The 2008 congressional elections in Missouri were held on November 4, 2008, to determine who will represent the state of Missouri in the United States House of Representatives. The primary election for candidates seeking the nomination of the Republican Party, the Democratic Party, and the Libertarian Party was held on August 5.

Quick Facts All 9 Missouri seats to the United States House of Representatives, Majority party ...

2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Missouri

← 2006 November 4, 2008 (2008-11-04) 2010 →
All 9 Missouri seats to the United States House of Representatives
Majority party Minority party   Party Republican Democratic Last election 5 4 Seats won 5 4 Seat change Popular vote 1,313,018 1,413,016 Percentage 46.54% 50.08% Swing 3.49% 2.77%
Congressional District Results Precinct Results Republican   40–50%   50–60%   60–70%   70–80%   80–90%   >90% Democratic   40–50%   50–60%   60–70%   70–80%   80–90%   >90% Tie/No Data

Close

Missouri has nine seats in the House, apportioned according to the 2000 United States census. Representatives are elected for two-year terms; those elected will serve in the 111th Congress from January 3, 2009, until January 3, 2011. The election coincided with the 2008 U.S. presidential election.

The races not forecasted as safe for the incumbent party were 6 and 9; however, the Republicans held both seats. The state was the only one where the party that won the most seats did not win the most votes in the state in 2008.

Quick Facts Nominee, Party ...

2008 Missouri's 1st congressional district election

← 2006 2010 →

Nominee Lacy Clay Robb E. Cunningham Party Democratic Libertarian Popular vote 242,570 36,700 Percentage 86.9% 13.1%

U.S. Representative before election Lacy Clay Democratic Elected U.S. Representative Lacy Clay Democratic

Close

Incumbent Democratic Congressman William Lacy Clay Jr. easily dispatched with Libertarian challenger Robb Cunningham in this St. Louis-based liberal district.

Quick Facts Nominee, Party ...

2008 Missouri's 2nd congressional district election

← 2006 2010 →

Nominee Todd Akin Bill Haas Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 232,276 132,068 Percentage 62.3% 35.4%

U.S. Representative before election Todd Akin Republican Elected U.S. Representative Todd Akin Republican

Close

Incumbent Republican Congressman Todd Akin easily won re-election to a fifth term over Democratic nominee Bill Haas and Libertarian candidate Thomas Knapp in this conservative district rooted in the northern and western suburbs of St. Louis.

Quick Facts Nominee, Party ...

2008 Missouri's 3rd congressional district election

← 2006 2010 →

Nominee Russ Carnahan Chris Sander Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 202,470 92,759 Percentage 66.4% 30.4%

U.S. Representative before election Russ Carnahan Democratic Elected U.S. Representative Russ Carnahan Democratic

Close

In this fairly liberal district based in the southern portion of St. Louis and previously represented by House Minority Leader Dick Gephardt, Democratic Congressman Russ Carnahan easily defeated Republican Chris Sander, Libertarian Kevin Babcock, and Constitution Party candidate Cindy Redburn to win a third term.

Quick Facts Nominee, Party ...

2008 Missouri's 4th congressional district election

← 2006 2010 →

Nominee Ike Skelton Jeff Parnell Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 200,009 103,446 Percentage 65.9% 34.1%

County results Skelton:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90% Parnell:      50-60%

U.S. Representative before election Ike Skelton Democratic Elected U.S. Representative Ike Skelton Democratic

Close

Long-serving incumbent Democratic Congressman Ike Skelton, the Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, easily defeated Republican nominee Jeff Parnell in this conservative, west-central Missouri district to win a seventeenth term. By contrast, in the simultaneous 2008 presidential election the district gave 61 percent of its vote to Republican nominee John McCain and 38 percent to Democratic nominee Barack Obama, making this the only Missouri district with opposite results in the two elections.

Quick Facts Nominee, Party ...

2008 Missouri's 5th congressional district election

← 2006 2010 →

Nominee Emanuel Cleaver Jacob Turk Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 197,249 109,166 Percentage 64.4% 35.6%

U.S. Representative before election Emanuel Cleaver Democratic Elected U.S. Representative Emanuel Cleaver Democratic

Close

Democratic incumbent Congressman Emanuel Cleaver defeated Republican nominee Jacob Turk to win a third term in this fairly liberal district based in Kansas City.

Quick Facts Nominee, Party ...

2008 Missouri's 6th congressional district election

← 2006 2010 →

Nominee Sam Graves Kay Barnes Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 196,526 121,894 Percentage 59.4% 36.9%

U.S. Representative before election Sam Graves Republican Elected U.S. Representative Sam Graves Republican

Close

Incumbent Republican Congressman Sam Graves survived a high-profile challenge from Democratic nominee and former Kansas City Mayor Kay Barnes by a much healthier margin than expected. Barnes' inability to capitalize on the strong Democratic wave sweeping the country ultimately left her defeated in this normally conservative district based in northwest Missouri.

Quick Facts Nominee, Party ...

2008 Missouri's 7th congressional district election

← 2006 2010 →

Nominee Roy Blunt Richard Monroe Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 219,016 91,010 Percentage 67.8% 28.2%

U.S. Representative before election Roy Blunt Republican Elected U.S. Representative Roy Blunt Republican

Close

Incumbent Republican Congressman Roy Blunt, a former short-serving House Majority Leader defeated Democrat Richard Monroe, Libertarian Kevin Craig, and Constitution candidate Travis Maddox to easily win another term in office.

Quick Facts Nominee, Party ...

2008 Missouri's 8th congressional district election

← 2006 2010 →

Nominee Jo Ann Emerson Joe Allen Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 198,798 72,790 Percentage 71.4% 26.2%

U.S. Representative before election Jo Ann Emerson Republican Elected U.S. Representative Jo Ann Emerson Republican

Close

In this staunchly conservative district based in southeast Missouri, incumbent Republican Congresswoman Jo Ann Emerson had no difficulty in dispatching Democrat Joe Allen, Libertarian Branden McCullough, and Constitution candidate Richard Smith to win another term in office.

Quick Facts Nominee, Party ...

2008 Missouri's 9th congressional district election

← 2006 2010 →

Nominee Blaine Luetkemeyer Judy Baker Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 161,031 152,956 Percentage 50.0% 47.5%

County results Luetkemeyer :      40–50%      50–60%      60–70% Baker:      40–50%      50–60%

U.S. Representative before election Kenny Hulshof Republican Elected U.S. Representative Blaine Luetkemeyer Republican

Close

When Republican Congressman Kenny Hulshof declined to seek another term in favor of running for Governor, an open seat emerged. Former Missouri State Representative Blaine Luetkemeyer, the Republican nominee, defeated Democratic nominee Judy Baker, a member of the Missouri House of Representatives by a thin margin in this normally conservative district based in northeast Missouri, a part of "Little Dixie."