United States House of Representatives elections, 2008

Composition entering the election

At the end of the 110th Congress (2nd Session), the membership of the U.S. House of Representatives was composed of 235 Democrats, 199 Republicans, and one vacancy.

Special elections in 2008 for the 110th Congress

In 2008 there were eight special elections for vacant seats in the United States House of Representatives, for the 110th United States Congress. In the special elections, Democrats gained three seats while keeping hold on five seats. Republicans held of only one of their four seats.

Retiring incumbents

Thirty-three incumbents voluntarily retired.

Democratic incumbents

All six seats held by retiring Democrats were won by Democrats.

1. Alabama's 5th congressional district: Bud Cramer: "[T]o spend more time with my family and begin another chapter in my life"
2. Colorado's 2nd congressional district: Mark Udall: Ran for and won the U.S. Senate seat vacated by Wayne Allard.
3. Maine's 1st congressional district: Tom Allen: Ran against and lost to Susan Collins in the U.S. Senate election.
4. New Mexico's 3rd congressional district: Tom Udall: Ran for and won the U.S. Senate seat vacated by Pete Domenici.
5. New York's 21st congressional district: Michael McNulty: "[I]t's not what I want to do for the rest of my life."
6. Oregon's 5th congressional district: Darlene Hooley: Because of the "cumulative effect of arduous travel, the relentless demands of fund-raising and 32 years of public service"

Republican incumbents

Twenty-seven Republicans retired. Thirteen of their seats were then won by Democrats (see Open seat gains, below).

1. Alabama's 2nd congressional district: Terry Everett: Because of age and health
2. Arizona's 1st congressional district: Rick Renzi: To fight federal criminal charges involving a land-swap deal
3. California's 4th congressional district: John Doolittle: To fight an FBI corruption investigation
4. California's 52nd congressional district: Duncan Hunter Ran for and lost the race for the Republican nomination for President. Already planned to retire
5. Colorado's 6th congressional district: Tom Tancredo: Ran for and lost the race for the Republican nomination for President
6. Florida's 15th congressional district: Dave Weldon: To return to his medical practice
7. Illinois's 11th congressional district: Jerry Weller: To spend more time with his family, amid questions about his Nicaraguan land dealings, his wife's investments, and his relationship to an indicted defense contractor
8. Illinois's 18th congressional district: Ray LaHood (On December 19, 2008, President-elect Barack Obama announced his intention to nominate LaHood to serve as the next Secretary of Transportation.) He was later confirmed.
9. Kentucky's 2nd congressional district: Ron Lewis
10. Louisiana's 4th congressional district: Jim McCrery
11. Minnesota's 3rd congressional district: Jim Ramstad
12. Mississippi's 3rd congressional district: Chip Pickering
13. Missouri's 9th congressional district: Kenny Hulshof: Ran for and lost the election for governor
14. New Jersey's 3rd congressional district: Jim Saxton: Because of age and health
15. New Jersey's 7th congressional district: Mike Ferguson: To spend more time with his family
16. New Mexico's 1st congressional district: Heather Wilson: Ran in and lost the Republican primary for New Mexico's open U.S. Senate seat
17. New Mexico's 2nd congressional district: Steve Pearce: Ran for and lost the election for New Mexico's open U.S. Senate seat
18. New York's 13th congressional district: Vito Fossella: Amid scandal following a drunk driving arrest which led to revelations of infidelity and a secret family he maintained in Virginia
19. New York's 25th congressional district: Jim Walsh
20. New York's 26th congressional district: Tom Reynolds
21. Ohio's 7th congressional district: Dave Hobson: "I wanted to go out on top"
22. Ohio's 15th congressional district: Deborah Pryce: To spend more time with her family
23. Ohio's 16th congressional district: Ralph Regula
24. Pennsylvania's 5th congressional district: John Peterson: To spend more time with his family
25. Puerto Rico's at-large congressional district: Luis Fortuño: Ran for and won the Governorship of Puerto Rico defeating Gov. Aníbal Acevedo Vilá
26. Virginia's 11th congressional district: Thomas M. Davis: "It's time for me to take a sabbatical"
27. Wyoming's at-large congressional district: Barbara Cubin

Incumbents defeated in primary election

One Republican lost in a primary and the seat was eventually won by a Democrat. One Democrat lost the primary as did two Republicans. The primary winners, however, managed to retain the seat for the same party.

1. Maryland's 1st congressional district: Wayne Gilchrest (R), whose seat was later won by a Democrat
2. Maryland's 4th congressional district: Albert Wynn (D), who subsequently resigned May 31, 2008
3. Utah's 3rd congressional district: Chris Cannon (R)
4. Tennessee's 1st congressional district: David Davis (R)

Incumbents defeated in general election

Fourteen Republicans and Five Democrats lost their general elections, thereby losing their seats to the other party.

1. Colorado's 4th congressional district: Marilyn Musgrave (R)
2. Connecticut's 4th congressional district: Christopher Shays (R)
3. Florida's 8th congressional district: Ric Keller (R)
4. Florida's 16th congressional district: Tim Mahoney (D)
5. Florida's 24th congressional district: Tom Feeney (R)
6. Idaho's 1st congressional district: Bill Sali (R)
7. Kansas's 2nd congressional district: Nancy Boyda (D)
8. Louisiana's 2nd congressional district: William J. Jefferson (D)
9. Louisiana's 6th congressional district: Don Cazayoux (D)
10. Michigan's 7th congressional district: Tim Walberg (R)
11. Michigan's 9th congressional district: Joe Knollenberg (R)
12. Nevada's 3rd congressional district: Jon Porter (R)
13. New York's 29th congressional district: Randy Kuhl (R)
14. North Carolina's 8th congressional district: Robin Hayes (R)
15. Ohio's 1st congressional district: Steve Chabot (R)
16. Pennsylvania's 3rd congressional district: Phil English (R)
17. Texas's 22nd congressional district: Nick Lampson (D)
18. Virginia's 2nd congressional district: Thelma Drake (R)
19. Virginia's 5th congressional district: Virgil Goode (R)

Open seat gains

Twelve seats held by retiring Republicans were won by Democrats. No Democratic retirements were picked up by Republicans.

1. Alabama's 2nd congressional district (Democratic gain)
2. Arizona's 1st congressional district (Democratic gain)
3. Illinois's 11th congressional district (Democratic gain)
4. Maryland's 1st congressional district (Democratic gain)
5. New Jersey's 3rd congressional district (Democratic gain)
6. New Mexico's 1st congressional district (Democratic gain)
7. New Mexico's 2nd congressional district (Democratic gain)
8. New York's 13th congressional district (Democratic gain)
9. New York's 25th congressional district (Democratic gain)
10. Ohio's 15th congressional district (Democratic gain)
11. Ohio's 16th congressional district (Democratic gain)
12. Puerto Rico's at-large congressional district (NPP gain)
13. Virginia's 11th congressional district (Democratic gain)

Results

^A The number of non-voting members also includes the non-voting member-elect from Puerto Rico, Pedro Pierluisi, who is a member of the New Progressive Party of Puerto Rico, but will caucus with the Democrats. The New Progressive Party is affiliated with both the Democratic and Republican Parties and the last representative from Puerto Rico, Luis Fortuño, caucused with the Republicans. The vote total for the non-voting members also includes the Popular Democratic Party of Puerto Rico, which has ties to the Democratic Party. ^B Both non-voting independents, American Samoa's representative Eni Faleomavaega and the Northern Mariana Islands' representative-elect Gregorio Sablan, will caucus with the Democrats. In America Samoa all elections are non-partisan. In the Northern Mariana Islands, Sablan appeared on the ballot as an independent. ^C Write-in candidates are included with the vote totals.

Complete list

Most recent election results are listed. Winning candidates are listed in bold.

Key to party abbreviations:

Louisiana

Note: In Louisiana's 2nd and 4th districts, primary runoffs were held November 4, 2008 and the general election for both of these races were held December 6, 2008.