The 2008 United States Senate election in Tennessee was held on November 4, 2008, to elect a member of the United States Senate to represent the state of Tennessee. Republican incumbent Lamar Alexander won re-election to a second term, defeating Democratic former state party chair Bob Tuke.

Alexander flipped reliably Democratic Davidson County, home to Nashville which has not voted Republican on a presidential level since 1988. With that, he also won 65.1% of the vote against Tuke, who won just 32.6%. Alexander also won 28% of the African American vote.

Republican primary Candidates Nominee Lamar Alexander, incumbent U.S. senator (2003–2021)

Results

Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Bob Tuke, former chairman of the Democratic Party of Tennessee (2005–2007) Eliminated in primary Gary Davis, perennial candidate Mike Padgett, former Knox County Clerk Mark E. Clayton, insurance agent Kenneth Eaton, businessman and Nashville mayoral candidate in 2003 and 2007 Leonard Ladner, truck-driver

Campaign Mike Padgett finished third after Gary Davis, who did not campaign and used no money. Many were surprised at the results. They claimed that perhaps there was name confusion, with two incumbent congressmen David Davis and Lincoln Davis.

Results

General election Candidates Major Lamar Alexander (R), incumbent U.S. Senator and former Governor Bob Tuke (D), Chairman of the Democratic Party of Tennessee (2005–2007)

Minor In Tennessee, a candidate seeking a House or Senate seat at the state or national level must gather 25 signatures from registered voters to be put on the ballot for any elected office."Qualifying Procedures for Candidates for United States Senator ", Tennessee Division of Elections (accessed November 3, 2008)."Qualifying Procedures for Tennessee Candidates for United States House of Representatives", Tennessee Division of Elections (accessed November 3, 2008)."Qualifying Procedures for Candidates for Tennessee State Senator ", Tennessee Division of Elections (accessed November 3, 2008)."Qualifying Procedures for Candidates for Tennessee House of Representatives ", Tennessee Division of Elections (accessed November 3, 2008). Presidential candidates seeking to represent an officially recognized party must either be named as candidates by the Tennessee Secretary of State or gather 2,500 signatures from registered voters, and an independent candidate for president must gather 275 signatures and put forward a full slate of eleven candidates who have agreed to serve as electors."Tennessee Ballot Access Procedures for Candidates for U.S. President ", Tennessee Division of Elections (accessed November 3, 2008). In order to be recognized as a party and have its candidates listed on the ballot under that party's name, a political party must gather signatures equal to or in excess of 2.5% of the total number of votes cast in the last election (about 45,000 signatures based on the election held in 2006)."Against all odds, third-party candidates fight on", The Tennessean (accessed November 3, 2008). The last third party to be officially recognized was the American Party in 1968; none of its candidates received five percent of the statewide vote in 1970 and it was then subject to decertification as an official party.. Due to these hurdles third party candidates almost always appear on the ballot as independents. Edward Buck (I) Christopher Fenner (I) David "None of the Above" Gatchell (I) Bo Heyward (I) Ed Lawhorn (I) Daniel T. Lewis (L)United States Senate Candidate List From Tennessee http://www.state.tn.us/sos/election/cand/USSenateList.pdf Chris Lugo (I), Green party peace activist

Campaign On April 3, 2007, Alexander confirmed that he would seek re-election to the Senate in 2008. Alexander has remained a popular figure in Tennessee since his first term as governor and faced no opposition in the Republican primary Tuke is a former Marine who served in the Vietnam War. Tuke served as Barack Obama's Presidential campaign chair in Tennessee. Tuke declared himself to be a candidate March 3, 2008, and he secured the help of several high-profile Democratic campaigners including Joe Trippi. There were many minor candidates in the race. Chris Lugo announced on January 17 that he was seeking the nomination of the Democratic Party as a 'Progressive Democrat.' 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.

Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political Report October 23, 2008 CQ PoliticsRace Ratings Chart: Senate CQ Politics October 31, 2008 Rothenberg Political Report November 2, 2008 Real Clear Politics November 4, 2008

Polling Aggregate polls Source of pollaggregationDatesadministeredDatesupdated LamarAlexander (R) BobTuke (R) Other/UndecidedMarginRealClearPoliticsSeptember 15 – October 22, 2008October 22, 200857.0%32.5%10.5%Alexander +24.5%

Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error LamarAlexander (R) BobTuke (D) Other UndecidedRasmussen ReportsOctober 16, 2008500 (LV)± 4.5%62%34%–4%Research 2000October 21–22, 2008600 (LV)± 4.0%59%37%–4%Rasmussen ReportsSeptember 29, 2008500 (LV)–56%32%–12%Middle Tennessee State UniversitySeptember 15–27, 2008635 (LV)± 4.0%50%26%1%23%Mason-Dixon Polling & StrategySeptember 22–24, 2008625 (LV)± 4.0%57%33%–10%Ayres McHenry (R)August 10–12, 2008500 (RV)± 4.4%60%30%–10%Rasmussen ReportsApril 3, 2008500 (LV)± 4.5%59%30%4%7%

Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error LamarAlexander (R) MikePadgett (D) Other UndecidedRasmussen ReportsApril 3, 2008500 (LV)± 4.5%58%31%4%7%

Results

By county County Lamar AlexanderRepublican Bob TukeDemocratic OthersIndependent Margin Totalvotes % # % # % # Anderson 71.40% 21,365 25.65% 7,675 2.95% 883 13,690 29,923 Bedford 70.37% 9,717 25.70% 3,548 3.93% 543 6,169 13,808 Benton 59.71% 3,614 36.63% 2,217 3.66% 222 1,397 6,053 Bledsoe 68.87% 3,105 27.77% 1,252 3.36% 151 1,853 4,508 Blount 79.16% 38,961 17.60% 8,664 3.24% 1,593 30,297 49,218 Bradley 79.41% 28,820 17.87% 6,485 2.72% 986 22,335 36,291 Campbell 71.96% 8,264 24.29% 2,790 3.75% 430 5,474 11,484 Cannon 64.39% 3,125 29.53% 1,433 6.08% 295 1,692 4,853 Carroll 67.83% 7,254 28.75% 3,075 3.42% 366 4,179 10,695 Carter 79.75% 16,148 17.03% 3,448 3.22% 653 12,700 20,249 Cheatham 69.39% 10,665 27.07% 4,160 3.54% 544 6,505 15,369 Chester 73.99% 4,403 22.58% 1,344 3.43% 204 3,059 5,951 Claiborne 73.36% 7,095 23.22% 2,246 3.42% 330 4,849 9,671 Clay 63.00% 1,623 33.07% 852 3.93% 101 771 2,576 Cocke 77.38% 8,742 19.75% 2,231 2.87% 325 6,511 11,298 Coffee 65.84% 13,173 29.91% 5,985 4.25% 850 7,188 20,008 Crockett 72.58% 3,766 24.55% 1,274 2.87% 149 2,492 5,189 Cumberland 72.06% 17,094 24.15% 5,730 3.79% 898 11,364 23,722 Davidson 49.17% 119,996 47.27% 115,354 3.56% 8,699 4,642 244,049 Decatur 64.53% 2,958 32.46% 1,488 3.01% 138 1,470 4,584 DeKalb 64.55% 3,914 30.70% 1,861 4.75% 288 2,053 6,063 Dickson 62.18% 11,264 33.41% 6,053 4.41% 799 5,211 18,116 Dyer 73.34% 9,533 23.04% 2,995 3.62% 471 6,538 12,999 Fayette 70.03% 12,457 27.69% 4,925 2.28% 405 7,532 17,787 Fentress 76.41% 4,469 19.95% 1,167 3.64% 213 3,302 5,849 Franklin 64.94% 10,461 31.44% 5,064 3.62% 583 5,397 16,108 Gibson 69.46% 13,208 27.20% 5,172 3.34% 634 8,036 19,014 Giles 62.02% 6,355 33.51% 3,433 4.47% 458 2,922 10,246 Grainger 75.52% 5,229 20.87% 1,445 3.61% 250 3,784 6,924 Greene 77.37% 18,468 20.06% 4,788 2.57% 613 13,680 23,869 Grundy 57.93% 2,368 38.43% 1,571 3.64% 149 797 4,088 Hamblen 76.45% 16,191 20.90% 4,426 2.65% 561 11,765 21,178 Hamilton 64.34% 91,563 33.56% 47,754 2.10% 2,987 43,809 142,304 Hancock 77.28% 1,537 19.41% 386 3.32% 66 1,151 1,989 Hardeman 51.82% 5,144 45.09% 4,476 3.09% 307 668 9,927 Hardin 72.31% 6,770 24.61% 2,304 3.08% 288 4,466 9,362 Hawkins 75.06% 15,260 21.83% 4,437 3.11% 633 10,823 20,330 Haywood 45.32% 3,402 52.87% 3,969 1.81% 136 -567 7,507 Henderson 73.29% 7,367 23.44% 2,356 3.27% 329 5,011 10,052 Henry 66.78% 8,084 30.29% 3,667 2.93% 355 4,417 12,106 Hickman 60.22% 4,738 34.76% 2,735 5.02% 395 2,003 7,868 Houston 52.95% 1,572 43.55% 1,293 3.50% 104 279 2,969 Humphreys 55.52% 3,965 40.99% 2,927 3.49% 249 1,038 7,141 Jackson 52.86% 2,097 42.15% 1,672 4.99% 198 425 3,967 Jefferson 77.03% 13,542 19.31% 3,395 3.66% 644 10,147 17,581 Johnson 76.12% 4,620 19.62% 1,191 4.25% 258 3,429 6,069 Knox 71.22% 126,776 25.75% 45,844 3.03% 5,388 80,932 178,008 Lake 56.47% 1,038 37.27% 685 6.26% 115 353 1,838 Lauderdale 64.58% 5,256 32.31% 2,630 3.11% 253 2,626 8,139 Lawrence 70.50% 10,115 26.21% 3,761 3.28% 471 6,354 14,347 Lewis 63.73% 2,857 31.92% 1,431 4.35% 195 1,426 4,483 Lincoln 69.94% 8,653 25.84% 3,197 4.22% 522 5,456 12,372 Loudon 80.28% 17,110 17.16% 3,658 2.55% 544 13,452 21,312 Macon 72.23% 4,665 21.40% 1,382 6.38% 412 3,283 6,459 Madison 59.15% 23,890 37.96% 15,333 2.89% 1,167 8,557 40,390 Marion 62.18% 6,803 34.76% 3,803 3.05% 334 3,000 10,940 Marshall 64.59% 6,675 30.69% 3,172 4.72% 488 3,503 10,335 Maury 61.94% 20,330 34.59% 11,355 3.47% 1,138 8,975 32,823 McMinn 75.35% 13,464 21.45% 3,832 3.20% 572 9,632 17,868 McNairy 69.29% 6,908 27.91% 2,783 2.80% 279 4,125 9,970 Meigs 72.33% 2,807 24.50% 951 3.17% 123 1,856 3,881 Monroe 75.18% 12,198 21.83% 3,541 2.99% 485 8,657 16,224 Montgomery 62.65% 31,012 33.01% 16,337 4.34% 2,148 14,675 49,497 Moore 70.01% 1,989 26.43% 751 3.55% 101 1,238 2,841 Morgan 75.86% 4,746 21.32% 1,334 2.81% 176 3,412 6,256 Obion 68.18% 8,056 28.65% 3,385 3.17% 374 4,671 11,815 Overton 62.19% 4,220 34.03% 2,309 3.79% 257 1,911 6,786 Perry 58.04% 1,559 38.20% 1,026 3.76% 101 533 2,686 Pickett 73.55% 1,805 23.43% 575 3.02% 74 1,230 2,454 Polk 67.83% 4,233 28.75% 1,794 3.43% 214 2,439 6,241 Putnam 67.38% 16,629 28.32% 6,990 4.30% 1,061 9,639 24,680 Rhea 76.67% 7,907 20.38% 2,102 2.95% 304 5,805 10,313 Roane 74.55% 16,617 22.62% 5,042 2.83% 632 11,575 22,291 Robertson 69.49% 17,485 26.80% 6,744 3.70% 932 10,741 25,161 Rutherford 65.44% 62,464 30.28% 28,906 4.28% 4,084 33,558 95,454 Scott 77.74% 4,501 18.98% 1,099 3.28% 190 3,412 5,790 Sequatchie 71.66% 3,553 24.97% 1,238 3.37% 167 2,315 4,958 Sevier 79.52% 26,021 16.93% 5,539 3.55% 1,161 20,482 32,721 Shelby 50.88% 189,851 46.61% 173,924 2.51% 9,364 15,927 373,139 Smith 64.16% 4,458 30.74% 2,136 5.10% 354 2,322 6,948 Stewart 59.87% 3,006 35.43% 1,779 4.70% 236 1,227 5,021 Sullivan 77.15% 47,721 20.86% 12,906 1.99% 1,229 34,815 61,856 Sumner 71.84% 44,945 24.19% 15,134 3.97% 2,484 29,811 62,563 Tipton 74.22% 17,157 22.92% 5,299 2.86% 660 11,858 23,116 Trousdale 62.75% 1,725 32.38% 890 4.87% 134 835 2,749 Unicoi 78.35% 5,251 18.76% 1,257 2.89% 194 3,994 6,702 Union 75.82% 4,276 20.20% 1,139 3.99% 225 3,137 5,640 Van Buren 62.27% 1,223 33.66% 661 4.07% 80 562 1,964 Warren 64.02% 8,225 31.49% 4,045 4.49% 577 4,180 12,847 Washington 75.92% 34,592 21.32% 9,715 2.76% 1,256 24,877 45,563 Wayne 76.18% 3,685 21.40% 1,035 2.42% 117 2,650 4,837 Weakley 66.69% 8,546 29.73% 3,809 3.58% 459 4,737 12,814 White 66.20% 5,969 29.06% 2,620 4.74% 427 3,349 9,016 Williamson 75.49% 68,258 21.46% 19,405 3.05% 2,759 48,853 90,422 Wilson 70.78% 34,781 24.91% 12,240 4.31% 2,122 22,541 49,143 Total 65.14% 1,579,477 31.64% 767,236 3.21% 77,872 812,241 2,424,585 Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican Bedford (Largest city: Shelbyville) Benton (Largest city: Camden) Campbell (Largest city: LaFollette) Cannon (Largest city: Woodbury) Clay (Largest city: Celina) Crockett (Largest city: Bells) Davidson (Largest city: Nashville) Decatur (Largest city: Parsons) DeKalb (Largest city: Smithville) Dickson (Largest city: Dickson) Franklin (Largest city: Winchester) Giles (Largest city: Pulaski) Grundy (Largest town: Altamont) Hardeman (Largest city: Bolivar) Henry (Largest city: Paris) Hickman (Largest city: Centerville) Houston (Largest city: Erin) Humphreys (Largest town: Waverly)