2010 United States Senate election in Utah

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2010 United States Senate election in Utah
Flag of Utah (1922-2011).svg
  2004 November 2, 2010 2016  
  Mike Lee official portrait 112th Congress (cropped).jpg No image.svg
Nominee Mike Lee Sam Granato Scott Bradley
Party Republican Democratic Constitution
Popular vote390,179207,68535,937
Percentage61.56%32.77%5.67%

2010 United States Senate election in Utah results map by county.svg
County results
Lee:     40–50%     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90%
Granato:     50–60%

U.S. senator before election

Bob Bennett
Republican

Elected U.S. Senator

Mike Lee
Republican

The 2010 United States Senate election in Utah took place on November 2, 2010, along with other midterm elections throughout the United States. Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Bob Bennett was seeking re-election to a fourth term, but lost renomination at the Republican Party's state convention. Mike Lee proceeded to win the Republican primary against Tim Bridgewater and the general election against Democrat Sam Granato. As of 2025, this is the most recent U.S. Senate election in which a political party held the seat after denying renomination to the incumbent senator.

Contents

Process

The filing period for candidates began March 12, 2010 and ended March 19, 2010. Candidates who had not filed by that date cannot appear on the ballot in November. Eleven candidates filed with the Office of the Lieutenant Governor. [1]

Both the Utah State Democratic Party and the Utah State Republican Party held statewide caucus meetings on March 23, 2010. Caucus meetings are grouped by legislative district and divided by precincts with each precinct electing delegates who attend their respective party's state nominating convention.

The Utah State Democratic and Republican Parties held their conventions on May 8, 2010. At the Republican convention, incumbent Senator Bob Bennett finished third in balloting among delegates and was eliminated from the race. Business owner Tim Bridgewater finished first and attorney Mike Lee finished second, but Bridgewater did not receive enough votes (he needed at least 60 percent) to avoid a primary election runoff against Lee. [2] At the Democratic convention, delegates nominated businessman Sam Granato, who received 77.5 percent of the vote. [3]

In the Republican primary election, held on June 22, 2010, Lee became the Republican nominee by winning 51 percent of the vote against Bridgewater's 49 percent. [4]

The general election was held on November 2, 2010. Lee won the election with 62 percent of the vote to Granato's 33 percent and 6 percent for Constitution Party candidate Scott Bradley. [5]

Republican nomination

Convention

Candidates

On Ballot

Withdrew

Endorsements

The following are endorsements made before the convention

Bennett

Notable Individuals and Organizations endorsing Bob Bennett

Lee

State/local level positions (State Senators, Governors, etc.)
  • Former Governor Norm Bangerter of Utah
  • Attorney General Mark Shurtleff
  • State Senator Curt Bramble
  • State Senator Allen Christensen
  • State Senator Mark Madsen
  • State Representative John Dougall
  • State Representative Craig Frank
  • State Representative Francis Gibson
  • State Representative Kerry Gibson
  • State Representative Todd Kiser
  • State Representative Mike Morley
  • State Representative Curt Oda
  • State Representative Ken Sumsion
  • Former State Representative John Swallow
  • State Representative Ryan Wilcox
  • State Representative Carl Wimmer
Federal politicians and Organizations

Polling

Poll SourceDates AdministeredBob BennettTim BridgewaterMerrill CookCherilyn EagarMike Lee
Rasmussen Reports [13] April 8, 201014%14%6%4%37%
Mason Dixon [14] April 22–25, 201016%20%1%11%37%

Results

State Republican Convention results, 2010 [15] [16] [17]
CandidateFirst ballotPct.Second ballotPct.Third ballotPct.
Mike Lee 98228.75%122535.99%138342.72%
Tim Bridgewater91726.84%127437.42%185457.28%
Bob Bennett 88525.91%90526.99%Eliminated
Cherilyn Eagar54115.84%Eliminated
Merrill Cook 491.43%Eliminated
Leonard Fabiano220.64%Eliminated
Jeremy Friedbaum160.47%Eliminated
David Chiu40.12%Eliminated
Total3,416100.00%3,404100.00%3,237100.00%

Primary

Candidates

  • Tim Bridgewater, businessman
  • Mike Lee, attorney

Endorsements

Bridgewater

Notable Individuals
Utah Mayors [19]

Lee

Federal politicians and Organizations
State/local politicians and organizations
  • Former Governor Norm Bangerter of Utah
  • Attorney General Mark Shurtleff
  • State Senator Curt Bramble
  • State Senator Allen Christensen
  • State Senator Mark Madsen
  • State Representative John Dougall
  • State Representative Francis Gibson
  • State Representative Kerry Gibson
  • State Representative Craig Frank
  • State Representative Ken Sumsion
  • State Representative Todd Kiser
  • State Representative Mike Morley
  • State Representative Curt Oda
  • State Representative Ryan Wilcox
  • State Representative Carl Wimmer
  • Former State Representative John Swallow
  • Most of the 9/12 and Tea Party Groups of Utah

Polling

Poll SourceDates AdministeredTim BridgewaterMike Lee
Wilson Research [20] June 10, 201030%39%
Deseret News/KSL-TV [21] June 12–17, 201042%33%

Results

Results by county:
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Lee--60-70%
Lee--50-60%
Bridgewater--50-60%
Bridgewater--60-70% 2010 UT US Senate Republican primary.svg
Results by county:
  Lee—60–70%
  Lee—50–60%
  Bridgewater—50–60%
  Bridgewater—60–70%
State Republican Primary results [22]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Mike Lee 98,512 51.2%
Republican Tim Bridgewater93,90548.8%
Total votes192,417 100.0%

Democratic nomination

Candidates

Results

State Democratic Convention results (first round)
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Sam Granato 77 77%
Democratic Christopher Stout2323%
Total votes100 100.0%

General election

Candidates

Campaign

Granato emphasized his opposition to nuclear weapon tests in neighboring Nevada. In addition, he criticized Lee for his support of raising the retirement age and for questioning the constitutionality of Social Security. [25]

Predictions

SourceRankingAs of
Cook Political Report [26] Solid ROctober 26, 2010
Rothenberg [27] Safe ROctober 22, 2010
RealClearPolitics [28] Safe ROctober 26, 2010
Sabato's Crystal Ball [29] Safe ROctober 21, 2010
CQ Politics [30] Safe ROctober 26, 2010

Polling

Poll sourceDate(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin
of error
Sam Granato (D)Mike Lee (R)OtherUndecided
Rasmussen Reports [31] June 23, 2010500± 4.5%28%58%5%9%
Rasmussen Reports [32] August 23, 2010500± 4.5%29%54%5%12%
Rasmussen Reports [33] October 13, 2010500± 4.5%28%61%4%8%
Deseret News/KSL-TV [34] October 11–14, 2010600± 4.0%31%53%1%11%
Mason-Dixon [35] October 27, 2010625± 4.0%32%48%5%15%
Deseret News/KSL-TV [36] October 25–28, 20101,206± 3.0%30%57%6%7%

Fundraising

Candidate (Party)ReceiptsDisbursementsCash On HandDebt
Mike Lee (R)$1,595,383$1,423,494$165,314$57,691
Sam Granato (D)$250,607$219,776$30,831$15,000
Source: Federal Election Commission [37]

Results

United States Senate election in Utah, 2010 [38]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Republican Mike Lee 390,179 61.56% −7.18%
Democratic Sam Granato207,68532.77%+4.37%
Constitution Scott Bradley 35,9375.67%+3.78%
Majority182,49428.79%
Total votes633,801 100.00%
Republican hold Swing

Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic

References

  1. "Untitled Document". Archived from the original on March 30, 2010. Retrieved March 28, 2010.
  2. Gehrke, Robert. "Bennett out; GOP delegates reject 18-year Senate veteran - Salt Lake Tribune". Sltrib.com. Archived from the original on May 11, 2010. Retrieved June 14, 2010.
  3. Loomis, Brandon. "Matheson forced into runoff election - Salt Lake Tribune". Sltrib.com. Archived from the original on May 12, 2010. Retrieved June 14, 2010.
  4. Gehrke, Robert (June 23, 2010). "Lee clinches GOP Senate nomination - Salt Lake Tribune". Sltrib.com. Retrieved June 23, 2010.
  5. "Utah Election Results". Archived from the original on March 2, 2012. Retrieved March 7, 2014.
  6. Bernick, Bob Jr. (December 6, 2008). "Bennett is gearing up for another Senate bid". Deseret News. Archived from the original on December 6, 2008. Retrieved January 12, 2009.
  7. 1 2 3 "ksl.com".
  8. Steinhauser, Paul; Hamby, Peter (February 25, 2010). "Bennett gets another primary challenger". CNN. Archived from the original on February 27, 2010. Retrieved February 25, 2010.
  9. Davidson, Lee (January 5, 2010). "Mike Lee enters Senate race against Bennett — with Shurtleff endorsement". Deseret News. Archived from the original on July 24, 2012. Retrieved January 6, 2010.
  10. "Hatch endorses Bennett's re-election". ksl.com. September 5, 2009. Retrieved June 14, 2010.
  11. Robert GehrkeThe Salt Lake Tribune (February 3, 2010). "Gingrich endorses Bennett re-election bid - Salt Lake Tribune". Sltrib.com. Archived from the original on October 7, 2012. Retrieved June 14, 2010.
  12. "Romney endorses Bob Bennett in 2010 Senate race". Heraldextra.com. April 6, 2009. Archived from the original on October 9, 2010. Retrieved June 14, 2010.
  13. Rasmussen Reports
  14. Mason Dixon [ permanent dead link ]
  15. Senate Race: 1st Round Results Archived May 11, 2010, at the Wayback Machine Accessed May 10, 2010
  16. Senate Race: 2nd Round Results Archived May 10, 2010, at the Wayback Machine Accessed May 10, 2010
  17. Senate Race: 3rd Round Results Archived May 12, 2010, at the Wayback Machine Accessed May 10, 2010
  18. "Tim Bridgewater Receives Key Legislative Endorsements | Bridgewater for Senate". Timbridgewater.com. Retrieved August 21, 2010.
  19. "Bridgewater Announces Endorsements by Municipal Leaders | Bridgewater for Senate". Timbridgewater.com. Retrieved August 21, 2010.
  20. Wilson Research
  21. Deseret News/KSL-TV
  22. Utah Election Results Archived June 17, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
  23. "Sam Granato for U.S. Senate".
  24. "Another Democratic Challenger to Bennett".
  25. "Senate candidates take stands on Social Security reform". Archived from the original on October 1, 2010. Retrieved September 1, 2010.
  26. "Senate". Cook Political Report . Retrieved October 26, 2010.
  27. "Senate Ratings". Rothenberg Political Report . Retrieved October 26, 2010.
  28. "Battle for the Senate". RealClearPolitics . Retrieved October 26, 2010.
  29. "2010 Senate Ratings". Sabato's Crystal Ball. Archived from the original on October 28, 2010. Retrieved October 26, 2010.
  30. "Race Ratings Chart: Senate". CQ Politics. Archived from the original on October 28, 2010. Retrieved October 26, 2010.
  31. Rasmussen Reports
  32. Rasmussen Reports
  33. Rasmussen Reports
  34. Deseret News/KSL-TV
  35. Mason-Dixon
  36. Deseret News/KSL-TV
  37. "2010 House and Senate Campaign Finance for Utah". fec.gov. Archived from the original on June 22, 2010. Retrieved July 24, 2010.
  38. "Results". elections.utah.gov. Archived from the original on November 23, 2010. Retrieved November 2, 2019.

Debates

Official campaign sites (Archived)