2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Alabama

2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Alabama

November 4, 2008
All 7 Alabama seats to the United States House of Representatives
Majority party Minority party   Party Republican Democratic Last election 5 2 Seats won 4 3 Seat change 1 1 Popular vote 1,120,903 718,367 Percentage 60.42% 38.72% Swing 5.38% 5.31%
District results County results Republican   50–60%   60–70%   70–80%   80–90%   90–100% Democratic   50–60%   60–70%   70–80%   80–90%   90–100%

Elections in Alabama
Federal government Presidential elections 1820 1824 1828 1832 1836 1840 1844 1848 1852 1856 1860 1868 1872 1876 1880 1884 1888 1892 1896 1900 1904 1908 1912 1916 1920 1924 1928 1932 1936 1940 1944 1948 1952 1956 1960 1964 1968 1972 1976 1980 1984 1988 1992 1996 2000 2004 2008 2012 2016 2020 2024 Presidential primaries Democratic 1992 1996 2000 2004 2008 2016 2020 2024 Republican 1992 1996 2000 2004 2008 2012 2016 2020 2024 U.S. Senate elections 1819 1822 1822 sp 1826 sp 1828 1831 1834 1837 1837 sp 1840 1841 sp 1842 1847 1848 sp 1849 sp 1853 1855 1858 1868 1870 1872 1872 sp 1876 1878 1878 sp 1880 sp 1882 1884 1888 1890 1894 1896 1897 1900 1903 1907 1907 sp 1908 1911 1914 1914 sp 1918 1920 1920 sp 1924 1926 1930 1932 1936 1938 1938 sp 1942 1944 1946 sp 1948 1950 1954 1956 1960 1962 1966 1968 1972 1974 1978 1978 sp 1980 1984 1986 1990 1992 1996 1998 2002 2004 2008 2010 2014 2016 2017 sp 2020 2022 2026 2028 U.S. House of Representatives elections 1819 1821 1823 1825 1827 1829 1831 1833 1835 1837 1839 3rd sp 1841 1843 1845 3rd sp 1846 7th sp 1847 3rd sp 1849 1851 1853 1855 1857 1859 1868 1869 1870 1872 1874 1876 1878 1880 6th sp 1882 1883 1st sp 8th sp 1884 1886 1888 1890 1892 1894 3rd sp 1896 1898 1900 8th sp 1902 1904 5th sp 1906 1908 2nd sp 1910 1912 1914 3rd sp 8th sp 1916 1918 1919 7th sp 1920 5th sp 1921 4th sp 1922 1923 2nd sp 1924 1926 1928 3rd sp 5th sp 1930 1932 1933 8th sp 1934 1935 1st sp 1936 1938 2nd sp 1940 7th sp 1941 7th sp 1942 1943 3rd sp 1944 3rd sp 1946 1947 8th sp 1948 1950 1952 1954 1956 1958 1960 1962 1964 1966 1968 1970 1972 3rd sp 1974 1976 1978 1980 1982 1984 1986 1988 1989 3rd sp 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2010 2012 2013 1st sp 2014 2016 2018 2020 2022 2024
State government State elections 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 2020 2022 2024 2025 2026 Gubernatorial elections 1819 1821 1823 1825 1827 1829 1831 1833 1835 1837 1839 1841 1843 1845 1847 1849 1851 1853 1855 1857 1859 1861 1863 1865 1868 1870 1872 1874 1876 1878 1880 1882 1884 1886 1888 1890 1892 1894 1896 1898 1900 1902 1906 1910 1914 1918 1922 1926 1930 1934 1938 1942 1946 1950 1954 1958 1962 1966 1970 1974 1978 1982 1986 1990 1994 1998 2002 2006 2010 2014 2018 2022 2026 Lieutenant gubernatorial elections 1970 1974 1978 1982 1986 1990 1994 1998 2002 2006 2010 2014 2018 2022 2026 Attorney General elections 1986 1990 1994 1998 2002 2006 2010 2014 2018 2022 2026 Secretary of State elections 1970 1974 1978 1982 1986 1990 1994 1998 2002 2006 2010 2014 2018 2022 2026 State Auditor elections 1986 1990 1994 1998 2002 2006 2010 2014 2018 2022 2026 State Treasurer elections 2010 2014 2018 2022 2026 Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries elections 1986 1990 1994 1998 2002 2006 2010 2014 2018 2022 2026 Supreme Court elections 1970 1972 1974 1978 1980 1982 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 2020 2022 2024 2026 Public Service Commission elections 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 2020 2022 2024 2026 Senate elections 1934 1938 1942 1946 1950 1954 1958 1962 1966 1970 1974 1978 1982 1983 sp 1986 1990 1994 1998 2002 2006 2010 2014 2018 2022 2026 House of Representatives elections 2010 2014 2018 2022 2026
Ballot measures 1946 Amendment 4 ("Boswell Amendment") 1951 Amendment 5 1999 Amendment 1 2000 Amendment 2 2006 Amendment 774 2020 Amendment 1 2024 Amendment 1 (March) Amendment 1 (November)
Government

The 2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Alabama were held on November 4, 2008, to determine the representation of the state of Alabama in the United States House of Representatives, coinciding with the presidential and senatorial elections. Representatives are elected for two-year terms; those elected served in the 111th Congress from January 3, 2009, until January 3, 2011.

Alabama has seven seats in the House, apportioned according to the 2000 United States census. Its 2007–2008 congressional delegation consisted of five Republicans and two Democrats. Afterwards, it contained four Republicans and three Democrats, as District 2 changed from open Republican to Democratic.

Results of the 2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Alabama by district:^[1]

2008 Alabama's 1st congressional district election

November 4, 2008

Nominee Jo Bonner Party Republican Popular vote 210,660 Percentage 98.27%

County results Bonner:      90-100%

U.S. Representative before election Jo Bonner Republican Elected U.S. Representative Jo Bonner Republican

The 1st district was based in the Gold Coast of Alabama, including Mobile, Saraland, Bay Minette, Foley, Chatom, and Monroe. The district included all of Mobile, Baldwin, Escambia, Washington, Monroe, and parts of Clarke County. Due to redistricting, the district lost territory in portions of Clarke County to the 7th district, but gained portions of Monroe County, now having the entire county in the 1st district. The 1st district has a PVI of R+16 but voted for John McCain by 22 points in the concurring presidential election. The incumbent was Republican Jo Bonner, who was reelected with 68.10% of the vote in 2006.^[2]

The Democratic and Republican primaries were not contested, with incumbent representative Jo Bonner winning the Republican party and Thomas Fuller winning the Democratic primary. However, Fuller withdrew from the race on June 12, 2008, stating he was unable to wage a creditable campaign in the district.^[3]

• Jo Bonner, incumbent U.S. representative since 2003

• Thomas Fuller, Chair of the Washington County Executive Committee (withdrawn)

2008 Alabama's 2nd congressional district election

November 4, 2008

Nominee Bobby Bright Jay Love Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 144,368 142,578 Percentage 50.23% 49.61%

County results Precinct results Results Bright:      50-60%      60-70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90% Love:      50-60%      60-70%      70–80%      80–90% Tie:      50%      No Data

U.S. Representative before election Terry Everett Republican Elected U.S. Representative Bobby Bright Democratic

This district covered southeastern Alabama, including Dothan and Montgomery. Republican Terry Everett, who had represented the district since 1993, decided to retire. Montgomery Mayor Bobby Bright won the Democratic primary. State Representative Jay Love won the Republican run-off election on July 15 against State Senator Harri Anne Smith (campaign website).^[9] George W. Bush won 67% in 2004 here. Bright won 50% of the vote to Love's 49%.

• Bobby Bright (D) (campaign website)
• Jay Love (R) (campaign website)
• 2nd district race ranking and background from CQ Politics
• Alabama District 2 race from OurCampaigns.org
• Campaign contributions from OpenSecrets
• Love (R) vs Bright (D) graph of collected poll results from Pollster.com

2008 Alabama's 3rd congressional district election

November 4, 2008

Nominee Mike Rogers Joshua Segall Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 150,819 131,299 Percentage 53.39% 46.48%

County results Precinct results Rogers:      50-60%      60-70%      70-80%      80–90%      >90% Segall:      50-60%      60-70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90% Tie:      50%      No Data

U.S. Representative before election Mike Rogers Republican Elected U.S. Representative Mike Rogers Republican

Incumbent Republican Representative Mike Rogers won re-election with 54% of the vote. He defeated Democrat Joshua Segall by 8.19%.

2008 Alabama's 4th congressional district election

November 4, 2008

Nominee Robert Aderholt Nicholas Sparks Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 196,741 66,077 Percentage 74.76% 25.11%

County results Precinct results Aderholt:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90% Sparks:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90% Tie:      50%      No Data

U.S. Representative before election Robert Aderholt Republican Elected U.S. Representative Robert Aderholt Republican

Incumbent Republican Representative Robert Aderholt won re-election with 74.76% of the vote. He defeated Democrat Nick Sparks by 49.65%.

2008 Alabama's 5th congressional district election

November 4, 2008

Nominee Parker Griffith Wayne Parker Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 158,324 147,314 Percentage 51.52% 47.94%

County results Precinct results Griffith:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90% Parker:      50-60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90% Tie:      50%      No Data

U.S. Representative before election Bud Cramer Democratic Elected U.S. Representative Parker Griffith Democratic

This district includes the counties of Colbert, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Limestone, Madison, Jackson, and parts of Morgan. Democratic incumbent Bud Cramer has represented the district since 1990. He did not seek reelection and endorsed State Senator Parker Griffith.

Eight candidates were running for the seat in the June 3, 2008, primary election. On the Democratic side, State Senator Dr. Parker Griffith defeated physicist David Maker (website), carrying 90% of the vote. Wayne Parker won the Republican runoff on July 15 against attorney Cheryl Baswell Guthrie (campaign website).^[9] In the primary, Wayne Parker failed to gain the necessary 51% vote to avoid the runoff. Guthrie had carried 18% of the vote.

A year after his election, Griffith switched parties and ran for a second term in the 2010 Republican primary.

• Parker Griffith (D) - State Senator, businessman, and Huntsville's first radiation oncologist (campaign website)
• Wayne Parker (R) - Insurance executive, lost to Cramer in 1994 and 1996 (campaign website)
• 5th District race ranking and background from CQ Politics
• Alabama District 5 race from OurCampaigns.org
• Campaign contributions from OpenSecrets
• LoParker (R) vs Griffith (D) graph of collected poll results from Pollster.com

2008 Alabama's 6th congressional district election

November 4, 2008

Nominee Spencer Bachus Party Republican Popular vote 280,902 Percentage 97.80%

County results Bachus:      90-100%

U.S. Representative before election Spencer Bachus Republican Elected U.S. Representative Spencer Bachus Republican

The 6th district was based in the city of Birmingham's suburbs and exurbs, including Alabaster, Trussville, Vestavia Hills, Pell City, Hueytown, and portions of Birmingham. The district includes all of Chilton, Bibb, Shelby, and parts of Tuscaloosa, Jefferson, St. Clair, and Coosa Counties. Due to redistricting, the district gained more territory around Tuscaloosa and Birmingham, as well as portions of St. Clair County, along with gaining the rest of Bibb, all of Chilton, and portions of Coosa Counties. The 6th district has a PVI of R+18 but voted for John McCain by 53 points in the concurrent presidential election. The incumbent is Republican Spencer Bachus, who was reelected with 98.32% of the vote in 2006.^[11]

The Republican primary was not contested, with incumbent representative Spencer Bachus winning the nomination unopposed.

• Spencer Bachus, incumbent U.S. Representative since 1993

2008 Alabama's 7th congressional district election

November 4, 2008

Nominee Artur Davis Party Democratic Popular vote 228,518 Percentage 98.63%

County results Davis:      90–100%

U.S. Representative before election Artur Davis Democratic Elected U.S. Representative Artur Davis Democratic

The 7th district is based in Alabama's 'Black Belt' region, including Selma, Tuscaloosa, Eutaw, Livingston, Bessemer, and portions of Birmingham. The district includes all of Dallas, Wilcox, Marengo, Choctaw, Sumter, Greene, Hale, and parts of Jefferson, Pickens, Clarke, and Tuscaloosa Counties. Due to redistricting, the district lost all its territory in Lowndes County and its portions of Montgomery County, but gained more territory around Tuscaloosa and Birmingham. The 7th district has a PVI of D+14 but voted for Barack Obama by 45 points in the concurring presidential election. The incumbent is Democrat Artur Davis, who was reelected with 99.04% of the vote in 2006.^[12]

The Democratic primary was not contested, with incumbent representative Artur Davis winning the nomination unopposed.

• Artur Davis, incumbent U.S. Representative since 2003

• U.S. Congress candidates for Alabama at Project Vote Smart
• Alabama U.S. House Races from 2008 Race Tracker
• Campaign contributions for Alabama congressional races from OpenSecrets
• Election News from Alabama Live news media