Date 4 November 2008 | ||
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The 2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Alabama were held on November 4, 2008 to determine who will represent the state of Alabama in the United States House of Representatives, coinciding with the presidential and senatorial elections. Representatives are elected for two-year terms; those elected will serve in the 111th Congress from January 4, 2009 until January 3, 2011.
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Alabama has seven seats in the House, apportioned according to the 2000 United States Census. Its 2007-2008 congressional delegation consisted of five Republicans and two Democrats. It is now four Republicans and three Democrats. District 2 changed party (from open Republican to Democratic). As of 2016, this is the last election in which Democrats won more than one congressional district in Alabama.
District 1
The Democratic and Republican primaries were not contested. However, Democrat Thomas Fuller withdrew from the race on June 12, 2008, stating he was unable to wage a creditable campaign in the district.
CQ Politics forecasted the race as 'Safe Republican'.
District 2
This district covers southeastern Alabama, including Dothan and Montgomery. CQ Politics forecasted the race as 'No Clear Favorite'. The Rothenberg Political Report rated it 'Pure Toss-Up'. The Cook Political Report ranked it 'Republican Toss Up'.
Republican Terry Everett, who had represented the district since 1993, decided to retire. Montgomery Mayor Bobby Bright won the Democratic primary. State Representative Jay Love won the Republican run-off election on July 15 against State Senator Harri Anne Smith (campaign website). George W. Bush won 67% in 2004 here. Bright won 50% of the vote to Love's 49%.
District 3
The Democratic and Republican primaries were not contested.
CQ Politics forecasted the race as 'Republican Favored'.
District 4
The Republican primary was uncontested, and Nick Sparks won against Greg Warren in the Democratic primary.
CQ Politics forecasted the race as 'Safe Republican'.
District 5
This district includes the counties of Colbert, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Limestone, Madison, Jackson, and parts of Morgan. Democratic incumbent Bud Cramer has represented the district since 1990. He did not seek reelection and endorsed State Senator Parker Griffith. CQ Politics forecasted the race as 'No Clear Favorite'. The Rothenberg Political Report rated it 'Pure Toss-Up'. The Cook Political Report ranked it 'Democrat Toss Up'.
In the June 3, 2008 primary election, there were eight candidates running for the seat. On the Democratic side, State Senator Dr. Parker Griffith defeated physicist David Maker (website), carrying 90% of the vote. Wayne Parker won the Republican runoff on July 15 against attorney Cheryl Baswell Guthrie (campaign website). In the primary, Wayne Parker had failed to gain the necessary 51% of the vote to avoid the runoff. Guthrie had carried 18% of the vote. Wayne Parker is a son-in-law of former U.S. Representative Bill Archer of Texas, once chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee.
A year after his election, Griffith switched parties and ran for a second term in the 2010 Republican primary.
District 6
The Democratic and Republican primaries were not contested.
CQ Politics forecasted the race as 'Safe Republican'.
District 7
The Democratic and Republican primaries were not contested.
CQ Politics forecasted the race as 'Safe Democrat'.