The 2008 United States Senate election in Louisiana was held on November 4, 2008. This was the first time since the 1970s that Louisiana used party primaries for federal races. Incumbent Senator Mary Landrieu won a third term by 6.4 percent despite being forecast as one of the most vulnerable Senate Democrats during 2008. She had received praise and wide publicity for her advocacy after Hurricane Katrina, particularly during hearings regarding FEMA's response to the disaster. As of 2026, this is the last time that Democrats won any statewide election in Louisiana other than Governor, and the last Louisiana U.S. Senate race where the winner won less than 55% of votes.
Landrieu's main opponent John Kennedy garnered allegations of being a political opportunist after switching parties from Democrat to Republican in 2007. He has held the state's other U.S. Senate seat since 2017 as a Republican, having unsuccessfully run as a Democrat for it in 2004.
Background Landrieu's increased vulnerability was supposed to be the result of a significant drop in the state's African-American population after Hurricane Katrina, especially in Landrieu's home city of New Orleans. Louisiana also elected a Republican senator in 2004 and President Bush won the state twice, in 2004 with 56.72% of the vote. Also, Republican Bobby Jindal won the 2007 gubernatorial election with 54% of the vote.
Major candidates Democratic Mary Landrieu, incumbent U.S. Senator
Republican John Neely Kennedy, State Treasurer and Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate in 2004
General election Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political Report October 23, 2008 CQ PoliticsRace Ratings Chart: Senate CQ Politics October 31, 2008 Rothenberg Political Report November 2, 2008 Real Clear Politics October 23, 2008
Polling Poll Source Dates administered MaryLandrieu (D) JohnKennedy (R)Rasmussen ReportsRasmussen Reports October 21, 2008 53% 43%Rasmussen ReportsRasmussen Reports September 25, 2008 54% 41%Rasmussen ReportsRasmussen Reports August 17, 2008 56% 39%Rasmussen ReportsRasmussen Reports July 9, 2008 49% 44%Southern Media & Opinion ResearchSouthern Media & Opinion Research July 1, 2008 46% 40%Rasmussen ReportsRasmussen Reports May 28, 2008 47% 44%Southern Media & Opinion ResearchSouthern Media & Opinion Research March 26 – April 9, 2008 50% 38%Survey USASurvey USA December 6–10, 2007 46% 42%
Results Though she was considered one of the most vulnerable incumbent senators in 2008, Landrieu won reelection by a margin of 121,121 votes and 6.39%, overperforming Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama in the state by more than 24 percentage points.
Parishes that flipped from Democratic to Republican Catahoula (Largest town: Jonesville) Jefferson Davis (Largest city: Jennings) Vermilion (Largest city: Abbeville)
Parishes that flipped from Republican to Democratic Iberia (Largest city: New Iberia) Jefferson (Largest town: Metairie) Lincoln (Largest town: Ruston) Plaquemines (Largest community: Belle Chasse) Saint Bernard (Largest community: Chalmette) Saint Mary (Largest city: Morgan City)
See also 2008 United States Senate elections
References
External links Elections Division from the Louisiana Secretary of State U.S. Congress candidates for Louisiana at Project Vote Smart Louisiana U.S. Senate from CQ Politics Louisiana U.S. Senate from OurCampaigns.com Campaign contributions from OpenSecrets Official campaign websites (archived) Mary Landrieu (D) for Senate John Kennedy (R) for Senate