Missouri gubernatorial election, 2008

Missouri gubernatorial election, 2008
Missouri
November 4, 2008

 
Nominee Jay Nixon Kenny Hulshof
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 1,680,661 1,136,364
Percentage 58.4% 39.5%

County Results

Governor before election

Matt Blunt
Republican

Elected Governor

Jay Nixon
Democratic

The Missouri gubernatorial election, 2008 was an election for the Governor of Missouri, held on November 4, 2008. The current governor, Matt Blunt, who had decided to retire,[1] narrowly won the 2004 election by beating state auditor Claire McCaskill 51%-48%, and would likely have faced a strong challenger in 2008. McCaskill is now a U.S. senator.

Background

On January 22, 2008, Governor Blunt unexpectedly announced that he would not seek re-election because he had already "achieved virtually everything I set out to accomplish, and more ... Because I feel we have changed what I wanted to change in the first term, there is not the same sense of mission for a second."

A November 2007 poll conducted by SurveyUSA showed Blunt with a 44% approval rating.[2] His approval among Republicans polled was 68%, but his rating among Democrats was only 23%.[2]

On November 10, 2005, Democrat Jay Nixon filed the necessary paperwork with the Missouri Ethics Commission to launch a 2008 campaign for governor.[3]

The gubernatorial and other statewide office primaries were held August 5, 2008.[4] CQ Politics rates the race as 'Leans Democratic'.[5]

Timeline

Republican primary

2008 Missouri Governor Republican primary election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Kenny Hulshof 194,556 49.2
Republican Sarah Steelman 176,750 44.7
Republican Scott Long 18,745 4.7
Republican Jen Sievers 5,664 1.4
Turnout 395,715

Democratic primary

2008 Missouri Governor Democratic primary election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Jay Nixon 303,796 85.0
Democratic Daniel Carroll 53,768 15.0
Turnout 357,564

General election

Polling

Source Date Republican Democratic
Public Policy Polling November 2, 2008 Kenny Hulshof – 38.4% Jay Nixon – 57.9%
Survey USA November 2, 2008 Kenny Hulshof – 39% Jay Nixon – 54%
Survey USA October 26, 2008 Kenny Hulshof – 38% Jay Nixon – 55%
Rasmussen Reports October 14, 2008 Kenny Hulshof – 38% Jay Nixon – 57%
Survey USA September 24, 2008 Kenny Hulshof – 37% Jay Nixon – 54%
Rasmussen Reports September 11, 2008 Kenny Hulshof – 39% Jay Nixon – 54%
Public Policy Polling August 17, 2008 Kenny Hulshof – 42% Jay Nixon – 48%
Survey USA July 31, 2008 Kenny Hulshof – 42% Jay Nixon – 48%
Survey USA July 31, 2008 Sarah Steelman – 41% Jay Nixon – 50%
Rasmussen Reports July 7, 2008 Kenny Hulshof – 38% Jay Nixon – 49%
Rasmussen Reports July 7, 2008 Sarah Steelman – 37% Jay Nixon – 46%
Rasmussen June 9, 2008 Kenny Hulshof – 34% Jay Nixon – 54%
Rasmussen June 9, 2008 Sarah Steelman – 34% Jay Nixon – 56%
Survey USA May 20, 2008 Kenny Hulshof – 33% Jay Nixon – 57%
Survey USA May 20, 2008 Sarah Steelman – 33% Jay Nixon – 58%
Rasmussen May 8, 2008 Kenny Hulshof – 35% Jay Nixon – 51%
Rasmussen May 8, 2008 Sarah Steelman – 35% Jay Nixon – 51%
Rasmussen March 24, 2008 Kenny Hulshof – 37% Jay Nixon – 48%
Rasmussen March 24, 2008 Sarah Steelman – 39% Jay Nixon – 46%
Rasmussen February 13, 2008 Kenny Hulshof – 30% Jay Nixon – 48%
Rasmussen February 13, 2008 Sarah Steelman – 35% Jay Nixon – 46%
Rasmussen Reports December 12, 2007 Matt Blunt – 42% Jay Nixon – 47%
Research2000 November 24, 2007 Matt Blunt – 42% Jay Nixon – 51%
Rasmussen October 10, 2007 Matt Blunt – 44% Jay Nixon – 43%
Rasmussen August 23, 2007 Matt Blunt – 43% Jay Nixon – 46%
SurveyUSA July 25–27, 2007 Matt Blunt – 38% Jay Nixon – 57%

Results

Nixon on election night, won easily, even though fellow Democrat, then-senator Barack Obama came within only 4,000 some votes of winning the state. Nixon was able to perform well in rural parts of the state. When combined with heavily populated, strong Democratic areas like St. Louis and Kansas City. Hulshof didn't have a chance to come back. Nixon was declared the winner right when the polls closed in Missouri. Hulshof of conceded defeat at 9:02 P.M. Central Time.

2008 Missouri Governor general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Jay Nixon 1,680,611 58.4 +10.6
Republican Kenny Hulshof 1,136,364 39.5 -11.3
Libertarian Andrew Finkenstadt 31,850 1.1 +0.2
Constitution Gregory Thompson 28,941 1.0 +0.6
write-ins 12 0.0
Majority 544,247
Turnout 2,877,778
Democratic gain from Republican Swing

See also

References

  1. Matt Blunt
  2. 1 2 Survey USA
  3. Article by Columbia Daily Tribune: Document points to Nixon run
  4. August 5, 2008 State Primary Election Information Missouri Secretary of State
  5. Dems Gain in Five of Six New CQ Politics Rating Changes CQ Politics, October 8, 2008
  6. 1 2 3 2008 Missouri Election Calendar from the Missouri Secretary of State

External links

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