# 2008 Green Party presidential primaries

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The Green Party of the United States held primaries in several states in 2008. Cynthia McKinney won most of the primaries and was formally nominated as the party's nominee during the 2008 Green National Convention.

## Candidates

| Candidate | Most recent position | Campaign | Delegates | Delegations with plurality |
| Cynthia McKinney of California | Member of the U.S. House of Representatives (1993–2003, 2005–2007) | (Campaign • Website) | 304.5 / 836(36.42%) | 22 AZ, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, IA, IL, IN, MD, ME, MI, MN, PA, NC, NE, NY, OR, RI, TN, WA, WI |
| Kent Mesplay of California | Inspector at the Air Pollution Control District of San Diego County (2001–2015) | (Website Archived 2020-11-11 at the Wayback Machine) | 29.5 / 836(3.52%) | None |
| Jesse Johnson of West Virginia | 2006 Senate candidate and 2004 gubernatorial candidate for the Mountain Party | | 27 / 836(3.23%) | 1 WV |
| Kat Swift of Texas | Activist, Bookkeeper | (Website) | 24 / 836(2.87%) | None |
| Jared Ball of Maryland | Professor and journalist | | 11 / 836(1.32%) | None |
| Elaine Brown of California | Black Panther Party chairwoman 1974-1977 | | 9 / 836(1.08%) | None |
| Howie Hawkins of California | Activist | | 8 / 836(0.96%) | None |
| Alternate ballot options ||||||
| Ralph Nader of Connecticut | Independent Presidential Candidate (2004) | (Campaign • Website) | 139 / 836(16.6%) | 3 MA, CA, VA |
| No preference/ Other/ Uncommitted | N/A | N/A | 50 / 836(5.90%) | 1 AR |

## Schedule

| | | Winning | Winning | Winning | Projected delegates | Projected delegates | Projected delegates | Projected delegates | Projected delegates | Projected delegates | Projected delegates | Projected delegates | Projected delegates | Projected delegates |
| Date | State | Candidate | Vote | Percent | Ball | Brown | Hawkins | Johnson | McKinney | Mesplay | Nader | Swift | Other | Total |
| February 1 | Florida | Cynthia McKinney | - | - | - | - | - | - | 11 | 1 | 2 | 1 | - | 16 |
| February 5 | Arkansas | Uncommitted | 438 | 56% | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 8 |
| February 5 | California | Ralph Nader | 21,726 | 61% | 3 | 7 | - | 3 | 45 | 3 | 102 | 5 | - | 168 |
| February 5 | Illinois | Cynthia McKinney | 1,513 | 57% | 5 | - | 8 | - | 25 | 6 | - | - | - | 44 |
| February 5 | Massachusetts | Ralph Nader | 744 | 40% | 1 | 1 | - | - | 9 | 1 | 15 | 1 | 4 | 32 |
| February 10 | Maine | Cynthia McKinney | 36 | 81.81% | 1 | - | - | 4 | 16 | 1 | - | 1 | - | - |
| February 12 | D.C. | Cynthia McKinney | 214 | 41% | 1 | - | - | - | 7 | - | 1 | 1 | 6 | 16 |
| March 1 | Mississippi | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 8 |
| March 1 | North Carolina | Cynthia McKinney | - | - | - | - | - | 2 | 5 | 1 | - | - | - | 8 |
| March 4-April 4 | Ohio | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 12 |
| March 3 | Minnesota (caucus) | Cynthia McKinney | 187 | 60.91% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| March 11 | Virginia | Ralph Nader | - | - | - | | - | 1 | 2 | - | 3 | 1 | 1 | 8 |
| March 25 | Arizona | Cynthia McKinney | - | - | - | - | - | 1 | 6 | 1 | - | - | - | 8 |
| March 29 | New Jersey | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 12 |
| March 29 | Wisconsin | Cynthia McKinney | 77 | 79% | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 24 |
| March 31 | Washington | Cynthia McKinney | - | - | - | | - | - | 10 | 1 | - | 1 | - | 12 |
| April 7 | Rhode Island | Cynthia McKinney | 27 | 75% | - | - | - | 2 | 6 | - | - | - | - | 8 |
| April 9 | Indiana | Cynthia McKinney | - | - | - | - | 7.5 | 0.5 | - | - | - | - | - | 8 |
| April 13 - May 10 | Pennsylvania | Cynthia McKinney | - | 53% | - | - | - | 3 | 17 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 6 | 32 |
| May 10 | Missouri | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 8 |
| April 26 | Connecticut | Cynthia McKinney | 33 | 66% | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 13 | 1 | 2 | - | 3 | 20 |
| April 27 | West Virginia | Jesse Johnson | - | - | - | - | - | 6 | 2 | - | - | - | - | 8 |
| May 3 | Colorado | Uncommitted | - | - | - | 1 | - | - | 2 | - | - | - | 9 | 12 |
| May 3 | Georgia | Cynthia McKinney | - | - | - | - | - | - | 7 | - | - | 1 | - | 8 |
| May 3 | Maryland | Cynthia McKinney | - | - | - | - | - | 4 | 6 | 3 | - | 3 | - | 16 |
| May 3 | South Carolina | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 8 |
| May 3 | Tennessee | Cynthia McKinney | - | - | - | - | - | - | 5 | 1 | - | 1 | 1 | 8 |
| May 3 | Utah | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 8 |
| May 13 | Nebraska | Cynthia McKinney | 40 | 58% | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 8 |
| May 17 | Delaware | Cynthia McKinney | - | - | - | - | - | - | 8 | - | - | - | - | 8 |
| May 17 | Iowa | Cynthia McKinney | - | - | - | - | 1 | 3 | 1 | - | - | - | 3 | 8 |
| May 31 | Montana | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 8 |
| May 31 | New York (state) | Cynthia McKinney | - | - | - | - | - | - | 23 | 3 | 3 | - | 2 | 24 |
| June 7 | New Mexico | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 8 |
| June 7 | Oregon | Cynthia McKinney | - | - | - | - | - | 1 | 23 | - | - | - | - | 24 |
| June 8 | Minnesota (convention) | Cynthia McKinney | — | — | - | - | - | - | 11 | - | - | - | 1 | 12 |
| June 8 | New York City | Cynthia McKinney | - | - | - | - | - | 2 | 9 | 1 | - | - | - | 12 |
| June 14 | Texas | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 12 |
| | Vermont | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 8 |
| June 26–27 | Michigan | Cynthia McKinney | - | - | - | - | - | - | 13 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 24 |
| - | Delegates not awarded by contests | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 112 |
| Total | United States | — | — | — | 11 | 9 | 8 | 27 | 304½ | 29½ | 24 | 139 | 50 | 836 |

## Results
### February
#### Florida primary (February 1)

The Green Party held a mail-in primary in Florida on February 1.
Florida Green Party presidential primary (February 1, 2008) :
| Candidate | Votes | Percentage | National delegates |
| Cynthia McKinney | - | - | 11 |
| Ralph Nader | - | - | 2 |
| Kent Mesplay | - | - | 1 |
| Kat Swift | - | - | 1 |
| Total | - | 100% | 16 |

#### Arkansas primary (February 5)

Arkansas Green Party presidential primary, February 5, 2008 :
| Candidate | Votes | Percentage | National delegates |
| Uncommitted | 438 | 55.94% | 4 |
| Cynthia McKinney | 157 | 20.05% | 2 |
| Jared A. Ball | 81 | 10.34% | 1 |
| Kent Mesplay | 61 | 7.79% | 1 |
| Kat Swift | 46 | 5.87% | 0 |
| Total | 783 | 100% | 8 |

#### California primary (February 5)

The California primary took place on February 5. Ralph Nader won, despite not running for the nomination of the party.
California Green Party presidential primary, February 5, 2008 :
| Candidate | Votes | Percentage | National delegates |
| Ralph Nader | 21,726 | 60.61% | 102 |
| Cynthia McKinney | 9,534 | 26.60% | 45 |
| Elaine Brown | 1,598 | 4.46% | 7 |
| Kat Swift | 1,084 | 3.02% | 5 |
| Kent Mesplay | 727 | 2.03% | 3 |
| Jesse Johnson | 619 | 1.73% | 3 |
| Jared Ball | 556 | 1.55% | 3 |
| Total | 35,844 | 100% | 168 |

#### Illinois primary (February 5)

The Illinois primary took place on February 5.
Illinois Green Party presidential primary, February 5, 2008 :
| Candidate | Votes | Percentage | National delegates |
| Cynthia McKinney | 1513 | 56.62% | 25 |
| Howie Hawkins | 464 | 17.37% | 8 |
| Kent Mesplay | 384 | 14.37% | 6 |
| Jared A. Ball | 311 | 11.64% | 5 |
| Total | 2,672 | 100% | 44 |

#### Massachusetts primary (February 5)

The Massachusetts primary took place on February 5. Six candidates appeared on the ballot. Ralph Nader won, despite not running for the nomination of the party.
Massachusetts Green-Rainbow presidential primary, February 5, 2008 :
| Candidate | Votes | Percentage | National delegates |
| Ralph Nader | 744 | 39.91% | 32 |
| Cynthia McKinney | 474 | 25.43% | - |
| Kat Swift | 60 | 3.22% | - |
| Jared Ball | 42 | 2.25% | - |
| Kent Mesplay | 39 | 2.09% | - |
| Elaine Brown | 38 | 2.04% | - |
| Others | 273 | 25.1% | - |
| No preference | 194 | 10.41% | - |
| Blank votes (not tallied) | 77 | n/a | n/a |
| Total | 1,941 | 100% | 32 |

#### Maine caucuses (February 10)

Maine Green Party caucuses, February 10, 2008 :
| Candidate | Votes | Percentage | National delegates |
| Cynthia McKinney | 36 | 81.81% | 16 |
| Jesse Johnson | 4 | 9.09% | 2 |
| Kent Mesplay | 1 | 2.27% | 1 |
| Kat Swift | 3 | 6.81% | 1 |
| None of the above | 3 | 6.81% | - |
| Total | 44 | 100% | - |

#### District of Columbia primary (February 12)

The District of Columbia primary took place on February 12.
District of Columbia Green Party presidential primary, February 12, 2008 :
| Candidate | Votes | Percentage | National delegates |
| Cynthia McKinney | 214 | 41.07% | - |
| Write-ins (scattered) | 145 | 27.83% | - |
| No Candidate | 56 | 10.75% | - |
| Howie Hawkins | 34 | 6.53% | - |
| Kat Swift | 21 | 4.03% | - |
| Jared A. Ball | 19 | 3.65% | - |
| Kent Mesplay | 17 | 3.26% | - |
| Jesse Johnson | 15 | 2.88% | - |
| Total | 521 | 100% | 16 |

### March
#### Mississippi caucuses (March 1)

Mississippi held caucuses on March 1.

#### North Carolina (March 1)

Mississippi held their vote on March 1.

#### Minnesota caucuses (March 4)

The party also held a caucus and mail-in vote on March 4.
The delegates were assigned by a vote at the state convention on June 8.
Minnesota Green Party presidential caucuses, March 4, 2008 :
| Candidate | Votes | Percentage |
| Cynthia McKinney | 114 | 60.96% |
| Undecided/No Candidate/None of the Above | 33 | 17.65% |
| Ralph Nader | 19 | 10.16% |
| Kent Mesplay | 10 | 5.35% |
| Kat Swift | 9 | 4.81% |
| Jesse Johnson | 1 | 0.53% |
| Write-in | 1 | 0.53% |
| Total | 187 | 100% |

#### Wisconsin Presidential Preference Convention (March 29)

Wisconsin selected their delegates at the "Wisconsin Green Party Spring Gathering and Presidential Preference Convention" on March 29. While only McKinney and Mesplay were on the ballot, several other candidates received votes as write-ins.
Wisconsin Presidential Preference Convention, April 7, 2008 :
| Candidate | Votes | Percentage | National delegates |
| Cynthia McKinney | 77 | 79% | 19 |
| Kent Mesplay | - | 10% | 2 |
| Ralph Nader | - | 5% | 1 |
| Kat Swift | - | 2% | 1 |
| Uncommitted | - | 2% | 1 |
| Jesse Johnson | - | 1% | 0 |
| Total | | 100% | 24 |

### April
#### Ohio primary (March 4–April 4)

Ohio held a vote-by-mail primary from March 4 through April 4.

#### Rhode Island convention (April 7)

Rhode Island Green Party convention, April 7, 2008 :
| Candidate | Votes | Percentage | National delegates |
| Cynthia McKinney | 27 | 75% | 6 |
| Jesse Johnson | 9 | 25% | 2 |
| Total | 36 | 100% | 8 |

#### Indiana caucuses (April 9)

The Indiana caucuses were party-run rather than state-organized.
Indiana caucuses :
| Candidate | Votes | Percentage | National delegates |
| Cynthia McKinney | - | - | 7.5 |
| Kent Mesplay | - | - | 0.5 |
| Total | - | - | 8 |

#### Connecticut convention (April 26)

The Green Party of Connecticut assigned their delegates based upon a vote held at their annual meeting on April 26, 2008.
Connecticut Green Party convention, April 26, 2008 :
| Candidate | Votes | Percentage | National delegates |
| Cynthia McKinney | 33 | 66% | 13 |
| Ralph Nader (write-in) | 6 | 12% | 2 |
| Kat Swift | 3 | 6% | 1 |
| Kent Mesplay | 2 | 4% | 1 |
| Jesse Johnson | 2 | 4% | 1 |
| Noam Chomsky (write-in) | 1 | 2% | - |
| Mike DeRosa (write-in) | 1 | 2% | - |
| Al Gore (write-in) | 1 | 2% | - |
| Barack Obama (write-in) | 1 | 2% | - |
| Total | 50 | 100% | 20 |

### May
#### Maryland primary (May 3)

Maryland held a primary where voters could either mail-in their ballots before April 30 or vote in-person at the Maryland Green Party Annual Assembly on May 3.
Maryland Green Party primary, May 3, 2008 :
| Candidate | Votes | Percentage | National delegates |
| Cynthia McKinney | | | 6 |
| Jesse Johnson | | | 4 |
| Kat Swift | | | 3 |
| Kent Mesplay | | | 3 |
| Total | - | 100% | 16 |

#### South Carolina convention (May 3)

South Carolina held a party convention on May 3.

#### Missouri convention (May 10)

Missouri held a state convention on May 10.

#### Pennsylvania caucuses (April 13—May 10)

The Green Party of Pennsylvania's presidential caucuses were held April 13-May 10. These caucuses were party-sponsored rather than state-run.
Green Party of Pennsylvania caucuses, April 13-May 10, 2008 :
| Candidate | Votes | Percentage | National delegates |
| Cynthia McKinney | - | 52.76% | 17 |
| None of the above | - | 14.17% | 5 |
| Uncommitted | - | 4.72% | 5 |
| Ralph Nader | - | 11.02% | 4 |
| Jesse Johnson | | 8.66% | 3 |
| Kent Mesplay | - | 4.72% | 1 |
| Kat Swift | - | 2.36% | 1 |
| Total | - | 100% | 32 |

#### Nebraska primary (May 13)

The Nebraska primary took place on May 13.
Nebraska Green Party presidential primary, May 13, 2008 :
| Candidate | Votes | Percentage | National delegates |
| Cynthia McKinney | 40 | 57.97% | - |
| Jesse Johnson | 13 | 18.84% | - |
| Kat Swift | 8 | 11.59% | - |
| Kent Mesplay | 8 | 11.9% | - |
| Total | 69 | 100% | 8 |

#### Iowa convention (May 17)

The Iowa convention took place on May 17.
Iowa Green Party presidential convention, May 17, 2008 :
| Candidate | Votes | Percentage | National delegates |
| Cynthia McKinney | - | - | 3 |
| Kat Swift | - | - | 2 |
| Jesse Johnson | - | - | 1 |
| Kent Mesplay | - | - | 1 |
| Uncommitted | - | - | 1 |
| Total | - | - | 8 |

#### Montana convention (May 31)

Montana appointed their eight delegates at a state convention on May 31.

#### New York state primary (May 31)

The New York Green Party ballots were publicly counted on May 31. The primary was a party-run mail-in primary.
This primary awarded 28 of New York's 40 delegates. New York City held a separate primary to award the remaining 12 delegates.
New York state primary, :
| Candidate | Votes | Percentage | National delegates |
| Cynthia McKinney | - | - | 21 |
| Kent Mesplay | - | - | 3 |
| Ralph Nader | - | | 3 |
| Jesse Johnson | - | - | 0 |
| Uncommitted | - | | 2 |
| Total | - | - | 28 |

### June
#### Minnesota convention (June 8)

The Minnesota party previously held a caucus and mail-in vote on March 4. The delegates, however, were assigned by a vote at the state convention on June 8.
Minnesota Green Party convention, June 8, 2008 :
| Candidate | Votes | Percentage | National delegates |
| Cynthia McKinney | - | - | 11 |
| Undecided/No Candidate/None of the Above | - | - | 1 |
| Ralph Nader | - | - | 0 |
| Kent Mesplay | - | - | 0 |
| Kat Swift | - | - | 0 |
| Jesse Johnson | - | - | 0 |
| Write-in | - | - | N/A |
| Total | - | 100% | 12 |

#### New Mexico primary (June 8)

The New Mexico Green Party held its vote on June 8. A total of seventeen votes were cast, with 11 going to McKinney, 4 votes going to "none of the above", and 1 vote each going to Kat Swift, Kent Mesplay, and Jesse Johnson.
New Mexico Green Party presidential Primary, June 8, 2018 :
| Candidate | Votes | Percentage | National delegates |
| Cynthia McKinney | 11 | 64.7% | - |
| Kat Swift | 1 | 5.9% | - |
| Kent Mesplay | 1 | 5.9% | - |
| Jesse Johnson | 1 | 5.9% | - |
| None of the above | 4 | 23.5% | - |
| Total | 17 | 100% | - |

#### New York City primary (June 8)

A second vote awarding New York's remaining 12 delegates was held on June 8 in New York City to appoint a remaining 12 of New York's delegates.
New York City primary Green Party presidential Primary, May 31, 2008 :
| Candidate | Votes | Percentage | National delegates |
| Cynthia McKinney | - | - | 9 |
| Jesse Johnson | - | - | 2 |
| Kent Mesplay | - | - | 1 |
| Total | - | - | 12 |

#### Texas convention (June 14)

The selection of Texas' delegation took place on June 14 at the state Green convention, held at S.H.A.P.E.'s Harambee Center in Houston.

#### Michigan convention (June 26–27)

The Michigan convention took place June 26–27 at the Franke Center for the Arts in Marshall, Michigan.
Michigan Green Party presidential convention, July 26–27, 2008 :
| Candidate | Votes | Percentage | National delegates |
| Cynthia McKinney | - | 64% | 13 |
| Ralph Nader | - | 17% | 3 |
| Kat Swift | - | - | 1 |
| Kent Mesplay | - | - | 1 |
| Total | - | - | 19 |