2008Final results
2008 election for Tennessee's 5th District
U.S. House · Tennessee
Jim Cooper (D) won with 65.8% of the vote, defeating Gerard Donovan (R) by 34.8 points.
Jim CooperDemocrat · winner
65.8%181,467
Gerard DonovanRepublican
31.0%85,471
Jon JacksonIndependent
2.0%5,464
John P. MigliettaIndependent
1.2%3,196
275,602 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.
Jim CooperGerard Donovan
$637.4K
Raised by the campaign
$18.3K
$428.9K
Spent by the campaign
$17K
$274.5K
Cash on hand
$1.2K
Other candidates' campaigns: John P. Miglietta $3.6K.
Campaign money: FEC, through Dec 31, 2008; FEC, through Dec 1, 2008.
Source: FEC campaign filingsUpdated Dec 31, 2008
The candidates
Jim Cooper (D)Gerard Donovan (R)
Also on the ballot: Jon Jackson (Independent), 2.0%; John P. Miglietta (Independent), 1.2%