Massachusetts general election, 2010

The Massachusetts general election, 2010 was held on November 2, 2010 throughout Massachusetts. Primary elections took place on September 14, 2010.

Federal

United States Senate

Main article: United States Senate special election in Massachusetts, 2010

Neither of Massachusetts's two seats in the United States Senate is up for election in the 2010 general election. In January 2010, Republican Scott Brown won a special election to fill the seat of Ted Kennedy.

United States House of Representatives

Main article: United States House of Representatives elections in Massachusetts, 2010

All of Massachusetts's ten seats in the United States House of Representatives are up for election in 2010. All of the incumbent Representatives are seeking re-election, with the exception of Bill Delahunt of District 10. Massachusetts is expected to lose one congressional seat in the redistricting that will follow the 2010 census.^[1]

All ten seats were won by Democrats.^{[citation needed]}

State

All state-wide offices were won by Democrats. The Senate and the House were overwhelmingly won by Democrats as well.

Governor

Main article: Massachusetts gubernatorial election, 2010

See also: United States gubernatorial elections, 2010

Governor Deval Patrick sought re-election. He was challenged by former Green-Rainbow Party co-chair Grace Ross in the Democratic primary,^[2] but she failed to get enough signatures on her nomination petition.^{[citation needed]}

Former Harvard Pilgrim Health Care CEO Charles D. Baker, Jr. was the Republican candidate for Governor.^[3] Convenience store franchise owner Christy Mihos dropped out of the race after a poor showing at the 2010 Massachusetts Republican Convention.^[4]

State Treasurer Tim Cahill left the Democratic Party in September 2009 ran as an independent candidate.^[5]

Physician, activist, and Green-Rainbow Party co-chair Jill Stein ran as the Green-Rainbow candidate.^[6]

Lieutenant Governor

Main article: Massachusetts gubernatorial election, 2010

Lieutenant Governor Tim Murray sought re-election. He was challenged in the general election by Massachusetts Senate Minority Leader Richard R. Tisei (Republican),^[7] former State Representative Paul Loscocco (Independent),^[8] and surgery clerk and ergonomics assessor Richard P. Purcell (Green-Rainbow).^[9]

Secretary of the Commonwealth

Further information: Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth

Democratic incumbent William F. Galvin sought re-election. He was opposed by Woburn City Clerk William Campbell, who ran as a Republican.^[10] and James D. Henderson, who ran as an independent.^[11]

Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth Election, 2010[12]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	William F. Galvin	1,420,481	64.34%
	Republican	William Campbell	720,967	32.70%
	Independent	James D. Henderson	61,812	2.80%
	Write-in		1,424	0.16%

Attorney General

Further information: Massachusetts Attorney General

Attorney General Martha Coakley, a Democrat, sought re-election. The Republicans did not formally nominate a candidate at their convention nor has any candidate collected enough signatures to be on the primary ballot. Nevertheless, two late entry candidates, Jim McKenna,^[13] and Guy Carbone^[14] were seeking to get the nomination if they can receive 10,000 write-in votes. James McKenna received 27,711 certified write-in votes, which was a United States and Massachusetts Electoral record. The ballot then listed Martha Coakley (D) and James McKenna (R)

Coakley was re-elected.

Massachusetts Attorney General Republican Primary, 2010[15]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Jim McKenna (Write-in)	27,711	54.38%
	Republican	Guy Carbone (Write-in)	9,505	18.66%
	Other		13,734	26.96%

Massachusetts Attorney General Election, 2010[12]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Martha Coakley	1,417,538	62.76%
	Republican	Jim McKenna	839,274	37.16%
	Write-in		1,981	0.08%

Treasurer

Further information: Treasurer and Receiver-General of Massachusetts

Treasurer Tim Cahill retired to run for Governor.

Former Democratic National Committee National Chairman Steve Grossman won the Democratic primary against Boston City Counselor Stephen J. Murphy, and was opposed by Republican State Representative Karyn Polito (of Shrewsbury) in the general election.^[16] Grossman won.

Massachusetts Treasurer Democratic Primary, 2010[17]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Steve Grossman	245,386	60.78%
	Democratic	Stephen J. Murphy	157,284	38.96%
	Write-in		1,071	0.26%

Massachusetts Treasurer Election, 2010[12]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Steve Grossman	1,208,098	54.84%
	Republican	Karyn Polito	993,127	45.08%
	Write-in		1,784	0.08%

Auditor

Further information: Massachusetts Auditor

Auditor Joe DeNucci retired.

Mary Z. Connaughton, former board member of the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority and Kamal Jain, the 2002 Libertarian candidate for auditor and current operations and customer service manager for Vivo competed for the Republican nomination.^[18]

Suzanne Bump (former Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development), Guy Glodis (Worcester County Sheriff), and Mike Lake (Clinton-era White House intern) competed for the Democratic nomination.^[19]

Nathanael Fortune, the Green-Rainbow Party nominee, also appeared on the November ballot.^[11]

Bump won.

Massachusetts Auditor Democratic Primary, 2010[17]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Suzanne Bump	198,984	49.41%
	Democratic	Guy Glodis	125,974	31.28%
	Democratic	Mike Lake	76,764	19.06%
	Write-in		1,027	0.26%

Massachusetts Auditor Republican Primary, 2010[17]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Mary Z. Connaughton	176,864	86.30%
	Republican	Kamal Jain	27,017	13.20%
	Write-in		848	0.41%

Massachusetts Auditor Election, 2010[12]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Suzanne Bump	1,027,710	48.45%
	Republican	Mary Z. Connaughton	982,113	46.30%
	Green-Rainbow	Nat Fortune	108,997	5.14%
	Write-in		2,186	0.10%

Massachusetts Senate

Further information: Massachusetts Senate

Main article: Massachusetts Senate election, 2010

All 40 seats in the Massachusetts Senate were up for election in 2010.

Massachusetts House of Representatives

Further information: Massachusetts House of Representatives

Main article: Massachusetts House of Representatives election, 2010

All 160 seats in the Massachusetts House of Representatives were up for election in 2010.

Ballot measures

Main article: Massachusetts 2010 ballot measures

There were three state-wide ballot questions, all initiatives. Question 1 passed, but Questions 2 and 3 failed.

Question 1 repealed the sales tax on alcohol. Question 2 would have repealled an affordable housing statute. Question 3 would have lowered the sales tax rate.^[20]

County

Counties in Massachusetts will elect County Commissioners, District Attorneys, and Sheriffs.

References

1. ^ Brace, Kimball (December 22, 2008). "New Population Estimates Show Slight Changes For 2008 Congressional Apportionment, But Point to Major Changes for 2010 – Table E" (PDF). ElectionDataServices. http://www.electiondataservices.com/images/File/NR_Appor08wTables.pdf. Retrieved December 25, 2008. 
2. ^ Levenson, Michael (February 5, 2010), "Ross will challenge Patrick for governor", Boston Globe, http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2010/02/05/ross_will_challenge_patrick_for_governor, retrieved February 9, 2010 
3. ^ Chabot, Hillary; McConville, Christine; Van Sack, Jessica (July 8, 2009). "Charles D. Baker leaving Harvard Pilgrim to run for governor". Boston Herald. http://www.bostonherald.com/news/politics/view/20090708charlie_baker_to_run_for_mass_gov_2010. Retrieved January 25, 2010. 
4. ^ Bierman, Noah (April 18, 2010). "After Spot On Ballot is Denied Mihos Says He Won't Run Again". Boston.com. http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2010/04/18/after_spot_on_ballot_is_denied_mihos_says_he_wont_run_again. 
5. ^ Estes, Andrea (September 10, 2009). "Cahill enters race for governor". Boston Globe. http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2009/09/10/cahill_jumps_into_race_for_governor_vows_to_lower_taxes. Retrieved May 3, 2010. 
6. ^ "Stein to jump into gov race with Green-Rainbow bid". Boston Herald. January 7, 2010. http://www.bostonherald.com/news/politics/view/20100107stein_to_jump_into_gov_race_with_green-rainbow_bid. 
7. ^ Levenson, Michael (November 24, 2009)). "Baker names Senate's Tisei as running mate". The Boston Globe. 
8. ^ LeBlanc, Steve (April 26, 2010). "Mass. House votes to scrap property tax plan". Boston Globe. http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2010/04/26/mass_house_said_poised_to_cut_tax_proposal. Retrieved May 3, 2010. ^{[dead link]}
9. ^ "Gubernatorial candidate Jill Stein of Green-Rainbow Party, introduces lieutenant governor candidate Richard P. Purcell, of Holyoke". The Republican (Springfield). April 3, 2010. http://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/2010/04/guvernatorial_candidate_jill_s.html. 
10. ^ O’Sullivan, Jim (April 13, 2010). "GOP chair sees Christy Mihos earning ballot spot". Boston Herald. http://www.bostonherald.com/news/politics/view.bg?articleid=1246900&srvc=rss. Retrieved May 3, 2010. 
11. ^ ^{a b} "2010 State Election Candidates". Massachusetts Elections Division. http://www.sec.state.ma.us/ele/ele10/state_election_cand_10.htm. Retrieved October 15, 2010. 
12. ^ ^{a b c d} Return of Votes For Massachusetts State Election. 2010. http://www.sec.state.ma.us/ele/elepdf/rov10.pdf. 
13. ^ Millbury lawyer to run against Coakley http://www.telegram.com/article/20100719/NEWS/100719742/1116 Retrieved August 22, 2010.
14. ^ Election overview: What's on the ballot statewide http://www.salemnews.com/opinion/x666132227/Election-overview-Whats-on-the-ballot-statewide Retrieved August 22, 2010.
15. ^ "09/14/2010 State Primary". http://www.sec.state.ma.us/ele/elepdf/2010_primary_rep_results.pdf. Retrieved 2 July 2011. 
16. ^ Martin Finucane (April 28, 2010). "Grossman announces candidacy for treasurer". Boston Globe. http://www.boston.com/news/local/breaking_news/2010/04/grossman_announ.html. Retrieved May 3, 2010. 
17. ^ ^{a b c} "09/14/2010 State Primary". http://www.sec.state.ma.us/ele/elepdf/2010_primary_dem_results.pdf. Retrieved 2 July 2011. 
18. ^ Murphy, Matt (April 21, 2010). "Jain launches campaign for state auditor=Lowell Sun". http://www.lowellsun.com/todaysheadlines/ci_14926991. Retrieved April 24, 2010. 
19. ^ Haneisen, Rob (February 3, 2010). "Connaughton gets big crowd at fundraiser". The MetroWest Daily News. http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/news/x573995771/Connaughton-gets-big-crowd-at-fundraiser. Retrieved April 6, 2010. 
20. ^ Secretary of the Commonwealth, 2010 Statewide Ballot Questions http://www.sec.state.ma.us/ele/elepip10/pip101.htm Retrieved August 22, 2010.

External links

• Elections Division of the Massachusetts Secretary of State
• Candidates for Massachusetts State Offices at Project Vote Smart
• Massachusetts Polls at Pollster.com
• Massachusetts Congressional Races in 2010 campaign finance data from OpenSecrets.org
• Massachusetts 2010 campaign finance data from Follow the Money
• Local politics at The Boston Herald