United States gubernatorial elections, 2010

United States gubernatorial elections, 2010

November 2, 2010
37 Governorships (including a special election in Utah)
Majority party Minority party   133px Leader Haley Barbour Jack Markell Party Republican Democratic Leader's seat Mississippi Delaware Last election 24 governorships 26 governorships Seats before 23 26 Seats after 29 20 Seat change 6 6 Popular vote 33,851,797 33,331,319 Percentage 47.75% 47.02%
Democratic hold   Democratic pickups   Independent pickup   Republican pickups   Republican hold

The United States gubernatorial elections were held on November 2, 2010 in 37 states, with a special election in Utah. As in most midterm elections, the party controlling the White House lost ground. Democrats did take five governorships from the Republicans and Republicans took eleven governorships from the Democrats. An independent won one governorship previously held by a Republican. A Republican won one governorship previously held by an independent. Republicans held a majority of governorships for the first time since before the 2006 elections. One state, Louisiana, had no election for governor, but did feature a special election for lieutenant governor.

Most gains were made in races where no incumbent was running (either due to term limits or voluntary retirement). Ted Strickland and Chet Culver of Ohio and Iowa, respectively, were the only two sitting governors who lost re-election. One sitting governor was defeated for primary renomination, Republican Jim Gibbons of Nevada.

These elections coincided with the elections for the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives as well as other state and local elections.

Summary of contests

Source: http://elections.nytimes.com/2010/results/governor

State	Incumbent	Party	Status	Candidates
Alabama	Bob Riley	Republican	Term-limited, Republican victory	Robert Bentley (R), 57.9% Ron Sparks (D), 42.1%
Alaska	Sean Parnell	Republican	Elected to full term, 58.9%	Ethan Berkowitz (D), 38.3%
Arizona	Jan Brewer	Republican	Elected to full term, 54.7%	Terry Goddard (D), 42.2%
Arkansas	Mike Beebe	Democratic	Re-elected, 64.5%	Jim Keet (R), 33.6%
California	Arnold Schwarzenegger	Republican	Term-limited, Democratic victory	Jerry Brown (D), 53.1% Meg Whitman (R), 41.7%
Colorado	Bill Ritter	Democratic	Retired, Democratic victory	John Hickenlooper (D), 50.7% Tom Tancredo (Am.C.), 36.8% Dan Maes (R), 11.1%
Connecticut	Jodi Rell	Republican	Retired, Democratic victory	Dan Malloy (D), 49.6% Thomas C. Foley (R), 48.9%
Florida	Charlie Crist	Independent	Retired, Republican victory	Rick Scott (R), 48.9% Alex Sink (D), 47.7%
Georgia	Sonny Perdue	Republican	Term-limited, Republican victory	Nathan Deal (R), 52.9% Roy Barnes (D), 43.1%
Hawaii	Linda Lingle	Republican	Term-limited, Democratic victory	Neil Abercrombie (D), 58.2% Duke Aiona (R), 41.1%
Idaho	Butch Otter	Republican	Re-elected, 59.1%	Keith Allred (D), 32.9% Jana Kemp (I), 5.9%
Illinois	Pat Quinn	Democratic	Elected to full term, 46.6%	Bill Brady (R), 46.1%
Iowa	Chet Culver	Democratic	Defeated, 43.3%	Terry Branstad (R), 53.0%
Kansas	Mark Parkinson	Democratic	Retired, Republican victory	Sam Brownback (R), 63.4% Tom Holland (D), 32.1%
Maine	John Baldacci	Democratic	Term-limited, Republican victory	Paul LePage (R), 38.3% Eliot Cutler (I), 36.5% Libby Mitchell (D), 19.1%
Maryland	Martin O'Malley	Democratic	Re-elected, 55.8%	Robert Ehrlich (R), 42.3%
Massachusetts	Deval Patrick	Democratic	Re-elected, 48.4%	Charlie Baker (R), 42.1% Tim Cahill (I), 8.0%
Michigan	Jennifer Granholm	Democratic	Term-limited, Republican victory	Rick Snyder (R), 58.1% Virg Bernero (D), 39.9%
Minnesota	Tim Pawlenty	Republican	Retired, Democratic victory	Mark Dayton (D), 43.7% Tom Emmer (R), 43.2% Tom Horner (I), 11.9%
Nebraska	Dave Heineman	Republican	Re-elected, 74.3%	Mike Meister (D), 25.7%
Nevada	Jim Gibbons	Republican	Defeated in primary, Republican victory	Brian Sandoval (R), 53.4% Rory Reid (D), 41.6%
New Hampshire	John Lynch	Democratic	Re-elected, 52.6%	John Stephen (R), 45.1%
New Mexico	Bill Richardson	Democratic	Term-limited, Republican victory	Susana Martinez (R), 53.6% Diane Denish (D), 46.4%
New York	David Paterson	Democratic	Withdrew from primary, Democratic victory	Andrew Cuomo (D), 61.4% Carl Paladino (R), 34.1%
Ohio	Ted Strickland	Democratic	Defeated, 46.7%	John Kasich (R), 49.4%
Oklahoma	Brad Henry	Democratic	Term-limited, Republican victory	Mary Fallin (R), 60.1% Jari Askins (D), 39.9%
Oregon	Ted Kulongoski	Democratic	Term-limited, Democratic victory	John Kitzhaber (D), 49.2% Chris Dudley (R), 48.1%
Pennsylvania	Ed Rendell	Democratic	Term-limited, Republican victory	Tom Corbett (R), 54.5% Dan Onorato (D), 45.5%
Rhode Island	Donald Carcieri	Republican	Term-limited, Independent victory	Lincoln Chafee (I), 36.1% John Robitaille (R), 33.6% Frank Caprio (D), 23.0%
South Carolina	Mark Sanford	Republican	Term-limited, Republican victory	Nikki Haley (R), 51.4% Vincent Sheheen (D), 47.1%
South Dakota	Mike Rounds	Republican	Term-limited, Republican victory	Dennis Daugaard (R), 61.5% Scott Heidepriem (D), 38.5%
Tennessee	Phil Bredesen	Democratic	Term-limited, Republican victory	Bill Haslam (R), 65.0% Mike McWherter (D), 33.1%
Texas	Rick Perry	Republican	Re-elected, 55.1%	Bill White (D), 42.3%
Utah	Gary Herbert	Republican	Elected to finish term, 64.2%	Peter Corroon (D), 31.8%
Vermont	Jim Douglas	Republican	Retired, Democratic victory	Peter Shumlin (D), 49.6% Brian Dubie (R), 47.8%
Wisconsin	Jim Doyle	Democratic	Retired, Republican victory	Scott Walker (R), 52.3% Tom Barrett (D), 46.6%
Wyoming	Dave Freudenthal	Democratic	Term-limited, Republican victory	Matt Mead (R), 71.6% Leslie Petersen (D), 25.1%

Predictions

The following seats were considered safe in predictions:

Democratic: None

Republican: Nebraska, Wyoming

Source	Safe Democratic	Likely Democratic	Leans Democratic	Tossup	Leans Republican	Likely Republican	Safe Republican
Real Clear Politics (updates) as of October 20, 2010		Arkansas New Hampshire New York	Colorado Maryland Connecticut Minnesota	California Florida Hawaii Illinois Maine Massachusetts Oregon Rhode Island Vermont	Georgia New Mexico Ohio Pennsylvania South Carolina Texas Wisconsin	Alaska Arizona Iowa Michigan Nevada	Alabama Idaho Kansas Oklahoma Tennessee South Dakota Utah
Rasmussen Reports (updates) as of October 20, 2010	New Hampshire New York		California Arkansas Maryland Massachusetts	Connecticut Hawaii Minnesota Colorado Maine Ohio Oregon Rhode Island Vermont	Florida Illinois New Mexico Wisconsin Georgia		Alabama Alaska Arizona Idaho Nevada South Carolina South Dakota Texas Utah Iowa Illinois Kansas Maine Michigan Oklahoma Pennsylvania Tennessee
FiveThirtyEight (updates) as of September 25, 2010	Arkansas New York		Connecticut Hawaii Colorado Maine New Hampshire Oregon	California Florida Georgia Minnesota Illinois Maryland Massachusetts New Mexico Ohio Rhode Island Texas Vermont Wisconsin	Alabama Arizona Michigan Iowa Oklahoma Pennsylvania Tennessee Nevada South Carolina		Alaska Idaho Kansas South Dakota Utah
Larry Sabato's Crystal Ball (updates) as of September 30, 2010		Arkansas Colorado New York Hawaii	Connecticut Maryland NewHampshire	California Georgia Florida Maine Massachusetts Ohio Minnesota Rhode Island Vermont	Illinois New Mexico Oregon South Carolina Texas Wisconsin	Alabama Arizona Idaho Nevada South Dakota Iowa Michigan Oklahoma Pennsylvania Tennessee	Alaska Kansas Utah
The Cook Political Report (updates) as of October 1, 2010	Arkansas New York	Colorado	Hawaii	California Connecticut Florida Georgia Illinois Maine Maryland Massachusetts New Hampshire Minnesota Nevada New Mexico Ohio Oregon Rhode Island Texas Vermont Wisconsin	Alabama Michigan Oklahoma Pennsylvania	Arizona South Carolina South Dakota Iowa Tennessee	Alaska Idaho Kansas Utah
The Rothenberg Political Report (updates) as of September 24, 2010	Arkansas New York	Colorado	Connecticut Hawaii New Hampshire	California Georgia Florida Maine Maryland Massachusetts Minnesota New Mexico Ohio Oregon Wisconsin Rhode Island Texas Vermont	Arizona Illinois	Iowa Michigan Pennsylvania	Alabama Alaska Idaho Nevada South Carolina South Dakota Utah Kansas Oklahoma Tennessee
CQ Politics (updates) as of April 7, 2010		Hawaii New Hampshire New Mexico New York	California Illinois Maine Maryland Oregon	Colorado Connecticut Florida Iowa Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Nevada Ohio Rhode Island Vermont Wisconsin	Alabama Arizona Georgia Oklahoma Pennsylvania South Carolina Tennessee Texas	Alaska Idaho Kansas South Dakota	Utah
The Swing State Project (updates) as of September 22, 2010		Colorado New Hampshire New York	Connecticut Hawaii	California Florida Georgia Maryland Massachusetts Ohio Oregon Minnesota Rhode Island Vermont	Arizona Iowa Illinois Maine New Mexico Pennsylvania Wisconsin Texas	Alabama Idaho Nevada South Carolina South Dakota Utah Kansas Michigan Oklahoma Tennessee	Alaska

Election summaries

Vote by county (click image for more details)

Sixteen governors were prohibited from seeking re-election in 2010 due to term limits.

Retired or term-limited Democratic governors

Bill Ritter (Colorado)

Main article: Colorado gubernatorial election, 2010

Governor Bill Ritter declined to run for re-election. He had been elected with 57% of the vote in 2006. Following Ritter's announcement, Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper announced his candidacy. Hickenlooper faced no opposition in the Democratic primary.

Businessman Dan Maes became the Republican nominee by winning the August 10 primary election.

Former Congressman Tom Tancredo ran under the banner of the American Constitution Party.

In the general, Hickenlooper decisively defeated Tancredo and Maes. Maes won only 11.6% of the vote, nearly reducing the Republican Party to minor-party status in Colorado.

Mark Parkinson (Kansas)

Main article: Kansas gubernatorial election, 2010

Governor Kathleen Sebelius was term-limited in 2010. President Barack Obama nominated Sebelius as Secretary of Health and Human Services. Mark Parkinson, her replacement, did not seek a full term, and Republican Senator Sam Brownback defeated Democratic state Senator Tom Holland in the general election.

John Baldacci (Maine)

Main article: Maine gubernatorial election, 2010

Governor John Baldacci was term-limited in 2010.

At the gubernatorial primary election on June 8, Maine Democrats chose State Senator Elizabeth "Libby" Mitchell as their nominee, while Waterville Mayor Paul LePage was chosen by the Republicans.

Three independent candidates were on the November 2 ballot: Eliot Cutler, lawyer, former staff member for U.S. Senator Edmund Muskie, and former adviser to President Jimmy Carter; Shawn Moody, business owner; and Kevin Scott, business owner.

The Maine Green Independent Party did not have a candidate on the ballot this year.

With 94% of precincts reporting on the day after the general election, the Bangor Daily News declared LePage the winner, carrying 38.1% of the votes. Cutler was in second place with 36.7% of the votes (less than 7,500 votes behind LePage), while Mitchell was a distant third with 19%. Moody and Scott had 5% and 1%, respectively.

Jennifer Granholm (Michigan)

Main article: Michigan gubernatorial election, 2010

Governor Jennifer Granholm was term-limited in 2010.

The party primaries on August 3 had five Republicans and two Democrats on the ballot.

On the Republican side, businessman Rick Snyder defeated Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox, Oakland County Sheriff Mike Bouchard, Michigan State Senator Tom George and U.S. Representative Peter Hoekstra for the GOP nomination.

On the Democratic side, Lansing Mayor Virg Bernero easily defeated state House Speaker Andy Dillon for the party nomination.

In the general election Rick Snyder defeated Virg Bernero in a landslide.

Bill Richardson (New Mexico)

Main article: New Mexico gubernatorial election, 2010

Governor Bill Richardson was term-limited in 2010.

Lieutenant Governor Diane Denish (D) obtained the Democratic Party nomination by winning the June 1, 2010 primary without opposition.

Doña Ana County District Attorney Susana Martinez won the Republican nominee for Governor of New Mexico by winning the June 1, 2010 primary with 51% of the vote against four other candidates. Martinez is the first Latina woman nominated by a major party for governor anywhere in the United States. Martinez defeated: PR Firm owner Doug Turner, Pete Domenici, Jr. (son of the former U.S. Senator Pete Domenici), State Representative Janice Arnold-Jones, and former Republican party state chairman Allen Weh. The election resulted in New Mexico's first female governor. Martinez defeated Denish and became the nation's first Latina governor and first female Governor of New Mexico.

David Paterson (New York)

Main article: New York gubernatorial election, 2010

Governor David Paterson originally announced he would seek a first full term in 2010. Paterson became Governor of New York when Eliot Spitzer resigned amid a prostitution scandal on March 17, 2008. He was likely to face a tough primary challenge from Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, who leads him (and all other opponents) in polling. Paterson announced on February 26, 2010, that he would not be a candidate in the Democratic primary; Cuomo entered the race on May 24 of the same year. Businessman Carl Paladino defeated former Congressman Rick Lazio for the Republican nomination in a primary election, drawing heavily on support from upstate New York. Cuomo soundly defeated Paladino in the general election.

Brad Henry (Oklahoma)

Main article: Oklahoma gubernatorial election, 2010

Democratic Governor Brad Henry was term-limited in 2010.

Two Democrats have announced their candidacies: state Attorney General Drew Edmondson, and Lieutenant Governor Jari Askins, who would be Oklahoma's first female governor.

Two Republicans have announced their candidacies: Congresswoman and former lieutenant governor Mary Fallin, who would also be Oklahoma's first female Governor, and state Senator Randy Brogdon. Oklahoma which tilts Republican in party affiliation is considered a strong pickup opportunity for the GOP. Either outcome would have resulted in Oklahoma's first female governor, as both Fallin and Askins won their primaries; Fallin defeated Askins in the general election.

Ted Kulongoski (Oregon)

Main article: Oregon gubernatorial election, 2010

Governor Ted Kulongoski was term-limited in 2010. Former two-term Governor John Kitzhaber was the Democratic nominee and former Portland Trail Blazers basketball player Chris Dudley was his Republican opponent. In the primaries, Kitzhaber defeated former state Secretary of State Bill Bradbury, and Dudley won a plurality among a large field of candidates which included former Oregon State Treasurer candidate Allen Alley and former state Representative John Lim. Greg Kord of the Constitution Party and Wes Wagner of the Libertarian Party are also running. Kitzhaber defeated Dudley in the general election; his election marked the first time in Oregon that a person had been elected to three terms as governor.

Ed Rendell (Pennsylvania)

Main article: Pennsylvania gubernatorial election, 2010

Governor Ed Rendell was term-limited in 2010.

Republican Attorney General Tom Corbett was the Republican nominee for Governor. Republican Congressman Jim Gerlach had formed an exploratory committee and initiated a campaign in 2009, however, he eventually dropped out of the race in early 2010 in order to run for re-election to his seat in the House. The Democratic nominee was Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato. Corbett was considered the marginal favorite in a competitive election, and defeated Onorato.

Phil Bredesen (Tennessee)

Main article: Tennessee gubernatorial election, 2010

Democratic Governor Phil Bredesen was term-limited in 2010.

On the Republican side, Congressman Zach Wamp of the state's 3rd District, Knoxville Mayor Bill Haslam, and military veteran, internet sensation, and activist Basil Marceaux and Lieutenant Governor Ron Ramsey announced their candidacies. Bill Haslam was the Republican nominee for Governor.

On the Democratic side, businessman Mike McWherter (son of a former Tennessee governor) ran for the Democratic nomination.

There are several independent candidates as well, including Toni K. Hall, a college Economics instructor.

Several non-partisan sources determined that the race was leaning Republican, and Haslam soundly defeated McWherter.

Jim Doyle (Wisconsin)

Main article: Wisconsin gubernatorial election, 2010

Governor Jim Doyle retired rather than seek re-election. He was re-elected with 53% of the vote in 2006. The resignation of his legal counsel as well as dipping poll numbers may have contributed to his decision to not seek re-election.

Democratic Lt. Governor Barbara Lawton said in a statement on October 26, 2009 that she will not seek the Democratic nomination for Governor. Milwaukee mayor Tom Barrett and Jared Gary Christiansen both filed to run as Democrats.

On April 28, 2009, Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker announced that he would seek the Republican nomination for Governor. Additionally, former Congressman Mark Neumann indicated that he too would enter the Republican primary by Fall 2009. A third candidate, Appleton businessman, Mark Todd, filed as well.

Raymond L. Ertl ran as an Independent. He ran a grassroots campaign, and is based out of Milwaukee's East Side.

On November 2, 2010, in the general election, Republican Scott Walker defeated Democrat Tom Barrett to become the 45th Governor of Wisconsin.

Dave Freudenthal (Wyoming)

Main article: Wyoming gubernatorial election, 2010

Governor Dave Freudenthal was term-limited in 2010, but a 2010 Wyoming Supreme Court ruling invalidated legislative term-limits. Freudenthal announced on March 4, 2010, that he would not seek a third term.

Former U.S. Attorney Matt Mead, a Republican, defeated former state Democratic Party Chairwoman Leslie Petersen in a landslide.

Retired or term-limited Republican governors

Bob Riley (Alabama)

Main article: Alabama gubernatorial election, 2010

Governor Bob Riley was term-limited in 2010.

Businessman and 2002 Republican gubernatorial primary candidate Timothy James, State Representative Robert Bentley, Chancellor Bradley Byrne, and Former state Supreme Court chief justice Roy Moore, were all major contenders for the Republican nomination. In the June 1 primary, Byrne finished in first place with 28.9% followed by Robert J. Bentley who won 25.2% of the vote. Due to state law, the two were forced into a July runoff election where Bentley defeated Byrne by a margin of 56.1 to 43.9% to win the Republican Nomination.

For the Democratic side, State Agriculture Commissioner Ron Sparks easily defeated Congressman Artur Davis of Alabama's 7th congressional district in the June 1 primary.

In the general election, Bentley defeated Sparks.

Arnold Schwarzenegger (California)

Main article: California gubernatorial election, 2010

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger was term-limited in 2010.

Former eBay CEO Meg Whitman was the Republican nominee for the Gubernatorial election, defeating state Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner in the California Republican Party primary.

Former Governor and current Attorney General Jerry Brown was the Democratic nominee.

Brown defeated Whitman in the general election.

Jodi Rell (Connecticut)

Main article: Connecticut gubernatorial election, 2010

On November 9, 2009, incumbent Governor Jodi Rell announced she would not seek a second full term in 2010. She was elected to a full term in 2006 with 63% of the vote.

The Republican nomination was won by Former United States Ambassador to Ireland Thomas C. Foley, who defeated Lt. Governor Michael Fedele.

The Democratic nominee is Stamford Mayor Dan Malloy, who defeated businessman and 2006 Democratic Senatorial nominee Ned Lamont.

Sonny Perdue (Georgia)

Main article: Georgia gubernatorial election, 2010

Governor Sonny Perdue was term-limited in 2010.

On the Republican side, former Secretary of State Karen Handel, and former Congressman Nathan Deal will face each other in a runoff, defeating other candidates including state Insurance Commissioner John Oxendine in the July 20 primary. Lieutenant Governor Casey Cagle had established an exploratory committee in September 2008 but dropped out of the race on April 15, 2009 because of health problems.

On the Democratic side, former Governor Roy Barnes, whom Perdue unseated in 2002 won the July 20 primary against former state Secretary of State David Poythress, state Attorney General Thurbert Baker, and state House Minority Leader DuBose Porter ran.

The Libertarian Party fielded as its candidate John Monds, who served as president of the Grady County NAACP and was the first Libertarian candidate in U.S. history to receive more than one million votes, when he ran for the Georgia Public Service Commission in 2008.

Felix Camacho (Guam)

Main article: Guam gubernatorial election, 2010

Governor Felix Camacho was term-limited in 2010. Lieutenant Governor Michael W. Cruz, a surgeon who is a veteran of the Gulf War and Iraq War, is running for the Republican nomination against Senator Eddie B. Calvo. On the Democratic side, former governor Carl Gutierrez has announced that he will run. Attorney Mike Phillips is considered a bid for the governorship.

Linda Lingle (Hawaii)

Main article: Hawaii gubernatorial election, 2010

Governor Linda Lingle was term-limited in 2010.

Republican Lieutenant Governor Duke Aiona is running.

Democratic Congressman Neil Abercrombie has announced he will run. Another possible Democratic candidate is Honolulu mayor Mufi Hannemann.

Tim Pawlenty (Minnesota)

Main article: Minnesota gubernatorial election, 2010

Governor Tim Pawlenty would have been eligible to seek a third term in 2010, but decided not to run. He won re-election by 1% in 2006, with 46.7% of the vote.

For Republicans, potential candidates have included former U.S. Senator Norm Coleman, former House Minority Leader Marty Seifert, State Representative Tom Emmer, State Senator David Hann, and several other less prominent politicians, such as former State Representative Bill Haas. Former Minnesota State Auditor Patricia Anderson also sought the endorsement briefly, but later withdrew in order to again run for state auditor. As the campaign season progressed, Coleman, Hann and Haas withdrew from the contest.

Among Democrats, former U.S. Senator Mark Dayton, state senator John Marty, former State Representative Matt Entenza, former State Senator Steve Kelley, State Representative Paul Thissen, Minnesota House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher, Ramsey County Attorney Susan Gaertner, State Representative Tom Rukavina, and Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak have all announced their candidacies. State Senator Tom Bakk withdrew from the race in March 2010. Saint Paul Mayor Chris Coleman has announced he will not run.

Minnesota House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher won the endorsement of the Minnesota DFL Party, but still faced Mark Dayton and Matt Entenza in the August 10 Primary. The Republican Party endorsed State Representative Tom Emmer.

In the August 10 primary, Mark Dayton won a narrow victory over DFL-endorsed candidate Margaret Anderson Kelliher. Republican-endorsed candidate Tom Emmer easily won the GOP primary. Independence Party candidate Tom Horner also won his party's primary.

Donald Carcieri (Rhode Island)

Main article: Rhode Island gubernatorial election, 2010

Governor Donald Carcieri was term-limited in 2010.

State Representative Joe Trillo is a potential Republican candidate.

On the Democratic side, State General Treasurer Frank Caprio is the de facto nominee with Attorney General Patrick C. Lynch dropping out of the race for governor.

Former Republican Senator Lincoln D. Chafee has formed an exploratory committee for a potential campaign as an independent. After deciding to run, Senator Chafee went on to win the election.

Mark Sanford (South Carolina)

Main article: South Carolina gubernatorial election, 2010

Governor Mark Sanford was term-limited in 2010.

On the Republican side, State Representative Nikki Haley ran, defeating Congressman Gresham Barrett in a June 22, 2010 run-off election. She's entering into the race with the potential to become the state's first female governor as well as its first Indian governor.

On the Democratic side, Vincent Sheheen is the candidate, having defeated all other candidates in the primary election.

Haley defeated Sheheen in the election and became South Carolina's first female governor.

Mike Rounds (South Dakota)

Main article: South Dakota gubernatorial election, 2010

Governor Mike Rounds was term-limited in 2010.

On the Republican side, State Senators Dave Knudson and Gordon Howie, Lieutenant Governor Dennis Daugaard, Brookings Mayor Scott Munsterman, and rancher Ken Knuppe have announced they are running.

On the Democratic side, the only candidate thus far is state Senator Scott Heidepriem who announced his candidacy in July 2009. United States Representative Stephanie Herseth Sandlin who represents the state at-large in the United States House of Representatives has announced that she will run for re-election rather than for Governor or the Senate seat currently held by incumbent John Thune in 2010.

Jim Douglas (Vermont)

Main article: Vermont gubernatorial election, 2010

Governor Jim Douglas retired rather than seeking a fifth two-year term in 2010. (The governors of Vermont and New Hampshire serve two-year terms.) Douglas was re-elected in 2008 with 53% of the vote. Republican Lieutenant Governor Brian Dubie has announced his candidacy. Former State Auditor and current State Senator Randy Brock who is African-American is rumored as possible Republican candidate.

Peter Shumlin won the Democratic primary according to the uncertified tabulation of statewide votes released by the Office of the Secretary of State on August 27, 2010, by 197 votes over Doug Racine, who requested a recount.

Retired Independent governor

Charlie Crist (Florida)

Main article: Florida gubernatorial election, 2010

First-term Governor Charlie Crist was eligible to seek re-election, but decided instead to run for the United States Senate seat held by George LeMieux. After a tough primary challenge the Republican Party chose businessman Rick Scott over Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum. The Democratic Party nominated Florida CFO Alex Sink.

Crist was elected as a Republican, but left the party and became an independent during his Senate campaign.

Scott defeated Sink in the election.

Republican governors defeated in Primary nomination

Jim Gibbons (Nevada)

Main article: Nevada gubernatorial election, 2010

Governor Jim Gibbons sought a second term in 2010. He was elected in 2006 with 48% of the vote. Gibbons, who had low approval ratings in 2009, had two announced challengers before the end of the year from within his own party. Former State Senator Joe Heck and former North Las Vegas Mayor Mike Montandon have both announced that they will challenge Gibbons in the Republican primary. Former federal judge Brian Sandoval announced his candidacy for governor in September 2009. On June 8, 2010 Gibbons was defeated in the Republican primary by Sandoval.

The Democratic candidate is Rory Reid, Clark County Commissioner and the son of U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.

The Libertarian candidate is Arthur Forest Lampitt, Jr. Before running for office, Forest was an IT management consultant and small business owner.

The Green candidate is David Scott Curtis. He is a residential designer and public artist.

Democratic governors who sought re-election or election

Mike Beebe (Arkansas)

Main article: Arkansas gubernatorial election, 2010

Governor Mike Beebe sought a second term in 2010. He was elected with 55% of the vote in 2006. In March 2009 Beebe's approval rating was 68%, according to Public Policy Polling. Jim Keet, a former State Senator, is the Republican nominee.

Beebe defeated Keet in a landslide election.

Pat Quinn (Illinois)

Main article: Illinois gubernatorial election, 2010

Governor Pat Quinn sought a full term in 2010. On January 29, 2009, by succession, Quinn became Governor when Governor Rod Blagojevich was impeached, convicted and removed from office by the Illinois State Senate. Quinn was challenged for the Democratic nomination by State Comptroller Dan Hynes. On February 2, Quinn defeated Hynes by a narrow margin in a 50-50 split in the statewide primary. Despite trailing by only a few thousand votes, Hynes declined a recount and conceded the election to Quinn.

The six-man Republican primary wasn't decided until March 5, 2010 when the final tally was announced. Only 193 votes (two-thousandths of one-percent) separated State Senator Bill Brady leading State Senator and former gubernatorial Chief of Staff Kirk Dillard, out of more than 750,000 votes. Dillard said he would not challenge the results for financial and political reasons. Political experts ABC talked with said, "unless Dillard had evidence of specific miscounting or fraud, it's not worth asking for a recount. And it's certainly better for party unity."

Quinn defeated Brady in the election.

Chet Culver (Iowa)

Main article: Iowa gubernatorial election, 2010

Governor Chet Culver sought a second term in 2010. He was elected with 54% of the vote in 2006.

Former Governor Terry Branstad, whose four terms in the governor's mansion made him the longest-serving governor in Iowa history, has formed an exploratory committee for the race. Republican Congressman Steve King was the subject of some early speculation but announced that he would run for re-election to the House in August 2009. Businessman Bob Vander Plaats, who was the Republican nominee for lieutenant governor in 2006, ran and was considered an early front-runner in the Republican primary. Other Republicans seeking their party's nomination include State Representatives Christopher Rants and businessman Christian Fong. Branstad is the favorite for Republican nomination and leads incumbent Democratic Governor Chet Culver in aggregate polling.

Branstad defeated then-sitting Governor Culver in the election.

Martin O'Malley (Maryland)

Main article: Maryland gubernatorial election, 2010

Governor Martin O'Malley sought a second term in 2010. He was elected with 53% of the vote in 2006.

Former Republican Governor Bob Ehrlich on March 30, 2010 announced he will run. In the last election, in 2006, O'Malley narrowly defeated Ehrlich, who ran as an incumbent. In the primary Ehrlich will face business owner Brian Murphy.

O'Malley defeated former Governor Ehrlich in the election.

Deval Patrick (Massachusetts)

Main article: Massachusetts gubernatorial election, 2010

Incumbent first-term Governor Deval Patrick, a Democrat, sought re-election. He was elected with 56% of the vote in 2006.

Charlie Baker is the Republican candidate, while Jill Stein is the candidate of the Green-Rainbow Party.

Tim Cahill, Treasurer of Massachusetts will run as an Independent. If Cahill was elected, he would be the first independent candidate to win statewide in the Commonwealth.

Patrick defeated Baker, Stein, and Cahill in the election.

John Lynch (New Hampshire)

Main article: New Hampshire gubernatorial election, 2010

Governor John Lynch sought re-election in 2010. (The governors of New Hampshire and Vermont serve two-year terms.) He was re-elected with 70% of the vote in 2008.

Lynch was re-elected.

Ted Strickland (Ohio)

Main article: Ohio gubernatorial election, 2010

Governor Ted Strickland sought a second term in 2010. He was elected with 60% of the vote in 2006.

John Kasich, a former congressman from Ohio's 12th congressional district and Chairman of the United States House Committee on the Budget is the Republican nominee. Recent Polling has shown this race to be competitive with Rasmussen Reports polling in August 2010 showing John Kasich ahead of incumbent Governor Strickland by a 47 to 39% margin. A survey from Public Policy Polling from the same month found similar results with Governor Strickland trailing former Congressman Kasich by a 50 to 40% margin.

Kasich defeated then-sitting Governor Strickland in the election.

John de Jongh (United States Virgin Islands)

Main article: United States Virgin Islands gubernatorial election, 2010

Incumbent Governor John de Jongh sought re-election for a second term in 2010. He was elected with 57% of the vote (in a runoff) in 2006 over Kenneth Mapp.

On September 11, 2010, Governor John de Jongh won the Democratic primary election with 53% of the vote. De Jongh defeated Senator Adlah Donastorg, former Lt. Governor Gerard Luz James and James O'Bryan Jr. with more votes than all three of his Democratic challengers combined.

De Jongh faced independent candidate Kenneth Mapp, a former Lieutenant Governor of the United States Virgin Islands, in the general election on November 2, 2010.

De Jongh defeated Mapp in the election.

Republican governors who sought re-election or election

Sean Parnell (Alaska)

Main article: Alaska gubernatorial election, 2010

Governor Sarah Palin was elected in 2006 with 48% of the vote and was eligible to seek reelection in 2010. On July 3, 2009, Palin announced that she will not run for reelection and resigned on July 26, 2009. On July 26, Lt. Gov. Sean Parnell became the 12th Governor of Alaska. Parnell has officially announced he will be running for a first full-term in 2010 and in August 2010 he won the Republican nomination for Governor.

Parnell faced former State Representative and 2008 congressional nominee Ethan Berkowitz, won the Democratic nomination against State Senator Hollis French, in the November election. Parnell won a first full-term.

Jan Brewer (Arizona)

Main article: Arizona gubernatorial election, 2010

Democratic Governor Janet Napolitano was nominated by President Barack Obama and confirmed by the United States Senate as Secretary of Homeland Security in early 2009. Republican Secretary of State Jan Brewer was first in the state's gubernatorial line of succession and became governor upon Napolitano's subsequent resignation. Brewer is seeking a full term in 2010. She will face a primary challenge from former state Senator Karen Johnson, Tucson attorney John Munger, and State Treasurer Dean Martin.

The announced Democratic candidate is Arizona Attorney General Terry Goddard. A potential Democratic candidate could have been Phoenix mayor Phil Gordon.

Jan Brewer won the Republican primary election and Terry Goddard won the Democratic primary election. Brewer defeated Goddard in the election.

Butch Otter (Idaho)

Main article: Idaho gubernatorial election, 2010

Governor Butch Otter sought a second term in 2010. A former state legislator, lieutenant governor and Congressman, Otter was elected in 2006 with 52 percent of the vote but has struggled to implement many of his policies despite an overwhelmingly Republican Idaho Legislature. In May 2010 Otter brushed aside primary challenges from Ada County commissioner Sharon Ullman and conservative activist Rex Rammell, who ran for U.S. Senate in 2008 as an independent.

Democratic primary candidates included activist and mediator Keith G. Allred, and Franklin County laborer Lon Chaney, who unsuccessfully contested the Democratic nomination in 2006. Allred easily defeated Chaney for the Democratic nomination.

Former Republican state representative Jana Kemp was an announced independent candidate.

Otter won re-election.

Dave Heineman (Nebraska)

Main article: Nebraska gubernatorial election, 2010

Governor Dave Heineman succeeded Mike Johanns upon Johanns's confirmation as United States Secretary of Agriculture. Heineman won election in 2006 against David Hahn with 73% of the vote and sought a second term in 2010.

Heineman won re-election.

Rick Perry (Texas)

Main article: Texas gubernatorial election, 2010

Texas Governor Rick Perry won the GOP gubernatorial primary with 51% of the vote on March 2, 2010. Perry sought a third full term, is the longest serving governor in the history of Texas. U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison challenged Perry in the Republican primary. On December 4, 2008, Hutchison filed papers to set up an exploratory committee and confirmed in July 2009 that she would be making her official entry into the race in August. Perry led in primary and general election match ups according to aggregate polling. Dedra Medina also challenged Perry and Hutchison for Republican nomination.

Former Houston Mayor Bill White won the Texas Democratic primary, beating Houston businessman Farouk Shami.

Perry defeated White in the election.

Gary Herbert (Utah)

Main article: Utah gubernatorial election, 2010

Governor Jon Huntsman, Jr. was nominated by President Barack Obama and confirmed by the Senate as the United States Ambassador to China. Lt. Governor Gary Herbert became governor on August 11, 2009. Utah law requires that a special election be held in 2010 to fill the remainder of the term, which expired on January 7, 2013. Herbert sought election and won in the general election in this conservative state.

The Democratic nominee is Salt Lake County Mayor Peter Corroon, who won his party's nomination unopposed at the Democratic Party Convention.

External links

• Candidates at Project Vote Smart
• Governors from OurCampaigns.com
• The Polls: 2010 Gubernatorial Elections from Pollster.com
• Election 2010: Governor Elections from Rasmussen Reports
• 2010 Governor Races from Real Clear Politics
• Campaign contributions at FollowTheMoney.org
• 2010 Gubernatorial Elections at the National Governors Association