United States House of Representatives elections in Virginia, 2008
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Elections in Virginia | ||||||||||
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The 2008 congressional elections in Virginia were held on November 4, 2008 to determine who would represent the state of Virginia 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 3, 2009 until January 3, 2011.
Virginia has eleven seats in the House, apportioned according to the 2000 United States Census. Its 2007-2008 congressional delegation consisted of eight Republicans and three Democrats. It is now five Republicans and six Democrats. Districts 2, 5 and 11 changed from Republican to Democratic, although CQ Politics had forecasted districts 2, 5, 10 and 11 to be at some risk for the incumbent party.
The Primary elections took place on June 10, 2008.
Overview
United States House of Representatives elections in Virginia, 2008[1] | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Party | Votes | Percentage | Seats | +/– | |
Democratic | 1,852,788 | 53.01% | 6 | +3 | |
Republican | 1,590,687 | 45.51% | 5 | -3 | |
Independent Greens | 14,100 | 0.40% | 0 | — | |
Libertarian | 5,265 | 0.15% | 0 | — | |
Independents/Write-ins | 32,515 | 0.93% | 0 | — | |
Totals | 3,495,355 | 100.00% | 11 | — | |
Match-up summary
District | Incumbent | 2008 Status | Democratic | Republican | Independent Green | Libertarian | Other Party |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Rob Wittman | Re-election | Bill Day | Rob Wittman | None | Nathan Larson | None |
2 | Thelma Drake | Re-election | Glenn Nye | Thelma Drake | None | None | None |
3 | Robert C. Scott | Re-election | Robert C. Scott | None | None | None | None |
4 | Randy Forbes | Re-election | Andrea Miller | Randy Forbes | None | None | None |
5 | Virgil Goode | Re-election | Tom Perriello | Virgil Goode | None | None | None |
6 | Bob Goodlatte | Re-election | Sam Rasoul | Bob Goodlatte | None | None | Janice Lee Allen |
7 | Eric Cantor | Re-election | Anita Hartke | Eric Cantor | None | None | None |
8 | Jim Moran | Re-election | Jim Moran | Mark Ellmore | J. Ron Fisher | None | None |
9 | Rick Boucher | Re-election | Rick Boucher | None | None | None | None |
10 | Frank Wolf | Re-election | Judy Feder | Frank Wolf | None | None | Neeraj Nigam |
11 | Thomas M. Davis | Open | Gerry Connolly | Keith Fimian | Joseph Oddo | None | None |
District 1
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Rob Wittman (inc.) | 203,839 | 56.58 | |
Democratic | Bill Day | 150,432 | 41.75 | |
Libertarian | Nathan Larson | 5,265 | 1.46 | |
Write-ins | 756 | 0.21 | ||
Total votes | 360,292 | 100.00 | ||
Republican hold | ||||
The District stretches along the eastern side of the commonwealth. Republican incumbent Rob Wittman won against Democratic nominee Bill Day and Libertarian Nathan Larson. Wittman had only held the seat since January 2008, having won the Virginia's 1st congressional district special election, 2007 to succeed deceased Congresswoman Jo Ann Davis. Larson is an accountant and self-described "anarcho-capitalist."[2]
Analysts: CQ Politics rates seat "safe Republican".[3]
History: In 2006 Democrat Jim Webb lost the district 44%–54% in his U.S. Senatorial election win.[4] In 2005 Democrat Tim Kaine lost the district by 46.4% to 50.8% in his gubernatorial election win.[5]
District 2
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Glenn Nye | 141,857 | 52.40 | |||
Republican | Thelma Drake (inc.) | 128,486 | 47.46 | |||
Write-ins | 368 | 0.14 | ||||
Total votes | 270,711 | 100.00 | ||||
Democratic gain from Republican | ||||||
The District includes Virginia's two largest cities--Norfolk and Virginia Beach, and the Virginia portion of the Eastern Shore. Republican incumbent Thelma Drake lost to Democratic nominee Glenn Nye, a graduate of the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., who served as a diplomat in Eastern Europe, Kosovo and Macedonia, Singapore, Afghanistan, the West Bank, Gaza and Iraq.
In 2006, Drake survived a bid from Democrat Phil Kellam by only 51.27% to 48.45%.[6] In 2004, Drake received 55% of the vote in this Virginia Beach-based district, which was won by George W. Bush with 57% to 42% for John Kerry in 2004. But in 2005 Democratic Governor Tim Kaine won the district by 50% to 47%.[5] In 2006, Drake may have been hurt by the downfall of Republican U.S. Senator George Allen, who narrowly lost to Democrat Jim Webb, an ex-Republican and former Navy Secretary under Ronald Reagan. (Allen carried the district 51%–48%.[4])
Analysts: CQ Politics rated the seat "Leans Republican".[3] The Cook Political Report rated it "Republican Toss Up".[7] The Rothenberg Political Report rated it as "Toss-Up/Tilt Republican".[8] The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee considered Drake a "targeted Republican".[9]
- Race ranking and details from CQ Politics
- Campaign contributions from OpenSecrets.org
- Drake (R-i) vs Nye (D) graph of poll results at Pollster.com
- Cirous, Greg Dems’ Dreams of Virginia House Seat Takeover Closer to Reality CQ Politics, October 12, 2008
District 3
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Robert C. Scott (inc.) | 239,911 | 97.02 | |
Write-ins | 7,377 | 2.98 | ||
Total votes | 247,288 | 100.00 | ||
Democratic hold | ||||
The District runs from Hampton Roads to Richmond. Democratic incumbent Robert C. Scott won unopposed. The Republican Party of Virginia did not listed any prospective opponent.[10]
Analysts: CQ Politics rates the seat "safe Democrat".[3]
History: Scott won re-election with 96% of the vote in 2006. That year Democrat Webb carried 68% of the district in his Senate race.[4] In 2005 Democrat Tim Kaine won the district by 71% to 27% in his gubernatorial race.[5]
District 4
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Randy Forbes (inc.) | 199,075 | 59.51 | |
Democratic | Andrea Miller | 135,041 | 40.37 | |
Write-ins | 405 | 0.12 | ||
Total votes | 334,521 | 100.00 | ||
Republican hold | ||||
The District lies in southeastern Virginia. Republican incumbent Randy Forbes won against Democratic nominee Andrea Miller (campaign website).
Analysts: CQ Politics rates the seat "safe Republican".[3]
History: Forbes won with 76% of the vote in 2006. That year Democrat Webb lost the district 45%–54% in his Senate race.[4] In 2005 Democrat Tim Kaine lost the district by 48.3% to 49.6% in his gubernatorial race.[5]
District 5
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Tom Perriello | 158,810 | 50.09 | |||
Republican | Virgil Goode (inc.) | 158,083 | 49.86 | |||
Write-ins | 183 | 0.06 | ||||
Total votes | 317,076 | 100.00 | ||||
Democratic gain from Republican | ||||||
The District lies in southern and central Virginia. Democratic nominee Tom Perriello is the winner against Republican incumbent Virgil Goode.[11] A recount was conducted and Perriello was finally certified [12] as the winner by 727 of 316,893 votes on December 17, 2008.
Analysts: CQ Politics rated the seat "Leans Republican".[13] The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee considered Goode a "targeted Republican",[9] based partly on Perriello's early fundraising.[14] On August 1, the DCCC named Perriello as one of its Red to Blue candidates.[15]
History: Goode won re-election with 59% of the vote in 2006. That year Democrat Webb lost the district 45%–54% in his Senate race.[4] In 2005 Democrat Tim Kaine won the district by 49.6% to 48.4% in his gubernatorial race.[5] Goode originally won his seat as a Democrat in 1996, voted for President Clinton's impeachment in 1998, became an Independent in 2000, and then joined the Republican Party in 2002. He became the first Republican to represent the district since 1889.
- Race ranking and details from CQ Politics
- Campaign contributions from OpenSecrets.org
- Goode (R-i) vs Perriello (D) graph of poll results at Pollster.com
District 6
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Bob Goodlatte (inc.) | 192,350 | 61.57 | |
Democratic | Sam Rasoul | 114,367 | 36.61 | |
Independent | Janice Lee Allen | 5,413 | 1.73 | |
Write-ins | 262 | 0.08 | ||
Total votes | 312,392 | 100.00 | ||
Republican hold | ||||
The District lies in western Virginia. Republican incumbent Bob Goodlatte won against Democratic nominee Sam Rasoul (campaign website) and Independent Janice Lee Allen (campaign website).
Analysts: CQ Politics rates the seat "safe Republican".[3]
History: Goodlatte won with 75% of the vote in 2006. That year Democrat Webb lost the district 40%–58% in his Senate race.[4] In 2005 Democrat Tim Kaine lost the district by 44% to 53% in his gubernatorial race.[5]
District 7
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Eric Cantor (inc.) | 233,531 | 62.72 | |
Democratic | Anita Hartke | 138,123 | 37.10 | |
Write-ins | 683 | 0.18 | ||
Total votes | 372,337 | 100.00 | ||
Republican hold | ||||
The District runs from suburban Richmond to northwestern Virginia. Republican incumbent Eric Cantor won against Democratic nominee Anita Hartke, daughter of former Indiana Senator Vance Hartke.
Analysts: CQ Politics rates the seat "safe Republican".[3]
History: Cantor won by 64%–34% in 2006. That year Democrat Webb lost the district 42%–57% in his Senate race.[4] In 2005 Democrat Tim Kaine lost the district by 46% to 52% in his gubernatorial race.[5]
District 8
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Jim Moran (inc.) | 222,986 | 67.94 | |
Republican | Mark Ellmore | 97,425 | 29.68 | |
Independent Greens | J. Ron Fisher | 6,829 | 2.08 | |
Write-ins | 957 | 0.29 | ||
Total votes | 328,197 | 100.00 | ||
Democratic hold | ||||
The District lies in heavily suburban Northern Virginia. Democratic incumbent Jim Moran won against Republican nominee Mark Ellmore and Independent Green J. Ron Fisher.[16]
In the June 10, 2008, primary elections, Moran defeated Matthew T. Famiglietti, with 87% of the vote.[17] Ellmore won against Amit Singh, by 56% to 44%.[18]
Analysts: CQ Politics rates the seat "safe Democrat".[3]
History: Moran won by 66%–31% in 2006. That year Democrat Webb won the district 69%–30% in his Senate race.[4] In 2005 Democrat Tim Kaine won the district by 70% to 28% in his gubernatorial race.[5]
District 9
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Rick Boucher (inc.) | 207,306 | 97.07 | |
Write-ins | 6,264 | 2.93 | ||
Total votes | 213,570 | 100.00 | ||
Democratic hold | ||||
The District covers much of Southwest Virginia. Democratic incumbent Rick Boucher won unopposed for re-election. The Republican Party of Virginia did not list any prospective opponent.[10]
Analysts: CQ Politics rates the seat "safe Democrat".[3]
History: Boucher won by 68%–32% in 2006. That year Democrat Webb lost the district 44%–55% in his Senate race.[4] In 2005 Democrat Tim Kaine lost the district by 43% to 55% in his gubernatorial race.[5]
District 10
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Frank Wolf (inc.) | 223,140 | 58.80 | |
Democratic | Judy Feder | 147,357 | 38.83 | |
Independent | Neeraj Nigam | 8,457 | 2.23 | |
Write-ins | 526 | 0.14 | ||
Total votes | 379,480 | 100.00 | ||
Republican hold | ||||
The District lies in Northern and northwestern Virginia. It covers Loudoun, Prince William and parts of Fairfax and Fauquier counties, as well as Manassas.
Republican incumbent Frank Wolf won against Democratic nominee Judy Feder and Independent Neeraj Nigam[16] in the general election in November 2008. Feder defeated Mike R. Turner in the June 10, 2008, Democratic primary election by 62% to 38%.[17][19] On the same day, Wolf faced Vern McKinley in the Republican primary and won with 91% of the vote.[18]
Independent Neeraj Nigam also ran in 2006 and received 0.77%.[6]
Analysts: CQ Politics rates the seat "Republican favored".[3] The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee considers Wolf a "targeted Republican".[9] On August 1, the DCCC named Feder as one of its Red to Blue candidates.[15]
History: Wolf defeated Feder in 2006, 57% to 41%.[6] That year Democrat Webb won the district 50.0%–48.8% in his Senate race.[4] In 2005 Democrat Tim Kaine won the district by 50% to 46% in his gubernatorial race.[5] In 2004 George W. Bush won 55% of this district.
District 11
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Gerry Connolly | 196,598 | 54.69 | |||
Republican | Keith Fimian | 154,758 | 43.05 | |||
Independent Greens | Joseph Oddo | 7,271 | 2.02 | |||
Write-ins | 864 | 0.24 | ||||
Total votes | 359,491 | 100.00 | ||||
Democratic gain from Republican | ||||||
Democratic nominee Gerry Connolly, Chairman of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, won against Republican nominee Keith Fimian, a former CPA, and Independent Green candidate Joseph Oddo in this open seat race.
Republican incumbent Thomas M. Davis announced his retirement on January 30, 2008. In 1994 Davis toppled one-term Democrat Leslie L. Byrne and rarely faced serious opposition in intervening years. However, his district, located in the wealthy Northern Virginia suburbs of Washington, DC, has become increasingly Democratic over the years and will definitely be a top Democratic target. George W. Bush barely won this district with 50% to 49% for John Kerry, which includes part of Fairfax and Prince William counties, in 2004.
Fimian has personal wealth that he can draw upon.[20] So far he has self-financed $325,000 of his campaign funds.
Connolly won the June 10, 2008 primary with 58% of the vote, against Leslie L. Byrne (33%), Doug Denneny (6%), and Lori P. Alexander (3%).[17][21]
Oddo is certified for the ballot. He favors light rail as an alternative to HOT lanes.
Analysts: CQ Politics rates seat "Democrat Favored".[3] The Cook Political Report rates in "Likely Democratic".[7] The Rothenberg Political Report scores it "Lean Democratic".[22]
History: Davis won re-election 56%–44% in 2006. That year Democrat Webb won the district 55%–44% in his Senate race.[4] In 2005 Democrat Tim Kaine won the district by 56% to 42% in his gubernatorial race.[5]
- Race ranking and details from CQ Politics
- Campaign contributions from OpenSecrets.org
- Fimian (R) vs Connolly (D) graph of poll results at Pollster.com
See also
References
- ↑ "2008 Election Statistics". clerk.house.gov. Retrieved 2016-09-22.
- ↑ "Nathan Larson for Congress - Larson2008". nathanlarsonforcongress.com. Archived from the original on 9 October 2008. Retrieved 2016-09-22.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "Balance of Power Scorecard: House". CQ Politics. Retrieved 2008-07-25. Note, the percentages are incorrectly rounded.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 "General Election- November 8, 2005". Virginia State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on October 7, 2008. Retrieved 2008-05-18. Official senatorial results by congressional district.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 "General Election- November 8, 2005". Virginia State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on May 1, 2007. Retrieved 2008-05-18. Official gubernatorial results by congressional district.
- 1 2 3 "General Election- November 6, 2006". Virginia State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on May 1, 2009. Retrieved 2008-05-18. Official results.
- 1 2 "2008 Competitive House Race Chart". Cook Political Report. 2008-11-04. Retrieved 2008-12-12.
- ↑ 2008 House Ratings The Rothenberg Political Report, November 2, 2008
- 1 2 3 "2008 Races Map: South". Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. Retrieved 2008-05-18.
- 1 2 "2008 Candidate Rosters". Republican Party of Virginia. Retrieved 2008-05-18.
- ↑ "Election Results". CBS News. Archived from the original on 17 February 2012.
- ↑ "Perriello declared winner in 5th District recount". Daily Progress (Charlottesville, Va.). 2008-12-17.
- ↑ Race to Watch: U.S. House, Virginia - 5th District CQ Politics
- ↑ Reed, Ray (2008-04-02). "National Democratic Party added Goode–Periello race to target list". The News & Advance. (via WSLS-TV). Retrieved 2008-05-18.
- 1 2 Blake, Aaron (2008-08-01). "DCCC adds six to Red to Blue". TheHill.com. Retrieved 2008-08-01.
- 1 2 "Tuesday, November 04, 2008 General Elections: Candidates [House of Representatives]". Virginia State Board of Elections. Retrieved 2008-07-20.
- 1 2 3 2008 June Democratic Primary Unofficial Results, Virginia State Board of Elections. Retrieved on 2008-06-11.
- 1 2 June Republican Primary Unofficial Results, Virginia State Board of Elections. Retrieved on 2008-06-11.
- ↑ Connolly, Wolf, Moran Win Primaries, WRC, 2008-11-06.
- ↑ Gardner, Amy (2008-04-26). "Contenders Reach to the Left in House Race in Va.". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2008-05-19.
- ↑ Connolly Wins Dem Nomination For Davis' Seat, CBS News, 2008-06-10.
- ↑ "2008 House Ratings". Rothenberg Political Report. 2008-05-23. Retrieved 2008-05-23.
External links
- Virginia State Board of Elections
- U.S. Congress candidates for Virginia at Project Vote Smart
- Virginia U.S. House Races from 2008 Race Tracker
- Campaign contributions for Virginia congressional races from OpenSecrets.org