United States House of Representatives elections in Alabama, 2008

The 2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Alabama were held on November 4, 2008 to determine who will represent the state of Alabama in the United States House of Representatives, coinciding with the presidential and senatorial elections. Representatives are elected for two-year terms; those elected will serve in the 111th Congress from January 4, 2009 until January 3, 2011.

Alabama has seven seats in the House, apportioned according to the 2000 United States Census. Its 2007-2008 congressional delegation consisted of five Republicans and two Democrats. It is now four Republicans and three Democrats. District 2 changed party (from open Republican to Democratic).

Overview

United States House of Representatives elections in Alabama, 2008[1][2]
Party		Votes	Percentage	Seats	+/–
	Republican	1,120,903	60.42%	4	–1
	Democratic	718,367	38.72%	3	+1
	Independent	15,998	0.86%	0	0
Valid votes		1,855,268	88.11%
Invalid or blank votes		250,354	11.89%
Totals		2,105,622	100.00%	7	—
Voter turnout		74.11%

District 1

See also: Alabama's 1st congressional district

The Democratic and Republican primaries were not contested. However, Democrat Thomas Fuller withdrew from the race on June 12, 2008, stating he was unable to wage a creditable campaign in the district.^[3]

• Jo Bonner (R) - Incumbent (campaign website)
• Thomas Fuller (D) - (withdrawn)

CQ Politics forecasted the race as 'Safe Republican'.^[4]

• Alabama District 1 race from OurCampaigns.org
• Campaign contributions from OpenSecrets.org

Alabama's 1st congressional district election, 2008[1]
Party		Candidate	Votes	Percentage
	Republican	Jo Bonner (incumbent)	210,660	98.27%
	Independent	Write-in candidates	3,707	1.73%
Totals			214,367	100.00%
	Republican hold

District 2

See also: Alabama's 2nd congressional district

This district covers southeastern Alabama, including Dothan and Montgomery. CQ Politics forecasted the race as 'No Clear Favorite'. The Rothenberg Political Report rated it 'Pure Toss-Up'. The Cook Political Report ranked it 'Republican Toss Up'.

Republican Terry Everett, who had represented the district since 1993, decided to retire. Montgomery Mayor Bobby Bright won the Democratic primary. State Representative Jay Love won the Republican run-off election on July 15th against State Senator Harri Anne Smith (campaign website).^[5] George W. Bush won 67% in 2004 here. Bright won 50% of the vote to Love's 49%.

• Bobby Bright (D) (campaign website)
• Jay Love (R) (campaign website)
• 2nd district race ranking and background from CQ Politics
• Alabama District 2 race from OurCampaigns.org
• Campaign contributions from OpenSecrets.org
• Love (R) vs Bright (D) graph of collected poll results from Pollster.com

Alabama's 2nd congressional district election, 2008[1]
Party		Candidate	Votes	Percentage
	Democratic	Bobby Bright	144,368	50.23%
	Republican	Jay Love	142,578	49.61%
	Independent	Write-in candidates	448	0.16%
Totals			287,394	100.00%
	Democratic gain from Republican

District 3

See also: Alabama's 3rd congressional district

The Democratic and Republican primaries were not contested.

• Mike D. Rogers (R) - Incumbent (campaign website)
• Joshua Segall (D) - Lawyer (campaign website)
• Mark Layfield (Independent) - real estate broker, ex-pilot, Navy veteran and 2006 candidate

CQ Politics forecasted the race as 'Republican Favored'.^[6]

• 3rd district race ranking and background from CQ Politics
• Alabama District 3 race from OurCampaigns.org
• Campaign contributions from OpenSecrets.org
• Rogers (R-i) vs Segall (D) graph of collected poll results from Pollster.com

Alabama's 3rd congressional district election, 2008[1]
Party		Candidate	Votes	Percentage
	Republican	Mike Rogers (incumbent)	142,708	54.03%
	Democratic	Joshua Segall	121,080	45.84%
	Independent	Write-in candidates	332	0.13%
Totals			264,120	100.00%
	Republican hold

District 4

See also: Alabama's 4th congressional district

The Republican primary was uncontested, and Nick Sparks won against Greg Warren in the Democratic primary.

• Robert Aderholt (R) - Incumbent (campaign website)
• Nick Sparks (D) - attorney (campaign website)

CQ Politics forecasted the race as 'Safe Republican'.^[7]

• Alabama District 4 race from OurCampaigns.org
• Campaign contributions from OpenSecrets.org

Alabama's 4th congressional district election, 2008[1]
Party		Candidate	Votes	Percentage
	Republican	Robert Aderholt (incumbent)	196,741	74.76%
	Democratic	Nick Sparks	66,077	25.11%
	Independent	Write-in candidates	349	0.13%
Totals			263,167	100.00%
	Republican hold

District 5

See also: Alabama's 5th congressional district

This district includes the counties of Colbert, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Limestone, Madison, Jackson, and parts of Morgan. Democratic incumbent Bud Cramer has represented the district since 1990. He did not seek reelection and endorsed State Senator Parker Griffith. CQ Politics forecasted the race as 'No Clear Favorite'. The Rothenberg Political Report rated it 'Pure Toss-Up'. The Cook Political Report ranked it 'Democrat Toss Up'.

In the June 3, 2008 primary election, there were eight candidates running for the seat. On the Democratic side, State Senator Dr. Parker Griffith defeated physicist David Maker (website), carrying 90% of the vote. Wayne Parker won the Republican runoff on July 15th against attorney Cheryl Baswell Guthrie (campaign website).^[5] In the primary, Wayne Parker had failed to gain the necessary 51% of the vote to avoid the runoff. Guthrie had carried 18% of the vote. Wayne Parker is a son-in-law of former U.S. Representative Bill Archer of Texas, once chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee.

A year after his election, Griffith switched parties and ran for a second term in the 2010 Republican primary.

• Parker Griffith (D) - State Senator, businessman, and Huntsville's first radiation oncologist (campaign website)
• Wayne Parker (R) - Insurance executive, lost to Cramer in 1994 and 1996 (campaign website)
• 5th District race ranking and background from CQ Politics
• Alabama District 5 race from OurCampaigns.org
• Campaign contributions from OpenSecrets.org
• LoParker (R) vs Griffith (D) graph of collected poll results from Pollster.com

Alabama's 5th congressional district election, 2008[1]
Party		Candidate	Votes	Percentage
	Democratic	Parker Griffith	158,324	51.52%
	Republican	Wayne Parker	147,314	47.94%
	Independent	Write-in candidates	1,644	0.54%
Totals			307,282	100.00%
	Democratic hold

District 6

See also: Alabama's 6th congressional district

The Democratic and Republican primaries were not contested.

• Spencer Bachus (R) - Incumbent (campaign website)
• Jennifer Fuller - write-in ( campaign website)

CQ Politics forecasted the race as 'Safe Republican'.^[8]

• Alabama District 6 race from OurCampaigns.org
• Campaign contributions from OpenSecrets.org

Alabama's 6th congressional district election, 2008[1]
Party		Candidate	Votes	Percentage
	Republican	Spencer Bachus (incumbent)	280,902	97.79%
	Independent	Write-in candidates	6,335	2.21%
Totals			287,237	100.00%
	Republican hold

District 7

See also: Alabama's 7th congressional district

The Democratic and Republican primaries were not contested.

• Artur Davis (D) - Incumbent (campaign website)
• Elizabeth Hayes (write-in)

CQ Politics forecasted the race as 'Safe Democrat'.^[9]

• Alabama District 7 race from OurCampaigns.org
• Campaign contributions from OpenSecrets.org

Alabama's 6th congressional district election, 2008[1]
Party		Candidate	Votes	Percentage
	Democratic	Artur Davis (incumbent)	228,518	98.63%
	Independent	Write-in candidates	3,183	1.37%
Totals			231,701	100.00%
	Democratic hold

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d e f g h} "Certified General Election Results without write-in appendix" (PDF). Secretary of State of Alabama. 2008-11-25. http://www.sos.alabama.gov/downloads/election/2008/general/statecert-2008-general-election-11-25-2008-without-write-in-appendix.pdf. Retrieved 2008-12-03. 
2. ^ "Voting Statistics: 2008 General Election" (PDF). Secretary of State of Alabama. 2009-05-01. http://www.sos.state.al.us/downloads/election/2008/voting-stats-2008-general-election.pdf. Retrieved 2009-10-27. 
3. ^ AP, Democrat drops out of 1st District congressional race June 12, 2008
4. ^ 1st district race ranking and details from CQ Politics
5. ^ ^{a b} Alabama - Summary Vote Results AL.com, July 17, 2008
6. ^ 3rd district race ranking and details from CQ Politics
7. ^ 4th district race ranking and details from CQ Politics
8. ^ 6th district race ranking and details from CQ Politics
9. ^ 7th district race ranking and details from CQ Politics

External links

• United States House of Representatives elections in Alabama, 2008 at the Open Directory Project
• U.S. Congress candidates for Alabama at Project Vote Smart
• Alabama U.S. House Races from 2008 Race Tracker
• Campaign contributions for Alabama congressional races from OpenSecrets.org
• Election News from Alabama Live news media

Preceded by 2006 elections

United States House elections in Alabama 2008

Succeeded by 2010 elections