2008 United States House of Representatives elections
District Incumbent Party First elected Results Candidates
Maryland 1 Wayne Gilchrest Republican 1990 Incumbent lost renomination . New member elected . Democratic gain Y Frank Kratovil ( Democratic ) 49.1% Andy Harris ( Republican ) 48.3% Richard James Davis ( Libertarian ) 2.5%
Maryland 2 Dutch Ruppersberger Democratic 2002 Incumbent re-elected Y Dutch Ruppersberger ( Democratic ) 71.9% Richard Matthews ( Republican ) 24.8% Lorenzo Gaztanaga ( Libertarian ) 3.2%
Maryland 3 John Sarbanes Democratic 2006 Incumbent re-elected Y John Sarbanes ( Democratic ) 69.7% Tom Harris ( Republican ) 30.1%
Maryland 4 Donna Edwards Democratic June 17 , 2008 ( Special ) Incumbent re-elected Y Donna Edwards ( Democratic ) 85.8% Peter James ( Republican ) 12.9% Thibeaux Lincecum ( Libertarian ) 1.1%
Maryland 5 Steny Hoyer Democratic 1981 Incumbent re-elected Y Steny Hoyer ( Democratic ) 73.6% Collins Bailey ( Republican ) 24.0% Darlene H. Nicholas ( Libertarian ) 2.3%
Maryland 6 Roscoe Bartlett Republican 1992 Incumbent re-elected Y Roscoe Bartlett ( Republican ) 57.8% Jennifer Dougherty ( Democratic ) 38.8% Gary Hoover ( Libertarian ) 3.3%
Maryland 7 Elijah Cummings Democratic 1996 Incumbent re-elected Y Elijah Cummings ( Democratic ) 79.5% Michael Hargadon ( Republican ) 18.6% Ronald M. Owens-Bey ( Libertarian ) 1.8%
Maryland 8 Chris Van Hollen Jr Democratic 2002 Incumbent re-elected Y Chris Van Hollen Jr. ( Democratic ) 75.1% Steve Hudson ( Republican ) 21.7% Gordon Clark ( Green ) 2.2% Ian Thomas ( Libertarian ) 0.8%
Maryland
Main article : 2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Maryland See also : List of United States Representatives from Maryland
The 2008 United States House of Representatives elections were held on November 4, 2008, to elect members to the United States House of Representatives to serve in the 111th United States Congress from January 3, 2009, until January 3, 2011. It coincided with the election of Barack Obama as President. All 435 voting seats, as well as all 6 non-voting seats, were up for election. The Democratic Party, which won a majority of seats in the 2006 election, expanded its control in 2008. The Republican Party, hoping to regain the majority it lost in the 2006 election or at least expand its congressional membership, lost additional seats. With one exception (Louisiana's 2nd district), the only seats to switch from Democratic to Republican had been Republican-held prior to the 2006 elections. Republicans gained five Democratic seats total, while losing 26 of their own, giving the Democrats a net gain of 21 seats, effectively erasing all gains made by the GOP since 1994. In addition, with the defeat of Republican congressman Chris Shays in Connecticut's 4th district, this became the first time since the 1850s that no Republican represented the New England region. The 10.6% popular vote advantage by the Democrats was the largest by either party since 1982, 26 years earlier. Turnout increased due to the 2008 presidential election. The presidential election, 2008 Senate elections, and 2008 state gubernatorial elections, as well as many other state and local elections, occurred on the same date.