The 2010 Tennessee gubernatorial election took place on November 2, 2010, to elect the next governor of Tennessee. 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.
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. Ever since this election, Republicans have maintained their trifecta.
News organizations The Cook Political Report, CQ Politics, and The New York Times rated the gubernatorial election as leaning Republican, while The Rothenberg Political Report rated it as "Republican favored," RealClearPolitics and Sabato's Crystal Ball as "Likely Republican", and Rasmussen Reports as "Solid Republican."
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.
Candidates
Bill Haslam, Mayor of Knoxville
Joe Kirkpatrick, businessman Withdrew from race
Basil Marceaux, Soddy Daisy resident
Ron Ramsey, Lieutenant Governor
Zach Wamp, U.S. Representative, 3rd district
Polling
Results
Democratic primary
Candidates
Mike McWherter, businessman, former attorney, son of former Governor Ned McWherter
Results
Independents
Bayron Binkley, broker
Brandon Dodds, optometrist
Samuel David Duck, Independent Federalist (withdrew from race and endorsed Brandon Dodds) David Gatchell June Griffin Toni Hall Floyd Knois Boyce McCall J. David Maharrey, Tea Party Linda Kay Perry James Reesor, Tennessee author Thomas Smith II Howard Switzer, Architect (Green Party nominee; listed on the ballot as an independent) Carl Twofeathers Whitaker, Native American Indian Movement chief
General election
Predictions
Polling
Results
By county
Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican
See also
2010 United States House of Representatives elections in Tennessee
2010 Tennessee elections
References
External links
Tennessee Department of State – Elections
Tennessee Governor Candidates at Project Vote Smart
Campaign contributions for 2010 Tennessee Governor from Follow the Money
Tennessee Governor 2010 from OurCampaigns.com
2010 Tennessee General Election graph of multiple polls from Pollster.com
Election 2010: Tennessee Governor from Rasmussen Reports
2010 Tennessee Governor – Haslam vs. McWherter from Real Clear Politics
2010 Tennessee Governor's Race from CQ Politics
Race Profile in The New York Times
Debates
Tennessee Gubernatorial Debate on C-SPAN, July 12, 2010
Tennessee Gubernatorial Debate including independent candidates on IRN, May 23, 2010 Official campaign websites (Archived) Bill Haslam for Governor Mike McWherter for Governor Samuel David Duck for Governor James Reesor for Governor Carl "Two Feathers" Whitaker for Governor