2008 Delaware gubernatorial election

2008 Delaware gubernatorial election
November 4, 2008
 
Nominee Jack Markell Bill Lee
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 266,861 126,662
Percentage 67.52% 32.05%
Markell:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90%
Lee:      50–60%
Governor before election

Ruth Ann Minner
Democratic

 Elected Governor

Jack Markell
Democratic

The 2008 Delaware gubernatorial election was held on November 4, 2008, to elect the governor of Delaware. Democratic state treasurer Jack Markell defeated Republican former justice Bill Lee. Markell succeeded Democratic incumbent Ruth Ann Minner who was ineligible to seek a third term.

As of 2008, Democrats had controlled the Delaware governorship for 16 years. In an upset, state treasurer Markell defeated lieutenant governor John Carney 51%–49% for the Democratic nomination on September 9, when Carney was considered the favorite. The Republican nominee was former state Superior Court Judge Bill Lee, who defeated pilot Michael Protrack. Lee was the Republican nominee for governor in 2004, and lost to Minner by a narrow margin.

The race received more attention with the potential elevation of U.S. senator Joe Biden as Barack Obama's choice as his vice presidential nominee.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

Eliminated in primary

Results

Democratic primary results[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Jack Markell 37,849 51.17%
Democratic John Carney 36,112 48.83%
Total votes 73,961 100.00%

Republican primary

Candidates

Nomine

Eliminated in primary

  • Michael Protack, airline pilot

Results

Republican primary results[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Bill Lee 20,826 71.88%
Republican Michael Protack 8,146 28.12%
Total votes 28,972 100.00%

Third parties and independents

Blue Enigma Party

Candidates

Nominee

  • Jeffrey Brown, bartender and party founder

General election

Predictions

Source Ranking As of
The Cook Political Report[2] Safe D October 16, 2008
Rothenberg Political Report[3] Safe D November 2, 2008
Sabato's Crystal Ball[4] Safe D November 3, 2008
Real Clear Politics[5] Safe D November 4, 2008

Polling

Source Date Jack
Markell (D)		 Bill
Lee (R)
Survey USA[6] October 28, 2008 62% 27%
Rasmussen Reports[7] October 10, 2008 62% 34%
West Chester University/WHYY[8] October 9, 2008 61% 30%
Fairleigh Dickinson[9] September 23, 2008 61% 27%
Survey USA[10] September 23, 2008 64% 29%

Results

2008 Delaware gubernatorial election[11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Jack Markell 266,861 67.52% +16.65%
Republican Bill Lee 126,662 32.05% −13.74%
Blue Enigma Jeffrey Brown 1,681 0.43%
Majority 140,199 35.48% +30.40%
Total votes 395,204 100.00
Democratic hold Swing

By county

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "State of Delaware - Department of Elections - State of Delaware". Archived from the original on July 14, 2012. Retrieved April 21, 2011.
  2. ↑ "2008 Governor Race ratings". The Cook Political Report. Retrieved March 4, 2021.
  3. ↑ "2008 Gubernatorial Ratings". Gubernatorial Ratings. The Rothenberg Political Report. Retrieved May 25, 2021.
  4. ↑ "THE LAST LAST WORD The Crystal Ball's Final Projections for the 2008 Election". Sabato's Crystal Ball. Retrieved December 25, 2021.
  5. ↑ "2008 Delaware Governor Race". RealClearPolitics. November 4, 2008. Retrieved March 8, 2021.
  6. ↑ Survey USA
  7. ↑ Rasmussen Reports
  8. ↑ West Chester University/WHYY
  9. ↑ "Fairleigh Dickinson". Archived from the original on September 26, 2008. Retrieved September 28, 2008.
  10. ↑ Survey USA
  11. ↑ "State of Delaware - Department of Elections - State of Delaware". Archived from the original on May 28, 2019. Retrieved April 21, 2011.
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