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 County results Congressional district resultsMcKenna: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% Ladenburg: 50–60% 60–70% | |||||||||||||||||
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The2008 Washington Attorney General election was held on Tuesday, November 4, 2008, to elect theattorney general of Washington, concurrently with the2008 U.S. presidential election, as well aselections to theU.S. Senate and variousstate and local elections, including forU.S. House andgovernor of Washington. Washington is one of two states that holds atop-two primary, meaning that all candidates are listed on the same ballot regardless of party affiliation, and the top two move on to the general election.
IncumbentRepublican Attorney GeneralRob McKenna was re-elected to a third term in office, defeatedDemocratic challengerJohn Ladenburg in a landslide, winning by almost 20 points and carrying all but two counties.[1] As of 2025, this is the last time a Republican was elected Washington Attorney General.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Rob McKenna (incumbent) | 783,240 | 56.98 | |
| Democratic | John Ladenburg | 591,254 | 43.02 | |
| Total votes | 1,374,494 | 100.00 | ||
Newspapers
Statewide officials
| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Rob McKenna (R) | John Ladenburg (D) | Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SurveyUSA[7] | October 30 – November 2, 2008 | 663 (LV) | ± 3.8% | 59% | 36% | 6% |
| SurveyUSA[8] | October 26–27, 2008 | 630 (LV) | ± 3.9% | 57% | 36% | 7% |
| SurveyUSA[9] | October 12–13, 2008 | 544 (LV) | ± 4.3% | 54% | 38% | 8% |
| SurveyUSA[10] | September 21–22, 2008 | 682 (LV) | ± 3.8% | 53% | 39% | 8% |
| SurveyUSA[11] | September 5–7, 2008 | 658 (LV) | ± 3.9% | 55% | 40% | 5% |
| SurveyUSA[12] | August 11–12, 2008 | 718 (LV) | ± 3.7% | 51% | 43% | 6% |
| SurveyUSA[13] | July 13–15, 2008 | 666 (LV) | ± 3.9% | 49% | 41% | 10% |
| SurveyUSA[14] | June 7–9, 2008 | 637 (LV) | ± 4.0% | 49% | 42% | 9% |
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Rob McKenna (incumbent) | 1,689,764 | 59.46% | ||
| Democratic | John Ladenburg | 1,152,174 | 40.54% | ||
| Total votes | 2,841,938 | 100.00% | |||
| Republicanhold | |||||
| County[16] | Rob McKenna Republican | John Ladenburg Democratic | Margin | Total votes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | % | # | % | # | % | ||
| Adams | 3,480 | 76.28% | 1,082 | 23.72% | 2,398 | 52.56% | 4,562 |
| Asotin | 5,812 | 63.20% | 3,384 | 36.80% | 2,428 | 26.40% | 9,196 |
| Benton | 51,092 | 73.68% | 18,248 | 26.32% | 32,844 | 47.37% | 69,340 |
| Chelan | 21,091 | 70.10% | 8,996 | 29.90% | 12,095 | 40.20% | 30,087 |
| Clallam | 22,459 | 62.13% | 13,690 | 37.87% | 8,769 | 24.26% | 36,149 |
| Clark | 95,135 | 56.13% | 74,360 | 43.87% | 20,775 | 12.26% | 169,495 |
| Columbia | 1,600 | 77.07% | 476 | 22.93% | 1,124 | 54.14% | 2,076 |
| Cowlitz | 21,566 | 51.57% | 20,250 | 48.43% | 1,316 | 3.15% | 41,816 |
| Douglas | 10,405 | 72.49% | 3,949 | 27.51% | 6,456 | 44.98% | 14,354 |
| Ferry | 2,164 | 66.32% | 1,099 | 33.68% | 1,065 | 32.64% | 3,263 |
| Franklin | 13,276 | 70.07% | 5,671 | 29.93% | 7,605 | 40.14% | 18,947 |
| Garfield | 994 | 78.21% | 277 | 21.79% | 717 | 56.41% | 1,271 |
| Grant | 18,699 | 71.77% | 7,356 | 28.23% | 11,343 | 43.53% | 26,055 |
| Grays Harbor | 17,051 | 61.29% | 10,771 | 38.71% | 6,280 | 22.57% | 27,822 |
| Island | 25,531 | 64.55% | 14,022 | 35.45% | 11,509 | 29.10% | 39,553 |
| Jefferson | 9,307 | 49.61% | 9,454 | 50.39% | -147 | -0.78% | 18,761 |
| King | 453,330 | 53.56% | 393,111 | 46.44% | 60,219 | 7.11% | 846,441 |
| Kitsap | 71,317 | 60.21% | 47,123 | 39.79% | 24,194 | 20.43% | 118,440 |
| Kittitas | 11,379 | 68.09% | 5,332 | 31.91% | 6,047 | 36.19% | 16,711 |
| Klickitat | 5,166 | 55.49% | 4,144 | 44.51% | 1,022 | 10.98% | 9,310 |
| Lewis | 23,176 | 70.61% | 9,648 | 29.39% | 13,528 | 41.21% | 32,824 |
| Lincoln | 4,185 | 75.43% | 1,363 | 24.57% | 2,822 | 50.87% | 5,548 |
| Mason | 17,019 | 62.79% | 10,084 | 37.21% | 6,935 | 25.59% | 27,103 |
| Okanogan | 9,971 | 63.45% | 5,743 | 36.55% | 4,228 | 26.91% | 15,714 |
| Pacific | 5,460 | 53.67% | 4,714 | 46.33% | 746 | 7.33% | 10,174 |
| Pend Oreille | 4,179 | 67.67% | 1,997 | 32.33% | 2,182 | 35.33% | 6,176 |
| Pierce | 181,792 | 58.20% | 130,550 | 41.80% | 51,242 | 16.41% | 312,342 |
| San Juan | 4,551 | 46.56% | 5,224 | 53.44% | -673 | -6.88% | 9,775 |
| Skagit | 33,530 | 63.34% | 19,410 | 36.66% | 14,120 | 26.67% | 52,940 |
| Skamania | 2,672 | 53.34% | 2,337 | 46.66% | 335 | 6.69% | 5,009 |
| Snohomish | 186,169 | 61.36% | 117,226 | 38.64% | 68,943 | 22.72% | 303,395 |
| Spokane | 134,706 | 65.03% | 72,439 | 34.97% | 62,267 | 30.06% | 207,145 |
| Stevens | 14,841 | 70.30% | 6,270 | 29.70% | 8,571 | 40.60% | 21,111 |
| Thurston | 74,734 | 62.41% | 45,007 | 37.59% | 29,727 | 24.83% | 119,741 |
| Wahkiakum | 1,203 | 57.70% | 882 | 42.30% | 321 | 15.40% | 2,085 |
| Walla Walla | 15,911 | 69.65% | 6,934 | 30.35% | 8,977 | 39.30% | 22,845 |
| Whatcom | 53,466 | 56.95% | 40,419 | 43.05% | 13,047 | 13.90% | 93,885 |
| Whitman | 10,085 | 62.42% | 6,071 | 37.58% | 4,014 | 24.85% | 16,156 |
| Yakima | 51,260 | 68.97% | 23,061 | 31.03% | 28,199 | 37.94% | 74,321 |
| Totals | 1,689,764 | 59.46% | 1,152,174 | 40.54% | 537,590 | 18.92% | 2,841,938 |
Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican
McKenna won eight of nine congressional districts, including five that elected Democrats.[17]
| District | McKenna | Ladenburg | Representative |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 61% | 39% | Jay Inslee |
| 2nd | 61% | 39% | Rick Larsen |
| 3rd | 58% | 42% | Brian Baird |
| 4th | 70% | 30% | Doc Hastings |
| 5th | 66% | 34% | Cathy McMorris Rodgers |
| 6th | 57% | 43% | Norm Dicks |
| 7th | 40% | 60% | Jim McDermott |
| 8th | 66% | 34% | Dave Reichert |
| 9th | 60% | 40% | Adam Smith |
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