2008 United States Senate election in Virginia

• Jim Gilmore, former Governor of Virginia
• Bob Marshall, State Delegate from Manassas

• Tom Davis, U.S. Representative from Vienna

• John Warner, incumbent U.S. Senator since 1979

Republican convention results by congressional district

  Gilmore

•   50–60%
•   60–70%

  Marshall

•   50–60%
•   60–70%
•   70–80%

On September 16, 2007, Republican Rep. Tom Davis of the 11th District unofficially announced that he would seek election to the seat.[6] The Washington Times reported that John Warner delayed his retirement announcement specifically to help Davis.[7]

On October 1, 2007, the editors of the National Review encouraged Virginia voters to draft General Peter Pace, the retiring Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, to run in 2008 for the Senate seat to be vacated by retiring Senator John Warner. The magazine cited Pace's conservative Catholic beliefs in making its suggestion.[8]

On October 13, the Republican Party of Virginia's State Central Committee voted 47-37 to hold a statewide convention rather than a primary. Former Virginia governor Jim Gilmore argued strongly for a convention, claiming it would save the candidates money. It reportedly costs $4 million to compete in a primary, while it costs only $1 million for a convention. Davis argued that a primary would expose the candidates to the kind of environment they would face in November. A primary was thought to favor Davis due to his popularity in voter-rich Northern Virginia. In contrast, a convention was thought to favor Gilmore because most of the delegates would come from the party's activist base, which is tilted heavily to the right. With the decision, Gilmore said he was seriously considering entering the race.[9]

Davis dropped out of the race on October 25, 2007, citing the potential difficulties of defeating Gilmore in the conservative-dominated GOP convention and in taking on Warner, who is very popular in Davis' own Northern Virginia base.[10] Gilmore confirmed his candidacy on November 19, 2007.[11]

On January 7, 2008, Delegate Bob Marshall (R-Prince William County), a sixteen-year state legislator from Northern Virginia known for his social conservative values, announced he would challenge Gilmore for the Republican nomination May 31, 2008.[12] The convention was held on May 31, 2008, where Gilmore won the nomination with 50.3% of the vote, just 66 votes more than Marshall.[13]

Republican Convention Vote[14]

• Jim Gilmore, former Governor of Virginia (Republican)
• Glenda Parker, retired United States Air Force officer and candidate for U.S. Senate in 2006 (Independent Greens)
• Bill Redpath, national chair of the Libertarian Party (Libertarian)
• Mark Warner, former Govenror of Virginia (Democratic)

On March 29, 2008, the Libertarian Party of Virginia state convention nominated Bill Redpath as its Senate candidate.[16] Redpath, who was serving as national party chair at the time, cited the importance of running a Libertarian candidate for federal office this election year, considering the fact that the Independent Greens have been fielding candidates so actively in recent years. Glenda Gail Parker from Alexandria, a retired U.S. Air Force officer, ran again for the Independent Greens as she did in the 2006 Senate election.[17]

Former Gov. Mark Warner (D) campaigns at the Dixie Theatre in Staunton, Virginia

Republican Senator John Warner chose to retire after five terms.

Former Gov. Jim Gilmore (R)

After the conclusions of the state conventions, Democrat Mark Warner had emerged as the front-runner for the Class 2 Senate seat from Virginia. Some early polling showed Mark Warner leading Jim Gilmore by as much as 2-1.

Pundits and analysists believed Virginia to be the single strongest pickup opportunity for the Democrats due to Warner's consistent lead in the polls.

Jim Gilmore responded aggressively, mostly with ads on the Internet; his campaign had very little money. Gilmore attacked Warner for raising taxes during his term as governor, when he had pledged not to do so,[18] flip-flopping[19] among many other topics.

On October 6, 2008, Mark Warner and Jim Gilmore debated various issues, including the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008, the Iraq War and Judicial nominees. The Richmond Times Dispatch sponsored the debate held at the Taubman Museum of Art, Roanoke, Virginia.[20]

Mark Warner argued he'd be part of a radical centrist coalition, no matter who won the presidency. He claimed the coalition would improve cooperation in the Congress and its subsequent public perception. Warner spoke of alternative energy, and Gilmore argued for offshore drilling.[21] The issue of the 2004 tax increase under then-Governor Mark Warner was raised at the first debate of the campaign between Gilmore and Warner.[22]

The Washington Post reported on July 24, 2008, that Jim Gilmore "submitted false information on two financial disclosure forms that hid his ties to a government contractor embroiled in a legal dispute over allegations that two of its executives had conspired to defraud the federal government." The Gilmore campaign responded by saying, the controversy was due to a "clerical error."[23]

On election night, Warner was declared the winner based on exit polls alone, before the votes were counted.

Money played a large role in the campaign. By July, Mark Warner had raised $9 million, while Jim Gilmore had raised $1.2 million.[24] This does not include money from the DSCC or NRSC.

Mark Warner

• Bristol Herald-Courier
• Daily Press (Newport News)[25]
• Danville Register & Bee
• Fredericksburg Free Lance-Star[26]
• Loudoun Times-Mirror
• Martinsville Bulletin[27]
• News and Advance (Lynchburg)
• The Roanoke Times[28]
• The Virginian-Pilot (Norfolk)[29]
• The Washington Post[30]

Jim Gilmore

• Richmond Times-Dispatch