2008 United States Senate special election in Wyoming
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The 2008 United States Senate special election in Wyoming was held on November 4, 2008, to elect a member of the United States Senate to represent the state of Wyoming, to complete the term of Republican three-term incumbent Craig L. Thomas who died in June 2007. Republican appointee John Barrasso defeated Democratic nominee Nick Carter.
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November 4, 2008
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  Barrasso: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% >90% Carter: 50–60% 60–70% Tie: 50% No votes | |||||||||||||||||
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Democratic governor Dave Freudenthal, who was obliged by state law to appoint a Republican, selected Barrasso, a state senator, who was unopposed in the Republican primary and won the general election to fill the remainder of the term ending January 3, 2013.[1] This is the last time that both of Wyoming's U.S. Senate seats were concurrently up for election.
Background
Wyoming law dictates that when a U.S. Senate seat becomes vacant, the departing senator's state party at the time of the most recent election must create a list of three finalists, with the governor to select one of those candidates to fill the seat.[2] Speculation about potential Republican challengers had included the other finalists to succeed Thomas, Cynthia Lummis and Tom Sansonetti; as well as former state House Speaker Randall Luthi, and former U.S. Attorney Matt Mead.[3]
Republican primary
Candidates
Nominee
- John Barrasso, incumbent U.S. senator (2007–present)
Declined
- Lynne Cheney, second lady of the United States (2001–2009)[4][5]
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | John Barrasso (incumbent) | 68,194 | 100.00 | |
| Total votes | 68,194 | 100.00 | ||
Democratic primary
Candidates
Nominee
- Nick Carter, attorney
Eliminated in primary
- Keith Goodenough, Casper city councilman (2006–2014)
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Nick Carter | 12,316 | 50.67 | |
| Democratic | Keith Goodenough | 11,984 | 49.31 | |
| Total votes | 22,799 | 100.00 | ||
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 |
John Barrasso (R) |
Nick Carter (D) |
Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Research 2000 (D)[12][A] | October 14–16, 2008 | 500 (LV) | ± 4.5% | 57% | 36% | 7% |
| Research 2000 (D)[13][A] | September 22–24, 2008 | 500 (LV) | ± 4.5% | 58% | 34% | 8% |
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | John Barrasso (incumbent) | 183,063 | 73.35% | +3.37% | |
| Democratic | Nick Carter | 66,202 | 26.53% | −3.33% | |
| Write-ins | 293 | 0.12% | |||
| Majority | 116,861 | 46.83% | +6.70% | ||
| Turnout | 249,558 | ||||
| Republican hold | Swing | ||||