2008 United States Senate election in New Hampshire

none March 2026 December 2017 2008 United States Senate election in New Hampshire New Hampshire presidential no 2002 United States Senate election in New Hampshire 2002 2014 United States Senate election in New Hampshire 2014 November 4, 2008 150x150px File:Jeanne Shaheen, official Senate portrait cropped.jpg Jeanne Shaheen Democratic Party (United States) 358,438 51.62% John E. Sununu (cropped).jpg John E. Sununu Republican Party (United States) 314,403 45.28% x245px County results x245px Municipality results Shaheen: #a5b0ff 40–50% #7996E2 50–60% #6674DE 60–70% #584cde 70–80% #0d056c >90%Sununu: #FFB2B2 40–50% #E27F7F 50–60% #D75D5D 60–70% #D72F30 70–80%Tie: #D2B1D9 40–50% U.S. Senator John E. Sununu Republican Party (United States) Jeanne Shaheen Democratic Party (United States) The 2008 United States Senate election in New Hampshire was held on November 4, 2008. Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator John E. Sununu ran for re-election to a second term, but was defeated by Democratic former Governor Jeanne Shaheen in a rematch of the 2002 election. Shaheen's win marked the first time since 1972 that a Democrat won this seat, and made her the first Democratic senator elected from New Hampshire since John A. Durkin's victory in 1975. Background For a considerable amount of time, New Hampshire had always been considered an island of conservatism in the Northeast. Following the 2006 election, however, many offices were taken over by Democrats: Representatives Carol Shea-Porter and Paul Hodes, Governor John Lynch, the majority of the New Hampshire Executive Council, and the majority of both legislative chambers (which had not occurred since 1911).Storm of change sweeps through N.H. Legislature The popularity of Governor Lynch was considered an impediment to Sununu's re-election.https://news.yahoo.com/s/realclearpolitics/20070730/cm_rcp/a_senator_and_an_800pound_gori Can Sununu Hold on in New Hampshire? Real Clear Politics July 30, 2007 July 30, 2007October 2010 H3llBot Though the state voted for then-Gov. George W. Bush in 2000, Sen. John Kerry narrowly won the state over Bush in 2004. As of 2026, This remains the only general statewide election loss of a member of the Sununu family. Democratic primary Candidates Jeanne Shaheen, former governor and nominee for the United States Senate in 2002. Raymond Stebbins, attorney Campaign thumb|Shaheen, the Democratic nominee, at a rally in the lead-up to the election. Astronaut Jay Buckey MD, Portsmouth Mayor Steve Marchand, and Katrina Swett (wife of former Congressman Richard Swett who ran for this seat in 1996), had announced their candidacies but withdrew in favor of former governor Jeanne Shaheen upon her entrance into the race.Swett Drops Out Of NH Senate RaceApril 2019 InternetArchiveBot yes WCSH 6 September 21, 2007. Retrieved September 22, 2007 Shaheen had been the Democratic nominee for the race in 2002. Since 2005, Shaheen had served as director of the Institute of Politics at Harvard Kennedy School before leaving on September 14, 2007. She had been aggressively courted to run by Senator Ted Kennedy (D-MA) on behalf of Senate Democrats, and by a "Draft Shaheen" campaign led by former New Hampshire Democratic Chairman Kathy Sullivan. The filing deadline for the Democratic and Republican Parties was June 13, 2008. Shaheen filed, as did Raymond Stebbins.Democratic Party Cumulative Filings https://web.archive.org/web/20110605104153/http://www.sos.nh.gov/cumulatived.html June 5, 2011 New Hampshire Secretary of State. Retrieved June 15, 2008. Results Democratic primary results Democratic Party (United States) Jeanne Shaheen 43,968 88.5% Democratic Party (United States) Raymond Stebbins 5,281 10.6% 407 0.8% 49,656 100.0% Republican primary Candidates Tom Alciere, former state representativeRepublican Party Cumulative Filings https://web.archive.org/web/20110605104238/http://www.sos.nh.gov/cumulativer.html June 5, 2011 New Hampshire Secretary of State. Retrieved June 15, 2008. John E. Sununu, incumbent U.S. Senator Results Republican primary results Republican Party (United States) John Sununu (incumbent) 60,852 88.7% Republican Party (United States) Tom Alciere 7,084 10.3% 685 1.0% 68,621 100.0% General election Candidates Ken Blevens (L) Jeanne Shaheen (D), former governor John E. Sununu (R), incumbent U.S. Senator Campaign A November 2006 SurveyUSA poll of New Hampshire voters found Sununu had a 47% approval rating. Results of SurveyUSA News Poll #11151, conducted November 2006 A February 1, 2007 poll conducted by the University of New Hampshire found that only 45% of New Hampshire voters held a favorable opinion of Sununu. In June 2007, a poll by 7NEWS and Suffolk University of likely voters reported that only 31 percent in the poll said Sununu deserved re-election, with 47 percent saying that someone else should get his seat.Ralph Z. Hallow, "N.H. poll puts Gore over Clinton", Washington Times, June 27, 2007 A July 2008 Granite State Poll had Sununu's favorability rating at 52%, his unfavorability rating at 33%, and neutral or undecided by 16%.http://www.unh.edu/survey-center/news/pdf/gsp2008_summer_cong72308.pdf Archived copy July 31, 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20080907075002/http://www.unh.edu/survey-center/news/pdf/gsp2008_summer_cong72308.pdf September 7, 2008 dead Shaheen is viewed favorable by 53%, unfavorable by 31% and neutral or undecided by 15%.http://www.unh.edu/survey-center/news/pdf/gsp2008_summer_cong72308.pdf Archived copy July 31, 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20080907075002/http://www.unh.edu/survey-center/news/pdf/gsp2008_summer_cong72308.pdf September 7, 2008 dead Senator John McCain, the Republican nominee for president, had mentioned Sununu as a possible running mate for the 2008 presidential election, as well as Lindsey Graham, Bob Riley, Steve Forbes and John Thune. Sununu had said he would remain neutral in the New Hampshire primary. However, McCain selected Alaska governor Sarah Palin instead. 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 TossupOctober 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 D FlipOctober 31, 2008 Rothenberg Political Report2008 Senate ratings https://www.insideelections.com/ratings/senate/2008-senate-ratings Inside Elections April 1, 2021 Likely D FlipNovember 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 D FlipNovember 2, 2008 Polling Source Date JohnSununu (R) JeanneShaheen (D) KenBlevens (L) UndecidedAmerican Research GroupAmerican Research Group March 29, 2007 34% 44% –– 22%American Research GroupAmerican Research Group June 2007 29% 57% –– 14%Research 2000Research 2000 July 2007 34% 56% –– 10%WMUR-CNNWMUR-CNN July 2007 38% 54% –– 7%Rasmussen ReportsRasmussen Reports September 16, 2007 43% 48% –– 9%American Research GroupAmerican Research Group September 18, 2007 41% 46% –– 13%WMUR-CNNWMUR-CNN September 2007 38% 54% –– 7%SurveyUSASurveyUSA March 2024 InternetArchiveBot yes November 5, 2007 42% 53% –– 5%American Research GroupAmerican Research Group December 20, 2007 52% 41% –– 7%Granite State PollGranite State Poll February 11, 2008 37% 54% –– 7%Rasmussen ReportsRasmussen Reports February 13, 2008 41% 49% –– ––American Research GroupAmerican Research Group March 20, 2008 33% 47% –– 20%Rasmussen ReportsRasmussen Reports March 21, 2008 41% 49% –– ––Rasmussen ReportsRasmussen Reports May 23, 2008 43% 50% –– ––American Research GroupAmerican Research Group June 18, 2008 40% 54% –– 6%Rasmussen ReportsRasmussen Reports June 20, 2008 39% 53% –– ––Granite State PollGranite State Poll July 20, 2008 42% 46% –– 10%American Research GroupAmerican Research Group July 19, 2008 36% 58% –– ––Rasmussen ReportsRasmussen Reports July 23, 2008 45% 51% –– ––Rasmussen ReportsRasmussen Reports August 19, 2008 43% 52% –– ––American Research GroupAmerican Research Group August 18, 2008 41% 52% –– 7%Public Opinion StrategiesPublic Opinion Strategies September 3, 2008 44% 46% 3% 5%American Research GroupAmerican Research Group September 13, 2008 40% 52% –– 8%Granite State PollGranite State Poll September 14, 2008 44% 48% –– 7%Rasmussen ReportsRasmussen Reports September 23, 2008 52% 45% 1% 2%Rasmussen ReportsRasmussen Reports October 1, 2008 45% 50% 1% 3%Rasmussen ReportsRasmussen Reports October 23, 2008 46% 52% –– ––Rasmussen ReportsRasmussen Reports October 30, 2008 44% 52% –– ––Survey USASurvey USA October 30, 2008 40% 53% 6% 2% Fundraising Candidate (party) Receipts Disbursements Cash on hand Debt Jeanne Shaheen (D) $8,273,501.00 $8,225,580.00 $47,920.00 $120,630.00 John Sununu (R) $8,879,307.00 $8,868,017.00 $104,187.00 $0 Source: Federal Election Commission New Hampshire 2008 Senate race fundraising https://www.fec.gov/data/elections/senate/NH/2008/ Results right 250px Swing by county 250px Trend relative to the state by county 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% 250px County flips Legend Democratic #92c5de Hold #0671b0 Flip Republican #f48882 Hold 2008 United States Senate election in New Hampshire Democratic Party (United States) Jeanne Shaheen 358,438 51.62% +4.95% Republican Party (United States) John Sununu (incumbent) 314,403 45.28% -5.83% Libertarian Party (United States) Ken Blevens 21,516 3.10% +0.89% 694,357 100.0% N/A Democratic Party (United States) Republican Party (United States) By county County Jeanne ShaheenDemocratic John E. SununuRepublican Various candidatesOther parties Margin Total votes cast # % # % # % # % Belknap 15,931 48.3% 16,166 49.0% 871 2.6% -235 -0.7% 32,968 Carroll 13,428 47.3% 13,965 49.2% 986 3.5% -537 -1.9% 28,379 Cheshire 24,788 59.7% 15,259 36.7% 1,506 3.6% 9,529 23.0% 41,553 Coos 9,031 56.6% 6,375 40.0% 543 3.4% 2,656 16.6% 15,949 Grafton 27,797 57.5% 18,957 39.2% 1,580 3.3% 8,840 18.3% 48,334 Hillsborough 97,734 48.8% 95,646 47.8% 6,763 3.3% 2,088 1.0% 200,143 Merrimack 42,646 54.1% 33,958 43.1% 2,250 2.9% 8,688 11.0% 78,854 Rockingham 78,992 48.2% 80,051 48.8% 5,004 3.1% -1,059 -0.6% 164,047 Strafford 36,096 57.9% 24,503 39.3% 1,781 2.9% 11,593 18.6% 62,380 Sullivan 11,995 54.1% 9,523 42.9% 662 3.0% 2,472 13.2% 22,180Totals358,43851.6%314,40345.3%21,9463.2%44,0356.3%694,787 Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic Hillsborough (largest municipality: Manchester) Sullivan (largest municipality: Claremont) See also 2008 United States Senate elections References External links Election Division from the New Hampshire Secretary of State U.S. Congress candidates for New Hampshire https://web.archive.org/web/20080919215838/http://www.votesmart.org/election_congress_state.php?state_id=NH&go33.x=6&go33.y=8 September 19, 2008 at Project Vote Smart New Hampshire, U.S. Senate CQ Politics New Hampshire U.S. Senate from OurCampaigns.com New Hampshire U.S. Senate race from 2008 Race Tracker Campaign contributions from OpenSecrets Sununu (R-i) vs Shaheen (D) graph of multiple polls from Pollster.com Official campaign websites John Sununu, Republican nominee Jay Buckey, withdrawn Jeanne Shaheen https://web.archive.org/web/20150730070217/http://www.jeanneshaheen.org/ July 30, 2015 , Democratic nominee anti-Sununu website from the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee anti-Shaheen website from the National Republican Senatorial Committee 2008 New Hampshire United States Senate