2008 United States Senate election in Louisiana

none March 2026 December 2017 2008 United States Senate election in Louisiana Louisiana 2006 presidential no 2002 United States Senate election in Louisiana 2002 2014 United States Senate election in Louisiana 2014 November 4, 2008 155x155px Mary Landrieu, official photo portrait, 2007.jpg Mary Landrieu Democratic Party (United States) 988,298 52.11% John Neely Kennedy official portrait (cropped).jpg John Kennedy Republican Party (United States) 867,177 45.72% 280px Parish results 280px Congressional district results 280px Precinct results Landrieu: #a5b0ff 40–50% #7996e2 50–60% #6674de 60–70% #584cde 70–80% #3933e5 80–90% #0d0596 >90%Kennedy: #ffb2b2 40–50% #e27f7f 50–60% #d75d5d 60–70% #d72f30 70–80% #c21b18 80–90% #a80000 >90%Tie: #d2b1d9 40–50% #ae8bb1 50% U.S. Senator Mary Landrieu Democratic Party (United States) Mary Landrieu Democratic Party (United States) 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 party primaries for federal races. Incumbent Senator Mary Landrieu won a third term by 6.4 percent, despite being forecast as one of the most vulnerable Senate Democrats during 2008. She had received praise and wide publicity for her advocacy after Hurricane Katrina, particularly during hearings regarding FEMA's response to the disaster. As of 2026, this is the last time that Democrats won any statewide election in Louisiana other than governor, and the last Louisiana U.S. Senate race in which the winner won less than 55% of votes. Landrieu's main opponent John Kennedy garnered allegations of being a political opportunist after switching parties from Democrat to Republican in 2007.Scott Robert 2014-04-27 Treasurer bolts to GOP NOLA.com http://blog.nola.com/times-picayune/2007/08/treasurer_bolts_to_gop.html live 2021-03-15 https://web.archive.org/web/20140427093222/http://blog.nola.com/times-picayune/2007/08/treasurer_bolts_to_gop.html April 27, 2014 He has held the state's other U.S. Senate seat since 2017 as a Republican, having unsuccessfully run as a Democrat for it in 2004. 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 won the state twice, in 2004 with 56.72% of the vote. Also, Republican Bobby Jindal won the 2007 gubernatorial election with 54% of the vote. Major candidates Democratic Mary Landrieu, incumbent U.S. senator Republican John Neely Kennedy, state treasurer and Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate in 2004 General election Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political Report2008 Senate Race ratings for October 23, 2008 https://cookpolitical.com/ratings/senate-race-ratings/139080 The Cook Political Report April 1, 2021 June 25, 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210625160336/https://cookpolitical.com/ratings/senate-race-ratings/139080 dead Lean DOctober 23, 2008 CQ PoliticsRace Ratings Chart: Senate https://web.archive.org/web/20101028234525/http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=ratings-senate October 28, 2010 CQ Politics Lean DOctober 31, 2008 Rothenberg Political Report2008 Senate ratings https://www.insideelections.com/ratings/senate/2008-senate-ratings Inside Elections April 1, 2021 Lean DNovember 2, 2008 Real Clear Politics2008 RCP Averages & Senate Results https://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2008/senate/election_2008_senate_races.html Real Clear Politics August 31, 2021 Lean DOctober 23, 2008 Polling Poll source Dates administered MaryLandrieu (D) JohnKennedy (R)Rasmussen ReportsRasmussen Reports October 21, 2008 53% 43%Rasmussen ReportsRasmussen Reports September 25, 2008 54% 41%Rasmussen ReportsRasmussen Reports August 17, 2008 56% 39%Rasmussen ReportsRasmussen Reports July 9, 2008 49% 44%Southern Media & Opinion ResearchSouthern Media & Opinion Research July 1, 2008 46% 40%Rasmussen ReportsRasmussen Reports May 28, 2008 47% 44%Southern Media & Opinion ResearchSouthern Media & Opinion Research March 26 – April 9, 2008 50% 38%Survey USASurvey USA December 6–10, 2007 46% 42% Results Though she was considered one of the most vulnerable incumbent senators in 2008, Landrieu won reelection by a margin of 121,121 votes and 6.39%, overperforming Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama in the state by more than 24 percentage points. right 300px Swing by parish 300px Trend relative to the state by parish Legend #d40000 Republican — >15% #ff0000 Republican — +12.5−15% #ff2a2a Republican — +10−12.5% #ff5555 Republican — +7.5−10% #ff8080 Republican — +5−7.5% #ffaaaa Republican — +2.5−5% #ffd5d5 Republican — +0−2.5% #d5f6ff Democratic — +0−2.5% #aaeeff Democratic — +2.5−5% #77e3ff Democratic — +5−7.5% #4bdbff Democratic — +7.5-10% #09ceff Democratic — +10−12.5% #00bdec Democratic — +12.5−15% #00a1c8 Democratic — >15% 300px Parish flips Legend Democratic #92c5de Hold #0671b0 Flip Republican #f48882 Hold #ca0120 Flip 2008 United States Senate election in Louisiana Democratic Party (United States) Mary Landrieu (incumbent) 988,298 52.11% +0.41% Republican Party (United States) John Kennedy 867,177 45.72% -2.58% Libertarian Party (United States) Richard Fontanesi 18,590 0.98% n/a Independent (United States) Jay Patel 13,729 0.72% n/a Independent (United States) Robert Stewart 8,780 0.46% n/a 121,121 6.39% +2.99 1,896,574 100% Democratic Party (United States) Parishes that flipped from Democratic to Republican Catahoula (largest town: Jonesville) Jefferson Davis (largest city: Jennings) Vermilion (largest city: Abbeville) Parishes that flipped from Republican to Democratic Iberia (largest city: New Iberia) Jefferson (largest town: Metairie) Lincoln (largest town: Ruston) Plaquemines (largest community: Belle Chasse) Saint Bernard (largest community: Chalmette) Saint Mary (largest city: Morgan City) See also 2008 United States Senate elections References External links Elections Division from the Louisiana Secretary of State U.S. Congress candidates for Louisiana https://web.archive.org/web/20081024161856/http://www.votesmart.org/election_congress_state.php?state_id=LA&go33.x=13&go33.y=12 October 24, 2008 at Project Vote Smart Louisiana U.S. Senate from CQ Politics Louisiana U.S. Senate from OurCampaigns.com Campaign contributions from OpenSecrets Official campaign websites (archived) Mary Landrieu (D) for Senate John Kennedy (R) for Senate 2008 Louisiana United States Senate