2008 United States Senate election in Colorado

The 2008 United States Senate election in Colorado was held November 4, 2008. The primary elections were held August 12, 2008.[1] Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Wayne Allard decided to retire instead of seeking a third term. Democratic nominee Mark Udall won the open seat, making this the first time a Democrat had held this seat since 1978. As of 2020, this is the last time the Democrats have won the Class 2 Senate Seat from Colorado.

2008 United States Senate election in Colorado
November 4, 2008
 
Nominee Mark Udall Bob Schaffer
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 1,231,049 990,784
Percentage 52.8% 42.5%
County results
Udall:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%
Schaffer:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%
U.S. senator before election

Wayne Allard
Republican

 Elected U.S. Senator

Mark Udall
Democratic

Elections in Colorado

Democratic primary

Candidates

Results
Democratic primary results[2]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Mark Udall 194,227 100.00%
Total votes 194,227 100.00%

Republican primary

Candidates

Results
Republican primary results[2]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Bob Schaffer 239,212 100.00%
Total votes 239,212 100.00%

General election

Campaign

The election featured an open contest because incumbent U.S. Senator Wayne Allard declined to seek re-election. He honored his 1996 pledge to serve no more than two terms in the U.S. Senate and announced that he will retire from his service to the US Senate and not seek a 3rd term, leaving Colorado's Class II Senate seat open. Both parties believed this senate contest would be one of the most competitive senate races during the 2008 election.[3]

Predictions

CQ Politics rated this race as 'Democrat Favored'.[4] The Cook Political Report considered it 'Lean Democrat'.[5] The Rothenberg Political Report considered it a 'Lean Takeover'.[6]

Polling
Poll source Dates administered Mark
Udall (D)		 Bob
Schaffer (R)
Hill Research Consultants August 26–28, 2007 45% 40%
Ciruli Associates September 12–15, 2007 36% 35%
SurveyUSA October 27–30, 2007 48% 41%
Rasmussen Reports November 28, 2007 41% 42%
Research for Change December 3–5, 2007 39% 37%
Rasmussen Reports February 11, 2008 43% 44%
McLaughlin & Associates/
Coalition for a Democratic Workplace		 March 6–9, 2008 44% 32%
Rasmussen Reports March 17, 2008 46% 43%
New Leadership USA/TargetPoint March 31 – April 7, 2008 45% 45%
Rasmussen Reports April 16, 2008 45% 42%
Rasmussen Reports May 19, 2008 47% 41%
Rasmussen Reports June 17, 2008 49% 40%
Garin-Hart-Yang/DSCC June 15–17, 2008 46% 37%
Quinnipiac June 26, 2008 48% 38%
Public Policy Polling(PPP) July 10, 2008 47% 38%
Keith Frederick July 22, 2008 48% 39%
Rasmussen Reports July 22, 2008 49% 46%
Quinnipiac July 24, 2008 44% 44%
Rasmussen Reports August 13, 2008 50% 42%
Hill Research Consultants August 24, 2008 41% 38%
Tarrance Group September 3, 2008 41% 40%
Public Policy Polling September 21, 2008 48% 40%
Quinnipiac September 14–21, 2008 48% 40%
Rasmussen Reports September 23, 2008 46% 44%
Denver Post September 29 – October 1, 2008 43% 38%
Ciruli Associates October 1, 2008 45% 38%
Rasmussen Reports October 16, 2008 51% 44%

Results
2008 United States Senate election in Colorado[7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Democratic Mark Udall 1,231,049 52.80% +7.03%
Republican Bob Schaffer 990,784 42.49% -8.20%
Constitution Douglas Campbell 59,736 2.56% +1.04%
Green Bob Kinsey 50,008 2.14% N/A
Write-in 135 0.01% N/A
Total votes 2,331,712 100.00% N/A
Democratic gain from Republican

References
  1. "Candidate List for the August 12, 2008 Primary Election" (PDF). Colorado State Government.
  2. http://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/elections/ElectionArchives/2008/2008_Abstract.pdf
  3. Phillips, Kate (June 13, 2008). "G.O.P. Leader Maps Senate Elections". The New York Times.
  4. "Race Ratings Chart: Senate". CQ Politics. Archived from the original on October 28, 2010.
  5. "2008 Senate Race Ratings". The Cook Political Report. October 9, 2008. Archived from the original on November 20, 2008.
  6. "Senate Ratings". The Rothenberg Political Report. September 29, 2008.
  7. https://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/elections/Results/Abstract/pdf/2000-2099/2008AbstractBook.pdf
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