The Green Papers: Pennsylvania 2008 General Election
This page is for offices up for election in 2008. Find 2009 elections here.
 
Flag images courtesy of The World Flag Database. Copyright http://www.flags.net/ Pennsylvania
Elections for Statewide offices and Congress
Primary: Tuesday 22 April 2008
General Election: Tuesday 4 November 2008
Electoral Votes:21(3.90% of 538)
Governor:1 
Senators:2(Electoral Classes 1 and 3)
2002-2010 Representatives:19(4.37% of 435)
2000 Census:12,300,670 (4.36% of 281,998,273)
Estimated Voting age population (November 2000):9,155,000
Registered Voters (November 2000):7,781,997
Capital:Harrisburg
Tuesday 22 April 2008 polling hours 7:00a EDT (1100 UTC) to 8:00p EDT (0000 UTC).
Tuesday 4 November 2008 polling hours 7:00a EST (1200 UTC) to 8:00p EST (0100 UTC).
 

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Pennsylvania State and Local Government

Pennsylvania 2008 Presidential Primaries, Caucuses, and Conventions:
Democrats, Republicans, Third Parties


15 January 2009: Pennsylvania Department of State - 2008 General Election - Tuesday, November 04, 2008 - Official Returns
21 January 2009: 2008 General Election Write-in Votes The Department of state reports "Scattered - 3380" for the United States Congress but does not provide a breakdown by Congressional District.


3 October 2008: Synchronized with Pennsylvania Department of State - Candidates List.


Tuesday 22 April 2008 Primary Returns from an official source
some returns from a media source

 
           

President  4 year term, Election Cycle: 2008, 2012. Term Limit: No more than 2 4-year terms in a lifetime. Electors: 21 (Winner-take-all), How Appointed, Meeting Place, Duly Appointed Presidential Electors, List of Presidential Candidates.
Up for election in 2008
  Elected Democratic 3,276,363 54.49% Senator Barack Hussein Obama
(21 Electoral Votes)
Vice President: Senator Joseph Robinette "Joe" Biden, Jr.

FEC P80003338: $778,642,047
  Candidate Republican 2,655,885 44.17% Senator John Sidney McCain, III
Vice President: Governor Sarah H. Palin

FEC P80002801: $399,826,076
  Candidate Independent 42,977 0.71% Ralph Nader
Vice President: Matt Gonzalez

FEC P20000527: $4,520,160
  Candidate Libertarian 19,912 0.33% former Congressman Bob Barr
Vice President: Wayne Allen Root.
The Republican Party filed suit on 18 August 2008 to have former Congressman Barr removed from the ballot. The suit failed on 15 September in a Commonwealth court and the Republican Party appealed to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.

FEC P80005580: $1,405,899
  Candidate Scattering 8,180 0.14% Scattered
  Candidate Write-in; (Democratic) 5,014 0.08% Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton
FEC P00003392: $252,235,510
  Candidate Write-in; (Republican) 3,849 0.06% Congressman Ronald Ernest "Ron" Paul
FEC P80000748: $35,121,852
  Candidate Write-in; (Constitution) 1,092 0.02% Charles Obadiah "Chuck" Baldwin
Vice President: Darrell L. Castle

FEC P80005499: $262,010
  Candidate Write-in; (Green)     former Congressman Cynthia A. McKinney
Vice President: Rosa A. Clemente

FEC P80004930: $240,360
  Candidate Write-in     Frank Moore
Vice President: Susan Block
  Candidate Write-in; (Socialist Party USA)     Brian Patrick Moore
Vice President: Stewart Alexander

FEC P80005275: $9,516
Total 6,013,272 100.00%  

U.S. Senate  6 year term. No Term Limit. 110th Senate  Senate Electoral Classes

Class 1 Democratic Senator Robert P. "Bob" Casey, Jr.
First elected: 2006
Seat up for election: Tuesday 6 November 2012

Class 3 Republican Senator Arlen Specter
First elected: 1980; re-elected: 1986, 1992, 1998, 2004.
Seat up for election: Tuesday 2 November 2010
16 February 2005: Diagnosed with Hodgkins lymphoma.
15 April 2008: Announced that he has been diagnosed with a recurrence of Hodgkins lymphoma.

Governor  4 year term, Election Cycle: 2006, 2010. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms, All Governors

  Democratic Governor Edward G. "Ed" Rendell
First elected: 2002; re-elected: 2006
Chair up for election: Tuesday 2 November 2010
The current Governor is affected by a term limit and cannot run for re-election.
Open Chair - At term limit
  Candidate Democratic     Thomas "Tom" Knox

Lieutenant Governor  4 year term, Election Cycle: 2006, 2010. Elected on a ticket with (but nominated separately by partisan primary from) the Governor

  Republican Lieutenant Governor Joseph B. Scarnati, III
Entered office: 13 November 2008 upon the passing of Lieutenant Governor Catherine Baker Knoll.
Seat up for election: Tuesday 2 November 2010
 Our sympathies are extended to the family and friends of Pennsylvania Lieutenant Governor Catherine Baker Knoll (Democratic) who passed away at 6 PM on 12 November 2008 from neuroendocrine cancer. Mrs. Knoll was first elected in 2002 and re-elected in 2006. Under the Pennsylvania Constitution, Mrs. Knoll will be replaced as Lieutenant Governor by the Senate President Pro Tempore, Joseph B. Scarnati III (Republican-Jefferson).

110th U.S. House of Representatives  2 year term, Election Cycle 2006, 2008. No Term Limit. 110th House
Partisan Composition (primary disposition):
11 Democratic (11 Renominated);
8 Republican (7 Renominated, 1 Open)

CD 1
{map}
Seat up for election
Democratic Congressman Robert A. Brady
• Re-elected Tuesday 4 November 2008
Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2008
Renominated - 22 April 2008 Primary
 Polls: Democratic Congressman Robert A. Brady
  Elected Democratic 242,799 90.76% Congressman Robert A. Brady
FEC H8PA01153: $764,048
  Candidate Republican 24,714 9.24% Mike Muhammad
FEC H8PA01229: Financial report not available
Total 267,513 100.00%  

CD 2
{map}
Seat up for election
Democratic Congressman Chaka Fattah
• Re-elected Tuesday 4 November 2008
Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2008
Renominated - 22 April 2008 Primary
 Polls: Democratic Congressman Chaka Fattah
  Elected Democratic 276,870 88.93% Congressman Chaka Fattah
FEC H2PA02055: $274,080
  Candidate Republican 34,466 11.07% Ward 29 Chairman Adam A. Lang
FEC H8PA02094: $4,994
  Candidate Write-in; (Socialist Workers Party)     Osborne Hart
Total 311,336 100.00%  

CD 3
{map}
Seat up for election
Republican Congressman Philip S. "Phil" English
Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2008
Renominated - 22 April 2008 Primary
 Polls: Leans Democratic - Democratic Kathleen Ann "Kathy" Dahlkemper favored over Republican Congressman Philip S. "Phil" English
  Elected Democratic 146,846 51.24% Kathleen Ann "Kathy" Dahlkemper
FEC H8PA03084: $1,313,237
  Candidate Republican 139,757 48.76% Congressman Philip S. "Phil" English
FEC H4PA21051: $2,659,966
  Candidate Write-in; (Independent)     Steven Clark "Steve" Porter
Ran in 2004 and 2006 as a Democrat. Attempted to run as an Independent in 2008 however his petitions were successfully challeneged by the Democratic Party. Appealed to the state Supreme Court on 9 September.

FEC H4PA03075: $8,349
Total 286,603 100.00%  

CD 4
{map}
Seat up for election
Democratic Congressman Jason Altmire
• Re-elected Tuesday 4 November 2008
First elected: 2006
Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2008
Renominated - 22 April 2008 Primary
 Polls: Leans Democratic - WATCH - Democratic Congressman Jason Altmire
  Elected Democratic 186,536 55.86% Congressman Jason Altmire
FEC H6PA04110: $2,945,099
  Candidate Republican 147,411 44.14% former Congressman Melissa A. Hart
FEC H0PA04154: $1,362,707
Total 333,947 100.00%  

CD 5
{map}
Seat up for election
Open
Republican Congressman John E. Peterson
Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2008
Open Seat - Announced that he would not seeek re-election on 3 January 2008.
 Polls: Republican Glenn W. "G.T." Thompson
 ** Open Seat (no incumbent) **
  Elected Republican 155,513 56.72% Glenn W. "G.T." Thompson
Received 19.4% in the 22 April primary

FEC H8PA05071: $445,736
  Candidate Democratic 112,509 41.04% Clearfield County Commissioner Mark B. McCracken
FEC H8PA05147: $98,895
  Candidate Libertarian 6,155 2.24% James Fryman
FEC H8PA05196: Financial report not available
Total 274,177 100.00%  

CD 6
{map}
Seat up for election
Republican Congressman Jim Gerlach
• Re-elected Tuesday 4 November 2008
First elected: 2002
Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2008
Renominated - 22 April 2008 Primary
 Polls: Leans Republican - Republican Congressman Jim Gerlach
  Elected Republican 179,423 52.10% Congressman Jim Gerlach
FEC H2PA06114: $2,370,625
  Candidate Democratic 164,952 47.90% Robert "Bob" Roggio
FEC H8PA06079: $667,507
Total 344,375 100.00%  

CD 7
{map}
Seat up for election
Democratic Congressman Joseph A. "Joe" Sestak, Jr.
• Re-elected Tuesday 4 November 2008
First elected: 2006
Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2008
Renominated - 22 April 2008 Primary
 Polls: Democratic Congressman Joseph A. "Joe" Sestak, Jr.
  Elected Democratic 209,955 59.59% Congressman Joseph A. "Joe" Sestak, Jr.
FEC H6PA07105: $3,889,073
  Candidate Republican 142,362 40.41% Wendell Craig "Craig" Williams
FEC H8PA07085: $610,740
Total 352,317 100.00%  

CD 8
{map}
Seat up for election
Democratic Congressman Patrick J. Murphy
• Re-elected Tuesday 4 November 2008
First elected: 2006
Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2008
Renominated - 22 April 2008 Primary
 Polls: Leans Democratic - Democratic Congressman Patrick J. Murphy
  Elected Democratic 197,869 56.77% Congressman Patrick J. Murphy
FEC H6PA08194: $3,964,703
  Candidate Republican 145,103 41.63% Thomas "Tom" Manion
FEC H8PA08133: $1,143,292
  Candidate Independent 5,543 1.59% Thomas A. "Tom" Lingenfelter
FEC H6PA08160: Financial report not available
Total 348,515 100.00%  

CD 9
{map}
Seat up for election
Republican Congressman William Franklin "Bill" Shuster
• Re-elected Tuesday 4 November 2008
First elected 15 May 2001 to fill the seat vacated by the resignation of Bud Shuster.
Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2008
Renominated - 22 April 2008 Primary
 Polls: Republican Congressman William Franklin "Bill" Shuster
  Elected Republican 174,951 63.92% Congressman William Franklin "Bill" Shuster
FEC H2PA09035: $988,776
  Candidate Democratic 98,735 36.08% Anthony J. "Tony" Barr
FEC H6PA09093: $43,864
Total 273,686 100.00%  

CD 10
{map}
Seat up for election
Democratic Congressman Christopher P. "Chris" Carney
• Re-elected Tuesday 4 November 2008
First elected: 2006
Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2008
Renominated - 22 April 2008 Primary
 Polls: Leans Democratic - Democratic Congressman Christopher P. "Chris" Carney
  Elected Democratic 160,837 56.33% Congressman Christopher P. "Chris" Carney
FEC H6PA10109: $2,348,306
  Candidate Republican 124,681 43.67% Christopher Lawrence "Chris" Hackett
FEC H8PA10113: $2,565,110
Total 285,518 100.00%  

CD 11
{map}
Seat up for election
Democratic Congressman Paul E. Kanjorski
• Re-elected Tuesday 4 November 2008
Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2008
Renominated - 22 April 2008 Primary
 Polls: Leans Democratic - Democratic Congressman Paul E. Kanjorski
  Elected Democratic 146,379 51.63% Congressman Paul E. Kanjorski
FEC H0PA11050: $2,517,285
  Candidate Republican 137,151 48.37% Hazleton Mayor Louis J. "Lou" Barletta
FEC H2PA11098: $1,324,951
Total 283,530 100.00%  

CD 12
{map}
Seat up for election
Democratic Congressman John P. Murtha
• Re-elected Tuesday 4 November 2008
Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2008
Renominated - 22 April 2008 Primary
 Polls: Democratic Congressman John P. Murtha
  Elected Democratic 155,268 57.85% Congressman John P. Murtha
FEC H6PA12030: $3,523,106
  Candidate Republican 113,120 42.15% William Russell
FEC H8PA12044: $3,656,445
Total 268,388 100.00%  

CD 13
{map}
Seat up for election
Democratic Congressman Allyson Y. Schwartz
• Re-elected Tuesday 4 November 2008
First elected: 2004
Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2008
Renominated - 22 April 2008 Primary
 Polls: Democratic Congressman Allyson Y. Schwartz
  Elected Democratic 196,868 62.79% Congressman Allyson Y. Schwartz
FEC H4PA13124: $3,161,116
  Candidate Republican 108,271 34.53% Marina Kats
FEC H8PA13083: $500,140
  Candidate Constitution 8,374 2.67% John P. McDermott
FEC H2PA13102: Financial report not available
Total 313,513 100.00%  

CD 14
{map}
Seat up for election
Democratic Congressman Mike Doyle
• Re-elected Tuesday 4 November 2008
Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2008
Renominated - 22 April 2008 Primary
 Polls: Democratic Congressman Mike Doyle
  Elected Democratic 242,326 91.26% Congressman Mike Doyle
FEC H4PA18131: $915,671
  Candidate Green 23,214 8.74% Titus North
FEC H6PA14168: Financial report not available
  Candidate Write-in; (Socialist Workers Party)     Ryan Scott
Total 265,540 100.00%  

CD 15
{map}
Seat up for election
Republican Congressman Charles W. "Charlie" Dent
• Re-elected Tuesday 4 November 2008
First elected: 2004
Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2008
Renominated - 22 April 2008 Primary
 Polls: Leans Republican - Republican Congressman Charles W. "Charlie" Dent
  Elected Republican 181,433 58.57% Congressman Charles W. "Charlie" Dent
FEC H4PA15087: $1,881,014
  Candidate Democratic 128,333 41.43% Siobhan L. "Sam" Bennett
FEC H8PA15153: $956,164
Total 309,766 100.00%  

CD 16
{map}
Seat up for election
Republican Congressman Joseph R. "Joe" Pitts
• Re-elected Tuesday 4 November 2008
Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2008
Renominated - 22 April 2008 Primary
 Polls: Republican Congressman Joseph R. "Joe" Pitts
  Elected Republican 170,329 55.82% Congressman Joseph R. "Joe" Pitts
FEC H6PA16197: $625,290
  Candidate Democratic 120,193 39.39% Bruce A. Slater
FEC H8PA16045: $98,458
  Candidate Independent; (Green) 11,768 3.86% John Andrew Murphy
FEC H6PA16288: $4,716
  Candidate Constitution 2,877 0.94% Daniel Richard "Dan" Frank
FEC H8PA16052: Financial report not available
Total 305,167 100.00%  

CD 17
{map}
Seat up for election
Democratic Congressman T. Timothy "Tim" Holden
• Re-elected Tuesday 4 November 2008
Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2008
Renominated - 22 April 2008 Primary
 Polls: Democratic Congressman T. Timothy "Tim" Holden
  Elected Democratic 192,699 63.68% Congressman T. Timothy "Tim" Holden
FEC H2PA06080: $1,038,657
  Candidate Republican 109,909 36.32% Antoinette M. "Toni" Gilhooley
FEC H8PA17035: $106,906
Total 302,608 100.00%  

CD 18
{map}
Seat up for election
Republican Congressman Tim Murphy
• Re-elected Tuesday 4 November 2008
First elected: 2002
Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2008
Renominated - 22 April 2008 Primary
 Polls: Leans Republican - Republican Congressman Tim Murphy
  Elected Republican 213,349 64.07% Congressman Tim Murphy
FEC H2PA18143: $1,825,275
  Candidate Democratic 119,661 35.93% Stephen Paul "Steve" O'Donnell
FEC H8PA18124: $552,521
Total 333,010 100.00%  

CD 19
{map}
Seat up for election
Republican Congressman Todd R. Platts
• Re-elected Tuesday 4 November 2008
Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2008
Renominated - 22 April 2008 Primary
 Polls: Republican Congressman Todd R. Platts
  Elected Republican 218,862 66.65% Congressman Todd R. Platts
FEC H0PA19053: $214,284
  Candidate Democratic 109,533 33.35% Philip J. "Phil" Avillo, Jr.
FEC H6PA19126: $64,703
Total 328,395 100.00%  

Attorney General  4 year term, Election Cycle: 2004, 2008. Term Limit: 2 terms

Seat up for election Republican Attorney General Tom Corbett
• Re-elected Tuesday 4 November 2008
First elected: 2004
Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2008
The current Attorney General is unaffected by the State's term limit.
Renominated - 22 April 2008 Primary
 Polls: Republican Attorney General Tom Corbett
  Elected Republican 3,002,927 52.37% Attorney General Tom Corbett
  Candidate Democratic 2,619,791 45.69% John M. Morganelli
  Candidate Libertarian; (Green) 109,856 1.92% Marakay J. Rogers
  Candidate Write-in 1,551 0.03% Scattered
Total 5,734,125 100.00%  

Treasurer  4 year term, Election Cycle: 2004, 2008. Term Limit: 2 terms

Seat up for election
Open
Democratic State Treasurer Robin L. Wiessmann
Appointed: 30 April 2007
Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2008
The current Treasurer is unaffected by the State's term limit.
Open Seat - Retiring in 2008
 Polls: Democratic Robert "Rob" McCord
 ** Open Office (no incumbent) **
  Elected Democratic 3,104,242 54.96% Robert "Rob" McCord
  Candidate Republican 2,422,608 42.89% Tom Ellis
  Candidate Libertarian 119,748 2.12% Berlie Etzel
  Candidate Write-in 1,789 0.03% Scattered
Total 5,648,387 100.00%  

Auditor General  4 year term, Election Cycle: 2004, 2008

Seat up for election Democratic Auditor General Jack Wagner
• Re-elected Tuesday 4 November 2008
First elected: 2004
Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2008
Renominated - 22 April 2008 Primary
 Polls: Democratic Auditor General Jack Wagner
  Elected Democratic 3,336,219 58.98% Auditor General Jack Wagner
  Candidate Republican 2,134,543 37.74% Chet Beiler
  Candidate Libertarian 184,029 3.25% Betsy Summers
  Candidate Write-in 1,608 0.03% Scattered
Total 5,656,399 100.00%  

Political Parties    Parties appear in parenthesis and italics when a candidate receives the endorsement of a given Party and/or official sources indicate a candidate's association with a particular Party but only where the Party in question does not appear on the actual ballot as such.

Major Parties
  Democratic (affiliates): 15 incumbents, 25 candidates
  Republican: 11 incumbents, 23 candidates
Major Third Parties
  Green (affiliates): 4 candidates
  Libertarian: 5 candidates
Other Third Parties
  Constitution (affiliates): 3 candidates
  Socialist Party USA: 1 candidate
  Socialist Workers Party: 2 candidates
Independents
  Independent: 4 candidates
Write-in/Scattered/otherwise not readily classifiable
  Scattering: 1 candidate
  Write-in: 12 candidates
 
Candidates running under the banner of more than one party are counted towards each party's total. A candidate who has lost a primary or is apparently no longer a candidate is not counted.

Notes

Candidates for office appear on this page in italics where 'The Green Papers' does not yet have independent confirmation from an election authority that the person so listed will actually appear on the ballot.
 
FEC indicates the Federal Election Commission (FEC) Campaign Finance Summary "Total Receipts" for candidates for Federal Office.

 


  2008 General Election Home  
 
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  Gubernatorial Popular Vote by Party  
  U.S. House Popular Vote and FEC Total Receipts by Party  
  Close Contests Summary - Decision by 2% or less  
  Contests Where No Candidate Received a Majority  
 
Electoral College
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  THE "FAITHLESS ELECTORS" - Presidential Electors who have defected in the past  
  May Electors Defect?  
  DATES OF U.S. PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION "EVENTS": 1789 to the present  
  "APPARENT" ELECTORAL VOTE for President of the United States: 1856 to present  
  ELECTORAL VOTE for President of the United States (as pledged and as officially counted)  
  ELECTORAL VOTE for Vice President of the United States (as pledged and as officially counted)  
 
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2008 Primaries and Runoffs for Statewide offices/Congress
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