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2010 United States Senate election in Utah
	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 2024, this is the most recent U.S. Senate election in which a political party held the seat after denying renomination to the incumbent senator.

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

Bob Bennett, incumbent U.S. Senator^[6]
Tim Bridgewater, businessman and candidate for UT-02 in 2002 and 2004^[7]
David Chiu
Merrill Cook, former U.S. Representative^[8]
Cherilyn Eagar, businesswoman^[7]
Leonard Fabiano
Jeremy Friedbaum
Mike Lee, attorney^[9]

Withdrew

Mark Shurtleff State Attorney General^[7]

Endorsements

The following are endorsements made before the convention

Bennett

Notable Individuals and Organizations endorsing Bob Bennett

U.S. Senator Orrin Hatch of Utah^[10]
Former U.S. Senator Jake Garn of Utah
Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich of Georgia^[11]
Former Governor Mitt Romney of Massachusetts^[12]

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

Former House Majority Leader Dick Armey of Texas
Former U.S. Congressman James V. Hansen of Utah
U.S. Congressman Ron Paul of Texas
Former U.S. Senator Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania
Editor of conservative weblog RedState Erick Erickson
Prominent conservative author and talk show host Mark Levin
FreedomWorks PAC
Most of the 9/12 and Tea Party Groups of Utah

Polling

Poll Source	Dates Administered	Bob Bennett	Tim Bridgewater	Merrill Cook	Cherilyn Eagar	Mike Lee
Rasmussen Reports^[13]	April 8, 2010	14%	14%	6%	4%	37%
Mason Dixon^[14]	April 22–25, 2010	16%	20%	1%	11%	37%

Results

State Republican Convention results, 2010^[15]^[16]^[17]
Candidate	First ballot	Pct.	Second ballot	Pct.	Third ballot	Pct.
Mike Lee	982	28.75%	1225	35.99%	1383	42.72%
Tim Bridgewater	917	26.84%	1274	37.42%	1854	57.28%
Bob Bennett	885	25.91%	905	26.99%	Eliminated
Cherilyn Eagar	541	15.84%	Eliminated
Merrill Cook	49	1.43%	Eliminated
Leonard Fabiano	22	0.64%	Eliminated
Jeremy Friedbaum	16	0.47%	Eliminated
David Chiu	4	0.12%	Eliminated
Total	3,416	100.00%	3,404	100.00%	3,237	100.00%

Primary

Candidates

Tim Bridgewater, businessman
Mike Lee, attorney

Endorsements

Bridgewater

Notable Individuals

Incumbent U.S. Senator Bob Bennett
Former Chairman of RNC Dick Richards
State Senator Howard A. Stephenson
State Senator Jerry Stevenson
State Senator David Hinkins
State Representative Greg Hughes
State Representative Lorie Fowlke
State Representative Julie Fisher
State Representative Merlynn Newbold^[18]

Utah Mayors^[19]

Clearfield: Don Wood
Coalville: Duane Schmidt
Draper: Darrel Smith
Fruit Heights: Todd Stevenson
Farmington: Scott Harbertson
Harrisville: Richard Hendrix
Kaysville: Steve Hiatt
Pleasant Grove: Bruce Call
Pleasant View: Doug Clifford
Provo: John Curtis
Riverdale: J. Bruce Burrows
Roy: Joe Ritchie
Sandy: Tom Dolan
Saratoga Springs: Mia Love
St. George: Daniel McArthur
South Weber: M. Jeffery Monroe
Taylorsville: Russ Wall
West Jordan: Melissa Johnson

Lee

Federal politicians and Organizations

U.S. Senator Jim DeMint
Former U.S. Senator Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania
Former House Majority Leader Dick Armey of Texas
Former U.S. Congressman James V. Hansen of Utah
U.S. Congressman Ron Paul of Texas
Editor of conservative weblog RedState Erick Erickson
Prominent conservative author and talk show host Mark Levin
FreedomWorks PAC
Republican Liberty Caucus

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 Source	Dates Administered	Tim Bridgewater	Mike Lee
Wilson Research^[20]	June 10, 2010	30%	39%
Deseret News/KSL-TV^[21]	June 12–17, 2010	42%	33%

Results

State Republican Primary results^[22]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Mike Lee	98,512	51.2%
	Republican	Tim Bridgewater	93,905	48.8%
Total votes			192,417	100.0%

Democratic nomination

Candidates

Sam Granato, businessman^[23]
Christopher Stout, accountant^[24]

Results

State Democratic Convention results (first round)
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Sam Granato	77	77%
	Democratic	Christopher Stout	23	23%
Total votes			100	100.0%

General election

Candidates

Scott Bradley (C), businessman
Sam Granato (D), businessman
Mike Lee (R), attorney

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

Source	Ranking	As of
Cook Political Report^[26]	Solid R	October 26, 2010
Rothenberg^[27]	Safe R	October 22, 2010
RealClearPolitics^[28]	Safe R	October 26, 2010
Sabato's Crystal Ball^[29]	Safe R	October 21, 2010
CQ Politics^[30]	Safe R	October 26, 2010

Polling

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Sam Granato (D)	Mike Lee (R)	Other	Undecided
Rasmussen Reports^[31]	June 23, 2010	500	± 4.5%	28%	58%	5%	9%
Rasmussen Reports^[32]	August 23, 2010	500	± 4.5%	29%	54%	5%	12%
Rasmussen Reports^[33]	October 13, 2010	500	± 4.5%	28%	61%	4%	8%
Deseret News/KSL-TV^[34]	October 11–14, 2010	600	± 4.0%	31%	53%	1%	11%
Mason-Dixon^[35]	October 27, 2010	625	± 4.0%	32%	48%	5%	15%
Deseret News/KSL-TV^[36]	October 25–28, 2010	1,206	± 3.0%	30%	57%	6%	7%

Fundraising

Candidate (Party)	Receipts	Disbursements	Cash On Hand	Debt
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]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Mike Lee	390,179	61.56%	−7.18%
	Democratic	Sam Granato	207,685	32.77%	+4.37%
	Constitution	Scott Bradley	35,937	5.67%	+3.78%
Majority			182,494	28.79%
Total votes			633,801	100.00%
	Republican hold		Swing

Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic

Summit (largest municipality: Park City)

References

^ "Untitled Document". Archived from the original on March 30, 2010. Retrieved March 28, 2010.
^ 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.
^ Loomis, Brandon. "Matheson forced into runoff election - Salt Lake Tribune". Sltrib.com. Archived from the original on May 12, 2010. Retrieved June 14, 2010.
^ Gehrke, Robert (June 23, 2010). "Lee clinches GOP Senate nomination - Salt Lake Tribune". Sltrib.com. Retrieved June 23, 2010.
^ "Utah Election Results". Archived from the original on March 2, 2012. Retrieved March 7, 2014.
^ 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.
^ ^a ^b ^c "ksl.com".
^ 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.
^ 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.
^ "Hatch endorses Bennett's re-election". ksl.com. September 5, 2009. Retrieved June 14, 2010.
^ 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.
^ "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.
^ Rasmussen Reports
^ Mason Dixon ^{[permanent dead link]}
^ Senate Race: 1st Round Results Archived May 11, 2010, at the Wayback Machine Accessed May 10, 2010
^ Senate Race: 2nd Round Results Archived May 10, 2010, at the Wayback Machine Accessed May 10, 2010
^ Senate Race: 3rd Round Results Archived May 12, 2010, at the Wayback Machine Accessed May 10, 2010
^ "Tim Bridgewater Receives Key Legislative Endorsements | Bridgewater for Senate". Timbridgewater.com. Retrieved August 21, 2010.
^ "Bridgewater Announces Endorsements by Municipal Leaders | Bridgewater for Senate". Timbridgewater.com. Retrieved August 21, 2010.
^ Wilson Research
^ Deseret News/KSL-TV
^ Utah Election Results Archived June 17, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
^ "Sam Granato for U.S. Senate".
^ "Another Democratic Challenger to Bennett".
^ "Senate candidates take stands on Social Security reform". Archived from the original on October 1, 2010. Retrieved September 1, 2010.
^ "Senate". Cook Political Report. Retrieved October 26, 2010.
^ "Senate Ratings". Rothenberg Political Report. Retrieved October 26, 2010.
^ "Battle for the Senate". RealClearPolitics. Retrieved October 26, 2010.
^ "2010 Senate Ratings". Sabato's Crystal Ball. Archived from the original on October 28, 2010. Retrieved October 26, 2010.
^ "Race Ratings Chart: Senate". CQ Politics. Archived from the original on October 28, 2010. Retrieved October 26, 2010.
^ Rasmussen Reports
^ Rasmussen Reports
^ Rasmussen Reports
^ Deseret News/KSL-TV
^ Mason-Dixon
^ Deseret News/KSL-TV
^ "2010 House and Senate Campaign Finance for Utah". fec.gov. Archived from the original on June 22, 2010. Retrieved July 24, 2010.
^ "Results". elections.utah.gov. Archived from the original on November 23, 2010. Retrieved November 2, 2019.

Debates

Utah Senate Republican Primary Debate, C-SPAN, June 2, 2010
Utah Senate Debate, C-SPAN, September 16, 2010

Official campaign sites (Archived)

[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.

[General-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.

[chaffetz-7] "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.

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2010 United States Senate election in Utah

Process

Republican nomination

Convention

Candidates

Endorsements

Polling

Results

Primary

Candidates

Endorsements

Polling

Results

Democratic nomination

Candidates

Results

General election

Candidates

Campaign

Predictions

Polling

Fundraising

Results

Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic

References

External links

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