2008 United States Senate election in Oklahoma

none March 2026 December 2017 2008 United States Senate election in Oklahoma Oklahoma presidential no 2002 United States Senate election in Oklahoma 2002 2014 United States Senate election in Oklahoma 2014 November 4, 2008 150x150px Jim Inhofe, 2007 official photo (cropped).jpg Jim Inhofe Republican Party (United States) 763,375 56.68% ParadeHighRes (cropped).jpg Andrew Rice Democratic Party (United States) 527,736 39.18% 2008 United States Senate election in Oklahoma results map by county.svg 300px County resultsInhofe: #ffb2b2 40–50% #e27f7f 50–60% #d75d5d 60–70% #d72f30 70–80% #c21b18 80–90%Rice: #7996e2 50–60% U.S. Senator Jim Inhofe Republican Party (United States) Jim Inhofe Republican Party (United States) The 2008 United States Senate election in Oklahoma was held on November 4, 2008. The statewide primary election was held July 29, with the run-off on August 26. Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Jim Inhofe won re-election to a third term over Democrat Andrew Rice. This was the last time a Democrat carried any counties in an Oklahoma U.S. Senate election until 2022, and as of 2026 is the last time any Democrat did so in a regular Senate election. This is also the last Oklahoma U.S. Senate race where the winner received less than 61% of votes. Republican primary Candidates Jim Inhofe, incumbent U.S. Senator Dennis Lopez Evelyn Rogers Ted Ryals Results Republican primary results Jim Inhofe (Incumbent) Republican Party (United States) 116,371 84.18% Evelyn Rogers Republican Party (United States) 10,770 7.79% Ted Ryals Republican Party (United States) 7,306 5.28% Dennis Lopez Republican Party (United States) 3,800 2.75% 138,247 100.00% Democratic primary Background Rice officially filed as a candidate for the United States Senate from Oklahoma on Monday, June 2, 2008.Candidates for Federal, State and Legislative Offices Oklahoma State Election Board, June 2–4, 2008"State Lawmaker To Run For U.S. Senate" https://web.archive.org/web/20070927213927/http://www.kotv.com/news/local/story/?id=132962 September 27, 2007 , Associated Press, August 3, 2007 He won the Democratic primary against Jim Rogers, a retired schoolteacher who stressed campaign finance reform. As in earlier campaigns, Rogers refused to accept money to avoid any question of his allegiances. State Senator Kenneth Corn had earlier expressed interest in the race. Candidates Andrew Rice, State Senator Jim Rogers Results thumb|300px|Primary results by county: #7996e2 Rice—50–60% #6674de Rice—60–70% #584cde Rice—70–80% #5fd35f Rogers—50–60% #2ca02c Rogers—70–80% Democratic primary resultshttp://www.ok.gov/elections/The_Archives/Election_Results/2008_Election_Results/Primary_Election_2008.html Oklahoma State Election Board - Primary Election 2008 Ok.gov July 29, 2008 December 8, 2012 Andrew Rice Democratic Party (United States) 113,795 59.65% Jim Rogers Democratic Party (United States) 76,981 40.35% 190,776 100.00% General election Candidates Jim Inhofe (R), incumbent U.S. Senator Andrew Rice (D), State Senator Stephen Wallace (I), businessmanhttp://www.wallace4senate.com/meetstevewallace.asp Wallace June 8, 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20100903131726/http://www.wallace4senate.com/meetstevewallace.asp September 3, 2010 dead mdy-all Campaign Inhofe, who in August 2008 had a 61% approval rating,http://www.realclearpolitics.com/politics_nation/2008/08/ok_inhofe_22.html RealClearPolitics - Politics Nation - OK: Inhofe +22 8 April 2023 emphasized his conservative record and tried to label Rice as a "committed liberal." In the debates, Rice tried to connect Inhofe to George W. Bush saying "An era allowed this to happen. George Bush came into office eight years ago with a Republican majority and ... an agenda of radical deregulation."http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?articleID=20081007_336_Repu637816 Rice, Inhofe spar over economy | Tulsa World 8 April 2023 Rice also believed in climate change, something Inhofe is known for denying.https://grist.org/article/rice2/ An interview with Andrew Rice, the Democrat challenging GOP Sen. James Inhofe 8 January 2008 Grist 8 April 2023 In the election, Inhofe had over $5 million in the bank. Rice had $3.8 million.http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=senate-OK Politics Home Page : Roll Call July 27, 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20080929234106/http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=senate-OK September 29, 2008 dead mdy-all Endorsements Andrew Rice (D) ;Individuals Wesley Clark, General, 2004 Democratic presidential candidatehttp://securingamerica.com/node/1548 Patty Wetterling (MN-6) | WesPAC 4 November 2006 8 April 2023 November 4, 2006 https://web.archive.org/web/20061104080152/http://securingamerica.com/node/1548 bot: unknown 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 Likely ROctober 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 Likely ROctober 31, 2008 Rothenberg Political Report2008 Senate ratings https://www.insideelections.com/ratings/senate/2008-senate-ratings Inside Elections April 1, 2021 Safe RNovember 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 Safe RNovember 4, 2008 Polling Poll Source Dates administered Rice InhofeBenenson Strategy GroupBenenson Strategy Group December 8–12, 2007 35% 49%Tulsa World/KOTV/SoonerPollTulsa World/KOTV/SoonerPoll December 16–19, 2007 19% 60%Research 2000/Daily KosResearch 2000/Daily Kos June 9–11, 2008 31% 53%KSWOKSWO August 12–14, 2008 41% 50%Survey USASurvey USA September 5–7, 2008 34% 56%Rasmussen ReportsRasmussen Reports September 11, 2008 39% 55%Survey USASurvey USA September 29, 2008 37% 53%Survey USASurvey USA October 19, 2008 39% 51%Survey USASurvey USA October 29, 2008 36% 56% Results United States Senate election in Oklahoma, 2008http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/2008/2008Stat.htm#stateOK 2008 Election Statistics Clerk.house.gov December 8, 2012 Republican Party (United States) Jim Inhofe (Incumbent) 763,375 56.68% -0.62% Democratic Party (United States) Andrew Rice 527,736 39.18% +2.87% Independent (United States) Stephen Wallace 55,708 4.14% 235,639 17.50% -3.50% 1,346,819 Republican Party (United States) Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican Atoka (Largest city: Atoka) Coal (Largest city: Coalgate) Bryan (Largest city: Durant) Johnston (Largest city: Tishomingo) Ottawa (Largest city: Miami) Harmon (Largest city: Hollis) Kiowa (Largest city: Hobart) Jefferson (Largest city: Waurika) Love (Largest city: Marietta) Murray (Largest city: Sulphur) Pushmataha (Largest city: Antlers) Choctaw (Largest city: Hugo) Le Flore (Largest city: Poteau) McCurtain (Largest city: Idabel) Hughes (Largest city: Holdenville) Seminole (Largest city: Seminole) Okfuskee (Largest city: Okemah) Latimer (Largest city: Wilburton) Pittsburg (Largest city: McAlester) Sequoyah (Largest city: Sallisaw) Haskell (Largest city: Stigler) See also 2008 United States Senate elections References External links U.S. Congress candidates for Oklahoma at Project Vote Smart Oklahoma, U.S. Senate from CQ Politics Oklahoma U.S. Senate from OurCampaigns.com Oklahoma U.S. Senate race from 2008 Race Tracker Campaign contributions from OpenSecrets Inhofe (R-i) vs Rice (D) graph of multiple polls from Pollster.com Official campaign websites (Archived) James Inhofe, (R) Andrew Rice (D) 2008 Oklahoma United States Senate