful in persuading Governor Mike Rounds and former Lieutenant Governor Steve Kirby to run. State Representative Joel Dykstra announced his candidacy on July 5, 2007. Other Republicans included Charles Lyonel Gonyo and Sam Kephart. Dykstra won the Republican primary on June 3.
Johnson was re-elected, with 62.5% to Dykstra's 37.5%. This seat was the tipping point state in the 2008 senate elections.
{{Election box begin no change
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Joel Dykstra
| party = Republican Party (US)
| votes = 34,598
| percentage = 65.74%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Sam Kephart
| party = Republican Party (US)
| votes = 13,047
| percentage = 24.79%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Charles Gonyo
| party = Republican Party (US)
| votes = 4,983
| percentage = 9.47%
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 52,628
| percentage = 100.00%
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin
| title = South Dakota general{{Cite web |title=2008 Election Statistics |url=http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/2008/2008Stat.htm#stateSD |access-date=December 20, 2017 |website=clerk.house.gov}}
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link
| party = Democratic Party (US)
| candidate = Tim Johnson (Incumbent)
| votes = 237,889
| percentage = 62.49%
| change = +12.87%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
| party = Republican Party (US)
| candidate = Joel Dykstra
| votes = 142,784
| percentage = 37.51%
| change = -11.96%
}}
{{Election box majority
| votes = 95,105
| percentage = 24.98%
| change = +24.83%
}}
{{Election box turnout
| votes = 380,673
| percentage =
| change =
}}
{{Election box hold with party link
| winner = Democratic Party (US)
| loser =
| swing =
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Clear}}
Tennessee
{{Infobox election
| election_name = Tennessee election
| country = Tennessee
| type = presidential
| ongoing = no
| previous_election = 2002 United States Senate election in Tennessee
| previous_year = 2002
| next_election = 2014 United States Senate election in Tennessee
| next_year = 2014
| image_size = 125x136px
| image1 = LamarAlexander (cropped).jpg
| nominee1 = Lamar Alexander
| party1 = Republican Party (US)
| popular_vote1 = 1,571,637
| percentage1 = 65.14%
| image2 = No image.svg
| nominee2 = Bob Tuke
| party2 = Democratic Party (US)
| popular_vote2 = 762,779
| percentage2 = 32.64%
| map_image = 2008 United States Senate election in Tennessee results map by county.svg
| map_size = 300px
| map_caption = Alexander: {{legend0|#ffb2b2|40–50%}} {{legend0|#e27f7f|50–60%}} {{legend0|#d75d5d|60–70%}} {{legend0|#d72f30|70–80%}} {{legend0|#C21B18|80–90%}}
Tuke: {{legend0|#7996e2|50–60%}}
| title = U.S. senator
| before_election = Lamar Alexander
| before_party = Republican Party (US)
| after_election = Lamar Alexander
| after_party = Republican Party (US)
}}
{{Main|2008 United States Senate election in Tennessee}}
{{See also|List of United States senators from Tennessee}}
Former Governor and U.S. Secretary of Education Lamar Alexander was elected in 2002 to succeed retiring senator Fred Thompson. He has announced he will seek a second term in 2008.{{Cite news |date=April 3, 2007 |title=Alexander Running Again, Sets Fundraiser |work=The Chattanoogan |url=http://www.chattanoogan.com/articles/article_104845.asp |url-status=dead |access-date=April 6, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071008041908/http://www.chattanoogan.com/articles/article_104845.asp |archive-date=October 8, 2007 }} He was unopposed in the Republican primary.
Former Chairman of the Tennessee Democratic Party Bob Tuke was the Democratic nominee, defeating Businessman Gary Davis 30% to 23%. Knox County Clerk Mike Padgett received 20% of the vote.
2006 Green Party Senate nominee Chris Lugo originally announced as a Democrat but dropped out of the Democratic race before the filing deadline. He filed as an independent and was subsequently named as the Green Party nomineeClarkesville Online: [http://www.clarksvilleonline.com/2006/09/27/green-party-senate-candidate-chris-lugo-urges-inclusion-in-debates Green Party Senate Candidate Chris Lugo Urges Inclusion in Debates.] September 27, 2006. Edward Buck was also in the race.
Daniel Lewis ran as a Libertarian candidate for the United States Senate. He was certified March 3, 2008, by the Tennessee Division of Elections as having achieved ballot access for the November 4, 2008, election as a candidate for United States Senate. The Libertarian Party of Tennessee officially selected Daniel Lewis as their candidate for United States Senate on Saturday March 8, 2008, at their annual convention held in Nashville, Tennessee. Mr. Lewis was serving as the chairman of the Libertarian Party of Metropolitan Nashville and Davidson County. He ran for the Tennessee House in 2004.{{Cite news |date=March 10, 2007 |title=Daniel Lewis Is Libertarian Candidate For U.S. Senate |work=The Chattanoogan |url=http://www.chattanoogan.com/articles/article_123689.asp |url-status=dead |access-date=March 12, 2007 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120721144047/http://www.chattanoogan.com/articles/article_123689.asp |archive-date=July 21, 2012}}
Also reported to be in the race are David "None of the Above" Gatchell a ballot activist & frequent candidate and Emory "Bo" Heyward, a software company employee, conservative activist & 2006 candidate.
Alexander won the election with 65% of the vote.
{{Election box begin no change
| title = Democratic Party primary{{Cite web |title=Archived copy |url=http://www.tn.gov/sos/election/results/2008-08/demUSS.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110713042241/http://www.tn.gov/sos/election/results/2008-08/demUSS.pdf |archive-date=July 13, 2011 |access-date=June 3, 2011 }}
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Bob Tuke
| party = Democratic Party (US)
| votes = 59,050
| percentage = 32.21%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Gary G. Davis
| party = Democratic Party (US)
| votes = 39,119
| percentage = 21.34%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Mike Padgett
| party = Democratic Party (US)
| votes = 33,471
| percentage = 18.26%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Mark E. Clayton
| party = Democratic Party (US)
| votes = 32,309
| percentage = 17.62%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Kenneth Eaton
| party = Democratic Party (US)
| votes = 14,702
| percentage = 8.02%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Leonard D. Ladner
| party = Democratic Party (US)
| votes = 4,697
| percentage = 2.55%
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 183,348
| percentage = 100.00%
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin no change
| title = Republican Party primary{{Cite web |title=Archived copy |url=http://www.tn.gov/sos/election/results/2008-08/repUSS.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110713042245/http://www.tn.gov/sos/election/results/2008-08/repUSS.pdf |archive-date=July 13, 2011 |access-date=June 3, 2011 }}
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Lamar Alexander (Incumbent)
| party = Republican Party (US)
| votes = 244,222
| percentage = 100.00%
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 244,222
| percentage = 100.00%
}}
{{Election box end}}{{Election box begin|title=Tennessee general{{Cite web|url=http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/2008/2008Stat.htm#stateTN|title = Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives}}}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|party=Republican Party (United States)|candidate=Lamar Alexander (Incumbent)|votes=1,579,477|percentage=65.14%|change=+10.87%}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|party=Democratic Party (United States)|candidate=Bob Tuke|votes=767,236|percentage=31.64%|change=-12.69%}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|party=Independent|candidate=Edward L. Buck|votes=31,631|percentage=1.30%|change=N/A}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|party=Independent|candidate=Christopher G. Fenner|votes=11,073|percentage=0.46%|change=N/A}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|party=Independent|candidate=Daniel Towers Lewis|votes=9,367|percentage=0.39%|change=N/A}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|party=Independent|candidate=Chris Lugo|votes=9,170|percentage=0.38%|change=N/A}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|party=Independent|candidate=Ed Lawhorn|votes=8,986|percentage=0.37%|change=N/A}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|party=Independent|candidate=David Gatchell|votes=7,645|percentage=0.32%|change=N/A}}
{{Election box majority|votes=812,241|percentage=33.50%|change=+23.56%}}
{{Election box turnout|votes=2,424,585|percentage=66.34%|change=}}
{{Election box hold with party link|winner=Republican Party (United States)|loser=|swing=}}
{{Election box end}}{{Clear}}
Texas
{{Infobox election
| election_name = Texas election
| country = Texas
| type = presidential
| ongoing = no
| previous_election = 2002 United States Senate election in Texas
| previous_year = 2002
| next_election = 2014 United States Senate election in Texas
| next_year = 2014
| image_size = 125x136px
| image1 = John Cornyn official portrait, 2009 (cropped).jpg
| nominee1 = John Cornyn
| party1 = Republican Party (US)
| popular_vote1 = 4,337,469
| percentage1 = 54.8%
| image2 = NORIEGA (cropped).jpg
| nominee2 = Rick Noriega
| party2 = Democratic Party (US)
| popular_vote2 = 3,389,365
| percentage2 = 42.8%
| map_image = 2008 United States Senate election in Texas results map by county.svg
| map_size = 300px
| map_caption = County results
Cornyn: {{legend0|#e27f7f|50–60%}} {{legend0|#d75d5d|60–70%}} {{legend0|#d72f30|70–80%}} {{legend0|#c21b18|80–90%}} {{legend0|#a80000|>90%}}
Noriega: {{legend0|#a5b0ff|40–50%}} {{legend0|#7996e2|50–60%}} {{legend0|#6674de|60–70%}} {{legend0|#584cde|70–80%}} {{legend0|#3933e5|80–90%}}
| title = U.S. senator
| before_election = John Cornyn
| before_party = Republican Party (US)
| after_election = John Cornyn
| after_party = Republican Party (US)
}}
{{Main|2008 United States Senate election in Texas}}
{{See also|List of United States senators from Texas}}
Texas has not elected a Democrat in a statewide election since 1994, but according to pre-election Rasmussen polling, senator John Cornyn had an approval rating of 50%.{{Cite web |title=Rasmussen Reports on Texas |url=http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/election_20082/2008_senate_elections/texas/election_2008_texas_senate |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080507022402/http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/election_20082/2008_senate_elections/texas/election_2008_texas_senate |archive-date=May 7, 2008 |url-status=dead}} Texas House of Representatives member and Afghanistan War veteran Rick Noriega secured his place as Cornyn's Democratic challenger in the March 4 primary, beating out opponents Gene Kelly, Ray McMurrey, and Rhett Smith. The same Rasmussen poll showed Cornyn leading Noriega by a narrow four percentage points - 47% to 43%.
Christian activist Larry Kilgore of Mansfield, Texas, was a Republican challenger for the March 2008 primary election, but Cornyn easily won the Republican primary.[http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/texassouthwest/stories/DN-ussenate_05pol.ART.State.Edition2.46a563a.html Noriega avoids runoff in Senate bid; Cornyn wins easily], Dallas Morning News
There were three Libertarians, including 2006 LP senate nominee Scott Jameson, running for their party's nomination.{{Cite web |title=Libertarian Party of Texas |url=http://www.tx.lp.org/candidates.shtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080113172313/http://www.tx.lp.org/candidates.shtml |archive-date=January 13, 2008 |url-status=dead}} In addition, the Green Party of Texas sought ballot access for its candidate David B. Collins.[http://txgreens.org/drupal/node/43 txgreens.org] {{webarchive | url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080203185343/http://txgreens.org/drupal/node/43 | date=February 3, 2008}}
In the end, John Cornyn won re-election, 55%-43%
{{Election box begin no change
| title = Democratic primary{{Cite web |title=Our Campaigns - TX US Senate - D Primary Race - Mar 04, 2008 |url=http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=294945 |access-date=December 20, 2017 |website=www.ourcampaigns.com}}
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| party = Democratic Party (US)
| candidate = Rick Noriega
| votes = 1,110,579
| percentage = 51.01%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = Democratic Party (US)
| candidate = Gene Kelly
| votes = 584,966
| percentage = 26.87%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = Democratic Party (US)
| candidate = Ray McMurrey
| votes = 269,402
| percentage = 12.37%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = Democratic Party (US)
| candidate = Rhett Smith
| votes = 213,305
| percentage = 9.75%
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin
| title = Republican Primary{{Cite web |title=Our Campaigns - TX US Senate - R Primary Race - Mar 04, 2008 |url=http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=294946 |access-date=December 20, 2017 |website=www.ourcampaigns.com}}
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link
| party = Republican Party (US)
| candidate = John Cornyn (incumbent)
| votes = 997,216
| percentage = 81.48%
| change = +4.17%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
| party = Republican Party (US)
| candidate = Larry Kilgore
| votes = 226,649
| percentage = 18.52%
| change = +0.00%
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin
| title = 2008 Texas U.S. Senate general election
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link
| party = Republican Party (US)
| candidate = John Cornyn (incumbent)
| votes = 4,337,469
| percentage = 54.82%
| change = -0.48%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
| party = Democratic Party (US)
| candidate = Rick Noriega
| votes = 3,389,365
| percentage = 42.83%
| change = -0.50%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
| party = Libertarian Party (US)
| candidate = Yvonne Adams Schick
| votes = 185,241
| percentage = 2.34%
| change = +1.55%
}}
{{Election box majority
| votes = 948,104
| percentage =
| change =
}}
{{Election box turnout
| votes = 7,912,075
| percentage = 58.28%
| change =
}}
{{Election box hold with party link
| winner = Republican Party (US)
| loser =
| swing =
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Clear}}
Virginia
{{Infobox election
| election_name = Virginia election
| country = Virginia
| type = presidential
| ongoing = no
| previous_election = 2002 United States Senate election in Virginia
| previous_year = 2002
| next_election = 2014 United States Senate election in Virginia
| next_year = 2014
| image_size = 125x136px
| turnout = 67.0% (voting eligible){{Cite web |last=Dr. Michael McDonald |date=March 31, 2012 |title=2008 General Election Turnout Rates |url=http://elections.gmu.edu/Turnout_2008G.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130112213711/http://elections.gmu.edu/Turnout_2008G.html |archive-date=January 12, 2013 |access-date=March 4, 2013 |publisher=George Mason University }}
| image1 = Mark Warner, official 111th Congress photo portrait.jpg
| nominee1 = Mark Warner
| party1 = Democratic Party (US)
| popular_vote1 = 2,369,327
| percentage1 = 65.0%
| image2 = Jim Gilmore by Gage Skidmore 2.jpg
| nominee2 = Jim Gilmore
| party2 = Republican Party (US)
| popular_vote2 = 1,228,830
| percentage2 = 33.7%
| map_image = 2008 United States Senate election in Virginia results map by county.svg
| map_size = 300px
| map_caption = Warner: {{legend0|#a5b0ff|40–50%}} {{legend0|#7996e2|50–60%}} {{legend0|#6674de|60–70%}} {{legend0|#584cde|70–80%}} {{legend0|#3933e5|80–90%}} {{legend0|#0d056c|>90%}}
Gilmore: {{legend0|#ffb2b2|40–50%}} {{legend0|#e27f7f|50–60%}}
| title = U.S. senator
| before_election = John Warner
| before_party = Republican Party (US)
| after_election = Mark Warner
| after_party = Democratic Party (US)
}}
{{Main|2008 United States Senate election in Virginia}}
{{See also|List of United States senators from Virginia}}
File:John Warner in committee.jpg chose to retire after five terms.]]
John Warner announced on August 31, 2007, that he would not seek re-election for another term.{{Cite web |date=August 31, 2007 |title=Sen. John Warner Decides Not to Run |url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=3546945 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070904161348/http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=3546945 |archive-date=September 4, 2007 |access-date=August 31, 2007 |work=ABC News}} Former Governor Jim Gilmore, who dropped out of the 2008 presidential election, was the Republican nominee for the seat.{{Cite web |title=Gilmore Announces 2008 U.S. Senate Bid |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna21884826 |work=NBC News}}
Popular Democratic former Governor Mark Warner (no relation) was the Democratic nominee for the race.{{Cite web |last=MarkWarner08 |date=September 12, 2007 |title=Mark Warner: Join our effort |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pn-LXhkNV3k | archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211118/pn-LXhkNV3k| archive-date=November 18, 2021 | url-status=live|access-date=December 20, 2017 |via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}} Polling showed him as a strong favorite to win the seat.{{Cite web |title=Democrat Warner Holds Large Lead Over Davis and Gilmore |url=http://rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/virginia_senate |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070911182209/http://rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/virginia_senate |archive-date=September 11, 2007 |publisher=Rasmussen Reports }}
When asked whether the Republicans were abandoning their hopes of holding onto Warner's seat, senator John Ensign, the chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, responded that "You don't waste money on races that don't need it or you can't win."
In one of the first senate races called on election day, Warner won, taking 65% of the vote, with Gilmore winning 34%. Since Democrat Jim Webb had defeated incumbent Republican George Allen for Virginia's other Senate seat in 2006, Virginia's senate delegation flipped from entirely Republican to entirely Democratic in just two years.
File:Mark Warner in Staunton.jpg (D) campaigns at the Dixie Theatre in Staunton, Virginia]]
File:Jim Gilmore 2004 NSTAC.jpg (R)]]
{{Election box begin
| title = Virginia general{{Cite web |title=2008 Election Statistics |url=http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/2008/2008Stat.htm#stateVA |access-date=December 20, 2017 |website=clerk.house.gov}}
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link
| party = Democratic Party (US)
| candidate = Mark Warner
| votes = 2,369,327
| percentage = 65.03%
| change = +65.03%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
| party = Republican Party (US)
| candidate = Jim Gilmore
| votes = 1,228,830
| percentage = 33.72%
| change = -48.85%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
| party = Independent Greens of Virginia
| candidate = Glenda Parker
| votes = 21,690
| percentage = 0.60%
| change = +0.60%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
| party = Libertarian Party (US)
| candidate = Bill Redpath
| votes = 20,269
| percentage = 0.56%
| change = +0.56%
}}
{{Election box candidate
| party = Write-ins
| candidate =
| votes = 3,178
| percentage = 0.09%
| change = -0.47%
}}
{{Election box majority
| votes = 1,140,497
| percentage = 31.30%
| change = -41.53%
}}
{{Election box turnout
| votes = 3,643,294
| percentage =
| change =
}}
{{Election box gain with party link
| winner = Democratic Party (US)
| loser = Republican Party (US)
| swing =
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Clear}}
West Virginia
{{Infobox election
| election_name = West Virginia election
| country = West Virginia
| type = presidential
| ongoing = no
| previous_election = 2002 United States Senate election in West Virginia
| previous_year = 2002
| next_election = 2014 United States Senate election in West Virginia
| next_year = 2014
| image_size = 125x136px
| image1 = Jay Rockefeller official photo (cropped).jpg
| nominee1 = Jay Rockefeller
| party1 = Democratic Party (US)
| popular_vote1 = 444,107
| percentage1 = 63.7%
| image2 = Jay Wolfe cropped.jpg
| nominee2 = Jay Wolfe
| party2 = Republican Party (US)
| popular_vote2 = 252,764
| percentage2 = 36.3%
| map_image = 2008 United States Senate election in West Virginia results map by county.svg
| map_size = 250px
| map_caption = County results
Rockefeller: {{legend0|#7996e2|50–60%}} {{legend0|#6674de|60–70%}} {{legend0|#584cde|70–80%}} {{legend0|#3933e5|80–90%}}
Wolfe: {{legend0|#e27f7f|50–60%}} {{legend0|#d75d5d|60–70%}}
| title = U.S. senator
| before_election = Jay Rockefeller
| before_party = Democratic Party (US)
| after_election = Jay Rockefeller
| after_party = Democratic Party (US)
}}
{{Main|2008 United States Senate election in West Virginia}}
{{See also|List of United States senators from West Virginia}}
Senator Jay Rockefeller, great-grandson of oil tycoon John D. Rockefeller, sought a fifth term representing West Virginia. Even though West Virginia is a historically Democratic state, in which the party had a 50-32% edge in party affiliation over the Republicans in the 2004 elections, the state party is more conservative than the national party, giving its votes to President George W. Bush in that election and in 2000.{{Cite news |date=November 2, 2004 |title=Election 2004 West Virginia Exit Poll |publisher=CNN.com |url=http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2004//pages/results/states/WV/P/00/epolls.0.html |access-date=February 6, 2007}} Democrats Sheirl Fletcher and Billy Hendricks challenged Rockefeller in the primary but were defeated. The Republican nominee was Jay Wolfe of Salem, a former State Senator.
Rockefeller handily won on election day, being re-elected with 64% of the vote. Wolfe had 36%.
{{Election box begin
| title = 2008 West Virginia U.S. Senate Democratic primary
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link
| party = Democratic Party (US)
| candidate = Jay Rockefeller (Incumbent)
| votes = 271,370
| percentage = 77.1%
| change =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
| party = Democratic Party (US)
| candidate = Sheirl Fletcher
| votes = 51,073
| percentage = 14.5%
| change =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
| party = Democratic Party (US)
| candidate = Billy Hendricks
| votes = 29,707
| percentage = 8.4%
| change =
}}
{{Election box turnout
| votes = 352,150
| percentage =
| change =
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin
| title = Republican primary
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link
| party = Republican Party (US)
| candidate = Jay Wolfe
| votes = N/A
| percentage = 100.00%
| change =
}}
{{Election box turnout
| votes =
| percentage = 100.00%
| change =
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin| title=West Virginia general{{Cite news |date=November 4, 2008 |title=U.S. Senate: West Virginia |publisher=CNN |url=http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/results/individual/#mapSWV |access-date=November 4, 2008}}
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link
| party = Democratic Party (US)
| candidate = Jay Rockefeller (Incumbent)
| votes = 447,560
| percentage = 63.7%
| change = +0.6%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
| party = Republican Party (US)
| candidate = Jay Wolfe
| votes = 254,629
| percentage = 36.3%
| change = -0.6%
}}
{{Election box majority
| votes = 192,931
| percentage =
| change =
}}
{{Election box turnout
| votes = 702,189
| percentage =
| change =
}}
{{Election box hold with party link
| winner = Democratic Party (US)
| loser =
| swing =
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Clear}}
Wyoming
{{See also|List of United States senators from Wyoming}}
= Wyoming (regular) =
{{Infobox election
| election_name = Wyoming election
| country = Wyoming
| type = presidential
| ongoing = no
| previous_election = 2002 United States Senate election in Wyoming
| previous_year = 2002
| next_election = 2014 United States Senate election in Wyoming
| next_year = 2014
| image_size = 125x136px
| image1 = Mike Enzi, official portrait, 111th Congress.jpg
| nominee1 = Mike Enzi
| party1 = Republican Party (US)
| popular_vote1 = 189,046
| percentage1 = 75.6%
| image2 = Rothfuss for Senate.jpg
| nominee2 = Chris Rothfuss
| party2 = Democratic Party (US)
| popular_vote2 = 60,631
| percentage2 = 24.3%
| map_image = 2008 United States Senate election in Wyoming results map by county.svg
| map_size = 200px
| map_caption = County results
Enzi: {{legend0|#e27f7f|50–60%}} {{legend0|#d75d5d|60–70%}} {{legend0|#d72f30|70–80%}} {{legend0|#c21b18|80–90%}}
| title = U.S. senator
| before_election = Mike Enzi
| before_party = Republican Party (US)
| after_election = Mike Enzi
| after_party = Republican Party (US)
}}
{{Main|2008 United States Senate election in Wyoming}}
Incumbent Republican Mike Enzi was considered likely to be re-elected without significant opposition for a third term in strongly Republican Wyoming. His Democratic opponent was Chris Rothfuss, a professor at the University of Wyoming and a chemical engineer, nanotechnologist, and diplomat. Pre-election polling indicated that Enzi led Rothfuss by 24%.
Enzi won another term, 76%-24%.
{{Election box begin no change
| title = Democratic primary{{Cite web |date=2008 |title=Results |url=http://soswy.state.wy.us/Elections/Docs/2008/08Results/D-SWCand.pdf |website=soswy.state.wy.us}}
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Chris Rothfuss
| party = Democratic Party (US)
| votes = 14,221
| percentage = 62.38%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Al Hamburg
| party = Democratic Party (US)
| votes = 8,578
| percentage = 37.62%
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 22,799
| percentage = 100.00%
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin no change
| title = Republican primary{{Cite web |date=2008 |title=Results |url=http://soswy.state.wy.us/Elections/Docs/2008/08Results/R-SWCand.pdf |website=soswy.state.wy.us}}
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Mike Enzi (Incumbent)
| party = Republican Party (US)
| votes = 69,195
| percentage = 100.00%
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 69,195
| percentage = 100.00%
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin
| title = General election results
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link
| party = Republican Party (US)
| candidate = Mike Enzi (incumbent)
| votes = 189,046
| percentage = 75.63%
| change = +2.68%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
| party = Democratic Party (US)
| candidate = Chris Rothfuss
| votes = 60,631
| percentage = 24.26%
| change = -2.79%
}}
{{Election box candidate
| party = Write-ins
| candidate =
| votes = 269
| percentage = 0.11%
| change =
}}
{{Election box majority
| votes = 128,415
| percentage = 51.38%
| change = +5.47%
}}
{{Election box turnout
| votes = 249,946
| percentage =
| change =
}}
{{Election box hold with party link
| winner = Republican Party (US)
| loser =
| swing =
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Clear}}
= Wyoming (special) =
{{Infobox election
| election_name = Wyoming special election
| country = Wyoming
| type = presidential
| ongoing = no
| previous_election = 2006 United States Senate election in Wyoming
| previous_year = 2006
| next_election = 2012 United States Senate election in Wyoming
| next_year = 2012
| election_date = November 4, 2008
| image_size = 125x136px
| image1 = Sen. John Barrasso Official Portrait 7.17.07.jpg
| nominee1 = John Barrasso
| party1 = Republican Party (US)
| popular_vote1 = 183,063
| percentage1 = 73.4%
| image2 = No image.svg
| nominee2 = Nick Carter
| party2 = Democratic Party (US)
| popular_vote2 = 66,202
| percentage2 = 26.5%
| map_image = 2008 United States Senate special election in Wyoming results map by county.svg
| map_size = 200px
| map_caption = County results
Barrasso: {{legend0|#e27f7f|50–60%}} {{legend0|#d75d5d|60–70%}} {{legend0|#d72f30|70–80%}} {{legend0|#c21b18|80–90%}}
| title = U.S. senator
| before_election = John Barrasso
| before_party = Republican Party (US)
| after_election = John Barrasso
| after_party = Republican Party (US)
}}
{{Main|2008 United States Senate special election in Wyoming}}
{{See also|List of United States senators from Wyoming|2008 United States Senate election in Wyoming}}
Republican John Barrasso was appointed by Governor Dave Freudenthal (D) on June 22, 2007, to fill the senate seat of Republican Craig L. Thomas, who died on June 4.{{Cite news |date=June 22, 2007 |title=Governor picks Barrasso |work=Casper Star-Tribune |url=http://www.trib.com/articles/2007/06/22/news/top_story/doc467bf1c2e5a80822750093.txt |access-date=June 22, 2007}} Wyoming law requires that the interim senator be affiliated with the same political party as the departed senator. Barrasso ran in the November 4, 2008, special election, held on the day of the 2008 presidential election, to serve out the remainder of Thomas's term, which expires in January 2013.{{Cite news |last=Kady II |first=Martin |date=June 5, 2007 |title=Senate Mourns Death of Wyoming Republican Craig Thomas |publisher=CQ Politics |url=http://www.cqpolitics.com/2007/06/senate_mourns_death_of_wyoming.html |url-status=dead |access-date=June 5, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070607223615/http://www.cqpolitics.com/2007/06/senate_mourns_death_of_wyoming.html |archive-date=June 7, 2007 }}
On the Democratic side, Casper City Councilman Keith Goodenough announced his candidacy.{{Cite web |title=Goodenough announces Senate bid against Barrasso | KULR-8 TELEVISION - Billings, Montana | Wyoming State News |url=http://www.kulr8.com/news/wyoming/16099422.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080403065837/http://www.kulr8.com/news/wyoming/16099422.html |archive-date=April 3, 2008}} In the primary on August 19, Goodenough was defeated by a political newcomer, Gillette defense attorney Nick Carter, who became Barrasso's opponent in the general election.[https://archive.today/20120723183604/http://www.billingsgazette.net/articles/2008/08/21/news/wyoming/21-newcomer.txt Political newcomer Carter will face Barrasso] The Associated Press. August 21, 2008. The Billings Gazette.
Barrasso won on Election Day, taking 73% of the vote and winning every county in the state.
{{Election box begin no change
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Nick Carter
| party = Democratic Party (US)
| votes = 12,316
| percentage = 50.68%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Keith Goodenough
| party = Democratic Party (US)
| votes = 11,984
| percentage = 49.32%
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 22,799
| percentage = 100.00%
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin no change
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = John Barrasso (Incumbent)
| party = Republican Party (US)
| votes = 68,194
| percentage = 100.00%
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 68,194
| percentage = 100.00%
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin
| title = Wyoming special election{{Cite web |title=2008 Election Statistics |url=http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/2008/2008Stat.htm#stateWY |access-date=December 20, 2017 |website=clerk.house.gov}}
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link
| party = Republican Party (US)
| candidate = John Barrasso (Incumbent)
| votes = 183,063
| percentage = 73.35%
| change = +3.37%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
| party = Democratic Party (US)
| candidate = Nick Carter
| votes = 66,202
| percentage = 26.53%
| change = -3.33%
}}
{{Election box candidate
| party = None
| candidate = Write-ins
| votes = 293
| percentage = 0.12%
| change =
}}
{{Election box majority
| votes = 116,861
| percentage = 46.83%
| change = +6.70%
}}
{{Election box turnout
| votes = 249,558
| percentage =
| change =
}}
{{Election box hold with party link
| winner = Republican Party (US)
| loser =
| swing =
}}
{{Election box end}}
See also
Notes
{{Notelist}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://cookpolitical.com/races/senate/ratings.php Cook Political Report 2008 Senate Race Ratings]
- [http://www.cqpolitics.com CQ Politics Senate Analysis] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090107013030/http://www.cqpolitics.com/ |date=January 7, 2009 }}
- [http://www.270towin.com/2008_senate_election Interactive Map of 2008 Senate Races] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080426223106/http://www.270towin.com/2008_senate_election/ |date=April 26, 2008 }}
- {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20081021020721/http://www.demconwatchblog.com/2008/10/senate-newspaper-endorsement-list.html Senate Newspaper Endorsement List]}}
- FiveThirtyEight [https://web.archive.org/web/20130430012753/http://www.fivethirtyeight.com/search/label/senate%20polls Senate Projections]
- [http://pollstered.blogspot.com Intrade Composite Poll - Supermajority Predictions]
- [http://lcweb2.loc.gov/diglib/lcwa/html/elec2008/elec2008-overview.html United States Election 2008 Web Archive] from the U.S. Library of Congress
- {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20081021020721/http://www.demconwatchblog.com/2008/10/senate-newspaper-endorsement-list.html List of Senate Newspaper Endorsements]}}
{{2008 United States elections}}
{{United States Senate elections}}