# 2008 United States Senate election in Iowa

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

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

### By congressional district

Harkin won all five congressional districts, including two that elected Republicans.
| District | Harkin | Reed | Representative |
| 1st | 67% | 33% | Bruce Braley |
| 2nd | 68% | 32% | Dave Loebsack |
| 3rd | 60% | 40% | Leonard Boswell |
| 4th | 62% | 38% | Tom Latham |
| 5th | 55% | 45% | Steve King |