2010 Tennessee gubernatorial election
The 2010 Tennessee gubernatorial election took place on November 2, 2010, to elect the next governor of Tennessee , alongside other state and local elections . 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 .
The primary election was held on August 5, 2010, with Haslam and McWherter winning their respective parties' nominations.[ 2]
Haslam received endorsements from former U.S. senator Howard Baker and Congressman Jimmy Duncan .[ 3] [ 4] The Tennessean wrote, "Haslam appears most likely to be able to ride Gov. Phil Bredesen 's pro-business coattails, despite the different party affiliation."[ 4]
Haslam campaigned on his executive experience as both Knoxville's mayor and the president of a major company. His opponents attacked him as an oil executive, especially in the wake of price-gouging allegations levied against Pilot in the wake of the post-Hurricane Katrina fuel shortages, and criticized his refusal to release information related to his income while at Pilot.[ 5]
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 .[ 6] Ever since this election, Republicans have maintained their trifecta.
News organizations The Cook Political Report ,[ 7] CQ Politics ,[ 8] and The New York Times [ 9] rated the gubernatorial election as leaning Republican, while The Rothenberg Political Report rated it as "Republican favored,"[ 10] RealClearPolitics [ 11] and Sabato's Crystal Ball [ 12] as "Likely Republican", and Rasmussen Reports as "Solid Republican."[ 13]
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.[ 14]
From July 1, 2009, until January 15, 2010, Haslam collected $1.8 million, Ramsey raised $1,412,593 including a $200,000 loan, Wamp raised $1,373,078 including a $61,000 loan, and Gibbons raised $225,218.
Candidates
Polling
Results
County results
Democratic primary
From July 1, 2009, until January 15, 2010, State Senate Minority Leader Jim Kyle collected $741,485 including a $300,000 personal loan, McWherter raised $402,868, and McMillan raised $159,981.[ 24]
Candidates
Results
Independents
Bayron Binkley, broker[ 28]
Brandon Dodds, optometrist[ 29]
Samuel David Duck, Independent Federalist [ 30] (withdrew from race and endorsed Brandon Dodds)[ 31]
David Gatchell
June Griffin
Toni Hall
Floyd Knois
Boyce McCall
J. David Maharrey, Tea Party
Linda Kay Perry
James Reesor, Tennessee author[ 32]
Thomas Smith II
Howard Switzer,[ 33] Architect[ 34] (Green Party nominee; listed on the ballot as an independent)
Carl Twofeathers Whitaker, Native American Indian Movement chief[ 35]
General election
Simultaneous Haslam and McWherter rallies before the Highlands Town Hall Debate
Predictions
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
County flips
Republican Gain from Democratic
By county
County[ 42]
Bill HaslamRepublican
Mike McWherterDemocratic
Other votes
%
#
%
#
%
#
Anderson
72.50%
13,938
24.89%
4,785
2.61%
502
Bedford
69.50%
6,808
28.31%
2,773
2.20%
215
Benton
51.36%
2,590
47.23%
2,382
1.41%
71
Bledsoe
66.26%
2,527
31.83%
1,214
1.92%
73
Blount
79.38%
23,786
18.19%
5,449
2.42%
728
Bradley
82.10%
17,522
16.29%
3,477
1.61%
344
Campbell
72.75%
6,309
24.78%
2,149
2.47%
214
Cannon
61.51%
2,412
36.09%
1,415
2.40%
94
Carroll
56.72%
4,724
41.83%
3,484
1.44%
120
Carter
76.98%
10,783
21.43%
3,001
1.60%
223
Cheatham
68.92%
7,017
29.16%
2,969
1.91%
195
Chester
69.39%
2,763
28.80%
1,147
1.80%
72
Claiborne
74.45%
4,768
22.85%
1,463
2.71%
173
Clay
59.07%
1,179
38.98%
778
1.95%
39
Cocke
75.69%
6,385
22.08%
1,863
2.24%
188
Coffee
69.43%
9,436
28.49%
3,872
2.09%
283
Crockett
64.49%
2,818
34.42%
1,504
1.10%
48
Cumberland
77.71%
15,550
20.29%
4,061
1.98%
399
Davidson
48.44%
75,381
49.11%
76,427
2.44%
3,810
Decatur
56.31%
1,820
41.80%
1,351
1.89%
61
DeKalb
58.40%
2,870
39.62%
1,947
1.98%
97
Dickson
64.09%
7,812
34.04%
4,150
1.87%
228
Dyer
66.48%
6,576
28.79%
2,847
4.72%
467
Fayette
68.78%
8,490
29.71%
3,667
1.51%
187
Fentress
71.44%
3,630
27.04%
1,374
1.51%
77
Franklin
63.35%
7,792
34.73%
4,272
1.92%
236
Gibson
57.57%
8,664
40.88%
6,152
1.55%
233
Giles
60.25%
4,936
37.52%
3,074
2.22%
183
Grainger
74.79%
3,399
22.75%
1,034
2.46%
112
Greene
76.83%
12,066
21.11
3,315
2.07
324
Grundy
55.07%
1,693
42.03%
1,292
1.90%
89
Hamblen
79.47%
10,798
19.19%
2,608
1.33%
181
Hamilton
65.59%
57,090
32.81%
28,556
1.60%
1,393
Hancock
73.25%
923
24.21%
305
2.54%
32
Hardeman
50.45%
3,250
47.25%
3,044
2.28%
148
Hardin
69.10%
4,315
28.98%
1,810
1.92%
120
Hawkins
75.29%
9,320
22.76%
2,817
1.95%
241
Haywood
45.70%
2,462
52.96%
2,853
1.34%
72
Henderson
69.43%
4,328
28.73%
1,791
1.85%
115
Henry
55.20%
5,261
43.33%
4,129
1.46%
140
Hickman
59.80%
3,156
37.89%
2,000
1.85%
122
Houston
47.90%
1,016
49.74%
1,055
2.36%
50
Humphreys
53.62%
2,689
44.51%
2,232
1.88%
94
Jackson
53.02%
1,587
44.54%
1,333
2.45%
73
Jefferson
79.54%
8,895
18.24%
2,040
2.21%
248
Johnson
75.59%
3,452
22.62%
1,033
1.80%
82
Knox
81.07%
84,915
17.06%
17,869
1.87%
1,958
Lake
47.38%
661
49.32%
688
3.35%
46
Lauderdale
54.74%
3,369
43.64%
2,686
1.63%
100
Lawrence
66.54%
7,722
32.00%
3,714
1.46%
169
Lewis
63.42%
2,235
33.97%
1,197
2.61%
92
Lincoln
72.30%
6,196
24.15%
2,070
3.55%
304
Loudon
82.07%
12,552
15.78%
2,413
2.16%
330
Macon
68.21%
3,349
29.84%
1,465
1.96%
96
Madison
55.74%
15,762
43.20%
12,214
1.06%
300
Marion
62.47%
4,579
35.69%
2,616
1.84%
135
Marshall
63.50%
4,810
34.59%
2,620
1.93%
145
Maury
65.50%
15,190
32.82%
7,612
1.67%
389
McMinn
76.63%
8,711
21.66%
2,462
1.71%
194
McNairy
64.05%
4,357
34.44%
2,343
1.51%
103
Meigs
68.28%
1,804
29.52%
780
2.20%
58
Monroe
75.02%
7,795
23.09%
2,399
1.88%
196
Montgomery
61.80%
19,227
35.87%
11,159
2.33%
726
Moore
68.59%
1,435
27.68%
579
3.73%
78
Morgan
69.81%
3,032
27.33%
1,187
2.85%
124
Obion
53.99%
5,063
43.21%
4,052
2.80%
263
Overton
58.68%
3,088
39.24%
2,065
2.08%
109
Perry
55.34%
1,057
41.83%
799
2.83%
54
Pickett
66.20%
1,428
31.66%
683
2.13%
46
Polk
64.86%
2,569
32.69%
1,295
2.45%
97
Putnam
69.83%
13,031
28.44%
5,306
1.73%
323
Rhea
76.06%
5,452
21.58%
1,547
2.35%
169
Roane
73.79%
11,523
23.74%
3,707
2.36%
385
Robertson
67.94%
12,151
30.28%
5,416
1.78%
318
Rutherford
68.77%
41,999
29.33%
17,912
1.89%
1,160
Scott
74.48%
3,522
23.41%
1,107
2.10%
100
Sequatchie
70.74%
2,497
24.37%
966
1.89%
96
Sevier
84.01%
16,592
13.63%
2,692
2.36%
467
Shelby
46.74%
107,227
51.86%
118,977
1.39%
3,200
Smith
58.36%
3,369
39.67%
2,290
1.98%
114
Stewart
54.91%
2,120
43.05%
707
2.04%
79
Sullivan
77.44%
30,529
21.20%
8,359
1.36%
535
Sumner
73.17%
32,543
26.12%
13,672
2.31%
1,209
Tipton
68.63%
10,880
29.69%
4,706
1.69%
267
Trousdale
56.06%
1,170
41.93%
875
2.01%
42
Unicoi
75.48%
3,334
22.66%
1.001
1.85%
82
Union
75.15%
2,861
22.83%
869
2.02%
77
Van Buren
57.29%
931
40.25%
654
2.46%
40
Warren
59.61%
5,745
37.77%
3,640
2.62%
253
Washington
76.95%
22,403
21.63%
6,296
1.42%
415
Wayne
73.26%
2,606
25.13%
894
1.60%
57
Weakley
51.76%
4,891
46.49%
4,393
1.74%
165
White
64.94%
4,542
32.31%
2,260
2.75%
192
Williamson
80.06%
48,518
18.29%
11,085
1.65%
1,000
Wilson
72.88%
25,217
25.21%
8,724
1.91%
659
Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican
See also
References
^ "Tennessee Voter Turnout in 2010" . Tennessee Secretary of State . November 2, 2010. Retrieved February 28, 2023 .
^ "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 )
^ "Haslam Endorsed By U.S. Rep. John J. Duncan" . The Chattanoogan . May 8, 2010. Archived from the original on May 11, 2010. Retrieved May 11, 2010 .
^ a b Underwood, Ryan; Michael Cass; Chas Sisk; Clay Carey (December 28, 2009). "Tennessee political movers" . The Tennessean . p. 2. [dead link ]
^ Flory, Josh (January 19, 2011). "Building on Experience as Knoxville's Mayor, 'Optimistic and Enthusiastic' Haslam Begins Leading State" . Knoxville News Sentinel . Archived from the original on January 23, 2011. Retrieved September 22, 2011 .
^ "Tennessee - Election Results 2010" . The New York Times . Retrieved July 31, 2020 .
^ "2010 governors race ratings" . The Cook Political Report . August 12, 2010. Archived from the original on August 15, 2010. Retrieved August 21, 2010 .
^ "Races for Governor in 2010" . CQ Politics . Archived from the original on August 19, 2010. Retrieved August 21, 2010 .
^ "Governor Race Ratings" . The New York Times . Retrieved August 21, 2010 .
^ "Governor Ratings" . The Rothenberg Political Report . July 1, 2010. Retrieved August 21, 2010 .
^ "2010 Governor Races" . RealClearPolitics . Retrieved August 21, 2010 .
^ "Tennessee Governor 2010" . Sabato's Crystal Ball . June 3, 2010. Retrieved August 21, 2010 .
^ "Election 2010: Gubernatorial Scorecard" . Rasmussen Reports . August 21, 2010. Retrieved August 21, 2010 .
^ "Gubernatorial Debate Special! Basil Marceaux Isn't the Nuttiest Candidate — June Griffin Takes the Honor | News | nashvillescene.com" .
^ "Phil Bredesen Story Page – USATODAY.com" . Content.usatoday.com. August 17, 2010. Archived from the original on March 23, 2012. Retrieved August 21, 2010 .
^ "Joe4Gov.com" . Joe4Gov.com. Retrieved August 21, 2010 .
^ "Basil Marceaux Campaign Coordinator James Crenshaw Responds to Skeptics | News | nashvillescene.com" .
^ "Archived copy" . Archived from the original on April 19, 2011. Retrieved July 24, 2010 .{{cite web }}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link )
^ "News Story" . The Greeneville Sun. February 28, 2009. Archived from the original on January 2, 2013. Retrieved August 21, 2010 .
^ 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 .
^ Mason-Dixon
^ WSMV TV Channel 4
^ "The 2010 Results Maps" . Politico.Com. Retrieved August 21, 2010 .
^ Humphrey, Tom (February 3, 2010). "Knoxville Mayor Bill Haslam gathers $5.8 million so far for governor's race" . Knoxville News Sentinel . Archived from the original on February 5, 2010.
^ DUNLAP, STANLEY (April 24, 2009). "Former governor's son makes bid for seat" . The Jackson Sun . [permanent dead link ]
^ 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 .
^ "August 5, 2010 Democratic Primary Governor" (PDF) . Tennessee Secretary of State . Retrieved September 8, 2022 .
^ "Binkley4Gov Blog « Binkley for Governor 2010" . Binkley4governor.com. February 20, 2010. Archived from the original on October 22, 2010. Retrieved August 21, 2010 .
^ "Home" . DoddsForGov. Archived from the original on February 7, 2011. Retrieved August 21, 2010 .
^ 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 .
^ 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 .
^ "index" . Jamesreesor.com. September 15, 2002. Archived from the original on July 30, 2010. Retrieved August 21, 2010 .
^ 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 .
^ Verenigde Staten. "Gebruikersprofiel: Howard Switzer" . Blogger. Retrieved August 21, 2010 .
^ "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 .
^ "2010 Governors Race Ratings" . Cook Political Report . Archived from the original on October 28, 2010. Retrieved October 28, 2010 .
^ "Governor Ratings" . Rothenberg Political Report . Retrieved October 28, 2010 .
^ "2010 Governor Races" . RealClearPolitics . Retrieved October 28, 2010 .
^ "THE CRYSTAL BALL'S FINAL CALLS" . Sabato's Crystal Ball . Retrieved October 28, 2010 .
^ "Race Ratings Chart: Governor" . CQ Politics . Archived from the original on October 5, 2010. Retrieved October 28, 2010 .
^ "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 .
^ "2022 Gubernatorial Results by County" (PDF) . Tennessee Secretary of State . November 8, 2022. Retrieved February 18, 2023 .
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