2010 United States gubernatorial elections

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. Rhode Island, 2.5%
7. Ohio, 2.7%
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 gubernatorial election

Nominee Robert J. Bentley Ron Sparks Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 860,472 625,710 Percentage 57.9% 42.1%

County results

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

Governor Bob Riley was term-limited in 2010.

Businessman and 2002 Republican gubernatorial primary candidate Timothy James, State Representative Robert Bentley,[11] Chancellor Bradley Byrne,[12] 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.[13]

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.[14]

In the general election, Bentley defeated Sparks.

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%

Governor before election Sean Parnell Republican Elected Governor Sean Parnell Republican

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.[16] 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.[17] Parnell won a first full-term.

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

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.[18] She would face a primary challenge from former state Senator Karen Johnson,[19] Tucson attorney John Munger,[20] and State Treasurer Dean Martin.[21]

The announced Democratic candidate was Arizona Attorney General Terry Goddard. A potential Democratic candidate could have been Phoenix mayor Phil Gordon.[22]

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

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

Governor Mike Beebe sought a second term in 2010.[24] He was elected with 55% of the vote in 2006.[25] In March 2009 Beebe's approval rating was 68%, according to Public Policy Polling.[26] Jim Keet, a former State Senator, was the Republican nominee.

Beebe defeated Keet in a landslide election.

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

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger was term-limited in 2010.[24]

Former eBay CEO Meg Whitman was the Republican nominee for the Gubernatorial election,[28] defeating state Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner in the California Republican Party primary.

Former Governor and current Attorney General Jerry Brown was the Democratic nominee.[29][30][31]

Brown defeated Whitman in the general election.

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

Governor Bill Ritter declined to run for re-election.[33] He had been elected with 57% of the vote in 2006. Following Ritter's announcement, Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper announced his candidacy.[34] Hickenlooper faced no opposition in the Democratic primary.[35]

Businessman Dan Maes became the Republican nominee by winning the August 10 primary election.[36]

Former Congressman Tom Tancredo ran under the banner of the American Constitution Party.[37]

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.[38]

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

On November 9, 2009, incumbent Governor Jodi Rell announced she would not seek a second full term in 2010.[40] 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.[41]

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

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.[43] 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.

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

Governor Sonny Perdue was term-limited in 2010.[45]

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,[46] but dropped out of the race on April 15, 2009 because of health problems.[45]

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.[47]

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.

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

Governor Linda Lingle was term-limited in 2010.[24]

Republican Lieutenant Governor Duke Aiona ran.[49]

Democratic Congressman Neil Abercrombie announced that he would run.[50] Another possible Democratic candidate was Honolulu mayor Mufi Hannemann.[50]

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

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.[52] In May 2010 Otter brushed aside primary challenges from Ada County commissioner Sharon Ullman[53] and conservative activist Rex Rammell, who ran for U.S. Senate in 2008 as an independent.[54]

Democratic primary candidates included activist and mediator Keith G. Allred,[52] and Franklin County laborer Lon Chaney, who unsuccessfully contested the Democratic nomination in 2006.[55] Allred easily defeated Chaney for the Democratic nomination.

Former Republican state representative Jana Kemp was an announced independent candidate.[56]

Otter won re-election.

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

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.[58] Quinn was challenged for the Democratic nomination by State Comptroller Dan Hynes.[59] 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.[60]

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."[61]

Quinn defeated Brady in the election.

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

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.[63] 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.[64] Businessman Bob Vander Plaats, who was the Republican nominee for lieutenant governor in 2006, ran[65] and was considered an early front-runner in the Republican primary.[66] Other Republicans seeking their party's nomination included State Representatives Christopher Rants[65] and businessman Christian Fong.[67] Branstad was the favorite for Republican nomination, and led incumbent Democratic Governor Chet Culver in aggregate polling.[68]

Branstad defeated then-sitting Governor Culver in the election.

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

Governor Kathleen Sebelius was term-limited in 2010.[24] President Barack Obama nominated Sebelius as Secretary of Health and Human Services.[70] 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.

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

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,[72] while Waterville Mayor Paul LePage was chosen by the Republicans.[73]

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;[74] Shawn Moody, business owner;[75] and Kevin Scott, business owner.[76]

The Maine Green Independent Party did not have a candidate on the ballot this year.[77]

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.[78] 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%.[78] Moody and Scott had 5% and 1%, respectively.[78]

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

Governor Martin O'Malley sought a second term in 2010.[80] He was elected with 53% of the vote in 2006.

Former Republican Governor Bob Ehrlich on March 30, 2010, announced that he would run.[81] 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.[82][83]

O'Malley defeated former Governor Ehrlich in the election.

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

Incumbent first-term Governor Deval Patrick, a Democrat, sought re-election.[85] 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.[86]

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.[87]

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

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

Governor Jennifer Granholm was term-limited in 2010.[89]

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.[90]

On the Democratic side, Lansing Mayor Virg Bernero easily defeated state House Speaker Andy Dillon for the party nomination.[91]

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

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)

Governor Tim Pawlenty would have been eligible to seek a third term in 2010, but decided not to run.[93] He won re-election by 1% in 2006, with 46.7% of the vote.[94]

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.[95] 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.[96] Saint Paul Mayor Chris Coleman announced that he would not run.[45]

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.

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

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.[98]

Heineman won re-election.

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

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.[100] Former federal judge Brian Sandoval announced his candidacy for governor in September 2009.[101] 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.[102]

The Libertarian candidate was Arthur Forest Lampitt, Jr. Before running for office, he was an IT management consultant and small business owner.[103]

The Green candidate was David Scott Curtis, a residential designer and public artist.[103]

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

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 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

Governor Bill Richardson was term-limited in 2010.[24]

Lieutenant Governor Diane Denish (D) obtained the Democratic Party nomination by winning the June 1, 2010 primary without opposition.[105]

Doña Ana County District Attorney Susana Martinez[106] 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.[107][108] Martinez defeated PR firm owner Doug Turner,[109] Pete Domenici, Jr. (son of the former U.S. Senator Pete Domenici), State Representative Janice Arnold-Jones,[110] and former Republican party state chairman Allen Weh.[111] The election resulted in New Mexico's first female governor.[112] Martinez defeated Denish and became the nation's first Latina governor and first female governor of New Mexico.

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

Governor David Paterson originally announced he would seek a first full term in 2010.[114] 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.[115] Cuomo soundly defeated Paladino in the general election.

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

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.[117] 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.[118] 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.[119]

Kasich defeated then-sitting Governor Strickland in the election.

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

Democratic Governor Brad Henry was term-limited in 2010.[24]

Two Democrats announced their candidacies: state Attorney General Drew Edmondson,[121] and Lieutenant Governor Jari Askins, who would be Oklahoma's first female governor.[122]

Two Republicans announced their candidacies: Congresswoman and former lieutenant governor Mary Fallin,[123] who would also be Oklahoma's first female governor, and state Senator Randy Brogdon.[124] 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.

Oregon gubernatorial election

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

County results

Governor before election Ted Kulongoski Democratic Elected Governor John Kitzhaber Democratic

Governor Ted Kulongoski was term-limited in 2010.[24] 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.[126] Greg Kord of the Constitution Party and Wes Wagner of the Libertarian Party also ran.[127] 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.

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

Governor Ed Rendell was term-limited in 2010.[24]

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.[129] The Democratic nominee was Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato. Corbett was considered the marginal favorite in a competitive election, and defeated Onorato.

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

Governor Donald Carcieri was term-limited in 2010.[24]

State Representative Joe Trillo was a potential Republican candidate.[131]

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.[131]

Former Republican Senator Lincoln D. Chafee formed an exploratory committee for a potential campaign as an independent.[132] After deciding to run, Senator Chafee went on to win the election.