2008 Republican Presidential Primaries

Republican Party presidential primaries, 2008

← 2004 January 3 to June 3, 2008 2012 →
Candidate John McCain Mike Huckabee Home state Arizona Arkansas Delegate count 1,575 278 Contests won 37 8 Popular vote 9,902,797 4,276,046 Percentage 46.7% 20.1%   Candidate Mitt Romney Ron Paul Home state Massachusetts Texas Delegate count 271 35 Contests won 11 0 Popular vote 4,699,788 1,160,403 Percentage 22.2% 5.6%
First place by popular vote and plurality of delegates ▇ John McCain (37)   ▇ Mitt Romney (11)   ▇ Mike Huckabee (8)
Previous Republican nominee George W. Bush Republican nominee John McCain

George W. Bush

John McCain

The 2008 Republican presidential primaries were the selection process by which voters of the Republican Party chose its nominee for President of the United States in the 2008 U.S. presidential election. Senator John McCain of Arizona was selected as the nominee through a series of primary elections and caucuses culminating in the 2008 Republican National Convention held from Monday, September 1, through Thursday, September 4, 2008, in St. Paul, Minnesota.

In a crowded primary of several prominent Republicans eying the nomination, moderate former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani was the early front runner. However, former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee won the Iowa Caucuses as he gained momentum just two months prior to the primary. Moderate U.S. Senator and former presidential candidate John McCain won the New Hampshire primary, eventually leading to Giuliani's fall, as the former mayor did not win a single primary.

McCain ultimately won the nomination after winning most of the primaries against Mike Huckabee and former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney on Super Tuesday.

Notes for the following table: Delegate counts is the final estimated delegate count.