2008 United States Shadow Senator election in the District of Columbia

The 2008 United States Shadow Senator election in the District of Columbia took place on November 4, 2008, to elect a shadow member to the United States Senate to represent the District of Columbia. The member was only recognized by the District of Columbia and not officially sworn or seated by the United States Senate.

2008 United States Shadow Senator election in the District of Columbia

November 4, 2008
Turnout	62.5% 29.9pp
Nominee Paul Strauss Nelson F. Rimensnyder Keith Ware Party Democratic Republican DC Statehood Green Popular vote 183,519 18,601 16,881 Percentage 80.8% 8.2% 7.4%
Precinct results Strauss:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90%
Shadow Senator before election Paul Strauss Democratic Elected Shadow Senator Paul Strauss Democratic

Incumbent Shadow Senator Paul Strauss won reelection to a third term.

Primary elections

Party primaries took place on September 9, 2008.

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Paul Strauss, incumbent shadow senator
• Philip Pannell

Results

Democratic primary results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Paul Strauss	22,811	64.82%
	Democratic	Philip Pannell	11,949	33.96%
	Write-in		430	1.22%
Total votes			35,190	100.00%

General election

Strauss faced Republican Nelson Rimensnyder, D.C. Statehood Green candidate Keith R. Ware and Libertarian candidate Damien Lincoln Ober. As is usual for Democrats in the District, Strauss won in a landslide.

Candidates

• Paul Strauss (Democratic)
• Nelson Rimensnyder (Republican)
• Keith R. Ware (D.C. Statehood Green)
• Damien Lincoln Ober (Libertarian)

Results

General election results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Paul Strauss (incumbent)	183,519	80.82%
	Republican	Nelson F. Rimensnyder	18,601	8.19%
	DC Statehood Green	Keith Ware	16,881	7.43%
	Libertarian	Damien Lincoln Ober	5,915	2.60%
	Write-in		2,164	0.95%
Total votes			227,080	100.00%
	Democratic hold