2008 Missouri gubernatorial election

none related races 2008 United States gubernatorial elections January 2025 September 2023 2008 Missouri gubernatorial election Missouri presidential no 2004 Missouri gubernatorial election 2004 2012 Missouri gubernatorial election 2012 November 4, 2008 150x150px File:Jay Nixon (cropped).jpg Jay Nixon Democratic Party (United States) 1,680,661 58.40% Image:Rep Kenny Hulshof (cropped).jpg Kenny Hulshof Republican Party (United States) 1,136,364 39.49% 271px County results 271px Congressional district results 1 270px Nixon: #A5B0FF 40–50% #7996e2 50–60% #6674de 60–70% #3933e5 80–90% Hulshof: #FFB2B2 40–50% #E27F7F 50–60% #d75d5d 60–70% Governor Matt Blunt Republican Party (United States) Jay Nixon Democratic Party (United States) The 2008 Missouri gubernatorial election was held on November 4, 2008. Incumbent Republican Governor Matt Blunt decided to retire instead of seeking reelection to a second term in office. Despite John McCain narrowly carrying the state in the concurrent presidential election, Democratic nominee Jay Nixon won the open seat, defeating Republican nominee Kenny Hulshof in a landslide. As of 2024, this remains the last gubernatorial election in which the Democratic Party improved upon its performance from the previous election Background On January 22, 2008, Governor Blunt unexpectedly announced that he would not seek re-electionShelton Missy January 22, 2008 Governor Matt Blunt Will Not Seek Re-election KSMU http://ksmu.org/article/governor-matt-blunt-will-not-seek-re-election dead July 18, 2021 https://archive.today/20130415051126/http://ksmu.org/article/governor-matt-blunt-will-not-seek-re-election April 15, 2013 because he had already "achieved virtually everything I set out to accomplish, and more ... Because I feel we have changed what I wanted to change in the first term, there is not the same sense of mission for a second." A November 2007 poll conducted by SurveyUSA showed Blunt with a 44% approval rating.Survey USA His approval among Republicans polled was 68%, and his rating among Democrats was 23%. On November 10, 2007, Democrat Jay Nixon filed the necessary paperwork with the Missouri Ethics Commission to launch a 2008 campaign for governor.ArticleFebruary 2018 InternetArchiveBot yes by Columbia Daily Tribune: Document points to Nixon run The gubernatorial and other statewide office primaries were held August 5, 2008.August 5, 2008 State Primary Election Information Missouri Secretary of State CQ Politics rated the race as "Leans Democratic".Dems Gain in Five of Six New CQ Politics Rating Changes https://web.archive.org/web/20081012071241/http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=news-000002972480&cpage=3 2008-10-12 CQ Politics, October 8, 2008 Timeline March 25, 2008 – Filing deadline for Democrats, Republicans and Libertarians2008 Missouri Election Calendar from the Missouri Secretary of State August 5, 2008 – Primary (gubernatorial and other statewide office) elections August 19, 2008 – Filing deadline for other third parties and Independents November 4, 2008 – General election. Primaries Republican primary Republican primary resultshttp://www.sos.mo.gov/enrmaps/20080805/county_map.asp?party=rep&oTypeID=14 Aug 5, 2008 Primary Election : Election Night Map : Missouri Secretary of State August 6, 2008 August 9, 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20080809184343/http://www.sos.mo.gov/enrmaps/20080805/county_map.asp?party=rep&oTypeID=14 dead Republican Party (United States) Kenny Hulshof 194,556 49.2 Republican Party (United States) Sarah Steelman 176,750 44.7 Republican Party (United States) Scott Long 18,745 4.7 Republican Party (United States) Jen Sievers 5,664 1.4 395,715 100.0 Democratic primary Democratic primary results Democratic Party (United States) Jay Nixon 303,796 85.0 Democratic Party (United States) Daniel Carroll 53,768 15.0 357,564 100.0 General election Predictions SourceRankingAs ofThe Cook Political Reporthttps://cookpolitical.com/ratings/governor-race-ratings 2008 Governor Race ratings The Cook Political Report en March 4, 2021Lean D FlipOctober 16, 2008 Rothenberg Political Report2008 Gubernatorial Ratings https://www.insideelections.com/ratings/governor/2008-gubernatorial-ratings6 Gubernatorial Ratings The Rothenberg Political Report May 25, 2021 Likely D Flip November 2, 2008 Sabato's Crystal BallTHE LAST LAST WORD The Crystal Ball's Final Projections for the 2008 Election https://centerforpolitics.org/crystalball/articles/ljs2008110301/ Sabato's Crystal Ball December 25, 2021 Lean D Flip November 3, 2008Real Clear PoliticsNovember 4, 2008 2008 Missouri Governor Race https://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2008/governor/mo/missouri_governor-385.html March 5, 2021 RealClearPoliticsLikely D FlipNovember 4, 2008 Polling Source Date KennyHulshof (R) JayNixon (D)Public Policy PollingPublic Policy Polling November 2, 2008 38% 58%Survey USASurvey USA November 2, 2008 39% 54%Survey USASurvey USA October 26, 2008 38% 55%Rasmussen ReportsRasmussen Reports October 14, 2008 38% 57%Survey USASurvey USA September 24, 2008 37% 54%Rasmussen Reports September 11, 2008 39% 54%Public Policy PollingPublic Policy Polling August 17, 2008 42% 48%Survey USASurvey USA July 31, 2008 42% 48%Rasmussen Reports July 7, 2008 38% 49%RasmussenRasmussen June 9, 2008 34% 54%Survey USASurvey USA May 20, 2008 33% 57%RasmussenRasmussen May 8, 2008 35% 51%RasmussenRasmussen March 24, 2008 37% 48%RasmussenRasmussen February 13, 2008 30% 48% background:#cff Hypothetical polling border:solid 1px silver; padding:8px; background:var(--background-color-base); color:var(--color-base); With Steelman Source Date SarahSteelman (R) JayNixon (D)Survey USA July 31, 2008 41% 50%Rasmussen Reports July 7, 2008 37% 46%Rasmussen June 9, 2008 34% 56%Survey USA May 20, 2008 33% 58%Rasmussen May 8, 2008 35% 51%Rasmussen March 24, 2008 39% 46%Rasmussen February 13, 2008 35% 46% With Blunt Source Date MattBlunt (R) JayNixon (D)Rasmussen ReportsRasmussen Reports December 12, 2007 42% 47%Research2000Research2000 November 24, 2007 42% 51%RasmussenRasmussen October 10, 2007 44% 43%Rasmussen August 23, 2007 43% 46%SurveyUSASurveyUSA July 25–27, 2007 38% 57% Results On election night, Nixon won easily, even though fellow Democrat Barack Obama lost in Missouri in the concurrent presidential election (albeit by only 4,000 votes). Nixon performed well in rural parts of the state. When combined with heavily populated, strong Democratic areas like St. Louis and Kansas City, Hulshof did not have a chance to come back. Nixon was declared the winner right when the polls closed in Missouri. Hulshof conceded defeat at 9:02 P.M. Central Time. 2008 Missouri gubernatorial electionState of Missouri General Election - 2008 General Election December 2, 2008 https://www.sos.mo.gov/CMSImages/ElectionResultsStatistics/AllRacesGeneralNovember2008.pdf Missouri Secretary of State July 8, 2026 Democratic Party (United States) Jay Nixon 1,680,611 58.40% +10.55% Republican Party (United States) Kenny Hulshof 1,136,364 39.49% -11.34% Libertarian Party (US) Andrew Finkenstadt 31,850 1.11% +0.21% Constitution Party (US) Gregory Thompson 28,941 1.01% +0.59% 12 0.00% — 544,247 18.91% +15.93% 2,877,778 Democratic Party (US) Republican Party (US) Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic Caldwell (largest city: Hamilton) Daviess (largest city: Gallatin) Gentry (largest city: Albany) Crawford (largest city: Cuba) Oregon (largest city: Thayer) Vernon (largest city: Nevada) Lincoln (largest city: Troy) St. Clair (largest city: Appleton City) Livingston (largest city: Chillicothe) Andrew (largest city: Savannah) Atchison (largest city: Tarkio) Benton (largest city: Warsaw) Camden (largest city: Osage Beach) Carter (largest city: Van Buren) Cass (largest city: Harrisonville) Dallas (largest city: Buffalo) Dent (largest city: Salem) Douglas (largest city: Ava) Howell (largest city: West Plains) Laclede (largest city: Lebanon) Maries (largest city: Belle) Morgan (largest city: Versailles) Ozark (largest city: Gainesville) Pulaski (largest city: Fort Leonard Wood) Polk (largest city: Bolivar) Phelps (largest city: Rolla) Ripley (largest city: Doniphan) Texas (largest city: Licking) Wright (largest city: Mountain Grove) Webster (largest city: Marshfield) Audrain (largest city: Mexico) Bates (largest city: Butler) Chariton (largest city: Salisbury) Clark (largest city: Kahoka) Dunklin (largest city: Kennett) Franklin (largest city: Washington) Henry (largest city: Clinton) Hickory (largest city: Hermitage) Howard (largest city: Fayette) Iron (largest city: Ironton) Knox (largest city: Edina) Lafayette (largest city: Odessa) Lewis (largest city: Canton) Linn (largest city: Brookfield) Madison (largest city: Fredericktown) Nodaway (largest city: Maryville) Pike (largest city: Bowling Green) Reynolds (largest city: Ellington) Scott (largest city: Sikeston) Shannon (largest city: Winona) St. Francois (largest city: Farmington) Wayne (largest city: Piedmont) Buchanan (largest city: St. Joseph) Washington (largest city: Potosi) Iron (largest city: Ironton) St. Charles (largest city: O'Fallon) Pettis (largest city: Sedalia) Adair (largest city: Kirksville) Greene (largest city: Springfield) Johnson (largest city: Warrensburg) Monroe (largest city: Monroe City) See also 2008 United States gubernatorial elections 2004 Missouri gubernatorial election 2008 Missouri lieutenant gubernatorial election 2008 United States presidential election in Missouri References External links Elections from the Missouri Secretary of State Missouri Governor candidates https://web.archive.org/web/20081023080427/http://www.votesmart.org/election_governor_five_categories.php?state_id=MO October 23, 2008 at Project Vote Smart Missouri Governor race from OurCampaigns.com Missouri Governor race from 2008 Race Tracker https://archive.today/20130414224043/http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/state_candidates.phtml?s=MO=2008&f=G Campaign contributions el from Follow the Money Hulshof (R) vs Nixon (D) graph of collected polls from Pollster.com Official campaign websites (archived) Jay Nixon, Democratic candidate Kenny Hulshof, Republican candidate Sarah Steelman, Republican candidate Andy Finkenstadt, Libertarian candidate Missouri Gubernatorial 2008 Category:2008 in Missouri Category:November 2008 in the United States