Election 2010

Elections in the United States Senate were held on November 2, 2010, for 37 of the total of 100 seats. A special election for a 38th seat was held in Massachusetts on January 19, 2010, for a term that ends in January 2013. Thirty-four of the seats had been for six-year terms to the Senate’s “class three”, while three (in Delaware, New York, and West Virginia) were unique elections for shorter terms. Following the 2008 elections and their subsequent events, the United States Senate was made up of 57 Democrats, 41 Republicans, and two independents that caucus with the Democrats. Of the above 37 seats up for election in 2010, 19 had been held by Democrats (seven of whom retired or had been defeated within the primary) and 18 were held by Republicans (eight of whom retired or had been defeated hard money lenders in the primary). As in most midterm elections, the party not controlling the White House gained ground. Republicans defeated two Democratic incumbents: Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas and Russ Feingold of Wisconsin; they also won open seats in Illinois, microdermabrasion machines Indiana, North Dakota and Pennsylvania. This was the largest number of Senate gains for the party because the 1994 election and also the first time because that election that they effectively defended all of their very own seats. However, Democrats retained a 53-47 majority. Four Senators were elected in special elections to serve through the end of the 111th Congress. Two of those four simultaneously ran in common elections, held contemporaneously with their special elections, and both won so they therefore began new terms using the new class of Senators at the start of the 112th Congress. Three Democratic seats were kept by Democrats, and three were metal detector won by Republicans. Five-term incumbent Democrat Christopher Dodd was re-elected with 66% of the vote in 2004. Dodd announced, on January 6, 2010, his intention not to run for re-election. State Attorney General Richard Blumenthal ran as a Democrat, which was expected to improve the Democrats’ chances for keeping the seat within the general election, until revelations appeared that he had exaggerated his military record. Former CEO of Globe Wrestling Entertainment Linda McMahon won the GOP primary. Blumenthal won the general election with 55.1% of the vote. Kaufman was appointed to continue Joe Biden’s term. In 2008, Biden had been simultaneously re-elected and elected Vice President. Biden began his seventh term on January three, 2009, and he resigned January 15, 2009. Burris was appointed to continue Barack Obama’s term, and he didn’t seek re-election in 2010. The election featured each a special election to finish the term ending January 3, 2011, and a general election to start that day. Candidates included Democratic State Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias, Republican congressman Mark Kirk, Green party journalist LeAlan Jones and Libertarian Michael Labno.Eight Democrats were re-elected, one appointee was elected to end her term, and one appointee was elected to the subsequent full term. Two lost re-election. One lost renomination and his seat was subsequently won by a Republican. Two-term incumbent Democrat Blanche Lincoln had been re-elected with 56% in 2004. Lincoln sought re-election and received a tough primary challenge from Lieutenant Governor Bill Halter who raised much more than $1 million in his first 48 hours. Within the primary, Lincoln finished with less than a majority and faced a runoff with Halter. On June 8, Lincoln won the runoff by a 52% to 48% margin. In the GOP main, Congressman John Boozman of Arkansas’s 3rd congressional district based in northwest Arkansas won a majority to become the Republican metal detector nominee. Republican Senator Mel Martinez resigned from this seat on September 9, 2009. Governor Charlie Crist appointed George LeMieux to finish Martinez’s term. Two-term incumbent Republican Sam Brownback retired and ran for Governor of Kansas. Republican Jerry Moran of Kansas’s 1st congressional district narrowly won the GOP main against Congressman Todd Tiahrt of Kansas’s 4th congressional district. Three-term incumbent Republican Bob Bennett was re-elected with 69% in 2004. Bennett lost renomination, and the GOP nominated Mike Lee, who faced Utah Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission Chairman, Democrat Sam Granato, in the common election. Lee won the general election with 61.6% of the vote.