2008 United States Shadow Representative election in the District of Columbia

On November 4, 2008, the District of Columbia held a U.S. House of Representatives election for its shadow representative. Unlike its non-voting delegate, the shadow representative is only recognized by the district and is not officially sworn or seated. Incumbent Shadow Representative Mike Panetta won election to a second term.

2008 United States Shadow Representative election in the District of Columbia

← 2006 November 4, 2008 2010 →
Turnout	62.5% 31.6 pp[1]
Nominee Mike Panetta Joyce Robinson-Paul Party Democratic DC Statehood Green Popular vote 187,362 28,703 Percentage 85.9% 13.1%
Ward results Precinct results Panetta:      70–80%      80–90%      >90%
Shadow Representative before election Mike Panetta Democratic Elected Shadow Representative Mike Panetta Democratic

Primary elections

Primary elections were held on September 9, 2008

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Mike Panetta, incumbent Shadow Representative

Results

District of Columbia Shadow Representative Democratic primary election, 2008^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Mike Panetta (incumbent)	30,223	98.1
	Democratic	Write-ins	602	2.0
Total votes			30,825	100.0
	n/a	Overvotes	2
	n/a	Undervotes	10,582

Statehood Green primary

• Joyce Robinson-Paul, perennial candidate

Results

District of Columbia Shadow Representative Statehood Green primary election, 2008^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	DC Statehood Green	Joyce Robinson-Paul	195	94.6
	DC Statehood Green	Write-ins	11	5.4
Total votes			206	100.0
	n/a	Overvotes	0
	n/a	Undervotes	19

Other primaries

A Republican primary was held but no candidates filed and only 248 write-in votes were cast.

General election

The general election took place on November 4, 2008.

Results

General election results^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Mike Panetta (incumbent)	187,362	85.87	+8.4
	DC Statehood Green	Joyce Robinson-Paul	28,703	13.2	+5.0
	Write-in		2,123	1.0
Total votes			218,188	100.0%
	n/a	Overvotes	81
	n/a	Undervotes	46,993