United States Senate election in Louisiana, 2008

United States Senate election in Louisiana, 2008

November 4, 2008

Nominee Mary Landrieu John Neely Kennedy Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 988,298 867,177 Percentage 52% 46%

Parish results

U.S. Senator before election Mary Landrieu Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Mary Landrieu Democratic

The 2008 United States Senate election in Louisiana was held on November 4, 2008. This was the first time since the 1970s that Louisiana used primaries for federal races. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Mary Landrieu won re-election to a third term.

Background

Landrieu's increased vulnerability was supposed to be the result of a significant drop in the state's African-American population after Hurricane Katrina, especially in Landrieu's home city of New Orleans. Louisiana also elected a Republican senator in 2004 and President Bush carried the state twice, in 2004 with 58 percent of the vote. Also, Republican Congressman Bobby Jindal won the 2007 gubernatorial election with 54 percent of the vote.

Major candidates

Democratic

• Mary Landrieu, incumbent U.S. Senator

Republican

• John Neely Kennedy, State Treasurer

Predictions

CQ Politics rated this race as 'Leans Democrat'.^[1] The Cook Political Report considered it 'Lean Democrat'.^[2] The Rothenberg Political Report considered it a 'Narrow Advantage for Incumbent Party'.^[3] Landrieu was considered the most vulnerable Democratic senator up for re-election in 2008.^[4]

Polling

Poll Source	Dates administered	Landrieu (D)	Kennedy (R)
Rasmussen Reports	October 21, 2008	53%	43%
Rasmussen Reports	September 25, 2008	54%	41%
Rasmussen Reports	August 17, 2008	56%	39%
Rasmussen Reports	July 9, 2008	49%	44%
Southern Media & Opinion Research	July 1, 2008	46%	40%
Rasmussen Reports	May 28, 2008	47%	44%
Southern Media & Opinion Research	March 26 - April 9, 2008	50%	38%
Survey USA	December 6–10, 2007	46%	42%

Results

Landrieu, despite being one of the most vulnerable incumbent senators in 2008 and then-senator Barack Obama losing the state to senator John McCain, won on election night by 121,121 votes and 6.39%.

General election results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±
	Democratic	Mary Landrieu (Incumbent)	988,298	52.11	+0.41
	Republican	John Neely Kennedy	867,177	45.72	-2.58
	Libertarian	Richard Fontanesi	18,590	0.98	n/a
	Independent	Jay Patel	13,729	0.72	n/a
	Independent	Robert Stewart	8,780	.46	n/a
Majority			121,121	6.39	+2.99
Turnout			1,896,574
	Democratic hold		Swing

References

1. Race Ratings Chart: Senate Archived October 28, 2010, at the Wayback Machine. CQ Politics
2. 2008 Senate Race Ratings Archived November 20, 2008, at the Wayback Machine. The Cook Political Report, October 9, 2008
3. 2008 Senate Ratings The Rothenberg Political Report, September 29, 2008
4. Louisiana U.S. Senate from CQ Politics

External links

• Elections Division from the Louisiana Secretary of State
• U.S. Congress candidates for Louisiana at Project Vote Smart
• Louisiana U.S. Senate from CQ Politics
• Louisiana U.S. Senate from OurCampaigns.com
• Campaign contributions from OpenSecrets.org