It was also the first time the Republican Party nominated a woman for Vice President (Sarah Palin, then-Governor of Alaska). Obama won nearly all major demographic groups on his way to victory. [160] Polling showed him as a strong favorite to win the seat. [62] Nevertheless, McConnell was re-elected by a margin of 53% to 47%. Toss Up. [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]. 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. This marked the first time that Nebraska has split its electoral vote since it moved away from the winner-take-all method in 1992. The prior record, about 62 million, was set in 2004 by George W. Bush. Date. 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. 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". O'Donnell received 140,584 votes (35% of the vote). He also secured wins in Colorado, Indiana, Nevada, and New Mexico, which were not reliable parts of the Democratic coalition to that point. 2008 Presidential Election 2008 interactive map << 2004 2012 >> The 56th quadrennial United States presidential election was held on November 4, 2008. Going into these elections, the Senate consisted of 49 Democrats, 49 Republicans, and two Independents who caucused with the Democrats, giving the Democratic caucus the slightest 5149 majority. 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. Obama received 365 electoral votes, and McCain 173. Republican. 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. Alexander won the election with 65% of the vote. What If All States Split Their Electoral Votes. [8][9] Perry was endorsed by Alabama Statesmen,[10] Boston Tea Party,[11] and Christians for Life and Liberty. The 56th quadrennial United States presidential election was held on November 4, 2008. Two senators from each state are elected to represent their state. 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). [50] The last Democratic senator from Idaho was Frank Church, who was defeated in the Republican landslide of 1980 after serving four terms. [51], Senate Majority Whip Richard Durbin remained favored in Illinois. Pryor won on election day, with 79.53% of the vote. [5] Seven territorial chambers in four territories and the District of Columbia were up. The 2008 electoral map is above. The Obama campaign also realized its commitment to younger voters by winning all age groups except those aged 65 years and older. . [120] The Democratic nominee was state senator Kay Hagan,[121] who defeated Jim Neal and Dustin Lassiter in the Democratic primary. 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. States shown here did not allocate all their available electoral votes to one candidate. The South Carolina Working Families Party had also nominated Michael Cone. Roberts was re-elected with 60% to Slattery's 36%. 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. The 2008 presidential election was the first since 1952 in which neither an incumbent president nor an incumbent vice president was a candidate. [37] 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. 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. Source: Election results from National Election Pool/Edison Research (Nov. 3, 2020: U.S. Senate) and The Associated Press (Jan. 5, 2021: U.S. Senate) Race calls from The . Lieutenant Governor Jim Risch was the Republican candidate; U.S. Army veteran and former congressman Larry LaRocco was the Democratic candidate. 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. In Maine, Susan Collins sought a third term in the Senate. Five Republicans sought re-election but lost in the general election. State Representative Joel Dykstra announced his candidacy on July 5, 2007. Today the desks are no longer arranged in their original order, but are moved within the Chamber to suit the needs of the Senate. Baucus easily won re-election, taking 73% of the vote, with Kelleher taking 27%. He had already expressed interest in running and had been building the apparatus necessary to wage a Senate campaign.[65]. Popular vote totals generally gathered from state Certificates of Ascertainment and/or results posted directly by individual states. In the Democratic primary, Figures won the nomination and face Sessions in November. The 2008 United States Senate elections were held on November 4, 2008, with 35 of the 100 seats in the Senate being contested. On Election Day, Udall defeated Schaffer 53% to 43%. After that, senators have the opportunity to relocate. But the division has not always been as clearly defined as it is now. Senator Jay Rockefeller, great-grandson of oil tycoon John D. Rockefeller, sought a fifth term representing West Virginia. 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. 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%.[61]. www.senate.gov. [79] 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. Libertarian Kent Marmon also ran. He selected Alaska Governor Sarah Palin as his running mate to counter arguments that McCains age would be a detriment to presidential service. CQpolitics.com rated the contest as "safe Democrat.". Collins was re-elected with 58% of the vote in 2002 over State Sen. Chellie Pingree. The Upshot's Senate forecasting model uses a combination of polling data and a fundamentals model that includes among other things candidate political experience, money raised, and state . In December 2007, Chambliss had an approval rating of 53% and a disapproval rating of 34% according to Strategic Vision, a Republican polling firm. Use the interactive map tool to predict the winners of the 2014 senate elections and share with your friends! [6] In New York, the Democrats obtained a trifecta for the first time since 1935.[7]. N.M. Governors House Senate Mixx Buzz. Graham easily won re-election with 58% of the vote to Conley's 42%. He defeated ophthalmologist Gordon Leitch[129] in the May 20 Republican primary. As of 2023, Stevens still holds this record. During the 89th Congress (19651967), four senators were placed in an unusual fifth row behind the Democratic senators. Democrats held at least 57 seats as a result of the election. The resignation of Mississippi Senator Trent Lott, and the death of Wyoming Senator Craig L. Thomas, both Class 1 senators, meant that both of those states' senate seats were up for election. The 33 seats in the United States Senate Class 2 were up for election, plus special Senate elections in Mississippi and Wyoming. McCain still won the white vote, though Obamas share of the vote was large enough to win in some Republican areas. His Democratic opponent was Chris Rothfuss, a professor at the University of Wyoming and a chemical engineer, nanotechnologist, and diplomat. Challenging Levin were Republican State Representative Jack Hoogendyk, Green candidate Harley G. Mikkelson, US Taxpayers' candidate Mike Nikitin, Libertarian professor Scotty Boman, and Natural Law's candidate Doug Dern.[69]. Two more freshmen were appointed to the Senate as a consequence of the appointment of Hillary Clinton to be Secretary of State and Ken Salazar to be Secretary of the Interior. A December 2007 poll showed Coleman's approval rating among Minnesota voters at 53%. Libertarian Robert J. Underwood had 3%. R+46. 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. The incumbent governors of Puerto Rico, Anbal Acevedo Vil, and American Samoa, Togiola Tulafono, were also up for re-election. 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. 2008 Nomination Battle. Utah. Daniel Lewis ran as a Libertarian candidate for the United States Senate. [96][97] Wicker beat Musgrove 55% to 45%. The 2008 election was the first in 56 years in which neither an incumbent president nor a vice president ran Bush was constitutionally limited from seeking a third term by the Twenty-second Amendment; Vice President Dick Cheney chose not to seek the presidency. [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]. [103] Three consecutive monthly Rasmussen Reports poll showed Shaheen defeating Sununu by 49% to 41%. Outgoing Republican President George W. Bush's policies and actions and the American public's desire for change were key issues throughout the campaign. Hazard Eligibility and Local Projects Act (11/04/2021 legislative day) House Floor: H.R.3992. Green Party Senate Candidate Chris Lugo Urges Inclusion in Debates. Wolfe had 36%. The 2008 United States elections were held on November 4. Senate Map - Election Results 2008 - The New York Times Senate Map Big Board Map Democrat 7 seats gained Majority Party undecided Republican 7 Seats lost 51 needed for majority Includes 39. The 2008 United States elections were held on November 4. On the Senate side, the committees are the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) and the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC). Additionally, votes cast for Paul Wellstone in the 2002 election are not factored into the DFL's total from that year. All of the elections involved the Class 2 seats. 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. Republicans need a net gain of four seats in November to win control of the Senate. What Is the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact? Merkley beat longtime Democratic activist Steve Novick and three other candidates in a hotly contested primary. The assignment of these desks is governed by a series of Senate resolutions. Politics Coronavirus Jan. 6 Riot International Entertainment Business Technology Lifestyle Health The same Rasmussen poll showed Cornyn leading Noriega by a narrow four percentage points - 47% to 43%. *Senators Angus King (I-ME) and Bernie Sanders (I-VT) caucus with Democrats. Since 2003 (108th Congress, 1st Session), the Senate has provided interactive seating plans to identify where each of the 100 members sit in the Chamber and which historic desk they use. Select Source. The site also features a series of explainers about how presidents are actually elected in the United States. McCain sought to connect his campaign to the maverick image he received during his unsuccessful 2000 bid. The last time a Cherokee Strip existed in the Senate Chamber was during the 76th Congress (19391941). The prior record, about 62 million, was set in 2004 by George W. Bush. The selected electors from each of the 50 states and the District of Columbia voted for President and Vice President of the United States on December 15, 2008. [12], Sessions defeated Figures, taking 63% of the vote to Figures's 37%, 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. Franken announced his candidacy on February 14, 2007, more than 20 months before the election. A Brief History of Electoral College Reform Efforts, The New Electoral Map After the 2020 Census, How the 2020 Election Could End In an Electoral Tie, The Electoral College Is Not About The Little Guy, Faithless Electors are a Ticking Time Bomb Waiting to Explode. Interactive USA election map for past results and future projections. Collins won on election day with 61% of the vote, compared to 39% for Allen. Privacy Policy | Additionally, they won Republican-held open seats in Colorado, New Mexico, and Virginia. Christian activist Larry Kilgore of Mansfield, Texas, was a Republican challenger for the March 2008 primary election, but Cornyn easily won the Republican primary. The bankruptcy of Lehman Brothers in September 2008 set off an economic panic that spread globally. 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. map.jacksonjude.com . In Nebraska, incumbent Republican Chuck Hagel chose to retire rather than run for a third term. On October 4, 2007, senator Craig announced he will not seek re-election, but would remain in office until the end of his term.[48]. President George W. Bush (R) was unable to seek re-election due to term limits, leaving open nominating processes for both major parties. Senate Catalogue of Fine Art 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. 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. This marked the first time that the commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands selected a delegate to Congress. At the start of each Congress, the desks are reapportioned between the two aisles of the Chamber based on the number of Democrats and Republicans. to easily win re-election. In 1988 and 2000, the Democratic Vice-Presidential nominees Lloyd Bentsen and Joe Lieberman, ran similarly for their seat in Texas and Connecticut, respectively. In the early years of the Senate an equal number of desks were placed on each side of the room, separated by a central passageway, without regard to party size. Incumbent Republican John E. Sununu represented the swing state of New Hampshire. Year-end cash on hand was $6.04 million for Coleman and $3.10 million for Franken.[71]. Johnson underwent surgery in December 2006 for a cerebral arteriovenous malformation and was discharged from the hospital on April 30, 2007. [91] Controversy arose when Barbour called for the special election to be held on the same day as the general election. 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. [19] Two former Veco executives have plead guilty to paying the younger Stevens $242,000 in bribes. Such seating became known as the Cherokee Strip, a reference to the region in Oklahoma with land that at the time belonged neither to the Indian Territory nor the United States. It was also the first time two sitting senators ran against each other. The Obama campaign used social media and data gathering to promote the candidates argument for change. Barkley received 437,404 votes, about 15% of total votes cast.[84]. Physician Steve Sauerberg of La Grange won the February 5 Republican primary. Current Senate: 47* Democrats | 53 Republicans. To win the presidency, a candidate must win a majority of all electors. Former Chairman of the Tennessee Democratic Party Bob Tuke was the Democratic nominee, defeating Businessman Gary Davis 30% to 23%. 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. [20] On July 30, 2007, the IRS and FBI raided Stevens's home in Alaska. With Republican President George W. Bush term-limited, Senator John McCain of Arizona won the Republican nomination in the 2008 Republican primaries. [158] Former Governor Jim Gilmore, who dropped out of the 2008 presidential election, was the Republican nominee for the seat. Smith faced Democratic Oregon House of Representatives Speaker Jeff Merkley in the November general election. The United States Senate is the upper legislature of the bicameral legislative branch. [23], The Democratic candidate was Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich, the son of popular former Democratic Representative Nick Begich. The economy and other domestic policies were also dominant issues, especially during the last months of the campaign after the onset of the 2008 economic crisis. Each desk was custom made for a particular location within the Chamber. Usage Policy | [47] 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.