2008 Delaware gubernatorial election

none related races 2008 United States gubernatorial elections July 2026 January 2025 September 2023 2008 Delaware gubernatorial election Delaware presidential no 2004 Delaware gubernatorial election 2004 2012 Delaware gubernatorial election 2012 November 4, 2008 File:Jack Markell 48-DPA-944 DSC 9158 (cropped).jpg 150x150px Jack Markell Democratic Party (United States) 266,861 67.52% Bill Lee 3x4.svg Republican Party (United States) 126,662 32.05% 110px County results 110px State House district results Markell: #7996e2 50–60% #6674de 60–70% #584cde 70–80% #3933E5 80–90% #0D0596 >90%Lee: #e27f7f 50–60% Governor Ruth Ann Minner Democratic Party (United States) Jack Markell Democratic Party (United States) The 2008 Delaware gubernatorial election was held on November 4, 2008, to elect the governor of Delaware. Democratic state treasurer Jack Markell defeated Republican former justice Bill Lee. Markell succeeded Democratic incumbent Ruth Ann Minner who was ineligible to seek a third term. As of 2008, Democrats had controlled the Delaware governorship for 16 years. In an upset, state treasurer Markell defeated lieutenant governor John Carney 51%–49% for the Democratic nomination on September 9, when Carney was considered the favorite. The Republican nominee was former state Superior Court Judge Bill Lee, who defeated pilot Michael Protrack. Lee was the Republican nominee for governor in 2004, and lost to Minner by a narrow margin. The race received more attention with the potential elevation of U.S. senator Joe Biden as Barack Obama's choice as his vice presidential nominee. Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Jack Markell, Delaware state treasurer Eliminated in primary John Carney, lieutenant governor of Delaware Results Democratic primary resultshttp://elections.delaware.gov/archive/elect08/elect08_primary_election/html/election.shtml State of Delaware - Department of Elections - State of Delaware April 21, 2011 July 14, 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120714185006/http://elections.delaware.gov/archive/elect08/elect08_primary_election/html/election.shtml dead Democratic Party (United States) Jack Markell 37,849 51.17% Democratic Party (United States) John Carney 36,112 48.83% 73,961 100.00% Republican primary Candidates Nomine Bill Lee, former Delaware Superior Court justice and nominee for governor in 2004 Eliminated in primary Michael Protack, airline pilot Results Republican primary results Republican Party (United States) Bill Lee 20,826 71.88% Republican Party (United States) Michael Protack 8,146 28.12% 28,972 100.00% Third parties and independents Blue Enigma Party Candidates Nominee Jeffrey Brown, bartender and party founder 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, 2021Safe DOctober 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 Safe D 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 Safe D November 3, 2008Real Clear PoliticsNovember 4, 2008 2008 Delaware Governor Race https://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2008/governor/de/delaware_governor.html March 8, 2021 RealClearPoliticsSafe DNovember 4, 2008 Polling Source Date JackMarkell (D) BillLee (R)Survey USASurvey USA October 28, 2008 62% 27%Rasmussen ReportsRasmussen Reports October 10, 2008 62% 34%West Chester University/WHYYWest Chester University/WHYY October 9, 2008 61% 30%Fairleigh Dickinsonhttp://www.delawareonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080926/NEWS02/809260322/1006/NEWS Fairleigh Dickinson September 28, 2008 September 26, 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20080926205149/http://www.delawareonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080926/NEWS02/809260322/1006/NEWS dead September 23, 2008 61% 27%Survey USASurvey USA September 23, 2008 64% 29% Results 2008 Delaware gubernatorial electionhttp://elections.delaware.gov/archive/elect08/elect08_general_election/html/elect08_gen_office.shtml State of Delaware - Department of Elections - State of Delaware April 21, 2011 May 28, 2019 https://web.archive.org/web/20190528144158/https://elections.delaware.gov/archive/elect08/elect08_general_election/html/elect08_gen_office.shtml dead Democratic Party (United States) Jack Markell 266,861 67.52% +16.65% Republican Party (United States) Bill Lee 126,662 32.05% −13.74% Blue Enigma Party Jeffrey Brown 1,681 0.43% 140,199 35.48% +30.40% 395,204 100.00 Democratic Party (United States) By county CountyJack MarkellDemocraticWilliam LeeRepublicanAll Others#%#%#%Kent41,07663.2523,64636.412180.34New Castle180,24073.962,43225.61,2120.5Sussex45,54552.7340,58446.982510.29 Totals266,86167.52126,66232.051,6810.43 Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic Kent (largest city: Dover) Sussex (largest city: Seaford) right 110px Swing by county 110px Trend relative to the state by county Legend #006D92 Democratic —+>40% #00a1c8 Democratic —+30−40% #00bdec Democratic —+25−30% #09ceff Democratic—+20%−25% #4bdbff Democratic—+15%−20% #77e3ff Democratic—+10−15% #aaeeff Democratic—+5−10% #D5F6FF Democratic—+<5% #FFD5D5 Republican—+<5% #FFAAAA Republican—+5−10% #FF8080 Republican—+10−15% #FF5555 Republican—+15−20% #FF2A2A Republican—+20−25% #FF0000 Republican—+25−30% 110px County flips Legend Democratic #92c5de Hold #0671b0 Flip See also 2008 United States elections References External links Delaware Commissioner of Elections Delaware Governor candidates https://web.archive.org/web/20081023081833/http://www.votesmart.org/election_governor_five_categories.php?state_id=DE October 23, 2008 at Project Vote Smart Delaware Governor race from OurCampaigns.com Delaware Governor race from 2008 Race Tracker Campaign contributions from Follow the Money Official campaign websites (archived) John Carney, Democratic candidate Bill Lee, Republican candidate Jack Markell, Democratic candidate 2008 Category:2008 United States gubernatorial elections Gubernatorial Category:Long stubs with short prose