2010 United States Senate election in Colorado

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2010 United States Senate election in Colorado
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  MichaelBennetofficialphoto.jpg Ken Buck official congressional photo (cropped 2).jpg
Nominee Michael Bennet Ken Buck
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote854,685824,789
Percentage48.08%46.40%
2010 United States Senate election in Colorado results map by county.svg
County results
Bennet:     40–50%     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%
Buck:     40–50%     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%
U.S. senator before election

Michael Bennet
Democratic

Elected U.S. Senator

Michael Bennet
Democratic

The 2010 United States Senate election in Colorado took place on November 2, 2010, alongside other elections to the United States Senate in other states as well as elections to the United States House of Representatives and various state and local elections. In December 2008, President-elect Barack Obama nominated incumbent U.S. Senator Ken Salazar as Secretary of the Interior. [1] After Salazar resigned from his seat, [2] Democratic governor Bill Ritter appointed Denver Public Schools Superintendent Michael Bennet to fill the seat.

Contents

Bennet won a full term, defeating former state House speaker Andrew Romanoff in the Democratic primary, and Republican nominee Ken Buck in the general election. [3] [4] With a margin of 1.7%, this election was the second closest race of the 2010 Senate election cycle after the concurrent one in Illinois.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

Eliminated in primary

Endorsements

Bennet
Romanoff

Polling

Poll SourceDates AdministeredMichael
Bennet		Andrew
Romanoff		Undecided
The Tarrance Group Archived July 8, 2011, at the Wayback Machine September 16–17, 200941%27%32%
Public Policy Polling May 19, 201046%31%23%
Survey USA June 15–17, 201053%36%11%
Survey USA August 1, 201045%48%7%
Public Policy Polling August 7–8, 201049%43%9%

Results

Results by county: .mw-parser-output .legend{page-break-inside:avoid;break-inside:avoid-column}.mw-parser-output .legend-color{display:inline-block;min-width:1.25em;height:1.25em;line-height:1.25;margin:1px 0;text-align:center;border:1px solid black;background-color:transparent;color:black}.mw-parser-output .legend-text{} Bennet 50-60% 60-70% 70-80% 80-90% Romanoff 50-60% CO-Sen 2010 Dem primary.svg
Results by county:
  Bennet
  •   50–60%
  •   60–70%
  •   70–80%
  •   80–90%
  Romanoff
  •   50–60%
Democratic primary results [8] [9]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Michael Bennet (incumbent) 184,714 54.15%
Democratic Andrew Romanoff156,41945.85%
Total votes341,133 100.0%

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

Eliminated in primary

Eliminated in convention

  • Cleve Tidwell, businessman
  • Robert Greenheck
  • Steve Barton

Withdrew

Declined

Endorsements

Notable Individuals and Organizations endorsing Ken Buck
Notable Individuals and Organizations endorsing Jane Norton

According to her website: [19] [20]

Polling

Poll SourceDates AdministeredKen
Buck		Jane
Norton
The Tarrance Group Archived July 8, 2011, at the Wayback Machine September 16–17, 200915%45%
Public Policy Polling March 3, 201017%34%
Magellan March 14, 201013%41%
Magellan April 19, 201032%29%
Public Policy Polling May 19, 201026%31%
Magellan June 8, 201042%32%
Survey USA June 15–17, 201053%37%
Public Opinion Strategies June 20–21, 201033%39%
Survey USA August 1, 201050%41%
Public Policy Polling August 7–8, 201043%45%

Results

Results by county: Buck 50-60% 60-70% 70-80% Norton 50-60% 60-70% Tie 50% CO-Sen 2010 Rep primary.svg
Results by county:
  Buck
  •   50–60%
  •   60–70%
  •   70–80%
  Norton
  •   50–60%
  •   60–70%
Tie
  •   50%
Republican Primary results [8] [9]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Ken Buck 211,099 51.57%
Republican Jane Norton198,23148.43%
Total votes409,330 100.0%

Libertarian primary

Candidates

Nominee

  • John Finger

Eliminated in primary

  • Mac Stringer

Results

Libertarian Primary results [21] [9]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Libertarian Mac Stringer 1,186 52.45%
Libertarian John Finger1,07547.55%
Total votes2,261 100.0%

General election

Candidates

Major

Minor

Source: Official Candidate List [ permanent dead link ]

Campaign

This was one of the most expensive elections in the nation, as more than $30 million was spent by outside organizations. [22] Conservative third party groups hammered Bennet for voting 92% of the time with the Democratic leadership, including voting for healthcare reform and the stimulus package. [23] Liberal third party groups called Buck extremist. Bennet focused on attacking Buck's views on abortion, which he believed should be banned including those of cases of rape and incest. He was also attacked for wanting to eliminate the 17th Amendment [24] and refusing to prosecute an alleged rapist as Weld County district attorney. Planned Parenthood mounted a mail campaign, targeting women voters with the warning that "Colorado women can't trust Ken Buck." Bennet won the women vote by 17 points according to exit polls. After the election, Buck conceded to the Denver Post that the main reason why he lost is because of social issues. [25]

Debates

Predictions

SourceRankingAs of
Cook Political Report [27] TossupOctober 26, 2010
Inside Elections [28] TossupOctober 22, 2010
RealClearPolitics [29] TossupOctober 26, 2010
Sabato's Crystal Ball [30] Lean R (flip)October 21, 2010
CQ Politics [31] TossupOctober 26, 2010

Polling

Poll sourceDate(s) administeredMichael
Bennet (D)		Ken
Buck (R)
Public Policy Polling April 17–19, 200940%39%
Public Policy Polling August 14–16, 200939%35%
Rasmussen Reports September 9, 200943%37%
Rasmussen Reports December 8, 200938%42%
Daily Kos/Research 2000 January 11–13, 201041%38%
Rasmussen Reports January 13, 201038%43%
Rasmussen Reports February 2, 201041%45%
Rasmussen Reports March 2, 201038%44%
Public Policy Polling March 5–8, 201047%40%
Rasmussen Reports April 5, 201040%44%
Rasmussen Reports May 3, 201041%48%
Public Policy Polling May 19, 201045%39%
Rasmussen Reports June 7, 201041%46%
Survey USA June 15–17, 201043%46%
Rasmussen Reports July 8, 201039%48%
Rasmussen Reports July 26, 201042%48%
Survey USA August 1, 201043%43%
Public Policy Polling August 10, 201046%43%
Rasmussen Reports August 11, 201041%46%
Ipsos/Reuters August 20–22, 201040%49%
Rasmussen Reports August 30, 201044%47%
Rasmussen Reports September 14, 201045%49%
CNN/Time September 17–21, 201044%49%
Rasmussen Reports September 27, 201043%51%
Rasmussen Reports September 27, 201043%51%
McClatchy/Marist September 26–28, 201042%50%
Survey USA September 28–30, 201043%48%
Public Policy Polling September 30 – October 2, 201046%45%
Rasmussen Reports October 14, 201045%47%
Fox News/Pulse Opinion Research October 16, 201045%46%
Ipsos/Reuters October 18, 201045%48%
SurveyUSA October 19–21, 201047%47%
Public Policy Polling October 21–23, 201047%47%
Rasmussen Reports October 25, 201044%48%
CNN/Time/Opinion Research October 20–26, 201046%47%
Marist College October 26–28, 201045%49%
Fox News/Pulse Opinion Research October 30, 201046%50%
Public Policy Polling October 30–31, 201048%49%

Fundraising

These totals reflect the campaign accounts of the candidates themselves, and do not include independent expenditures by other groups.

Candidate (Party)ReceiptsDisbursementsCash On HandDebt
Michael Bennet (D)$11,463,661$10,698,578$763,541$887,692
Ken Buck (R)$3,827,432$3,011,656$1,039,994$100,000
Source: Federal Election Commission [32]

Results

United States Senate election in Colorado, 2010 [33] [34] [35] [9]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Democratic Michael Bennet (incumbent) 854,685 48.08% -3.22%
Republican Ken Buck 824,78946.40%-0.13%
Green Bob Kinsey38,8842.19%N/A
Libertarian Maclyn Stringer22,6461.27%+0.79%
Independent Jason Napolitano19,4501.09%N/A
Independent Charley Miller11,3510.64%N/A
Independent J. Moromisato5,7800.33%N/A
Write-in 830.07%N/A
Total votes1,777,668 100.0%
Democratic hold

Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican

Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic

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References

  1. ↑ Osher, Christopher N.; Bunch, Joey (December 15, 2008). "Salazar poised to head Interior". Denver Post. Retrieved December 15, 2008.
  2. ↑ "Ken Salazar Resigns From Senate". Associated Press. January 19, 2009. Archived from the original on January 22, 2009. Retrieved January 20, 2009.
  3. ↑ Crummy, Karen (January 2, 2009). "Michael Bennet chosen as next Senator". Denver Post . Retrieved January 2, 2009.
  4. ↑ Johnson, Kirk. "Michael Bennet News". The New York Times.
  5. ↑ "Colorado's Bennet Needs to Get Better Known for 2010". CQ Politics. January 27, 2009. Archived from the original on March 9, 2009. Retrieved June 14, 2010.
  6. ↑ "Who Will Face Bennet?". Roll Call. February 10, 2009. Retrieved June 14, 2010.
  7. ↑ Riley, Michael (August 29, 2009). "Denver Post article on Andrew Romanoff". Denverpost.com. Retrieved June 14, 2010.
  8. 1 2 "Colorado Primary Results". Politico. August 10, 2010. Retrieved August 11, 2010.
  9. 1 2 3 4 "State election results, 2010 (PDF)" (PDF). Colorado Secretary of State.
  10. ↑ "The Buck starts here". Politico . April 27, 2009.
  11. ↑ Bartels, Lynn (August 17, 2009). "Former Lt. Gov. Norton mulling U.S. Senate bid". The Denver Post. Retrieved June 14, 2010.
  12. ↑ "Denver Daily - Wiens, U.S. Senate candidate, drops out". Thedenverdailynews.com. May 25, 2010. Retrieved June 14, 2010.
  13. ↑ "Beauprez not running for Senate - The Scorecard". Politico.Com. Retrieved June 14, 2010.
  14. ↑ "Troy Eid to resign, run for Colorado attorney general". Coloradoindependent.com. January 8, 2009. Retrieved August 21, 2010.
  15. ↑ Fender, Jessica (October 14, 2009). "Aurora's Ryan Frazier has work cut out for him in shift to challenge U.S. Rep. Ed Perlmutter". The Denver Post. Retrieved June 14, 2010.
  16. ↑ Eli Stokols (April 14, 2010). "Tea Party Endorsement: Tea Party idol DeMint endorses Buck in Colorado Senate race". KDVR. Archived from the original on July 16, 2011. Retrieved August 21, 2010.
  17. ↑ "DeMint on Buck endorsement: 'We've got to have an earthquake election'". Coloradoindependent.com. April 23, 2010. Archived from the original on April 17, 2010. Retrieved August 21, 2010.
  18. ↑ "CO US Senate - R Primary Race - August 10, 2010". Our Campaigns. Retrieved August 21, 2010.
  19. ↑ "Conservatives Rally Behind Norton". Janenortonforcolorado.com. May 24, 2010. Archived from the original on August 18, 2011. Retrieved August 21, 2010.
  20. ↑ "CO US Senate - R Primary Race - August 10, 2010". Our Campaigns. Retrieved August 21, 2010.
  21. ↑ "Colorado - County Vote Results". ap.org. August 11, 2010. Retrieved August 3, 2016.
  22. ↑ [CO] Colorado Election 2010 Results [SENATE UPDATE] | CNM News Network
  23. ↑ Buck for Congress (campaign website)
  24. ↑ Brady, Jeff (October 27, 2010). "Money Has Poured Into Colorado's Senate Race". npr.org. Retrieved August 3, 2016.
  25. ↑ Burns, Alexander (November 13, 2010). "Abortion was winning issue for Dems". politico.com. Retrieved August 3, 2016.
  26. ↑ Walter, Amy (September 12, 2010). "Buck and Bennet Trade Jabs In Feisty Colorado Senate Debate". abcnews.com. Retrieved August 3, 2016.
  27. ↑ "Senate". Cook Political Report . Retrieved October 26, 2010.
  28. ↑ "Senate Ratings". Rothenberg Political Report . Retrieved October 26, 2010.
  29. ↑ "Battle for the Senate". RealClearPolitics . Retrieved October 26, 2010.
  30. ↑ "2010 Senate Ratings". Sabato's Crystal Ball . Retrieved October 26, 2010.
  31. ↑ "Race Ratings Chart: Senate". CQ Politics. Archived from the original on October 28, 2010. Retrieved October 26, 2010.
  32. ↑ "2010 House and Senate Campaign Finance for Colorado". fec.gov. Retrieved August 12, 2010.[ permanent dead link ]
  33. ↑ "State Cumulative Report". Archived from the original on November 29, 2010. Retrieved November 29, 2010.
  34. ↑ "Colorado - Election Results 2010 - The New York Times". The New York Times . Retrieved August 3, 2016.
  35. ↑ Gessler, Scott; Hobbs, William A.; Choate, Judd. "2010 Abstract of Votes Cast" (PDF). Office of Secretary of State - State of Colorado.
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