2008 Washington Attorney General election

none February 2026 October 2025 2008 Washington Attorney General election Washington presidential no 2004 Washington Attorney General election 2004 2012 Washington Attorney General election 2012 2008 11 4 File:Rob McKenna; Washington AG (cropped).jpg 150x150px Rob McKenna Republican Party (United States) 1,689,764 59.46% File:3x4.svg John Ladenburg Democratic Party (United States) 1,152,174 40.54% 275px County results 275px Congressional district results McKenna: #e27f7f 50–60% #d75d5d 60–70% #d72f30 70–80%Ladenburg: #7996e2 50–60% #6674de 60–70% Attorney General Rob McKenna Republican Party (United States) Rob McKenna Republican Party (United States) The 2008 Washington Attorney General election was held on Tuesday, November 4, 2008, to elect the attorney general of Washington, concurrently with the 2008 U.S. presidential election, as well as elections to the U.S. Senate and various state and local elections, including for U.S. House and governor of Washington. Washington is one of two states that holds a top-two primary, meaning that all candidates are listed on the same ballot regardless of party affiliation, and the top two move on to the general election. Incumbent Republican Attorney General Rob McKenna was re-elected to a second term in office, defeating Democratic challenger John Ladenburg in a landslide, winning by almost 20 points and carrying all but two counties.https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/rob-mckenna-wins-second-term/ As of , this is the last time a Republican was elected Washington Attorney General. Along with the concurrent secretary of state election, this is also the last time King County voted Republican in a statewide election against a Democratic opponent.The 2016 Washington State Treasurer election was contested between 2 Republicans. 3 Candidates Republican Party Advanced to general Rob McKenna, incumbent attorney general (2005–2013) Democratic Party Advanced to general John Ladenburg, Pierce County Executivehttps://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/pierce-county-executive-to-run-against-mckenna-for-attorney-general/ Pierce County executive to run against McKenna for Attorney General Garber Andrew February 7, 2008 The Seattle Times November 18, 2025 subscription Primary election Results thumb|275px|County results #e27f7f McKenna #e27f7f 50–60% #d75d5d 60–70% #d72f30 70–80% #7996e2 Ladenburg #7996e2 50–60% County results thumb|275px|Congressional district results #e27f7f McKenna #e27f7f 50–60% #d75d5d 60–70% #7996e2 Ladenburg #6674de 60–70% Congressional district results Blanket primary results Washington Republican Party Rob McKenna (incumbent) 783,240 56.98 Washington Democratic Party John Ladenburg 591,254 43.02 1,374,494 100.00 By county +County resultsCountyRob McKenna RepublicanJohn Ladenburg DemocraticMarginTotal votes#%#%#%Adams1,90375.10%63124.90%1,27250.20%2,534Asotin3,04057.79%2,22042.21%82015.59%5,260Benton27,12771.14%11,00628.86%16,12142.28%38,133Chelan11,62768.59%5,32531.41%6,30237.18%16,952Clallam12,90659.19%8,89840.81%4,00818.38%21,804Clark40,62555.97%31,96044.03%8,66511.94%72,585Columbia1,05572.46%40127.54%65444.92%1,456Cowlitz10,89050.82%10,53949.18%3511.64%21,429Douglas5,81969.29%2,57930.71%3,24038.58%8,398Ferry1,27464.51%70135.49%57329.01%1,975Franklin7,52368.87%3,40131.13%4,12237.73%10,924Garfield55973.46%20226.54%35746.91%761Grant10,23969.50%4,49330.50%5,74639.00%14,732Grays Harbor9,46255.56%7,56944.44%1,89311.12%17,031Island14,67260.49%9,58439.51%5,08820.98%24,256Jefferson5,76345.56%6,88754.44%-1,124-8.89%12,650King174,73250.94%168,30249.06%6,4301.87%343,034Kitsap37,00457.06%27,85142.94%9,15314.11%64,855Kittitas6,38065.85%3,30834.15%3,07231.71%9,688Klickitat2,88756.57%2,21643.43%67113.15%5,103Lewis13,13568.45%6,05531.55%7,08036.89%19,190Lincoln2,67771.22%1,08228.78%1,59542.43%3,759Mason9,82358.31%7,02341.69%2,80016.62%16,846Okanogan5,54664.48%3,05535.52%2,49128.96%8,601Pacific3,25549.18%3,36450.82%-109-1.65%6,619Pend Oreille2,40863.67%1,37436.33%1,03427.34%3,782Pierce78,22852.88%69,70847.12%8,5205.76%147,936San Juan2,97545.25%3,59954.75%-624-9.49%6,574Skagit17,74459.53%12,06540.47%5,67919.05%29,809Skamania1,26252.50%1,14247.50%1204.99%2,404Snohomish81,15957.25%60,60942.75%20,55014.50%141,768Spokane64,42160.71%41,68739.29%22,73421.43%106,108Stevens8,47068.18%3,95331.82%4,51736.36%12,423Thurston37,61758.45%26,74541.55%10,87216.89%64,362Wahkiakum76656.95%57943.05%18713.90%1,345Walla Walla8,76866.17%4,48333.83%4,28532.34%13,251Whatcom26,27955.45%21,11544.55%5,16410.90%47,394Whitman4,94161.20%3,13338.80%1,80822.39%8,074Yakima28,27969.50%12,41030.50%15,86939.00%40,689Totals783,24056.98%591,25443.02%191,98613.97%1,374,494 By congressional district District2008 Primary Data https://www.sos.wa.gov/sites/default/files/2022-05/2008-primary-data.zip sos.wa.gov live https://web.archive.org/web/20250625074817/https://www.sos.wa.gov/sites/default/files/2022-05/2008-primary-data.zip June 25, 2025 McKenna Ladenburg RepresentativeWashington 1 1st 57% 43%Jay InsleeWashington 2 2nd 57% 43%Rick LarsenWashington 3 3rd 57% 43%Brian BairdWashington 4 4th 69% 31%Doc HastingsWashington 5 5th 62% 38%Cathy McMorris RodgersWashington 6 6th 53% 47%Norm DicksWashington 7 7th 36% 64%Jim McDermottWashington 8 8th 63% 37%Dave ReichertWashington 9 9th 56% 44%Adam Smith General election Endorsements Rob McKenna (R) Statewide officials Brian Sonntag, state auditor of Washington (1993–2013) (Democratic)http://www.soundpolitics.com/archives/009644.html https://web.archive.org/web/20090108101236/http://www.soundpolitics.com/archives/009644.html January 8, 2009 dead McKenna announces re-election bid Ward Don November 14, 2007 Sound Politics August 28, 2026 Newspapers The Seattle Timeshttps://www.seattletimes.com/opinion/seattle-times-endorsements-for-election-day/ https://web.archive.org/web/20240415231942/https://www.seattletimes.com/opinion/seattle-times-endorsements-for-election-day/ 2024-04-15 live Seattle Times endorsements for Election Day Editorial Board The Seattle Times October 31, 2008 The Seattle Times October 22, 2025 subscription John Ladenburg (D) Statewide officials Christine Gregoire, governor of Washington (2005–2013)https://www.heraldnet.com/news/northwest-briefly-john-ladenburg-launches-bid-for-attorney-general/ Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error RobMcKenna (R) JohnLadenburg (D) UndecidedSurveyUSASurveyUSAOctober 30 – November 2, 2008663 (LV)± 3.8%59%36%6%SurveyUSASurveyUSAOctober 26–27, 2008630 (LV)± 3.9%57%36%7%SurveyUSASurveyUSAOctober 12–13, 2008544 (LV)± 4.3%54%38%8%SurveyUSASurveyUSASeptember 21–22, 2008682 (LV)± 3.8%53%39%8%SurveyUSASurveyUSASeptember 5–7, 2008658 (LV)± 3.9%55%40%5%SurveyUSASurveyUSAAugust 11–12, 2008718 (LV)± 3.7%51%43%6%SurveyUSASurveyUSAJuly 13–15, 2008666 (LV)± 3.9%49%41%10%SurveyUSASurveyUSAJune 7–9, 2008637 (LV)± 4.0%49%42%9% Results 2008 Washington Attorney General electionRepublican Party (United States) Rob McKenna (incumbent) 1,689,764 59.46% +6.48%Democratic Party (United States) John Ladenburg 1,152,174 40.54% –2.73%2,841,938 100.00% N/A Washington State Republican Party By county +County resultsCountyRob McKenna RepublicanJohn Ladenburg DemocraticMarginTotal votes#%#%#%Adams3,48076.28%1,08223.72%2,39852.56%4,562Asotin5,81263.20%3,38436.80%2,42826.40%9,196Benton51,09273.68%18,24826.32%32,84447.37%69,340Chelan21,09170.10%8,99629.90%12,09540.20%30,087Clallam22,45962.13%13,69037.87%8,76924.26%36,149Clark95,13556.13%74,36043.87%20,77512.26%169,495Columbia1,60077.07%47622.93%1,12454.14%2,076Cowlitz21,56651.57%20,25048.43%1,3163.15%41,816Douglas10,40572.49%3,94927.51%6,45644.98%14,354Ferry2,16466.32%1,09933.68%1,06532.64%3,263Franklin13,27670.07%5,67129.93%7,60540.14%18,947Garfield99478.21%27721.79%71756.41%1,271Grant18,69971.77%7,35628.23%11,34343.53%26,055Grays Harbor17,05161.29%10,77138.71%6,28022.57%27,822Island25,53164.55%14,02235.45%11,50929.10%39,553Jefferson9,30749.61%9,45450.39%-147-0.78%18,761King453,33053.56%393,11146.44%60,2197.11%846,441Kitsap71,31760.21%47,12339.79%24,19420.43%118,440Kittitas11,37968.09%5,33231.91%6,04736.19%16,711Klickitat5,16655.49%4,14444.51%1,02210.98%9,310Lewis23,17670.61%9,64829.39%13,52841.21%32,824Lincoln4,18575.43%1,36324.57%2,82250.87%5,548Mason17,01962.79%10,08437.21%6,93525.59%27,103Okanogan9,97163.45%5,74336.55%4,22826.91%15,714Pacific5,46053.67%4,71446.33%7467.33%10,174Pend Oreille4,17967.67%1,99732.33%2,18235.33%6,176Pierce181,79258.20%130,55041.80%51,24216.41%312,342San Juan4,55146.56%5,22453.44%-673-6.88%9,775Skagit33,53063.34%19,41036.66%14,12026.67%52,940Skamania2,67253.34%2,33746.66%3356.69%5,009Snohomish186,16961.36%117,22638.64%68,94322.72%303,395Spokane134,70665.03%72,43934.97%62,26730.06%207,145Stevens14,84170.30%6,27029.70%8,57140.60%21,111Thurston74,73462.41%45,00737.59%29,72724.83%119,741Wahkiakum1,20357.70%88242.30%32115.40%2,085Walla Walla15,91169.65%6,93430.35%8,97739.30%22,845Whatcom53,46656.95%40,41943.05%13,04713.90%93,885Whitman10,08562.42%6,07137.58%4,01424.85%16,156Yakima51,26068.97%23,06131.03%28,19937.94%74,321Totals1,689,76459.46%1,152,17440.54%537,59018.92%2,841,938 Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican King (largest city: Seattle) Pacific (largest city: Raymond) right 275px Swing by county Legend #d5f6ff Democratic — +0-2.5% #ffd5d5 Republican — +0-2.5% #ffaaaa Republican — +2.5-5% #ff8080 Republican — +5-7.5% #ff5555 Republican — +7.5-10% #ff2a2a Republican — +10-12.5% #ff0000 Republican — +12.5-15% #d40000 Republican — +>15% 275px Trend relative to the state by county Legend #09ceff Democratic — +10–12.5% #4bdbff Democratic — +7.5–10% #77e3ff Democratic — +5–7.5% #aaeeff Democratic — +2.5–5% #d5f6ff Democratic — +0–2.5% #ffd5d5 Republican — +0–2.5% #ffaaaa Republican — +2.5–5% #ff8080 Republican — +5–7.5% #ff5555 Republican — +7.5–10% 275px County flips Legend Democratic #92c5de Hold Republican #f48882 Hold #ca0120 Flip By congressional district McKenna won eight of nine congressional districts, including five that elected Democrats.2008 General Data https://www.sos.wa.gov/sites/default/files/2022-05/2008-general-data.zip sos.wa.gov live https://web.archive.org/web/20240520224356/https://www.sos.wa.gov/sites/default/files/2022-05/2008-general-data.zip 2024-05-20 District McKenna Ladenburg RepresentativeWashington 1 1st 61% 39%Jay InsleeWashington 2 2nd 61% 39%Rick LarsenWashington 3 3rd 58% 42%Brian BairdWashington 4 4th 70% 30%Doc HastingsWashington 5 5th 66% 34%Cathy McMorris RodgersWashington 6 6th 57% 43%Norm DicksWashington 7 7th 40% 60%Jim McDermottWashington 8 8th 66% 34%Dave ReichertWashington 9 9th 60% 40%Adam Smith References Notes Attorney general 2008 Category:2008 United States state attorney general elections