2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Kentucky

2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Kentucky

November 4, 2008
All 6 Kentucky seats to the United States House of Representatives
Majority party Minority party   Party Republican Democratic Last election 4 2 Seats won 4 2 Seat change Popular vote 955,182 761,209 Percentage 54.59% 43.50% Swing 5.79% 4.50%
Election results by district Election results by county Republican   50–60%   60–70%   70–80%   80–90%   90–100% Democratic   50–60%   60–70%   70–80%

The 2008 congressional elections in Kentucky were held on November 4, 2008, to determine who would represent the state of Kentucky in the United States House of Representatives. Kentucky has six seats in the House, apportioned according to the 2000 United States census. Representatives are elected for two-year terms; those elected were to serve in the 111th Congress from January 4, 2009, until January 3, 2011. The election coincides with the 2008 U.S. presidential election.

The deadline to file to run in the election was January 29, 2008. The primary for both parties took place on May 20, 2008. The current delegation consists of 2 Democrats and 4 Republicans.

With the exception of Ron Lewis, all incumbents ran for and won reelection.

Overview

United States House of Representatives elections in Kentucky, 2008[1]
Party		Votes	Percentage	Seats before	Seats after	+/–
	Republican	955,182	54.59%	4	4	±0
	Democratic	761,209	43.50%	2	2	±0
	Independent	33,449	1.91%	0	0	0
Valid votes		-	-%
Invalid or blank votes		-	-%
Totals		1,749,840	100.00%	6	6	—
Voter turnout		60.133%

Match-up summary

District	Incumbent	2008 status	Democratic	Republican	Other party
1	Ed Whitfield	Re-election	Heather A. Ryan	Ed Whitfield
2	Ron Lewis	Open	David Boswell	Brett Guthrie
3	John Yarmuth	Re-election	John Yarmuth	Anne Northup
4	Geoff Davis	Re-election	Michael Kelley	Geoff Davis
5	Hal Rogers	Re-election		Hal Rogers	Jim Holbert
6	Ben Chandler	Re-election	Ben Chandler	Jon Larson

District breakdown

District 1

2008 Kentucky's 1st congressional district election

Nominee Ed Whitfield Heather Ryan Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 178,107 98,674 Percentage 64.3% 35.7%

County results Whitfield:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%

U.S. Representative before election Ed Whitfield Republican Elected U.S. Representative Ed Whitfield Republican

See also: Kentucky's 1st congressional district

This district is in Western Kentucky. The seat had been held by Republican Ed Whitfield since 1995. Heather A. Ryan of Paducah, a self-described Democratic activist, had no primary opposition and faced Whitfield in the general election.^[2] CQ Politics forecasts the race as 'Safe Republican'.

Ryan, a Navy veteran and former movie theater manager, launched into the news in January 2008. On January 15, she protested a visit by Mitch McConnell to the non-profit theater where she worked. The theater was raising funds for an expansion and some would potentially come from McConnell. Three days later, the theater's board of directors told her to stay quiet about politics while running the theater. After questioning the request, she was fired.^[3]

Whitfield declined to debate Ryan before the election.^[4] Whitfield won the election with 64% of the vote.^[5]

• Race ranking and details from CQ Politics
• Campaign contributions from OpenSecrets

District 2

2008 Kentucky's 2nd congressional district election

Nominee Brett Guthrie David Boswell Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 158,936 143,379 Percentage 52.6% 47.4%

County results Guthrie:      50–60%      60–70% Boswell:      50–60%      60–70%

U.S. Representative before election Ron Lewis Republican Elected U.S. Representative Brett Guthrie Republican

See also: Kentucky's 2nd congressional district

This district is in Western-central Kentucky. Republican state senator Brett Guthrie won against Democratic state senator David Boswell. CQ Politics forecasted the race as 'Leans Republican'.

In a surprise decision on the filing deadline, Republican incumbent Ron Lewis, who had held the seat since 1994, announced he would not run for re-election in 2008. It was believed that he intended to be succeeded by his chief of staff, Daniel London. However, State Senator Brett Guthrie learned of Lewis' retirement just before the deadline, and filed himself. After Guthrie won some key endorsements, London withdrew from the race, leaving Guthrie unopposed for the Republican nomination. Meanwhile, for the Democratic nomination, State Senator David Boswell got 60,978 votes, defeating Daviess County judge executive Reid Haire, who got 43,073 votes.^[6][7][8][9]

Guthrie won the election with 53% of the vote.^[10]

• Race ranking and details from CQ Politics
• Campaign contributions from OpenSecrets
• Guthrie (R) vs Boswell (D-i) graph of collected poll results from Pollster.com

Opinion polls

Source	Date	Democrat: David Boswell	Republican: Brett Guthrie
Survey USA[11]	October 27–28, 2008	43%	53%
Survey USA[12]	October 21–22, 2008	42%	51%
Survey USA[13]	October 15–16, 2008	42%	51%
Survey USA[14]	September 24–25, 2008	43%	49%
Garin-Hart-Yang[15]	August 23–25, 2008	41%	33%
Survey USA[16]	June 27–29, 2008	47%	44%

District 3

2008 Kentucky's 3rd congressional district election

Nominee John Yarmuth Anne Northup Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 203,843 139,527 Percentage 59.4% 40.6%

Results by state house district Results by precinct Yarmuth:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90% Northup:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% Tie:      50%      No data

U.S. Representative before election John Yarmuth Democratic Elected U.S. Representative John Yarmuth Democratic

See also: Kentucky's 3rd congressional district

Democratic incumbent John Yarmuth won against Republican nominee Anne Northup, who had held the seat previously. CQ Politics forecasted the race as 'Leans Democratic'.

Background and primary

This district consists of Louisville and most of its Jefferson County suburbs. The seat had been held by Northup from 1996 through 2006, when she was defeated by Yarmuth in a year in which Democrats regained control of the house, partially due to the unpopularity of the war in Iraq.^{[citation needed]}

On January 28, 2008, Northup announced she would run for her old congressional seat in the 2008 election. She had previously endorsed Louisville lawyer Erwin Roberts, who had planned to run, and helped raise money for him. However, Roberts withdrew from the race after learning he would likely be called to active duty in the U.S. Army Reserve. Bob DeVore Jr., activist Corley C. Everett and developer Chris Thieneman filed to run in the Republican primary.^[17][18]

Thieneman, who spearheaded a successful campaign to defeat a Jefferson County library tax referendum in 2007 and ran unsuccessfully for Jefferson County Clerk in 2002,^[19] dropped out of the race on January 31, declared a return to the Democratic Party, and endorsed John Yarmuth in the election. Theineman said he had been pressured to drop out by people associated with Northup and Kentucky's senior senator Mitch McConnell, but McConnell and Northup denied they had tried to influence Thieneman.^[20] Thieneman subsequently reaffirmed he was a Republican, revoked his endorsement of Yarmuth, and unsuspended his campaign. Everett dropped out less than a week before the primary and endorsed Theineman.^[21]

Northup won the Republican primary on May 20.^[9] Yarmuth was not opposed in the Democratic primary.^[17]

General election

At a press conference held in front of a gas station on June 17, 2008, Northup claimed that the 2008 elections were about the rising price of energy.^{[citation needed]} Over a five-day period in September, Yarmuth's campaign headquarters was broken into twice. The thieves took only computers and storage supplies, leaving behind cash and other valuables.^[22]

Northup reminded voters of her accomplishments during her years in office, claimed that she was better suited to get results in the long-delayed effort to build an east end bridge and, as she had often done, argued her opponent was too liberal for voters. A key issue in the election was funding for a Veterans Administration hospital to replace the aging one in Louisville; Yarmuth touted a commitment he and Mitch McConnell secured from the Department of Veterans Affairs to spend at least $60 million on the project, while Northup attempted to downplay the merits of the commitment. Northup also attacked Yarmuth for his eventual vote in favor of the bailout. Yarmuth did not run any attack ads, and generally focused his campaign on informing voters of his accomplishments during his term in the House.^[23]

The district's daily newspaper, the Courier-Journal, endorsed Yarmuth on October 25, saying the Democrat had done "an exceptionally good job as a freshman representative, winning widespread recognition as one of the brightest new stars in Congress."^[24]

Yarmuth won the election with 59% of the vote.^[25]

• Race ranking and details from CQ Politics
• Campaign contributions from OpenSecrets
• Northup (R) vs Yarmuth (D-i) graph of collected poll results from Pollster.com

Opinion polls

Source	Date	Democrat: John Yarmuth	Republican: Anne Northup
Survey USA[26]	October 21–22, 2008	57%	41%
Survey USA[27]	October 14–15, 2008	57%	41%
Survey USA[28]	September 5–7, 2008	53%	45%
Survey USA[29]	July 18–20, 2008	53%	43%
Survey USA[30]	June 6–8, 2008	57%	40%
Voter/Consumer Research[31]	June 4–8, 2008	51%	43%

District 4

2008 Kentucky's 4th congressional district election

Nominee Geoff Davis Michael Kelley Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 190,210 111,549 Percentage 63.0% 37.0%

County results Davis:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% Kelley:      50–60%      60–70%

U.S. Representative before election Geoff Davis Republican Elected U.S. Representative Geoff Davis Republican

See also: Kentucky's 4th congressional district

This district is a long district in Northern Kentucky that follows the Ohio River. The majority of the voters live in the booming largely white and suburban Cincinnati counties of Boone, Kenton and Campbell. CQ Politics forecasted the race as 'Safe Republican'. Davis won the election with 63% of the vote.^[32]

District 5

2008 Kentucky's 5th congressional district election

Nominee Hal Rogers Jim Holbert Party Republican Independent Popular vote 177,024 33,444 Percentage 84.1% 15.9%

County results Rogers:      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90%

U.S. Representative before election Hal Rogers Republican Elected U.S. Representative Hal Rogers Republican

See also: Kentucky's 5th congressional district

This district is in Eastern Kentucky. It had been held by Republican Hal Rogers since 1981. He filed to run for re-election in 2008.^[33] He was opposed by Independent Jim Holbert.^[34] CQ Politics forecasted the race as 'Safe Republican'.

Rogers won the election with 84% of the vote.^[35]

• Race ranking and details from CQ Politics
• Campaign contributions from OpenSecrets

District 6

2008 Kentucky's 6th congressional district election

Nominee Ben Chandler Jon Larson Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 203,764 111,378 Percentage 64.7% 35.3%

County results Chandler:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%

U.S. Representative before election Ben Chandler Democratic Elected U.S. Representative Ben Chandler Democratic

See also: Kentucky's 6th congressional district

This district is located in central Kentucky. It contains the cities of Lexington (including its suburbs), Danville, and Frankfort, the state capital. Democrat Ben Chandler had held the seat since 2004.^[36] He faced Republican Lexington attorney Jon Larson in the general election.^[9] CQ Politics forecasted the race as 'Safe Democrat'.

Chandler won the election with 65% of the vote.^[37]

• Race ranking and details from CQ Politics
• Campaign contributions from OpenSecrets

See also

• United States House of Representatives elections, 2008

References

1. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on May 20, 2010. Retrieved May 12, 2010.
2. Bartleman, Bill (January 29, 2008). "Ex-cinema director to challenge Whitfield". Paducah Sun. Retrieved March 10, 2009.
3. George, Stephen (January 30, 2008). "Now Showing..." Louisville Eccentric Observer. Archived from the original on May 21, 2011. Retrieved March 10, 2009.
4. Gerth, Joseph (October 14, 2008). "Whitfield rejects debate; KET airs statement". Courier-Journal. pp. 2B.
5. "2008 General Election Results". CNN. November 5, 2008.
6. "GOP Rep. Ron Lewis Not Running For Reelection". Politics. CBS News. The Politico. January 29, 2008. Archived from the original on October 7, 2023. Retrieved October 7, 2023.
7. Friedlein, John (February 7, 2008). "London quits race for House". News. The News-Enterprise. Archived from the original on September 19, 2008.
8. McArdle, John (February 7, 2008). "Lewis Aide Ends House Bid That Party Establishment Fought". CQ Roll Call. FiscalNote. Archived from the original on October 3, 2023. Retrieved October 7, 2023.
9. "Kentucky - Summary Vote Results". Courier-Journal. May 27, 2008. Archived from the original on June 5, 2011. Retrieved May 20, 2008 – via The Associated Press.
10. "2008 General Election Results". CNN. November 5, 2008.
11. Survey USA
12. Survey USA
13. Survey USA
14. Survey USA
15. Garin-Hart-Yang
16. Survey USA
17. Schreiner, Bruce (January 28, 2008). "Northup to run to regain former congressional seat, adviser says". Associated Press. Archived from the original on January 20, 2019.
18. Giroux, Greg (January 17, 2007). "Bush Speech Sets Up More Fights with Congress". cqpolitics.com. CQ Politics. Archived from the original on January 29, 2008.
19. Gerth, Joe (January 24, 2008). "Thieneman to seek Yarmuth's seat". Courier-Journal.
20. Gerth, Joseph (January 31, 2008). "Thieneman quits race, becomes Democrat, endorses Yarmuth". Courier-Journal. Archived from the original on July 15, 2012.
21. "GOP's Everett withdraws from 3rd District primary". Courier-Journal. May 18, 2008. Archived from the original on November 7, 2012.
22. Gerth, Joseph (September 15, 2008). "2nd break-in at Yarmuth campaign office". Courier-Journal. Archived from the original on January 19, 2013.
23. Yetter, Deborah (October 28, 2008). "Northup battling economy, Iraq war". Courier-Journal. pp. 4A.
24. Editorial board (October 25, 2008). "EDITORIAL ENDORSEMENTS 2008; Re-elect Yarmuth". Courier-Journal. pp. 8A.
25. "2008 General Election Results". CNN. November 5, 2008.
26. Survey USA
27. Survey USA
28. Survey USA
29. Survey USA
30. Survey USA
31. Voter/Consumer Research
32. "2008 General Election Results". CNN. November 5, 2008.
33. "McConnell, two other incumbents file for re-election". WAVE 3 News. January 21, 2008. Archived from the original on May 29, 2007.
34. Staff writer (January 29, 2008). "McConnell's opposition lining up as filing deadline for 2008 races draws near". Lexington Herald-Leader. Archived from the original on January 30, 2008.
35. Unofficial 2008 General Election Results Archived 2009-04-08 at the Wayback Machine Kentucky State Board of Elections. Retrieved on November 15, 2008.
36. Kowowski, David (January 28, 2008). "KY Deadline". Swing State Project. Archived from the original on September 17, 2008. Retrieved March 10, 2009.
37. "2008 General Election Results". CNN. November 5, 2008.

External links

• Kentucky State Board of Elections
• U.S. Congress candidates for Kentucky at Project Vote Smart
• "Kentucky U.S. House Races". Archived from the original on October 19, 2007. from 2008 Race Tracker
• Campaign contributions for Kentucky congressional races from OpenSecrets

Preceded by 2006 elections

United States House elections in Kentucky 2008

Succeeded by 2010 elections