United States Senate election in Tennessee, 2008

The Tennessee United States Senate election of 2008 will be held on November 4, 2008.Since 1994, the Republican Party has held both of Tennessee's Senate seats. The seat is currently held by Republican Senator Lamar Alexander.

"CQ Politics" rates this race as 'Republican Favored'. [ [http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=ratings-senate Race Ratings Chart: Senate] "CQ Politics"] "The Cook Political Report" considers it 'Solid Republican'. [ [http://www.cookpolitical.com/charts/senate/raceratings_2008-10-09_12-20-35.php 2008 Senate Race Ratings] "The Cook Political Report", October 9, 2008] "The Rothenberg Political Report" considers it a 'Safe Republican'. [ [http://rothenbergpoliticalreport.blogspot.com/2008/09/2008-senate-ratings_29.html 2008 Senate Ratings] "The Rothenberg Political Report", September 29, 2008]

=Candidates [cite news|url=http://www.state.tn.us/sos/election/cand/USSenateList.pdf|title=Tennessee Department of State-U.S. Senate Candidates] =

Republican Party

* Lamar Alexander: United States Senator (2003-present), former United States Secretary of Education under George H.W. Bush (1991-1993), 45th Governor of Tennessee (1979-1987), and two time candidate for President of the United States (1996 and 2000). On April 3, 2007, Alexander confirmed that he will seek re-election to the Senate in 2008. Alexander has remained a popular figure in Tennessee since his first term as governor and faces no opposition in the Republican primary [ [http://www.chattanoogan.com/articles/article_104845.asp 4/3/2007 - Alexander Running Again, Sets Fundraiser - Breaking News - Chattanoogan.com ] ]

Democratic Party

*Bob Tuke: Democratic Party of Tennessee Chairman 2005-2007, a Democratic party activist and Nashville area attorney. Bob Tuke is a former Marine that served in the Vietnam War and is currently serving as Barack Obama's Presidential campaign chair in Tennessee. Tuke declared himself to be a candidate March 3, 2008 and has secured the help of several high profile Democratic campaigners including Joe Trippi.

Lost Primary

*Mark E. Clayton: Mark works in insurance and is also writing a book intended as a scripture study aide.
*Gary G. Davis
*Kenneth Eaton: Nashville mayoral candidate 2003 and 2007, businessman and entrepreneur with 30 years experience from Nashville. He was the first Democrat to announce his candidacy for the US Senate on February 18, 2008.
*Leonard D. Ladner owner and operater of an eighteen wheeler.
*Mike Padgett: Knox County Clerk 1986-2007, instituted the "satellite office" program in his capacity as County Clerk. Mike Padgett was forced to resign from the Clerk's position due to a court enforcement of term limit laws in 2007. Padgett formally declared himself to be a candidate on March 4, 2008.

Mike Padgett finished third after Gary Davis, who did not campaign and used no money. Supporters of Padgett were surprised at the results. They claimed that perhaps there was name confusion, with two incumbent congressmen David Davis and Lincoln Davis. [cite news |first=Frank |last=Cagle |url=http://www.metropulse.com/news/2008/aug/13/restoration/ |title= Last week’s county election puts the Republican machine back in power |work=Knoxville Metro Pulse |date=August 13, 2008]

Independents

*Edward Buck: independent senate candidate
*Christopher L. Fenner: independent senate candidate
*David None of the Above Gatchell: 2006 independent senate candidate is running as the "None of the Above" candidate
*Emory "Bo" Heyward: independent senate candidate
*Ed Lawhorn : independent senate candidate
*Daniel T. Lewis: is the Libertarian Candidate. Daniel Lewis ran for Tennessee House in 2004. [United States Senate Candidate List From Tennessee http://www.state.tn.us/sos/election/cand/USSenateList.pdf]
*Chris Lugo: Peace activist and 2006 Green Party US Senate candidate. Lugo announced on January 17th that he was seeking the nomination of the Democratic Party as a 'Progressive Democrat.' fact|date=March 2008 In March 2008, Lugo announced he was dropping his candidacy for the Democratic nomination, and would run either for the Green Party nomination or as an independent. [cite news|author=Nathan Frick|url=http://www.newschannel9.com/news/senate_967358___article.html/green_year.html|title=Democratic Senate Field Narrowed|work=News Channel 9|date=2008-03-21|accessdate=2008-03-30] Lugo filed as an independent.

Polling

Election Results

Democratic Primary

Unofficial results [http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/files/elections/2008/by_state/TN_US_Senate_0807.html?SITE=TNMEM&SECTION=POLITICS] :Election box candidate with party link
party = Democratic Party (United States)
candidate = Bob Tuke
votes = 58,972
percentage = 32.2
change = Election box candidate with party link
party = Democratic Party (United States)
candidate = Gary G. Davis
votes = 38,911
percentage = 21.3
change = Election box candidate with party link
party = Democratic Party (United States)
candidate = Mike Padgett
votes = 33,430
percentage = 18.3
change = Election box candidate with party link
party = Democratic Party (United States)
candidate = Mark E. Clayton
votes = 32,267
percentage = 17.6
change = Election box candidate with party link
party = Democratic Party (United States)
candidate = Kenneth Eaton
votes = 14,681
percentage = 8.0
change = Election box candidate with party link
party = Democratic Party (United States)
candidate = Leonard D. Ladner
votes = 4,689
percentage = 2.6
change = Election box turnout
votes = 182,950
percentage =
change =

General Election

Election box candidate with party link
party = Republican Party (United States)
candidate = Lamar Alexander
votes =
percentage =
change = Election box candidate with party link
party = Democratic Party (United States)
candidate = Bob Tuke
votes =
percentage =
change = Election box candidate with party link
party = Libertarian Party (United States)
candidate = Daniel T. Lewis
votes =
percentage =
change = Election box candidate with party link
party = Independent (politician)
candidate = Edward Buck
votes =
percentage =
change = Election box candidate with party link
party = Independent (politician)
candidate = Christopher L. Fenner
votes =
percentage =
change = Election box candidate with party link
party = Independent (politician)
candidate = David None of the Above Gatchell
votes =
percentage =
change = Election box candidate with party link
party = Independent (politician)
candidate = Ed Lawhorn
votes =
percentage =
change = Election box candidate with party link
party = Independent (politician)
candidate = Chris Lugo
votes =
percentage =
change = Election box majority
votes =
percentage =
change = Election box turnout
votes =
percentage =
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References

External links

* [http://www.state.tn.us/sos/election/ Division of Elections] from the "Tennessee Department of State"
* [http://www.votesmart.org/election_congress_state.php?state_id=TN&go33.x=8&go33.y=11 U.S. Congress candidates for Tennessee] at Project Vote Smart
* [http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=senate-TN Tennessee, U.S. Senate] from CQ Politics
* [http://www.ourcampaigns.com/cgi-bin/r.cgi/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=294971 Tennessee U.S. Senate] from "OurCampaigns.com"
* [http://www.2008racetracker.com/page/TN-Sen Tennessee Senate race] from "2008 Race Tracker"
* [http://www.opensecrets.org/races/summary.php?id=TNS2&cycle=2008 Campaign contributions] from OpenSecrets.org
* [http://www.pollster.com/polls/tn/08-tn-sen-ge-avt.php Alexander (R-i) vs Tuke (D)] graph of multiple polls from "Pollster.com"

*"Official campaign websites"
** [http://www.lamaralexander.com/ Lamar Alexander] , Republican incumbent candidate
** [http://www.claytonforsenate.com/ Mark E. Clayton] , Democratic candidate
** [http://www.kennetheaton.com/ Kenneth Eaton] , Democratic candidate
** [http://www.votepadgett.com/ Mike Padgett] , Democratic candidate
** [http://www.tukefortennessee.com/ Bob Tuke] , Democratic candidate
** [http://www.noneoftheabove-tn.org/ David "None of the Above" Gatchell] , Independent candidate
** [http://www.edlawhorn.com/Welcome.html/ Ed Lawhorn] , Independent candidate
** [http://www.getyourcountryback.com/ Daniel T. Lewis] , Independent (Libertarian Party) candidate
** [http://www.voteforpeace.info/ Chris Lugo] , Independent (Green Party) candidate

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