2008 United States Senate election in Iowa

2008 United States Senate election in Iowa

November 4, 2008

Nominee Tom Harkin Christopher Reed Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 941,665 560,006 Percentage 62.66% 37.26%

Harkin:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90% Reed:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90% Tie:      50%      No Data

U.S. senator before election Tom Harkin Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Tom Harkin Democratic

The 2008 United States Senate election in Iowa was held on November 4, 2008. Incumbent Senator Tom Harkin sought re-election to a fifth term in office. Unlike Harkin's three previous reelection bids, he was not challenged by a sitting United States Congressman but instead faced small businessman Christopher Reed, who won the Republican primary by just a few hundred votes. Harkin defeated Reed in a landslide, winning 94 of Iowa's 99 counties. As of 2024, this is the last time that a Democrat has won a U.S. Senate election in Iowa.

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Tom Harkin, incumbent U.S. Senator

Results

Democratic primary results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Tom Harkin (incumbent)	90,785	98.83%
	Democratic	Write-ins	1,074	1.17%
Total votes			91,859	100.00%

Republican primary

Candidates

• George Eichhorn, former Iowa State Representative
• Steve Rathje, construction company executive
• Christopher Reed, small businessman

Results

Republican primary results by county

  Reed

•   30–40%
•   40–50%
•   50–60%

  Eichhorn

•   30–40%
•   40–50%
•   50–60%
•   70–80%

  Rathje

•   30–40%
•   40–50%
•   50–60%

Republican primary results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Christopher Reed	24,964	35.32%
	Republican	George Eichhorn	24,390	34.52%
	Republican	Steve Rathje	21,062	29.80%
	Republican	Write-ins	256	0.36%
Total votes			70,672	100.00%

General election

Predictions

Source	Ranking	As of
The Cook Political Report	Safe D	October 23, 2008
CQ Politics	Safe D	October 31, 2008
Rothenberg Political Report	Safe D	November 2, 2008
Real Clear Politics	Safe D	November 4, 2008

Polling

Governor Chet Culver campaigning for Senator Harkin

Poll source	Dates administered	Christopher Reed (R)	Tom Harkin (D)
Survey USA	April 21–23, 2008	20%	59%
Research 2000	June 10, 2008	37%	53%
Rasmussen Reports	July 10, 2008	37%	55%
Rasmussen Reports	August 7, 2008	36%	60%
Rasmussen Reports	September 17–18, 2008	37%	60%
Survey USA	October 23, 2008	41%	57%
Rasmussen Reports	October 29, 2008	35%	61%

Results

United States Senate election in Iowa, 2008

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Tom Harkin (incumbent)	941,665	62.66%	+8.48%
	Republican	Christopher Reed	560,006	37.26%	−6.52%
	Write-in		1,247	0.08%	N/A
Majority			381,659	25.39%	+15.00%
Turnout			1,502,918
	Democratic hold		Swing

Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic

• Butler (Largest city: Parkersburg)
• Crawford (Largest city: Denison)
• Delaware (Largest city: Manchester)
• Van Buren (Largest city: Keosauqua)
• Plymouth (largest city: Le Mars)
• Grundy (largest city: Grundy Center)
• Harrison (largest city: Missouri Valley)
• Cass (largest city: Atlantic)
• Ida (largest city: Ida Grove)
• Fremont (largest city: Sidney)
• Pottawattamie (largest city: Council Bluffs)
• Sac (largest city: Sac City)
• Shelby (largest city: Harlan)
• Marion (largest city: Pella)
• Mills (largest city: Glenwood)
• Montgomery (largest city: Red Oak)
• Mahaska (largest city: Oskaloosa)

See also

• 2008 United States Senate elections