2008 United States Senate election in Alabama
2008 election in United States
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The 2008 United States Senate election in Alabama was held on November 4, 2008, to elect a member of the United States Senate to represent the state of Alabama. Republican incumbent Jeff Sessions won re-election to a third term, defeating Democratic state senator Vivian Davis Figures.
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November 4, 2008
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   Sessions: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% 90% Figures: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% 90% Tie: 50% | |||||||||||||||||
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Background
On January 10, 2007, Rep. Artur Davis announced that he would not run for the seat.[1] Despite voting heavily for George W. Bush in 2004, Alabama still had a strong Democratic presence in 2008, and Democrats controlled majorities in both chambers in the Alabama Legislature. Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries Ron Sparks appeared to be preparing for a run, but on June 12, 2007, he announced that he would not seek the Senate seat, in order to avoid a primary battle with State Senator Vivian Davis Figures.[2]
Primary elections were held on June 3.[3]
Republican primary
Candidates
Nominee
- Jeff Sessions, incumbent U.S. senator (1997–2017)
Eliminated in primary
- Earl Mack Gavin, perennial candidate
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Jeff Sessions (incumbent) | 199,690 | 92.27% | |
| Republican | Earl Mack Gavin | 16,718 | 7.73% | |
| Total votes | 216,408 | 100.00% | ||
Democratic primary
Candidates
Nominee
- Vivian Davis Figures, state senator from SD-33 (1997–present)
Eliminated in primary
Results
- ≥90%
- 80–90%
- 70–80%
- 60–70%
- 50–60%
- 40–50%
- 30–40%
- 40–50%
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Vivian Davis Figures | 112,074 | 63.72% | |
| Democratic | Johnny Swanson | 38,757 | 22.03% | |
| Democratic | Mark Townsend | 25,058 | 14.25% | |
| Total votes | 175,889 | 100.00% | ||
Independents
Candidates
- Darryl W. Perry (write-in), perennial candidate[6][7]
General election
Predictions
| Source | Ranking | As of |
|---|---|---|
| The Cook Political Report[8] | Safe R | October 23, 2008 |
| CQ Politics[9] | Safe R | October 31, 2008 |
| Rothenberg Political Report[10] | Safe R | November 2, 2008 |
| Real Clear Politics[11] | Safe R | November 4, 2008 |
Polling
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size[a] |
Margin of error |
Jeff Session (R) |
Vivian Figures (D) |
Other | Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SurveyUSA[12][A] | October 27–28, 2008 | 650 (LV) | ± 3.7% | 65% | 32% | – | 3% |
| SurveyUSA[13][A] | October 9–10, 2008 | 697 (LV) | ± 3.6% | 64% | 33% | – | 3% |
| Rasmussen Reports[14] | September 22, 2008 | 500 (LV) | ± 4.5% | 59% | 30% | 4% | 8% |
| SurveyUSA[15][A] | September 16–17, 2008 | 655 (LV) | ± 3.7% | 66% | 31% | – | 3% |
| Rasmussen Reports[16] | July 31, 2008 | 500 (LV) | – | 58% | 31% | – | 11% |
| Rasmussen Reports[16] | June 26, 2008 | 500 (LV) | – | 58% | 34% | – | 8% |
| Rasmussen Reports[17] | May 27, 2008 | 500 (LV) | ± 4.5% | 62% | 29% | 1% | 8% |
| Rasmussen Reports[18] | April 2, 2008 | 500 (LV) | ± 4.5% | 57% | 36% | 3% | 4% |
| SurveyUSA[19][A] | August 25–27, 2007 | 530 RV) | ± 4.3% | 59% | 37% | – | 4% |
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Jeff Sessions (incumbent) | 1,305,383 | 63.36% | |
| Democratic | Vivian Davis Figures | 752,391 | 36.52% | |
| Write-in | 2,417 | 0.12% | ||
| Total votes | 2,060,191 | 100.00% | ||
| Republican hold | ||||
Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican
- Marengo (largest municipality: Linden)
- Pickens (Largest city: Aliceville)
- Colbert (Largest city: Muscle Shoals)
- Lawrence (Largest city: Moulton)
Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic
- Montgomery (largest municipality: Montgomery)