2008 Indiana gubernatorial election
The Indiana gubernatorial election of 2008 will be held on November 4, 2008. The primary election will take place on May 6, 2008. Other than Governor, there will also be many other offices on the ballot in 2008.
Republican race
The current Governor of Indiana, Mitch Daniels, defeated the incumbent Democratic governor Joseph Kernan in 2004, becoming the first Republican governor in Indiana in 16 years. On June 16, 2007, Daniels announced he was running for re-election with his Lieutenant Governor Becky Skillman. It is unlikely Daniels will have more than token challengers in the primary. If Daniels wins re-election, he will remain Indiana's 49th Governor.
Democratic race
On the Democratic side, Indianapolis businessman Jim Schellinger, former U.S. Rep. Jill Long Thompson, and the Democratic leader of the Indiana Senate Richard Young have all announced their candidacies. Political wisdom says that there might be a hotly contested primary race. Schellinger, with support of key Democrat officials such as former Indiana House Speaker John Gregg, former Indianapolis Mayor Bart Peterson and the late U.S. Rep. Julia Carson[1], has raised over $1 million in campaign funds.[2] Long Thompson's support comes from Democrats such as popular former U.S. Rep. Andrew Jacobs, Jr. [3]. Young's support comes from the still-popular former Indiana First Lady Judy O'Bannon who serves as Young's campaign chair[4]. Judy O'Bannon is the widow of the late Gov. Frank O'Bannon who died in office in 2003. Senator Young has since dropped out of the race.
A late July 2007 poll showed Jill Long Thompson with a 21 point lead over Senator Young and a 25 point lead over Schellinger. The Beneson Strategy Group poll of 602 likely Democratic primary voters showed 33 percent favored Long Thompson with 12 percent favoring Young. Schellinger garnered only eight percent support.[5]
Libertarian race
Andy Horning an Engineer, Libertarian Party Activist & Frequent Candidate is the only Libertarian running so he will appear on the November ballot.
The most recent poll, conducted in November 2007 for the Indianapolis Star-WTHR shows Daniels losing to two potential challengers, losing 43%-44% to Jill Long Thompson and 40%-44% to Jim Schellinger.[6]
A Democratic win in November 2008 would generate Indiana's 50th Governor.
Polling
| Source | Date | Daniels (R) | Long (D) | Schellinger (D) |
| Indianapolis Star-WTHR | November 13-16, 2007 | 43% | 44% | |
| Indianapolis Star-WTHR | November 13-16, 2007 | 40% | 44% | |
| Real Clear Politics | September 14, 2007 | 46% | 38% |