2008 United States Senate election in Texas
November 4, 2008
 
Nominee John Cornyn Rick Noriega
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 4,337,469 3,389,365
Percentage 54.82% 42.84%
County results
Cornyn:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90%
Noriega:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%
U.S. senator before election

John Cornyn
Republican

 Elected U.S. Senator

John Cornyn
Republican

The 2008 United States Senate election in Texas was held on November 4, 2008. Incumbent Republican John Cornyn defeated Democratic nominee Rick Noriega, a member of the Texas House of Representatives, to win re-election to a second term in office.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Results

Democratic primary[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Rick Noriega 1,110,579 51.01%
Democratic Gene Kelly 584,966 26.87%
Democratic Ray McMurrey 269,402 12.37%
Democratic Rhett Smith 213,305 9.75%
Total votes 2,178,252 100.00%

Republican primary

Candidates

Results

Republican Primary[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican John Cornyn (incumbent) 997,216 81.48% +4.17%
Republican Larry Kilgore 226,649 18.52% +0.00%

General election

Candidates

  • John Cornyn (R), incumbent U.S. Senator
  • Rick Noriega (D), State Representative
  • Yvonne Adams Schick (L), real estate entrepreneur[3]

Campaign

Cornyn, running as an incumbent, had a 42% approval rating with a 43% disapproval rating in June 2007.[4] Texas is a red state, that Republican presidential nominee John McCain won with over 55% of the vote. Cornyn slightly underperformed McCain. However, Noriega underperformed both 2008 Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama in Texas and Cornyn's 2002 opponent, Ron Kirk, with Noriega receiving just 42.8% of the vote.

Predictions

Source Ranking As of
The Cook Political Report[5] Safe R October 23, 2008
CQ Politics[6] Likely R October 31, 2008
Rothenberg Political Report[7] Safe R November 2, 2008
Real Clear Politics[8] Safe R November 4, 2008

Polling

Poll source Dates administered Rick Noriega (D) John Cornyn (R)
Rasmussen September 18, 2007 30% 53%
Research 2000 September 24–26, 2007 35% 51%
Rasmussen Reports May 1, 2008 43% 47%
Research 2000/Daily Kos May 5–7, 2008 44% 48%
Baselice & Associates May 20–25, 2008 33% 49%
Rasmussen Reports June 2, 2008 35% 52%
Rasmussen Reports June 25, 2008 35% 48%
Rasmussen Reports July 30, 2008 39% 50%
Rasmussen Reports September 29, 2008 43% 50%
Rasmussen Reports October 21, 2008 40% 55%

Results

2008 Texas U.S. Senate general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican John Cornyn (incumbent) 4,337,469 54.82% −0.48%
Democratic Rick Noriega 3,389,365 42.84% −0.50%
Libertarian Yvonne Adams Schick 185,241 2.34% +1.55%
Majority 948,104 11.98%
Turnout 7,912,075 58.28%
Republican hold Swing

Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic

Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Our Campaigns - TX US Senate - D Primary Race - Mar 04, 2008". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved December 19, 2022.
  2. ↑ "Our Campaigns - TX US Senate - R Primary Race - Mar 04, 2008". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved December 19, 2022.
  3. ↑ "NewsBank". Archived from the original on October 25, 2012. Retrieved May 17, 2011.
  4. ↑ "SurveyUSA News Poll #12245". www.surveyusa.com. Retrieved December 19, 2022.
  5. ↑ "2008 Senate Race ratings for October 23, 2008". The Cook Political Report. Retrieved April 1, 2021.
  6. ↑ Race Ratings Chart: Senate Archived October 28, 2010, at the Wayback Machine CQ Politics
  7. ↑ "2008 Senate ratings". Inside Elections. Retrieved April 1, 2021.
  8. ↑ "2008 RCP Averages & Senate Results". Real Clear Politics. Retrieved August 31, 2021.
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