# 2008 United States Senate election in Colorado

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vte :
The 2008 United States Senate election in Colorado was held November 4, 2008. The primary elections were held August 12, 2008. Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Wayne Allard decided to retire instead of seeking a third term. Democratic nominee Mark Udall won the open seat, making this the first time a Democrat won this seat since 1972, and that Democrats held both Senate seats since 1979.

## Democratic primary
### Candidates

* Mark Udall, U.S. Representative

### Results

Democratic primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Mark Udall | 194,227 | 100.00% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 194,227 | 100.00% |

## Republican primary
### Candidates

* Bob Schaffer, Colorado State Board of Education member, former U.S. Representative and candidate for the U.S. Senate in 2004

### Results

Republican primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Bob Schaffer | 239,212 | 100.00% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 239,212 | 100.00% |

## General election
### Campaign

The election featured an open contest because incumbent U.S. Senator Wayne Allard declined to seek re-election. He honored his 1996 pledge to serve no more than two terms in the U.S. Senate and announced that he would retire from his service to the US Senate and not seek a 3rd term, leaving Colorado's Class II Senate seat open. Both parties believed this senate contest would be one of the most competitive senate races during the 2008 election.

### Predictions

| Source | Ranking | As of |
| The Cook Political Report | Lean D (flip) | October 23, 2008 |
| CQ Politics | Likely D (flip) | October 31, 2008 |
| Rothenberg Political Report | Likely D (flip) | November 2, 2008 |
| Real Clear Politics | Likely D (flip) | October 28, 2008 |

### Polling

| Poll source | Dates administered | Mark Udall (D) | Bob Schaffer (R) |
| Hill Research Consultants | August 26–28, 2007 | 45% | 40% |
| Ciruli Associates | September 12–15, 2007 | 36% | 35% |
| SurveyUSA | October 27–30, 2007 | 48% | 41% |
| Rasmussen Reports | November 28, 2007 | 41% | 42% |
| Research for Change | December 3–5, 2007 | 39% | 37% |
| Rasmussen Reports | February 11, 2008 | 43% | 44% |
| McLaughlin & Associates/ Coalition for a Democratic Workplace | March 6–9, 2008 | 44% | 32% |
| Rasmussen Reports | March 17, 2008 | 46% | 43% |
| New Leadership USA/TargetPoint | March 31 – April 7, 2008 | 45% | 45% |
| Rasmussen Reports | April 16, 2008 | 45% | 42% |
| Rasmussen Reports | May 19, 2008 | 47% | 41% |
| Rasmussen Reports | June 17, 2008 | 49% | 40% |
| Garin-Hart-Yang/DSCC | June 15–17, 2008 | 46% | 37% |
| Quinnipiac | June 26, 2008 | 48% | 38% |
| Public Policy Polling (PPP) | July 10, 2008 | 47% | 38% |
| Keith Frederick | July 22, 2008 | 48% | 39% |
| Rasmussen Reports | July 22, 2008 | 49% | 46% |
| Quinnipiac | July 24, 2008 | 44% | 44% |
| Rasmussen Reports | August 13, 2008 | 50% | 42% |
| Hill Research Consultants | August 24, 2008 | 41% | 38% |
| Tarrance Group | September 3, 2008 | 41% | 40% |
| Public Policy Polling | September 21, 2008 | 48% | 40% |
| Quinnipiac | September 14–21, 2008 | 48% | 40% |
| Rasmussen Reports | September 23, 2008 | 46% | 44% |
| Denver Post | September 29 – October 1, 2008 | 43% | 38% |
| Ciruli Associates | October 1, 2008 | 45% | 38% |
| Rasmussen Reports | October 16, 2008 | 51% | 44% |

### Results

2008 United States Senate election in Colorado :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | Mark Udall | 1,231,049 | 52.80% | +7.03% |
| | Republican | Bob Schaffer | 990,784 | 42.49% | −8.20% |
| | Constitution | Douglas Campbell | 59,736 | 2.56% | +1.04% |
| | Green | Bob Kinsey | 50,008 | 2.14% | N/A |
| | Write-in | Write-in | 135 | 0.01% | N/A |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 2,331,712 | 100.00% | N/A |
| | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican |

#### Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic

* Larimer (largest city: Fort Collins)
* Grand (Largest city: Granby)
* Garfield (largest municipality: Glenwood Springs)
* Eagle (largest municipality: Edwards)
* Jefferson (largest city: Lakewood)
* Arapahoe (largest city: Aurora)
* Chaffee (largest city: Salida)
* Ouray (largest city: Ouray)
* San Juan (largest municipality: Silverton)
* Mineral (Largest city: Creede)
* Conejos (largest municipality: Manassa)
* Alamosa (largest municipality: Alamosa)