2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Alabama

Last updated

2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Alabama
Flag of Alabama.svg
  2006 November 4, 2008 2010  

All 7 Alabama seats to the United States House of Representatives
 Majority partyMinority party
 
Party Republican Democratic
Last election52
Seats won43
Seat changeDecrease2.svg 1Increase2.svg 1
Popular vote1,120,903718,367
Percentage60.42%38.72%
SwingIncrease2.svg 5.38%Decrease2.svg 5.31%

2008 U.S. House elections in Alabama.svg
2008 United States House of Representatives election results in Alabama by county.svg

The 2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Alabama were held on November 4, 2008, to determine the representation of the state of Alabama 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.

Contents

Alabama has seven seats in the House, apportioned according to the 2000 United States census. Its 2007–2008 congressional delegation consisted of five Republicans and two Democrats. Afterwards, it contained four Republicans and three Democrats, as District 2 changed from open Republican to Democratic.

Overview

Popular vote
Republican
60.42%
Democratic
38.72%
Other
1.31%
House seats
Republican
57.14%
Democratic
42.86%

By district

Results of the 2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Alabama by district: [1]

District Republican Democratic Others (write-in)TotalResult
Votes%Votes%Votes%Votes%
District 1 210,66098.27%003,7071.73%214,367100.0%Republican hold
District 2 142,57849.61%144,36850.23%4480.16%287,394100.0%Democratic gain
District 3 150,81953.39%131,29946.48%3670.13%282,485100.0%Republican hold
District 4 196,74174.76%66,07725.11%3490.13%263,167100.0%Republican hold
District 5 147,31447.94%158,32451.52%1,6440.54%307,282100.0%Democratic hold
District 6 280,90297.80%00.00%6,3352.21%287,237100.0%Republican hold
District 7 00.00%228,51898.63%3,1831.37%231,701100.0%Democratic hold
Total1,120,90360.42%718,36738.72%16,0330.86%1,855,303100.0%

District 1

2008 Alabama's 1st congressional district election
Flag of Alabama.svg
  2006 November 4, 2008 2010  
  Jo Bonner, Official Portrait, 111th Congress.png
Nominee Jo Bonner
Party Republican
Popular vote210,660
Percentage98.27%

2008 Alabama's 1st congressional district election results by county.svg
County results
Bonner:     90-100%

U.S. Representative before election

Jo Bonner
Republican

Elected U.S. Representative

Jo Bonner
Republican

The 1st district was based in the Gold Coast of Alabama, including Mobile, Saraland, Bay Minette, Foley, Chatom, and Monroe. The district included all of Mobile, Baldwin, Escambia, Washington, Monroe, and parts of Clarke County. Due to redistricting, the district lost territory in portions of Clarke County to the 7th district, but gained portions of Monroe County, now having the entire county in the 1st district. The 1st district has a PVI of R+16 but voted for John McCain by 22 points in the concurring presidential election. The incumbent was Republican Jo Bonner, who was reelected with 68.10% of the vote in 2006. [2]

The Democratic and Republican primaries were not contested, with incumbent representative Jo Bonner winning the Republican party and Thomas Fuller winning the Democratic primary. However, Fuller withdrew from the race on June 12, 2008, stating he was unable to wage a creditable campaign in the district. [3]

Republican nominee

Democratic nominee

General election

Predictions

SourceRankingAs of
The Cook Political Report [4] Safe RNovember 6, 2008
Rothenberg [5] Safe RNovember 2, 2008
Sabato's Crystal Ball [6] Safe RNovember 6, 2008
Real Clear Politics [7] Safe RNovember 7, 2008
CQ Politics [8] Safe RNovember 6, 2008

Results

Alabama's 1st congressional district, 2008 [1]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Jo Bonner (incumbent) 210,660 98.27%
Write-in 3,7071.73%
Total votes214,367 100%

District 2

2008 Alabama's 2nd congressional district election
Flag of Alabama.svg
  2006 November 4, 2008 2010  
  Bobby Bright, Official Portrait, 111th Congress.png No image.svg
Nominee Bobby Bright Jay Love
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote144,368142,578
Percentage50.23%49.61%

2008 Alabama's 2nd congressional district election results by county.svg
2008 AL-02 by precinct.svg
Results
Bright:     50-60%     60-70%     70–80%     80–90%     >90%
Love:     50-60%     60-70%     70–80%     80–90%
Tie:     50%     No Data

U.S. Representative before election

Terry Everett
Republican

Elected U.S. Representative

Bobby Bright
Democratic

This district covered southeastern Alabama, including Dothan and Montgomery. Republican Terry Everett, who had represented the district since 1993, decided to retire. Montgomery Mayor Bobby Bright won the Democratic primary. State Representative Jay Love won the Republican run-off election on July 15 against State Senator Harri Anne Smith (campaign website). [9] George W. Bush won 67% in 2004 here. Bright won 50% of the vote to Love's 49%.

Predictions

SourceRankingAs of
The Cook Political Report [4] TossupNovember 6, 2008
Rothenberg [5] TossupNovember 2, 2008
Sabato's Crystal Ball [6] Lean RNovember 6, 2008
Real Clear Politics [7] TossupNovember 7, 2008
CQ Politics [8] TossupNovember 6, 2008
Alabama's 2nd congressional district election, 2008 [10]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Bobby Bright 144,368 50.23%
Republican Jay Love 142,57849.61%
Write-in 4480.16%
Total votes287,394 100.00%
Democratic gain from Republican

District 3

2008 Alabama's 3rd congressional district election
Flag of Alabama.svg
  2006 November 4, 2008 2010  
  Mike Rogers, Official Portrait, 111th Congress.png No image.svg
Nominee Mike Rogers Joshua Segall
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote150,819131,299
Percentage53.39%46.48%

2008 Alabama's 3rd congressional district election results by county.svg
2008 AL-03 by precinct.svg
Rogers:     50-60%     60-70%     70-80%     80–90%     >90%
Segall:     50-60%     60-70%     70–80%     80–90%     >90%
Tie:     50%     No Data

U.S. Representative before election

Mike Rogers
Republican

Elected U.S. Representative

Mike Rogers
Republican

Incumbent Republican Representative Mike Rogers won re-election with 54% of the vote. He defeated Democrat Joshua Segall by 8.19%.

Predictions

SourceRankingAs of
The Cook Political Report [4] Likely RNovember 6, 2008
Rothenberg [5] Safe RNovember 2, 2008
Sabato's Crystal Ball [6] Safe RNovember 6, 2008
Real Clear Politics [7] Safe RNovember 7, 2008
CQ Politics [8] Likely RNovember 6, 2008
Alabama's 3rd congressional district election, 2008 [10]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Mike Rogers (incumbent) 142,708 54.03%
Democratic Joshua Segall 121,08045.84%
Write-in 3320.13%
Total votes264,120 100.00%
Republican hold

District 4

2008 Alabama's 4th congressional district election
Flag of Alabama.svg
  2006 November 4, 2008 2010  
  Robert Aderholt, Official Portrait, 111th Congress.png No image.svg
Nominee Robert Aderholt Nicholas Sparks
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote196,74166,077
Percentage74.76%25.11%

2008 Alabama's 4th congressional district election results by county.svg
2008 AL-04 by precinct.svg
Aderholt:     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90%     >90%
Sparks:     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90%     >90%
Tie:     50%     No Data

U.S. Representative before election

Robert Aderholt
Republican

Elected U.S. Representative

Robert Aderholt
Republican

Incumbent Republican Representative Robert Aderholt won re-election with 74.76% of the vote. He defeated Democrat Nick Sparks by 49.65%.

Predictions

SourceRankingAs of
The Cook Political Report [4] Safe RNovember 6, 2008
Rothenberg [5] Safe RNovember 2, 2008
Sabato's Crystal Ball [6] Safe RNovember 6, 2008
Real Clear Politics [7] Safe RNovember 7, 2008
CQ Politics [8] Safe RNovember 6, 2008
Alabama's 4th congressional district election, 2008 [10]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Robert Aderholt (incumbent) 196,741 74.76%
Democratic Nick Sparks66,07725.11%
Write-in 3490.13%
Total votes263,167 100.00%
Republican hold

District 5

2008 Alabama's 5th congressional district election
Flag of Alabama.svg
  2006 November 4, 2008 2010  
  Parker Griffith, Official Portrait, 111th Congress.png No image.svg
Nominee Parker Griffith Wayne Parker
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote158,324147,314
Percentage51.52%47.94%

2008 Alabama's 5th congressional district election results by county.svg
2008 AL-05 by precinct.svg
Griffith:     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90%     >90%
Parker:     50-60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90%
Tie:     50%     No Data

U.S. Representative before election

Bud Cramer
Democratic

Elected U.S. Representative

Parker Griffith
Democratic

This district includes the counties of Colbert, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Limestone, Madison, Jackson, and parts of Morgan. Democratic incumbent Bud Cramer has represented the district since 1990. He did not seek reelection and endorsed State Senator Parker Griffith.

Eight candidates were running for the seat in the June 3, 2008, primary election. On the Democratic side, State Senator Dr. Parker Griffith defeated physicist David Maker (website), carrying 90% of the vote. Wayne Parker won the Republican runoff on July 15 against attorney Cheryl Baswell Guthrie (campaign website). [9] In the primary, Wayne Parker failed to gain the necessary 51% vote to avoid the runoff. Guthrie had carried 18% of the vote.

A year after his election, Griffith switched parties and ran for a second term in the 2010 Republican primary.

Predictions

SourceRankingAs of
The Cook Political Report [4] TossupNovember 6, 2008
Rothenberg [5] TossupNovember 2, 2008
Sabato's Crystal Ball [6] Lean DNovember 6, 2008
Real Clear Politics [7] Lean DNovember 7, 2008
CQ Politics [8] TossupNovember 6, 2008
Alabama's 5th congressional district election, 2008 [10]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Parker Griffith 158,324 51.52%
Republican Wayne Parker147,31447.94%
Write-in 1,6440.54%
Total votes307,282 100.00%
Democratic hold

District 6

2008 Alabama's 6th congressional district election
Flag of Alabama.svg
  2006 November 4, 2008 2010  
  Spencer Bachus, Official Portrait, 111th Congress.png
Nominee Spencer Bachus
Party Republican
Popular vote280,902
Percentage97.80%

2008 Alabama's 6th congressional district election results by county.svg
County results
Bachus:     90-100%

U.S. Representative before election

Spencer Bachus
Republican

Elected U.S. Representative

Spencer Bachus
Republican

The 6th district was based in the city of Birmingham's suburbs and exurbs, including Alabaster, Trussville, Vestavia Hills, Pell City, Hueytown, and portions of Birmingham. The district includes all of Chilton, Bibb, Shelby, and parts of Tuscaloosa, Jefferson, St. Clair, and Coosa Counties. Due to redistricting, the district gained more territory around Tuscaloosa and Birmingham, as well as portions of St. Clair County, along with gaining the rest of Bibb, all of Chilton, and portions of Coosa Counties. The 6th district has a PVI of R+18 but voted for John McCain by 53 points in the concurrent presidential election. The incumbent is Republican Spencer Bachus, who was reelected with 98.32% of the vote in 2006. [11]

The Republican primary was not contested, with incumbent representative Spencer Bachus winning the nomination unopposed.

Republican nominee

General election

Predictions

SourceRankingAs of
The Cook Political Report [4] Safe RNovember 6, 2008
Rothenberg [5] Safe RNovember 2, 2008
Sabato's Crystal Ball [6] Safe RNovember 6, 2008
Real Clear Politics [7] Safe RNovember 7, 2008
CQ Politics [8] Safe RNovember 6, 2008

Results

Alabama's 6th congressional district, 2008 [1]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Spencer Bachus (incumbent) 280,902 97.80%
Write-in 6,3352.21%
Total votes287,237 100%

District 7

2008 Alabama's 7th congressional district election
Flag of Alabama.svg
  2006 November 4, 2008 2010  
  Artur Davis, Official Portrait, 111th Congress.png
Nominee Artur Davis
Party Democratic
Popular vote228,518
Percentage98.63%

2008 Alabama's 7th congressional district election results by county.svg
County results
Davis:     90–100%

U.S. Representative before election

Artur Davis
Democratic

Elected U.S. Representative

Artur Davis
Democratic

The 7th district is based in Alabama's 'Black Belt' region, including Selma, Tuscaloosa, Eutaw, Livingston, Bessemer, and portions of Birmingham. The district includes all of Dallas, Wilcox, Marengo, Choctaw, Sumter, Greene, Hale, and parts of Jefferson, Pickens, Clarke, and Tuscaloosa Counties. Due to redistricting, the district lost all its territory in Lowndes County and its portions of Montgomery County, but gained more territory around Tuscaloosa and Birmingham. The 7th district has a PVI of D+14 but voted for Barack Obama by 45 points in the concurring presidential election. The incumbent is Democrat Artur Davis, who was reelected with 99.04% of the vote in 2006. [12]

The Democratic primary was not contested, with incumbent representative Artur Davis winning the nomination unopposed.

Democratic nominee

General election

Predictions

SourceRankingAs of
The Cook Political Report [4] Safe DNovember 6, 2008
Rothenberg [5] Safe DNovember 2, 2008
Sabato's Crystal Ball [6] Safe DNovember 6, 2008
Real Clear Politics [7] Safe DNovember 7, 2008
CQ Politics [8] Safe DNovember 6, 2008

Results

Alabama's 7th congressional district, 2008 [1]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Artur Davis (incumbent) 228,518 98.63%
Write-in 3,1831.37%
Total votes231,701 100%

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Chapman, Beth (November 4, 2008). "State of Alabama Canvass of Results" (PDF). Alabama Secretary of State.
  2. Chapman, Beth (November 7, 2006). "State of Alabama Canvass of Results" (PDF). Alabama Secretary of State.
  3. AP, Democrat drops out of 1st District congressional race [ permanent dead link ] June 12, 2008
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "2008 Competitive House Race Chart". House: Race Ratings. The Cook Political Report. November 6, 2006. Archived from the original on November 6, 2008. Retrieved November 20, 2023.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "2008 House Ratings". House Ratings. The Rothenberg Political Report. November 2, 2006. Archived from the original on November 6, 2008. Retrieved November 20, 2023.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "2008 House". Sabato's Crystal Ball. November 6, 2008. Archived from the original on November 6, 2008. Retrieved November 20, 2023.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Battle for the House of Representatives". realclearpolitics.com. Real Clear Politics. November 7, 2008. Archived from the original on December 17, 2008. Retrieved December 9, 2023.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Race Ratings Chart: House". cqpolitics.com. Congressional Quarterly Inc. Archived from the original on November 6, 2008. Retrieved November 20, 2023.
  9. 1 2 Alabama - Summary Vote Results Archived 2008-09-26 at the Wayback Machine AL.com, July 17, 2008
  10. 1 2 3 4 "Certified General Election Results without write-in appendix" (PDF). Secretary of State of Alabama. November 25, 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 27, 2008. Retrieved December 3, 2008.
  11. Chapman, Beth (November 7, 2006). "State of Alabama Canvass of Results" (PDF). Alabama Secretary of State.
  12. Chapman, Beth (November 7, 2006). "State of Alabama Canvass of Results" (PDF). Alabama Secretary of State.
Preceded by
2006 elections
United States House elections in Alabama
2008
Succeeded by
2010 elections