| Election Name: | 2008 United States gubernatorial elections |
| Country: | United States |
| Type: | legislative |
| Seats For Election: | 13 governorships 11 states; 2 territories |
| Election Date: | November 4, 2008 |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 2007 United States gubernatorial elections |
| Previous Year: | 2007 |
| Next Election: | 2009 United States gubernatorial elections |
| Next Year: | 2009 |
| 1Blank: | Seats up |
| 2Blank: | Seats won |
| Party1: | Democratic Party (United States) |
| Seats Before1: | 28 |
| Seats After1: | 29 |
| Seat Change1: | 1 |
| Popular Vote1: | 8,395,587 |
| Percentage1: | 50.22% |
| 1Data1: | 6 |
| 2Data1: | 7 |
| Party2: | Republican Party (United States) |
| Seats Before2: | 22 |
| Seats After2: | 21 |
| Seat Change2: | 1 |
| Popular Vote2: | 7,901,188 |
| Percentage2: | 47.26% |
| 1Data2: | 5 |
| 2Data2: | 4 |
| Map Size: | 320px |
United States gubernatorial elections were held on November 4, 2008, in 11 states and two territories. Prior to the election, eight of the total seats were held by Democrats and five by Republicans. Two governors were prohibited by term limits from seeking re-election in 2008. The only governorship to change party was the open seat in Missouri, which was won by a Democrat after being previously held by a Republican.
These elections coincided with the presidential election, as well as the elections of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives and many local elections, state elections, and ballot propositions.
| State | Incumbent | Last race | Cook [1] | Sabato [2] | Rothenberg [3] | RCP [4] | Result | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delaware | data-sort-value="-50.9" | 50.9% D | data-sort-value="-67.5" | Markell (67.5%) | |||||||
| Indiana | Mitch Daniels | data-sort-value="53.2" | 53.2% R | data-sort-value="57.8" | Daniels (57.8%) | ||||||
| Missouri | data-sort-value="50.8" | 50.8% R | data-sort-value="-58.4" | Nixon (58.4%) | |||||||
| Montana | Brian Schweitzer | data-sort-value="-50.4" | 50.4% D | data-sort-value="-65.5" | Schweitzer (65.5%) | ||||||
| New Hampshire | John Lynch | data-sort-value="-74.0" | 74.0% D | data-sort-value="-70.1" | Lynch (70.1%) | ||||||
| North Carolina | Mike Easley | data-sort-value="-55.6" | 55.6% D | data-sort-value="50.3" | Perdue (50.3%) | ||||||
| North Dakota | John Hoeven | data-sort-value="71.3" | 71.3% R | data-sort-value="74.4" | Hoeven (74.4%) | ||||||
| Utah | Jon Huntsman Jr. | data-sort-value="57.7" | 57.7% R | data-sort-value="77.6" | Huntsman Jr. (77.6%) | ||||||
| Vermont | Jim Douglas | data-sort-value="56.3" | 56.3% R | data-sort-value="53.4" | Douglas (53.4%) | ||||||
| Washington | Christine Gregoire | data-sort-value="-48.9" | 48.9% D | data-sort-value="-53.0" | Gregoire (53.0%) | ||||||
| West Virginia | Joe Manchin | data-sort-value="-63.5" | 63.5% D | data-sort-value="-69.8" | Manchin (69.8%) |
| State | Incumbent | Party | First elected | Result | Candidates | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delaware | Democratic | 2000 | Incumbent term-limited. New governor elected. Democratic hold. | nowrap |
| |||
| Indiana | Republican | 2004 | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap |
| |||
| Missouri | Republican | 2004 | Incumbent retired. New governor elected. Democratic gain. | nowrap |
| |||
| Montana | Democratic | 2004 | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap |
| |||
| New Hampshire | Democratic | 2004 | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap |
| |||
| North Carolina | Democratic | 2000 | Incumbent term-limited. New governor elected. Democratic hold. | nowrap |
| |||
| North Dakota | Republican | 2000 | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap |
| |||
| Utah | Republican | 2004 | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap |
| |||
| Vermont | Republican | 2002 | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap |
| |||
| Washington | Democratic | 2004 | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap |
| |||
| West Virginia | Democratic | 2004 | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap |
|
| Territory | Incumbent | Party | First elected | Result | Candidates | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Samoa | Democratic | 2004 | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap |
| ||||
| Puerto Rico | Popular Democratic | 2004 | Incumbent lost re-election. New governor elected. New Progressive gain. | nowrap |
|
States where the margin of victory was under 5%:
States where the margin of victory was under 10%:
| Election Name: | 2008 Delaware gubernatorial election |
| Country: | Delaware |
| Type: | presidential |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 2004 Delaware gubernatorial election |
| Previous Year: | 2004 |
| Election Date: | November 4, 2008 |
| Next Election: | 2012 Delaware gubernatorial election |
| Next Year: | 2012 |
| Image1: | File:Jack Markell 48-DPA-944 DSC 9158 (cropped).jpg |
| Nominee1: | Jack Markell |
| Party1: | Democratic Party (United States) |
| Popular Vote1: | 266,861 |
| Percentage1: | 67.5% |
| Nominee2: | Bill Lee |
| Party2: | Republican Party (United States) |
| Popular Vote2: | 126,662 |
| Percentage2: | 32.0% |
| Map Size: | 100px |
| Governor | |
| Before Election: | Ruth Ann Minner |
| Before Party: | Democratic Party (United States) |
| After Election: | Jack Markell |
| After Party: | Democratic Party (United States) |
See main article: 2008 Delaware gubernatorial election.
See also: 2008 Delaware lieutenant gubernatorial election.
Ruth Ann Minner was term-limited in 2008. As of 2008, Democrats had controlled the Delaware governorship for 16 years. In an upset, state Treasurer Jack Markell defeated Lieutenant Governor John Carney by 51 to 49% for the Democratic nomination on September 9. The Republican nominee was former state Superior Court Judge Bill Lee, defeating airline pilot Michael Protrack. Lee was the Republican nominee for governor in 2004, and lost to Minner by a narrow margin.
The race got more attention due to the vice presidential candidacy of U.S. Senator Joe Biden. Since Biden, a senator, was elected to be Vice President, he needed to resign his Senate seat. The new governor was then called upon to appoint someone to replace Biden in the Senate. Since Lee would naturally have been more inclined to select a Republican, his election could have caused a Republican pickup in the Senate by proxy. However, he was defeated by a wide margin on election day by Markell. Senator Biden resigned his seat in the United States Senate on January 15, 2009, and Governor Minner appointed Ted Kaufman to Biden's seat. Kaufman had previously served as Senator Biden's Chief of Staff during his tenure in the United States Senate.
| Election Name: | 2008 Indiana gubernatorial election |
| Country: | Indiana |
| Type: | presidential |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 2004 Indiana gubernatorial election |
| Previous Year: | 2004 |
| Election Date: | November 4, 2008 |
| Next Election: | 2012 Indiana gubernatorial election |
| Next Year: | 2012 |
| Image1: | File:Mitch Daniels.jpg |
| Nominee1: | Mitch Daniels |
| Party1: | Republican Party (United States) |
| Running Mate1: | Becky Skillman |
| Popular Vote1: | 1,563,885 |
| Percentage1: | 57.8% |
| Nominee2: | Jill Long Thompson |
| Party2: | Democratic Party (United States) |
| Running Mate2: | Dennie Oxley |
| Popular Vote2: | 1,082,463 |
| Percentage2: | 40.1% |
| Map Size: | 150px |
| Governor | |
| Before Election: | Mitch Daniels |
| Before Party: | Republican Party (United States) |
| After Election: | Mitch Daniels |
| After Party: | Republican Party (United States) |
See main article: 2008 Indiana gubernatorial election. Incumbent Republican Mitch Daniels[5] faced Democratic nominee former Congresswoman and Undersecretary of Agriculture Jill Long Thompson,[6] and Libertarian nominee engineer Andy Horning,[7] who also ran for governor in 2000.
Some pundits thought Mitch Daniels was vulnerable in 2008, but polling taken by SurveyUSA on October 21 and 22, 2008 showed him with a significant 54–35 lead. He won re-election easily, confirming these predictions.
While Indiana had not voted Democratic for president since 1964, Daniels was the first Republican elected governor in 16 years there. Daniels was also endorsed by the state's largest newspapers, the Indianapolis Star, the Evansville Courier & Press, the Fort Wayne Journal Gazette, the Times of Northwest Indiana, the Gary Post-Tribune and the Louisville Courier-Journal.
| Election Name: | 2008 Missouri gubernatorial election |
| Country: | Missouri |
| Type: | presidential |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 2004 Missouri gubernatorial election |
| Previous Year: | 2004 |
| Election Date: | November 4, 2008 |
| Next Election: | 2012 Missouri gubernatorial election |
| Next Year: | 2012 |
| Image1: | File:Jay Nixon 2016.jpg |
| Nominee1: | Jay Nixon |
| Party1: | Democratic Party (United States) |
| Popular Vote1: | 1,680,611 |
| Percentage1: | 58.4% |
| Nominee2: | Kenny Hulshof |
| Party2: | Republican Party (United States) |
| Popular Vote2: | 1,136,364 |
| Percentage2: | 39.5% |
| Map Size: | 225px |
| Governor | |
| Before Election: | Matt Blunt |
| Before Party: | Republican Party (United States) |
| After Election: | Jay Nixon |
| After Party: | Democratic Party (United States) |
See main article: 2008 Missouri gubernatorial election.
See also: 2008 Missouri lieutenant gubernatorial election.
Matt Blunt was considered to be the most vulnerable incumbent in the 2008 election cycle, but decided on January 22, 2008, not to seek re-election.[8] Blunt's approval rating was the nation's second-lowest after Governor Ernie Fletcher of Kentucky for much of 2007, though his approval rating improved and approached 50% in a May poll conducted by SurveyUSA.
The Republican nominee was Congressman Kenny Hulshof. The Democratic nominee was four-term Missouri Attorney General Jay Nixon, who ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. Senate in 1998. Nixon defeated Hulshof comfortably, despite the fact that Missouri ultimately voted for John McCain, a Republican, for president. Missouri was the only state not to re-elect the incumbent party for governor in 2008.
| Election Name: | 2008 Montana gubernatorial election |
| Country: | Montana |
| Type: | presidential |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 2004 Montana gubernatorial election |
| Previous Year: | 2004 |
| Election Date: | November 4, 2008 |
| Next Election: | 2012 Montana gubernatorial election |
| Next Year: | 2012 |
| Image1: | File:Brian Schweitzer official photo.jpg |
| Nominee1: | Brian Schweitzer |
| Party1: | Democratic Party (United States) |
| Running Mate1: | John Bohlinger |
| Popular Vote1: | 318,670 |
| Percentage1: | 65.5% |
| Nominee2: | Roy Brown |
| Party2: | Republican Party (United States) |
| Running Mate2: | Steve Daines |
| Popular Vote2: | 158,268 |
| Percentage2: | 32.5% |
| Map Size: | 300px |
| Governor | |
| Before Election: | Brian Schweitzer |
| Before Party: | Democratic Party (United States) |
| After Election: | Brian Schweitzer |
| After Party: | Democratic Party (United States) |
See main article: 2008 Montana gubernatorial election.
Democrat Brian Schweitzer of Montana (running with Lt. Governor John Bohlinger) was heavily favored to win re-election as he had better funding and high approval ratings as current Governor. The Republican nominee was State Senator Roy Brown (running with Steve Daines), and the Libertarian nominee was Stan Jones (running with Michael Baker).[9] Schweitzer won some press coverage with his well-received speech to the 2008 Democratic National Convention.[10] He was criticized, however, for a speech in July in which he jested that he helped defeat U.S. Senator Conrad Burns in 2006 by tampering with the vote totals,[11] which he insisted was purely a joke. Schweitzer won re-election by a comfortable margin despite the criticism.
| Election Name: | 2008 New Hampshire gubernatorial election |
| Country: | New Hampshire |
| Type: | presidential |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 2006 New Hampshire gubernatorial election |
| Previous Year: | 2006 |
| Election Date: | November 4, 2008 |
| Next Election: | 2010 New Hampshire gubernatorial election |
| Next Year: | 2010 |
| Image1: | File:John Lynch (cropped).jpg |
| Nominee1: | John Lynch |
| Party1: | Democratic Party (United States) |
| Popular Vote1: | 479,042 |
| Percentage1: | 70.1% |
| Nominee2: | Joseph Kenney |
| Party2: | Republican Party (United States) |
| Popular Vote2: | 188,555 |
| Percentage2: | 27.6% |
| Map Size: | 120px |
| Governor | |
| Before Election: | John Lynch |
| Before Party: | Democratic Party (United States) |
| After Election: | John Lynch |
| After Party: | Democratic Party (United States) |
See main article: 2008 New Hampshire gubernatorial election.
In New Hampshire, Democrat John Lynch easily won re-election against State Senator Joseph D. Kenney, the Republican nominee.[12]
NOTE: New Hampshire's gubernatorial elections are held every in alternate (even-numbered) years, instead of every fourth year.
| Election Name: | 2008 North Carolina gubernatorial election |
| Country: | North Carolina |
| Type: | presidential |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 2004 North Carolina gubernatorial election |
| Previous Year: | 2004 |
| Election Date: | November 4, 2008 |
| Next Election: | 2012 North Carolina gubernatorial election |
| Next Year: | 2012 |
| Image1: | File:Beverly Perdue official photo.jpg |
| Nominee1: | Bev Perdue |
| Party1: | Democratic Party (United States) |
| Popular Vote1: | 2,146,189 |
| Percentage1: | 50.3% |
| Nominee2: | Pat McCrory |
| Party2: | Republican Party (United States) |
| Popular Vote2: | 2,001,168 |
| Percentage2: | 46.9% |
| Map Size: | 300px |
| Governor | |
| Before Election: | Mike Easley |
| Before Party: | Democratic Party (United States) |
| After Election: | Bev Perdue |
| After Party: | Democratic Party (United States) |
See main article: 2008 North Carolina gubernatorial election.
See also: 2008 North Carolina lieutenant gubernatorial election.
Mike Easley was term-limited in 2008, in another state whose governorship had been held by Democrats for 16 years. Democratic Lieutenant Governor Beverly Perdue was the Democratic nominee, defeating Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory, the Republican nominee.
| Election Name: | 2008 North Dakota gubernatorial election |
| Country: | North Dakota |
| Type: | presidential |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 2004 North Dakota gubernatorial election |
| Previous Year: | 2004 |
| Election Date: | November 4, 2008 |
| Next Election: | 2012 North Dakota gubernatorial election |
| Next Year: | 2012 |
| Image1: | File:John Hoeven.jpg |
| Nominee1: | John Hoeven |
| Party1: | Republican Party (United States) |
| Running Mate1: | Jack Dalrymple |
| Popular Vote1: | 235,009 |
| Percentage1: | 74.4% |
| Nominee2: | Tim Mathern |
| Party2: | North Dakota Democratic–Nonpartisan League Party |
| Running Mate2: | Merle Boucher |
| Popular Vote2: | 74,279 |
| Percentage2: | 23.5% |
| Map Size: | 250px |
| Governor | |
| Before Election: | John Hoeven |
| Before Party: | Republican Party (United States) |
| After Election: | John Hoeven |
| After Party: | Republican Party (United States) |
See main article: 2008 North Dakota gubernatorial election.
Republican John Hoeven announced he would seek re-election for a third term in 2008.[13] He won re-election with 74% of the vote. Soundly defeating the Democratic gubernatorial nominee, State Senator Tim Mathern,[14] (24%) and independent candidate DuWayne Hendrickson (2%).
| Election Name: | 2008 Utah gubernatorial election |
| Country: | Utah |
| Flag Year: | 1922 |
| Type: | presidential |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 2004 Utah gubernatorial election |
| Previous Year: | 2004 |
| Election Date: | November 4, 2008 |
| Next Election: | 2010 Utah gubernatorial special election |
| Next Year: | 2010 (special) |
| Image1: | File:Jon Huntsman.jpg |
| Nominee1: | Jon Huntsman Jr. |
| Party1: | Republican Party (United States) |
| Running Mate1: | Gary Herbert |
| Popular Vote1: | 735,049 |
| Percentage1: | 77.6% |
| Nominee2: | Bob Springmeyer |
| Party2: | Democratic Party (United States) |
| Running Mate2: | Josie Valdez |
| Popular Vote2: | 186,503 |
| Percentage2: | 19.7% |
| Map Size: | 150px |
| Governor | |
| Before Election: | Jon Huntsman Jr. |
| Before Party: | Republican Party (United States) |
| After Election: | Jon Huntsman Jr. |
| After Party: | Republican Party (United States) |
See main article: 2008 Utah gubernatorial election.
Jon Huntsman Jr. was heavily favored to win re-election in Utah. As of 2008, Republicans had controlled the Utah governorship for 24 years. Democrat Bob Springmeyer challenged Huntsman,[15] but was decisively defeated.
| Election Name: | 2008 Vermont gubernatorial election |
| Country: | Vermont |
| Type: | presidential |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 2006 Vermont gubernatorial election |
| Previous Year: | 2006 |
| Election Date: | November 4, 2008 |
| Next Election: | 2010 Vermont gubernatorial election |
| Next Year: | 2010 |
| Image1: | File:Jim Douglas-2009 (cropped).jpg |
| Nominee1: | Jim Douglas |
| Party1: | Republican Party (United States) |
| Popular Vote1: | 170,492 |
| Percentage1: | 53.4% |
| Nominee2: | Anthony Pollina |
| Party2: | Independent (United States) |
| Popular Vote2: | 69,791 |
| Percentage2: | 21.8% |
| Image3: | File:Gaye Symington (cropped).jpg |
| Nominee3: | Gaye Symington |
| Party3: | Democratic Party (United States) |
| Popular Vote3: | 69,534 |
| Percentage3: | 21.7% |
| Map Size: | 120px |
| Governor | |
| Before Election: | Jim Douglas |
| Before Party: | Republican Party (United States) |
| After Election: | Jim Douglas |
| After Party: | Republican Party (United States) |
See main article: 2008 Vermont gubernatorial election.
Three-term incumbent Jim Douglas ran as a Republican, and House Speaker Gaye Symington ran as a Democrat. Other candidates included Anthony Pollina of the Vermont Progressive Party and Cris Ericson of the Marijuana Party.[16] Douglas was re-elected.
| Election Name: | 2008 Washington gubernatorial election |
| Country: | Washington (state) |
| Type: | presidential |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 2004 Washington gubernatorial election |
| Previous Year: | 2004 |
| Election Date: | November 4, 2008 |
| Next Election: | 2012 Washington gubernatorial election |
| Next Year: | 2012 |
| Image1: | File:ChristineGregoireOfficial (cropped).jpg |
| Nominee1: | Christine Gregoire |
| Party1: | Democratic Party (United States) |
| Popular Vote1: | 1,598,738 |
| Percentage1: | 53.0% |
| Nominee2: | Dino Rossi |
| Party2: | Republican Party (United States) |
| Popular Vote2: | 1,404,124 |
| Percentage2: | 46.6% |
| Map Size: | 255px |
| Governor | |
| Before Election: | Christine Gregoire |
| Before Party: | Democratic Party (United States) |
| After Election: | Christine Gregoire |
| After Party: | Democratic Party (United States) |
See main article: 2008 Washington gubernatorial election.
Democrat Christine Gregoire[17] is perhaps best known for having won in 2004 by 133 votes in the third official count, after having lost the initial count by 261 votes and the first recount by 24 votes. Her 2004 opponent, Republican former State Senator Dino Rossi,[18] officially announced his candidacy on October 25, 2007.[19] Pre-election SurveyUSA polls showed Gregoire leading Rossi with a 50% to 47% margin.[20] A September 10 poll by Rasmussen Reports showed Rossi pulling ahead by a 52% to 46% margin.[21] The race was expected to be extremely close, but Gregoire was reelected by a wider than expected margin of 6.45%.[22]
| Election Name: | 2008 West Virginia gubernatorial election |
| Country: | West Virginia |
| Type: | presidential |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 2004 West Virginia gubernatorial election |
| Previous Year: | 2004 |
| Election Date: | November 4, 2008 |
| Next Election: | 2011 West Virginia gubernatorial special election |
| Next Year: | 2011 (special) |
| Image1: | File:Joe Manchin official portrait 112th Congress.jpg |
| Nominee1: | Joe Manchin |
| Party1: | Democratic Party (United States) |
| Popular Vote1: | 492,697 |
| Percentage1: | 69.8% |
| Nominee2: | Russ Weeks |
| Party2: | Republican Party (United States) |
| Popular Vote2: | 181,612 |
| Percentage2: | 25.7% |
| Map Size: | 230px |
| Governor | |
| Before Election: | Joe Manchin |
| Before Party: | Democratic Party (United States) |
| After Election: | Joe Manchin |
| After Party: | Democratic Party (United States) |
See main article: 2008 West Virginia gubernatorial election.
Democrat Joe Manchin ran for re-election in West Virginia and was heavily favored according to pre-election polls. On November 4, he faced former State Senator Russ Weeks, a Republican, and Mountain Party candidate Jesse Johnson, who ran in 2004.[23] Butch Paugh of the Constitution Party also attempted a run but failed to qualify for the ballot.[24] Manchin won re-election by a landslide.
| Election Name: | 2008 American Samoa gubernatorial election |
| Country: | American Samoa |
| Type: | presidential |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 2004 American Samoa gubernatorial election |
| Previous Year: | 2004 |
| Election Date: | November 18, 2008 |
| Next Election: | 2012 American Samoa gubernatorial election |
| Next Year: | 2012 |
| Image1: | File:Togiola Tulafono.jpg |
| Candidate1: | Togiola Tulafono |
| Party1: | Nonpartisan politician |
| Popular Vote1: | 6,590 |
| Percentage1: | 56.4% |
| Candidate2: | Utu Abe Malae |
| Party2: | Nonpartisan politician |
| Popular Vote2: | 5,084 |
| Percentage2: | 43.6% |
| Governor | |
| Before Election: | Togiola Tulafono |
| Before Party: | Democratic Party (United States) |
| After Election: | Togiola Tulafono |
| After Party: | Democratic Party (United States) |
See main article: 2008 American Samoa gubernatorial election.
American Samoa's Togiola Tulafono sought re-election in 2008 with Lieutenant Governor Ipulasi Aitofele Sunia. He won his first term 55.7% to 44.3% in the 2004 run-off against Afoa Moega Lutu.[25] Tulafono was again challenged by Afoa Moega Lutu and Velega Savali, who ran as a nonpartisan team for governor and lieutenant governor respectively.[26] Utu Abe Malae and Tuika Tuika also ran to become the next Governor on separate, nonpartisan tickets.[27] Tulafono won in a close vote that split three ways.
| Election Name: | 2008 Puerto Rico gubernatorial election |
| Country: | Puerto Rico |
| Type: | presidential |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 2004 Puerto Rico gubernatorial election |
| Previous Year: | 2004 |
| Election Date: | November 4, 2008 |
| Next Election: | 2012 Puerto Rico gubernatorial election |
| Next Year: | 2012 |
| Image1: | File:Fortuno main.jpg |
| Nominee1: | Luis Fortuño |
| Party1: | New Progressive Party (Puerto Rico) |
| Popular Vote1: | 1,025,965 |
| Percentage1: | 52.8% |
| Nominee2: | Aníbal Acevedo Vilá |
| Party2: | Popular Democratic Party (Puerto Rico) |
| Popular Vote2: | 801,071 |
| Percentage2: | 41.3% |
| Governor | |
| Before Election: | Aníbal Acevedo Vilá |
| Before Party: | Popular Democratic Party (Puerto Rico) |
| After Election: | Luis Fortuño |
| After Party: | New Progressive Party (Puerto Rico) |
See main article: 2008 Puerto Rico gubernatorial election. Aníbal Acevedo Vilá of Puerto Rico ran for a second term in 2008. In 2004, Acevedo narrowly beat former Governor and Senator Pedro Rosselló, also a Democrat, by a mere 3,566 votes.
Republican at-large Resident Commissioner Luis Fortuño, who announced in December 2006 that he would not again seek re-election to his current post, ran against him. There was also a movement to elect Senator Rosselló as a write-in choice for governor.
The Puerto Rican Independence Party's candidate was Edwin Irizarry Mora, while a fourth candidate, Rogelio Figueroa (Puerto Ricans for Puerto Rico Party), ran on an environmentalist platform.
Acevedo was defeated by Fortuño on election day. The federal indictment against Acevedo for alleged corruption schemes when he was in Congress, and generally low approval, may have been a drag on his candidacy and chances of winning re-election.
At the 2008 elections, all 55 governorships of the states and territories were occupied. However, in the 2008 election cycle, only thirteen seats were up for election - eleven were statewide, and two were territorial. Eight seats were held by Democrats, and the remaining five were held by Republicans.