2008Final results
2008 election for Tennessee's 1st District
U.S. House · Tennessee
Phil Roe (R) won with 71.8% of the vote, defeating Rob Russell (D) by 47.3 points.
Phil RoeRepublican · winner
71.8%168,343
Rob RussellDemocrat
24.5%57,525
Joel GoodmanIndependent
1.7%3,988
James W. ReevesIndependent
1.1%2,544
Thomas "t K" OwensIndependent
0.8%1,981
234,381 votes
Source: MIT Election Data and Science LabUpdated Sep 30, 2026, 7:25 AM ET
The seat over time
D − R margin in this seat's races around 2008
Races before and after
Source: MIT Election Data and Science LabUpdated Sep 30, 2026, 7:25 AM ET
Money in this race
Each line compares the two campaigns on one scale.
Rob RussellPhil Roe
$10.4K
Raised by the campaign
$803.4K
$10.4K
Spent by the campaign
$717.2K
$5
Cash on hand
$88.5K
Other candidates' campaigns: James W. Reeves $592.
Campaign money: FEC, through Dec 31, 2008.
Source: FEC campaign filingsUpdated Dec 31, 2008
The candidates
Phil Roe (R)Rob Russell (D)
Also on the ballot: Joel Goodman (Independent), 1.7%; James W. Reeves (Independent), 1.1%; Thomas "t K" Owens (Independent), 0.8%