2010 Tennessee gubernatorial election

The 2010 Tennessee gubernatorial election took place on November 2, 2010, to elect the next governor of Tennessee. Incumbent Democratic Governor Phil Bredesen was term-limited, and is prohibited by the Constitution of Tennessee from seeking a third consecutive term. Knoxville mayor and Republican nominee, Bill Haslam was elected with 65.0% of the vote, defeating Democratic nominee Mike McWherter.

2010 Tennessee gubernatorial election

November 2, 2010
Turnout41.32% Decrease[1] 8.65 pp
 
Nominee Bill Haslam Mike McWherter
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 1,041,545 529,851
Percentage 65.0% 33.1%

County results
Haslam:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%
McWherter:      40–50%      50–60%

Governor before election

Phil Bredesen
Democratic

Elected Governor

Bill Haslam
Republican

The primary election was held on August 5, 2010, with Haslam and McWherter winning their respective parties' nominations.[2]

With this win, Haslam flipped the state into Republican control, with the state legislature also being controlled by Republicans. The last time Republicans held a government trifecta in the state was in 1869.[3] Ever since this election, Republicans have maintained their trifecta.

News organizations The Cook Political Report,[4] CQ Politics,[5] and The New York Times[6] rated the gubernatorial election as leaning Republican, while The Rothenberg Political Report rated it as "Republican favored,"[7] RealClearPolitics[8] and Sabato's Crystal Ball[9] as "Likely Republican", and Rasmussen Reports as "Solid Republican."[10]

Republican primary

A recorded debate featuring 3 of the candidates, organized by campaign coordinator James Crenshaw, was held at the Scarett-Benett Center in Nashville, TN.[11]

Candidates

Polling

Poll source Dates administered Bill
Haslam
Ron
Ramsey
Zach
Wamp
Undecided
Mason-Dixon July 19–21, 2010 36% 20% 25% 17%
WSMV TV Channel 4 July 8, 2010 32% 11% 21% 36%

Results

County results
Republican primary results[18]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Bill Haslam 341,229 47.3
Republican Zach Wamp 210,332 29.2
Republican Ron Ramsey 158,960 22.1
Republican Joe Kirkpatrick 6,775 0.9
Republican Basil Marceaux 3,508 0.5
Total votes 720,804 100

Democratic primary

Candidates

Results

Democratic primary results[21]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Mike McWherter 284,894 100.00%
Total votes 284,894 100.00%

Independents

  • Bayron Binkley, broker[22]
  • Brandon Dodds, optometrist[23]
  • Samuel David Duck, Independent Federalist[24] (withdrew from race and endorsed Brandon Dodds)[25]
  • David Gatchell
  • June Griffin
  • Toni Hall
  • Floyd Knois
  • Boyce McCall
  • J. David Maharrey, Tea Party
  • Linda Kay Perry
  • James Reesor, Tennessee author[26]
  • Thomas Smith II
  • Howard Switzer,[27] Architect[28] (Green Party nominee; listed on the ballot as an independent)
  • Carl Twofeathers Whitaker, Native American Indian Movement chief[29]

General election

Simultaneous Haslam and McWherter rallies before the Highlands Town Hall Debate

Predictions

Source Ranking As of
Cook Political Report[30] Safe R (flip) October 14, 2010
Rothenberg[31] Safe R (flip) October 28, 2010
RealClearPolitics[32] Safe R (flip) November 1, 2010
Sabato's Crystal Ball[33] Likely R (flip) October 28, 2010
CQ Politics[34] Lean R (flip) October 28, 2010

Polling

Poll source Date(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin of
error
Mike
McWherter (D)
Bill
Haslam (R)
Other Unde-
cided
MTSU (report) October 24, 2010 635 ± 4% 29% 51% 4% 6%
MTSU (report) October 14, 2010 635 ± 4% 19% 41.6% 4% 36%
Rasmussen Reports (report) October 9, 2010 500 ± 4.5% 31% 59% 3% 6%
Rasmussen Reports (report) September 7, 2010 500 ± 4.5% 31% 59% 2% 7%
Rasmussen Reports (report) August 9, 2010 500 ± 4.5% 31% 56% 3% 10%
Mason-Dixon (report) July 19–21, 2010 625 ± 5.0% 31% 49% 20%
WSMV-TV Channel 4 (report) July 8, 2010 603 ± 4.0% 34% 60% 6%
Rasmussen Reports (report) June 15, 2010 500 ± 4.5% 32% 50% 5% 14%
Rasmussen Reports (report) March 22, 2010 500 ± 4.5% 27% 45% 5% 23%

Results

Tennessee gubernatorial election, 2010[35]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Bill Haslam 1,041,545 65.03% +35.83%
Democratic Mike McWherter 529,851 33.08% -35.24%
Independent Carl Twofeathers Whitaker 6,536 0.41% N/A
Independent Brandon Dodds 4,728 0.29% N/A
Independent Bayron Binkley 4,663 0.29% N/A
Independent June Griffin 2,587 0.16% N/A
Independent Linda Kay Perry 2,057 0.13% N/A
Independent Howard M. Switzer 1,887 0.12% N/A
Independent Samuel David Duck 1,755 0.11% N/A
Independent Thomas Smith II 1,207 0.07% N/A
Independent Toni K. Hall 993 0.06% N/A
Independent David Gatchell 859 0.05% N/A
Independent Boyce T. McCall 828 0.05% N/A
Independent James Reesor 809 0.05% N/A
Independent Mike Knois 600 0.03% N/A
Independent Donald Ray McFolin 583 0.03% N/A
Independent Write-Ins (3 candidates) 61 0.003% N/A
Majority 511,694 32.21% -6.64%
Turnout 1,601,567
Republican gain from Democratic Swing

Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican

See also

References

  1. "Tennessee Voter Turnout in 2010". Tennessee Secretary of State. November 2, 2010. Retrieved February 28, 2023.
  2. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on September 14, 2010. Retrieved July 30, 2010.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. "Tennessee - Election Results 2010". The New York Times. Retrieved July 31, 2020.
  4. "2010 governors race ratings". The Cook Political Report. August 12, 2010. Archived from the original on August 15, 2010. Retrieved August 21, 2010.
  5. "Races for Governor in 2010". CQ Politics. Archived from the original on August 19, 2010. Retrieved August 21, 2010.
  6. "Governor Race Ratings". The New York Times. Retrieved August 21, 2010.
  7. "Governor Ratings". The Rothenberg Political Report. July 1, 2010. Retrieved August 21, 2010.
  8. "2010 Governor Races". RealClearPolitics. Retrieved August 21, 2010.
  9. "Tennessee Governor 2010". Sabato's Crystal Ball. June 3, 2010. Retrieved August 21, 2010.
  10. "Election 2010: Gubernatorial Scorecard". Rasmussen Reports. August 21, 2010. Retrieved August 21, 2010.
  11. "Gubernatorial Debate Special! Basil Marceaux Isn't the Nuttiest Candidate — June Griffin Takes the Honor | News | nashvillescene.com".
  12. "Phil Bredesen Story Page – USATODAY.com". Content.usatoday.com. August 17, 2010. Archived from the original on March 23, 2012. Retrieved August 21, 2010.
  13. "Joe4Gov.com". Joe4Gov.com. Retrieved August 21, 2010.
  14. "Basil Marceaux Campaign Coordinator James Crenshaw Responds to Skeptics | News | nashvillescene.com".
  15. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on April 19, 2011. Retrieved July 24, 2010.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  16. "News Story". The Greeneville Sun. February 28, 2009. Archived from the original on January 2, 2013. Retrieved August 21, 2010.
  17. Wilson, Matt (January 5, 2009). "Rep. Wamp will run for governor of Tennessee". Chattanooga Times Free Press. Archived from the original on August 23, 2010. Retrieved January 5, 2009.
  18. "The 2010 Results Maps". Politico.Com. Retrieved August 21, 2010.
  19. DUNLAP, STANLEY (April 24, 2009). "Former governor's son makes bid for seat". The Jackson Sun.
  20. Sher, Andy (April 23, 2009). "Tennessee: McWherter says he's running for governor". Chattanooga Times Free Press. Archived from the original on July 23, 2011. Retrieved April 24, 2009.
  21. "August 5, 2010 Democratic Primary Governor" (PDF). Tennessee Secretary of State. Retrieved September 8, 2022.
  22. "Binkley4Gov Blog « Binkley for Governor 2010". Binkley4governor.com. February 20, 2010. Archived from the original on October 22, 2010. Retrieved August 21, 2010.
  23. "Home". DoddsForGov. Archived from the original on February 7, 2011. Retrieved August 21, 2010.
  24. Samuel David Duck (August 17, 2010). "Samuel David Duck, Independent for Governor of Tennessee in 2010". Duck4gov.com. Archived from the original on August 19, 2010. Retrieved August 21, 2010.
  25. Samuel David Duck (October 3, 2010). "We can't let the UN and CFR take the governorship" (PDF). duck4gov.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 9, 2011. Retrieved October 3, 2010.
  26. "index". Jamesreesor.com. September 15, 2002. Archived from the original on July 30, 2010. Retrieved August 21, 2010.
  27. Ron Noonan says. "Blog Archive » Green Party has candidate on ballot for Tennessee governor – America's #1 Source for Green Party News & Views". Green Party Watch. Archived from the original on October 18, 2010. Retrieved August 21, 2010.
  28. Verenigde Staten. "Gebruikersprofiel: Howard Switzer". Blogger. Retrieved August 21, 2010.
  29. "Elect Carl Whitaker for Tennessee Governor 2010, Carl Whitaker For Governor 2010, Tennessee's Governor Race for 2010, Tennessee Governor 2010, 2010 Governor's Race, Whitaker For Governor". Carlwhitakerforgov.com. August 9, 2010. Archived from the original on August 30, 2010. Retrieved August 21, 2010.
  30. "2010 Governors Race Ratings". Cook Political Report. Archived from the original on October 28, 2010. Retrieved October 28, 2010.
  31. "Governor Ratings". Rothenberg Political Report. Retrieved October 28, 2010.
  32. "2010 Governor Races". RealClearPolitics. Retrieved October 28, 2010.
  33. "THE CRYSTAL BALL'S FINAL CALLS". Sabato's Crystal Ball. Retrieved October 28, 2010.
  34. "Race Ratings Chart: Governor". CQ Politics. Archived from the original on October 5, 2010. Retrieved October 28, 2010.
  35. "State of Tennessee - November 2, 2010 - State General" (PDF). tn.gov. Secretary of State of Tennessee. January 10, 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 11, 2011. Retrieved April 9, 2011.
Debates
Official campaign websites (Archived)
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