2010 United States gubernatorial elections

2010 United States gubernatorial elections

November 2, 2010
39 governorships 37 states; 2 territories
Majority party Minority party   Party Republican Democratic 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% Seats up 17 19 Seats won 23 13   Third party   Party Independent Seats before 1 Seats after 1 Seat change Popular vote 1,123,209 Percentage 1.58% Seats up 1 Seats won 1
Map of the results      Democratic gain      Republican gain      Democratic hold      Republican hold      Independent gain      No election

United States gubernatorial elections were held on November 2, 2010, in 37 states (with a special election in Utah) and two territories. 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. As in most midterm elections, the party controlling the White House lost ground. Democrats took five governorships from the Republicans, while Republicans took 12 governorships from the Democrats. An independent won one governorship previously held by a Republican, while 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 it did feature a special election for lieutenant governor.

Most gains from both parties were made in races where no incumbent was running, either due to term limits or voluntary retirement. However, Republicans did defeat incumbent Democrats Ted Strickland of Ohio and Chet Culver of Iowa, and held Nevada, where Republican Jim Gibbons lost in the primary.

As of 2024, this is the last time Democrats have won an Arkansas gubernatorial race and the only time since 1998 that Republicans won a Pennsylvania gubernatorial race. This is also the last time a third party candidate won in Rhode Island.

Predictions

State	Incumbent	Last race	RCP October 20, 2010	Rasmussen October 31, 2010	538 September 25, 2010	Sabato November 1, 2010	Cook October 1, 2010	IE October 28, 2010	CQ April 7, 2010	SSP November 1, 2010	Result
Alabama	Bob Riley (Term-limited)	57.4% R	Safe R	Safe R	Leans R	Likely R	Leans R	Safe R	Leans R	Likely R	Bentley (57.9%)
Alaska	Sean Parnell	48.3% R	Likely R	Safe R	Safe R	Safe R	Safe R	Safe R	Likely R	Safe R	Parnell (58.9%)
Arizona	Jan Brewer	62.6% D	Likely R	Safe R	Leans R	Likely R	Likely R	Leans R	Leans R	Leans R	Brewer (54.7%)
Arkansas	Mike Beebe	55.6% D	Likely D	Leans D	Safe D	Likely D	Safe D	Safe D	Safe D	Safe D	Beebe (64.5%)
California	Arnold Schwarzenegger (Term-limited)	55.9% R	Tossup	Leans D (flip)	Tossup	Leans D (flip)	Tossup	Leans D (flip)	Leans D (flip)	Leans D (flip)	Brown (53.1%)
Colorado	Bill Ritter (Retired)	57.0% D	Leans D	Tossup	Leans D	Leans D	Likely D	Leans D	Tossup	Leans D	Hickenlooper (50.7%)
Connecticut	Jodi Rell (Retired)	63.2% R	Leans D (flip)	Tossup	Leans D (flip)	Leans R	Tossup	Tossup	Tossup	Tossup	Malloy (49.6%)
Florida	Charlie Crist (Retired)	52.2% R	Tossup	Leans R (flip)	Tossup	Leans R (flip)	Tossup	Tossup	Tossup	Tossup	Scott (48.9%)
Georgia	Sonny Perdue (Term-limited)	57.9% R	Leans R	Leans R	Tossup	Leans R	Tossup	Leans R	Leans R	Leans R	Deal (52.9%)
Hawaii	Linda Lingle (Term-limited)	62.5% R	Tossup	Tossup	Leans D (flip)	Leans D (flip)	Leans D (flip)	Tilt D (flip)	Likely D (flip)	Leans D (flip)	Abercrombie (58.2%)
Idaho	Butch Otter	52.7% R	Safe R	Safe R	Safe R	Likely R	Safe R	Safe R	Likely R	Likely R	Otter (59.1%)
Illinois	Pat Quinn	49.8% D	Tossup	Leans R (flip)	Tossup	Leans R (flip)	Tossup	Tilt R (flip)	Leans D	Tossup	Quinn (46.6%)
Iowa	Chet Culver	54.0% D	Likely R (flip)	Safe R (flip)	Leans R (flip)	Likely R (flip)	Likely R (flip)	Likely R (flip)	Tossup	Leans R (flip)	Branstad (52.8%)
Kansas	Mark Parkinson (Retired)	57.9% D	Safe R (flip)	Safe R (flip)	Safe R (flip)	Safe R (flip)	Safe R (flip)	Safe R (flip)	Likely R (flip)	Safe R (flip)	Brownback (63.4%)
Maine	John Baldacci (Term-limited)	38.1% D	Tossup	Tossup	Leans D	Leans R (flip)	Tossup	Tilt R (flip)	Leans D	Leans R (flip)	LePage (37.6%)
Maryland	Martin O'Malley	52.7% D	Leans D	Leans D	Tossup	Likely D	Tossup	Likely D	Leans D	Leans D	O'Malley (55.8%)
Massachusetts	Deval Patrick	55.6% D	Tossup	Leans D	Tossup	Leans D	Tossup	Tilt D	Tossup	Leans D	Patrick (48.4%)
Michigan	Jennifer Granholm (Term-limited)	56.3% D	Likely R (flip)	Safe R (flip)	Leans R (flip)	Likely R (flip)	Leans R (flip)	Likely R (flip)	Tossup	Likely R (flip)	Snyder (58.1%)
Minnesota	Tim Pawlenty (Retired)	46.7% R	Leans D (flip)	Tossup	Tossup	Leans D (flip)	Tossup	Tilt D (flip)	Tossup	Tossup	Dayton (43.7%)
Nebraska	Dave Heineman	73.4% R	Safe R	Safe R	Safe R	Safe R	Safe R	Safe R	Safe R	Safe R	Heineman (74.3%)
Nevada	Jim Gibbons	47.9% R	Likely R	Safe R	Leans R	Likely R	Tossup	Safe R	Tossup	Likely R	Sandoval (53.4%)
New Hampshire	John Lynch	70.1% D	Likely D	Safe D	Leans D	Leans D	Tossup	Leans D	Likely D	Leans D	Lynch (52.6%)
New Mexico	Bill Richardson (Term-limited)	68.8% D	Leans R (flip)	Leans R (flip)	Tossup	Likely R (flip)	Tossup	Leans R (flip)	Likely D	Leans R (flip)	Martinez (53.6%)
New York	David Paterson (Retired)	65.3% D	Likely D	Safe D	Safe D	Safe D	Safe D	Safe D	Likely D	Likely D	Cuomo (61.4%)
Ohio	Ted Strickland	60.5% D	Leans R (flip)	Tossup	Tossup	Leans R (flip)	Tossup	Tilt R (flip)	Tossup	Tossup	Kasich (49.4%)
Oklahoma	Brad Henry (Term-limited)	66.5% D	Safe R (flip)	Safe R (flip)	Leans R (flip)	Likely R (flip)	Leans R (flip)	Safe R (flip)	Leans R (flip)	Likely R (flip)	Fallin (60.1%)
Oregon	Ted Kulongoski (Term-limited)	50.7% D	Tossup	Tossup	Leans D	Leans R (flip)	Tossup	Tossup	Leans D	Tossup	Kitzhaber (49.2%)
Pennsylvania	Ed Rendell (Term-limited)	60.4% D	Leans R (flip)	Safe R (flip)	Leans R (flip)	Likely R (flip)	Leans R (flip)	Leans R (flip)	Leans R (flip)	Leans R (flip)	Corbett (54.5%)
Rhode Island	Don Carcieri (Term-limited)	51.0% R	Tossup	Tossup	Tossup	Leans I (flip)	Tossup	Leans I (flip)	Tossup	Leans I (flip)	Chafee (36.1%)
South Carolina	Mark Sanford (Term-limited)	55.1% R	Leans R	Safe R	Leans R	Likely R	Likely R	Safe R	Leans R	Leans R	Haley (51.4%)
South Dakota	Mike Rounds (Term-limited)	61.7% R	Safe R	Safe R	Safe R	Likely R	Likely R	Safe R	Likely R	Likely R	Daugaard (61.5%)
Tennessee	Phil Bredesen (Term-limited)	68.6% D	Safe R (flip)	Safe R (flip)	Leans R (flip)	Likely R (flip)	Likely R (flip)	Safe R (flip)	Leans R (flip)	Safe R (flip)	Haslam (65.0%)
Texas	Rick Perry	39.0% R	Leans R	Safe R	Tossup	Likely R	Tossup	Leans R	Leans R	Leans R	Perry (55.1%)
Utah (special)	Gary Herbert	77.6% R	Safe R	Safe R	Safe R	Safe R	Safe R	Safe R	Safe R	Likely R	Herbert (64.2%)
Vermont	Jim Douglas (Retired)	53.4% R	Tossup	Tossup	Tossup	Leans D (flip)	Tossup	Tilt D (flip)	Tossup	Tossup	Shumlin (49.6%)
Wisconsin	Jim Doyle (Retired)	52.7% D	Leans R (flip)	Leans R (flip)	Tossup	Likely R (flip)	Tossup	Leans R (flip)	Tossup	Leans R (flip)	Walker (52.3%)
Wyoming	Dave Freudenthal (Term-limited)	70.0% D	Safe R (flip)	Safe R (flip)	Safe R (flip)	Safe R (flip)	Safe R (flip)	Safe R (flip)	Safe R (flip)	Safe R (flip)	Mead (71.6%)

Race summary

Vote by county (click image for more details)

States

State	Incumbent	Party	First elected	Result	Candidates
Alabama	Bob Riley	Republican	2002	Incumbent term-limited. New governor elected. Republican hold.	▌Y Robert J. Bentley (Republican) 57.9% ▌Ron Sparks (Democratic) 42.1%
Alaska	Sean Parnell	Republican	2009	Incumbent elected to full term.	▌Y Sean Parnell (Republican) 59.1% ▌Ethan Berkowitz (Democratic) 37.7% ▌Don Wright (Independence) 1.9% ▌Billy Toien (Libertarian) 1.1%
Arizona	Jan Brewer	Republican	2009	Incumbent elected to full term.	▌Y Jan Brewer (Republican) 54.3% ▌Terry Goddard (Democratic) 42.4% ▌Barry Hess (Libertarian) 2.2%
Arkansas	Mike Beebe	Democratic	2006	Incumbent re-elected.	▌Y Mike Beebe (Democratic) 64.4% ▌Jim Keet (Republican) 33.6% ▌Jim Lendall (Green) 1.9%
California	Arnold Schwarzenegger	Republican	2003 (recall)	Incumbent term-limited. New governor elected. Democratic gain.	▌Y Jerry Brown (Democratic) 53.8% ▌Meg Whitman (Republican) 40.9% ▌Chelene Nightingale (American Ind.) 1.7% ▌Dale Ogden (Libertarian) 1.5% ▌Laura Wells (Green) 1.3%
Colorado	Bill Ritter	Democratic	2006	Incumbent retired. New governor elected. Democratic hold.	▌Y John Hickenlooper (Democratic) 51.1% ▌Tom Tancredo (Constitution) 36.4% ▌Dan Maes (Republican) 11.1%
Connecticut	Jodi Rell	Republican	2004	Incumbent retired. New governor elected. Democratic gain.	▌Y Dannel Malloy (Democratic) 49.5% ▌Thomas C. Foley (Republican) 49.0% ▌Thomas E. Marsh (Independent) 1.5%
Florida	Charlie Crist	Independent	2006	Incumbent retired to run for U.S. Senator. New governor elected. Republican gain.	▌Y Rick Scott (Republican) 48.9% ▌Alex Sink (Democratic) 47.7% ▌Peter Allen (Independence) 2.3%
Georgia	Sonny Perdue	Republican	2002	Incumbent term-limited. New governor elected. Republican hold.	▌Y Nathan Deal (Republican) 53.0% ▌Roy Barnes (Democratic) 43.0% ▌John Monds (Libertarian) 4.0%
Hawaii	Linda Lingle	Republican	2002	Incumbent term-limited. New governor elected. Democratic gain.	▌Y Neil Abercrombie (Democratic) 57.8% ▌Duke Aiona (Republican) 40.8%
Idaho	Butch Otter	Republican	2006	Incumbent re-elected.	▌Y Butch Otter (Republican) 59.1% ▌Keith G. Allred (Democratic) 32.9% ▌Jana M. Kemp (Independent) 5.9% ▌Ted Dunlap (Libertarian) 1.3%
Illinois	Pat Quinn	Democratic	2009	Incumbent elected to full term.	▌Y Pat Quinn (Democratic) 46.8% ▌Bill Brady (Republican) 45.9% ▌Scott Lee Cohen (Independent) 3.6% ▌Rich Whitney (Green) 2.7%
Iowa	Chet Culver	Democratic	2006	Incumbent lost re-election. New governor elected. Republican gain.	▌Y Terry Branstad (Republican) 52.8% ▌Chet Culver (Democratic) 43.2% ▌Jonathan Narcisse (Iowa) 1.9% ▌Eric Cooper (Libertarian) 1.3%
Kansas	Mark Parkinson	Democratic	2009	Incumbent retired. New governor elected. Republican gain.	▌Y Sam Brownback (Republican) 63.3% ▌Tom Holland (Democratic) 32.2% ▌Andrew P. Gray (Libertarian) 2.7% ▌Kenneth W. Cannon (Reform) 1.9%
Maine	John Baldacci	Democratic	2002	Incumbent term-limited. New governor elected. Republican gain.	▌Y Paul LePage (Republican) 37.6% ▌Eliot Cutler (Independent) 35.9% ▌Libby Mitchell (Democratic) 18.8% ▌Shawn Moody (Independent) 5.0% ▌Kevin Scott (Independent) 1.0%
Maryland	Martin O'Malley	Democratic	2006	Incumbent re-elected.	▌Y Martin O'Malley (Democratic) 56.2% ▌Bob Ehrlich (Republican) 41.8%
Massachusetts	Deval Patrick	Democratic	2006	Incumbent re-elected.	▌Y Deval Patrick (Democratic) 48.4% ▌Charlie Baker (Republican) 42.0% ▌Tim Cahill (Independent) 8.0% ▌Jill Stein (Green) 1.4%
Michigan	Jennifer Granholm	Democratic	2002	Incumbent term-limited. New governor elected. Republican gain.	▌Y Rick Snyder (Republican) 58.1% ▌Virg Bernero (Democratic) 39.9%
Minnesota	Tim Pawlenty	Republican	2002	Incumbent retired. New governor elected. DFL gain.	▌Y Mark Dayton (DFL) 43.6% ▌Tom Emmer (Republican) 43.2% ▌Tom Horner (Independence) 11.9%
Nebraska	Dave Heineman	Republican	2005	Incumbent re-elected.	▌Y Dave Heineman (Republican) 73.9% ▌Mike Meister (Democratic) 26.1%
Nevada	Jim Gibbons	Republican	2006	Incumbent lost renomination. New governor elected. Republican hold.	▌Y Brian Sandoval (Republican) 53.4% ▌Rory Reid (Democratic) 41.6%
New Hampshire	John Lynch	Democratic	2004	Incumbent re-elected.	▌Y John Lynch (Democratic) 52.6% ▌John Stephen (Republican) 45.0% ▌John Babiarz (Libertarian) 2.2%
New Mexico	Bill Richardson	Democratic	2002	Incumbent term-limited. New governor elected. Republican gain.	▌Y Susana Martinez (Republican) 53.3% ▌Diane Denish (Democratic) 46.6%
New York	David Paterson	Democratic	2008	Incumbent retired. New governor elected. Democratic hold.	▌Y Andrew Cuomo (Democratic) 63.1% ▌Carl Paladino (Republican) 33.5% ▌Howie Hawkins (Green) 1.3% ▌Warren Redlich (Libertarian) 1.1%
Ohio	Ted Strickland	Democratic	2006	Incumbent lost re-election. New governor elected. Republican gain.	▌Y John Kasich (Republican) 49.0% ▌Ted Strickland (Democratic) 47.0% ▌Ken Matesz (Libertarian) 2.4% ▌Dennis Spisak (Green) 1.5%
Oklahoma	Brad Henry	Democratic	2002	Incumbent term-limited. New governor elected. Republican gain.	▌Y Mary Fallin (Republican) 60.5% ▌Jari Askins (Democratic) 39.5%
Oregon	Ted Kulongoski	Democratic	2002	Incumbent term-limited. New governor elected. Democratic hold.	▌Y John Kitzhaber (Democratic) 49.3% ▌Chris Dudley (Republican) 47.8% ▌Greg Kord (Constitution) 1.4% ▌Wes Wagner (Libertarian) 1.3%
Pennsylvania	Ed Rendell	Democratic	2002	Incumbent term-limited. New governor elected. Republican gain.	▌Y Tom Corbett (Republican) 54.5% ▌Dan Onorato (Democratic) 45.5%
Rhode Island	Donald Carcieri	Republican	2002	Incumbent term-limited. New governor elected. Independent gain.	▌Y Lincoln Chafee (Independent) 36.1% ▌John Robitaille (Republican) 33.6% ▌Frank T. Caprio (Democratic) 23.1% ▌Ken Block (Moderate) 6.5%
South Carolina	Mark Sanford	Republican	2002	Incumbent term-limited. New governor elected. Republican hold.	▌Y Nikki Haley (Republican) 51.4% ▌Vincent Sheheen (Democratic) 46.9% ▌Morgan B. Reeves (United Citizens) 1.5%
South Dakota	Mike Rounds	Republican	2002	Incumbent term-limited. New governor elected. Republican hold.	▌Y Dennis Daugaard (Republican) 61.5% ▌Scott Heidepriem (Democratic) 38.5%
Tennessee	Phil Bredesen	Democratic	2002	Incumbent term-limited. New governor elected. Republican gain.	▌Y Bill Haslam (Republican) 65.0% ▌Mike McWherter (Democratic) 33.1%
Texas	Rick Perry	Republican	2000	Incumbent re-elected.	▌Y Rick Perry (Republican) 55.0% ▌Bill White (Democratic) 42.3% ▌Kathie Glass (Libertarian) 2.2%
Utah (special)	Gary Herbert	Republican	2009	Incumbent elected to full term.	▌Y Gary Herbert (Republican) 64.1% ▌Peter Corroon (Democratic) 31.9% ▌Farley Anderson (Independent) 2.0% ▌Andrew McCullough (Libertarian) 2.0%
Vermont	Jim Douglas	Republican	2002	Incumbent retired. New governor elected. Democratic gain.	▌Y Peter Shumlin (Democratic) 49.4% ▌Brian Dubie (Republican) 47.7%
Wisconsin	Jim Doyle	Democratic	2002	Incumbent retired. New governor elected. Republican gain.	▌Y Scott Walker (Republican) 52.3% ▌Tom Barrett (Democratic) 46.5%
Wyoming	Dave Freudenthal	Democratic	2002	Incumbent term-limited. New governor elected. Republican gain.	▌Y Matt Mead (Republican) 65.7% ▌Leslie Petersen (Democratic) 22.9% ▌Taylor Haynes (Independent) 7.3% ▌Mike Wheeler (Libertarian) 2.9%

Territories and federal district

Territory	Incumbent	Party	First elected	Result	Candidates
District of Columbia	Adrian Fenty	Democratic	2006	Incumbent lost renomination. New mayor elected. Democratic hold.	▌Y Vincent C. Gray (Democratic) 74.2% ▌Write-ins 22.4% ▌Carlos Allen (Independent) 1.7% ▌Faith Dane (Statehood Green) 1.1%
Guam	Felix Camacho	Republican	2002	Incumbent term-limited. New governor elected. Republican hold.	▌Y Eddie Calvo (Republican) 50.6% ▌Carl Gutierrez (Democratic) 49.4%
U.S. Virgin Islands	John de Jongh	Democratic	2006	Incumbent re-elected.	▌Y John de Jongh (Democratic) 56.3% ▌Kenneth Mapp (Independent) 43.6%

Closest races

States where the margin of victory was under 1%:

1. Minnesota, 0.4%
2. Connecticut, 0.7%
3. Illinois, 0.9%

States where the margin of victory was under 5%:

1. Oregon, 1.1%
2. Florida, 1.2%
3. Guam, 1.2%
4. Maine, 1.8%
5. Vermont, 1.8%
6. Ohio, 2.0%
7. Rhode Island, 2.5%
8. South Carolina, 4.3%

States where the margin of victory was under 10%:

1. Wisconsin, 5.7%
2. Massachusetts, 6.3%
3. New Mexico, 7.2%
4. New Hampshire, 7.5%
5. Pennsylvania, 9.0%
6. Iowa, 9.7%
7. Georgia, 9.8%

Red denotes states won by Republicans. Blue denotes states won by Democrats. Grey denotes states won by Independents.

Alabama

Alabama gubernatorial election

Nominee Robert J. Bentley Ron Sparks Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 860,472 625,710 Percentage 57.6% 41.9%

County results

Governor before election Bob Riley Republican Elected Governor Robert J. Bentley Republican

Main article: 2010 Alabama gubernatorial election

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, in which 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.

2010 Alabama gubernatorial election

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Robert J. Bentley (incumbent)	860,472	57.58%	+0.13%
	Democratic	Ron Sparks	625,710	41.87%	+0.30%
	Write-in		8,091	0.54%	-0.44%
Total votes			1,494,273	100.00%	N/A
	Republican hold

Alaska

Alaska gubernatorial election

Nominee Sean Parnell Ethan Berkowitz Party Republican Democratic Running mate Mead Treadwell Diane E. Benson Popular vote 151,318 96,519 Percentage 59.1% 37.7%

Borough and census area results

Governor before election Sean Parnell Republican Elected Governor Sean Parnell Republican

Main article: 2010 Alaska gubernatorial election

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 would not run for reelection, and resigned on July 26, 2009. On July 26, Lt. Gov. Sean Parnell became the 12th Governor of Alaska. Parnell officially announced that he would be running for a first full-term in 2010. In August 2010 he won the Republican nomination for governor.

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

Alaska election

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Sean Parnell (incumbent)	151,318	59.06
	Democratic	Ethan Berkowitz	96,519	37.67
	Independence	Don Wright	4,775	1.86
	Libertarian	Billy Toien	2,682	1.05
	Write-in		898	0.35
Total votes			256,192	100.00
	Republican hold

Arizona

Arizona gubernatorial election

Nominee Jan Brewer Terry Goddard Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 938,934 733,935 Percentage 54.3% 42.4%

County results

Governor before election Jan Brewer Republican Elected Governor Jan Brewer Republican

Main article: 2010 Arizona gubernatorial election

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 was seeking a full term in 2010. She would face a primary challenge from former state Senator Karen Johnson, Tucson attorney John Munger, and State Treasurer Dean Martin.

The announced Democratic candidate was 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.

Arizona election

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Jan Brewer (incumbent)	938,934	54.33
	Democratic	Terry Goddard	733,935	42.43
	Libertarian	Barry Hess	38,722	2.24
	Green	Larry Gist	16,128	0.93
	Write-in		362	0.02
Total votes			1,728,081	100.00
	Republican hold

Arkansas

Arkansas gubernatorial election

Nominee Mike Beebe Jim Keet Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 503,336 262,784 Percentage 64.4% 33.6%

County results

Governor before election Mike Beebe Democratic Elected Governor Mike Beebe Democratic

Main article: 2010 Arkansas gubernatorial election

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, was the Republican nominee.

Beebe defeated Keet in a landslide election.

Arkansas election

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Mike Beebe (incumbent)	503,336	64.42
	Republican	Jim Keet	262,784	33.63
	Green	Jim Lendall	14,513	1.86
	Write-in		700	0.09
Total votes			781,333	100.00
	Democratic hold

California

California gubernatorial election

Nominee Jerry Brown Meg Whitman Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 5,428,149 4,127,391 Percentage 53.8% 40.9%

County results

Governor before election Arnold Schwarzenegger Republican Elected Governor Jerry Brown Democratic

Main article: 2010 California gubernatorial election

See also: 2010 California lieutenant gubernatorial election

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.

California election

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Jerry Brown	5,428,149	53.77
	Republican	Meg Whitman	4,127,391	40.88
	American Independent	Chelene Nightingale	166,312	1.65
	Libertarian	Dale Ogden	150,895	1.49
	Green	Laura Wells	129,224	1.28
	Peace and Freedom	Carlos Alvarez	92,851	0.92
	Write-in		363	0.00
Total votes			10,095,185	100.00
	Democratic gain from Republican

Colorado

Colorado gubernatorial election

Nominee John Hickenlooper Tom Tancredo Dan Maes Party Democratic Constitution Republican Running mate Joe Garcia Pat Miller Tambor Williams Popular vote 915,436 652,376 199,792 Percentage 51.1% 36.4% 11.1%

County results

Governor before election Bill Ritter Democratic Elected Governor John Hickenlooper Democratic

Main article: 2010 Colorado gubernatorial election

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.

Colorado election

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	John Hickenlooper	915,436	51.05
	Constitution	Tom Tancredo	652,376	36.38
	Republican	Dan Maes	199,792	11.14
	Libertarian	Jaimes Brown	13,365	0.74
	Independent	Jason R. Clark	8,601	0.48
	Independent	Paul Fiorino	3,492	0.19
	Write-in		86	0.00
Total votes			1,793,148	100.00
	Democratic hold

Connecticut

Connecticut gubernatorial election

Nominee Dannel Malloy Thomas C. Foley Party Democratic Republican Running mate Nancy Wyman Mark Boughton Popular vote 567,278 560,874 Percentage 49.5% 49.0%

County results

Governor before election Jodi Rell Republican Elected Governor Dannel Malloy Democratic

Main article: 2010 Connecticut gubernatorial election

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

Connecticut election

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Dannel Malloy	567,278	49.51
	Republican	Thomas C. Foley	560,874	48.95
	Independent	Thomas E. Marsh	17,629	1.54
	Write-in		18	0.00
Total votes			1,145,799	100.00
	Democratic gain from Republican

Florida

Florida gubernatorial election

Nominee Rick Scott Alex Sink Party Republican Democratic Running mate Jennifer Carroll Rod Smith Popular vote 2,619,335 2,557,785 Percentage 48.9% 47.7%

County results

Governor before election Charlie Crist Independent Elected Governor Rick Scott Republican

Main article: 2010 Florida gubernatorial election

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.

Florida election

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Rick Scott	2,619,335	48.87
	Democratic	Alex Sink	2,557,785	47.72
	Independence	Peter Allen	123,831	2.31
	Independent	C. C. Reed	18,842	0.35
	Independent	Michael E. Arth	18,644	0.35
	Independent	Daniel Imperato	13,690	0.26
	Independent	Farid Khavari	7,487	0.14
	Write-in		121	0.00
Total votes			5,359,735	100.00
	Republican gain from Independent

Georgia

Georgia gubernatorial election

Nominee Nathan Deal Roy Barnes Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 1,365,832 1,107,011 Percentage 53.0% 43.0%

County results

Governor before election Sonny Perdue Republican Elected Governor Nathan Deal Republican

Main article: 2010 Georgia gubernatorial election

Governor Sonny Perdue was term-limited in 2010.

On the Republican side, former Secretary of State Karen Handel, and former Congressman Nathan Deal faced 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.

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.

Georgia election

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Nathan Deal	1,365,832	53.02
	Democratic	Roy Barnes	1,107,011	42.97
	Libertarian	John Monds	103,194	4.01
	Write-in		124	0.00
Total votes			2,576,161	100.00
	Republican hold

Hawaii

Hawaii gubernatorial election

Nominee Neil Abercrombie Duke Aiona Party Democratic Republican Running mate Brian Schatz Lynn Finnegan Popular vote 222,724 157,311 Percentage 57.8% 40.8%

County results

Governor before election Linda Lingle Republican Elected Governor Neil Abercrombie Democratic

Main article: 2010 Hawaii gubernatorial election

Governor Linda Lingle was term-limited in 2010.

Republican Lieutenant Governor Duke Aiona ran.

Democratic Congressman Neil Abercrombie announced that he would run. Another possible Democratic candidate was Honolulu mayor Mufi Hannemann.

Hawaii election

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Neil Abercrombie	222,724	58.61
	Republican	Duke Aiona	157,311	41.39
	Free Energy	Daniel Cunningham	1,265	0.33
	Nonpartisan	Tom Pollard	1,263	0.33
Total votes			380,035	100.00
	Democratic gain from Republican

Idaho

Idaho gubernatorial election

Nominee Butch Otter Keith G. Allred Jana Kemp Party Republican Democratic Independent Popular vote 267,483 148,680 26,655 Percentage 59.1% 32.9% 5.9%

County results

Governor before election Butch Otter Republican Elected Governor Butch Otter Republican

Main article: 2010 Idaho gubernatorial election

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 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.

Idaho election

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Butch Otter	267,483	59.11
	Democratic	Keith G. Allred	148,680	32.85
	Independent	Jana M. Kemp	26,655	5.89
	Libertarian	Ted Dunlap	5,867	1.30
	Independent	Pro-Life	3,850	0.85
Total votes			452,535	100.00
	Republican hold

Illinois

Illinois gubernatorial election

Nominee Pat Quinn Bill Brady Party Democratic Republican Running mate Sheila Simon Jason Plummer Popular vote 1,745,219 1,713,385 Percentage 46.8% 45.9%

County results

Governor before election Pat Quinn Democratic Elected Governor Pat Quinn Democratic

Main article: 2010 Illinois gubernatorial election

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 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.

Illinois election

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Pat Quinn (incumbent)	1,745,219	46.79
	Republican	Bill Brady	1,713,385	45.94
	Independent	Scott Lee Cohen	135,705	3.64
	Green	Rich Whitney	100,756	2.70
	Libertarian	Lex Green	34,681	0.93
Total votes			3,729,746	100.00
	Democratic hold

Iowa

Iowa gubernatorial election

Nominee Terry Branstad Chet Culver Party Republican Democratic Running mate Kim Reynolds Patty Judge Popular vote 592,494 484,798 Percentage 52.8% 43.2%

County results

Governor before election Chet Culver Democratic Elected Governor Terry Branstad Republican

Main article: 2010 Iowa gubernatorial election

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, 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 included State Representatives Christopher Rants and businessman Christian Fong. Branstad was the favorite for Republican nomination, and led incumbent Democratic Governor Chet Culver in aggregate polling.

Branstad defeated then-sitting Governor Culver in the election.

Iowa election

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Terry Branstad	592,494	52.81
	Democratic	Chet Culver (incumbent)	484,798	43.21
	Iowa	Jonathan Narcisse	20,859	1.86
	Libertarian	Eric Cooper	14,398	1.28
	Independent	Gregory Hughes	3,884	0.35
	Socialist Workers	David Rosenfeld	2,757	0.25
	Write-in		2,823	0.25
Total votes			1,122,013	100.00
	Republican gain from Democratic

Kansas

Kansas gubernatorial election

Nominee Sam Brownback Tom Holland Party Republican Democratic Running mate Jeff Colyer Kelly Kultala Popular vote 530,760 270,166 Percentage 63.3% 32.2%

County results

Governor before election Mark Parkinson Democratic Elected Governor Sam Brownback Republican

Main article: 2010 Kansas gubernatorial election

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.

Kansas election

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Sam Brownback	530,760	63.28
	Democratic	Tom Holland	270,166	32.21
	Libertarian	Andrew P. Gray	22,460	2.68
	Reform	Kenneth W. Cannon	15,397	1.84
	Write-in		7	0.00
Total votes			838,790	100.00
	Republican gain from Democratic

Maine

Maine gubernatorial election

Nominee Paul LePage Eliot Cutler Libby Mitchell Party Republican Independent Democratic Popular vote 218,065 208,270 109,387 Percentage 37.6% 35.9% 18.8%

County results

Governor before election John Baldacci Democratic Elected Governor Paul LePage Republican

Main article: 2010 Maine gubernatorial election

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.

Maine election

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Paul LePage	218,065	37.56
	Independent	Eliot Cutler	208,270	35.87
	Democratic	Libby Mitchell	109,387	18.84
	Independent	Shawn Moody	28,756	4.95
	Independent	Kevin Scott	5,664	0.98
Total votes			580,538	100.00
	Republican gain from Democratic

Maryland

Maryland gubernatorial election

Nominee Martin O'Malley Bob Ehrlich Party Democratic Republican Running mate Anthony Brown Mary Kane Popular vote 1,044,961 776,319 Percentage 56.2% 41.8%

County results

Governor before election Martin O'Malley Democratic Elected Governor Martin O'Malley Democratic

Main article: 2010 Maryland gubernatorial election

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 that he would run. In the last election, in 2006, O'Malley narrowly defeated Ehrlich, who ran as an incumbent.

In the primary, Ehrlich faced business owner Brian Murphy.

O'Malley defeated former Governor Ehrlich in the election.

Maryland election

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Martin O'Malley (incumbent)	1,044,961	56.24
	Republican	Bob Ehrlich	776,319	41.79
	Libertarian	Susan Gaztanaga	14,137	0.76
	Green	Maria Allwine	11,825	0.64
	Constitution	Eric Knowles	8,612	0.46
	Write-in		2,026	0.11
Total votes			1,857,880	100.00
	Democratic hold

Massachusetts

Massachusetts gubernatorial election

Nominee Deval Patrick Charlie Baker Tim Cahill Party Democratic Republican Independent Running mate Tim Murray Richard Tisei Paul Loscocco Popular vote 1,112,283 964,866 184,395 Percentage 48.4% 42.0% 8.0%

Municipality results

Governor before election Deval Patrick Democratic Elected Governor Deval Patrick Democratic

Main article: 2010 Massachusetts gubernatorial election

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

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

Tim Cahill, Treasurer of Massachusetts, ran as an Independent. If Cahill had been elected, he would have been the first independent candidate to win statewide in the Commonwealth.

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

Massachusetts election

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Deval Patrick (incumbent)	1,112,283	48.42
	Republican	Charlie Baker	964,866	42.00
	Independent	Tim Cahill	184,395	8.03
	Green-Rainbow	Jill Stein	32,895	1.43
	Write-in		2,600	0.11
Total votes			2,297,039	100.00
	Democratic gain from

Michigan

Michigan gubernatorial election

Nominee Rick Snyder Virg Bernero Party Republican Democratic Running mate Brian Calley Brenda Lawrence Popular vote 1,874,834 1,287,320 Percentage 58.1% 39.9%

County results

Governor before election Jennifer Granholm Democratic Elected Governor Rick Snyder Republican

Main article: 2010 Michigan gubernatorial election

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.

Michigan election

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Rick Snyder	1,874,834	58.11
	Democratic	Virgil Bernero	1,287,320	39.90
	Libertarian	Ken Proctor	22,390	0.69
	Constitution	Stacey Mathia	20,818	0.65
	Green	Harley Mikkelson	20,699	0.64
	Write-in		27	0.00
Total votes			3,226,088	100.00
	Republican gain from Democratic

Minnesota

Minnesota gubernatorial election

Nominee Mark Dayton Tom Emmer Tom Horner Party Democratic (DFL) Republican Independence Running mate Yvonne Prettner Solon Annette Meeks Jim Mulder Popular vote 919,232 910,462 251,487 Percentage 43.6% 43.2% 11.9%

County results

Governor before election Tim Pawlenty Republican Elected Governor Mark Dayton Democratic (DFL)

Main article: 2010 Minnesota gubernatorial election

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 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 all announced their candidacies. State Senator Tom Bakk withdrew from the race in March 2010. Saint Paul Mayor Chris Coleman announced that he would 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 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.

Minnesota election

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic (DFL)	Mark Dayton	919,232	43.63
	Republican	Tom Emmer	910,462	43.21
	Independence	Tom Horner	251,487	11.94
	Grassroots	Chris Wright	7,516	0.36
	Green	Farheen Hakeem	6,188	0.29
	Ecology Democracy	Ken Pentel	6,180	0.29
	Resource	Linda Eno	4,092	0.19
	Write-in		1,864	0.09
Total votes			2,106,979	100.00
	Democratic (DFL) gain from Republican

Nebraska

Nebraska gubernatorial election

Nominee Dave Heineman Mike Meister Party Republican Democratic Running mate Rick Sheehy Anne Boyle Popular vote 360,645 127,343 Percentage 73.9% 26.1%

County results

Governor before election Dave Heineman Republican Elected Governor Dave Heineman Republican

Main article: 2010 Nebraska gubernatorial election

Governor Dave Heineman succeeded Mike Johanns upon Johanns' 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.

Nebraska election

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Dave Heineman (incumbent)	360,645	73.90
	Democratic	Mike Meister	127,343	26.10
Total votes			487,988	100.00
	Republican hold

Nevada

Nevada gubernatorial election

Nominee Brian Sandoval Rory Reid Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 382,350 298,171 Percentage 53.4% 41.6%

County results

Governor before election Jim Gibbons Republican Elected Governor Brian Sandoval Republican

Main article: 2010 Nevada gubernatorial election

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 both announced that they would 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 was Rory Reid, Clark County Commissioner and the son of U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.

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

The Green candidate was David Scott Curtis, a residential designer and public artist.

Nevada election

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Brian Sandoval	382,350	53.36
	Democratic	Rory Reid	298,171	41.61
		None of These Candidates	12,231	1.71
	Independent	Eugene DiSimone	6,403	0.89
	Independent American	Floyd Fitzgibbons	5,049	0.70
	Libertarian	Arthur Forest Lampitt	4,672	0.65
	Green	David Scott Curtis	4,437	0.62
	Independent	Aaron Y. Honig	3,216	0.45
Total votes			716,529	100.00
	Republican hold

New Hampshire

New Hampshire gubernatorial election

Nominee John Lynch John Stephen Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 240,346 205,616 Percentage 52.6% 45.0%

County results

Governor before election John Lynch Democratic Elected Governor John Lynch Democratic

Main article: 2010 New Hampshire gubernatorial election

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.

New Hampshire election

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	John Lynch	240,346	52.63
	Republican	John Stephen	205,616	45.03
	Libertarian	John Babiarz	10,089	2.21
	Write-in		537	0.01
Total votes			456,588	100.00
	Democratic hold

New Mexico

New Mexico gubernatorial election

Nominee Susana Martinez Diane Denish Party Republican Democratic Running mate John Sanchez Brian Colón Popular vote 321,219 280,614 Percentage 53.3% 46.6%

County results

Governor before election Bill Richardson Democratic Elected Governor Susana Martinez Republican

Main article: 2010 New Mexico gubernatorial election

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.

New Mexico election

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Susana Martinez	321,219	53.29
	Democratic	Diane Denish	280,614	46.55
	Write-in		994	0.16
Total votes			602,832	100.00
	Republican gain from Democratic

New York

New York gubernatorial election

Nominee Andrew Cuomo Carl Paladino Party Democratic Republican Alliance Working Families Independence Conservative Taxpayers Running mate Robert Duffy Greg Edwards Popular vote 2,910,876 1,547,857 Percentage 63.0% 33.5%

County results

Governor before election David Paterson Democratic Elected Governor Andrew Cuomo Democratic

Main article: 2010 New York gubernatorial election

Governor David Paterson originally announced he would seek a first full term in 2010. He 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 led 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.

New York election

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Andrew Cuomo	2,609,465	56.52
	Working Families	Andrew Cuomo	154,835	3.35
	Independence	Andrew Cuomo	146,576	3.17
	Total	Andrew Cuomo	2,910,876	63.05
	Republican	Carl Paladino	1,289,817	27.94
	Conservative	Carl Paladino	232,215	5.03
	Taxpayers	Carl Paladino	25,825	0.56
	Total	Carl Paladino	1,547,857	33.53
	Green	Howie Hawkins	59,906	1.30
	Libertarian	Warren Redlich	48,359	1.05
	Rent Is Too Damn High	Jimmy McMillan	41,129	0.89
	Freedom	Charles Barron	24,571	0.53
	Anti-Prohibition	Kristin M. Davis	20,421	0.44
	Write-in		4,836	0.10
Total votes			4,769,741	100.00
	Democratic hold

Ohio

Ohio gubernatorial election

Nominee John Kasich Ted Strickland Party Republican Democratic Running mate Mary Taylor Yvette McGee Brown Popular vote 1,889,186 1,812,059 Percentage 49.0% 47.0%

County results

Governor before election Ted Strickland Democratic Elected Governor John Kasich Republican

Main article: 2010 Ohio gubernatorial election

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 was the Republican nominee. Recent polling showed 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.

Ohio election

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	John Kasich	1,889,186	49.04
	Democratic	Ted Strickland (incumbent)	1,812,059	47.04
	Libertarian	Ken Matesz	92,116	2.39
	Green	Dennis Spisak	58,475	1.52
	Write-in		633	0.02
Total votes			3,852,469	100.00
	Republican gain from Democratic

Oklahoma

Oklahoma gubernatorial election

Nominee Mary Fallin Jari Askins Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 625,506 409,261 Percentage 60.4% 39.6%

County results

Governor before election Brad Henry Democratic Elected Governor Mary Fallin Republican

Main article: 2010 Oklahoma gubernatorial election

Democratic Governor Brad Henry was term-limited in 2010.

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

Two Republicans 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, was 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.

Oklahoma election

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Mary Fallin	625,506	60.45
	Democratic	Jari Askins	409,261	39.55
Total votes			1,034,767	100.00
	Republican gain from Democratic

Oregon

Oregon gubernatorial election

Nominee John Kitzhaber Chris Dudley Party Democratic Republican Alliance Independent Party Popular vote 716,525 694,287 Percentage 49.3% 47.8%

County results

Governor before election Ted Kulongoski Democratic Elected Governor John Kitzhaber Democratic

Main article: 2010 Oregon gubernatorial election

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 also ran. 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.

Oregon election

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	John Kitzhaber	716,525	49.29
	Republican	Chris Dudley	694,287	47.76
	Constitution	Greg Kord	20,475	1.41
	Libertarian	Wes Wagner	19,048	1.31
	Write-in		3,213	0.22
Total votes			1,453,548	100.00
	Democratic hold

Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania gubernatorial election

Nominee Tom Corbett Dan Onorato Party Republican Democratic Running mate Jim Cawley H. Scott Conklin Popular vote 2,172,763 1,814,788 Percentage 54.5% 45.5%

County results

Governor before election Ed Rendell Democratic Elected Governor Tom Corbett Republican

Main article: 2010 Pennsylvania gubernatorial election

See also: 2010 Pennsylvania lieutenant gubernatorial election

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, but 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.

Pennsylvania election

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Tom Corbett	2,172,763	54.49
	Democratic	Dan Onorato	1,814,788	45.51
Total votes			3,987,551	100.00
	Republican gain from Democratic

Rhode Island

Rhode Island gubernatorial election

Nominee Lincoln Chafee John Robitaille Party Independent Republican Popular vote 123,571 114,911 Percentage 36.1% 33.6%   Nominee Frank T. Caprio Ken Block Party Democratic Moderate Popular vote 78,896 22,146 Percentage 23.1% 6.5%

County results

Governor before election Donald Carcieri Republican Elected Governor Lincoln Chafee Independent

Main article: 2010 Rhode Island gubernatorial election

Governor Donald Carcieri was term-limited in 2010.

State Representative Joe Trillo was a potential Republican candidate.

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

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

Rhode Island election

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Independent	Lincoln Chafee	123,571	36.10
	Republican	John Robitaille	114,911	33.57
	Democratic	Frank T. Caprio	78,896	23.05
	Moderate	Ken Block	22,146	6.47
	Independent	Joseph Lusi	1,091	0.32
	Independent	Todd Giroux	882	0.26
	Independent	Ronald Algieri	793	0.23
Total votes			342,290	100.00
	Independent gain from Republican

South Carolina

South Carolina gubernatorial election

Nominee Nikki Haley Vincent Sheheen Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 690,525 630,534 Percentage 51.4% 46.9%

County results

Governor before election Mark Sanford Republican Elected Governor Nikki Haley Republican

Main article: 2010 South Carolina gubernatorial election

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 had the potential to become the state's first female governor as well as its first Indian governor.

On the Democratic side, Vincent Sheheen was 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.

South Carolina election

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Nikki Haley	690,525	51.37
	Democratic	Vincent Sheheen	630,534	46.91
	United Citizens	Morgan B. Reeves	20,114	1.50
	Write-in		3,025	0.23
Total votes			1,344,198	100.00
	Republican hold

South Dakota

South Dakota gubernatorial election

Nominee Dennis Daugaard Scott Heidepriem Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 195,046 122,037 Percentage 61.5% 38.5%

County results

Governor before election Mike Rounds Republican Elected Governor Dennis Daugaard Republican

Main article: 2010 South Dakota gubernatorial election

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 announced that they were running.

On the Democratic side, state Senator Scott Heidepriem, who announced his candidacy in July 2009, ran unopposed. United States Representative Stephanie Herseth Sandlin, who represented the state at-large in the United States House of Representatives, announced that she would run for re-election rather than for Governor or the Senate seat held by incumbent John Thune in 2010.

South Dakota election

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Dennis Daugaard	195,046	61.51
	Democratic	Scott Heidepriem	122,037	38.49
Total votes			317,083	100.00
	Republican hold

Tennessee

Tennessee gubernatorial election

Nominee Bill Haslam Mike McWherter Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 1,041,545 529,851 Percentage 65.0% 33.1%

County results

Governor before election Phil Bredesen Democratic Elected Governor Bill Haslam Republican

Main article: 2010 Tennessee gubernatorial election

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. Haslam was the Republican nominee for governor.

Businessman Mike McWherter, son of former Tennessee governor Ned McWherter ran for the Democratic nomination.

There were 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.

Tennessee election

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Bill Haslam	1,041,545	65.03
	Democratic	Mike McWherter	529,851	33.08
	Independent	Carl Twofeathers Whitaker	6,536	0.41
	Independent	Brandon Dodds	4,728	0.29
	Independent	Bayron Binkley	4,663	0.29
	Independent	June Griffin	2,587	0.16
	Independent	Linda Kay Perry	2,057	0.13
	Independent	Howard M. Switzer	1,887	0.12
	Independent	Samuel David Duck	1,755	0.11
	Independent	Thomas Smith II	1,207	0.07
	Independent	Toni K. Hall	993	0.06
	Independent	David Gatchell	859	0.05
	Independent	Boyce T. McCall	828	0.05
	Independent	James Reesor	809	0.05
	Independent	Mike Knois	600	0.03
	Independent	Donald Ray McFolin	583	0.03
	Write-in		61	0.00
Total votes			1,601,567	100.00
	Republican gain from Democratic

Texas

Texas gubernatorial election

Nominee Rick Perry Bill White Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 2,737,481 2,106,395 Percentage 55.0% 42.3%

County results

Governor before election Rick Perry Republican Elected Governor Rick Perry Republican

Main article: 2010 Texas gubernatorial election

See also: 2010 Texas lieutenant gubernatorial election

Texas Governor Rick Perry won the GOP gubernatorial primary with 51% of the vote on March 2, 2010. Perry sought a third full term, as 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.

Texas election

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Rick Perry (incumbent)	2,737,481	54.97
	Democratic	Bill White	2,106,395	42.30
	Libertarian	Kathie Glass	109,211	2.19
	Green	Deb Shafto	19,516	0.39
	Write-in		7,267	0.15
Total votes			4,979,870	100.00
	Republican hold

Utah (special)

Utah gubernatorial special election

Nominee Gary Herbert Peter Corroon Party Republican Democratic Running mate Greg Bell Sheryl Allen Popular vote 412,151 205,246 Percentage 64.1% 31.9%

County results

Governor before election Gary Herbert Republican Elected Governor Gary Herbert Republican

Main article: 2010 Utah gubernatorial special election

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 the general election in this conservative state.

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

Utah special election

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Gary Herbert (incumbent)	412,151	64.07
	Democratic	Peter Corroon	205,246	31.90
	Independent	Farley Anderson	13,038	2.03
	Libertarian	W. Andrew McCullough	12,871	2.00
Total votes			643,306	100.00
	Republican hold

Vermont

Vermont gubernatorial election

Nominee Peter Shumlin Brian Dubie Party Democratic Republican Electoral vote 145 28 Popular vote 119,543 115,212 Percentage 49.4% 47.7%

County results

Governor before election Jim Douglas Republican Elected Governor Peter Shumlin Democratic

Main article: 2010 Vermont gubernatorial election

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 announced his candidacy. Former State Auditor and current State Senator Randy Brock, who is African-American, was rumored as a 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.

Vermont election

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Peter Shumlin	119,543	49.44
	Republican	Brian Dubie	115,212	47.69
	Independent	Dennis Steele	1,917	0.79
	Marijuana	Cris Ericson	1,819	0.75
	Independent	Dan Feliciano	1,341	0.56
	Independent	Emily Peyton	684	0.28
	Liberty Union	Ben Mitchell	429	0.18
	Write-in		660	0.27
Total votes			241,605	100.00
	Democratic gain from Republican

Wisconsin

Wisconsin gubernatorial election

Nominee Scott Walker Tom Barrett Party Republican Democratic Running mate Rebecca Kleefisch Tom Nelson Popular vote 1,128,941 1,004,303 Percentage 52.3% 46.5%

County results

Governor before election Jim Doyle Democratic Elected Governor Scott Walker Republican

Main article: 2010 Wisconsin gubernatorial election

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 would 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. Former Congressman Mark Neumann indicated that he too would enter the Republican primary by the fall of 2009. A third candidate, Appleton businessman Mark Todd, filed as well.

Raymond L. Ertl ran as an Independent. He ran a grassroots campaign, and was 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.

Wisconsin election

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Scott Walker	1,128,941	52.29
	Democratic	Tom Barrett	1,004,303	46.52
	Independent	Jim Langer	10,608	0.49
	Common Sense	James James	8,273	0.38
	Libertarian	Terry Virgil	6,790	0.31
	Write-in		59	0.00
Total votes			2,158,974	100.00
	Republican gain from Democratic

Wyoming

Wyoming gubernatorial election

Nominee Matt Mead Leslie Petersen Taylor Haynes Party Republican Democratic Independent Popular vote 123,780 43,240 13,796 Percentage 65.7% 22.9% 7.3%

County results

Governor before election Dave Freudenthal Democratic Elected Governor Matt Mead Republican

Main article: 2010 Wyoming gubernatorial election

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.

Wyoming election

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Matt Mead	123,780	65.68
	Democratic	Leslie Petersen	43,240	22.94
	Independent	Taylor Haynes	13,796	7.32
	Libertarian	Mike Wheeler	5,362	2.85
	Write-in		2,285	1.21
Total votes			190,822	100.00
	Republican gain from Democratic

Territories

Guam

Guam gubernatorial election

Nominee Eddie Calvo Carl Gutierrez Party Republican Democratic Running mate Ray Tenorio Frank Aguon Popular vote 20,066 19,579 Percentage 50.6% 49.4%

Village results

Governor before election Felix Perez Camacho Republican Elected Governor Eddie Calvo Republican

Main article: 2010 Guamanian gubernatorial election

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

Guam election

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Eddie Baza Calvo	20,066	50.61
	Democratic	Carl Gutierrez	19,579	49.39
Total votes			39,645	100.00
	Republican hold

U.S. Virgin Islands

U.S. Virgin Islands gubernatorial election

Nominee John de Jongh Kenneth Mapp Party Democratic Independent Running mate Gregory Francis Malik Sekou Popular vote 17,535 13,580 Percentage 56.3% 43.6%

Governor before election John de Jongh Democratic Elected Governor John de Jongh Democratic

Main article: 2010 United States Virgin Islands gubernatorial election

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.

United States Virgin Islands election

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	John de Jongh Jr. (incumbent)	17,535	56.27
	Independent	Kenneth Mapp	13,580	43.58
Total votes			31,115	100.00
	Democratic hold

See also

• 2010 United States elections
  • 2010 United States Senate elections
  • 2010 United States House of Representatives elections

External links

• Candidates Archived September 29, 2010, at the Wayback Machine 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