2008 United States Senate election in Colorado

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2008 United States Senate election in Colorado
Flag of Colorado.svg
  2002 November 4, 2008 2014  
  MarkUdall-Senate Portrait.jpg Bob Schaffer Head Shot.jpg
Nominee Mark Udall Bob Schaffer
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote1,231,049990,784
Percentage52.80%42.49%

2008 United States Senate election in Colorado results map by county.svg
CO Senate 2008.svg
Udall:      40–50%     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90%     >90%
Schaffer:      40–50%     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90%
Tie:      40–50%
     No votes

U.S. senator before election

Wayne Allard
Republican

Elected U.S. Senator

Mark Udall
Democratic

The 2008 United States Senate election in Colorado was held November 4, 2008. The primary elections were held August 12, 2008. [1] 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 won this seat since 1972, and that Democrats held both Senate seats since 1979.

Contents

Democratic primary

Candidates

Results

Democratic primary results [2]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Mark Udall 194,227 100.00%
Total votes194,227 100.00%

Republican primary

Candidates

Results

Republican primary results [2]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Bob Schaffer 239,212 100.00%
Total votes239,212 100.00%

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 would 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. [3]

Predictions

SourceRankingAs of
The Cook Political Report [4] Lean D (flip)October 23, 2008
CQ Politics [5] Likely D (flip)October 31, 2008
Rothenberg Political Report [6] Likely D (flip)November 2, 2008
Real Clear Politics [7] Likely D (flip)October 28, 2008

Polling

Poll sourceDates administeredMark
Udall (D)
Bob
Schaffer (R)
Hill Research Consultants August 26–28, 200745%40%
Ciruli Associates September 12–15, 200736%35%
SurveyUSA October 27–30, 200748%41%
Rasmussen Reports November 28, 200741%42%
Research for Change December 3–5, 200739%37%
Rasmussen Reports February 11, 200843%44%
McLaughlin & Associates/
Coalition for a Democratic Workplace
March 6–9, 200844%32%
Rasmussen Reports March 17, 200846%43%
New Leadership USA/TargetPoint March 31 – April 7, 200845%45%
Rasmussen Reports April 16, 200845%42%
Rasmussen Reports May 19, 200847%41%
Rasmussen Reports June 17, 200849%40%
Garin-Hart-Yang/DSCC June 15–17, 200846%37%
Quinnipiac June 26, 200848%38%
Public Policy Polling(PPP) July 10, 200847%38%
Keith Frederick July 22, 200848%39%
Rasmussen Reports July 22, 200849%46%
Quinnipiac July 24, 200844%44%
Rasmussen Reports August 13, 200850%42%
Hill Research Consultants August 24, 200841%38%
Tarrance Group September 3, 200841%40%
Public Policy Polling September 21, 200848%40%
Quinnipiac September 14–21, 200848%40%
Rasmussen Reports September 23, 200846%44%
Denver Post September 29 – October 1, 200843%38%
Ciruli Associates October 1, 200845%38%
Rasmussen Reports October 16, 200851%44%

Results

2008 United States Senate election in Colorado [2]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Democratic Mark Udall 1,231,049 52.80% +7.03%
Republican Bob Schaffer 990,78442.49%-8.20%
Constitution Douglas Campbell59,7362.56%+1.04%
Green Bob Kinsey50,0082.14%N/A
Write-in 1350.01%N/A
Total votes2,331,712 100.00% N/A
Democratic gain from Republican

Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic

See also

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References

  1. "Candidate List for the August 12, 2008 Primary Election" (PDF). Colorado State Government.
  2. 1 2 3 "Official Publication of the Abstract of Votes Cast for the 2008 Primary, 2008 General" (PDF). State of Colorado.
  3. Phillips, Kate (June 13, 2008). "G.O.P. Leader Maps Senate Elections". The New York Times .
  4. "2008 Senate Race ratings for October 23, 2008". The Cook Political Report. Retrieved April 1, 2021.
  5. Race Ratings Chart: Senate Archived October 28, 2010, at the Wayback Machine CQ Politics
  6. "2008 Senate ratings". Inside Elections. Retrieved April 1, 2021.
  7. "2008 RCP Averages & Senate Results". Real Clear Politics. Retrieved August 31, 2021.