[27] Rebekah Kennedy of the Green Party was Pryor's only opposition. Two senators from each state are elected to represent their state. The site was created by Taegan Goddard, who runs a network of political websites including Political Wire, Political Job Hunt and the Political Dictionary. Wolfe had 36%. simplemaps_election.selected.D = ['CA', 'CT', 'CO', 'DC', 'DE', 'FL', 'HI', 'IA', 'IN', 'NY', 'CO', 'IL', 'MA', 'MD', 'ME', 'ME1', 'ME2', 'MI', 'MN', 'NC', 'NE2', 'NJ', 'NM', 'NY', 'NH', 'NV', 'OH', 'OR', 'PA', 'RI', 'VT', 'VA', 'WA', 'WI']; Senator Barack Obama of Illinois was the Democratic nominee, and Senator John McCain of Arizona was the Republican nominee. [19] Two former Veco executives have plead guilty to paying the younger Stevens $242,000 in bribes. He was replaced by Scott Brown in the 2010 United States Senate special election in Massachusetts. This marked the first time that Nebraska has split its electoral vote since it moved away from the winner-take-all method in 1992. [131], On November 6, 2008, Jeff Merkley was projected the winner of the contest, with 48.9% to Smith's 45.6%. He also secured wins in Colorado, Indiana, Nevada, and New Mexico, which were not reliable parts of the Democratic coalition to that point. When the new senators were first sworn in, the balance was 5841 in favor of the Democrats, with the unresolved election in Minnesota causing that seat to remain vacant. In addition, this was the largest Democratic Senate gain since 1986, where they also won eight seats. The United States Senate is the upper legislature of the bicameral legislative branch. Obama won his party's presidential nomination after defeating Senator Hillary Clinton in the 2008 Democratic primaries. Obama argued that deregulation of the financial industry led to risky trading mechanisms contributing to the crisis. Each desk was custom made for a particular location within the Chamber. [160] Polling showed him as a strong favorite to win the seat. Johnny Swanson announced his candidacy in March 2006 for the Democratic nomination.[6]. [44], On September 1, 2007, senator Larry Craig announced his intent to resign from the Senate effective September 30, 2007. Once thought to be secure in his re-election, McConnell's lead had shrunk dramatically thanks to the financial crisis and polling showed the race tightening between him and Lunsford. After Shaheen's entry, however, all three withdrew and endorsed the former governor. The Obama campaign also realized its commitment to younger voters by winning all age groups except those aged 65 years and older. McCain still won the white vote, though Obamas share of the vote was large enough to win in some Republican areas. McCain, who supported the initial Iraq invasion, opposed establishing a removal date for all troops. Christian activist Larry Kilgore of Mansfield, Texas, was a Republican challenger for the March 2008 primary election, but Cornyn easily won the Republican primary. Also reported to be in the race are David "None of the Above" Gatchell a ballot activist & frequent candidate and Emory "Bo" Heyward, a software company employee, conservative activist & 2006 candidate. "The enduring allure of charisma: How Barack Obama won the historic 2008 presidential election. These voting patterns translated into an Obama victory with inroads into the South and West. Build your own road to 270 starting with a map of reliably red and blue states, as well as the battlegrounds CNN is tracking . Haley Barbour (R) named Rep. Roger Wicker (R . The presidential election, which was won by Democrat Barack Obama, elections for all House of Representatives seats; elections for several gubernatorial elections; and many state and local elections occurred on the same date. pres, senate, and governor data Let's Talk Elections: 2022 senate projections Political Analysis: 2022 senate projections MIT Election Lab: past pres, senate, house data Dave Leip's Atlas: past presidential results CNN: 2022 . Even though West Virginia is a historically Democratic state, in which the party had a 50-32% edge in party affiliation over the Republicans in the 2004 elections, the state party is more conservative than the national party, giving its votes to President George W. Bush in that election and in 2000. to easily win re-election. Outgoing Republican President George W. Bush's policies and actions and the American public's desire for change were key issues throughout the campaign. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Occasionally one party maintains such an overwhelming majority that it becomes necessary for majority party members to sit on the minority party side in the Senate Chamber. Former Representative Bob Schaffer of Fort Collins was the Republican nominee. Former Denver Broncos quarterback John Elway was rumored to be considering a run, but declined to do so. Projected Senate: Dem 58 GOP 42 : Main page: Previous report: Next report: Senate polls Web.csv . [81] Attorney Mike Ciresi, an unsuccessful candidate in the 2000 Democratic U.S. Senate primary, was considered a serious candidate, but withdrew from the race on March 10, 2008, clearing the path for Franken to secure the party's nomination. Note: The % column reflects the change in total number of votes won by each party from the previous election. 2008 Nomination Battle. Since Democrat Jim Webb had defeated incumbent Republican George Allen for Virginia's other Senate seat in 2006, Virginia's senate delegation flipped from entirely Republican to entirely Democratic in just two years. National security and foreign policy issues took a back seat to the economy due to an unraveling financial crisis. As a result, Mississippi's Attorney General Jim Hood challenged Barbour in court, claiming that the special election needed to be held within 100 days of Lott's resignation, as per state law. These elections marked the first time since 1964 in which a Democratic presidential candidate who won the White House had a Senate coattail effect. In the Democratic primary, Figures won the nomination and face Sessions in November. ", Bligh, Michelle C., and Jeffrey C. Kohles. However, New Hampshire had not elected a Democratic United States senator since 1975. [49] Risch and LaRocco ran against each other in the 2006 Lieutenant Governor race, which Risch won by a wide margin. On October 4, 2007, senator Craig announced he will not seek re-election, but would remain in office until the end of his term.[48]. [citation needed] Franken was sworn in as Minnesota's junior senator on July 7. On November 18, the race was called for Begich, who won with 47.8% to Stevens's 46.5%. Another Democrat, former Congressman Ronnie Shows, also filed to run, but he withdrew in February 2008 and endorsed Musgrove. In the early years of the Senate an equal number of desks were placed on each side of the room, separated by a central passageway, without regard to party size. [130], In a July 16, 2008, poll, Merkley overtook Smith for the first time 43% to 41%. There were several unique aspects of the 2008 election. The 2008 election was the first in 56 years in which neither an incumbent president nor a vice president ran Bush was constitutionally limited from seeking a third term by the Twenty-second Amendment; Vice President Dick Cheney chose not to seek the presidency. A map of key Senate races to watch. Va. Wash. W.Va. Wis. Wyo. Governors No Toss Ups 45 Democrats * Toss Ups 7 Republicans 48 38 Safe or Not Up 6 1 7 2 4 42 Safe or Not Up 51 Seats Needed. It is a way to view the relative competitiveness of each state. senate.gov - Origins wikipedia.org - United States Senate Voter turnout for the 2008 election was the highest in at least 40 years. The state traditionally leaned Republican, but John Kerry from neighboring Massachusetts narrowly won the state in the 2004 Presidential election. He has announced he will seek a second term in 2008. Domenici's role in the developing scandal had reduced the probability he would have been re-elected, and a SurveyUSA poll showed his approval ratings at 41%, with 54% disapproving. Baucus easily won re-election, taking 73% of the vote, with Kelleher taking 27%. A December 2007 poll showed Coleman's approval rating among Minnesota voters at 53%. Kerry was challenged by defense attorney Edward O'Reilly for the Democratic nomination, winning 69% of the vote to O'Reilly's 31%. Two senators from each state are elected to represent their state. Illinois Sen. Barack Obama (D) won the presidency by defeating Arizona Sen. John McCain (R) on November 4, 2008. He selected Alaska Governor Sarah Palin as his running mate to counter arguments that McCains age would be a detriment to presidential service. On November 24, 2008, Governor Minner appointed Biden's longtime Chief of Staff Ted Kaufman to fill the seat. Oct. 05: Senate Races. Despite being a first-term senator in a state George W. Bush won twice, Democrat Mark Pryor faced no opposition from Republicans in his re-election bid. Fellow senator Joe Lieberman, citing his status as an independent, endorsed Collins in her 2008 re-election bid. South Dakota was the tipping point state, decided by a margin of 25.0%. * Democratic total includes Bernard Sanders, an independent from Vermont, who caucuses with the Democrats. The 2008 U.S. Senate election in Minnesota featured first-term Republican incumbent senator Norm Coleman, Democrat Al Franken, a comedian and radio personality, and former U.S. senator Dean Barkley, a member of the Independence Party of Minnesota. 2008 Election Map: Senate By MATTHEW BLOCH, FARHANA HOSSAIN, CARL HULSE, JOHN MCGRATH AND DEREK WILLIS Obama won Florida, North Carolina, and Virginia, with Florida and North Carolina representing early evening signs of Democratic success. Interactive USA election map for past results and future projections. PDF Help | [91] Controversy arose when Barbour called for the special election to be held on the same day as the general election. On May 8, 2007, Rep. Tom Allen (ME-1) announced his candidacy on his website. This marked the first time that Nebraska has split its electoral vote since it moved away from the winner-take-all method in 1992. Franken announced his candidacy on February 14, 2007, more than 20 months before the election. The 2008 presidential election focused on a national economic crisis that evolved throughout the race. It was rumored that Lt. A Brief History of Electoral College Reform Efforts, The New Electoral Map After the 2020 Census, How the 2020 Election Could End In an Electoral Tie, The Electoral College Is Not About The Little Guy, Faithless Electors are a Ticking Time Bomb Waiting to Explode. Craig found almost no support among Republicans in his home state or Washington. Governor Bill Halter would challenge Pryor in the primary, but Halter declined to file as a candidate. Gordon Smith formally conceded soon afterward. Senator Pat Roberts sought re-election to a third term. Five Republicans retired rather than seek re-election. simplemaps_election.order = ['T', 'D', 'R']; //which color is shown first on click Click on the states in the map to toggle them between Democrat, Republican and Tossup. Incumbent President George W. Bush was ineligible for re-election per the 22nd Amendment, which limits a president to two terms, and incumbent Vice President Dick Cheney declined to run for the office. The Democratic nominee was 2nd district Congressman Mark Udall of Boulder who announced on January 15, 2007, that he would seek the seat and did not draw significant primary opposition. Martin, current Georgia Commissioner of Human Resources, former member of the Georgia General Assembly, Vietnam War veteran, and 2006 candidate for lieutenant governor, secured the Democratic nomination after defeating DeKalb County CEO Vernon Jones by a 59% to 41% margin in the August 5 run-off election. Current Senate: 47* Democrats | 53 Republicans. [88] Cochran, who has not faced serious opposition since he was re-elected in 1984, faced Democratic state Representative Erik R. Fleming, whom he defeated with 61% of the vote. Texas has not elected a Democrat in a statewide election since 1994, but according to pre-election Rasmussen polling, senator John Cornyn had an approval rating of 50%. Collins won on election day with 61% of the vote, compared to 39% for Allen. Obama won the general election with 52.9 percent of the popular vote and 365 of the 538 electoral votes. All Rights Reserved. The FBI investigated the remodeling of Stevens home by Veco Corp., which is part of a broader corruption investigation involving Stevens's son, former State Senate President Ben Stevens. Scott Kleeb, 2006 candidate for Nebraska's 3rd congressional district, defeated businessman Tony Raimondo, a former Republican, by a wide margin in the Democratic primary. South Carolina's election law allows for electoral fusion. Democratic Senator Barack Obama of Illinois won the presidential election, by defeating his challenger, Senator John McCain, and the Democrats bolstered their majority in both Houses of Congress. Outgoing Republican President George W. Bush's policies and actions and the American public's desire for change were key issues throughout the campaign. The presence of a serious third party candidate further complicated matters. Each major party has Hill committees that work to support its candidates for the House and Senate, chiefly by providing funds. Libertarian Robert J. Underwood had 3%. The Libertarian Party of Tennessee officially selected Daniel Lewis as their candidate for United States Senate on Saturday March 8, 2008, at their annual convention held in Nashville, Tennessee. States shown here did not allocate all their available electoral votes to one candidate. "Daniel Lewis Is Libertarian Candidate For U.S. Senate", "Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives", Noriega avoids runoff in Senate bid; Cornyn wins easily, "Our Campaigns - TX US Senate - D Primary Race - Mar 04, 2008", "Our Campaigns - TX US Senate - R Primary Race - Mar 04, 2008", "Democrat Warner Holds Large Lead Over Davis and Gilmore", "Senate Mourns Death of Wyoming Republican Craig Thomas", "Goodenough announces Senate bid against Barrasso | KULR-8 TELEVISION - Billings, Montana | Wyoming State News", Political newcomer Carter will face Barrasso, Cook Political Report 2008 Senate Race Ratings, Intrade Composite Poll - Supermajority Predictions, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=2008_United_States_Senate_elections&oldid=1142360887, November 2008 events in the United States, Pages with non-numeric formatnum arguments, Articles with dead external links from July 2016, Articles with permanently dead external links, Articles with dead external links from June 2016, Articles with dead external links from September 2017, Articles with dead external links from July 2017, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles with unsourced statements from August 2013, Articles with specifically marked weasel-worded phrases from March 2013, Articles with unsourced statements from November 2017, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 2 March 2023, at 00:07. The incumbent governors of Puerto Rico, Anbal Acevedo Vil, and American Samoa, Togiola Tulafono, were also up for re-election. The state has become more Republican over the past 12 years. With the Democratic Party takeover of Capitol Hill in the 2006 midterm elections, senator Carl Levin had become one of the most powerful people in Washington as chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee. Mr. Lewis was serving as the chairman of the Libertarian Party of Metropolitan Nashville and Davidson County. Biden was re-elected with 65% of the vote, or 257,484 votes. Hazard Eligibility and Local Projects Act (11/04/2021 legislative day) House Floor: H.R.3992. Biden's Republican opponent in the Senate race, conservative political commentator Christine O'Donnell, tried to make an issue of Biden's dual campaigns, claiming that serving his constituents is not important to him. This was the first time the party nominated a candidate for statewide office. Have questions about Senate art? Senator Gordon Smith of Oregon ran for a third term. Six of the 69 Democratic senators sat with the 23 Republican and 4 Independent senators. Email the Senate Curator, [email protected]. The Republican nominee was Jay Wolfe of Salem, a former State Senator. Such seating became known as the Cherokee Strip, a reference to the region in Oklahoma with land that at the time belonged neither to the Indian Territory nor the United States. Year-end cash on hand was $6.04 million for Coleman and $3.10 million for Franken.[71]. Localized groups supporting Obama and Biden were able to sign up through the main campaign site, which gathered contact info for mobilization purposes. Risch won the election with approximately 58% of the vote. Table of Contents 1 2008 Election Results 2 Primaries 3 Economic Issues 4 National Security 5 Strategy 6 2008 Election Results Senator Max Baucus was a popular Democrat in Montana, representing a state that has long been fairly Republican but also receptive to Democrats in state and local elections. Two senators from each state are elected to represent their state. Roger Wicker, formerly the representative of Mississippi's 1st congressional district, was appointed by Governor Haley Barbour on December 31, 2007, to fill the vacancy caused by the December 18 resignation of Trent Lott. Obama won the Electoral College after receiving 365 votes to 173 votes for McCain. The same Rasmussen poll showed Cornyn leading Noriega by a narrow four percentage points - 47% to 43%. map.jacksonjude.com . [79] The seat was heavily targeted by the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee because of Minnesota's Democratic leanings and recent Democratic gains in national and statewide elections. There were 20 freshman Senators in the 111th United States Congress. McCain suggested that government-aided bodies like the Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae) and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Freddie Mac) failed to offset these risks. In South Dakota, senator Tim Johnson's seat was considered a top GOP target in 2008, considering Johnson's narrow 524-vote victory in 2002 over then-Representative and current U.S. senator John Thune, as well as his recent health problems. The Electoral College is the process in which the United States elects its president. [24], On October 19, 2007, the AP reported that despite the allegations and FBI probe, several veteran GOP Senatorsincluding Orrin Hatch (R-UT), Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX), and Kit Bond (R-MO)donated enough money to Stevens's re-election campaign to make it one of Stevens's most successful fund raising quarters ever.[25].