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2010 United States Senate election in Colorado

The 2010 United States Senate election in Colorado took place on November 2, 2010, alongside other elections to the United States Senate in other states as well as elections to the United States House of Representatives and various state and local elections. In December 2008, President-elect Barack Obama nominated incumbent U.S. Senator Ken Salazar as Secretary of the Interior.[1] After Salazar resigned from his seat,[2] Democratic governor Bill Ritter appointed Denver Public Schools Superintendent Michael Bennet to fill the seat.

Bennet won a full term, defeating former state House speaker Andrew Romanoff in the Democratic primary, and Republican nominee Ken Buck in the general election.[3][4] With a margin of 1.7%, this election was the second closest race of the 2010 Senate election cycle after the concurrent one in Illinois.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

Eliminated in primary

Endorsements

Bennet
Romanoff

Polling

Results

Results by county:
  Bennet
  •   50–60%
  •   60–70%
  •   70–80%
  •   80–90%
  Romanoff
  •   50–60%

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

Eliminated in primary

Eliminated in convention

Withdrew

Declined

Endorsements

Notable Individuals and Organizations endorsing Ken Buck
Notable Individuals and Organizations endorsing Jane Norton

According to her website:[21][22]

Polling

Results

Results by county:
  Buck
  •   50–60%
  •   60–70%
  •   70–80%
  Norton
  •   50–60%
  •   60–70%
Tie
  •   50%

Libertarian primary

Candidates

Nominee

Eliminated in primary

Results

General election

Candidates

Major

Minor

Source: Official Candidate List[permanent dead link]

Campaign

This was one of the most expensive elections in the nation, as more than $30 million was spent by outside organizations.[25] Conservative third party groups hammered Bennet for voting 92% of the time with the Democratic leadership, including voting for healthcare reform and the stimulus package.[26] Liberal third party groups called Buck extremist. Bennet focused on attacking Buck's views on abortion, which he believed should be banned including those of cases of rape and incest. He was also attacked for wanting to eliminate the 17th Amendment[27] and refusing to prosecute an alleged rapist as Weld County district attorney. Planned Parenthood mounted a mail campaign, targeting women voters with the warning that "Colorado women can't trust Ken Buck." Bennet won the women vote by 17 points according to exit polls. After the election, Buck conceded to the Denver Post that the main reason why he lost is because of social issues.[28]

Debates

Predictions

Polling

Fundraising

These totals reflect the campaign accounts of the candidates themselves, and do not include independent expenditures by other groups.

Results

Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican

Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic

Notes

  1. ^ In January 2009, Bennet was appointed by Governor Bill Ritter to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Senator Ken Salazar, who had appointed Secretary of the Interior.

References

  1. ^ Osher, Christopher N.; Bunch, Joey (December 15, 2008). "Salazar poised to head Interior". Denver Post. Retrieved December 15, 2008.
  2. ^ "Ken Salazar Resigns From Senate". Associated Press. January 19, 2009. Archived from the original on January 22, 2009. Retrieved January 20, 2009.
  3. ^ Crummy, Karen (January 2, 2009). "Michael Bennet chosen as next Senator". Denver Post. Retrieved January 2, 2009.
  4. ^ Johnson, Kirk. "Michael Bennet News". The New York Times.
  5. ^ "Colorado's Bennet Needs to Get Better Known for 2010". CQ Politics. January 27, 2009. Archived from the original on March 9, 2009. Retrieved June 14, 2010.
  6. ^ "Who Will Face Bennet?". Roll Call. February 10, 2009. Retrieved June 14, 2010.
  7. ^ Riley, Michael (August 29, 2009). "Denver Post article on Andrew Romanoff". Denverpost.com. Retrieved June 14, 2010.
  8. ^ Riley, Michael (September 17, 2009). "Sen. Bennet wins Obama's support". The Denver Post. Archived from the original on July 21, 2024. Retrieved July 21, 2024.
  9. ^ Burns, Alexander (June 29, 2010). "Clinton rocks Colo., backs Romanoff". Politico. Archived from the original on July 21, 2024. Retrieved July 21, 2024.
  10. ^ a b "Colorado Primary Results". Politico. August 10, 2010. Retrieved August 11, 2010.
  11. ^ a b c d "State election results, 2010 (PDF)" (PDF). Colorado Secretary of State.
  12. ^ "The Buck starts here". Politico. April 27, 2009.
  13. ^ Bartels, Lynn (August 17, 2009). "Former Lt. Gov. Norton mulling U.S. Senate bid". The Denver Post. Retrieved June 14, 2010.
  14. ^ "Denver Daily - Wiens, U.S. Senate candidate, drops out". Thedenverdailynews.com. May 25, 2010. Retrieved June 14, 2010.
  15. ^ "Beauprez not running for Senate - The Scorecard". Politico.Com. Retrieved June 14, 2010.
  16. ^ "Troy Eid to resign, run for Colorado attorney general". Coloradoindependent.com. January 8, 2009. Retrieved August 21, 2010.
  17. ^ Fender, Jessica (October 14, 2009). "Aurora's Ryan Frazier has work cut out for him in shift to challenge U.S. Rep. Ed Perlmutter". The Denver Post. Retrieved June 14, 2010.
  18. ^ Eli Stokols (April 14, 2010). "Tea Party Endorsement: Tea Party idol DeMint endorses Buck in Colorado Senate race". KDVR. Archived from the original on July 16, 2011. Retrieved August 21, 2010.
  19. ^ "DeMint on Buck endorsement: 'We've got to have an earthquake election'". Coloradoindependent.com. April 23, 2010. Archived from the original on April 17, 2010. Retrieved August 21, 2010.
  20. ^ "CO US Senate - R Primary Race - August 10, 2010". Our Campaigns. Retrieved August 21, 2010.
  21. ^ "Conservatives Rally Behind Norton". Janenortonforcolorado.com. May 24, 2010. Archived from the original on August 18, 2011. Retrieved August 21, 2010.
  22. ^ "CO US Senate - R Primary Race - August 10, 2010". Our Campaigns. Retrieved August 21, 2010.
  23. ^ Catanese, David (June 28, 2010). "Chamber comes to Norton's aid". Politico. Archived from the original on July 21, 2024. Retrieved July 21, 2024.
  24. ^ "Colorado - County Vote Results". ap.org. August 11, 2010. Retrieved August 3, 2016.
  25. ^ [CO] Colorado Election 2010 Results [SENATE UPDATE] | CNM News Network
  26. ^ Buck for Congress (campaign website)
  27. ^ Brady, Jeff (October 27, 2010). "Money Has Poured Into Colorado's Senate Race". npr.org. Retrieved August 3, 2016.
  28. ^ Burns, Alexander (November 13, 2010). "Abortion was winning issue for Dems". politico.com. Retrieved August 3, 2016.
  29. ^ Walter, Amy (September 12, 2010). "Buck and Bennet Trade Jabs In Feisty Colorado Senate Debate". abcnews.com. Retrieved August 3, 2016.
  30. ^ "Senate". Cook Political Report. Retrieved October 26, 2010.
  31. ^ "Senate Ratings". Rothenberg Political Report. Retrieved October 26, 2010.
  32. ^ "Battle for the Senate". RealClearPolitics. Retrieved October 26, 2010.
  33. ^ "2010 Senate Ratings". Sabato's Crystal Ball. Retrieved October 26, 2010.
  34. ^ "Race Ratings Chart: Senate". CQ Politics. Archived from the original on October 28, 2010. Retrieved October 26, 2010.
  35. ^ "2010 House and Senate Campaign Finance for Colorado". fec.gov. Retrieved August 12, 2010.[permanent dead link]
  36. ^ "State Cumulative Report". Archived from the original on November 29, 2010. Retrieved November 29, 2010.
  37. ^ "Colorado - Election Results 2010 - The New York Times". The New York Times. Retrieved August 3, 2016.
  38. ^ Gessler, Scott; Hobbs, William A.; Choate, Judd. "2010 Abstract of Votes Cast" (PDF). Office of Secretary of State - State of Colorado.

External links

Debate
Official campaign websites (Archived)