United States Senate election in Kentucky, 2008
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County results
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Elections in Kentucky |
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The 2008 United States Senate election in Kentucky was held on November 4, 2008. Minority Leader and incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell won re-election to a fifth term.
Background
In 2007 Kentucky's unpopular Republican Governor, Ernie Fletcher, lost his re-election bid. The Democrats took control of both Houses of Congress in the 2006 mid-term elections and in October Chuck Schumer acknowledged they were aiming for McConnell's seat.[1]
State auditor Crit Luallen was considered a top contender for the Democratic nomination, but she decided to remain as auditor.[2] Lunsford was asked to run by Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear.[3] Seven candidates competed for the Democratic Primary nomination. The primaries for both parties took place on May 20, 2008 in which Lunsford took more than 50%.
Democratic primary
Candidates
Results
Republican primary
Candidates
Results
General election
Candidates
Campaign
In October Lunsford and McConnell were statistically tied in the polls. Larry Sabato, director of the University of Virginia Center for Politics, said "If Lunsford is actually doing this well, its got to be because the public is so upset by the economic meltdown and may be blaming the legislative leaders."[5]
A debate scheduled for October 7 hosted by the League of Women Voters was canceled when incumbent McConnell decided not to participate even though Lunsford announced he wanted to debate.[6]
On November 2, 2008, media outlets such as The Wall Street Journal noted that the website of The New Republic had reported that anti-McConnell flyers questioning the senator's sexuality as well as the reasons for his 1967 military discharge were being distributed in Kentucky.[7][8]
Predictions
CQ Politics rated this race as 'Republican Favored',[9] but later rated it 'Leans Republican'.[9] The Cook Political Report considered it 'Lean Republican'.[10] The Rothenberg Political Report once considered it a 'Clear Advantage for Incumbent Party'[11] but later called the race 'Narrow Advantage for Incumbent Party'.[12]
Polling
Poll Source |
Dates administered |
Lunsford |
McConnell |
Survey USA |
November 1, 2008 |
45% |
53% |
Rasmussen Reports |
October 29, 2008 |
44% |
51% |
Research 2000/
Lexington Herald-Leader/
WKYT-TV |
October 22, 2008 |
43% |
47% |
Rasmussen Reports |
October 21, 2008 |
43% |
50% |
SurveyUSA |
October 20, 2008 |
48% |
48% |
Rasmussen Reports |
September 30, 2008 |
42% |
51% |
SurveyUSA |
September 21–22, 2008 |
46% |
49% |
Research 2000 for Daily Kos |
September 15–17, 2008 |
37% |
50% |
Voter/Consumer Research |
September 7–9, 2008 |
35% |
52% |
Survey USA |
August 11, 2008 |
40% |
52% |
Rasmussen Reports |
July 29, 2008 |
42% |
52% |
Rasmussen Reports |
June 25, 2008 |
41% |
48% |
Voter/Consumer Research |
June 15–17, 2008 |
39% |
50% |
Survey USA |
June 13–16, 2008 |
46% |
50% |
Rasmussen Reports |
May 22, 2008 |
49% |
44% |
Voter/Consumer Research |
May 21–22, 2008 |
39% |
50% |
Research 2000/
Lexington Herald-Leader/
WKYT-TV |
May 7–9, 2008 |
36% |
48% |
Voter/Consumer Research |
January 6–8, 2008 |
37% |
52% |
Results
Results breakdown
Election results by county.
Red indicates McConnell led in a county, while
blue indicates that Lunsford received more votes. Counties are shaded to indicate the margin of victory.
County[14] |
Precincts |
Reporting |
Lunsford |
% Lunsford |
McConnell |
% McConnell |
Total |
Adair |
16 |
16 |
2,198 |
30.88% |
4,920 |
69.12% |
7,118 (R) |
Allen |
13 |
13 |
2,331 |
31.85% |
4,987 |
68.15% |
7,318 (R) |
Anderson |
14 |
14 |
4,787 |
46.27% |
5,558 |
53.73% |
10,345 (R) |
Ballard |
13 |
13 |
1,893 |
46.68% |
2,162 |
53.32% |
4,055 (R) |
Barren |
24 |
24 |
6,735 |
41.15% |
9,630 |
58.85% |
16,365 (R) |
Bath |
12 |
12 |
2,747 |
61.36% |
1,730 |
38.64% |
4,477 (D) |
Bell |
33 |
33 |
3,494 |
38.83% |
5,505 |
61.17% |
8,999 (R) |
Boone |
60 |
60 |
15,224 |
30.75% |
34,285 |
69.25% |
49,509 (R) |
Bourbon |
18 |
18 |
4,325 |
52.26% |
3,951 |
47.74% |
8,276 (D) |
Boyd |
47 |
47 |
11,174 |
54.23% |
9,430 |
45.77% |
20,604 (D) |
Boyle |
25 |
25 |
5,854 |
46.90% |
6,627 |
53.10% |
12,481 (R) |
Bracken |
8 |
8 |
1,382 |
41.17% |
1,975 |
58.83% |
3,357 (R) |
Breathitt |
21 |
21 |
3,111 |
61.41% |
1,955 |
38.59% |
5,066 (D) |
Breckinridge |
15 |
15 |
3,736 |
44.02% |
4,752 |
55.98% |
8,488 (R) |
Bullitt |
44 |
44 |
12,501 |
41.85% |
17,368 |
58.15% |
29,869 (R) |
Butler |
12 |
12 |
1,771 |
33.59% |
3,501 |
66.41% |
5,272 (R) |
Caldwell |
13 |
13 |
2,821 |
46.30% |
3,272 |
53.70% |
6,093 (R) |
Calloway |
30 |
30 |
6,870 |
45.39% |
8,266 |
54.61% |
15,136 (R) |
Campbell |
66 |
66 |
14,789 |
37.55% |
24,591 |
62.45% |
39,380 (R) |
Carlisle |
6 |
6 |
1,220 |
46.51% |
1,403 |
53.49% |
2,623 (R) |
Carroll |
11 |
11 |
2,157 |
57.23% |
1,612 |
42.77% |
3,769 (D) |
Carter |
23 |
23 |
5,220 |
53.74% |
4,494 |
46.26% |
9,714 (D) |
Casey |
15 |
15 |
1,783 |
30.55% |
4,053 |
69.45% |
5,836 (R) |
Christian |
44 |
44 |
9,030 |
40.79% |
13,109 |
59.21% |
22,139 (R) |
Clark |
26 |
26 |
7,436 |
48.49% |
7,898 |
51.51% |
15,334 (R) |
Clay |
20 |
20 |
2,458 |
33.85% |
4,804 |
66.15% |
7,262 (R) |
Clinton |
13 |
13 |
1,029 |
25.42% |
3,019 |
74.58% |
4,048 (R) |
Crittenden |
12 |
12 |
1,615 |
41.59% |
2,268 |
58.41% |
3,883 (R) |
Cumberland |
9 |
9 |
763 |
28.62% |
1,903 |
71.38% |
2,666 (R) |
Daviess |
84 |
84 |
20,779 |
47.94% |
22,563 |
52.06% |
43,342 (R) |
Edmonson |
10 |
10 |
1,996 |
38.06% |
3,249 |
61.94% |
5,245 (R) |
Elliott |
7 |
7 |
1,830 |
71.99% |
712 |
28.01% |
2,542 (R) |
Estill |
15 |
15 |
2,162 |
41.36% |
3,065 |
58.64% |
5,227 (R) |
Fayette |
274 |
274 |
68,029 |
54.15% |
57,605 |
45.85% |
125,634 (R) |
Fleming |
18 |
18 |
2,845 |
50.04% |
2,841 |
49.96% |
5,686 (D) |
Floyd |
42 |
42 |
10,105 |
64.35% |
5,598 |
35.65% |
15,703 (D) |
Franklin |
44 |
44 |
13,888 |
59.00% |
9,651 |
41.00% |
23,539 (R) |
Fulton |
13 |
13 |
1,456 |
53.49% |
1,266 |
46.51% |
2,722 (D) |
Gallatin |
8 |
8 |
1,435 |
45.66% |
1,708 |
54.34% |
3,143 (R) |
Garrard |
13 |
13 |
2,858 |
40.11% |
4,268 |
59.89% |
7,126 (R) |
Grant |
23 |
23 |
3,408 |
39.33% |
5,257 |
60.67% |
8,665 (R) |
Graves |
30 |
30 |
7,839 |
48.76% |
8,239 |
51.24% |
16,078 (R) |
Grayson |
23 |
23 |
3,863 |
39.23% |
5,983 |
60.77% |
9,846 (R) |
Green |
10 |
10 |
1,777 |
35.73% |
3,197 |
64.27% |
4,974 (R) |
Greenup |
32 |
32 |
8,258 |
52.83% |
7,374 |
47.17% |
15,632 (D) |
Hancock |
10 |
10 |
2,298 |
56.09% |
1,799 |
43.91% |
4,097 (D) |
Hardin |
55 |
55 |
17,318 |
43.68% |
22,326 |
56.32% |
39,644 (R) |
Harlan |
35 |
35 |
4,440 |
45.92% |
5,229 |
54.08% |
9,669 (R) |
Harrison |
17 |
17 |
3,814 |
50.47% |
3,743 |
49.53% |
7,557 (D) |
Hart |
19 |
19 |
2,962 |
44.60% |
3,680 |
55.40% |
6,642 (R) |
Henderson |
42 |
42 |
11,048 |
56.06% |
8,659 |
43.94% |
19,707 (D) |
Henry |
20 |
20 |
3,194 |
46.52% |
3,672 |
53.48% |
6,866 (R) |
Hickman |
6 |
6 |
1,049 |
47.49% |
1,160 |
52.51% |
2,209 (R) |
Hopkins |
40 |
40 |
8,481 |
44.87% |
10,419 |
55.13% |
18,900 (R) |
Jackson |
14 |
14 |
1,245 |
24.71% |
3,794 |
75.29% |
5,039 (R) |
Jefferson |
515 |
515 |
195,401 |
55.73% |
155,241 |
44.27% |
350,642 (D) |
Jessamine |
37 |
37 |
7,847 |
39.60% |
11,969 |
60.40% |
19,816 (R) |
Johnson |
31 |
31 |
3,252 |
38.81% |
5,128 |
61.19% |
8,380 (R) |
Kenton |
108 |
108 |
19,217 |
36.26% |
33,787 |
63.74% |
53,004 (R) |
Knott |
30 |
30 |
3,477 |
62.14% |
2,118 |
37.86% |
5,595 (D) |
Knox |
30 |
30 |
4,329 |
39.01% |
6,767 |
60.99% |
11,096 (R) |
LaRue |
12 |
12 |
2,523 |
41.97% |
3,489 |
58.03% |
6,012 (R) |
Laurel |
45 |
45 |
6,850 |
31.15% |
15,138 |
68.85% |
21,988 (R) |
Lawrence |
18 |
18 |
2,641 |
47.47% |
2,923 |
52.53% |
5,564 (R) |
Lee |
10 |
10 |
1,073 |
39.77% |
1,625 |
60.23% |
2,698 (R) |
Leslie |
17 |
17 |
1,083 |
25.15% |
3,224 |
74.85% |
4,307 (R) |
Letcher |
32 |
32 |
4,198 |
51.82% |
3,903 |
48.18% |
8,101 (D) |
Lewis |
14 |
14 |
1,787 |
38.26% |
2,884 |
61.74% |
4,671 (R) |
Lincoln |
17 |
17 |
4,119 |
45.47% |
4,939 |
54.53% |
9,058 (R) |
Livingston |
10 |
10 |
2,142 |
47.35% |
2,382 |
52.65% |
4,524 (R) |
Logan |
20 |
20 |
4,379 |
40.70% |
6,379 |
59.30% |
10,758 (R) |
Lyon |
6 |
6 |
1,821 |
47.80% |
1,989 |
52.20% |
3,810 (R) |
McCracken |
54 |
54 |
13,006 |
42.91% |
17,303 |
57.09% |
30,309 (D) |
McCreary |
18 |
18 |
1,576 |
30.41% |
3,606 |
69.59% |
5,182 (R) |
McLean |
8 |
8 |
2,225 |
50.55% |
2,177 |
49.45% |
4,402 (D) |
Madison |
56 |
56 |
14,657 |
45.96% |
17,237 |
54.04% |
31,894 (R) |
Magoffin |
14 |
14 |
2,719 |
58.81% |
1,904 |
41.19% |
4,623 (D) |
Marion |
17 |
17 |
4,304 |
57.68% |
3,158 |
42.32% |
7,462 (D) |
Marshall |
25 |
25 |
7,463 |
48.94% |
7,785 |
51.06% |
15,248 (R) |
Martin |
14 |
14 |
1,203 |
33.19% |
2,422 |
66.81% |
3,625 (R) |
Mason |
20 |
20 |
3,095 |
44.58% |
3,847 |
55.42% |
6,942 (R) |
Meade |
18 |
18 |
5,149 |
46.58% |
5,905 |
53.42% |
11,054 (R) |
Menifee |
6 |
6 |
1,520 |
61.51% |
951 |
38.49% |
2,471 (D) |
Mercer |
17 |
17 |
4,338 |
44.17% |
5,484 |
55.83% |
9,822 (R) |
Metcalfe |
12 |
12 |
1,766 |
44.03% |
2,245 |
55.97% |
4,011 (R) |
Monroe |
12 |
12 |
1,237 |
27.16% |
3,318 |
72.84% |
4,555 (R) |
Montgomery |
18 |
18 |
5,526 |
54.25% |
4,660 |
45.75% |
10,186 (D) |
Morgan |
12 |
12 |
2,475 |
57.03% |
1,865 |
42.97% |
4,340 (D) |
Muhlenberg |
26 |
26 |
7,436 |
57.90% |
5,406 |
42.10% |
12,842 (R) |
Nelson |
26 |
26 |
8,823 |
49.60% |
8,965 |
50.40% |
17,788 (R) |
Nicholas |
5 |
5 |
1,737 |
59.47% |
1,184 |
40.53% |
2,921 (D) |
Ohio |
25 |
25 |
4,664 |
47.08% |
5,242 |
52.92% |
9,906 (R) |
Oldham |
34 |
34 |
10,204 |
35.25% |
18,744 |
64.75% |
28,948 (R) |
Owen |
13 |
13 |
2,019 |
42.93% |
2,684 |
57.07% |
4,703 (R) |
Owsley |
8 |
8 |
559 |
34.46% |
1,063 |
65.54% |
1,622 (R) |
Pendleton |
12 |
12 |
2,155 |
37.97% |
3,520 |
62.03% |
5,675 (R) |
Perry |
37 |
37 |
5,026 |
49.10% |
5,211 |
50.90% |
10,237 (R) |
Pike |
57 |
57 |
12,912 |
57.16% |
9,679 |
42.84% |
22,591 (D) |
Powell |
11 |
11 |
2,863 |
57.91% |
2,081 |
42.09% |
4,944 (D) |
Pulaski |
57 |
57 |
8,108 |
32.20% |
17,072 |
67.80% |
25,180 (R) |
Robertson |
5 |
5 |
498 |
49.21% |
514 |
50.79% |
1,012 (R) |
Rockcastle |
14 |
14 |
1,837 |
30.55% |
4,177 |
69.45% |
6,014 (R) |
Rowan |
18 |
18 |
4,710 |
58.71% |
3,312 |
41.29% |
8,022 (D) |
Russell |
16 |
16 |
2,450 |
33.67% |
4,827 |
66.33% |
7,277 (R) |
Scott |
35 |
35 |
9,238 |
47.36% |
10,267 |
52.64% |
19,505 (R) |
Shelby |
33 |
33 |
7,546 |
41.15% |
10,790 |
58.85% |
18,336 (R) |
Simpson |
13 |
13 |
3,118 |
44.29% |
3,922 |
55.71% |
7,040 (R) |
Spencer |
11 |
11 |
3,159 |
39.64% |
4,811 |
60.36% |
7,970 (R) |
Taylor |
20 |
20 |
4,163 |
38.52% |
6,644 |
61.48% |
10,807 (R) |
Todd |
13 |
13 |
1,772 |
36.89% |
3,032 |
63.11% |
4,804 (R) |
Trigg |
14 |
14 |
2,637 |
40.76% |
3,833 |
59.24% |
6,470 (R) |
Trimble |
12 |
12 |
1,927 |
50.87% |
1,861 |
49.13% |
3,788 (D) |
Union |
16 |
16 |
3,335 |
55.46% |
2,678 |
44.54% |
6,013 (D) |
Warren |
63 |
63 |
19,162 |
43.84% |
24,547 |
56.16% |
43,709 (R) |
Washington |
14 |
14 |
2,316 |
45.04% |
2,826 |
54.96% |
5,142 (R) |
Wayne |
19 |
19 |
3,045 |
43.30% |
3,987 |
56.70% |
7,032 (R) |
Webster |
14 |
14 |
3,000 |
54.39% |
2,516 |
45.61% |
5,516 (D) |
Whitley |
36 |
36 |
4,849 |
36.37% |
8,484 |
63.63% |
13,333 (R) |
Wolfe |
8 |
8 |
1,886 |
62.74% |
1,120 |
37.26% |
3,006 (D) |
Woodford |
16 |
16 |
5,903 |
48.65% |
6,231 |
51.35% |
12,134 (R) |
References
External links