The 2010 Texas gubernatorial election was held on Tuesday, November 2, 2010, to elect the governor of Texas. Incumbent Republican Governor Rick Perry ran successfully for election to a third consecutive term. He won the Republican primary against U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison and political newcomer, Debra Medina. The former mayor of Houston, Bill White, won the Democratic nomination. Kathie Glass, a lawyer from Houston and previous candidate for Texas Attorney General, won the Libertarian nomination. Deb Shafto was the nominee of the Texas Green Party. Andy Barron, an orthodontist from Lubbock, was a declared write-in candidate.
Exit polls showed Perry winning Whites (71% to 29%), while White performed well among African Americans (88% to 12%) and Latinos (61% to 38%). Perry's fourth inauguration for a third full four-year term began on January 18, 2011, on the State Capitol South Grounds.
Republican primary
Candidates
Kay Bailey Hutchison, U.S. Senator
Debra Medina, political activist
Rick Perry, incumbent governor
Endorsements
Polling
Note: polls used different sample sizes and citizen groups. A candidate must have a majority of the vote (>50%) to avoid a runoff with their second place opponent.
Results
Democratic primary
Candidates
Declared
Alma Ludivina Aguado, physician
Felix Alvarado, educator and U.S. Air Force veteran
Bill Dear, private investigator
Clement E. Glenn, associate professor of education at Prairie View A&M University Star Locke, homebuilder Farouk Shami, businessman Bill White, former mayor of Houston
Withdrew
Tom Schieffer, former U.S. Ambassador to Japan & U.S. Ambassador to Australia
Endorsements
Polling
* Dropped out prior to the primary.
Results
General election
Candidates
Rick Perry (R), incumbent governor
Bill White (D), former Houston mayor
Kathie Glass (L), attorney
Deb Shafto (G), educator
Andy Barron (write-in), orthodontist
Predictions
Polling
Results
Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican
Bee (Largest city: Beeville) Fisher (Largest city: Rotan) Haskell (Largest city: Haskell) Marion (Largest city: Jefferson) Morris (Largest city: Daingerfield) Newton (Largest city: Newton) Calhoun (Largest city: Port Lavaca) Bastrop (Largest city: Elgin) Stonewall (Largest city: Aspermont) Swisher (Largest city: Tulia) Crosby (Largest city: Crosbyton) Red River (Largest city: Clarksville) Jefferson (largest city: Beaumont)
Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic
Bexar (Largest city: San Antonio) Culberson (largest municipality: Van Horn) Kleberg (largest municipality: Kingsville)
Counties that flipped from Independent to Democratic
Falls (Largest city: Marlin)
Counties that flipped from Independent to Republican
Nolan (Largest city: Sweetwater) Coke (Largest city: Robert Lee) Goliad (Largest city: Goliad) Wilson (Largest city: Floresville) Wharton (Largest city: El Campo)
Election rules
Texas does not have term limits for its governors; thus, gubernatorial incumbents have been free to run as often as they want if they are eligible for the office. The Republicans and Democrats chose their gubernatorial nominees based on the results of primary votes held on March 2, 2010 (the first Tuesday in March.) Both parties' candidates received at least 20 percent of the total votes cast for governor in the 2006 election; thus, they must nominate their candidates via primary election. Any third party that obtains ballot access must nominate its candidates via a statewide convention, which by law must be held on June 12, 2010 (the second Saturday in June.) The Libertarian Party obtained ballot access automatically due to its 2008 showing, in which one of its nominees attracted over one million votes.