United States Senate election in Oklahoma, 2008

United States Senate election in Oklahoma, 2008
Oklahoma
November 4, 2008

 
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 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

Results

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

Republican primary

Candidates

Results

Republican primary results[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
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
Total votes 138,247 100.00

General election

Candidates

Campaign

Inhofe, who in August 2008 had a 61% approval rating,[5] 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.”[6] Rice also believed in global warming, something Inhofe is famous for being against.[7] In the election, Inhofe had over $5 million in the bank. Rice had $3.8 million. [8]

Predictions

CQ Politics rated this race as 'Republican Favored'.[9] The Cook Political Report considered it 'Likely Republican'.[10] The Rothenberg Political Report considered it a 'Safe Republican'.[11]

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[12]
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

External links

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