The 2008 United States House of Representatives elections were held on November 4, 2008, to elect members to the United States House of Representatives to serve in the 111th United States Congress from January 3, 2009, until January 3, 2011. It coincided with the election of Barack Obama as president. All 435 voting seats, as well as all 6 non-voting seats, were up for election. The Democratic Party, which won a majority of seats in the 2006 election, expanded its control in 2008.
The Republican Party, hoping to regain the majority it lost in the 2006 election or at least expand its congressional membership, lost additional seats. With one exception (Louisiana's 2nd district), the only seats to switch from Democratic to Republican had been Republican-held prior to the 2006 elections. Republicans gained five Democratic seats total, while losing 26 of their own, giving the Democrats a net gain of 21 seats, effectively erasing all gains made by the GOP since 1994. In addition, with the defeat of Republican congressman Chris Shays in Connecticut's 4th district, this became the first time since the 1850s that no Republican represented the New England region.
The 10.6% popular vote advantage by the Democrats was the largest by either party since 1982, 26 years earlier, and as of 2026 remains the most recent time that either party won by a double-digit margin in the overall popular vote for the House of Representatives. Turnout increased due to the concurrent presidential election.
, this remains the last election in which Democrats won House seats in Idaho, North Dakota, and South Dakota; and the last election in which Democrats won a majority of seats in Arkansas, Indiana, Mississippi, Ohio, Tennessee, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. It is also the last time Republicans won the Delaware seat.
Results summary Federal + ↓ 257 178 Democratic Republican
Party Voting members Non-voting members Votes Percentage Seats +/− Votes Percentage Seats +/− 65,237,840 53.2% 257 21 1,952,133 94.3% 4 1 Republican 52,249,491 42.6% 178 21 1,919 0.1% 0 1 Libertarian 1,083,096 0.9% 0 — — 0 Independent 982,761 0.8% 0 21,574 1.0% 2 1 Green 580,263 0.5% 0 14,386 0.7% 0 Constitution 179,261 0.1% 0 — — 0 Independence 168,939 0.1% 0 — — 0 Others 2,066,229 1.7% Totals 122,547,880 100.0% 435 — 2,069,306 100.0% 6 1 Voter turnout
Per state State Totalseats Democratic Republican Seats Change Seats Change Alabama 7 3 1 4 1 Alaska 1 0 1 Arizona 8 5 1 3 1 Arkansas 4 3 1 California 53 34 19 Colorado 7 5 1 2 1 Connecticut 5 5 1 0 1 Delaware 1 0 1 Florida 25 10 1 15 1 Georgia 13 6 7 Hawaii 2 2 0 Idaho 2 1 1 1 1 Illinois 19 12 1 7 1 Indiana 9 5 4 Iowa 5 3 2 Kansas 4 1 1 3 1 Kentucky 6 2 4 Louisiana 7 1 2 6 2 Maine 2 2 0 Maryland 8 7 1 1 1 Massachusetts 10 10 0 Michigan 15 8 2 7 2 Minnesota 8 5 3 Mississippi 4 3 1 Missouri 9 4 5 Montana 1 0 1 Nebraska 3 0 3 Nevada 3 2 1 1 1 New Hampshire 2 2 0 New Jersey 13 8 1 5 1 New Mexico 3 3 2 0 2 New York 29 26 3 3 3 North Carolina 13 8 1 5 1 North Dakota 1 1 0 Ohio 18 10 3 8 3 Oklahoma 5 1 4 Oregon 5 4 1 Pennsylvania 19 12 1 7 1 Rhode Island 2 2 0 South Carolina 6 2 4 South Dakota 1 1 0 Tennessee 9 5 4 Texas 32 12 1 20 1 Utah 3 1 2 Vermont 1 1 0 Virginia 11 6 3 5 3 Washington 9 6 3 West Virginia 3 2 1 Wisconsin 8 5 3 Wyoming 1 0 1 Total 435 257 21 178 21
The number of non-voting members also includes the non-voting member-elect from Puerto Rico, Pedro Pierluisi, who is a member of the New Progressive Party of Puerto Rico, but caucused with the Democrats. The New Progressive Party is affiliated with both the Democratic and Republican Parties and the last representative from Puerto Rico, Luis Fortuño, caucused with the Republicans. The vote total for the non-voting members also includes the Popular Democratic Party of Puerto Rico, which has ties to the Democratic Party. Both non-voting independents, American Samoa's representative Eni Faleomavaega and the Northern Mariana Islands' representative Gregorio Sablan, caucused with the Democrats. In America Samoa all elections are non-partisan. In the Northern Mariana Islands, Sablan appeared on the ballot as an independent.
Maps
Retiring incumbents Thirty-three incumbents voluntarily retired.
Democratic incumbents All seven seats held by retiring Democrats were won by Democrats. : Bud Cramer retired. : Tom Lantos retired, and later died on February 11, 2008. : Mark Udall retired to run for the U.S. Senate. : Tom Allen retired to run for the U.S. Senate. : Tom Udall retired to run for the U.S. Senate. : Michael McNulty retired. : Darlene Hooley retired.
Republican incumbents Twenty-seven Republicans retired. Thirteen of their seats were then won by Democrats (see Open seat gains, below).
: Terry Everett retired. : Rick Renzi retired. : John Doolittle retired. : Duncan Hunter retired to run for President. : Tom Tancredo retired to run for President. : Dave Weldon retired. : Jerry Weller retired. : Ray LaHood retired. On December 19, 2008, President-elect Barack Obama announced his intention to nominate LaHood to serve as the next Secretary of Transportation. He was later confirmed. : Ron Lewis retired. : Jim McCrery retired. : Jim Ramstad retired. : Chip Pickering retired. : Kenny Hulshof retired to run for governor of Missouri. : Jim Saxton retired. : Mike Ferguson retired. : Heather Wilson retired to run for the U.S. Senate. : Steve Pearce retired to run for the U.S. Senate. : Vito Fossella retired. : Jim Walsh retired. : Tom Reynolds retired. : Dave Hobson retired. : Deborah Pryce retired. : Ralph Regula retired. : John Peterson retired. : Luis Fortuño retired to run for governor of Puerto Rico. : Tom Davis retired. : Barbara Cubin retired.
Defeated incumbents
Incumbents defeated in primary election One Republican lost in a primary and the seat was eventually won by a Democrat. One Democrat lost the primary as did two Republicans. The three primary winners, however, managed to retain the seat for the same party. : Wayne Gilchrest (R), whose seat was later won by a Democrat : Albert Wynn (D), who subsequently resigned May 31, 2008 : Chris Cannon (R) : David Davis (R)
Incumbents defeated in general election Fourteen Republicans and five Democrats lost their general elections, thereby losing their seats to the other party.
: Marilyn Musgrave (R) : Christopher Shays (R) : Ric Keller (R) : Tim Mahoney (D) : Tom Feeney (R) : Bill Sali (R)2008 Idaho Secretary of State - General Elections Statewide Totals : Nancy Boyda (D) : Bill Jefferson (D) : Don Cazayoux (D) : Tim Walberg (R) : Joe Knollenberg (R) : Jon Porter (R) : Randy Kuhl (R) : Robin Hayes (R) : Steve Chabot (R) : Phil English (R) : Nick Lampson (D) : Thelma Drake (R) : Virgil Goode (R)
Open seat gains Twelve seats (and one delegate's seat) held by retiring Republicans were won by Democrats. No Democratic retirements were picked up by Republicans.
: Democratic gain. : Democratic gain. : Democratic gain. : Democratic gain. : Democratic gain. : Democratic gain. : Democratic gain. : Democratic gain. : Democratic gain. : Democratic gain. : Democratic gain. : NPP/Democratic gain. : Democratic gain.
Closest races Fifty-two races were decided by 10% or lower.
District Winner Margin data-sort-value=-1 (flip) 0.23% data-sort-value=-1 0.38% data-sort-value=-1 0.49% data-sort-value=-1 (flip) 0.62% data-sort-value=-1 (flip) 0.76% data-sort-value=-1 (flip) 0.79% data-sort-value=-1 (flip) 1.21% data-sort-value=-1 (flip) 1.93% data-sort-value=-1 (flip) 2.31% data-sort-value=-1 2.38% data-sort-value=-1 (flip) 2.47% data-sort-value=-1 2.51% data-sort-value=-1 (flip) 2.71% data-sort-value=-1 2.97% data-sort-value=-1 3.25% data-sort-value=-1 3.58% data-sort-value=-1 3.85% data-sort-value=-1 3.94% data-sort-value=-1 (flip) 3.97% data-sort-value=-1 (flip) 4.02% data-sort-value=-1 4.04% data-sort-value=-1 (flip) 4.15% data-sort-value=-1 4.20% data-sort-value=-1 (flip) 4.40% data-sort-value=-1 (flip) 4.94% data-sort-value=-1 (flip) 4.94% data-sort-value=-1 5.06% data-sort-value=-1 5.12% data-sort-value=-1 (flip) 5.14% data-sort-value=-1 5.15% data-sort-value=-1 5.17% data-sort-value=-1 5.56% data-sort-value=-1 5.57% data-sort-value=-1 5.89% data-sort-value=-1 6.04% data-sort-value=-1 6.11% data-sort-value=-1 6.91% data-sort-value=-1 (flip) 6.91% data-sort-value=-1 7.37% data-sort-value=-1 7.48% data-sort-value=-1 7.56% data-sort-value=-1 7.63% data-sort-value=-1 (flip) 7.82% data-sort-value=-1 8.00% data-sort-value=-1 8.10% data-sort-value=-1 9.36% data-sort-value=-1 9.44% data-sort-value=-1 (flip) 9.45% data-sort-value=-1 9.58% data-sort-value=-1 9.80% data-sort-value=-1 9.82% data-sort-value=-1 9.91%
Election ratings
Special elections The thirteen special elections to the 110th United States Congress are listed below by election date.
In 2008 there were eight special elections for vacant seats in the United States House of Representatives, for the 110th United States Congress. In the special elections, Democrats gained three seats while keeping hold of five seats. Republicans held only one of their four seats.
! | Dennis Hastert | | 1986 | | Incumbent resigned November 26, 2007.New member elected March 8, 2008.Democratic gain. | nowrap |
! | Julia Carson | | 1996 | | Incumbent died December 17, 2007.New member elected March 11, 2008.Democratic hold. | nowrap |
! | Tom Lantos | | 1980 | | Incumbent died February 11, 2008.New member elected April 8, 2008.Democratic hold. | nowrap |
! | Bobby Jindal | | 2004 | | Incumbent resigned January 14, 2008, to become Governor of Louisiana.New member elected May 3, 2008.Republican hold. | nowrap |
! | Richard Baker | | 1986 | | Incumbent resigned February 2, 2008.New member elected May 3, 2008.Democratic gain. | nowrap |
! | Roger Wicker | | 1994 | | Incumbent resigned December 31, 2007, after being appointed to the U.S. Senate.New member elected May 13, 2008.Democratic gain. | nowrap |
! | Albert Wynn | | 1992 | | Incumbent resigned May 31, 2008, after losing renomination.New member elected June 17, 2008.Democratic hold. | nowrap |
! | Stephanie Tubbs Jones | | 1998 | | Incumbent died August 20, 2008.New member elected November 18, 2008.Democratic hold. | nowrap |
Alabama
District CPVI Incumbent Party Firstelected Results Candidates 2002 Incumbent re-elected. 1992 Incumbent retired.Democratic gain. 2002 Incumbent re-elected. 1996 Incumbent re-elected. 1990 Incumbent retired.Democratic hold. 1992 Incumbent re-elected. 2002 Incumbent re-elected.
Alaska
District CPVI Incumbent Party Firstelected Results Candidates Don Young 1973 Incumbent re-elected.
Arizona
District CPVI Incumbent Party Firstelected Results Candidates 2002 Incumbent retired.Democratic gain. 2002 Incumbent re-elected. 1994 Incumbent re-elected. 1991 Incumbent re-elected. 2006 Incumbent re-elected. 2000 Incumbent re-elected. 2002 Incumbent re-elected. 2006 Incumbent re-elected.
Arkansas
District CPVI Incumbent Party Firstelected Results Candidates 1996 Incumbent re-elected. 1996 Incumbent re-elected. 2000 Incumbent re-elected. 2000 Incumbent re-elected.
California