2010 Downticket Statewide Races Rundown

What follows is a state-by-state rundown of the results of downticket statewide races in 2010.  The universe of races covered is defined by those that appear on www.thegreenpapers.com.  

The trends were similar to the overall trends, with Democrats showing strength in the Northeast and the West Coast, with emerging pockets of blue in the Mountain West/Southwest.  Republicans dominated the South and the redder areas of the Midwest and Mountain West, and also had success in some of the blue/swingy areas of the upper Midwest, particularly in Ohio, where they flipped all three Democratic-held downticket statewide seats.  Republicans also ran the table in swing states like Colorado, Florida, and Michigan.  Meanwhile, Minnesota was an oasis of blue, with Dems taking all of the statewide offices, including of course the Governor’s mansion.

True Blue

California – Democrats ran the table (6 for 6), easily defeating incumbent Lieutenant Governor Abel Maldonado and easily taking the open Insurance Commissioner seat left by Steve Poizner.

Connecticut – Democrats ran the table (4 for 4), as they did in 2006.

Delaware – No change, with Democrats still holding 3 of 4 seats.  Republican Auditor Tom Wagner narrowly held on.

Maryland – Democrats ran the table (2 for 2), as they did in 2006.

Massachusetts – Democrats ran the table (4 for 4), as they did in 2006.

Minnesota – Democrats ran the table (3 for 3), as they did in 2006.

Nevada – All incumbents held, with Democrats continuing to hold 4 of 5 seats.

New Mexico – Static, with Democrats still holding 4 of 5 seats.  The Democrats flipped the open Public Lands Commissioner seat left by Pat Lyons, while Republicans defeated incumbent Secretary of State Mary Herrera.

New York – Democrats ran the table (2 for 2), as they did in 2006.

Oregon – The only election was the special election for Treasurer, which the Democrats held.

Rhode Island – Democrats ran the table (4 for 4), as they did in 2006.

Mixed Nuts

Arkansas – Republicans only contested 3 of 6 seats, and flipped all three of them.  They took the open Lieutenant Governor seat left by Bill Halter, the open Secretary of State seat left by Charlie Daniels, and the open Land Commissioner seat left by John Thurston.  Incumbent Attorney General Dustin McDaniel, incumbent Treasurer Martha Shoffner, and outgoing Secretary of State Charlie Daniels, who ran for the open Auditor seat, all ran without Republican opposition.  Ominously, none of them managed to top 70% of the vote.

Illinois – Republicans now hold 2 of 4 seats, flipping the open Treasurer seat left by Alexi Giannoulias and the open Comptroller seat left by Dan Hynes.

Iowa – Republicans now hold 3 of 5 seats after defeating incumbent Secretary of State Michael Mauro.

Vermont – All seats held, leaving Democrats with 3 of 5 seats.  Republicans held the open seat for Lieutenant Governor left by Brian Dubie and Republican Auditor Tom Salmon held on.

Wisconsin – Republicans now hold 2 of 3 seats after defeating incumbent Treasurer Dawn Marie Sass.

The Redder the Better

Alabama – Republicans ran the table (6 for 6), narrowly defeating incumbent Lieutenant Governor Jim Folsom and easily flipping the open Ag Commissioner seat left by Ron Sparks.

Arizona – Republicans ran the table (5 for 5), narrowly flipping the open Attorney General seat left by Terry Goddard.

Colorado – Republicans ran the table (3 for 3), defeating incumbent Secretary of State Bernie Bueschler and incumbent Treasurer Cary Kennedy.

Florida – Republicans ran the table (3 for 3), easily flipping the open Chief Financial Officer seat left by Alex Sink.

Georgia – Republicans ran the table (7 for 7), flipping the open Attorney General seat left by Thurbert Baker, the open Ag Commissioner seat left by Tommy Irvin, and the open Labor Commissioner seat left by Mike Thurmond.

Idaho – Republicans ran the table, (6 for 6), as they did in 2006.

Indiana – Republicans ran the table (3 for 3), as they did in 2006.

Kansas – Republicans ran the table (4 for 4), defeating incumbent Secretary of State Chris Biggs, incumbent Attorney General Steve Six, and incumbent Treasurer Dennis McKinney.

Louisiana – The only election was the special election for Lieutenant Governor, which the Republicans held.

Michigan – Republicans ran the table (2 for 2), as they did in 2006.

Missouri – The only election was for Auditor, where Republicans defeated incumbent Auditor Susan Montee.

Nebraska – Republicans ran the table (4 for 4), as they did in 2006.

North Dakota – Republicans ran the table (5 for 5), as they did in 2006.

Ohio – Republicans ran the table (4 for 4), defeating incumbent Attorney General Richard Cordray and incumbent Treasurer Kevin Boyce, and taking the open Secretary of State seat left by Jennifer Brunner.

Oklahoma – Republicans ran the table (8 for 8), flipping an incredible 7 seats.  They defeated incumbent Auditor Steve Burrage, incumbent Labor Commissioner Lloyd Fields, and incumbent Insurance Commissioner Kim Holland.  They also took the open Lieutenant Governor seat left by Jari Askins, the open Attorney General seat left by Drew Edmondson, the open Treasurer seat left by Scott Meacham, and the open Superintendent of Education seat left by Sandy Garrett.

South Carolina – Republicans ran the table (8 for 8), flipping the open Superintendent of Education seat left by Jim Rex.

South Dakota – Republicans ran the table (5 for 5), as they did in 2006.

Texas – Republicans ran the table (6 for 6), as they did in 2006.

Wyoming – Republicans ran the table (4 for 4), as they did in 2006.

27 thoughts on “2010 Downticket Statewide Races Rundown”

  1. Though Republicans ran the table in Arizona with 7 seats (AG, SOS, Treasurer, Superintendent of Public Instruction, Mine Inspector and two Corporation Commissioner seats). Each of the Corporation Commissioners is elected statewide and not from regional districts like in some states, so I don’t know if that was the root of the oversight.

    It’s a shame; really looked like we were going to hold onto the Attorney General’s office and perhaps even pick up Treasurer or SPI.

  2. It’s really puzzling that voters in many races consider party labels way more than the competence of individual official/candidate.  In Florida, for instance, the Republican tide mean the GOP sweep in all 3 cabinet races (Admittedly, I would have voted for CFO Jeff Attwater and Ag Commissioner Adam Putnam for their extensive banking and agricultural experiences respectively).  

    My main question is, what made voters to believe Pam Bondi, an assistant Hillsborough County Attorney, would be a more competent AG than Dan Gelber, a one-time federal prosecutor? (AG is one of the few statewide cabinet offices that I will vote mostly for Dems due to the more ideological nature of the office.  Another example would be the Secretary of State where it is an elected position, as I care strongly about fair administration of elections.  The SoS in Florida is a gubernatorial appointee, tough)  

    Allow one off topic comment for me: It is high time to make all statewide cabinet positions non-partisan to increase the likelihood for voters to vote on the merits of individual candidates over party lines.

    31, Asian-American Male, FL-19 (former), FL-08 (short-time) and MS-02 (current)

  3. For me the less expected defeat at statewide level was in the race for WI-ST (state treasurer), and it was not a big, big surprise. D Sass was not the strongest incumbent. In this race the information was very low, I see not a poll of this race in all the cycle.

    Before the elections I was thinking too the democratic candidates for IA-SS (secretary of state) and for VT-SA (state auditor) would win.

    In the other side the democratic candidates for CO-ST (state treasurer) and DE-SA (state auditor) surprise me a little having a little better results than I expect (but still losing).

    Maybe we can have here some come back. Maybe M Mauro for IA-SS or C Kennedy for CO-ST as example.

  4. The governor and Lt. Governor are elected as a ticket, but the Secretary of State and Attorney General are elected separately.  The GOP took all 3 elections/4 offices, rather than just 2/2.

  5. to know how well Arkansas Republicans would have done if their state party was actually well run.  You know, if they had actually contested more state legislative districts.

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