2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Pennsylvania, District 13
While two term Democrat Allyson Schwartz is a target for Republicans in the 2008 race, her seat is expected to be relatively safe. She did not face a serious challenge in 2006 against Raj Bhakta in this Democratic-leaning district. 2007 Philadelphia mayoral candidate Al Taubenberger and state Senator Stewart Greenleaf pondered running on the Republican ticket, but did not enter the race. Attorney Marina Kats ran unopposed for the Republican nomination. Kats is underfunded and without name recognition, while running against and incumbent with a deep warchest of funds, which presents a crucial advantage in an expensive media market. This seat is currently considered to be noncompetitive. CQ Politics forecasts the race as 'Safe Democrat'.


2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Pennsylvania, District 14
Seven term incumbent Mike Doyle (D) will run for another term. For the fourth straight election, Doyle will not face a Republican opponent, although Green Party candidate, professor Titus North, will be on the ballot for the second straight year. Doyle represents a district that gave John Kerry 69% of the vote in 2004 and his seat is considered to be noncompetitive. The congressman presents a strongly pro-union image, while avoiding hot button social issues, which allows him to remain popular and noncontroversial. CQ Politics forecasts the race as 'Safe Democrat'.


2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Pennsylvania, District 15
Republican incumbent Charlie Dent was challenged by Allentown Democratic Party Chair Sam Bennett. CQ Politics forecast the race as 'Republican Favored'.


2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Pennsylvania, District 15
Although Dent was targeted by the Democrats for a tough race in 2006, his seat was ultimately relatively safe in 2008. In 2004, he won only 53% of the vote against a political newcomer with no political experience, but did significantly better in his bid for a second term. His district covers the Lehigh Valley region and is politically marginal, narrowly going to John Kerry with 50% of the vote in 2004.


2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Pennsylvania, District 15
Lehigh County Executive Don Cunningham, and state Democratic Party Chairman T.J. Rooney declined to run for the Democratic nomination, leaving Sam Bennett as the sole member of her party's ticket. Bennett was not considered to be as strong of a candidate as Democrats would like, which helped this seat fall out of contention. Although Democrats have an advantage in registration in the district and that Pennsylvania as a whole is trending Democratic, Dent projects a moderate image. His relationship with popular liberal then-Republican Arlen Specter also aids Dent.


2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Pennsylvania, District 16
Six-term Republican incumbent Joe Pitts is running for reelection against Democratic nominee Bruce Slater (),a U.S Navy veteran, historic restoration contractor, democratic committee person and community activist who ran unopposed in the primary. Green Party candidate John Murphy, a management consultant and Constitution Party candidate Dan Frank () will also be on the ballot. CQ Politics forecasts the race as 'Safe Republican'.


2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Pennsylvania, District 16
Pitts had the worst showing of his congressional career in 2008, winning 55.8% of the vote. However, he represents a historically conservative district which gave 61% of its votes to George W. Bush in 2004, and has not attracted a top tier Democratic challenger.


2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Pennsylvania, District 17
Eight term incumbent Tim Holden (D) is running against Toni Gilhooley (R), a retired Pennsylvania state trooper. CQ Politics forecasts the race as 'Safe Democrat'.


2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Pennsylvania, District 17
The 17th congressional district gave George W. Bush 58% of its votes and has historically been dominated by Republicans. However, Holden upset the district's 10-term incumbent, George Gekas, in 2002 after being drawn into the district (he'd previously represented a Reading-based district) and hasn't faced substantive opposition since then. He is a member of the moderate Blue Dog Coalition and opposes abortion and gun control. Gilhooley was a conservative candidate. Holden has used his overwhelming support in Schuylkill County, his home county, to make up for past deficits in areas such as Lebanon County and Dauphin County.


2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Pennsylvania, District 18
Three term Republican Tim Murphy was challenged by Democrat  Steve O'Donnell, a Monroeville health care executive. CQ Politics forecasted the race as 'Republican Favored'.


2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Pennsylvania, District 18
Murphy was reelected in 2006 with 58% of the vote against a little-known Democrat. He represents a suburban Pittsburgh district that George W. Bush won with 54% of the vote but that has a strong Democratic history. His campaigning skills have yet to be tested, with relatively easy wins in his three elections thus far, and he could be vulnerable.


2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Pennsylvania, District 18
The DCCC tried to persuade Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato to run, but he showed no interest in the race. Business consultant Beth Hafer, whose mother Barbara Hafer is a longtime state official, was then expected to be the front runner for the Democratic nomination. Insurance executive Brien Wall and Monroeville health care executive Steve O'Donnell also ran. O'Donnell won an upset victory with 45% of the vote in a somewhat under the radar election. Although O'Donnell should make the race competitive, Murphy has a significant advantage because of name recognition and a moderate image.


2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Pennsylvania, District 19
Four term incumbent Todd Russell Platts (R) will run for another term. His Democratic opponent will be 2006 candidate and college professor Phil Avillo (), who was unopposed in the party primary. Platts represents a highly conservative district, which gave 64% of the vote to George W. Bush in 2004. Avillo, meanwhile, has raised very little money for his campaign. This race is expected to be noncompetitive. CQ Politics forecasts the race as 'Safe Republican'.


2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Rhode Island
The 2008 congressional elections in Rhode Island were held on November 4, 2008 to determine who will represent Rhode Island in the United States House of Representatives, coinciding with the presidential and senatorial elections. Representatives are elected for two-year terms; those elected will serve in the 111th Congress from January 3, 2009 until January 3, 2011.


2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Rhode Island
Rhode Island has two seats in the House, apportioned according to the 2000 United States Census. Its 2007-2008 congressional delegation consisted of two Democrats, both of whom were re-elected in 2008. Thus, no districts changed party. CQ Politics forecasted both districts as "safe" for the incumbent party.


2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Rhode Island, District 1
This district covers the northern and East Bay sections of the state. Democratic incumbent Patrick J. Kennedy, who has represented this seat since 1995, won against Republican nominee Jonathan Scott. CQ Politics forecasted the race as 'Safe Democrat'.


2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Rhode Island, District 2
This district covers the areas roughly south and west of Providence. Democratic incumbent Jim Langevin, who has represented this seat since 2001, won against Republican nominee Mark Zaccaria. CQ Politics forecasted the race as 'Safe Democrat'.


2008 United States House of Representatives elections in South Carolina
The 2008 United States House of Representatives elections in South Carolina were held on Tuesday, November 4, 2008. The primary elections were held on June 10 and the runoff elections were held two weeks later on June 24. The composition of the state delegation before the election was four Republicans and two Democrats.


2008 United States House of Representatives elections in South Carolina
All seats were considered safe for their incumbent parties except for districts 1 and 2. This was the last time that Democrats won more than one congressional district from South Carolina until 2018.


2008 United States House of Representatives elections in South Carolina, District 1
Incumbent Republican Congressman Henry E. Brown, Jr. defeated Democratic candidate Linda Ketner by a surprisingly thin margin to win a fifth term in Congress. Ketner's performance was the strongest performance by a Democrat that Brown had seen in his career and was made all the more surprising by the fact that she was openly lesbian and the 1st district, stretching across the coast of South Carolina, was strongly conservative.


2008 United States House of Representatives elections in South Carolina, District 2
Incumbent Republican Congressman Joe Wilson defeated Democrat and Iraq War Veteran Rob Miller by the thinnest margin of his electoral career. Miller's performance in this conservative district rooted in eastern and southern South Carolina was surprising, though ultimately was not strong enough to unseat Wilson in his bid for a fifth term.


2008 United States House of Representatives elections in South Carolina, District 3
Though two of his fellow Republican Congressman faced tougher-than-expected bids for re-election, incumbent Republican Congressman J. Gresham Barrett easily dispatched Democratic nominee Jane Ballard Dyer, a pilot, in this staunchly conservative district based in western South Carolina.


2008 United States House of Representatives elections in South Carolina, District 4
Incumbent Republican Congressman easily defeated Democratic candidate Paul Corden and Green Party candidate C. Faye Walters in this very conservative district rooted in Upstate South Carolina.


2008 United States House of Representatives elections in South Carolina, District 5
Long-serving incumbent Democratic Congressman John Spratt has been able to maintain popularity in this conservative district based in northern South Carolina, enabling to repeatedly win re-election despite the national mood. This year proved no different, with Spratt easily winning a fourteenth term over Republican challenger Albert Spencer and Constitution Party candidate Frank Waggoner.


2008 United States House of Representatives elections in South Carolina, District 6
Incumbent Democratic Congressman Jim Clyburn, the House Majority Whip, easily won a ninth term in this very liberal, African-American majority district in central South Carolina. Clyburn won re-election over Republican Nancy Harrelson by the largest margin out of anyone in the South Carolina congressional delegation.


2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Tennessee
The 2008 congressional elections in Tennessee were held on November 4, 2008 to determine who will represent the state of Tennessee in the United States House of Representatives. Tennessee has nine seats in the House, apportioned according to the 2000 United States Census. Representatives are elected for two-year terms; the elected served in the 111th Congress from January 4, 2009 until January 3, 2011. In the 2008 elections, Tennessee elected 5 Democrats and 4 Republicans to the US House, as neither the Democratic or Republican Party gained any seats. The election coincided with the 2008 U.S. presidential election. As of 2020, this is the last time that Democrats won a majority of congressional districts from Tennessee. Tennessee’s US House delegation has been 7-2 Republican ever since, as white conservatives who had already voted Republican for president also began to vote Republican downballot in 2010.


2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Tennessee, District 1
This district covers northeast Tennessee, including all of Carter, Cocke, Greene, Hamblen, Hancock, Hawkins, Johnson, Sullivan, Unicoi, and Washington counties and parts of Jefferson County and Sevier County. It has been represented by Republican David Davis since 2007.


2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Tennessee, District 1
Johnson City mayor Roe narrowly defeated Davis in the Republican primary by a margin of 50% to 49% (only 500 votes). Davis was elected in 2006, succeeding retiring congressman Bill Jenkins, winning the Republican nomination over a crowded field which included Roe. Roe, a retired OB/GYN, was endorsed by several local newspapers, refused PAC and special interest money, and promised not to serve any more than ten years in Congress. He was a shoo-in for election in a district which has only elected Republicans since 1880.


2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Tennessee, District 2
This district lies in the east central part of the state, based in Knoxville and is largely coextensive with that city's metropolitan area. It has been represented by Republican Jimmy Duncan since November, 1988. He ran against Democrat Bob Scott. No Democrat has held this seat since 1855. CQ Politics forecasted the race as 'Safe Republican'.


2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Tennessee, District 3
This district has been represented by Republican Zach Wamp since 1995. His Democratic opponent was Doug Vandagriff. CQ Politics forecasted the race as 'Safe Republican'.


2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Tennessee, District 4
This district lies in Middle and East Tennessee and includes all of Bledsoe, Campbell, Coffee, Cumberland, Fentress, Franklin, Giles, Grundy, Lawrence, Lewis, Lincoln, Marion, Maury, Moore, Morgan, Pickett, Scott, Sequatchie, Van Buren, Warren, and White Counties, as well as portions of Hickman, Roane, and Williamson counties. It has been represented by Democrat Lincoln Davis since 2003. He ran against Republican Monty Lankford. Although the 4th is one of the few districts in the nation that is not considered safe for either party, its size and the fact it includes five television markets makes it fairly easy for incumbents to tenure themselves in. CQ Politics forecasted the race as 'Safe Democrat'.


2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Tennessee, District 5
This district lies in Middle Tennessee, including almost all of Davidson County, half of Wilson County, and half of Cheatham County. Nearly two-thirds of the district's voting population lives in Nashville. It has been represented by Democrat Jim Cooper since 2003. He ran against Republican Gerard Donovan. CQ Politics forecasted the race as 'Safe Democrat'.


2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Tennessee, District 6
This district lies in Middle Tennessee, including all of Bedford, Cannon, Clay, DeKalb, Jackson, Macon, Marshall, Overton, Putnam, Robertson, Rutherford, Smith, Sumner, and Trousdale Counties, as well as a portion of Wilson County. It has been represented by Democrat Bart Gordon since 1985. He ran against independent candidate Chris Baker. CQ Politics forecasted the race as 'Safe Democrat'.


2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Tennessee, District 7
This district lies in Middle and southwestern Tennessee, connecting suburbs of Memphis and Nashville. It has been represented by Republican Marsha Blackburn since 2003. She ran against Democrat Randy G. Morris. CQ Politics forecasted the race as 'Safe Republican'.


2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Tennessee, District 8
This district covers roughly the northwestern part of the state. It has been represented by Democrat John S. Tanner since 1989. He ran unopposed by any party candidates and encountered opposition from only a few write-in votes. CQ Politics forecasted the race as 'Safe Democrat'.


2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Tennessee, District 9
This district lies in southwestern Tennessee, located entirely within Shelby County and including most of the city of Memphis. It has been represented by Democrat Steve Cohen since 2007, who ran against independent candidates Jake Ford, Dewey Clark, and Taylor Shelby Wright. CQ Politics forecasts the race as 'Safe Democrat'.


2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Tennessee, District 9
Cohen defeated attorney Nikki Tinker by a 79% to 19% margin in the Democratic primary. Cohen, who is the only white congressman representing a majority black district, defeated Tinker, who is black, by a much narrower margin in 2006. There was much controversy over accusations made by the Tinker campaign that Cohen was involved with the Ku Klux Klan, and circulation of anti-Semitic propaganda against Cohen, who is Jewish. No Republican filed in this overwhelmingly Democratic district, although Cohen's primary victory assured him of a second term in any case.


2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Texas
The 2008 elections for the Texas delegation of the United States House of Representatives was held on November 4, 2008. 31 of 32 congressional seats that make up the state's delegation were contested. In Texas's 14th congressional district no one challenged incumbent Ron Paul. Since Representatives are elected for two-year terms, those elected will serve in the 111th United States Congress from January 4, 2009, until January 3, 2011.


2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Texas
The 2008 presidential election, 2008 Senate election (for John Cornyn's seat), and 2008 Texas Legislature election occurred on the same date, as well as many local elections and ballot initiatives.


2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Texas, Congressional Districts, District 1
Sophomore Republican Louie Gohmert of Tyler was elected in 2004 following a controversial redistricting in 2003 by then-House Majority Leader Tom DeLay that moved the district of incumbent Democrat Max Sandlin into a strongly Republican constituency. Sandlin was defeated by a 24-point margin in 2004, and Gohmert won in 2006 with 68% of the vote. The district is a purely East Texas one stretching from the Tyler and Longview–Marshall areas in the north to the Lufkin–Nacogdoches area due south. Gohmert was renominated, while no Democrats ran in the 2008 primary. He won easily with 87.7% of the vote.


2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Texas, Congressional Districts, District 2
Republican Ted Poe of Humble was one of four Republicans who defeated a Democratic challenger (Nick Lampson, now representing District 22) in the 2004 elections. Poe won 56% of the vote in 2004 and 66% in 2006, making him one of only a handful of Republicans who gained from the previous election (In 2006, Democrats, who won control of the House from Republicans, generally improved on their 2004 margins). The district stretches from the northern Harris County and Houston suburbs of Spring and Kingwood to southern Liberty County and much of the Golden Triangle region. Poe was renominated, while no Democrats ran in the 2008 primary. The Libertarian Party nominated Craig Wolfe. Poe won re-election with 88.9% of the vote.


2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Texas, Congressional Districts, District 3
Longtime Republican Sam Johnson of Plano was 78 in 2008 but chose not to retire. He won the Republican nomination. Tom Daley () is the Democratic nominee and Christopher J. Claytor () is the Libertarian nominee. Johnson was re-elected 59.8–38.0% over Claytor.


2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Texas, Congressional Districts, District 3
This district includes several northern and northeastern suburbs of Dallas, including southwestern Collin County (including Plano and McKinney) and northeastern Dallas County including large portions of Garland and Richardson, as well as some northern portions of Dallas itself. The district is heavily Caucasian, upper-middle class, and Republican, with incomes averaging around the $75,000 range.


2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Texas, Congressional Districts, District 4
Republican Ralph Hall of Rockwall, the oldest living member of the House of Representatives (he will be 85 in 2008), faced Democratic nominee Glenn Melancon. CQ Politics considered the race 'Safe Republican'.


2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Texas, Congressional Districts, District 4
Hall has represented the district since 1980, first elected as an "old-time" conservative Democrat before becoming a Republican in 2004. He won the 2008 primary election, defeating foreign relations expert Joshua Kowert; businessman and NASCAR team owner Gene Christensen; and former Frisco mayor Kathy Seei. Hall defeated Melancon 68.8–29.3%.


2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Texas, Congressional Districts, District 4
This Northeast Texas district encompasses the Ark-La-Tex, the Rockwall County suburbs of Dallas, and the Sherman–Denison area.


2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Texas, Congressional Districts, District 5
Jeb Hensarling, a Republican from Dallas, was first elected in 2002 to a heavily Republican district comprising east Dallas and its neighboring suburbs, and stretching to the south and east to a number of small East Texas counties. A favorite among fiscal conservatives in Texas, Hensarling is a potential challenger for the U.S. Senate in 2012 should the incumbent Republican, Kay Bailey Hutchison, retire. In 2008, Hensarling is expected to win another term in this district despite recent Democratic gains in Dallas County. Hensarling was renominated, while no Democrats ran in the 2008 primary. Hensaring was re-elected with 83.6% of the vote.


2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Texas, Congressional Districts, District 6
Twelve-term Republican Joe Barton of Ennis was the chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee until Democrats took over the House in 2006. The district stretches from Arlington southward to several east central Texas counties all the way to Trinity County, which is west of Lufkin and is heavily Republican. Barton won the 2008 primary, and faced Democratic winner Ludwig Otto in the general election, which Barton won 62.0–35.6%.


2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Texas, Congressional Districts, District 7
Incumbent Republican John Culberson faced Democratic businessman Michael Skelly in this Houston area district. CQ Politics considered this race 'Leans Republican'.


2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Texas, Congressional Districts, District 7
Culberson won a surprisingly modest 59% of the vote in 2006 in what is otherwise a normally strong Republican district. He was still favored to win in 2008, given the 2006 anti-Republican trend and the normally Republican voting trend of this mainly suburban district, which is among the most affluent in the nation. Skelly, a former executive of Horizon Wind Energy, earned an MBA from Harvard after serving in the Peace Corps. He currently serves on Houston Mayor Bill White's Green Building Advisory Committee. Culberson defeated Skelly 55.9–42.3%.


2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Texas, Congressional Districts, District 7
The district, which was once represented by former President George H. W. Bush, includes much of heavily Republican west Houston—such as River Oaks, Uptown and Upper Kirby, Memorial/Spring Branch area, and the island cities of Bellaire, West University Place, and Jersey Village, as well as many unincorporated areas of northwest Harris County including a large chunk of the Cypress-Fairbanks area. The district also includes the heavily Democratic Neartown area. No Democrat has served this district since 1966, before the district was based in its current location.


2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Texas, Congressional Districts, District 8
Republican Kevin Brady of The Woodlands represents a strongly GOP district centered on the northern suburbs and exurbs of Houston and Beaumont as well as the Huntsville and Lake Livingston areas, winning two thirds of the vote in 2004 and 2006. The district was expected to remain in Republican hands; no Democrat has won this district since Jimmy Carter, the last Democrat to carry Texas in the presidential electoral college (in 1976), was president. Brady won the 2008 primary and faced Democrat Kent Hargett, whom he defeated 72.6–24.8%.


2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Texas, Congressional Districts, District 9
Sophomore Democrat Al Green was not expected to face a serious challenge in 2008 for his heavily Democratic district, which is situated in southwest Houston and includes Houston's Southside, as well as the Mission Bend and Alief areas (which have large Asian-American populations) and several heavily black and Hispanic northeastern neighborhoods of Missouri City.


2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Texas, Congressional Districts, District 9
He was elected by a 3 to 1 margin in 2004 after defeating displaced incumbent Congressman and fellow Democrat Chris Bell in the primary (Bell was moved out of his previous district in the controversial 2003 redistricting engineered by then-House Majority Leader Tom DeLay), and won a second term unopposed in 2006. Green was renominated, while no Republicans ran in the 2008 primary. Green was re-elected with 93.6% of the overall vote.


2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Texas, Congressional Districts, District 10
Incumbent Republican nominee Michael McCaul of Austin was challenged by Democratic nominee Larry Joe Doherty, a legal ethics attorney and former TV courtroom judge. CQ Politics considered this race 'Republican Favored'. In 2006, McCaul won only 55% of the vote against Democratic challenger, Ted Ankrum, and Libertarian Michael Badnarik. Ultimately McCaul won 53.9–43.1%.


2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Texas, Congressional Districts, District 10
This Republican-leaning district stretches from north Austin into Brenham traveling all the way to several far western and northwestern suburbs of Houston.


2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Texas, Congressional Districts, District 11
Midland Republican Mike Conaway represents George W. Bush's strongest district in the 2004 election. He won 77% of the vote in 2004 and was one of only a handful of Republicans who ran unopposed in 2006. Conaway's district stretches from the Midland and San Angelo areas to several mostly rural areas northwest of Austin. No Democrat ran in the 2008 primary and Conaway received 88.3% of the vote over minor party opposition.


2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Texas, Congressional Districts, District 12
Republican Kay Granger, who is considered a moderate by Texas Republican standards, won two thirds of the vote in 2006, outperforming most of her fellow Texas Republican colleagues. The popular Fort Worth-based Granger was expected to win re-election in 2008 in this district comprising western areas of Fort Worth and surrounding areas. Granger defeated Democratic nominee Tracey Smith 67.6–30.6%.


2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Texas, Congressional Districts, District 13
Mac Thornberry represents this Texas Panhandle district that encompasses Amarillo and Wichita Falls. The Clarendon Republican won by a 3 to 1 margin in 2006 and faced only a Libertarian candidate in 2004. Thornberry defeated Democrat nominee Roger Waun 77.6–22.4%.


2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Texas, Congressional Districts, District 14
Republican Ron Paul is best known for his strong libertarian views. His slogan, "The Taxpayers' Best Friend", emphasizes his strong — and sometimes controversial — takes on fiscal conservatism, while his social policies, which includes ending the federal War on Drugs and legalizing marijuana, as well as his belief that the federal government should not be involved in wedge issues such as gay marriage, leading to a more negative nickname, "Dr. No", for his votes against much of the legislative agenda of both parties in Congress.


2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Texas, Congressional Districts, District 14
The 73-year-old physician is a resident of Surfside. Paul was a Republican candidate in the 2008 presidential election (his second, following his run as Libertarian Party nominee in 1988), and ran un-opposed for re-election.


2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Texas, Congressional Districts, District 14
In 2006, Ron Paul won 60% of the vote against Democratic opponent Shane Sklar, a young rancher and Executive Director of the Independent Cattlemen's Association of Texas (ICA) who ran on a promise to serve as a fiscally conservative Blue Dog Democrat and received a slightly more favorable rating from the NRA, in attempt to defeat the popular Paul. In 2008, Paul was renominated, while no Democrats ran in the primary. Libertarian Eugene J. Flynn filed to run on December 20, 2007. . The district extends from several far southern and southeastern areas of Houston, including Galveston and Brazoria County, to the Bay City, Wharton County, and Victoria areas.


2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Texas, Congressional Districts, District 15
Democrat Rubén Hinojosa of Mercedes won 62% of the vote in 2004 in a South Texas district that had to be realigned following a Supreme Court decision that made the neighboring 23rd District unconstitutional. Hinojosa, who was 68 in 2008, won the Democrat nomination and defeated Republican nominee Eddie Zamora 65.7–32.0%.


2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Texas, Congressional Districts, District 16
Democrat Silvestre Reyes represents El Paso and is the Chairman of the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, which could make him a target of some conservative Republicans over issues relating to immigration in spite of the fact that Reyes was a former border patrol agent. Still, the district remains overwhelmingly Democratic due to its large Hispanic population, and Reyes is popular with his constituents. He won two thirds of the 2004 vote in a district that swung strongly in favor of John Kerry, and won with no Republican challenger in 2006. Reyes was renominated, while no Republican ran in the 2008 primary. Reyes won re-election with 82.1% of the vote.


2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Texas, Congressional Districts, District 17
Democrat Chet Edwards has been targeted for defeat in many recent elections. His district is widely seen as arguably the most heavily Republican district held by a Democrat, and won a close election in 2004, but recovered in 2006 with a strong eighteen point win. The district, which includes the official residence of George W. Bush, stretches from several rural areas south of Fort Worth to Edwards' hometown of Waco and the Brazos Valley region, which comprises the Bryan–College Station area. This district gave George W. Bush 70% of the vote in 2004. Edwards won the 2008 Democratic nomination and defeated Republican nominee Rob Curnock 53.0–45.5%.


2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Texas, Congressional Districts, District 18
Democrat Sheila Jackson Lee represents one of the most heavily Democratic areas in the state, covering several largely poor and African-American areas of Houston (including downtown Houston) and whose three previous representatives (Barbara Jordan, Mickey Leland, and Craig Washington) were all African-Americans and took staunch liberal stances.


2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Texas, Congressional Districts, District 18
A regular during C-SPAN's gavel-to-gavel coverage of the House while it is in session, Jackson Lee has also been seen as controversial, and is considered by some to be one of the "meanest" members of the House, as she is known to have one of the highest turnover rates of any congressional staff. Still, she is a well-respected figure in the district, and has been re-elected with at least 80% of the vote many times. Jackson Lee won the Democratic nomination and defeated  Republican nominee John Faulk 77.3–20.3% in the 2008 November general election.


2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Texas, Congressional Districts, District 19
Republican Randy Neugebauer of Lubbock won re-election in 2006 with 68% of the vote. His district is heavily Republican and stretches from Lubbock to Big Spring and Abilene and was created in the controversial 2003 Texas redistricting, which in 2004 led to the defeat of Neugebauer's challenger, conservative Democrat Charles Stenholm. Neugebauer won re-election over 2008 Democratic nominee Dwight Fullingim, 72.5 to 24.9%.


2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Texas, Congressional Districts, District 20
Democrat Charlie Gonzalez represents much of heavily Democratic, largely Hispanic inner San Antonio, including the downtown area. Gonzalez won 87% of the vote in 2006 against a Libertarian opponent and two thirds of the 2004 vote. Gonzalez is heavily favored to win re-election to this seat, which was once held by his father, Henry Gonzalez for nearly four decades. The Gonzalez family  have represented this district for 47 years as of 2008. Charlie defeated 2008 Republican nominee Robert Litoff 71.9–25.2% in the November general election.


2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Texas, Congressional Districts, District 21
Longtime representative Lamar S. Smith was the only Republican to win among the five congressional districts realigned as a result of a Supreme Court ruling that declared the nearby 23rd District unconstitutional as a result of allegations of diluted Hispanic voting power during the controversial 2003 Texas redistricting. Smith ended up being moved into a district that now encompasses several northern San Antonio suburbs as well as the Texas Hill Country and western parts of Travis County. The district includes a heavily Democratic portion of Austin, including the area around the University of Texas at Austin.


2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Texas, Congressional Districts, District 21
However, it is no match for the heavily Republican areas around San Antonio. The Supreme Court decision restored a large amount of territory that had been shifted to Henry Bonilla's district in 2003. Smith won 60% of the vote in 2006 against six challengers, including two Democrats, in a special election that resulted from the ruling. Smith was renominated, while no Democrats ran in the 2008 primary. In the general election, Smith won with 80.0% of the vote.


2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Texas, Congressional Districts, District 22
The 2008 election for Texas's 22nd congressional district was held on November 4, 2008, as part of the United States House of Representatives elections for the 111th United States Congress. Pete Olson defeated the incumbent Nick Lampson.


2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Texas, Congressional Districts, District 22
This race was considered a key race because the seat was previously held by former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, as well as the fact that the seat was represented by a Democrat, Nick Lampson, whose victory was largely attributed to Republicans being forced to run a write-in campaign. The Republican candidate was Pete Olson who faced the incumbent, Lampson.


2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Texas, Congressional Districts, District 22
Olson clearly led the race in the weeks leading up to election day. On October 22, 2008, poll by John Zogby and the Houston Chronicle stated that Olson had a 17-point lead over Lampson. On October 30, 2008, Larry Sabato predicted in his Crystal Ball newsletter that Olson's congressional race to be a "Republican Pick Up."


2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Texas, Congressional Districts, District 22
Olson won the general election with 52.4% of the vote against Lampson's 45.4% of the vote.


2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Texas, Congressional Districts, District 23
Ciro Rodriguez, a former Democratic congressman from San Antonio, faced Republican nominee Bexar County Commissioner Lyle Larson and Libertarian Lani Connolly in this majority-Hispanic district. CQ Politics considered this race 'Leans Democratic'.


2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Texas, Congressional Districts, District 23
Rodriguez defeated incumbent Republican Henry Bonilla in a December runoff after finishing in second place to Bonilla during the November general election, when Rodriguez himself ran out of money but was later helped by the DCCC. He was a former congressman who represented the nearby 28th District until a controversial redistricting plan that made this district more heavily Republican and favorable to Bonilla resulted in his defeat by that district's current representative, Henry Cuellar. Bonilla was seen as an ally of Tom DeLay, who engineered the redistricting.


2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Texas, Congressional Districts, District 23
Also, a Supreme Court ruled Bonilla's district, which was situated in the Hill Country suburbs of San Antonio, unconstitutional over claims that Hispanic voting rights were diluted in the redistricting. This resulted in the 23rd becoming much more Democratic with the addition of south San Antonio, which is Rodriguez's home base, and the removal of the Hill Country portions from the district, which were moved to Lamar S. Smith's district.


2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Texas, Congressional Districts, District 23
Larson is a public official and businessman in San Antonio. A graduate of Texas A&M University, he worked as a salesman for Ethicon, a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson. In 1991 and 1993, Larson was elected to the San Antonio City Council. In 1996, he was elected as one of the four Bexar County commissioners. He defeated attorney and banker Quico Canseco in the Republican primary for the U.S. House in 2008. Rodriguez then defeated Larson 55.8–41.9 percent. In addition to southern San Antonio and Bexar County, the district also includes several northwestern areas of San Antonio. Other areas represented in the district include the border towns of Del Rio and Eagle Pass, as well as Big Bend National Park and eastern El Paso County. It includes more than 600 miles of the Texas–Mexico border.


2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Texas, Congressional Districts, District 24
Republican Kenny Marchant of Coppell won 60% of the vote in this Republican-leaning district that gave George W. Bush 65% of the vote in 2004. Marchant is heavily favored to win re-election to this district, which is located in the middle of the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex and includes the suburbs of Duncanville and Cedar Hill in the south, Grand Prairie and part of Irving in the central area of the district, and Colleyville, Grapevine and the Carrollton–Farmers Branch area in the north, as well as Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport. Marchant's district was previously represented by Martin Frost, who was moved out of this district in Tom DeLay's controversial 2003 redistricting of the state. Marchant defeated 2008 Democrat nominee Tom Love () and 2008 Libertarian nominee David A. Casey 55.9–41.1% in the November election.


2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Texas, Congressional Districts, District 25
Austin Democrat Lloyd Doggett represents a Democratic-leaning constituency that is centered on the Austin area and several smaller rural areas to the south and east which either lean Republican or strongly favor Republicans.


2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Texas, Congressional Districts, District 25
Doggett won 67% of the vote against a largely unknown Republican opponent who initially ran as a Libertarian until the previous 25th district was thrown out in a Supreme Court ruling that declared the nearby 23rd District of Henry Bonilla unconstitutional; this district was realigned as a result of the controversial mid-decade redistricting engineered by former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, which realigned Doggett's district into a linear form that was derisively referred to as the "fajita strip". Doggett defeated 2008 Republican nominee George Morovich 65.8–30.5% in the November election.


2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Texas, Congressional Districts, District 26
Republican Michael Burgess of Lewisville won 60% of the vote in 2006 against an underfunded Democratic opponent, a six-percent drop from his 2004 victory against another Democrat. However, Burgess remains assured of a safe seat, as his seat takes in most of Denton County as well as parts of Fort Worth and lean heavily in favor of the Republican Party. The district was once represented by former House Majority Leader Dick Armey, who engineered the 1994 Republican Revolution along with former House Speaker Newt Gingrich. Burgess defeated 2008 Democrat nominee Ken Leach () 60.2–36.4% in the November election.


2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Texas, Congressional Districts, District 27
The District is represented by Moderate Democrat Solomon Ortiz, the Dean of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus. Ortiz received 57% of the vote in 2006, a six-point decline from his 2004 performance, which was somewhat of an anomaly given the strong anti-Republican voting mood of 2006, where Democrats either performed above their 2004 performance or ran without opposition. In 2004, George W. Bush carried this South Texas district, which includes Corpus Christi as well as Brownsville and South Padre Island. Ortiz won the Democrat nomination and defeated Republican nominee Willie Vaden 57.9–38.4% in November.


2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Texas, Congressional Districts, District 28
Conservative Democrat Henry Cuellar won 68% of the vote in 2006 against another Democrat who received 20% of the vote. Even though Cuellar is becoming a rising star in the Democratic Party, and has even been seen by some as a potential Democratic challenger to Senator John Cornyn, Cuellar could face a challenge for his seat, which includes Laredo (where Cuellar resides) and areas south of San Antonio, due to his somewhat conservative voting record.


2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Texas, Congressional Districts, District 28
For instance, Cuellar received the backing of the conservative Club for Growth during his 2006 primary campaign against Ciro Rodriguez, his predecessor, who later went on to win the 23rd District held by Republican Henry Bonilla, whom Cuellar nearly defeated in 2002. Cuellar won the Democratic nomination and defeated Republican nominee Jim Fish 68.7–29.2% in November.


2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Texas, Congressional Districts, District 29
Democrat Gene Green of Houston has won re-election easily without facing a primary challenge in this strongly Latino, heavily Democratic district, which covers eastern portions of Houston as well as some of its suburbs. Green defeated Republican nominee Eric Story 74.7–23.9%.


2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Texas, Congressional Districts, District 30
Incumbent Democratic nominee Eddie Bernice Johnson () of Dallas defeated Republican nominee Fred Wood () 82.6–15.8%. This district includes the inner city areas of Dallas, including its downtown areas, as well as several southern Dallas County suburbs south of the city which boast a large African-American population. CQ Politics considered the race to be 'Safe Democratic'.


2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Texas, Congressional Districts, District 31
John Carter of Round Rock won 59% of the vote in 2006 against a token Democratic opponent. His district, which was created as a result of the 2000 Census, stretches across a large segment of Central Texas from the northern Williamson County suburbs of Austin to the gigantic Fort Hood military base, all the way north to Stephenville. This description of the district would make it an opportunity for the Fighting Dems, a faction of military veterans who are members of the Democratic Party. Radio producer Brian P. Ruiz () of Hutto won the Democratic nomination but was defeated by Carter 60.3–36.5% in the general election.


2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Texas, Congressional Districts, District 32
Six-term incumbent and conservative Republican Pete Sessions () faced Democrat Eric Roberson () in this Dallas district. CQ Politics considered the race 'Safe Republican'.


2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Texas, Congressional Districts, District 32
Sessions was considered to be a vulnerable candidate for a number of reasons. First, he is known to have close ties to disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff, an issue that is likely to become the focus of his Democratic challenger's campaign in 2008. Also, while Sessions improved on his margin from his hotly contested 2004 race against Democrat Martin Frost, who was displaced from his previous district as a result of the controversial 2003 redistricting engineered by former House Majority Leader and Abramoff ally, Tom DeLay, it was only by a 2% margin (from 54% in 2004 to 56% in 2006).


2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Texas, Congressional Districts, District 32
Contrarily, George W. Bush carried 59% of the vote in the district to 41% of the vote for John Kerry in 2004. Finally, in 2006, Democrats made unexpected gains in Dallas County, winning the District Attorney office and all contested state district judgeships in the county, along with a number of countywide offices on the basis of corruption within the local Republican establishment as well as momentum gained from Democratic Dallas County Sheriff Lupe Valdez's unexpected 2004 victory.


2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Texas, Congressional Districts, District 32
Roberson won against Steve Love in the April 8 party runoff election to determine the Democratic nominee., but lost to Sessions 57.2–40.6% in the general election.


2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Texas, Congressional Districts, District 32
This Republican-leaning district includes several northern affluent areas of Dallas, including Highland Park, and significant chunks of the suburbs of Irving and Richardson.


2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Utah
The 2008 congressional elections in Utah were held on November 4, 2008 to determine the representatives of the state of Utah in the United States House of Representatives for the 111th Congress from January 3, 2009, until their terms of office expire on January 3, 2011. Incumbent Rob Bishop (R) was reelected in Utah's 1st congressional district. Incumbent Jim Matheson (D) was reelected in Utah's 2nd congressional district. Jason Chaffetz (R) was elected to succeed Chris Cannon (R) in Utah's 3rd congressional district.


2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Utah
Utah has three seats in the House, apportioned according to the 2000 United States Census. Representatives are elected for two-year terms. The election coincided with the 2008 U.S. presidential election.


2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Utah
All races were forecasted as safe for the incumbent party.


2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Utah, District 1
This district covers the northwest area of Utah including Ogden, Logan, Tooele, the northwest portion of Salt Lake City, and the entirety of the Great Salt Lake. It has been represented by Republican Rob Bishop since January 2003. His challengers were Democrat Morgan Bowen, Libertarian Joseph Geddes Buchman, and Constitution candidate Kirk D. Pearson. CQ Politics forecast the race as 'Safe Republican'.


2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Utah, District 2
This district covers the largely rural southern and eastern portions of Utah (including Saint George and Moab in the south and Vernal in the east), as well as the east side of urban Salt Lake County, the northern portion of Utah County, and Wasatch County. It has been represented by Democrat Jim Matheson since 2001. His challengers were Republican Bill Dew, Libertarian Mathew Arndt and Independent Dennis Ray Emery. CQ Politics forecasted the race as 'Safe Democrat'.


2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Utah, District 3
This district covers central and west central Utah, including nearly all of Utah County and the west side of Salt Lake County. It has been represented by Republican Chris Cannon since 1997, who lost to Jason Chaffetz in the primary. His challengers were Democrat Bennion Spencer and Constitution Party Candidate Jim Noorlander. CQ Politics forecasted the race as 'Safe Republican'.


2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Virginia
The 2008 congressional elections in Virginia were held on November 4, 2008 to determine who would represent the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States House of Representatives, coinciding with the presidential and senatorial elections. Representatives are elected for two-year terms; those elected served in the 111th Congress from January 3, 2009 until January 3, 2011. Primary elections were held on June 10, 2008.


2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Virginia
Virginia has eleven seats in the House, apportioned according to the 2000 United States Census. Democrats flipped the 2nd, 5th, and 11th districts, flipping their 3-8 deficit into a 6-5 majority.


2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Virginia, District 1
The candidates appeared on Cathy Lewis's TV program, What Matters, on October 15. The candidates held a spirited and well-attended debate on October 22 in which differing opinions on health care and the economy played a central role. Wittman defended his vote against the bailout package, while Day said he would have voted for it, and Larson said that it would have been better for the economy if the banks had been allowed to fail. On Medicare, Wittman advocated restructuring the system, while Day argued for expanding it and Larson shocked the audience by calling for its abolition. Wittman won the election.


2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Virginia, District 1
Incumbent Rob Wittman was the Republican nominee. A Westmoreland County resident, former State Board of Health field director for the Division of Shellfish Sanitation and past member of the Virginia House of Delegates, he has only held the seat since January 2008, having won the Virginia's 1st congressional district special election, 2007 to succeed deceased Congresswoman Jo Ann Davis. He has taken up many of her causes, including the FairTax, veterans' interests and getting rid of the remainder of the ghost fleet stationed at the James River. Like Davis, he is also introducing legislation to allow Virginia to regulate the importation of trash from other states.


2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Virginia, District 1
Bill Day was the Democratic nominee. He previously ran for Virginia Delegate representing the 31st District, losing to Scott Lingamfelter by a close margin of 45% to 55%.


2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Virginia, District 1
Day earned a bachelor's degree in construction from Arizona State University in 1974, an MBA from Harvard in 1983, and a master's degree in counseling from West Virginia State University in 1991. He used to live in Fauquier County where he worked as a mental health counselor. Day was very active in the community, and volunteered with Habitat for Humanity in both Fauquier and Prince William County, and Mend A House in Prince William County. Day is an advocate of energy independence and renewable energy technologies.


2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Virginia, District 1
The Democratic Party of Virginia held its convention on May 17 in Williamsburg, Virginia and selected Keith Hummel, the only person running for the Democratic nomination at the time. Only four votes were cast to not nominate anyone. A Westmoreland County physician and self-described "populist Democrat", Hummel also operates a farm and winery. The issues he was running on included enacting trade and tax policies to protect American jobs and American interests (rather than those of a few multinational corporations); using the military for defense rather than offensively; providing better health care and other benefits to veterans; and universal health care.


2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Virginia, District 1
Anarcho-capitalist Catlett resident Nathan Larson filed a declaration of candidacy on May 7, and was certified for the ballot on June 6. He was nominated by the Libertarian Party 1st Congressional District Convention on June 3 and endorsed by the Independent Greens of Virginia on June 12. The main issues he was running on are free market roads and transit privatization, which he proposed as the solution to DC Metropolitan area traffic congestion, recently ranked the second-worst in the country. He supported auctioning off the Interstate Highway System and rail systems such as Amtrak to private investors. Larson also sought to dissolve the U.S. military and establish a competitive market for defense services. Prior to his campaign, Larson was a student senator and cannabis reform activist at George Mason University.


2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Virginia, District 2
The District includes Virginia's two largest cities--Norfolk and Virginia Beach, and the Virginia portion of the Eastern Shore. Republican incumbent Thelma Drake lost to Democratic nominee Glenn Nye, a graduate of the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., who served as a diplomat in Eastern Europe, Kosovo and Macedonia, Singapore, Afghanistan, the West Bank, Gaza and Iraq.


2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Virginia, District 2
In 2006, Drake survived a bid from Democrat Phil Kellam by only 51.27% to 48.45%. In 2004, Drake received 55% of the vote in this Virginia Beach-based district, which was won by George W. Bush with 57% to 42% for John Kerry in 2004. But in 2005 Democratic Governor Tim Kaine won the district by 50% to 47%. In 2006, Drake may have been hurt by the downfall of Republican U.S. Senator George Allen, who narrowly lost to Democrat Jim Webb, an ex-Republican and former Navy Secretary under Ronald Reagan. (Allen carried the district 51%–48%.)


2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Virginia, District 2
Analysts: CQ Politics rated the seat "Leans Republican". The Cook Political Report rated it "Republican Toss Up". The Rothenberg Political Report rated it as "Toss-Up/Tilt Republican". The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee considered Drake a "targeted Republican".


2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Virginia, District 3
The District runs from Hampton Roads to Richmond. Democratic incumbent Robert C. Scott won unopposed. The Republican Party of Virginia did not listed any prospective opponent.


2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Virginia, District 3
History: Scott won re-election with 96% of the vote in 2006. That year Democrat Webb carried 68% of the district in his Senate race. In 2005 Democrat Tim Kaine won the district by 71% to 27% in his gubernatorial race.


2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Virginia, District 4
The District lies in southeastern Virginia. Republican incumbent Randy Forbes won against Democratic nominee Andrea Miller ().


2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Virginia, District 4
History: Forbes won with 76% of the vote in 2006. That year Democrat Webb lost the district 45%–54% in his Senate race. In 2005 Democrat Tim Kaine lost the district by 48.3% to 49.6% in his gubernatorial race.


2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Virginia, District 5
The District lies in southern and central Virginia. Democratic nominee Tom Perriello is the winner against Republican incumbent Virgil Goode. A recount was conducted and Perriello was finally certified  as the winner by 727 of 316,893 votes on December 17, 2008.


2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Virginia, District 5
Analysts: CQ Politics rated the seat "Leans Republican". The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee considered Goode a "targeted Republican", based partly on Perriello's early fundraising. On August 1, the DCCC named Perriello as one of its Red to Blue candidates.


2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Virginia, District 5
History: Goode won re-election with 59% of the vote in 2006. That year Democrat Webb lost the district 45%–54% in his Senate race. In 2005 Democrat Tim Kaine won the district by 49.6% to 48.4% in his gubernatorial race. Goode originally won his seat as a Democrat in 1996, voted for President Clinton's impeachment in 1998, became an Independent in 2000, and then joined the Republican Party in 2002. He became the first Republican to represent the district since 1889.


2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Virginia, District 6
The District lies in western Virginia. Republican incumbent Bob Goodlatte won against Democratic nominee Sam Rasoul () and Independent Janice Lee Allen ().


2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Virginia, District 6
History: Goodlatte won with 75% of the vote in 2006. That year Democrat Webb lost the district 40%–58% in his Senate race. In 2005 Democrat Tim Kaine lost the district by 44% to 53% in his gubernatorial race.


2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Virginia, District 7
The 7th District included western parts of Richmond, as well as its nearby suburbs in Henrico County, but otherwise is largely rural. CQ Politics rates the seat "Safe Republican". The Cook Political Report rates it "Solid Republican".


2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Virginia, District 7
Incumbent Eric Cantor was the Republican nominee. He has held the seat since January 2001, having won in the U.S. House Elections of 2000 to succeed retiring Congressman Thomas J. Bliley, Jr.. Cantor won the district in 2006 by 64% to 34%. Eric Cantor won the election, keeping this seat under republican control.


2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Virginia, District 7
Anita Hartke was the Democratic candidate. Mrs. Hartke, 48, is a resident of Amissville, Virginia in Culpeper County, though the town is primarily located in neighboring Rappahannock County. She is the daughter of the three-term US Senator from Indiana, Vance Hartke. Her stated positions include improvements on the National Energy Policy by investing in alternative energy in order to reduce the use of foreign oil and fossil fuels. She believes that this would create more jobs that could not be outsourced while simultaneously fighting global warming. She also supports universal health care.


2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Virginia, District 7
Concerning the Iraq War, Hartke supports a gradual withdrawal of troops, stating that a brigade should be brought home every month. She supports reform of the controversial No Child Left Behind Act and increasing funding to the public school system. She also hopes to end student college loan rates in excess of 20%.


2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Virginia, District 8
The District lies in heavily suburban Northern Virginia. Democratic incumbent Jim Moran won against Republican nominee Mark Ellmore and Independent Green J. Ron Fisher.


2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Virginia, District 8
In the June 10, 2008, primary elections, Moran defeated Matthew T. Famiglietti, with 87% of the vote. Ellmore won against Amit Singh, by 56% to 44%.


2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Virginia, District 8
History: Moran won by 66%–31% in 2006. That year Democrat Webb won the district 69%–30% in his Senate race. In 2005 Democrat Tim Kaine won the district by 70% to 28% in his gubernatorial race.


2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Virginia, District 9
The District covers much of Southwest Virginia. Democratic incumbent Rick Boucher won unopposed for re-election. The Republican Party of Virginia did not list any prospective opponent.


2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Virginia, District 9
History: Boucher won by 68%–32% in 2006. That year Democrat Webb lost the district 44%–55% in his Senate race. In 2005 Democrat Tim Kaine lost the district by 43% to 55% in his gubernatorial race.


2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Virginia, District 10
The District lies in Northern and northwestern Virginia. It covers Loudoun, Prince William and parts of Fairfax and Fauquier counties, as well as Manassas.


2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Virginia, District 10
Republican incumbent Frank Wolf won against Democratic nominee Judy Feder and Independent Neeraj Nigam in the general election in November 2008. Feder defeated Mike R. Turner in the June 10, 2008, Democratic primary election by 62% to 38%. On the same day, Wolf faced Vern McKinley in the Republican primary and won with 91% of the vote.


2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Virginia, District 10
Independent Neeraj Nigam also ran in 2006 and received 0.77%.


2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Virginia, District 10
Analysts: CQ Politics rates the seat "Republican favored". The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee considers Wolf a "targeted Republican". On August 1, the DCCC named Feder as one of its Red to Blue candidates.


2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Virginia, District 10
History: Wolf defeated Feder in 2006, 57% to 41%. That year Democrat Webb won the district 50.0%–48.8% in his Senate race. In 2005 Democrat Tim Kaine won the district by 50% to 46% in his gubernatorial race. In 2004 George W. Bush won 55% of this district.


2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Virginia, District 11
Democratic nominee Gerry Connolly, Chairman of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, won against Republican nominee Keith Fimian, a former CPA, and Independent Green candidate Joseph Oddo in this open seat race.


2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Virginia, District 11
Republican incumbent Thomas M. Davis announced his retirement on January 30, 2008. In 1994 Davis toppled one-term Democrat Leslie L. Byrne and rarely faced serious opposition in intervening years. However, his district, located in the wealthy Northern Virginia suburbs of Washington, DC, has become increasingly Democratic over the years and will definitely be a top Democratic target. George W. Bush barely won this district with 50% to 49% for John Kerry, which includes part of Fairfax and Prince William counties, in 2004.


2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Virginia, District 11
Fimian has personal wealth that he can draw upon. So far he has self-financed $325,000 of his campaign funds.


2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Virginia, District 11
Connolly won the June 10, 2008 primary with 58% of the vote, against Leslie L. Byrne (33%), Doug Denneny (6%), and Lori P. Alexander (3%).


2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Virginia, District 11
Oddo is certified for the ballot. He favors light rail as an alternative to HOT lanes.


2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Virginia, District 11
Analysts: CQ Politics rates seat "Democrat Favored". The Cook Political Report rates in "Likely Democratic". The Rothenberg Political Report scores it "Lean Democratic".


2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Virginia, District 11
History: Davis won re-election 56%–44% in 2006. That year Democrat Webb won the district 55%–44% in his Senate race. In 2005 Democrat Tim Kaine won the district by  56% to 42% in his gubernatorial race.


2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Washington
The 2008 congressional elections in Washington was held on November 4, 2008 to determine who will represent the state of Washington in the United States House of Representatives. Representatives are elected for two-year terms; those elected will serve in the 111th Congress from January 4, 2009 until January 3, 2011. The election coincided with the 2008 U.S. presidential election. Nonpartisan blanket primary elections were held on August 19, 2008.


2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Washington
Washington has nine seats in the House, apportioned according to the 2000 United States Census. Its 2007-2008 congressional delegation consisted of six Democrats and three Republicans.


2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Washington
All of the incumbents were re-elected, with only the 8th district race being considered competitive.


2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Washington, District 1
Incumbent Democrat Jay Inslee has represented the 1st district in Congress since 1999. Inslee won in the 2006 election with 68% of the vote. He was opposed by Republican candidate Larry Ishmael.


2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Washington, District 2
Incumbent Democrat Rick Larsen has represented the 2nd district in Congress since 2001. Larsen won in the 2006 election with 64% of the vote. He was opposed by Republican candidate Rick Bart. Two other Democrats challenged the two in the primary election, Doug Schaffer and Glen Johnson.


2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Washington, District 3
Incumbent Democrat Brian Baird has represented the 3rd district in Congress since 1999. Baird won in the 2006 election with 63% of the vote. He was opposed by Republican candidate Michael Delavar. Democrat Cheryl Crist and Republican Christine Webb also entered the primary.


2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Washington, District 4
Incumbent Republican Doc Hastings has represented the 4th district in Congress since 1995. Hastings won in the 2006 election with 60% of the vote. He was opposed by Democratic candidate George Fearing. Republican Gordon Allen Pross was eliminated in the primary.


2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Washington, District 5
Incumbent Republican Cathy McMorris Rodgers has represented the 2nd district in Congress since 2005. Rodgers was elected in 2006 with 56% of the vote. She was opposed by Democratic candidate Mark Mays. Barbara Lampert of the Democratic party, Republican Kurt Erickson, Libertarian John Beck and Constitution candidate Randall Yearout were eliminated in the primary.


2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Washington, District 6
Incumbent Democrat Norm Dicks has represented the 6th district in Congress since 1977. Dicks won in the 2006 election with 71% of the vote. He was opposed by Republican candidate Doug Cloud. Green candidate Gary Murrell and Democrat Paul Richmond also entered the primary.


2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Washington, District 7
Incumbent Democrat Jim McDermott has represented the 7th district in Congress since 1989. McDermott won in the 2006 election with 79% of the vote in the most Democratic district in the state. He was opposed by Republican candidate Steve Beren. Democrats Donovan Rivers and Goodspaceguy entered the primary, as well as independents Mark Goldman and Al Schaefer.


2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Washington, District 8
Incumbent Republican Dave Reichert has represented the 8th district in Congress since 2005. Reichert won in the 2006 election with 51.5% of the vote. He was opposed by Democratic candidate Darcy Burner. The primary also included Democrats James Vaughn and Keith Arnold, and Independents Richard Todd and Boleslaw Orlinski.


2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Washington, District 8
The District 8 race was considered competitive: it voted for Obama by a large margin and had a Cook PVI of D+2. It was rated "toss up" by Cook, "no clear favorite" by CQ Politics and "toss up/tilt Republican" by Rothenberg.


2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Washington, District 9
Incumbent Democrat Adam Smith has represented the 9th district in Congress since 1997. Smith won in the 2006 election with 66% of the vote. He was opposed by Republican candidate James Postma.


2008 United States House of Representatives elections in West Virginia
The 2008 congressional elections in West Virginia was held on November 4, 2008 to determine who would represent the state of West Virginia in the United States House of Representatives. Representatives are elected for two-year terms; whoever is elected will serve in the 111th Congress from January 4, 2009 until January 3, 2011. The election coincided with the 2008 U.S. presidential election.


2008 United States House of Representatives elections in West Virginia
West Virginia has three seats in the House, apportioned according to the 2000 United States Census. Its 2007-2008 congressional delegation consisted of two Democrats and one Republican. As of 2020, this is the last time that Democrats won a majority of congressional districts from West Virginia.


2008 United States House of Representatives elections in West Virginia, District 1
Democratic incumbent Alan Mollohan ran unopposed. CQ Politics ranked the race as 'Safe Democrat'.


2008 United States House of Representatives elections in West Virginia, District 2
Republican incumbent Shelley Moore Capito () won against Democratic nominee Anne Barth (), a longtime former aide to U.S. Senator Robert Byrd. CQ Politics ranked the race 'Leans Republican'. The Rothenberg Political Report considered it 'Republican Favored'. The Cook Political Report considered it 'Likely Republican'.


2008 United States House of Representatives elections in West Virginia, District 2
In 2006, Capito was reelected with 57%, a solid margin, but not a sign of political security. She faced a potentially difficult challenge from state Sen. John Unger (D), but Unger surprised many when he dropped out of the race.


2008 United States House of Representatives elections in West Virginia, District 3
Democratic incumbent Nick Rahall was challenged by Republican Marty Gearheart. CQ Politics ranked the race as 'Safe Democrat'.


2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Wisconsin
The 2008 congressional elections in Wisconsin were held on November 4, 2008 to determine who would represent the state of Wisconsin in the United States House of Representatives. Representatives were elected for two-year terms; those elected served in the 111th Congress from January 3, 2009 until January 3, 2011. The election coincided with the 2008 U.S. presidential election and other Wisconsin elections.


2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Wisconsin
Wisconsin has eight seats in the House, apportioned according to the 2000 United States Census. Its 2007-2008 congressional delegation consisted of five Democrats and three Republicans. That remained unchanged after the 2008 congressional elections in Wisconsin as all incumbent candidate won re-election, although CQ Politics had forecasted Wisconsin's 8 district to be at some risk for the incumbent party. As of 2021, this is the last election when Democrats won a majority of congressional districts from Wisconsin.


2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Wisconsin, District 1
In this relatively moderate district in southeast Wisconsin, incumbent Republican Congressman Paul Ryan has enjoyed popularity and faced no serious challenge from Democratic nominee, Marge Krupp, a chemist. Despite Barack Obama's strong performance in Wisconsin that year in the presidential election, Ryan was re-elected overwhelmingly.


2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Wisconsin, District 2
In this very liberal district based in the Madison metropolitan area, incumbent Democratic Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin, the first openly lesbian member of the House, easily turned away a challenge from Republican candidate Peter Theron and won her sixth term with nearly seventy percent of the vote.


2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Wisconsin, District 3
In this relatively liberal district based in western Wisconsin, incumbent Democratic Congressman Ron Kind easily won a seventh term over Republican challenger Paul Stark.


2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Wisconsin, District 4
Incumbent Democratic Congresswoman Gwen Moore, running for her third term, faced easy re-election prospects in this very liberal district based in Milwaukee; no Republican candidate even filed to run against her. Moore crushed independent candidate Michael LaForest in a landslide.


2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Wisconsin, District 5
In the wealthiest and most conservative district in Wisconsin, based in the northern suburbs of Milwaukee, long-serving incumbent Republican Congressman Jim Sensenbrenner easily defeated his only challenger, independent candidate Robert R. Raymond, to win a sixteenth term in Congress.


2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Wisconsin, District 6
This traditionally conservative district based in the Oshkosh-Neenah, Metropolitan Statistical Area was narrowly won by Democratic nominee Barack Obama in the 2008 election, but long-serving Republican incumbent Congressman Tom Petri held a tight grip on his seat. Petri sought and won a sixteenth term against Democratic candidate Roger Kittelson, winning handily.


2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Wisconsin, District 7
Long-serving incumbent Democratic Congressman Dave Obey held an iron grip on this district based in northwestern Wisconsin for forty years. Seeking a twenty-first term in Congress, Obey was overwhelmingly re-elected again over Republican challenger Dan Mielke despite the centrist nature of the district.


2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Wisconsin, District 8
Incumbent Congressman Steve Kagen faced off against former Wisconsin State Assembly Speaker John Gard for a second time in this Republican-leaning district that is based in northeastern Wisconsin and that includes the cities of Green Bay and Appleton. Seeking a second term, Kagen defeated Gard by a larger margin than he did in 2006, allowing him to keep this swing district under Democratic control.


2008 United States Men's Curling Championship
The 2008 United States Men's Curling Championship was held from February 16 to 23 at the Hibbing Curling Club in Hibbing, Minnesota. It was held in conjunction with the 2008 United States Women's Curling Championship. Craig Brown skipped his team to victory, his second national title. Craig Disher was runner-up for the third year in a row. As national champions, Team Brown earned the opportunity to represent the United States at the 2008 World Men's Curling Championship in Grand Forks, North Dakota, where they finished in 7th place.


2008 United States Men's Curling Championship, Round robin results
All draw times are listed in Central Standard Time (UTC−6).


2008 United States Olympic Trials (swimming)
The 2008 United States Olympic Trials for swimming events was held from June 29 to July 6 at the CenturyLink Center Omaha in Omaha, Nebraska. It was the qualifying meet for American swimmers who hoped to compete at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing.


2008 United States Olympic Trials (swimming), Results
Key: Highlighted swimmers achieved the qualification conditions to be included in the Olympic team in that respective event.


2008 United States Olympic Trials (track and field)
The 2008 United States Olympic Trials for track and field were held at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon. Organised by USA Track and Field, the ten-day competition lasted from June 27 until July 8 and served as the  national championships in track and field for the United States.


2008 United States Olympic Trials (track and field)
The results of the event determined qualification for the American Olympic team at the 2008 Summer Olympics, held in Beijing. Provided they had achieved the Olympic "A" standard, the top three athletes gained a place on the Olympic team. In the event that a leading athlete did not hold an "A" standard, or an athlete withdrew, the next highest finishing athlete with an "A" standard was selected instead.


2008 United States Olympic Trials (track and field)
The trials for the men's marathon were held November 3, 2007 in New York City, the women's marathon were held April 20 in Boston and the trials for the men's 50 km race walk were held February 9 in Miami, Florida.


2008 United States Senate election in Alabama
The 2008 United States Senate election in Alabama was held on November 4, 2008, to elect one of Alabama's members to the United States Senate. Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Jeff Sessions won re-election to a third term.


2008 United States Senate election in Alabama, Background
Since 1980, Alabama voters have increasingly voted for Republican candidates at the Federal level, especially in Presidential elections. By contrast, Democratic candidates have been elected to many state-level offices and, until 2010, comprised a longstanding majority in the Alabama Legislature; see Dixiecrat.


2008 United States Senate election in Alabama, Background
In 2004, George W. Bush won Alabama's nine electoral votes by a margin of 25 percentage points with 62.5% of the vote. The eleven counties that voted Democratic are part of the Black Belt counties, where African Americans are the majority racial group.


2008 United States Senate election in Alabama, Background
On January 10, 2007, Rep. Artur Davis announced that he would not run for the seat. Despite voting heavily for George W. Bush in 2004, Alabama still had a strong Democratic presence in 2008, and Democrats controlled majorities in both chambers in the Alabama Legislature. Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries Ron Sparks appeared to be preparing for a run, but on June 12, 2007, he announced that he would not seek the Senate seat, in order to avoid a primary battle with State Senator Vivian Davis Figures.


2008 United States Senate election in Alaska
The 2008 United States Senate election in Alaska was held on November 4, 2008. Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator and former President pro tempore Ted Stevens ran for re-election to a seventh term in the United States Senate. It was one of the ten Senate races that U.S. Senator John Ensign of Nevada, the chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, predicted as being most competitive. The primaries were held on August 26, 2008. Stevens was challenged by Democratic candidate Mark Begich, the mayor of Anchorage and son of former U.S. Representative Nick Begich.


2008 United States Senate election in Alaska
On October 27, 2008, Stevens was convicted on seven charges of ethics violations and corruption. If reelected, Stevens would have been the first convicted felon to be elected to the United States Senate. On November 18, 2008, the Associated Press called the race for Begich, making Stevens the longest-serving U.S. Senator ever to lose a re-election bid. Stevens conceded the race to Begich on November 19.


2008 United States Senate election in Alaska
Begich was the only Democrat in 2008 to flip a Senate seat in a state that Barack Obama lost in the concurrent presidential election. With a margin of 1.3%, this election was the second-closest race of the 2008 Senate election cycle, behind only the election in Minnesota. As of 2021, this is the most recent statewide race in Alaska won by a Democrat.


2008 United States Senate election in Alaska, Background
The FBI investigation and subsequent seven count indictment of Ted Stevens, as well as investigation of the state's only Representative, Don Young (R), generated some negative feelings in Alaska towards Republicans, even among Republican primary voters. Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich (son of the last Democratic Rep. from Alaska, Nick Begich) was courted by both the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. In February 2008, he announced the formation of an exploratory committee for the Senate seat.


2008 United States Senate election in Alaska, Background
The possible Democratic field also included former Governor Tony Knowles, State Rep. Eric Croft and State Senators Hollis French and Johnny Ellis. Former Minority Leader of the Alaska House of Representatives Ethan Berkowitz was considered a possible candidate, but he decided to challenge Don Young instead. Sensing discontentment within the GOP, conservative Republican Dave Cuddy announced his candidacy for U.S. Senate in December 2007.


2008 United States Senate election in Alaska, Background
Stevens was perceived by many as corrupt, but was also highly regarded by many Alaskans for his ability to steer federal funding toward the state; he was the longest-serving Republican in the Senate entering 2008 (first elected in 1968), and through his seniority he amassed a great deal of influence there. The selection of Alaskan Governor Sarah Palin as the vice-presidential running-mate of Republican presidential candidate John McCain in late August 2008 coincided with a substantial improvement in Stevens' performance in opinion polls.


2008 United States Senate election in Alaska, Background
A poll in August showed Begich with a 17% lead, but in early September a poll from the same source showed Begich leading Stevens by only 3%. Begich's campaign and some observers attributed this change to Palin's popularity and the enthusiasm stimulated by her selection, although Palin's own reputation was partially based on her perceived opposition to Stevens or distance from him. The Stevens campaign disputed the low numbers shown in the August poll and said that the numbers had improved in September because Stevens had begun heavily campaigning. His campaign also presented the relationship between Palin and Stevens as positive, contrary to some portrayals.


2008 United States Senate election in Alaska, Background
Stevens was convicted of seven felony counts of failing to report gifts on October 27, 2008. This was considered a serious setback in his already difficult bid for re-election; he had requested and received a quick trial in hopes of winning an acquittal before election day. After the verdict, Stevens maintained his innocence and said that he was still running for re-election.


2008 United States Senate election in Alaska, ADL primary
The ADL ballot contained all of the primary candidates for the Alaska Democratic Party, the Alaskan Independence Party, and Libertarian Party of Alaska.


2008 United States Senate election in Alaska, Republican primary, Campaign
With three and a half weeks to go before the primary, Stevens still held a large polling lead over chief rival Dave Cuddy, 59% to 19%. Political newcomer Vic Vickers said on July 28 that he expected to pour $750,000 of his own money into his bid to defeat Stevens. According to Rasmussen polling of Alaskans, Cuddy "does nearly as well against Begich" as Stevens, trailing Begich 50% to 35%, while Vickers trailed the expected Democratic nominee 55% to 22%.


2008 United States Senate election in Alaska, Republican primary, Results
In the Republican primary on August 26, results from 70.5% of precincts showed Stevens winning with 63% of the vote; Cuddy had 28% and Vickers had 6%.


2008 United States Senate election in Alaska, General election, Results
Begich won the election by 3,953 votes. Incumbent Stevens had held a lead of over 3,000 votes after election night, but a tally of nearly 60,000 absentee and mail-in ballots released on November 12 erased that lead and reduced the vote margin separating the candidates to less than 0.5%, with further counting, released on November 18, increasing the margin to more than 1% in favor of Begich. On November 19, 2008, Stevens conceded to Begich.


2008 United States Senate election in Arkansas
The 2008 United States Senate election in Arkansas was held on November 4, 2008. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Mark Pryor ran for a second term. No Republican filed to challenge him, and his only opponent was Green Party candidate Rebekah Kennedy. Pryor won re-election with almost 80% of the vote, despite Republican John McCain winning the state by nearly 20 points in the concurrent presidential election.


2008 United States Senate election in Arkansas
Kennedy received the highest ever vote share of any Green Party candidate running for U.S. Senate, and the highest for a third party Senate candidate in Arkansas until her record was surpassed by Libertarian candidate Ricky Dale Harrington Jr. in 2020.


2008 United States Senate election in Arkansas
As of 2021, this is the last time the Democrats won a U.S. Senate election in Arkansas.


2008 United States Senate election in Arkansas, General election, Campaign
On March 10, the state Republican Party announced it has no plans to field a candidate against Pryor. The only Republican to express interest in the race, health care executive Tom Formicola, decided not to run the weekend before filing began. Formicola lost the GOP primaries for the Senate in 2004 and the United States House of Representatives in 2006. As a result, Pryor was the only Senator in 2008 to face no major-party opposition in a reelection bid.


2008 United States Senate election in Arkansas, General election, Campaign
There had been speculation that former Governor Mike Huckabee would run against Pryor if his presidential bid were unsuccessful, but on March 8, Huckabee said he would not contest the race.


2008 United States Senate election in Arkansas, General election, Campaign
Pryor's sole challenger was Green Party nominee Rebekah Kennedy, who entered the race in April 2007. Kennedy received 206,504 votes (20.54%). This is the highest percentage of the vote for any Green Party candidate running for U.S. Senate ever, and her 206,504 votes is the second most total votes received by a Green Party candidate for U.S. Senate after Medea Susan Benjamin's 326,828 votes in the 2000 California Senate race. Kennedy's campaign, in addition to being record breaking for the Green Party, was also the strongest showing of any independent or third party candidate running for the U.S. Senate in 2008.


2008 United States Senate election in Arkansas, General election, Polling
Pryor was polled at 90% in a poll without a challenger in March.


2008 United States Senate election in Colorado
The 2008 United States Senate election in Colorado was held November 4, 2008. The primary elections were held August 12, 2008. Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Wayne Allard decided to retire instead of seeking a third term. Democratic nominee Mark Udall won the open seat, making this the first time a Democrat had held this seat since 1978.


2008 United States Senate election in Colorado, General election, Campaign
The election featured an open contest because incumbent U.S. Senator Wayne Allard declined to seek re-election. He honored his 1996 pledge to serve no more than two terms in the U.S. Senate and announced that he will retire from his service to the US Senate and not seek a 3rd term, leaving Colorado's Class II Senate seat open. Both parties believed this senate contest would be one of the most competitive senate races during the 2008 election.


2008 United States Senate election in Delaware
The 2008 United States Senate election in Delaware was held on November 4, 2008. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Joe Biden won re-election to a seventh term and won the Vice Presidency of the United States on the same day. Biden took his oath of office in the Senate chamber with the rest of his colleagues on January 3, 2009, but resigned his seat on January 15, 2009, and assumed the Vice Presidency five days later.


2008 United States Senate election in Delaware, General election, Campaign
After ending his 2008 presidential bid in January 2008, Biden focused instead on running for a seventh Senate term. He was unopposed within his party.


2008 United States Senate election in Delaware, General election, Campaign
O'Donnell faced businessman Tim Smith at the Republican state party convention and won with more than 60 percent of the  delegate vote.


2008 United States Senate election in Delaware, General election, Campaign
On August 23, 2008, Democratic Party presidential nominee Barack Obama announced that he had selected Biden to serve as his vice presidential candidate. Under Delaware law, Biden could run simultaneously for both his Senate seat and for Vice President, which he decided to do.


2008 United States Senate election in Delaware, General election, Campaign
The statewide party primary elections were held September 9, 2008. O'Donnell was uncontested in the Republican primary, as was Biden in the Democratic primary.


2008 United States Senate election in Delaware, General election, Campaign
O'Donnell tried to make an issue of Biden's dual campaigns, claiming that serving his constituents was not important to him, and criticized his unwillingness to participate in debates and candidate forums. Nevertheless, she was heavily outspent by Biden and her campaign failed to gain traction. Her campaign ended with $23,000 in debt.


2008 United States Senate election in Delaware, General election, Campaign
Minutes after the polls closed on November 4, NBC called the race for Biden, with other news organizations soon following.


2008 United States Senate election in Delaware, Subsequent events
After being sworn in on 6 January, Biden resigned as senator on 15 January in order to become vice president on 20 January. Delaware Governor Ruth Ann Minner appointed Ted Kaufman (D) to fill the vacant seat until a special election in 2010. O'Donnell once again ran unsuccessfully for the seat, as she was defeated by Chris Coons (D).


2008 United States Senate election in Georgia
The 2008 United States Senate election in Georgia took place on November 4, 2008. The run off election took place on December 2, 2008. Republican Senator Saxby Chambliss, first elected in 2002, sought re-election to his position as a United States Senator from Georgia. He was challenged by Democratic nominee Jim Martin and Libertarian nominee Allen Buckley. After a runoff election on December 2, Chambliss was elected.


2008 United States Senate election in Georgia
The runoff was necessary as neither Chambliss nor Martin, the two major party candidates, had won a majority of the vote in the first round. Early voting hours were set by county, and started November 17 or November 18. Prior to the runoff, advanced polls were open from November 24 to the 26th. Since the election was a runoff, only those voters who registered in time for the general election could cast ballots. It was the second Senate runoff election to be held in Georgia since runoffs were first mandated in 1964, following a runoff in 1992.


2008 United States Senate election in Georgia, Election dates
The state party primaries were on July 15, 2008, with primary runoff elections on August 5, 2008. The general election was held on November 4, 2008 and the general election runoff will be held on December 2, 2008 because no candidate received the necessary fifty percent of the vote.


2008 United States Senate election in Georgia, Democratic primary
The general primary was held July 15, 2008. A run-off between the top two Democratic contenders was held on August 5, in which Jim Martin defeated Vernon Jones.


2008 United States Senate election in Georgia, Democratic primary, Initial results
Results for the first round showed that since Vernon Jones did not win a majority of the vote, a runoff was held between him and Martin. Martin subsequently won the runoff.


2008 United States Senate election in Georgia, General election, Candidates, Democratic
Jim Martin, a former State Representative, former State Human Resources Commissioner, Vietnam War veteran, and 2006 nominee for lieutenant governor, is challenging Chambliss for his seat. He has made his support for PeachCare and other social services a signature issue in the campaign. He has made his opposition to the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 an issue in the run off.


2008 United States Senate election in Georgia, General election, Candidates, Libertarian
Allen Buckley - Attorney, Accountant, 2004 senate nominee, and 2006 nominee for lieutenant governor. He was eliminated in the general election, but his endorsement was sought by both the Martin and Chambliss campaigns.


2008 United States Senate election in Georgia, General election, Candidates, Republican
Sen. Saxby Chambliss running for re-election for the first time, is a member of the Republican Party. He was elected to the House of Representatives in 1994 and had only one serious election challenge while in the House. He maintains high ratings from conservative interest groups such as the National Rifle Association, and the National Right to Life Committee, and correspondingly low marks from liberal interest groups such as the NAACP and ACLU. He has sponsored legislation while in the Senate to replace the income tax with a national sales tax.


2008 United States Senate election in Georgia, General election, Results
As no candidate reached a majority on November 4, a runoff election was held on December 2, which Chambliss won.


2008 United States Senate election in Georgia, Runoff election, Campaign
Both qualifying candidates' runoff campaigns began in earnest on November 10, when election returns made it clear that a runoff would be required. With an election date of December 2, candidates were given only 3 weeks for additional campaigning.


2008 United States Senate election in Georgia, Runoff election, Campaign
The Libertarian nominee did not endorse either candidate in the run-off, though both campaigns reportedly inquired about getting Buckley's endorsement. Major political figures such as former President Bill Clinton, Republican Senator and 2008 presidential nominee John McCain and his former running mate Sarah Palin campaigned in Georgia, because of the election's potential to determine whether the Democratic Party could block filibusters in the United States Senate. Historically, run-off elections in Georgia have had significantly lower turnout than have general elections.


2008 United States Senate election in Georgia, Runoff election, Campaign
Chambliss's campaign verified that former Republican presidential candidates John McCain and Mike Huckabee would be campaigning in Georgia on the Senator's behalf, and former Democratic Governor and former U.S. Senator Zell Miller endorsed Chambliss. Former President Bill Clinton campaigned on Martin's behalf. Sarah Palin campaigned for the Chambliss campaign on December 1, the eve of the run-off election. President-elect Barack Obama had also been invited by the Democratic campaign but decided against making a stop.


2008 United States Senate election in Georgia, Runoff election, Campaign
The results of the runoff election were of particular interest to both parties. Subsequent to the November 4 general elections, Democrats had captured 58 seats in the Senate, two shy of a filibuster-proof supermajority. The result of Georgia's runoff election, as well as the results of an extremely close race and recount in Minnesota, would determine whether or not the required majority of 60 seats would be met.


2008 United States Senate election in Idaho
The 2008 United States Senate election in Idaho was held on November 4, 2008. The primary elections were held on May 27. Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Larry Craig decided to retire instead of seeking a fourth term. Republican Jim Risch won the open seat.


2008 United States Senate election in Idaho, Background
Incumbent Larry Craig announced his intent to resign following an incident where he allegedly solicited another man for gay sex in a public restroom. Craig later decided not to resign; however, he announced that he would not seek re-election. The filing deadline for the election was March 21, 2008. A total of 13 candidates filed for the seat. Republican and Democratic candidates ran for their respective nominations in the May 27 primary.


2008 United States Senate election in Idaho, Background
Lieutenant Governor Jim Risch defeated a crowded field for the Republican nomination, while former Congressman Larry LaRocco won the Democratic nomination in similar fashion. Conservative independents Rex Rammell and Pro-Life (formerly Marvin Richardson) also qualified for the general election ballot. Former Caldwell city council member Kent Marmon secured the Libertarian nomination. In the general election, Risch defeated LaRocco and the other candidates to keep the seat in Republican hands.


2008 United States Senate election in Illinois
The 2008 United States Senate election in Illinois was held on November 4, 2008. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Dick Durbin sought a third term in office and faced minimal opposition from Republican Steve Sauerberg. As expected, Durbin overwhelmingly won re-election. On the same night, fellow Democratic Senator Barack Obama was elected President of the United States, defeating Republican Senator John McCain of Arizona.


2008 United States Senate election in Illinois, Election information
The primaries and general elections coincided with those for other federal elections (United States President and House), as well as those for state offices.


2008 United States Senate election in Illinois, Election information, Turnout
For the primary elections, turnout was 32.37%, with 2,364,409 votes cast. For the general election, turnout was 68.42%, with 5,329,884 votes cast.


2008 United States Senate election in Illinois, General election, Results
Durbin's 3,615,844 votes is the highest vote total in a statewide election in Illinois. No one has broken his record since, however then Vice President Joe Biden received the most votes in the presidential election in Illinois in 2020. Durbin comfortably won re-election with the best margin of his career, winning all but four of the state's 102 counties.