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2008 United States Senate election in Iowa

← 2002 November 4, 2008 2014 →

Nominee Tom Harkin Christopher Reed Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 941,665 560,006 Percentage 62.66% 37.26%

County results Precinct resultsHarkin:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90% Reed:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90% Tie:      50%      No Data

U.S. senator before election Tom Harkin Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Tom Harkin Democratic

Elections in Iowa
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v t e

The 2008 United States Senate election in Iowa was held on November 4, 2008. Incumbent Senator Tom Harkin sought re-election to a fifth term in office. Unlike Harkin's three previous reelection bids, he was not challenged by a sitting United States Congressman but instead faced small businessman Christopher Reed, who won the Republican primary by just a few hundred votes. Harkin defeated Reed in a landslide, winning 94 of Iowa's 99 counties. As of 2024, this is the last time that a Democrat has won a U.S. Senate election in Iowa.

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Tom Harkin, incumbent U.S. Senator

Results

Republican primary

Candidates

• George Eichhorn, former Iowa State Representative
• Steve Rathje, construction company executive
• Christopher Reed, small businessman

Results

General election

Predictions

Polling

Results

Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic

• Butler (Largest city: Parkersburg)
• Crawford (Largest city: Denison)
• Delaware (Largest city: Manchester)
• Van Buren (Largest city: Keosauqua)
• Plymouth (largest city: Le Mars)
• Grundy (largest city: Grundy Center)
• Harrison (largest city: Missouri Valley)
• Cass (largest city: Atlantic)
• Ida (largest city: Ida Grove)
• Fremont (largest city: Sidney)
• Pottawattamie (largest city: Council Bluffs)
• Sac (largest city: Sac City)
• Shelby (largest city: Harlan)
• Marion (largest city: Pella)
• Mills (largest city: Glenwood)
• Montgomery (largest city: Red Oak)
• Mahaska (largest city: Oskaloosa)

See also

• 2008 United States Senate elections

References

1. ^ "Official Results Report 2008 Primary Election" (PDF). Retrieved January 17, 2020.
2. "2008 Senate Race ratings for October 23, 2008". The Cook Political Report. Retrieved April 1, 2021.
3. Race Ratings Chart: Senate Archived October 28, 2010, at the Wayback Machine CQ Politics
4. "2008 Senate ratings". Inside Elections. Retrieved April 1, 2021.
5. "2008 RCP Averages & Senate Results". Real Clear Politics. Retrieved August 31, 2021.
6. Survey USA
7. Research 2000
8. Rasmussen Reports
9. Rasmussen Reports
10. Rasmussen Reports
11. Survey USA
12. Rasmussen Reports
13. "Statistics of the Presidential and Congressional Election of November 4, 2008" (PDF). Retrieved January 17, 2020.

• United States Senate elections in Iowa
• 2008 United States Senate elections
• 2008 Iowa elections