2008 Missouri gubernatorial election

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. Democratic nominee Jay Nixon won the open seat, defeating Republican nominee Kenny Hulshof.

2008 Missouri gubernatorial election
November 4, 2008
 
Nominee Jay Nixon Kenny Hulshof
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 1,680,661 1,136,364
Percentage 58.4% 39.5%
County results
Nixon:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      80–90%
Hulshof:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%
Governor before election

Matt Blunt
Republican

 Elected Governor

Jay Nixon
Democratic

Elections in Missouri
Federal government
U.S. President
U.S. Senate
U.S. House
State government
Gubernatorial elections
Lieutenant gubernatorial elections
Attorney General elections
State Auditor elections
State Treasurer elections
Secretary of State elections
Missouri Senate elections
Missouri House elections
Ballot measures
2004
2006
Columbia
Mayoral elections
Kansas City
Mayoral elections
Springfield
Mayoral elections
St. Louis
Mayoral elections

Background

On January 22, 2008, Governor Blunt unexpectedly announced that he would not seek re-election 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.[1] His approval among Republicans polled was 68%, but his rating among Democrats was only 23%.[1]

On November 10, 2005, Democrat Jay Nixon filed the necessary paperwork with the Missouri Ethics Commission to launch a 2008 campaign for governor.[2]

The gubernatorial and other statewide office primaries were held August 5, 2008.[3] CQ Politics rated the race as 'Leans Democratic'.[4]

Timeline
  • March 25, 2008 – Filing deadline for Democrats, Republicans and Libertarians[5]
  • August 5, 2008 – Primary (gubernatorial and other statewide office) elections[5]
  • August 19, 2008 – Filing deadline for other third parties and Independents[5]
  • November 4, 2008 – General election.

Republican primary
Republican primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Kenny Hulshof 194,556 49.2
Republican Sarah Steelman 176,750 44.7
Republican Scott Long 18,745 4.7
Republican Jen Sievers 5,664 1.4
Total votes 395,715 100.0

Democratic primary
Democratic primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Jay Nixon 303,796 85.0
Democratic Daniel Carroll 53,768 15.0
Total votes 357,564 100.0

General election

Polling
Source Date Kenny
Hulshof (R)		 Jay
Nixon (D)
Public Policy Polling November 2, 2008 38.4% 57.9%
Survey USA November 2, 2008 39% 54%
Survey USA October 26, 2008 38% 55%
Rasmussen Reports October 14, 2008 38% 57%
Survey USA September 24, 2008 37% 54%
Rasmussen Reports September 11, 2008 39% 54%
Public Policy Polling August 17, 2008 42% 48%
Survey USA July 31, 2008 42% 48%
Rasmussen Reports July 7, 2008 38% 49%
Rasmussen June 9, 2008 34% 54%
Survey USA May 20, 2008 33% 57%
Rasmussen May 8, 2008 35% 51%
Rasmussen March 24, 2008 37% 48%
Rasmussen February 13, 2008 30% 48%

Results

On election night, Nixon won easily, even though fellow Democrat, then-senator Barack Obama came within only 4,000 some votes of winning the state. Nixon was able to perform well in rural parts of the state. When combined with heavily populated, strong Democratic areas like St. Louis and Kansas City, Hulshof didn't 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 election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Jay Nixon 1,680,611 58.4 +10.6
Republican Kenny Hulshof 1,136,364 39.5 -11.3
Libertarian Andrew Finkenstadt 31,850 1.1 +0.2
Constitution Gregory Thompson 28,941 1.0 +0.6
Write-in 12 0.0 n/a
Total votes 2,877,778 100.0 n/a
Democratic gain from Republican

See also

References
  1. Survey USA
  2. Article by Columbia Daily Tribune: Document points to Nixon run
  3. August 5, 2008 State Primary Election Information Missouri Secretary of State
  4. Dems Gain in Five of Six New CQ Politics Rating Changes Archived 2008-10-12 at the Wayback Machine CQ Politics, October 8, 2008
  5. 2008 Missouri Election Calendar from the Missouri Secretary of State
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