United States gubernatorial elections, 2010
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The United States gubernatorial elections of 2010 will be held on Tuesday, November 2, 2010 in 36 states with 20 of the seats held by Democrats and 16 by Republicans.
[edit] Election summaries
Eighteen governors are prohibited from seeking re-election in 2010 due to term limits. Additional open seats are possible if any of the governors listed below dies, resigns, retires, or is denied re-nomination in his or her party's primary.
[edit] Retiring Democratic governors
[edit] Janet Napolitano (Arizona)
Governor Janet Napolitano will be term-limited in 2010.
Possible Democratic candidates are state Attorney General Terry Goddard and Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords. Possible Republican candidates are Secretary of State Jan Brewer and United States Secretary of Transportation Mary Peters (politician).
[edit] Kathleen Sebelius (Kansas)
Governor Kathleen Sebelius will be term-limited in 2010.
Democratic Attorney General Paul J. Morrison may run to succeed her. Morrison was elected in 2006 though, because of a sexual harassment suit against him, he resigned as Attorney General on January 31, 2008, and is therefore unlikely to run. Lt. Governor Mark Parkinson may also run.
A possible Republican candidate is U.S Senator Sam Brownback. Brownback is retiring from the Senate in 2010 due to self-imposed term limits. Other possible Republican candidates are Secretary of State Ron Thornburgh and Insurance Commissioner Sandy Praeger.
[edit] John Baldacci (Maine)
Term Limits prevent Governor John Baldacci from seeking a third term. One possible candidate is Independent Barbara Merrill who managed a very strong 3rd place showing of 22 percent. Possible Democratic candidates include Senate President Beth Edmonds and Congressman Mike Michaud. The Maine Green Independent Party is also likely to field a candidate, such as former State Representative John Eder.
[edit] Jennifer Granholm (Michigan)
Governor Jennifer Granholm will be term-limited in 2010. Potential Democratic candidates include Lt. Governor John Cherry, Congressman Bart Stupak, former Detroit Mayor Dennis Archer, Wayne County Executive Robert Ficano, and Michigan House Speaker Andy Dillon.[1] One announced candidate is Flint mayor Don Williamson.[2]
Potential Republican candidates include 2006 nominee and businessman Dick DeVos, Attorney General Mike Cox, Congressman Pete Hoekstra, Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land, Congresswoman Candice Miller, Senate Majority Leader Mike Bishop, Oakland County Sheriff Mike Bouchard,[3] and former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, whose father was governor.[4]
[edit] Bill Richardson (New Mexico)
Governor Bill Richardson will be term-limited in 2010.
Lieutenant Governor Diane Denish announced on January 10, 2007 that she will run for governor in 2010. If she wins, she would be the first female governor of the state and the first lieutenant governor in New Mexico history to be elected governor.[5] Another possible candidate is Albuquerque mayor Martin Chavez. One possible Republican candidate is Fmr. Congresswomen Heather Wilson.
[edit] Brad Henry (Oklahoma)
Governor Brad Henry is prevented from running for a third term due to term limits.
Possible Democratic canididates include Lieutenant Governor Jari Askins, Congressman Dan Boren, state Attorney General Drew Edmondson, and State Treasurer Scott Meacham. Possible Republican candidates include Congresswoman Mary Fallin, Comgressman and NRCC Chair Tom Cole, wealther businessman and former State Secretary of Energy Bob Sullivan, State Senator Todd Lamb and Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett. Some Republicans believed not to be interested are former Congressman and 2006 nominee Ernest Istook, former Senator Don Nickles, former Congressman J.C. Watts, former Congressman and 2002 nominee Steve Largent and retired General Tommy Franks.
[edit] Ted Kulongoski (Oregon)
Governor Ted Kulongoski will be term limited in 2010.
Possible Democratic contenders include former Governor John Kitzhaber, State Treasurer Randall Edwards, and Congressman Earl Blumenauer, while possible Republicans include state Senators Jason Atkinson and Bruce Starr as well as Congressman Greg Walden, the only Republican in Oregon's House delegation. Oregon leans only slightly Democratic on the presidential level, but Democrats have dominated state-level elections in recent years.
[edit] Ed Rendell (Pennsylvania)
Term limits prevent Governor Ed Rendell from seeking a third term. On the Democratic side, former Lieutenant Governor and 1994 gubernatorial nominee Mark Singel is reportedly considering a bid, as is state Democratic party chairman T.J. Rooney, Allegheny County Chief Executive Dan Onorato, former congressman and Montgomery County Commissioner Joe Hoeffel, state Representative Mike Gerber, State Senator Andrew Dinniman, Allentown Democratic party chairwoman Sam Bennett and Former State Treasurer and Auditor General of Pennsylvania Barbara Hafer.
Potential Republican candidates include former Republican congressman Pat Toomey, who lost a close primary challenge to U.S. Senator Arlen Specter in 2004. Toomey now runs the conservative Club for Growth and has a strong national fundraising network. Kingston Mayor Jim Haggerty, U.S. Attorney Tom Marino, State Representatives Bernie O'Neill, Karen Boback, Scott Petri and Brett Feese could also run. Former Republican Representative Melissa Hart has been mentioned as a possible candidate, although her 2006 defeat makes this less likely. Former U.S. Senator Rick Santorum may run. Former Lieutenant Governor and 2006 candidate Bill Scranton is considered likely to make a third try for the governorship, and state Senators John Pippy, Stewart Greenleaf and Lisa Baker has also been mentioned as potential candidates. Former Governor Mark Schweiker, who declined against a run in 2002, is also mentioned as a potential candidate.
[edit] Phil Bredesen (Tennessee)
Popular Democratic Governor Phil Bredesen will be term limited in 2010.
Potential Democratic candidates include U.S. Representatives Lincoln Davis, John S. Tanner and Steve Cohen, former Nashville Mayor Bill Purcell, former U.S. Representative and 2006 U.S. Senate candidate Harold Ford, and Senior Advisor to the Governor, and former Tennessee Rep. Kim McMillan.
Republican 3rd District Representative Zach Wamp has said he is interested in running for governor but says he will first concentrate on his 2008 Congressional campaign.[6] Other potential candidates include former State Senator and 2006 gubernatorial candidate Jim Bryson, former U.S. Senator Bill Frist and U.S. Representatives Marsha Blackburn and David Davis.
A November 2007 Rasmussen Report poll has Former Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist easily defeating former U.S Congressman Harold Ford Jr. 54% to Ford's 38%.[3].
[edit] Dave Freudenthal (Wyoming)
Gov. Dave Freudenthal will be term-limited in 2010. Possible Republican candidates include Freudenthal's 2002 opponent, State House Speaker, and current State Senator Eli Bebout, State Secretary of State and Former State Auditor Max Maxfield, 2002 and 2006 Candidate Ray Hunkins, Former U.S. Attorney Matt Mead and Former State House Speaker and State GOP Chairman Fred Parady are all possible Republicans that could run. State House Speaker Roy Cohee, and State House Majority Leader Colin Simpson who will be speaker next session, both have expressed interest in the race, while State Senator Hank Coe has announced he intends to run for governor in 2010. Attorney and 2002 Candidate Paul Hickey is widely expected to run as a Democrat for either the U.S. Senate in 2008 or Governor in 2010, and State Senator Mike Massie might also run.
[edit] Retiring Republican governors
[edit] Bob Riley (Alabama)
Bob Riley will be constitutionally term-limited in 2010.
Possible Republican candidates include sitting Attorney General Troy King, former state senator and current two-year college chief Bradley Byrne, state GOP chairman Rep. Mike Hubbard, businessman and failed 2002 gubernatorial candidate Timothy James, and Secretary of State Beth Chapman.
As for the Democrats, U.S. Rep. Artur Davis, Lieutenant Governor Jim Folsom Jr., and state Agriculture Commissioner Ron Sparks are likely candidates.
[edit] Arnold Schwarzenegger (California)
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger will be term-limited in 2010.
U.S. Representatives Darrell Issa, Dan Lungren, Elton Gallegly, Wally Herger, Ed Royce, Brian Bilbray, Buck McKeon, George Radanovich, Ken Calvert and David Drier, State Representative Bonnie Garcia, state Senators Tom McClintock and David Cox, and state Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner are potential Republican candidates.
Potential Democratic candidates include San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, Lieutenant Governor John Garamendi, U.S. Representative Loretta Sanchez, Secretary of State Debra Bowen, and Attorney General Jerry Brown. In November 2005, Sanchez established an exploratory committee called "People for Loretta 2010."[7]
Maria Shriver was also thought to be a potential candidate, but she has since denied any interest in running.
[edit] Sonny Perdue (Georgia)
Republican Governor Sonny Perdue will be term-limited in 2010.
State Insurance Commissioner John Oxendine entered the race to replace Perdue in April 2008.[8] Freshman U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson has been considering this race for a while.[9] Should Isakson run for Governor, he would likely draw no competition in the Republican primary. Should he pass on the race, however, potential candidates would include Lieutenant Governor Casey Cagle, Congressman Lynn Westmoreland, State Senators Chip Rogers, Lee Hawkins and Chip Pearson, any of the Republican Public Service Commissioners, and Secretary of State Karen Handel.
Potential candidates on the Democratic side include Attorney General Thurbert Baker, Congressman Jim Marshall, former Secretary of State Cathy Cox, State Senator Michael Meyer Von Bremen, former State Representative Douglas Dean, State Representatives Mike Glanton, Wade Starr, Darryl Jordan and Rick Crawford, House Minority Leader DuBose Porter, State Labor Commissioner Michael Thurmond, and Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin.
[edit] Linda Lingle (Hawaii)
Governor Linda Lingle will be term-limited in 2010.
Possible Republican candidates for the seat include Lieutenant Governor James Aiona, former State Representative and current Honolulu City Council Member Charles Djou, and State Representative Cynthia Thielen.
Possible Democratic candidates include former U.S. Representative Ed Case, U.S. Representative Neil Abercrombie, State Senate President Colleen Hanabusa, former State Senator Malama Soloman, and Mayor of Honolulu Mufi Hannemann.
[edit] Dave Heineman (Nebraska)
Governor Dave Heineman will be term-limited in 2010.
[edit] Donald Carcieri (Rhode Island)
Governor Donald Carcieri will be term-limited in 2010.
A possible third party or Democratic contender is former U.S. Senator Lincoln Chafee, who was defeated in his bid for re-election in 2006. Possible Republican candidates include former Cranston Mayor & 2006 Senate candidate Steve Laffey, and 2006 Congressional candidate Jonathan Scott.
Possible Democratic candidates include former Lieutenant Governor Charlie Fogarty, who performed better than expected in a 2006 challenge to Carcieri, state Attorney General Patrick C. Lynch, Providence Mayor David Cicilline, State Treasurer Frank Caprio, and Lt. Governor Elizabeth H. Roberts.
[edit] Mark Sanford (South Carolina)
Governor Mark Sanford will be term-limited in 2010.
[edit] Mike Rounds (South Dakota)
Governor Mike Rounds will be term-limited in 2010.
Potential Democratic candidates include former U.S. Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle and Congresswoman Stephanie Herseth Sandlin. On the Republican side, potential candidates include Lt. Governor Dennis Daugaard, Public Utilities Commissioner Dustin Johnson, and U.S. Senator John Thune.
[edit] Democratic governors who may seek reelection
[edit] Mike Beebe (Arkansas)
Governor Mike Beebe may seek a second term in 2010.
Democrats hold all statewide offices as well as a supermajority in the Arkansas General Assembly. If Beebe decides to run for reelection, he likely would have an advantage over any Republican candidate. Arkansas limits its governors to two full terms; thus, Beebe would be ineligible to seek a third term in 2014.
[edit] Bill Ritter (Colorado)
Governor Bill Ritter may seek a second term in 2010.
[edit] Rod Blagojevich (Illinois)
Governor Rod Blagojevich may seek a third term in 2010.
One possible Democratic candidate whether or not Blagojevich seeks reelection is state Attorney General Lisa Madigan. Possible Republican candidates include 2006 candidate Bill Brady and former State Treasurer and 2006 Republican nominee Judy Baar Topinka.
[edit] Chet Culver (Iowa)
Governor Chet Culver may seek a second term in 2010.
[edit] Martin O'Malley (Maryland)
Governor Martin O'Malley may seek a second term in 2010.
Former Lieutenant Governor Michael S. Steele., the 2006 Republican nominee for the U.S. Senate, has been mentioned as a possible challenger, or former Governor Robert Ehrlich, whom O'Malley defeated in 2006, could seek a rematch.
[edit] Deval Patrick (Massachusetts)
Governor Deval Patrick may seek a second term in 2010.
Former Republican Governor Mitt Romney is considered as a potential candidate.
[edit] John Lynch (New Hampshire)
If he is reelected in 2008, Governor John Lynch may seek a fourth term in 2010 (New Hampshire holds its gubernatorial elections every 2 years instead of the normal 4).
[edit] David Paterson (New York)
Governor David Paterson may seek a first full term in 2010.
[edit] Ted Strickland (Ohio)
Governor Ted Strickland may seek a second term in 2010.
Former U.S. Senator Mike DeWine, who was defeated in bid for reelection in 2006, former Congressmen John Kasich and Rob Portman have been mentioned as a potential candidates.
[edit] Jim Doyle (Wisconsin)
Governor Jim Doyle will likely seek a third term in 2010.
Doyle was re-elected in 2006 by a margin of 53% to 45%. He has changed his website to www.jimdoyle2010.com Potential Democratic candidates if Doyle does not seek reelection include Lieutenant Governor Barbara Lawton, Congressman Ron Kind, and Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk, who in 2006 narrowly lost a bid for state attorney general.
Republican Scott Walker, the three-term Milwaukee County Executive, is pondering either a challenge to Doyle or a run at an open seat in 2010. He hails from the Democratic stronghold of Milwaukee County, and could cut into any Democrats largest base.
[edit] Republican governors who may seek reelection
[edit] Sarah Palin (Alaska)
Governor Sarah Palin may seek a second term in 2010.
The highest-profile Democrat in Alaska, former Governor Tony Knowles, lost his last two statewide elections, including a run against Palin in 2006. Although there are relatively few strong Democrats in Alaska, Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich is one potential candidate along with State Representative Eric Croft.
[edit] Jodi Rell (Connecticut)
Governor Jodi Rell may seek a second full term in 2010.
She also has been mentioned as a potential candidate for the U.S. Senate in 2010, against incumbent Democratic Senator Chris Dodd, who is running for president in 2008 and who may retire.
A potential Democratic gubernatorial candidate is state Attorney General Richard Blumenthal, who has been rumored to be a potential gubernatorial candidate for the past several election cycles but routinely has declined to enter the race.
[edit] Charlie Crist (Florida)
Governor Charlie Crist may seek a second term in 2010.
Potential Democratic challengers include U.S. Representative Tim Mahoney (FL-16), should Mahoney be reelected in 2008, state Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink, Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio, and Florida House of Representatives Democratic Leader Dan Gelber, who is running for the state Senate in 2008 and is also considering the running for state Attorney General in 2010.[citation needed] Former State Senator and 2006 Democratic gubernatorial primary candidate Rod Smith is not ruling out a run for Governor in 2010. Crist may also face a primary challenger from conservative Republicans unhappy with his moderate positions. Florida House Speaker Marco Rubio is said to be considering a primary run against Crist.
[edit] Butch Otter (Idaho)
Governor Butch Otter may seek a second term in 2010 and is the early favorite to win reelection in this heavily Republican state.
A former lieutenant governor and Congressman, Otter won a closer-than-expected open seat race in 2006 against Democrat Jerry Brady with 52.67% of the vote. Brady, who was the Democratic nominee in 2002 as well, will be 74 in 2010 and is reportedly not interested in a third consecutive gubernatorial run[10]. In May 2007 Twin Falls businessman W. Lane Startin announced that he was forming an exploratory committee to run as a Democrat. State Senate Minority Leader Clint Stennett would be a leading Democratic contender should he decide to run.
[edit] Tim Pawlenty (Minnesota)
Governor Tim Pawlenty may seek a third term in 2010. He is however on John McCain's short list for potential running mates. Obviously, if he becomes Vice President, he will have left office before 2010 and won't be able to seek reelection. If this occurs Lt. Governor Carol Molnau may run for a full term.
Pawlenty was reelected by a margin of 47% to 46% in the closest gubernatorial election in 2006, with a third party candidate picking up 6.4%. Possible Democratic candidates include Ramsey County attorney Susan Gaertner, Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak and former U.S. Senator Mark Dayton. Depending on the outcome of the 2008 Senate race or its primaries, Al Franken may also be a potential candidate.
[edit] Jim Gibbons (Nevada)
Governor Jim Gibbons may seek a second term in 2010.
As of November, his approval rating is 40%, with 45% disapproving.[4] If this trend continues, he could face a very difficult reelection contest.
Democratic state Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto, State Treasurer Kate Marshall and Nevada Assembly Speaker Barbara Buckley could challenge him. Current state Senate Minority Leader Dina Titus, who narrowly lost to Gibbons in 2006, is considered likely to seek a rematch. Popular Las Vegas mayor Oscar Goodman declined to run for Governor in 2006, but may run in 2010. A factor that may influence Gibbons' decision to run and his statewide popularity is a scandal involving a divorce from his wife, Dawn. She alleges that he was unfaithful to her; he denies the accusations. The FBI is also investigating possible irregularities in Gibbons' personal finances. [11]
[edit] Rick Perry (Texas)
Governor Rick Perry may seek a third full term in 2010.
After serving almost two years as the state's lieutenant governor, Perry assumed the governorship in December 2000 when then-Governor George W. Bush resigned to become president. Perry was reelected to his second full term in 2006 with only 39% of the vote in an election featuring four major candidates considered to be one of the most bizarre in the state's history.
Texas is one of the most heavily Republican states in the country, and its voters tend to be strongly conservative. However, the continuing growth of Texas' black and Hispanic populations, as well as migration to the state from other parts of the country, including California, due to a burgeoning job market have added somewhat to the state's base of Democratic voters.
At the conclusion of his present term, Perry will have been in office for 10 years, which would make him the longest-serving governor in Texas history. Texas does not have term limits for its governors; thus, Perry is free to run for reelection in 2010 should he choose to do so, and would be 60 years old at that time. However, Perry's incumbency may work against him; voters may simply be tired of him and want a change – Rick Perry's approval ratings have remained generally low in recent years.
If Perry does not run for reelection, it is assumed that Lieutenant Governor David Dewhurst will seek the position. U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison, who was rumored as a Perry opponent in 2006 but declined to run, is also considered a possible candidate. Ron Paul, member of US House of Representatives and 2008 Republican primary canidate, may also run.
For the Democrats, 2006 candidate Chris Bell may run again. Houston Mayor Bill White is another possibility, and many would consider him the strongest possible challenger. 2006 Independent candidate Kinky Friedman has expressed possible interest in running as a Democrat in 2010 as well.[12] The state's last Democratic governor, the late Ann Richards, was elected in 1990. She lost her bid for a second term in 1994 to George W. Bush.
[edit] Jim Douglas (Vermont)
If he is reelected in 2008, Governor Jim Douglas may seek a fifth term in 2010. (The Governor of Vermont, unlike 48 states, only serves a two-year term.)
Douglas has been mentioned as a potential candidate for the U.S. Senate if Democrat Patrick Leahy retires. If Douglas leaves this seat open, it may become competitive.
[edit] Notes
- ^ Hopefuls start early on governor's race | Freep.com | Detroit Free Press
- ^ Flint Mayor Don Williamson to run for governor, pledges to pay state $50K if elected - The Flint Journal Online News - Michigan Newspaper - MLive.com
- ^ Hopefuls start early on governor's race | Freep.com | Detroit Free Press
- ^ National Review Online: Mitt for the Mitten
- ^ ABQJOURNAL: Denish Says She'll Run for Governor in 2010
- ^ Zach Wamp 'strongly considering' run for governor
- ^ "Rep. Sanchez ponders move out of House" OCRegister.com. Retrieved February 4, 2007
- ^ 'The Ox' files his paperwork for a 2010 run for governor | Political Insider | ajc.com[
- ^ Johnny will come marchin' home? | Political Insider | ajc.com
- ^ Brady done, but other Idaho Dems consider running again Accessed 16 August 2007
- ^ [1]
- ^ [2]
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