2008 United States Senate election in Idaho

The 2008 United States Senate election in Idaho was held on November 4, 2008. The primary elections were held on May 27.[1] Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Larry Craig decided to retire instead of seeking a fourth term. Republican Jim Risch won the open seat.

2008 United States Senate election in Idaho
November 4, 2008
 
Nominee Jim Risch Larry LaRocco Rex Rammell
Party Republican Democratic Independent
Popular vote 371,744 219,903 34,510
Percentage 57.7% 34.1% 5.4%
County results
Risch:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%
LaRocco:      40–50%      50–60%
U.S. senator before election

Larry Craig
Republican

 Elected U.S. Senator

Jim Risch
Republican

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Background

Incumbent Larry Craig announced his intent to resign following an incident where he allegedly solicited another man for gay sex in a public restroom.[2] Craig later decided not to resign; however, he announced that he would not seek re-election. The filing deadline for the election was March 21, 2008. A total of 13 candidates filed for the seat.[3] Republican and Democratic candidates ran for their respective nominations in the May 27 primary.

Lieutenant Governor Jim Risch defeated a crowded field for the Republican nomination, while former Congressman Larry LaRocco won the Democratic nomination in similar fashion. Conservative independents Rex Rammell and Pro-Life (formerly Marvin Richardson) also qualified for the general election ballot. Former Caldwell city council member Kent Marmon secured the Libertarian nomination. In the general election, Risch defeated LaRocco and the other candidates to keep the seat in Republican hands.

Democratic primary
County results

Candidates

Results
Democratic Primary results[5]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Larry LaRocco 29,023 72.35%
Democratic David J. Archuleta 11,074 27.60%
Democratic Write-ins 20 0.05%
Total votes 40,117 100.00%

Republican primary

Candidates

Results
County results
Republican primary results[5]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Jim Risch 80,743 65.34%
Republican Scott Syme 16,660 13.48%
Republican Richard Phenneger 6,532 5.29%
Republican Neal Thompson 5,375 4.35%
Republican Fred M. Adams 4,987 4.04%
Republican Bill Hunter 4,280 3.46%
Republican Brian E. Hefner 2,915 2.36%
Republican Hal James Styles, Jr. 2,082 1.68%
Total votes 123,574 100.00%

General election

Major

Minor
  • Kent A. Marmon (L), former member of the Caldwell City Council.
  • Pro-life (I)
  • Rex Rammel (I)

Polling
Poll Source Dates administered Larry
LaRocco (D)		 Jim
Risch (R)		 Rex
Rammel (I)
Survey USA September 6–8, 2007 36% 52% -
Myers Research November 13–19, 2007 34% 48% -
Robinson Research November 26 – December 12, 2007 27% 46% -
Celinda Lake May 20–25, 2008 28% 43% 6%
Research 2000 July 28–30, 2008 32% 42% 5%
Greg Smith August 18–22, 2008 30% 41% 3%
Rasmussen Reports September 9, 2008 30% 58% -

Results
General election results[7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Jim Risch 371,744 57.65% -7.51%
Democratic Larry LaRocco 219,903 34.11% +1.56%
Independent Rex Rammell 34,510 5.35%
Libertarian Kent Marmon 9,958 1.54% -0.75%
Independent Pro-Life 8,662 1.35%
Write-in 3 0.00%
Majority 151,841 23.55% -9.06%
Turnout 644,780
Republican hold Swing

See also

References
  1. Elections, Campaign Disclosure and Lobbyists Archived August 6, 2008, at the Wayback Machine Idaho Secretary of State
  2. "Craig to Announce Resignation Saturday". Archived from the original on September 3, 2007.
  3. "LIST OF FEDERAL, STATEWIDE, AND JUDICIAL CANDIDATES" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on March 19, 2008.
  4. "LaRocco to run for Senate; Craig mum on future]". Retrieved May 8, 2007.
  5. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on April 16, 2009. Retrieved March 7, 2009.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  6. "Iraq vet announces bid in GOP Senate primary".
  7. http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/2008/2008Stat.htm#stateID
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