2010 Alabama gubernatorial election

Summary

The 2010 Alabama gubernatorial election took place on November 2, 2010. Incumbent Governor Bob Riley was term-limited and unable to seek re-election. The party primaries were held on June 1, 2010,[1] with a Republican runoff on July 13. In the general election, Robert J. Bentley defeated Democrat Ron Sparks. This was the first election in which Republicans won three consecutive gubernatorial elections in the state. This was also the first time since Reconstruction that a Republican carried Colbert County, Franklin County, and Lawrence County in a gubernatorial race.

2010 Alabama gubernatorial election

← 2006 November 2, 2010 2014 →
 
Nominee Robert J. Bentley Ron Sparks
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 860,472 625,710
Percentage 57.9% 42.1%

County results
Bentley:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%
Sparks:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%

Governor before election

Bob Riley
Republican

Elected Governor

Robert J. Bentley
Republican

Republican primary edit

Candidates edit

Endorsements edit

Robert J. Bentley
State governors
Bradley Byrne
Individuals
Associations
  • Alabama Retail Association[11]
  • Alabama Home Builders Association[12]
  • Alabama Association of Realtors[13]
  • Associated Builders and Contractors of Alabama[14]
  • Right on Huntsville[15]
Tim James
U.S. Representatives
Organizations
  • Alabama Republican Assembly[17]
Roy Moore
Individuals

Polling edit

Source Date(s) administered Robert J. Bentley Bradley Byrne Kay Ivey Tim James Bill Johnson Roy Moore Undecided
Research 2000 May 17–19, 2010 9% 29% -- 17% 3% 23% 17%
Public Strategy Associates May 10–11, 2010 12% 24% n/a 23% 2% 18% 21%
Ayres, McHenry and Associates May 3–4, 2010 7% 20% n/a 26% n/a 21% 26%
Public Policy Polling March 27–29, 2010 10% 27% 10% 9% 1% 23% 20%
Public Strategy Associates February 3–4, 2010 4% 20% 3% 8% 2% 17% 46%

Results edit

 
Primary county results
Republican primary results[19]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Bradley Byrne 137,451 27.89
Republican Robert J. Bentley 123,958 25.15
Republican Tim James 123,792 25.12
Republican Roy Moore 95,163 19.31
Republican Bill Johnson 8,362 1.70
Republican Charles Taylor 2,622 0.53
Republican James Potts 1,549 0.31
Total votes 492,897 100.0%
 
Runoff county results
Republican primary runoff results (July 13, 2010)[20]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Robert J. Bentley 260,887 56.07
Republican Bradley Byrne 204,394 43.93
Total votes 465,281 100.00

Democratic primary edit

Candidates edit

Polling edit

Source Date(s) administered Artur Davis Ron Sparks Sam Franklin Undecided
Research 2000 May 17–19, 2010 41% 33% -- 11%
Public Policy Polling March 27–29, 2010 38% 28% 9% 25%

Results edit

 
County results
Democratic primary results[23]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Ron Sparks 199,558 62.44
Democratic Artur Davis 120,050 37.56
Total votes 319,608 100.00

General election edit

Predictions edit

Source Ranking As of
Cook Political Report[24] Likely R October 14, 2010
Rothenberg[25] Safe R October 28, 2010
RealClearPolitics[26] Safe R November 1, 2010
Sabato's Crystal Ball[27] Likely R October 28, 2010
CQ Politics[28] Lean R October 28, 2010

Polling edit

Poll source Dates administered Robert
Bentley (R)
Ron
Sparks (D)
Rasmussen Reports September 21, 2010 55% 35%
Rasmussen Reports August 19, 2010 58% 34%
Rasmussen Reports July 22, 2010 55% 35%
Rasmussen Reports June 3, 2010 56% 37%
Rasmussen Reports May 25, 2010 44% 31%

Results edit

 
 
2010 Alabama gubernatorial election[29]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Robert J. Bentley 860,472 57.90% +0.45
Democratic Ron Sparks 625,710 42.10% +0.53
Majority 234,762 15.80%
Turnout 1,486,182 100.00%
Republican hold Swing

Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic edit

Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican edit

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Alabama Secretary of State's website". Sos.state.al.us. Archived from the original on May 27, 2010. Retrieved June 6, 2010.
  2. ^ File photo (May 27, 2009). "Bradley Byrne announces run for governor of Alabama | al.com". Blog.al.com. Retrieved June 6, 2010.
  3. ^ "Alabama State Profile". KOMO-TV. Retrieved April 18, 2009.
  4. ^ "Former Birmingham City Councilman Bill Johnson enters Alabama governor's race". The Birmingham News. Archived from the original on November 29, 2009.
  5. ^ Screen reproduction (June 1, 2009). "Roy Moore makes it official, he's running for Alabama governor | al.com". Blog.al.com. Retrieved June 6, 2010.
  6. ^ "Bush Backs Byrne in Alabama". Politico.com. March 5, 2010.
  7. ^ Jack Edwards' Endorsement of Bradley Byrne.
  8. ^ Jimmy Rane's Endorsement of Bradley Byrne.
  9. ^ "Various Individual Endorsements of Bradley Byrne".[permanent dead link]
  10. ^ "Byrne Endorsed by Conservative Leaders at Huntsville Campaign Fish Fry".[permanent dead link]
  11. ^ "RetailPAC Endorses Byrne for Governor". Archived from the original on July 24, 2011.
  12. ^ "Alabama Home Builders Association Endorses Bradley Byrne". Archived from the original on April 18, 2010.
  13. ^ REALTOR's Endorsment [sic] of Bradley Byrne. Archived from the original on August 10, 2010.
  14. ^ ABC's Endoresment of Bradley Byrne.
  15. ^ "Right on Hunstville Endorses Bradley Byrne".[permanent dead link]
  16. ^ "Aderholt, Giles Endorse Tim James for Governor". Doc's Political Parlor. April 22, 2009. Archived from the original on April 29, 2010.
  17. ^ "Ala. Republican Assembly backs James, Erwin". Opelika-Auburn News. May 11, 2009. Archived from the original on March 7, 2012.
  18. ^ "NASCAR legend Bobby Allison endorses Roy Moore for Alabama governor". The Huntsville Times. Associated Press. April 21, 2010. Retrieved March 7, 2019.
  19. ^ "Election Results – Republican Primary". sos.alabama.gov. Alabama Secretary of State. June 11, 2010. Retrieved March 12, 2022.
  20. ^ "The 2010 Results Maps". Politico. Archived from the original on August 23, 2010. Retrieved August 21, 2010.
  21. ^ "Ron Sparks announces run for governor". The Birmingham News. April 3, 2009. Retrieved April 18, 2009.
  22. ^ Dean, Charles J. (February 1, 2009). "Alabama U.S. Rep Artur Davis set to launch run for governor". The Birmingham News. Retrieved April 18, 2009.
  23. ^ "Alabama Governor Primary Results". Politico. June 1, 2010. Archived from the original on June 5, 2010. Retrieved June 1, 2010.
  24. ^ "2010 Governors Race Ratings". Cook Political Report. Archived from the original on October 28, 2010. Retrieved October 28, 2010.
  25. ^ "Governor Ratings". Rothenberg Political Report. Retrieved October 28, 2010.
  26. ^ "2010 Governor Races". RealClearPolitics. Retrieved October 28, 2010.
  27. ^ "THE CRYSTAL BALL'S FINAL CALLS". Sabato's Crystal Ball. Retrieved October 28, 2010.
  28. ^ "Race Ratings Chart: Governor". CQ Politics. Archived from the original on October 5, 2010. Retrieved October 28, 2010.
  29. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on December 4, 2010. Retrieved November 26, 2010.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)

External links edit

  • Alabama Secretary of State – Elections
  • Alabama Governor Candidates at Project Vote Smart
  • Alabama Governor 2010 from OurCampaigns.com
  • Campaign contributions for 2010 Alabama Governor from Follow the Money
  • 2010 Alabama Gubernatorial General Election graph of multiple polls from Pollster.com
  • Election 2010: Alabama Governor from Rasmussen Reports
  • 2010 Alabama Governor Race from Real Clear Politics
  • 2010 Alabama Governor's Race from CQ Politics[dead link]
  • Race Profile in The New York Times
Debates
  • Alabama Gubernatorial Debate, C-SPAN, September 16, 2010
Official campaign websites
  • Robert J. Bentley for Governor
  • Ron Sparks for Governor