2010 Arizona elections

John McCain announced his plans to run again for Senate on November 25, 2008,[1] just 21 days after losing the 2008 presidential race. McCain faced a primary challenge from former representative J.D. Hayworth,[2] and Jim Deakin. The Democratic candidates were Rodney B. Glassman, Rudy Garcia, and John Dougherty.

In the general election, the candidates were incumbent John McCain (R), Rodney Glassman (D), Jerry Joslyn (G), and David Nolan (L).

Elections were held for all Arizona's congressional districts, with elections in the 1st, 3rd, 5th, and 8th congressional districts being among the more heavily contended.

Republic John Shadegg, the incumbent in the 3rd district, announced that he would not seek re-election on January 14, 2010.[3] On the Republican side, Ben Quayle, son of former vice-president Dan Quayle, announced his on February 12, 2010,[4][5] despite never voting in a local election.[6] Other notable Republicans in the race include former state representative Sam Crump, former state senators Pamela Gorman and Jim Waring, and former Paradise Valley Mayor Vernon Parker. The only Democrat in that race is Jon Hulburd.[7]

Both the 5th and 8th districts' Democratic incumbents, Harry Mitchell and Gabby Giffords, respectively, are seeking reelection.[8] Mitchell faces a Republican challenge from former Maricopa County Treasurer David Schweikert, Jeffrey W. Smith, Jim Ward while Gifford's biggest Republican challengers include former State Senator Jonathan Paton and construction manager Jesse Kelly.[9]

On January 20, 2009, Janet Napolitano was confirmed as United States Secretary of Homeland Security by Barack Obama and resigned as governor the next day.[10] Since Arizona does not have a lieutenant governor, Secretary of State Jan Brewer took over office. Brewer announced her intentions to run for full term in November 2009.[11] The other Republican candidates were state treasurer Dean Martin, Owen "Buz" Mills, former Arizona Board of Regents president John Munger, Matthew Jette, and Tom Gordon.[12] At one point, Sheriff Joe Arpaio was considering a run for governor, but eventually declined.[13] On June 2, 2010, John Munger dropped out of the race.[14]

The only Democratic challenger was Attorney General Terry Goddard.[12] The Libertarian Party had Ronald Cavanaugh, Bruce Olsen, Alvin Ray Yount, and Barry Hess facing off while Larry Gist was on the ballot for the Green Party.[12]

Jan Brewer won the Republican primary with approximately 80% of the vote while Democrat Terry Goddard moved on with no opposition. Barry Hess won the Libertarian primary and Larry Gist won the Green primary. Incumbent Jan Brewer won the election with 54.3% of the vote.

When Jan Brewer succeeded Janet Napolitano as governor, she appointed Republican Ken Bennett to replace her as Secretary of State.[15] The Democratic challengers are Sam Wercinski and Chris Deschene. Bennett went on to seek a full term.

Deschene won the Democratic primary with 62% of the vote and faced Bennett in the general election.

Attorney Democratic Terry Goddard ran for governor.[17] The three Democrats who ran to fill the vacancy were Arizona's House minority leader David Lujan as well as Felecia Rotellini and Vince Rabago both former assistant attorney general.[18] The Republican race was between superintendent of public instruction Tom Horne and former Maricopa County attorney Andrew Thomas.[18]

Both primary elections were close. In the Democratic primary, Felecia Rotellini beat out David Lujan by only 3,000 votes, less than 1% of the total votes. On the Republican side, Tom Horne declared victory on August 28, with an 853-vote lead.[19] However, his opponent, Andrew Thomas, did not concede the race until August 31.[20]

As incumbent Republican Treasurer Dean Martin decided to unsuccessfully run for Governor of Arizona, the position was an open seat. CEO of Cold Stone Creamery and former investor Doug Ducey successfully ran for the Republican nomination. Andrei Cherny, an advisor to Barack Obama, Joe Biden, Al Gore, Hillary Clinton, and John Kerry, won the Democratic nomination.

Multiple judicial positions were up for election in 2010.

• Arizona judicial elections, 2010 at Judgepedia

On May 18, 2010, a special election was held for Proposition 100. It was passed by an almost two-thirds margin.[21] It will temporarily raise the Arizona state sales tax from 5.6% to 6.6%, with two-thirds of the revenue generated going to support education. After three years, the tax will automatically be repealed.

On the November 2, 2010 ballot, ten measures have been certified:

• Proposition 106 Prohibit rules against participation in specific health care
• Proposition 107 Ban preferential acceptance to employment (affirmative action)
• Proposition 109 Give a constitutional protection to the right to hunt in Arizona
• Proposition 110 Authorizes exchange of state trust lands in order to protect military installations
• Proposition 111 Rename the position of Secretary of State to Lieutenant Governor
• Proposition 112 Change initiative petition drive deadline by two months earlier than current deadline
• Proposition 113 Extend the right of Arizonans to use a secret ballot in union elections
• Proposition 203 Legalization of medical marijuana
• Proposition 301 Transfer money from a land-conservation fund to the general fund in the state budget
• Proposition 302 Repeal First Things First education program
• Arizona 2010 ballot measures at Ballotpedia