Eleven of the fifty United States governors were up for re-election, as were the governorships of two U.S. territories. 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. Additionally, it was the first election in which both major parties nominated candidates who were born outside of the contiguous United States. When one party elected more than half the senators, some majority party members had to find space on the minority party side of the aisle. [145] He was unopposed in the Republican primary. [49] Risch and LaRocco ran against each other in the 2006 Lieutenant Governor race, which Risch won by a wide margin. On Jan. 1, 2008, Gov. Two senators from each state are elected to represent their state. The state has become more Republican over the past 12 years. When the new senators were first sworn in, the balance was 5841 in favor of the Democrats, with the unresolved election in Minnesota causing that seat to remain vacant. Levin won re-election with 63% of the vote, to Hoogendyk's 34%. . 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 6040 (providing the Democrats, including the two Independent senators who caucus with them, a supermajority and thus able to hypothetically over-ride any filibusters). Biden vacated his senate seat shortly after the election, allowing for the Governor of Delaware to appoint a successor. 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%. Kerry was challenged by defense attorney Edward O'Reilly for the Democratic nomination, winning 69% of the vote to O'Reilly's 31%. The Senate seat in Connecticut is counted as a . Obama won early votes in Iowa, Nevada, and South Carolina, while Clinton secured primary wins in Florida and Michigan. For more information please visit. Democrats picked up net gains of eight Senate seats and 21 seats in the House of Representatives on the back of Obama's coattail effect. [5] Seven territorial chambers in four territories and the District of Columbia were up. Those votes were tallied before a joint session of Congress on January 8, 2009. Current Senate: 47* Democrats | 53 Republicans. 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. Senators independent of either party have traditionally chosen for themselves which side of the aisle to sit on. Sections Sections Top Stories Video Live U.S. Senate Big Board - Election Results 2008 - The New York Times State Results Alaska Ariz. Calif. Colo. Conn. D.C. Hawaii Idaho Md. Dykstra won the Republican primary on June 3. simplemaps_election.selected.R = ['AK', 'AL', 'AR', 'AZ', 'GA', 'ID', 'KS', 'KY', 'LA', 'MO', 'MS', 'MT', 'ND', 'NE', 'NE1', 'NE3', 'OK', 'TN', 'TX', 'UT', 'SC', 'SD', 'WY', 'WV']; Fellow senator Joe Lieberman, citing his status as an independent, endorsed Collins in her 2008 re-election bid. [19] Two former Veco executives have plead guilty to paying the younger Stevens $242,000 in bribes. to easily win re-election. 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. The only governorship that changed party hands was in Missouri: Democrat Jay Nixon was elected to replace Blunt, who chose to retire instead of seeking a second term. Obama and U.S. The 2008 electoral map is above. Senator Lindsey Graham, as a popular Republican incumbent in strongly conservative South Carolina, had been considered unlikely to be vulnerable to a Democratic challenge. Congressional Democrats made gains in the House and the Senate after winning majorities in both chambers during the 2006 midterm elections. For more information please visit. [169] 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.[170]. The split can be edited in this table. Sununu's 2002 opponent, former Governor Jeanne Shaheen, decided to run and was generally considered to be a very formidable challenger. ", Bligh, Michelle C., and Jeffrey C. Kohles. [6] In New York, the Democrats obtained a trifecta for the first time since 1935.[7]. On the Senate side, the committees are the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) and the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC). McCain suggested that government-aided bodies like the Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae) and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Freddie Mac) failed to offset these risks. Justices Opened Door to Gerrymander Presidential Elections, How Trump Could Win Re-Election By One Electoral Vote, 3 Myths About Abolishing the Electoral College, 5 Reasons to Abolish the Electoral College, Another Look at the 2020 Battleground States, Imagining the 2024 Electoral Map After Redistricting, The Electoral College Penalizes Voters In High Turnout States, The Winner-Take-All Electoral College Isnt In the Constitution. Democrat Barack Obama, then junior United States Senator from Illinois, defeated Republican John McCain. McCain, who supported the initial Iraq invasion, opposed establishing a removal date for all troops. 51 of 100 Seats Needed for Majority Current Senate: 53 ( D ); 45 ( R ); 2 ( I ) Blue Democratic Win Red Republican Win Yellow Other Party Win Light Teal Partial Results Dark Gray No Results Light. 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. Ten were elected on November 4, 2008. After that, senators have the opportunity to relocate. Former Denver Broncos quarterback John Elway was rumored to be considering a run, but declined to do so. [80] Jack Nelson-Pallmeyer, a professor at the University of St. Thomas (St. Paul, Minnesota), joined the race in October 2007. Senator Pat Roberts sought re-election to a third term. The 2008 presidential election focused on a national economic crisis that evolved throughout the race. Obama campaigned on cutting low-income and middle-income taxes and raising upper-income tax rates, while McCain supported tax cuts at all income levels. Obama won the general election with 52.9 percent of the popular vote and 365 of the 538 electoral votes. In nine races the margin of victory was under 10%. What Is the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact? Senate Catalogue of Fine Art The 2008 United States Senate elections were held on November 4, 2008, with 35 of the 100 seats in the Senate being contested. Select Source. 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. Obama won nearly all major demographic groups on his way to victory. 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. Usage Policy | Reed won the election, with 73% of the vote. However, New Hampshire had not elected a Democratic United States senator since 1975. Barrasso won on Election Day, taking 73% of the vote and winning every county in the state. There were several unique aspects of the 2008 election. [163] Democrats Sheirl Fletcher and Billy Hendricks challenged Rockefeller in the primary but were defeated. President Map - Election Results 2008 - The New York Times Election Results 2008 President Map Big Board Map Electoral Explorer Obama: Victory Speech McCain: Concession Speech Exit Polls. 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.[99]. Libertarian Kent Marmon also ran. Republicans were unsuccessful in persuading Governor Mike Rounds and former Lieutenant Governor Steve Kirby to run. Obama opposed the Iraq invasion and argued for a 16-month timetable for removing troops and reinforcing troops in Afghanistan. [7] Figures has won elections in the Republican-leaning Mobile area. Obama received 365 electoral votes, and McCain 173. Utah. Democrats held at least 57 seats as a result of the election. Rockefeller handily won on election day, being re-elected with 64% of the vote. Additionally, votes cast for Paul Wellstone in the 2002 election are not factored into the DFL's total from that year. To win the presidency, a candidate must win a majority of all electors. Congress. Pre-election polling indicated that Enzi led Rothfuss by 24%. Each state (Including the District of Columbia) is allocated a number of electors equal to its number of representatives plus two for each of its senators. 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. The prior record, about 62 million, was set in 2004 by George W. Bush. [51], Senate Majority Whip Richard Durbin remained favored in Illinois. Pryor is the son of longtime U.S. senator and former Arkansas Governor David Pryor. 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. judge cancels special election to replace Lott", "Barbour's Attorney Appeals Special-Elex Ruling", "Mississippi Supreme Court sets election for November", "Former Rep. Shows running for Lott's seat", "Shows drops out of race to replace Lott", "US Senate Special Election Official Certification", "16th time a charm for veteran candidate", "Green Party's Larrick to enter Senate race", "Official Results of Nebraska Primary Election, May 13, 2008", "Anthony B. Fisher for U.S. Senate in 2008 official website", "Politics1 - Online Guide to New Jersey Politics", "Write In Carl Peter Klapper for United States Senator", "Republican Senator From New Mexico Is Said to Be Retiring", "SurveyUSA Approval Ratings for New Mexico Senators", "Sen. Ensign Says GOP Majority Would Be 'Fairly Miraculous', "Mary Easley has active public life, but she's no Hillary Clinton", Beating a Popular Incumbent | SKDKnickerbocker, "Oklahoma State Election Board - Primary Election 2008", "Oregon Senate: Merkley tops Smith for first time 43% to 41%", "Merkley ready for Senate race victory lap", "Oregon Secretary of State: Official Results May 2008 Primary Election", "Graham beats GOP challenger in SC Senate primary", "US Senate primary recount: Conley to face Graham", "South Carolina Working Families Party Nominates - Ballot Access News", "The Associated Press: Johnson to Run for Senate After Illness", "South Dakota Secretary of State, Shantel Krebs", "Alexander Running Again, Sets Fundraiser". 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. Use the interactive map tool to predict the winners of the 2014 senate elections and share with your friends! [138] However, because he lost the Democratic primary, Cone was not listed on the ballot under the state's sore loser law.[139]. Outgoing Republican President George W. Bush's policies and actions and the American public's desire for change were key issues throughout the campaign. 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. Former Chairman of the Tennessee Democratic Party Bob Tuke was the Democratic nominee, defeating Businessman Gary Davis 30% to 23%. Lieutenant Governor Jim Risch was the Republican candidate; U.S. Army veteran and former congressman Larry LaRocco was the Democratic candidate. Tex. McCains victory in South Carolina, Florida, and in key states on Super Tuesday created an clear path to the nomination. Popular Democratic former Governor Mark Warner (no relation) was the Democratic nominee for the race. The Electoral College is the process in which the United States elects its president. O'Donnell received 140,584 votes (35% of the vote). [67] but failed to obtain the required candidacy signatures. He was replaced by Scott Brown in the 2010 United States Senate special election in Massachusetts. Daniel Lewis ran as a Libertarian candidate for the United States Senate. 2008 Election Map: Senate By MATTHEW BLOCH, FARHANA HOSSAIN, CARL HULSE, JOHN MCGRATH AND DEREK WILLIS [87] 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. There are 33 seats up for reelection in 2012, but only seven are . The 2008 United States elections were held on November 4. 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),[108] with his approval standing only at 42% as of September 2007 with voters saying he does not deserve re-election 46%-36%. [93] However, Barbour filed an appeal to the Mississippi Supreme Court, which overturned the earlier ruling and set the special election for November 4, 2008.[94][95]. Map of the 2008 Senate races using the latest state polls. Incumbent Republican Thad Cochran announced that he would seek re-election for a sixth term. www.senate.gov. Udall won the election with 61% of the vote, with Pearce taking 39%. 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. McCain won Nebraska but Obama earned an electoral vote by winning the popular vote in the 2nd Congressional District. [168], On the Democratic side, Casper City Councilman Keith Goodenough announced his candidacy. Popular vote totals generally gathered from state Certificates of Ascertainment and/or results posted directly by individual states. 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. Smith faced Democratic Oregon House of Representatives Speaker Jeff Merkley in the November general election. The election was the first in which an African American was elected President. In this cycle the DSCC was more successful at fundraising. During the 89th Congress (19651967), four senators were placed in an unusual fifth row behind the Democratic senators. Projected Senate: Dem 59 GOP 41 : Main page: Previous report: Next report: Senate polls Web.csv .