The 2008 Missouri gubernatorial election was held on November 4, 2008. Incumbent Republican Governor Matt Blunt decided to retire instead of seeking reelection to a second term in office. Despite John McCain narrowly carrying the state in the concurrent presidential election, Democratic nominee Jay Nixon won the open seat, defeating Republican nominee Kenny Hulshof in a landslide.

As of 2024, this remains the last gubernatorial election in which the Democratic Party improved upon its performance from the previous election.

Background On January 22, 2008, Governor Blunt unexpectedly announced that he would not seek re-election because he had already "achieved virtually everything I set out to accomplish, and more ... Because I feel we have changed what I wanted to change in the first term, there is not the same sense of mission for a second."

A November 2007 poll conducted by SurveyUSA showed Blunt with a 44% approval rating.Survey USA His approval among Republicans polled was 68%, and his rating among Democrats was 23%. On November 10, 2007, Democrat Jay Nixon filed the necessary paperwork with the Missouri Ethics Commission to launch a 2008 campaign for governor.Article by Columbia Daily Tribune: Document points to Nixon run

The gubernatorial and other statewide office primaries were held August 5, 2008.August 5, 2008 State Primary Election Information Missouri Secretary of State CQ Politics rated the race as 'Leans Democratic'.Dems Gain in Five of Six New CQ Politics Rating Changes CQ Politics, October 8, 2008

Timeline March 25, 2008 – Filing deadline for Democrats, Republicans and Libertarians2008 Missouri Election Calendar from the Missouri Secretary of State August 5, 2008 – Primary (gubernatorial and other statewide office) elections August 19, 2008 – Filing deadline for other third parties and Independents November 4, 2008 – General election.

Primaries Republican primary

Democratic primary

General election Predictions SourceRankingAs ofThe Cook Political ReportOctober 16, 2008 Rothenberg Political Report November 2, 2008 Sabato's Crystal Ball November 3, 2008Real Clear PoliticsNovember 4, 2008

Polling Source Date KennyHulshof (R) JayNixon (D)Public Policy PollingPublic Policy Polling November 2, 2008 38% 58%Survey USASurvey USA November 2, 2008 39% 54%Survey USASurvey USA October 26, 2008 38% 55%Rasmussen ReportsRasmussen Reports October 14, 2008 38% 57%Survey USASurvey USA September 24, 2008 37% 54%Rasmussen Reports September 11, 2008 39% 54%Public Policy PollingPublic Policy Polling August 17, 2008 42% 48%Survey USASurvey USA July 31, 2008 42% 48%Rasmussen Reports July 7, 2008 38% 49%RasmussenRasmussen June 9, 2008 34% 54%Survey USASurvey USA May 20, 2008 33% 57%RasmussenRasmussen May 8, 2008 35% 51%RasmussenRasmussen March 24, 2008 37% 48%RasmussenRasmussen February 13, 2008 30% 48%

With Steelman Source Date SarahSteelman (R) JayNixon (D)Survey USA July 31, 2008 41% 50%Rasmussen Reports July 7, 2008 37% 46%Rasmussen June 9, 2008 34% 56%Survey USA May 20, 2008 33% 58%Rasmussen May 8, 2008 35% 51%Rasmussen March 24, 2008 39% 46%Rasmussen February 13, 2008 35% 46%

With Blunt Source Date MattBlunt (R) JayNixon (D)Rasmussen ReportsRasmussen Reports December 12, 2007 42% 47%Research2000 November 24, 2007 42% 51%RasmussenRasmussen October 10, 2007 44% 43%Rasmussen August 23, 2007 43% 46%SurveyUSASurveyUSA July 25–27, 2007 38% 57%

Results On election night, Nixon won easily, even though fellow Democrat Barack Obama lost in Missouri in the concurrent presidential election (albeit by only 4,000 votes). Nixon was able to perform well in rural parts of the state. When combined with heavily populated, strong Democratic areas like St. Louis and Kansas City, Hulshof didn't have a chance to come back. Nixon was declared the winner right when the polls closed in Missouri. Hulshof conceded defeat at 9:02 P.M. Central Time.

Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic Caldwell (Largest city: Hamilton) Daviess (Largest city: Gallatin) Gentry (Largest city: Albany) Crawford (Largest city: Cuba) Oregon (Largest city: Thayer) Vernon (Largest city: Nevada) Lincoln (Largest city: Troy) St. Clair (Largest city: Appleton City) Livingston (Largest city: Chillicothe) Andrew (Largest city: Savannah) Atchison (Largest city: Tarkio) Benton (Largest city: Warsaw) Camden (Largest city: Osage Beach) Carter (Largest city: Van Buren) Cass (Largest city: Harrisonville) Dallas (Largest city: Buffalo) Dent (Largest city: Salem) Douglas (Largest city: Ava) Howell (Largest city: West Plains) Laclede (Largest city: Lebanon) Maries (Largest city: Belle) Morgan (Largest city: Versailles) Ozark (Largest city: Gainesville) Pulaski (Largest city: Fort Leonard Wood) Polk (Largest city: Bolivar) Phelps (Largest city: Rolla) Ripley (Largest city: Doniphan) Texas (Largest city: Licking) Wright (Largest city: Mountain Grove) Webster (Largest city: Marshfield) Audrain (Largest city: Mexico) Bates (Largest city: Butler) Chariton (Largest city: Salisbury) Clark (Largest city: Kahoka) Dunklin (Largest city: Kennett) Franklin (Largest city: Washington) Henry (Largest city: Clinton) Hickory (Largest city: Hermitage) Howard (Largest city: Fayette) Iron (Largest city: Ironton) Knox (Largest city: Edina) Lafayette (Largest city: Odessa) Lewis (Largest city: Canton) Linn (Largest city: Brookfield) Madison (Largest city: Fredericktown) Nodaway (Largest city: Maryville) Pike (Largest city: Bowling Green) Reynolds (Largest city: Ellington) Scott (Largest city: Sikeston) Shannon (Largest city: Winona) St. Francois (Largest city: Farmington) Wayne (Largest city: Piedmont) Buchanan (Largest city: St. Joseph) Washington (Largest city: Potosi) Iron (largest city: Ironton) St. Charles (largest city: O'Fallon) Pettis (largest city: Sedalia) Adair (largest city: Kirksville) Greene (largest city: Springfield) Johnson (largest city: Warrensburg) Monroe (Largest city: Monroe City)

See also 2008 United States gubernatorial elections 2004 Missouri gubernatorial election 2008 Missouri lieutenant gubernatorial election 2008 United States presidential election in Missouri

References

External links Elections from the Missouri Secretary of State Missouri Governor candidates at Project Vote Smart Missouri Governor race from OurCampaigns.com Missouri Governor race from 2008 Race Tracker from Follow the Money Hulshof (R) vs Nixon (D) graph of collected polls from Pollster.com Official campaign websites (Archived) Jay Nixon, Democratic candidate Kenny Hulshof, Republican candidate Sarah Steelman, Republican candidate Andy Finkenstadt, Libertarian candidate