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.[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 had held this seat since 1978.
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 County results Udall: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% Schaffer: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% | |||||||||||||||||
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| Elections in Colorado |
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Democratic primary
Candidates
- Mark Udall, U.S. Representative
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Mark Udall | 194,227 | 100.00% | |
| Total votes | 194,227 | 100.00% | ||
Republican primary
Candidates
- Bob Schaffer, Colorado State Board of Education member, former U.S. Representative and candidate for the U.S. Senate in 2004
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Bob Schaffer | 239,212 | 100.00% | |
| Total votes | 239,212 | 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 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.[3]
Predictions
CQ Politics rated this race as 'Democrat Favored'.[4] The Cook Political Report considered it 'Lean Democrat'.[5] The Rothenberg Political Report considered it a 'Lean Takeover'.[6]
Polling
| Poll source | Dates administered | Mark Udall (D) |
Bob Schaffer (R) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hill Research Consultants | August 26–28, 2007 | 45% | 40% |
| Ciruli Associates | September 12–15, 2007 | 36% | 35% |
| SurveyUSA | October 27–30, 2007 | 48% | 41% |
| Rasmussen Reports | November 28, 2007 | 41% | 42% |
| Research for Change | December 3–5, 2007 | 39% | 37% |
| Rasmussen Reports | February 11, 2008 | 43% | 44% |
| McLaughlin & Associates/ Coalition for a Democratic Workplace |
March 6–9, 2008 | 44% | 32% |
| Rasmussen Reports | March 17, 2008 | 46% | 43% |
| New Leadership USA/TargetPoint | March 31 – April 7, 2008 | 45% | 45% |
| Rasmussen Reports | April 16, 2008 | 45% | 42% |
| Rasmussen Reports | May 19, 2008 | 47% | 41% |
| Rasmussen Reports | June 17, 2008 | 49% | 40% |
| Garin-Hart-Yang/DSCC | June 15–17, 2008 | 46% | 37% |
| Quinnipiac | June 26, 2008 | 48% | 38% |
| Public Policy Polling(PPP) | July 10, 2008 | 47% | 38% |
| Keith Frederick | July 22, 2008 | 48% | 39% |
| Rasmussen Reports | July 22, 2008 | 49% | 46% |
| Quinnipiac | July 24, 2008 | 44% | 44% |
| Rasmussen Reports | August 13, 2008 | 50% | 42% |
| Hill Research Consultants | August 24, 2008 | 41% | 38% |
| Tarrance Group | September 3, 2008 | 41% | 40% |
| Public Policy Polling | September 21, 2008 | 48% | 40% |
| Quinnipiac | September 14–21, 2008 | 48% | 40% |
| Rasmussen Reports | September 23, 2008 | 46% | 44% |
| Denver Post | September 29 – October 1, 2008 | 43% | 38% |
| Ciruli Associates | October 1, 2008 | 45% | 38% |
| Rasmussen Reports | October 16, 2008 | 51% | 44% |
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Mark Udall | 1,231,049 | 52.80% | +7.03% | |
| Republican | Bob Schaffer | 990,784 | 42.49% | -8.20% | |
| Constitution | Douglas Campbell | 59,736 | 2.56% | +1.04% | |
| Green | Bob Kinsey | 50,008 | 2.14% | N/A | |
| Write-in | 135 | 0.01% | N/A | ||
| Total votes | 2,331,712 | 100.00% | N/A | ||
| Democratic gain from Republican | |||||
See also
References
- "Candidate List for the August 12, 2008 Primary Election" (PDF). Colorado State Government.
- http://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/elections/ElectionArchives/2008/2008_Abstract.pdf
- Phillips, Kate (June 13, 2008). "G.O.P. Leader Maps Senate Elections". The New York Times.
- "Race Ratings Chart: Senate". CQ Politics. Archived from the original on October 28, 2010.
- "2008 Senate Race Ratings". The Cook Political Report. October 9, 2008. Archived from the original on November 20, 2008.
- "Senate Ratings". The Rothenberg Political Report. September 29, 2008.
- https://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/elections/Results/Abstract/pdf/2000-2099/2008AbstractBook.pdf
External links
- Elections Center from the Colorado Secretary of State
- U.S. Congress candidates for Colorado at Project Vote Smart
- Colorado, U.S. Senate from CQ Politics
- Colorado U.S. Senate from OurCampaigns.com
- "Colorado U.S. Senate race, from 2008 Race Tracker". Archived from the original on June 24, 2008. Retrieved June 22, 2008.
- Campaign contributions from OpenSecrets.org
- Schaffer (R) vs Udall (D) graph of multiple polls from Pollster.com
- Official campaign websites (Archived)
- Bob Kinsey, Green Party candidate
- Bob Schaffer, Republican candidate
- Mark Udall, Democratic candidate
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