2008 United States Senate election in Oklahoma

The 2008 United States Senate election in Oklahoma was held on November 4, 2008. The statewide primary election was held July 29, with the run-off on August 26. Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator James Inhofe won re-election to a third term over Democrat Andrew Rice.

2008 United States Senate election in Oklahoma
November 4, 2008
 
Nominee Jim Inhofe Andrew Rice
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 763,375 527,736
Percentage 56.7% 39.2%
County Results
Inhofe:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%
Rice:      50–60%
U.S. senator before election

Jim Inhofe
Republican

 Elected U.S. Senator

Jim Inhofe
Republican

Elections in Oklahoma
Government

As of 2020, this is the last time a Democrat carried any counties in an Oklahoma U.S. Senate election.

Democratic primary

Background

Rice officially filed as a candidate for the United States Senate from Oklahoma on Monday, June 2, 2008.[1][2] He won the Democratic primary against Jim Rogers, a retired schoolteacher who stressed campaign finance reform. As in earlier campaigns, Rogers refused to accept money to avoid any question of his allegiances. State Senator Kenneth Corn had earlier expressed interest in the race.

Candidates
  • Andrew Rice, State Senator
  • Jim Rogers

Results
Democratic primary results[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Andrew Rice 113,795 59.65%
Democratic Jim Rogers 76,981 40.35%
Total votes 190,776 100.00%

Republican primary

Candidates
  • Jim Inhofe, incumbent U.S. Senator
  • Dennis Lopez
  • Evelyn Rogers
  • Ted Ryals

Results
Republican primary results[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Jim Inhofe (Incumbent) 116,371 84.18%
Republican Evelyn R. Rogers 10,770 7.79%
Republican Ted Ryals 7,306 5.28%
Republican Dennis Lopez 3,800 2.75%
Total votes 138,247 100.00%

General election

Candidates
  • Jim Inhofe (R), incumbent U.S. Senator
  • Andrew Rice (D), State Senator
  • Stephen Wallace (I), businessman[4]

Campaign

Inhofe, who in August 2008 had a 61% approval rating,[5] emphasized his conservative record and tried to label Rice as a "committed liberal." In the debates, Rice tried to connect Inhofe to George W. Bush saying "An era allowed this to happen. George Bush came into office eight years ago with a Republican majority and … an agenda of radical deregulation."[6] Rice also believed in global warming, something Inhofe is famous for being against.[7] In the election, Inhofe had over $5 million in the bank. Rice had $3.8 million.[8]

Predictions

CQ Politics rated this race as 'Republican Favored'.[9] The Cook Political Report considered it 'Likely Republican'.[10] The Rothenberg Political Report considered it a 'Safe Republican'.[11]

Polling
Poll Source Dates administered Rice Inhofe
Benenson Strategy Group December 8–12, 2007 35% 49%
Tulsa World/KOTV/SoonerPoll December 16–19, 2007 19% 60%
Research 2000/Daily Kos June 9–11, 2008 31% 53%
KSWO August 12–14, 2008 41% 50%
Survey USA September 5–7, 2008 34% 56%
Rasmussen Reports September 11, 2008 39% 55%
Survey USA September 29, 2008 37% 53%
Survey USA October 19, 2008 39% 51%
Survey USA October 29, 2008 36% 56%

Results
United States Senate election in Oklahoma, 2008[12]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Republican Jim Inhofe (Incumbent) 763,375 56.68% -0.62%
Democratic Andrew Rice 527,736 39.18% +2.87%
Independent Stephen Wallace 55,708 4.14%
Majority 235,639 17.50% -3.50%
Turnout 1,346,819
Republican hold Swing

References
  1. Candidates for Federal, State and Legislative Offices Oklahoma State Election Board, June 2–4, 2008
  2. "State Lawmaker To Run For U.S. Senate" Archived September 27, 2007, at the Wayback Machine, Associated Press, August 3, 2007
  3. "Oklahoma State Election Board - Primary Election 2008". Ok.gov. July 29, 2008. Retrieved December 8, 2012.
  4. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on September 3, 2010. Retrieved June 8, 2010.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  5. RealClearPolitics - Politics Nation - OK: Inhofe +22
  6. Rice, Inhofe spar over economy | Tulsa World
  7. An interview with Andrew Rice, the Democrat challenging GOP Sen. James Inhofe | Grist
  8. "Politics Home Page : Roll Call". Archived from the original on September 29, 2008. Retrieved July 27, 2008.
  9. Race Ratings Chart: Senate Archived October 28, 2010, at the Wayback Machine CQ Politics
  10. 2008 Senate Race Ratings Archived November 20, 2008, at the Wayback Machine The Cook Political Report, October 9, 2008
  11. 2008 Senate Ratings The Rothenberg Political Report, September 29, 2008
  12. "2008 Election Statistics". Clerk.house.gov. Retrieved December 8, 2012.
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