2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Missouri

2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Missouri

November 4, 2008 (2008-11-04)
All 9 Missouri seats to the United States House of Representatives
Majority party Minority party   Party Republican Democratic Last election 5 4 Seats won 5 4 Seat change Popular vote 1,313,018 1,413,016 Percentage 46.54% 50.08% Swing 3.49% 2.77%
Congressional District Results Precinct Results Republican   40–50%   50–60%   60–70%   70–80%   80–90%   >90% Democratic   40–50%   50–60%   60–70%   70–80%   80–90%   >90% Tie/No Data

The 2008 congressional elections in Missouri were held on November 4, 2008, to determine who will represent the state of Missouri in the United States House of Representatives. The primary election for candidates seeking the nomination of the Republican Party, the Democratic Party, and the Libertarian Party was held on August 5.

Missouri has nine seats in the House, apportioned according to the 2000 United States census. Representatives are elected for two-year terms; those elected will serve in the 111th Congress from January 3, 2009, until January 3, 2011. The election coincided with the 2008 U.S. presidential election. The races not forecasted as safe for the incumbent party were 6 and 9; however, the Republicans held both seats.

Missouri was the only state in which the party that won the state's popular vote did not win a majority of seats in 2008. It was also the last time the Democrats won the House popular vote in Missouri.

Overview

United States House of Representatives elections in Missouri, 2008[1]
Party		Votes	Percentage	Seats	+/–
	Democratic	1,413,016	50.08%	4	—
	Republican	1,313,018	46.54%	5	—
	Libertarian	82,647	2.93%	0	-
	Constitution	12,747	0.45%	0	-
	Independents	56	<0.01%	0	—
Totals		2,821,484	100.00%	9	—

District 1

2008 Missouri's 1st congressional district election

Nominee Lacy Clay Robb E. Cunningham Party Democratic Libertarian Popular vote 242,570 36,700 Percentage 86.9% 13.1%

U.S. Representative before election Lacy Clay Democratic Elected U.S. Representative Lacy Clay Democratic

See also: Missouri's 1st congressional district

Incumbent Democratic Congressman William Lacy Clay Jr. easily dispatched with Libertarian challenger Robb Cunningham in this St. Louis-based liberal district.

Democratic primary results

Democratic primary results^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	William Lacy Clay Jr. (inc.)	41,517	100.0
Total votes			41,517	100.0

Libertarian primary results

Libertarian primary results^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Libertarian	Robb E. Cunningham	130	100.0
Total votes			130	100.0

General election results

Missouri's 1st congressional district election, 2008

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	William Lacy Clay, Jr. (inc.)	242,570	86.9
	Libertarian	Robb E. Cunningham	36,700	13.1
	Write-ins		7	0.0
Total votes			279,277	100.0
	Democratic hold

District 2

2008 Missouri's 2nd congressional district election

Nominee Todd Akin Bill Haas Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 232,276 132,068 Percentage 62.3% 35.4%

U.S. Representative before election Todd Akin Republican Elected U.S. Representative Todd Akin Republican

See also: Missouri's 2nd congressional district

Incumbent Republican Congressman Todd Akin easily won re-election to a fifth term over Democratic nominee Bill Haas and Libertarian candidate Thomas Knapp in this conservative district rooted in the northern and western suburbs of St. Louis.

Democratic primary results

Democratic primary results^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Bill Haas	9,018	30.7
	Democratic	David L. Pentland	6,007	20.5
	Democratic	Byron DeLear	5,059	17.2
	Democratic	Mike Garman	4,690	16.0
	Democratic	John Hogan	4,557	15.5
Total votes			29,331	100.0

Libertarian primary results

Libertarian primary results^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Libertarian	Thomas L. Knapp	211	100.0
Total votes			211	100.0

General election results

Missouri's 2nd congressional district election, 2008

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Todd Akin (inc.)	232,276	62.3
	Democratic	Bill Haas	132,068	35.4
	Libertarian	Thomas L. Knapp	8,628	2.3
Total votes			372,972	100.0
	Republican hold

District 3

2008 Missouri's 3rd congressional district election

Nominee Russ Carnahan Chris Sander Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 202,470 92,759 Percentage 66.4% 30.4%

U.S. Representative before election Russ Carnahan Democratic Elected U.S. Representative Russ Carnahan Democratic

See also: Missouri's 3rd congressional district

In this fairly liberal district based in the southern portion of St. Louis and previously represented by House Minority Leader Dick Gephardt, Democratic Congressman Russ Carnahan easily defeated Republican Chris Sander, Libertarian Kevin Babcock, and Constitution Party candidate Cindy Redburn to win a third term.

Democratic primary results

Democratic primary results^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Russ Carnahan (inc.)	38,020	100.0
Total votes			38,020	100.0

Republican primary results

Republican primary results^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Chris Sander	7,923	41.7
	Republican	John Wayne Tucker	5,963	31.4
	Republican	Greg Zotta	2,532	13.6
	Republican	Pat Ertmann	2,532	13.3
Total votes			18,994	100.0

Libertarian primary results

Libertarian primary results^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Libertarian	Kevin C. Babcock	224	100.0
Total votes			224	100.0

General election results

Missouri's 3rd congressional district election, 2008

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Russ Carnahan (inc.)	202,470	66.4
	Republican	Chris Sander	92,759	30.4
	Libertarian	Kevin C. Babcock	5,518	1.8
	Constitution	Cindy Redburn	4,324	1.4
Total votes			305,071	100.0
	Democratic hold

District 4

2008 Missouri's 4th congressional district election

Nominee Ike Skelton Jeff Parnell Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 200,009 103,446 Percentage 65.9% 34.1%

County results Precinct results Skelton:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90% Parnell:      50-60%      60–70%      70–80%      50%      No votes

U.S. Representative before election Ike Skelton Democratic Elected U.S. Representative Ike Skelton Democratic

See also: Missouri's 4th congressional district

Long-serving incumbent Democratic Congressman Ike Skelton, the Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, easily defeated Republican nominee Jeff Parnell in this conservative, west-central Missouri district to win a seventeenth term. By contrast, in the simultaneous 2008 presidential election the district gave 61 percent of its vote to Republican nominee John McCain and 38 percent to Democratic nominee Barack Obama, making this the only Missouri district with opposite results in the two elections.

Democratic primary results

Democratic primary results^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Ike Skelton (inc.)	37,111	100.0
Total votes			37,111	100.0

Republican primary results

Republican primary results^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Jeff Parnell	31,979	66.8
	Republican	Stanley Plough, Jr.	10,324	21.6
	Republican	Joseph Terrazas	5,568	11.6
Total votes			47,871	100.0

General election results

Missouri's 4th congressional district election, 2008

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Ike Skelton (inc.)	200,009	65.9
	Republican	Jeff Parnell	103,446	34.1
Total votes			303,455	100.0
	Democratic hold

District 5

2008 Missouri's 5th congressional district election

Nominee Emanuel Cleaver Jacob Turk Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 197,249 109,166 Percentage 64.4% 35.6%

U.S. Representative before election Emanuel Cleaver Democratic Elected U.S. Representative Emanuel Cleaver Democratic

See also: Missouri's 5th congressional district

Democratic incumbent Congressman Emanuel Cleaver defeated Republican nominee Jacob Turk to win a third term in this fairly liberal district based in Kansas City.

Democratic primary results

Democratic primary results^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Emanuel Cleaver (inc.)	38,260	100.0
Total votes			38,260	100.0

Republican primary results

Republican primary results^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Jacob Turk	9,294	54.2
	Republican	Chris Knowlton	3,552	20.7
	Republican	Martin D. Baker	2,647	15.4
	Republican	Randy Langkraehr	1,641	9.6
Total votes			17,134	100.0

General election results

Missouri's 5th congressional district election, 2008

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Emanuel Cleaver (inc.)	197,249	64.4
	Republican	Jacob Turk	109,166	35.6
Total votes			306,415	100.0
	Democratic hold

District 6

2008 Missouri's 6th congressional district election

Nominee Sam Graves Kay Barnes Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 196,526 121,894 Percentage 59.4% 36.9%

U.S. Representative before election Sam Graves Republican Elected U.S. Representative Sam Graves Republican

See also: Missouri's 6th congressional district

Incumbent Republican Congressman Sam Graves survived a high-profile challenge from Democratic nominee and former Kansas City Mayor Kay Barnes by a much healthier margin than expected. Barnes' inability to capitalize on the strong Democratic wave sweeping the country ultimately left her defeated in this normally conservative district based in northwest Missouri.

Republican primary results

Republican primary results^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Sam Graves (inc.)	36,131	100.0
Total votes			36,131	100.0

Democratic primary results

Democratic primary results^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Kay Barnes	36,712	84.5
	Democratic	Ali Allon Sherkat	6,714	15.5
Total votes			43,426	100.0

Libertarian primary results

Libertarian primary results^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Libertarian	Dave Browning	225	100.0
Total votes			225	100.0

General election results

Missouri's 6th congressional district election, 2008

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Sam Graves (inc.)	196,526	59.4
	Democratic	Kay Barnes	121,894	36.9
	Libertarian	Dave Browning	12,279	3.7
Total votes			330,699	100.0
	Republican hold

District 7

2008 Missouri's 7th congressional district election

Nominee Roy Blunt Richard Monroe Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 219,016 91,010 Percentage 67.8% 28.2%

U.S. Representative before election Roy Blunt Republican Elected U.S. Representative Roy Blunt Republican

See also: Missouri's 7th congressional district

Incumbent Republican Congressman Roy Blunt, a former short-serving House Majority Leader defeated Democrat Richard Monroe, Libertarian Kevin Craig, and Constitution candidate Travis Maddox to easily win another term in office.

Republican primary results

Republican primary results^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Roy Blunt (inc.)	64,767	100.0
Total votes			64,767	100.0

Democratic primary results

Democratic primary results^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Richard Monroe	11,973	77.7
	Democratic	Gregory L. Gloeckner	3,493	22.3
Total votes			15,466	100.0

Libertarian primary results

Libertarian primary results^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Libertarian	Kevin Craig	199	100.0
Total votes			199	100.0

General election results

Missouri's 7th congressional district election, 2008

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Roy Blunt (inc.)	219,016	67.8
	Democratic	Richard Monroe	91,010	28.2
	Libertarian	Kevin Craig	6,971	2.2
	Constitution	Travis Maddox	6,166	1.9
	Write-ins		49	0.0
Total votes			323,212	100.00
	Republican hold

District 8

2008 Missouri's 8th congressional district election

Nominee Jo Ann Emerson Joe Allen Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 198,798 72,790 Percentage 71.4% 26.2%

U.S. Representative before election Jo Ann Emerson Republican Elected U.S. Representative Jo Ann Emerson Republican

See also: Missouri's 8th congressional district

In this staunchly conservative district based in southeast Missouri, incumbent Republican Congresswoman Jo Ann Emerson had no difficulty in dispatching Democrat Joe Allen, Libertarian Branden McCullough, and Constitution candidate Richard Smith to win another term in office.

Republican primary results

Republican primary results^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Jo Ann Emerson (inc.)	51,801	100.0
Total votes			51,801	100.0

Democratic primary results

Democratic primary results^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Joe Allen	35,418	100.0
Total votes			35,418	100.0

Libertarian primary results

Libertarian primary results^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Libertarian	Branden C. McCollough	126	100.0
Total votes			126	100.0

General election results

Missouri's 8th congressional district election, 2008

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Jo Ann Emerson (inc.)	198,798	71.4
	Democratic	Joe Allen	72,790	26.2
	Libertarian	Branden C. McCullough	4,443	1.6
	Constitution	Richard L. Smith	2,257	0.8
Total votes			278,288	100.0
	Republican hold

District 9

2008 Missouri's 9th congressional district election

Nominee Blaine Luetkemeyer Judy Baker Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 161,031 152,956 Percentage 50.0% 47.5%

County results Luetkemeyer :      40–50%      50–60%      60–70% Baker:      40–50%      50–60%

U.S. Representative before election Kenny Hulshof Republican Elected U.S. Representative Blaine Luetkemeyer Republican

See also: Missouri's 9th congressional district

When Republican Congressman Kenny Hulshof declined to seek another term in favor of running for Governor, an open seat emerged. Former Missouri State Representative Blaine Luetkemeyer, the Republican nominee, defeated Democratic nominee Judy Baker, a member of the Missouri House of Representatives by a thin margin in this normally conservative district based in northeast Missouri, a part of "Little Dixie."

Republican primary results

Republican primary results^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Blaine Luetkemeyer	21,543	39.7
	Republican	Bob Onder	15,572	29.0
	Republican	Danielle Moore	10,609	19.5
	Republican	Brock Olivo	5,501	10.1
	Republican	Dan Bishir	890	1.6
Total votes			54,295	100.0

Democratic primary results

Democratic primary results^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Judy Baker	22,498	44.1
	Democratic	Steve Gaw	15,864	31.1
	Democratic	Lyndon Bode	6,565	12.9
	Democratic	Ken Jacob	6,060	11.9
Total votes			54,295	100.0

Libertarian primary results

Libertarian primary results^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Libertarian	Tamara A. Millay	250	100.0
Total votes			250	100.0

General election results

Missouri's 9th congressional district election, 2008

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Blaine Luetkemeyer	161,031	50.0
	Democratic	Judy Baker	152,956	47.5
	Libertarian	Tamara A. Millay	8,108	2.5
Total votes			322,095	100.0
	Republican hold

References

1. "Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives".
2. Missouri Secretary of State. "Official Election Returns State of Missouri Primary Election - August 2008 Primary Election" (PDF). sos.mo.gov. Retrieved February 3, 2022.

External links

• Elections from the Missouri Secretary of State
• U.S. Congress candidates for Missouri at Project Vote Smart
• Campaign contributions for Missouri congressional races from OpenSecrets