New Hampshire gubernatorial election, 2010

New Hampshire gubernatorial election, 2010

2008 ← November 2, 2010 → 2012

Nominee John H. Lynch John Stephen Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 239,390 205,433 Percentage 52.6% 45.1%

Governor before election John H. Lynch Democratic Elected Governor John H. Lynch Democratic

The New Hampshire gubernatorial election of 2010 was held on November 2, 2010. New Hampshire is one of only two states where the Governor serves for a two-year term (the other being neighboring Vermont).

Incumbent Democratic Governor John Lynch was elected to a fourth term in 2010.^[1]

Lynch won re-election by landslide margins in 2006 and 2008, and has enjoyed historically high approval ratings. In early 2010, his approval rating showed a downward trend, with an April Public Policy poll indicating that Lynch's approval had fallen below 50% (44% approve, 42% disapprove).^[2] Since the primary elections in mid-September, Lynch's approval rating has rebounded (51% approve, 38% disapprove).^[3]

Candidates

Democratic Party

• Governor John Lynch^[4]
• State Rep. Timothy Robertson
• Frank Sullivan

Republican Party

• Former Health and Human Services Commissioner John Stephen^[5]
• State Representative Frank Robert Emiro Sr.
• Businessman Jack Kimball^[6]
• Republican activist Karen Testerman^[6]

Libertarian Party

• Businessman John Babiarz

Primary results

Democratic

Democratic primary results[7]
Party		Candidate	Votes	Percentage
	Democratic	John Lynch (incumbent)	49,832	87.5%
	Democratic	Timothy Robertson	3,771	6.6%
	Democratic	Frank Sullivan	3,377	5.9%
Totals			56,980	97.3%

Republican

Republican primary results[7]
Party		Candidate	Votes	Percentage
	Republican	John Stephen	77,962	61.6%
	Republican	Jack Kimball	31,581	24.9%
	Republican	Karen Testerman	12,708	10.0%
	Republican	Frank Emiro	4,394	3.5%
Totals			126,645	96.7%

General election results

2010 New Hampshire Governor general election
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	John Lynch	240,346	52.63%	-17.57
	Republican	John Stephen	205,616	45.03%	+17.43
	Libertarian	John Babiarz	10,089	2.2%	=
Majority			34,730
Turnout			456,588
	Democratic hold		Swing

Polling

Republican Primary

Poll source	Dates administered	John Stephen	Jack Kimball	Karen Testerman
Public Policy Polling	September 11–12, 2010	45%	24%	8%
Public Policy Polling	July 23–25, 2010	26%	15%	5%
Public Policy Polling	April 17–18, 2010	29%	10%	15%

General election and predictions

Poll source	Dates administered	John Lynch (D)	John Stephen (R)
Rasmussen Reports	October 27, 2010	51%	45%
WMUR / UNH New Hampshire Election Poll	October 7–12, 2010	51%	38%
American Research Group	October 3–5, 2010	51%	41%
Granite State Poll	October 1, 2010	51%	34%
American Research Group	September 22–26, 2010	42%	40%
Rasmussen Reports	September 15, 2010	48%	46%
Public Policy Polling	September 11–12, 2010	51%	39%
Rasmussen Reports	August 5, 2010	50%	39%
Public Policy Polling	July 23–25, 2010	51%	34%
Rasmussen Reports	May 26, 2010	47%	35%
Public Policy Polling	April 17–18, 2010	47%	36%
Rasmussen Reports	April 7, 2010	47%	37%
Rasmussen Reports	March 8, 2010	50%	35%
Granite State Poll	January 27-February 3, 2010	50%	30%

Predictions

Source	Ranking	As of
Cook Political Report	Solid D[8]	October 12, 2010
Sabato's Crystal Ball	Leans D[9]	October 28, 2010
RealClearPolitics	Safe D[10]
Sabato's Crystal Ball	Safe D[11]	September 30, 2010
CQ Politics	Safe D[12]	October 12, 2010
Election Projection	Solid D hold[13]	October 12, 2010

References

1. ^ "NH Gov. John Lynch Running for 4th Term - FOX44NOW.COM - Burlington/Plattsburgh News, Weather and Sports". FOX44NOW.COM. http://www.fox44now.com/Global/story.asp?S=12327303&nav=menu660_2. Retrieved August 21, 2010. 
2. ^ http://www.publicpolicypolling.com/pdf/PPP_Release_NH_423.pdf
3. ^ http://www.publicpolicypolling.com/pdf/PPP_Release_NH_916.pdf
4. ^ "Gov. Lynch could face difficult re-election bid » New Hampshire » EagleTribune.com, North Andover, MA". Eagletribune.com. April 18, 2010. http://www.eagletribune.com/punewsnh/local_story_107195534.html?keyword=secondarystory. Retrieved August 21, 2010. 
5. ^ "John Stephen for Governor | New Leadership for New Hampshire". Johnstephen.com. http://www.johnstephen.com. Retrieved August 21, 2010. 
6. ^ ^{a b} John Distaso (December 9, 2009). "Testerman steps into the ring in governor's race". The Union Leader. http://www.theunionleader.com/article.aspx?headline=Testerman+steps+into+the+ring+in+governor%27s+race&articleId=713cdc3a-58b4-4590-8739-b16947c67672. Retrieved January 1, 2010. 
7. ^ ^{a b} "New Hampshire Gubernatorial Primary Results". Politico. September 14, 2010. http://www.politico.com/2010/maps/#/Governor/2010/NH. Retrieved September 14, 2010. 
8. ^ "Senate". Cook Political Report. http://cookpolitical.com/senate. Retrieved October 12, 2010. 
9. ^ "2010 Senate Ratings". Sabato's Crystal Ball. http://www.centerforpolitics.org/crystalball/articles/category/2010-senate/. Retrieved November 1, 2010. 
10. ^ "Battle for the Senate". RealClearPolitics. http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2010/senate/2010_elections_senate_map.html. Retrieved October 12, 2010. 
11. ^ "2010 Senate Ratings". Sabato's Crystal Ball. http://www.centerforpolitics.org/crystalball/articles/category/2010-senate/. Retrieved October 12, 2010. 
12. ^ "Race Ratings Chart: Senate". CQ Politics. http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=ratings-senate. Retrieved October 12, 2010. 
13. ^ "The Battle for Capitol Hill - 2010 Senate". ElectionProjection.com. http://www.electionprojection.com/2010elections/senate10.php. Retrieved October 12, 2010. 

External links

• Election Division at New Hampshire Secretary of State
• New Hampshire Governor Candidates at Project Vote Smart
• Campaign contributions for 2010 New Hampshire Governor from Follow the Money
• New Hampshire Governor 2010 from OurCampaigns.com
• 2010 New Hampshire Gubernatorial General Election: All Head-to-Head Matchups graph of multiple polls from Pollster.com
• Election 2010: New Hampshire Governor from Rasmussen Reports
• 2010 New Hampshire Governor Race from Real Clear Politics
• 2010 New Hampshire Governor's Race from CQ Politics
• Race Profile in The New York Times

Official campaign sites

• John Lynch for Governor
• John Stephen for Governor