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United States Senate election in Alabama, 2008

 

United States Senate election in Alabama, 2008

United States Senate election in Alabama, 2008
November 4, 2008
 
Nominee Jeff Sessions Vivian Davis Figures
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 1,305,383 752,391
Percentage 63.36% 36.52%

County Results
Senator before election

Jeff Sessions
Republican

Elected Senator

Jeff Sessions
Republican

Elections 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.

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.

In Black Belt counties, where African Americans are the majority racial group.

On January 10, 2007, Rep. 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.[2]

Primary election were held on June 3.[3]

Democratic primary

Candidates

Results

Alabama Democratic senatorial primary, 2008[4]
Candidate Votes Percentage
Vivian Figures 112,074 63.72%
Johnny Swanson 38,757 22.03%
Mark Townsend 25,058 14.25%
Totals 175,889 100.00%

Republican primary

Sessions' approval rating was 56% in December 2007.[5]

Candidates

Results

Alabama Republican senatorial primary, 2008[6]
Candidate Votes Percentage
Jeff Sessions (incumbent) 199,690 92.27%
Earl Gavin 16,718 7.73%
Totals 216,408 100.00%

General election

Candidates

Predictions

Poll results showed Sessions with an exceptionally comfortable lead, which was verified by the election results. CQ Politics rated this race as 'Republican Favored'.[9] The Cook Political Report considered it 'Solid Republican'.[10] The Rothenberg Political Report considered it a 'Safe Republican'.[11]

Polling

Poll Source Dates administered Figures (D) Sessions (R)
Survey USA October 27, 2008 - October 28, 2008 32% 65%
Survey USA October 8, 2008 - October 9, 2008 33% 64%
Survey USA September 16, 2008 - September 17, 2008 31% 66%
Rasmussen Reports July 31, 2008 31% 58%
Rasmussen Reports June 30, 2008 34% 58%
Rasmussen Reports May 27, 2008 29% 62%
Rasmussen Reports April 2, 2008 36% 57%
Rasmussen Reports November 14, 2007 30% 62%
SurveyUSA August 25–27, 2007 37% 59%

Results

United States Senate election in Alabama, 2008[12]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Jeff Sessions (incumbent) 1,305,383 63.36%
Democratic Vivian Figures 752,391 36.52%
Independent Write-in candidates 2,417 0.12%
Invalid or blank votes %
Totals 2,060,191 100.00%
Voter turnout %
Republican hold

References

  1. ^ "Davis Won't Challenge Stevens".  
  2. ^ "Sparks says he won't seek U.S. Senate seat".  
  3. ^ Election Dates from the Alabama Secretary of State]
  4. ^ "Certified Primary Election Results: Democratic Party" (PDF).  
  5. ^ December 2007 SurveyUSA poll
  6. ^ "Certified Primary Election Results: Republican Party" (PDF).  
  7. ^ senate.dwp2016.org
  8. ^ al.com
  9. ^ Race Ratings Chart: Senate CQ Politics
  10. ^ 2008 Senate Race Ratings The Cook Political Report, September 18, 2008
  11. ^ 2008 Senate Ratings The Rothenberg Political Report, July 19, 2008
  12. ^ "Certified General Election Results without write-in appendix" (PDF).  

External links

See also

President
U.S. Senate
U.S. House
Governors
Mayors
States
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