United States Senate election in Kentucky, 2008
Encyclopedia
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.
, 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.
Lunsford was asked to run by Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear
. 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%.
, 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."
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.
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.
The Rothenberg Political Report once considered it a 'Clear Advantage for Incumbent Party' but later called the race 'Narrow Advantage for Incumbent Party'.
Mitch McConnell
Addison Mitchell "Mitch" McConnell, Jr. is the senior United States Senator from Kentucky and the Republican Minority Leader.- Early life, education, and military service :...
won re-election to a fifth term.
Background
In 2007 Kentucky's unpopular Republican Governor, Ernie FletcherErnie Fletcher
Ernest Lee "Ernie" Fletcher is a Republican politician from the U.S. state of Kentucky. In 1999, he was elected to the first of three consecutive terms in the United States House of Representatives; he resigned in 2003 after being elected the 60th governor of Kentucky and served in that office...
, 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.
Lunsford was asked to run by Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear
Steve Beshear
Steven Lynn "Steve" Beshear is an American politician who is the 61st Governor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky. A Democrat, Beshear previously served in the Kentucky House of Representatives from 1974 to 1979, was the state's Attorney General from 1980 to 1983, and was Lieutenant Governor from...
. 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%.
Candidates
- Michael Cassaro
- Bruce LunsfordBruce LunsfordWilliam Bruce Lunsford is an American Democratic politician from Kentucky. He has served various roles in the Kentucky Democratic Party including, Party treasurer, Deputy Development Secretary, and Head of Commerce...
- James RiceJames RiceJames Rice , English novelist, wrote a number of successful novels in collaboration with Walter Besant.He was born in Northampton, and was educated at Cambridge University....
- Kenneth Stepp
- David WilliamsDavid L. WilliamsDavid Lewis Williams is a lawyer and politician from the U.S. state of Kentucky. A Republican, he has represented Kentucky's 16th district in the Kentucky Senate since 1987. When Republicans gained control of the state senate in 2000, Williams was chosen as President of the Senate, and he has held...
- David WylieDavid WylieDavid Wylie is a former Scottish football goalkeeper.Wylie is still registered as the fourth choice goalkeeper for Greenock Morton, where he is the goalkeeping coach, due to a constant stream of injuries to goalkeepers at the club.-Career:Wylie spent 13 years at Greenock Morton, making over 500...
Results
Results
Candidates
- Bruce LunsfordBruce LunsfordWilliam Bruce Lunsford is an American Democratic politician from Kentucky. He has served various roles in the Kentucky Democratic Party including, Party treasurer, Deputy Development Secretary, and Head of Commerce...
(D), businessman - Mitch McConnellMitch McConnellAddison Mitchell "Mitch" McConnell, Jr. is the senior United States Senator from Kentucky and the Republican Minority Leader.- Early life, education, and military service :...
(R), incumbent U.S. Senator
Campaign
In October Lunsford and McConnell were statistically tied in the polls. Larry SabatoLarry Sabato
Larry Joseph Sabato is an American political scientist and analyst. He is the Robert Kent Gooch Professor of Politics at the University of Virginia, and director of its Center for Politics. He founded Sabato's Crystal Ball, an online newsletter and website that provides free political analysis and...
, director of the University of Virginia Center for Politics
University of Virginia Center for Politics
The University of Virginia Center for Politics was founded in 1998 by professor and political analyst Larry J. Sabato to put into practice his belief that "Politics is a good thing!" The Center for Politics is a nonpartisan organization based in Charlottesville, Virginia, which seeks to increase...
, 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."
A debate scheduled for October 7 hosted by the League of Women Voters
League of Women Voters
The League of Women Voters is an American political organization founded in 1920 by Carrie Chapman Catt during the last meeting of the National American Woman Suffrage Association approximately six months before the Nineteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution gave women the right to vote...
was canceled when incumbent McConnell decided not to participate even though Lunsford announced he wanted to debate.
On November 2, 2008, media outlets such as The Wall Street Journal
The Wall Street Journal
The Wall Street Journal is an American English-language international daily newspaper. It is published in New York City by Dow Jones & Company, a division of News Corporation, along with the Asian and European editions of the Journal....
noted that the website of The New Republic
The New Republic
The magazine has also published two articles concerning income inequality, largely criticizing conservative economists for their attempts to deny the existence or negative effect increasing income inequality is having on the United States...
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.
Predictions
CQ Politics rated this race as 'Republican Favored', but later rated it 'Leans Republican'. The Cook Political Report considered it 'Lean Republican'.The Rothenberg Political Report once considered it a 'Clear Advantage for Incumbent Party' but later called the race 'Narrow Advantage for Incumbent Party'.
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
| County | Precincts | Reporting | Lunsford Bruce Lunsford William Bruce Lunsford is an American Democratic politician from Kentucky. He has served various roles in the Kentucky Democratic Party including, Party treasurer, Deputy Development Secretary, and Head of Commerce... | % Lunsford | McConnell Mitch McConnell Addison Mitchell "Mitch" McConnell, Jr. is the senior United States Senator from Kentucky and the Republican Minority Leader.- Early life, education, and military service :... | % 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) |
External links
- Kentucky State Board of Elections
- U.S. Congress candidates for Kentucky at Project Vote SmartProject Vote SmartProject Vote Smart is a non-profit, non-partisan research organization that collects and distributes information on candidates for public office in the United States...
- Kentucky, U.S. Senate CQ PoliticsCongressional QuarterlyCongressional Quarterly, Inc., or CQ, is a privately owned publishing company that produces a number of publications reporting primarily on the United States Congress...
- Kentucky U.S. Senate from OurCampaigns.com
- Kentucky U.S. Senate race from 2008 Race Tracker
- Campaign contributions from OpenSecrets.orgCenter for Responsive PoliticsThe Center for Responsive Politics is a non-profit, nonpartisan research group based in Washington, D.C. that tracks money in politics and the effect of money and lobbying activity on elections and public policy and maintains a public online database of its information.Their database...
- McConnell (R-i) vs Lunsford (D) graph of multiple polls from Pollster.com
- Official campaign websites
- Bruce Lunsford for U.S. Senate, Democratic nominee
- Mitch McConnell for Senate, Republican nominee