United States Senate election in Oklahoma, 2008

United States Senate election in Oklahoma, 2008

2002 ← November 4, 2008 → 2014

Nominee Jim Inhofe Andrew Rice Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 763,375 527,736 Percentage 56.7% 39.2%

County results

U.S. Senator before election Jim Inhofe Republican Elected U.S. Senator Jim Inhofe Republican

The 2008 United States Senate election in Oklahoma was a was held on November 4, 2008. The statewide primary election was held July 29, with the run-off on August 26. Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator James Inhofe won re-election to a third term.

Democratic primary

Background

Rice officially filed as a candidate for the United States Senate from Oklahoma on Monday, June 2, 2008.^[1][2] He won the Democratic primary against Jim Rogers, a retired schoolteacher who stressed campaign finance reform. As in earlier campaigns, Rogers refused to accept money to avoid any question of his allegiances. State Senator Kenneth Corn had earlier expressed interest in the race.

Candidates

• Andrew Rice, State Senator
• Jim Rogers

Results

Democratic primary results[3]
Party		Candidate	Votes	Percentage
	Democratic	Andrew Rice	113,795	59.65%
	Democratic	Jim Rogers	76,981	40.35%
Totals			190,776	100.00%

Republican primary

Candidates

• Jim Inhofe, incumbent U.S. Senator
• Dennis Lopez
• Evelyn Rogers
• Ted Ryals

Results

Republican primary results[4]
Party		Candidate	Votes	Percentage
	Republican	Jim Inhofe (inc.)	116,371	84.18%
	Republican	Evelyn R. Rogers	10,770	7.79%
	Republican	Ted Ryals	7,306	5.28%
	Republican	Dennis Lopez	3,800	2.75%
Totals			138,247	100.00%

General election

Candidates

• Jim Inhofe (R), incumbent U.S. Senator
• Andrew Rice (D), State Senator
• Stephen Wallace (I), businessman^[5]

Campaign

Inhofe, who in August 2008 had a 61% approval rating,^[6] emphasized his conservative record and tried to label Rice as a “committed liberal.” In the debates, Rice tried to connect Inhofe to George W. Bush saying “An era allowed this to happen. George Bush came into office eight years ago with a Republican majority and … an agenda of radical deregulation.”^[7] Rice also believed in Global warming, something Inhofe is famous for being against.^[8] In the election, Inhofe had over $5 million in the bank. Rice had $3.8 million. ^[9]

Predictions

CQ Politics rated this race as 'Republican Favored'.^[10] The Cook Political Report considered it 'Likely Republican'.^[11] The Rothenberg Political Report considered it a 'Safe Republican'.^[12]

Polling

Poll Source	Dates administered	Rice	Inhofe
Survey USA	October 29, 2008	36%	56%
Survey USA	October 19, 2008	39%	51%
Survey USA	September 29, 2008	37%	53%
Rasmussen Reports	September 11, 2008	39%	55%
Survey USA	September 5-September 7, 2008	34%	56%
KSWO	August 12-August 14, 2008	41%	50%
Research 2000/Daily Kos	June 9-June 11, 2008	31%	53%
Tulsa World/KOTV/SoonerPoll	December 16-December 19, 2007	19%	60%
Benenson Strategy Group	December 8-December 12, 2007	35%	49%

Results

United States Senate election in Oklahoma, 2008[13]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Jim Inhofe (inc.)	763,375	56.68%	-0.62%
	Democratic	Andrew Rice	527,736	39.18%	+2.87%
	Independent	Stephen Wallace	55,708	4.14%
Majority			235,639	17.50%	-3.50%
Turnout			1,346,819
	Republican hold		Swing

References

1. ^ Candidates for Federal, State and Legislative Offices Oklahoma State Election Board, June 2-4, 2008
2. ^ "State Lawmaker To Run For U.S. Senate", Associated Press, August 3, 2007
3. ^ http://www.ok.gov/elections/The_Archives/Election_Results/2008_Election_Results/Primary_Election_2008.html
4. ^ http://www.ok.gov/elections/The_Archives/Election_Results/2008_Election_Results/Primary_Election_2008.html
5. ^ http://www.wallace4senate.com/meetstevewallace.asp
6. ^ RealClearPolitics - Politics Nation - OK: Inhofe +22
7. ^ Rice, Inhofe spar over economy | Tulsa World
8. ^ An interview with Andrew Rice, the Democrat challenging GOP Sen. James Inhofe | Grist
9. ^ Politics Home Page : Roll Call
10. ^ Race Ratings Chart: Senate CQ Politics
11. ^ 2008 Senate Race Ratings The Cook Political Report, October 9, 2008
12. ^ 2008 Senate Ratings The Rothenberg Political Report, September 29, 2008
13. ^ http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/2008/2008Stat.htm#stateOK

External links

• U.S. Congress candidates for Oklahoma at Project Vote Smart
• Oklahoma, U.S. Senate from CQ Politics
• Oklahoma U.S. Senate from OurCampaigns.com
• Oklahoma U.S. Senate race from 2008 Race Tracker
• Campaign contributions from OpenSecrets.org
• Inhofe (R-i) vs Rice (D) graph of multiple polls from Pollster.com
• Official campaign websites
  • James Inhofe, Republican nominee
  • Andrew Rice, Democratic nominee