A general election was held in Grenada

Grenada

Grenada is an island country and Commonwealth Realm consisting of the island of Grenada and six smaller islands at the southern end of the Grenadines in the southeastern Caribbean Sea...

 on 8 July 2008.
Out of a total of fifteen seats, the opposition National Democratic Congress

National Democratic Congress (Grenada)

The National Democratic Congress is a liberal centre-left political party in Grenada. Tillman Thomas is the party's leader, Nazim Burke is its deputy leader, and Peter David is its General Secretary...

 (NDC) won eleven seats and the governing New National Party

New National Party (Grenada)

The New National Party is a conservative political party in Grenada. It is led by the Leader of the Opposition, Keith Mitchell.The party was founded in August 1984 through the merger of the Grenada National Party, led by Herbert Blaize, the National Democratic Party, led by George Brizan, and the...

 (NNP) won four seats, thus bringing the NDC to power for the first time since 1995. The NNP was looking for a fourth consecutive term in power, which would have been a first in Grenadian history.

Campaigning

In its election manifesto, which it debuted on June 25, 2008, the NNP promised the creation of 4,000 jobs, along with 4% growth in the economy.

Pre-election polling

A poll conducted by the Caribbean Development Research Services from June 6 to June 9 showed the NNP with 36.4% support, the NDC with 32.3% support, the Grenada United Labour Party

Grenada United Labour Party

-History:The party was founded by Eric Gairy in 1950. It was the only party to contest the first elections held under universal suffrage in 1951, and won six of the eight seats. The 1954 elections saw the same outcome...

 (GULP) with 1.1% support, and the People's Labour Movement

People's Labour Movement

The People's Labour Movement is a political party in Grenada founded by Francis Alexis.At the 2003 elections, the party won 2.2% of the popular vote and no seats. For the July 2008 election, it formed a coalition with the Grenada United Labour Party; the United Labour Platform fielded 11 candidates...

 (PLM) with 0.8% support. The two later formed an electoral alliance, the Labour Platform.

Reactions to the election

The Organization of American States

Organization of American States

The Organization of American States is a regional international organization, headquartered in Washington, D.C., United States...

 (OAS) observed the elections, and it described "the electoral process in Grenada during the General Elections as extremely positive, with relatively few areas that could be improved." All of the polling sites were observed, and voters were calm and well-behaved.

A political party in nearby Dominica

Dominica

Dominica , officially the Commonwealth of Dominica, is an island nation in the Lesser Antilles region of the Caribbean Sea, south-southeast of Guadeloupe and northwest of Martinique. Its size is and the highest point in the country is Morne Diablotins, which has an elevation of . The Commonwealth...

, the People's Democratic Movement

People's Democratic Movement (Dominica)

The People's Democratic Movement is a minor political party in Dominica. The party was founded in 2007 and is led by Williams Riviere, a former executive member of the Dominica Labour Party. In the 2009 elections it put forward three candidates. However, they received only 179 votes and failed to...

, attributed the victory to Mitchell's "arrogance, intolerance to criticism and lack of consultation with the people" during his time in office.

Swearing in of Thomas, Cabinet formation

NDC leader Tillman Thomas

Tillman Thomas

Tillman Joseph Thomas is a Grenadian politician, currently serving as Prime Minister of Grenada. He is also the leader of the National Democratic Congress .-Biography:...

 succeeded the NNP's Keith Mitchell

Keith Mitchell

Keith Claudius Mitchell is a Grenadian politician who served as Prime Minister of Grenada from 1995 to 2008. He was the longest serving Prime Minister Grenada has ever had, serving just over 13 years as Prime Minister...

 as Prime Minister of Grenada on July 9. He was sworn in at the Grenada Trade Centre in Grand Anse, St. George's

St. George's, Grenada

St. George's, population 89,018 , with an agglomeration of 4,500 people , is the capital of Grenada, . The city is surrounded by a hillside of an old volcano crater and is on a horseshoe-shaped harbor....

 by Governor-General Daniel Williams

Daniel Williams

Sir Daniel Charles Williams, GCMG was a Governor-General of Grenada, from August 8, 1996 until November 18, 2008. He was formally appointed by Queen Elizabeth II on August 9, 1996 after having been nominated by Prime Minister Keith Mitchell.In 1997, he was Knighted by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth...

. On this occasion, Thomas promised "openness and transparency" and said that he would practice "the politics of inclusion". For his part, Mitchell said that the people voted for change and congratulated Thomas. Thomas's cabinet, composed of 17 members, was sworn in at the National Stadium on July 13. In addition to being Prime Minister, Thomas took the portfolios of Legal Affairs, National Security, Information, and Public Administration. Two members of non-governmental organizations who were not affiliated with the NDC were included in the cabinet: Franca Bernadine

Franca Bernadine

Franka Bernadine is a politician from the island of Grenada. She currently serves as that nation's Minister of Education and Human Resources.-References:*...

 as Minister of Education and Human Resources, and Jimmy Bristol as Attorney-General.

Results

In one notable outcome of the election, Deputy Prime Minister Gregory Bowen of the NNP was defeated in his constituency of St. George South East by Pastor Karl Hood

Karl Hood

Karl Hood is a politician from the island of Grenada. He currently serves as that nation's Minister of Foreign Affairs.-References:*...

 of the NDC. Mitchell was re-elected from the constituency of St. George North West. Complete results are as follows:

Seat location	Winner	Party
Carriacou and Petite Martinique Carriacou and Petite Martinique Carriacou and Petite Martinique is the dependency of Grenada, lying north of Grenada island and south of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines in the Lesser Antilles. The Grenadine islands to the north of Carriacou and Petite Martinique belong to the nation of St...	Elvin Nimrod Elvin Nimrod Elvin G. Nimrod is a politician from the island of Grenada. He currently serves in the House of Representatives of Grenada, and has in the past served as the Minister for Legal Affairs and the Minister of Foreign Affairs. -References:*...	New National Party New National Party (Grenada) The New National Party is a conservative political party in Grenada. It is led by the Leader of the Opposition, Keith Mitchell.The party was founded in August 1984 through the merger of the Grenada National Party, led by Herbert Blaize, the National Democratic Party, led by George Brizan, and the...
Saint Andrew North East	Roland Bhola Roland Bhola Roland Bhola is a politician from Grenada. He has served in the Senate of Grenada, and has been the island's Minister of Sport on multiple occasions. He is a member of the New National Party.-References:*...	New National Party New National Party (Grenada) The New National Party is a conservative political party in Grenada. It is led by the Leader of the Opposition, Keith Mitchell.The party was founded in August 1984 through the merger of the Grenada National Party, led by Herbert Blaize, the National Democratic Party, led by George Brizan, and the...
Saint Andrew North West	Alleyne Walker Alleyne Walker Alleyne Walker is a politician from the island of Grenada. He currently serves as that nation's Minister of Housing, Lands and Community Development .-References:*...	National Democratic Congress National Democratic Congress (Grenada) The National Democratic Congress is a liberal centre-left political party in Grenada. Tillman Thomas is the party's leader, Nazim Burke is its deputy leader, and Peter David is its General Secretary...
Saint Andrew South East Saint Andrew South East Saint Andrew South East is a Grenadian constituency....	Patrick Simmons Patrick Simmons Patrick Simmons is an American musician best known as a guitarist and vocalist for the rock band The Doobie Brothers. His fingerstyle guitar playing complements the strumming style of Tom Johnston. Born in Aberdeen, Washington, he has been the band's only consistent member throughout their tenure...	National Democratic Congress National Democratic Congress (Grenada) The National Democratic Congress is a liberal centre-left political party in Grenada. Tillman Thomas is the party's leader, Nazim Burke is its deputy leader, and Peter David is its General Secretary...
Saint Andrew South West	Sylvester Quarless Sylvester Quarless Sylvester Quarless is a politician from the island of Grenada. He is a member of the National Democratic Congress, represents the constituency of St Andrew Southwest in the House of Representatives of Grenada and is currently Grenada's Minister of Social Development.-References:*...	National Democratic Congress National Democratic Congress (Grenada) The National Democratic Congress is a liberal centre-left political party in Grenada. Tillman Thomas is the party's leader, Nazim Burke is its deputy leader, and Peter David is its General Secretary...
Saint David Saint David Parish, Grenada Saint David in the southeastern part of Grenada is the fourth largest parish on the island. It is also the only one without a main town. Because of this fact, it is sometimes referred to as "The Virgin Parish". It is ringed by spectacular bays and inlets that help to provide the nation with a...	Denis Lett	National Democratic Congress National Democratic Congress (Grenada) The National Democratic Congress is a liberal centre-left political party in Grenada. Tillman Thomas is the party's leader, Nazim Burke is its deputy leader, and Peter David is its General Secretary...
Saint George North East	Nazim Burke Nazim Burke Nazim Burke is a politician from the island of Carriacou which is part of the tri island state of Grenada. He was born in Bell Air Carriacou as Nicholas Burke and changed his name to Nazim Burke....	National Democratic Congress National Democratic Congress (Grenada) The National Democratic Congress is a liberal centre-left political party in Grenada. Tillman Thomas is the party's leader, Nazim Burke is its deputy leader, and Peter David is its General Secretary...
Saint George North West	Keith Mitchell Keith Mitchell Keith Claudius Mitchell is a Grenadian politician who served as Prime Minister of Grenada from 1995 to 2008. He was the longest serving Prime Minister Grenada has ever had, serving just over 13 years as Prime Minister...	New National Party New National Party (Grenada) The New National Party is a conservative political party in Grenada. It is led by the Leader of the Opposition, Keith Mitchell.The party was founded in August 1984 through the merger of the Grenada National Party, led by Herbert Blaize, the National Democratic Party, led by George Brizan, and the...
Saint George South	Glynis Roberts Glynis Roberts Glynis Roberts is a politician from the tri-island nation of Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique. She was first elected to parliament in 2003 and represents the St George South constituency for the National Democratic Congress in the House of Representatives of Grenada. The House of...	National Democratic Congress National Democratic Congress (Grenada) The National Democratic Congress is a liberal centre-left political party in Grenada. Tillman Thomas is the party's leader, Nazim Burke is its deputy leader, and Peter David is its General Secretary...
Saint George South East	Karl Hood Karl Hood Karl Hood is a politician from the island of Grenada. He currently serves as that nation's Minister of Foreign Affairs.-References:*...	National Democratic Congress National Democratic Congress (Grenada) The National Democratic Congress is a liberal centre-left political party in Grenada. Tillman Thomas is the party's leader, Nazim Burke is its deputy leader, and Peter David is its General Secretary...
Town of St. George	Peter David Peter David (politician) Peter Charles David is a Grenadian politician. He is the General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress , a member of the House of Representatives from the Town of St. George constituency, and served as Minister of Foreign Affairs from July 2008 to November 2010...	National Democratic Congress National Democratic Congress (Grenada) The National Democratic Congress is a liberal centre-left political party in Grenada. Tillman Thomas is the party's leader, Nazim Burke is its deputy leader, and Peter David is its General Secretary...
Saint John Saint John Parish, Grenada -External links:***...	Michael Church	National Democratic Congress National Democratic Congress (Grenada) The National Democratic Congress is a liberal centre-left political party in Grenada. Tillman Thomas is the party's leader, Nazim Burke is its deputy leader, and Peter David is its General Secretary...
Saint Mark Saint Mark Parish, Grenada St Mark Parish is a parish on the west coast of Grenada. It is the smallest parish on the island.-Victoria:Along the west coast of the island nation of Grenada lies the small fishing village of Victoria, Grenada. Victoria is the center of activity for the St. Mark’s parish, the smallest parish on...	Clarice Modest-Curwen	New National Party New National Party (Grenada) The New National Party is a conservative political party in Grenada. It is led by the Leader of the Opposition, Keith Mitchell.The party was founded in August 1984 through the merger of the Grenada National Party, led by Herbert Blaize, the National Democratic Party, led by George Brizan, and the...
Saint Patrick East	Tillman Thomas Tillman Thomas Tillman Joseph Thomas is a Grenadian politician, currently serving as Prime Minister of Grenada. He is also the leader of the National Democratic Congress .-Biography:...	National Democratic Congress National Democratic Congress (Grenada) The National Democratic Congress is a liberal centre-left political party in Grenada. Tillman Thomas is the party's leader, Nazim Burke is its deputy leader, and Peter David is its General Secretary...
Saint Patrick West	Joseph Gilbert Joseph Gilbert Joseph A. Gilbert is a politician from the island of Grenada. He currently serves as that nation's Minister of Works, Physical Development, Public Utilities and Environment....	National Democratic Congress National Democratic Congress (Grenada) The National Democratic Congress is a liberal centre-left political party in Grenada. Tillman Thomas is the party's leader, Nazim Burke is its deputy leader, and Peter David is its General Secretary...