2008 Senate Victories

Sen. Kay Hagan
(NC)

In one of the most high-profile Senate races in the country, North Carolina State Senator Kay Hagan handily defeated Republican Senator Elizabeth Dole, 53 to 44 percent, gaining Democrats another key seat in the U.S. Senate. With the incumbent Dole an early favorite to win, Hagan gained ground in the final weeks, but the size of the Democrat's victory was unexpected. Barack Obama’s success in North Carolina likely gave Hagan a boost.

Sen. Mary Landrieu
(LA)

Incumbent Senator Mary Landrieu beat back a strong challenge this year and defeated Louisiana State Treasurer John Kennedy by a healthy 52 to 46 percent. A member of the Homeland Security, Appropriations, and Energy and National Resources Committees, Landrieu will be sworn in to a third term in the Senate in January.

Sen. Jeanne Shaheen
(NH)

In another pick-up for Senate Democrats, former New Hampshire Governor Jeanne Shaheen defeated GOP Senator John Sununu, 52 to 45 percent. As New Hampshire's first elected woman governor, Shaheen helped launch her state’s Children’s Health Insurance Program and also made New Hampshire one of the first states in the nation to include sexual orientation in its anti-discrimination laws.

2008 House Victories

Rep. Gabrielle Giffords
(AZ, 8th District)

Despite John McCain’s victory in Arizona, Democratic Representative Gabrielle Giffords held off a challenge from Republican Arizona State Senator Tim Bee by a resounding 55 to 43 percent. A member of the Foreign Affairs and Armed Services Committees, Giffords will return to Congress for a second term.

Rep. Mary Jo Kilroy
(OH, 15th District)

More than a month after Election Day, Franklin County Commissioner Mary Jo Kilroy was declared the winner over Ohio State Senator Steve Stivers in a close open-seat race, putting the district in Democratic hands for the first time in 42 years. In 2006, in a previous House bid, Kilroy lost to incumbent Republican Representative Deborah Pryce by just over 1,000 votes.

Kirsten Gillibrand
(NY, 20th District)

Despite the Republican leanings of New York’s 20th district, Kirsten Gillibrand won re-election to a second term by an overwhelming margin, defeating former New York State GOP Chair Alexander Treadwell 62 to 38 percent. Gillibrand has since been nominated by Governor David Paterson to fill Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's vacant Senate seat. The mother of two young children, Gillibrand has served on the House Armed Services and Agriculture Committees.

Rep. Suzanne Kosmas
(FL, 24th District)

Suzanne Kosmas knocked off a sitting incumbent and added to the ranks of women in Congress by defeating GOP Representative Tom Feeney, 57 to 41 percent. A small business owner and former Florida State Representative, Kosmas dominated this race financially and earned a big victory on Election Day.

Rep. Betsy Markey
(CO, 4th District)

Betsey Markey ousted GOP Representative Marilyn Musgrave in a resounding electoral victory, 55 to 45 percent, despite the heavily conservative nature of this district. A small businesswoman and former chair of the Larimer County Democratic Party, Markey also may have gotten a boost from President Barack Obama's coattails.

Rep. Dina Titus
(NV, 3rd District)

In another U.S. House pick-up for Democrats and women, Dina Titus ousted Republican Rep. Jon Porter, 48 to 42 percent. An author, university professor and 20-year veteran of the Nevada State Senate, Titus was sworn in as a freshman U.S. Representative in January.

Other 2008 House Races

Judy Baker
(MO, 9th District)

Unable to overcome the Republican leanings of this district, businesswoman and former Missouri State Representative Judy Baker lost her contest against State Division of Tourism Director Blaine Luetkemeyer in this open-seat race, 50 to 47 percent.

Darcy Burner
(WA, 8th District)

In her second bid against incumbent Representative Dave Reichert, Washington Democrat Darcy Burner finally conceded three days after the election. Reichert prevailed 52 to 48 percent.

Jill Derby
(NV, 2nd District)

A former chair of the Nevada Democratic party, Jill Derby fell short of her bid to unseat incumbent Representative Dean Heller in this heavily Republican rural district. Heller earned 52 percent of the vote.

Christine Jennings
(FL, 13th District)

Unlike in 2006 – when businesswoman and founder of Sarasota Bank Christine Jennings came within 400 votes of defeating GOP Rep. Vern Buchanan – this time she was defeated by a significant margin, 55 to 38 percent.

Alice Kryzan
(NY, 26th District)

After a stunning upset in the Democratic primary, first-time candidate Alice Kryzan was not able to repeat her success on election day against Republican businessman Christopher Lee. She was defeated in this open-seat race, 55 to 40 percent.

Linda Stender
(NJ, 7th District)

In her second bid for the 7th district seat, Linda Stender was defeated by New Jersey State Senator Leonard Lance, 51 to 41 percent. A New Jersey State Assemblywoman, Stender came within one percent of defeating incumbent Rep. Mike Ferguson in 2006.

Victoria Wulsin
(OH, 2nd District)

In her third bid for this House seat, Democrat Dr. Victoria Wulsin, a physician and former U.S. Public Health Service officer, lost to incumbent Republican Representative Jean Schmidt, 45 to 37 percent.