2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Oregon
November 4, 2008 (2008-11-04)
All 5 Oregon seats to the United States House of Representatives
  Majority party Minority party
 
Party Democratic Republican
Last election 4 1
Seats won 4 1
Seat change Steady Steady
Popular vote 1,036,171 435,920
Percentage 61.58% 25.91%
Swing Increase 5.16% Decrease 15.16%
Oregon's United States congressional districts

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

Oregon has five seats in the House, apportioned according to the 2000 United States census. Its 2007–2008 congressional delegation consisted of four Democrats and one Republican. This remains unchanged although CQ Politics had forecasted district 5 to be at some risk for the incumbent party earlier in the year.

A primary election for Democrats and Republicans was held on May 20. To be eligible for the primaries, candidates had to file for election by March 11.[1] Other parties had other procedures for nominating candidates.

Overview

United States House of Representatives elections in Oregon, 2008[2]
Party Votes Percentage Seats +/–
Democratic 1,036,171 61.58% 4 —
Republican 435,920 25.91% 1 —
Constitution 69,680 4.14% —
Independent 65,109 3.87% —
Pacific Green 50,293 2.99% —
Libertarian 15,806 0.94% —
write-ins 9,530 0.57% —
Totals 1,682,509 100 5 —

District 1

Democratic incumbent David Wu has represented Oregon's 1st congressional district since 1998 and is the Democratic nominee in 2008, defeating Will Hobbs and Mark Welyczko in the primary.[3] Hobbs, a political novice, earned some attention late in the race, by winning the endorsements of major newspapers The Oregonian and Willamette Week. He won 16.7% of the vote to Wu's 78.0%.[4]

In the Republican primary, Joel Haugen defeated pathologist Claude W. Chappell IV,[5] but later withdrew his acceptance of the Republican nomination after his endorsement of Democrat Barack Obama for President drew objections from Republican party leaders.[6]

Democratic primary

Candidates

Results

Democratic Primary results[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic David Wu (incumbent) 91,466 77.92
Democratic Will Hobbs 19,659 16.75
Democratic Mark Welyczko 5,982 5.10
write-ins 285 0.24
Total votes 117,392 100

Republican primary

Candidates

Results

Republican Primary results[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Joel Haugen 29,658 68.95
Republican Claude William Chappell IV 12,524 29.12
write-ins 829 1.93
Total votes 43,011 100

General election

Candidates

Results

Oregon's 1st congressional district election, 2008[8]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic David Wu (incumbent) 237,567 71.50
Independent Joel Haugen 58,279 17.54
Constitution Scott Semrau 14,172 4.27
Libertarian H. Joe Tabor 10,992 3.31
Pacific Green Chris Henry 7,128 2.15
write-ins 4,110 1.24
Total votes 332,248 100
Democratic hold

District 2

Incumbent Republican Greg Walden has represented Oregon's 2nd congressional district since 1998 and was unopposed for the Republican nomination in 2008. In the general election, he faced Democrat Noah Lemas, a small business owner,[9] Richard Hake of the Constitution Party of Oregon and Pacific Green Party candidate Tristin Mock.[10]

Democratic primary

Candidates

Results

Democratic Primary results[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Noah Lemas 56,980 97.86
write-ins 1,247 2.14
Total votes 58,227 100

Republican primary

Candidates

Results

Republican Primary results[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Greg Walden (incumbent) 83,087 99.14
write-ins 721 0.86
Total votes 83,808 100

General election

Candidates

Results

Oregon's 2nd congressional district election, 2008[8]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Greg Walden (incumbent) 236,560 69.50
Democratic Noah Lemas 87,649 25.75
Pacific Green Tristin Mock 9,668 2.84
Constitution Richard D. Hake 5,817 1.71
write-ins 685 0.20
Total votes 340,379 100
Republican hold

District 3

Incumbent Democrat Earl Blumenauer has represented Oregon's 3rd congressional district since 1996 and was the Democratic nominee in 2008, defeating TV co-host John Sweeney and retired utility worker and peace activist Joseph "Lone Vet" Walsh in the primary.[3] In the general election, he faced Republican Delia Lopez, a real estate investor,[11] and Pacific Green Party candidate Michael Meo.[12]

Democratic primary

Candidates

Results

Democratic Primary results[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Earl Blumenauer (incumbent) 121,176 86.79
Democratic John Sweeney 9,389 6.72
Democratic Joseph Walsh 8,783 6.29
write-ins 343 0.25
Total votes 139,691 100

Republican primary

Candidates

Results

Republican Primary results[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Delia Lopez 22,114 96.88
write-ins 712 3.12
Total votes 22,826 100

General election

Candidates

Results

Oregon's 3rd congressional district election, 2008[8]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Earl Blumenauer (incumbent) 254,235 74.54
Republican Delia Lopez 71,063 20.84
Pacific Green Michael Meo 15,063 4.42
write-ins 701 0.21
Total votes 341,062 100
Democratic hold

District 4

Incumbent Democrat Peter DeFazio has represented Oregon's 4th congressional district since 1986 and was unopposed for the Democratic nomination in 2008.[3] He was being challenged in the general election by Constitution Party member Jaynee Germond and Pacific Green Mike Beilstein, a research chemist.[13] CQ Politics forecasted the race as 'Safe Democrat'.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Results

Democratic Primary results[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Peter A. DeFazio (incumbent) 119,366 99.21
write-ins 955 0.79
Total votes 120,321 100

Republican primary

Candidates

Results

Republican Primary results[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Peter A. DeFazio (write-in) 906 27.87
write-ins 2,345 72.13
Total votes 3,251 100

General election

Candidates

Results

Oregon's 4th congressional district election, 2008[8]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Peter DeFazio (incumbent) 275,143 82.34
Constitution Jaynee Germond 43,133 12.91
Pacific Green Mike Beilstein 13,162 3.94
write-ins 2,708 0.81
Total votes 334,146 100
Democratic hold

District 5

In February 2008, Democrat Darlene Hooley, who had represented Oregon's 5th congressional district since 1996, announced that she would not seek re-election in 2008.[14] The race to replace her was expected to be one of the most competitive in the nation, since the district contained about 2,000 more Republicans than Democrats at that time.[15][16]

There were two major factors for the competitiveness of the race: first, the demographics of the district had changed dramatically. In June, there were 20,000 more registered Democrats than Republicans in the district, a net swing of 22,000 voters since February.[17] Secondly, Republican nominee Erickson won a contentious primary in which an opponent, Kevin Mannix, raised an allegation that Erickson paid for a former girlfriend's abortion. The girlfriend subsequently went public with the information, but Erickson denied knowledge of the event.[18] Mannix refused to endorse Erickson in the general election.[19]

Democratic nominee Kurt Schrader won against Republican nominee Mike Erickson, 166,070 (54.3%) to 116,418 (38.3%). Also competing were Libertarian nominee Steve Milligan, Constitution nominee Douglas Patterson, Pacific Green nominee Alex Polikoff, and Independent Sean Bates.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Results

Democratic Primary results[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Kurt Schrader 51,980 53.84
Democratic Nancy Moran 18,597 19.26
Democratic Steve Marks 17,643 18.27
Democratic Andrew Foster 6,104 6.32
Democratic Richard Nathe 1,748 1.81
write-ins 482 0.50
Total votes 96,554 100

Republican primary

Candidates

Results

Republican Primary results[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Mike Erickson 37,217 47.94
Republican Kevin Mannix 36,005 46.38
Republican Richard "RJ" Wilson 4,110 5.29
write-ins 302 0.39
Total votes 77,634 100

General election

Candidates

Results

Oregon's 5th congressional district election, 2008[8]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Kurt Schrader 181,577 54.25
Republican Mike Erickson 128,297 38.33
Independent Sean Bates 6,830 2.04
Constitution Douglas Patterson 6,558 1.96
Pacific Green Alex Polikoff 5,272 1.58
Libertarian Steve Milligan 4,814 1.44
write-ins 1,326 0.40
Total votes 334,674 100
Democratic hold

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Voting and Voter Registration". Oregon Blue Book. Retrieved February 8, 2008.
  2. ↑ Lorraine C. Miller (July 10, 2009). "Statistics of the Presidential and Congressional Election of November 4, 2008" (PDF). Clerk of the United States House of Representatives. Retrieved November 21, 2016.
  3. 1 2 3 Mayes, Steve (May 21, 2008). "Erickson beats Mannix in contest turned nasty". The Oregonian. p. A06.
  4. ↑ Oregon Secretary of State unofficial election results. Retrieved May 23, 2008.
  5. ↑ "Haugen for Congress". Retrieved May 21, 2008.
  6. ↑ Cole, Michelle (August 30, 2008). "Republican nominee withdraws acceptance". The Oregonian. p. D01.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "Official Results - May 20, 2008 Primary Election". Oregon Secretary of State. Retrieved November 21, 2016.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 "Official Results - November 4, 2008 General Election". Oregon Secretary of State. Retrieved November 21, 2016.
  9. ↑ "Noah Lemas for Congress". Archived from the original on June 7, 2008. Retrieved May 21, 2008.
  10. ↑ "Tristin Mock for U.S. House of Representatives". Archived from the original on May 16, 2008. Retrieved May 21, 2008.
  11. ↑ "Delia Lopez for Congress". Retrieved May 21, 2008.
  12. ↑ "Michael Meo US House of Representatives". Archived from the original on August 28, 2008. Retrieved June 12, 2008.
  13. ↑ "Mike Beilstein US House of Representatives". Archived from the original on May 7, 2008. Retrieved May 21, 2008.
  14. ↑ Kosseff, Jeff; Charles Pope (February 7, 2008). "Rep. Hooley will not run for re-election". The Oregonian.
  15. ↑ "Voter Registration by Congressional District: February 2008". Oregon Secretary of State. February 2008. p. 8. Retrieved July 31, 2008.
  16. ↑ Kapochunas, Rachel (February 7, 2008). "Tossup House Race Emerges as Oregon Democrat Hooley Retires". CQPolitics.com. Archived from the original on November 29, 2008. Retrieved February 8, 2008.
  17. ↑ "Voter Registration by Congressional District: June 2008". Oregon Secretary of State. June 2008. p. 8. Retrieved July 31, 2008.
  18. ↑ Har, Janie; Mayes, Steve (June 23, 2008). "Erickson relationship detailed by woman". The Oregonian. p. A01.
  19. ↑ Kraushaar, Josh (May 21, 2008). "Mannix refuses to endorse Erickson". CBSNews.com. Retrieved June 10, 2008.
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