2008 United States House of Representatives elections in New York


The 2008 United States House of Representatives elections in New York were held on November 4, 2008, to elect the 29 U.S. representatives from the State of New York, one from each of the state's 29 congressional districts. state of New York in the United States House of Representatives. New York has 29 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 4, 2009, until January 3, 2011. The election coincided with the 2008 U.S. presidential election in which Democrat Barack Obama defeated Republican John McCain by a wide margin.
The districts with congressional races not forecast as "safe" for the incumbent party were New York's congressional districts 13, 19, 20, 24, 25, 26 and 29.
The Democratic Party gained three seats in New York's congressional delegation in the 2008 elections. In New York's 13th congressional district, Democrat Michael McMahon defeated Robert Straniere to win the seat vacated by Republican Rep. Vito Fossella. In New York's 25th congressional district, Democrat Dan Maffei defeated Republican Dale Sweetland to win the seat vacated by Republican Rep. Jim Walsh. In New York's 29th congressional district, Democrat Eric Massa defeated incumbent Republican Rep. Randy Kuhl. Beginning in 2009, New York's congressional delegation consisted of a lopsided 26 Democrats and 3 Republicans. In the history of New York state politics, this represents the best performance by any one party, as a proportion of total seats, in state history. Republicans suffered in the fallout of the financial crisis, but regained seats in the following elections.

Overview

Votes by district

Candidates on multiple ballot lines are marked as the party they caucus with.

Seat allocation

Votes are marked under party the candidate caucuses with, regardless of ballot line.

District 1

The 1st district is based on the eastern end and North Shore of Long Island, including the Hamptons, the North Fork, Riverhead, Port Jefferson, Smithtown, and Brookhaven, all in Suffolk County. Due to redistricting, the district lost minimal territory, instead picking up more territory around the towns of King's Park and Smithtown from the 2nd district. The 1st district has a PVI of R+3 but voted for Barack Obama by 4 points in the concurring presidential election. The incumbent is Democrat Tim Bishop, who was reelected with 62.23% of the vote in 2006. On election day, Bishop defeated Republican nominee Lee Zeldin who would then defeat him in a rematch six years later.

Republican/Conservative nominee

Predictions

Results

District 2

The 2nd district is based on the western end and North Shore of Long Island, including Huntington, Northport, Islandia, Half Hollow, West Hills, and parts of Islip, all in Suffolk and Nassau Counties. Due to redistricting, the district lost substantial territory, losing most of Lindenhurst, Islip, and portions of the South Shore to the 3rd district while gaining more territory on the North Shore around Huntington and portions of Nassau County. The 2nd district has a PVI of R+3 but voted for Barack Obama by 3 points in the concurring presidential election. The incumbent is Democrat Steve Israel, who was reelected with 70.42% of the vote in 2006. On election day Israel defeated Republican nominee Frank Stalzer.

Republican/Conservative nominee

  • Frank Stalzer, businessman

    Democratic/Independence/Working Families nominee

  • Steve Israel, incumbent U.S. Representative since 2001, former member of the Huntington Town Council, and former staff member for U.S. Representative Richard Ottinger

    General election

Predictions

Results

District 3

The 3rd district is based on the Gold Coast and Jones Beach portion of Long Island, including Glen Cove, Oyster Bay, Long Beach, Massapequa, Brookville, and parts of Islip, all in Suffolk and Nassau Counties. Due to redistricting, the district gained a large amount of territory, gaining in the southern portion of Nassau County around East Rockaway as well as a new portion of the district in Suffolk County, gaining Lindenhurst, Babylon, and portions of Islip, but lost areas around Interstate 495 in Plainview. The 3rd district has a PVI of D+2 but voted for Barack Obama by 8 points in the concurring presidential election. The incumbent is Republican Peter King, who was reelected with 56.04% of the vote in 2006. On election day King defeated Democratic nominee Graham Long.

Republican/Independence/Conservative nominee

  • Peter King, incumbent U.S. Representative since 1993

    Democratic/Working Families nominee

  • Graham Long, Economic Development Advisor for Nassau County

    General election

Predictions

Results

District 4

The 4th district is based on the Nassau South Shore and central Nassau portion of Long Island, including Mineola, Garden City, East Rockaway, Valley Stream, Freeport, and parts of Long Beach, all in Nassau County. Due to redistricting, the district gained a small amount of territory in the southern portion of Nassau County around East Rockaway and Freeport but lost areas around Levittown. The 3rd district has a PVI of D+5 but voted for Barack Obama by 11 points in the concurring presidential election. The incumbent is Democrat Carolyn McCarthy, who was reelected with 64.92% of the vote in 2006. On election day McCarthy defeated Republican nominee Jack Martins.

Republican/Conservative nominee

  • Jack Martins, Mayor of Mineola since 2003

    Democratic/Independence/Working Families nominee

  • Carolyn McCarthy, incumbent U.S. Representative since 1997

    General election

Predictions

Results

District 5

The 5th district is based on the Nassau North Shore and Flushing portion of Queens County, including Manhorhaven, Kings Point, Great Neck, East Hills, Corona, and parts of Jamaica, in Nassau and Queens counties. Due to redistricting, the district was compacted and shifted towards Queens, losing most of its territory on the North Shore, including portions of the cities of Smithtown and Huntington as well as territory in the surrounding communities. The 5th district has a PVI of D+30 but voted for Barack Obama by 27 points in the concurring presidential election. The incumbent is Democrat Gary Ackerman, who was reelected with 100.00% of the vote in 2006. On election day Ackerman defeated Republican nominee Elizabeth Berney.

Republican nominee

  • Elizabeth Berney

    Democratic/Independence/Working Families nominee

  • Gary Ackerman, incumbent U.S. Representative since 1983

    General election

Predictions

Results

District 6

Incumbent Gregory Meeks has served in Congress since 1998, representing heavily Democratic Queens. He was easily re-elected unopposed.

Predictions

District 7

Incumbent Joe Crowley had served in Congress since 1999 representing heavily Democratic areas of the Bronx and Queens. He was easily re-elected against token opposition.

Predictions

District 8

Incumbent Jerry Nadler had served in Congress since 1992 representing heavily Democratic areas of Manhattan. He was easily re-elected against token opposition.

Predictions

District 9

Incumbent Anthony Weiner was originally elected in 1998 in this heavily Democratic district representing parts of Brooklyn and Queens. He was easily re-elected against no Republican opposition.

Predictions

District 10

Incumbent Edolphus Downs originally was elected to Congress in 1982, representing Brooklyn. He was easily re-elected over token opposition.

Predictions

District 11

Incumbent Yvette Clarke was originally elected in 2006 and ran for re-election. She was easily re-elected in this heavily Democratic district.

Predictions

District 12

Incumbent Nydia Velazquez was re-elected in a landslide over Republican Allan Romaguera.

Predictions

District 13

Republican incumbent Vito Fossella announced his retirement on May 20, 2008, leaving this an open seat. Democratic City Councilman Michael McMahon, endorsed by the Staten Island Democratic Party won the primary against Steve Harrison, who lost to Fossella in 2006. Republican Robert Straniere defeated Dr. Jamshad Wyne in the Republican primary. CQ Politics forecasted the race as 'Democrat Favored'. McMahon defeated Straniere in the general election.

District 14

Predictions

District 15

Predictions

District 16

Predictions

District 17

Predictions

District 18

Predictions

District 19

Democratic incumbent John Hall was challenged by Republican Kieran Lalor. CQ Politics forecasted the race as 'Democrat Favored'. Hall won the election with 59% of the vote.
  • from CQ Politics
  • from OpenSecrets

    Predictions

District 20

Democratic incumbent Kirsten Gillibrand was challenged by Republican Sandy Treadwell. CQ Politics forecast race as 'Leans Democratic.' Gillibrand won easily.
  • from CQ Politics
  • from OpenSecrets
This was incumbent Democrat Kirsten Gillibrand's first run for re-election, and was one of the most expensive House races in the nation, with both campaigns spending a total of more than $9 million. Gillibrand had defeated Republican Congressman John Sweeney in an upset in 2006.
Representative Gillibrand faced businessmen Morris Guller in the Democratic primary due, it was said, to her support for a supplemental appropriation for the Iraq conflict. Gilibrand won the primary by a wide margin.
Those who would have run in the 2008 Republican primary to face Gillibrand had there been one:
Treadwell, with the backing of the State Conservative Party and the GOP, to disqualify Wallace and Rocque from the primary. He succeeded, and became the sole opponent of Kirsten Gillibrand. Gillibrand faced Republican Sandy Treadwell, former Secretary of State for New York. On October 10, 2008, the listed the 20th District as "Likely Democratic". Gillibrand won the November 4, 2008, election with 62% of the vote to Treadwell's 38%.