2010 Governor's Chairs by State

The Green Papers: 2010 Midterm Election

2010 Governor's Chairs
by State

37 Governor's Chairs up for election in 2010

19 Democratic
18 Republican

37 Elected

13 Governor's Chairs not up for election in 2010

26 Open Governor's Chairs (voluntary retirement, seeking other political office, term limits)

13 Incumbents renominated by same party

1 Incumbent lost primary - no longer a candidate for this office

1 Republican

287 Candidates seeking a Governor's Chair (Candidates may run under the banner of multiple parties. Hence, the number of parties may be greater than the number of candidates.)

This is a list of the current Governors' chairs, the incumbents occupying them, and the candidacy status of said incumbents. Chairs up for election in the year 2010 are marked as such.

Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming

Gubernatorial Links



Alabama 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2006, 2010. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican

Open		Republican	Governor Bob Riley • First elected: 2002; re-elected: 2006 • Chair up for election: Tuesday 2 November 2010 • The current Governor is affected by a term limit and cannot run for re-election. • Open Chair - At term limit
			Open Chair (no incumbent)

		Republican	860,472	57.58%	state Representative Robert J. Bentley • 13 July 2010: Won the runoff. 1 June 2010: Received 25% in the primary.

		Democratic	625,710	41.87%	Agriculture and Industry Commissioner Ron Sparks

		Scattering	8,091	0.54%	Write-In
Total			1,494,273	100.00%

Alaska 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2006, 2010. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican

		Republican	Governor Sean R. Parnell • Re-elected Tuesday 2 November 2010 • Entered office 26 July 2009 upon the resignation of Governor Sarah H. Palin. • Chair up for election: Tuesday 2 November 2010 • The current Governor is unaffected by the State's term limit. • Renominated - 24 August 2010 Primary

		Republican	151,318	59.06%	Governor Sean R. Parnell • for Lieutenant Governor: Mead Treadwell

		Democratic	96,519	37.67%	former state Representative Ethan A. Berkowitz • for Lieutenant Governor: Diane E. Benson. 16 June 2009: May run for Governor. Circa 25 July 2009: Intends to run. 8 September 2009: Filed letter of intent to run for Governor.

		Alaskan Independence	4,775	1.86%	Donald R. "Don" Wright • No Lieutenant Governor running mate. Mr. Wright's Lieutenant Governor, Norm Olson, withdrew on 7 September 2010.

		Libertarian	2,682	1.05%	William S. "Billy" Toien • for Lieutenant Governor: Jeffrey D. Brown

		Write-in	898	0.35%	Write-in Votes
Total			256,192	100.00%

Arizona 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2006, 2010. Term Limit: The Governor can not serve for more than 8 years
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican

		Republican	Governor Janice K. "Jan" Brewer • Re-elected Tuesday 2 November 2010 • Appointed: 20 January 2009 (by Governor Janet Napolitano who resigned upon confirmation as Secretary of Homeland Security) • Chair up for election: Tuesday 2 November 2010 • The current Governor is unaffected by the State's term limit. • Renominated - 24 August 2010 Primary

		Republican	938,934	54.33%	Governor Janice K. "Jan" Brewer

		Democratic	733,935	42.47%	Attorney General Terry Goddard

		Libertarian; (Boston Tea)	38,722	2.24%	Barry J. Hess

		Green	16,128	0.93%	Larry Gist • 26 August 2010: Did not receive the Green Party's endorsement.

		Write-in; (Republican)	322	0.02%	Janelle Wood
		Write-in	28	0.00%	Anton Dowls
		Write-in	12	0.00%	Cary Dolego
Total			1,728,081	100.00%

California 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2006, 2010. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican

Open		Republican	Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger • First elected in a special election: 2003; re-elected: 2006 • Chair up for election: Tuesday 2 November 2010 • The current Governor is affected by a term limit and cannot run for re-election. • Open Chair - At term limit
			Open Chair (no incumbent)

		Democratic	5,428,458	53.77%	Attorney General and former Governor Edmund G. "Jerry" Brown, Jr. • 3 November 2009: Said he is not a candidate and that "there's no need to get going too soon unless you're one of the more obscure personalities." 2 March 2010: Announced he is running. Former Governor Brown has already served 2 terms as Governor-- from 1975 through 1983.

		Republican	4,127,371	40.88%	Margaret C. "Meg" Whitman

		American Independent	166,308	1.65%	Chelene H. Nightingale

		Libertarian	150,898	1.49%	Dale F. Ogden

		Green	129,231	1.28%	Laura Wells

		Peace And Freedom	92,856	0.92%	Carlos Alvarez

		Write-in	285	0.00%	Cassandra A. Lieurance
		Write-in; (Socialist Workers Party)	43	0.00%	Lea Sherman
		Write-in	13	0.00%	Rakesh Kumar Christian • The American People's Party
		Write-in; (Democratic)	8	0.00%	Nadia B. Smalley
		Write-in	4	0.00%	Hugh Bagley
		Write-in	4	0.00%	Rowan Millar
		Write-in	4	0.00%	Jacob Vangelisti
		Write-in	2	0.00%	Anselmo A. Chavez
		Write-in			Karen England
		Write-in; (Democratic)			Steven Paul "Steve" Mozena
Total			10,095,485	100.00%

Connecticut 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2006, 2010. Term Limit: None
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican

Open		Republican	Governor M. Jodi Rell • succeeded to the Governorship, 1 July 2004, upon the resignation of Governor John Rowland who had announced said resignation on 21 June 2004; First elected: 2006 • Chair up for election: Tuesday 2 November 2010 • Open Chair - 9 November 2009: Said she will not seek re-election in 2010.
			Open Chair (no incumbent)

		Democratic; Working Families	567,278	49.51%	former Mayor of the City of Stamford Dannel P. "Dan" Malloy • for Lieutenant Governor: Comptroller Nancy Wyman (Democratic)

		Republican	560,874	48.95%	former Ambassador to Ireland Thomas C. "Tom" Foley • for Lieutenant Governor: Danbury Mayor Mark D. Boughton. 22 May 2010: Nominated by convention with about 50%.

		Independent Party of Connecticut; (Republican)	17,629	1.54%	Chester First Selectman Thomas E. "Tom" Marsh • for Lieutenant Governor: Cicero B. Booker, Jr.

		Write-in	13	0.00%	Paul Copp • for Lieutenant Governor: Joshua K. Hinckley
		Write-in	5	0.00%	P. Robert Thibodeau • for Lieutenant Governor: James Francis Farrell
Total			1,145,799	100.00%

Florida 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2006, 2010. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican

Open		Republican	Governor Charlie Crist • First elected: 2006 • Chair up for election: Tuesday 2 November 2010 • The current Governor is unaffected by the State's term limit. • Open Chair - 12 May 2009: Announced he is running for the U.S. Senate Class 3 Seat in 2010.
			Open Chair (no incumbent)

		Republican	2,619,335	48.87%	Richard L. "Rick" Scott • for Lieutenant Governor: Jennifer Carroll

		Democratic	2,557,785	47.72%	Chief Financial Officer Adelaide Alexander "Alex" Sink • for Lieutenant Governor: Rod Smith. 13 May 2009: Announced candidacy for Governor in 2010

		Independence	123,831	2.31%	Peter L. Allen • for Lieutenant Governor: John E. Zanni

		No Party Affiliation	18,842	0.35%	C.C. Reed • for Lieutenant Governor: Larry Waldo, Sr.
		No Party Affiliation; (Democratic)	18,644	0.35%	Michael E. Arth • for Lieutenant Governor: Al Krulick
		No Party Affiliation	13,690	0.26%	Daniel J. Imperato • for Lieutenant Governor: Karl C.C. Behm
		No Party Affiliation; (Democratic)	7,487	0.14%	Farid A. Khavari • for Lieutenant Governor: Darcy G. Richardson. 18 June 2010: Switched from Democratic to No Party Affiliation

		Write-in; (Democratic)	121	0.00%	Josue Larose • for Lieutenant Governor: Valencia St. Louis. 16 June 2010: Switched from Democratic to write-in. Originally filed as a Republican. Changed to Democratic on 11 January 2010.
Total			5,359,735	100.00%

Georgia 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2006, 2010. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican

Open		Republican	Governor Sonny Perdue • First elected: 2002; re-elected: 2006 • Chair up for election: Tuesday 2 November 2010 • The current Governor is affected by a term limit and cannot run for re-election. • Open Chair - At term limit
			Open Chair (no incumbent)

		Republican	1,365,832	53.02%	former Congressman Nathan Deal • Congressional District 9. 10 August 2010 runoff: 50.2%. Received 24% in the 10 July primary, proceeds to 10 August 2010 Runoff.

		Democratic	1,107,011	42.97%	former Governor Roy E. Barnes

		Libertarian	103,194	4.01%	John H. Monds

		Write-in	76	0.00%	David C Byrne
		Write-in	48	0.00%	Neal Horsley
		Write-in; (Socialist Workers Party)			Jacob Perasso
Total			2,576,161	100.00%

Hawaii 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2006, 2010. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican

Open		Republican	Governor Linda Lingle • First elected: 2002; re-elected: 2006 • Chair up for election: Tuesday 2 November 2010 • The current Governor is affected by a term limit and cannot run for re-election. • Open Chair - At term limit
			Open Chair (no incumbent)

		Democratic	222,724	57.79%	former Congressman Neil Abercrombie • for Lieutenant Governor: former state Representative Brian E. Schatz. Congressman CD 1

		Republican	157,311	40.82%	Lieutenant Governor James R. "Duke" Aiona, Jr. • for Lieutenant Governor: Lynn Berbano "Lynn" Finnegan

		Scattering	2,587	0.67%	Blank Votes

		Free Energy	1,265	0.33%	Daniel H. Cunningham • for Lieutenant Governor: Deborah "Jo B" Spence

		Nonpartisan	1,263	0.33%	Thomas W. "Tom" Pollard • for Lieutenant Governor: Leonard Leo Kama, I.

		Scattering	235	0.06%	Over Votes
Total			385,385	100.00%

Idaho 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2006, 2010. Term Limit: None
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican

		Republican	Governor C.L. "Butch" Otter • Re-elected Tuesday 2 November 2010 • First elected: 2006 • Chair up for election: Tuesday 2 November 2010 • Renominated - 25 May 2010 Primary

		Republican	267,483	59.11%	Governor C.L. "Butch" Otter

		Democratic	148,680	32.85%	Keith Allred

		Independent; (Republican)	26,655	5.89%	former state Representative Jana M. Kemp

		Libertarian	5,867	1.30%	Ted Dunlap

		Independent	3,850	0.85%	Marvin "Pro-Life" Richardson
Total			452,535	100.00%

Minnesota 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2006, 2010. Term Limit: None
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican

Open		Republican	Governor Tim Pawlenty • First elected: 2002; re-elected: 2006 • Chair up for election: Tuesday 2 November 2010 • Open Chair - 2 June 2009: Announced he would not seek re-election.
			Open Chair (no incumbent)

		Democratic-Farmer Labor	919,232	43.63%	former Senator Mark Dayton • for Lieutenant Governor: state Senator Yvonne Prettner Solon

		Republican	910,462	43.21%	state Representative Tom Emmer • for Lieutenant Governor: Annette T. Meeks

		Independence	251,487	11.94%	Tom Horner • for Lieutenant Governor: James A. "Jim" Mulder. 2 March 2010: Won the Independence Party endorsement

		Independent	7,516	0.36%	Thomas Christopher "Chris" Wright • For Lieutenant Governor: Edwin H. Engelmann Grassroots Party

		Green	6,188	0.29%	Farheen Hakeem • for Lieutenant Governor: Dan Dittmann

		Independent; (Green)	6,180	0.29%	Ken Pentel • for Lieutenant Governor: Erin Wallace Ecology Democracy Party
		Independent	4,092	0.19%	Linda S. Eno • for Lieutenant Governor: Howard B. Hanson The Resource Party

		Write-in	1,864	0.09%	Write-in
		Write-in; (Socialist Workers Party)			Diana Newberry
Total			2,107,021	100.00%

Nebraska 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2006, 2010. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican

		Republican	Governor Dave Heineman • Re-elected Tuesday 2 November 2010 • Succeeded to the Governor's Chair upon the 20 January 2005 resignation of Governor Mike Johanns; first elected: 2006 • Chair up for election: Tuesday 2 November 2010 • The current Governor is unaffected by the State's term limit. • Renominated - 11 May 2010 Primary

		Republican	360,645	73.90%	Governor Dave Heineman • for Lieutenant Governor: Lieutenant Governor Rick Sheehy

		Democratic	127,343	26.10%	Mike Meister • for Lieutenant Governor: Public Service Commissioner Anne C. Boyle. 19 July 2010: Replacement nominee.
Total			487,988	100.00%

Nevada 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2006, 2010. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican

Lost		Republican	Governor James Arthur "Jim" Gibbons • First elected: 2006 • Chair up for election: Tuesday 2 November 2010 • The current Governor is unaffected by the State's term limit. • Lost Primary / No Longer Running
			Open Chair (no incumbent)

		Republican	382,350	53.36%	Brian E. Sandoval

		Democratic	298,171	41.61%	Clark County Commissioner Rory Reid

		None of these candidates	12,231	1.71%	None of these candidates

		Independent	6,403	0.89%	Eugene "Gino" DiSimone

		Independent American	5,049	0.70%	Floyd Fitzgibbons • Father of Ryan Fitzgibbons, nominee for Lieutenant Governor.

		Libertarian	4,672	0.65%	Arthur Forest "Art" Lampitt, Jr.

		Green	4,437	0.62%	David Scott Curtis

		Independent	3,216	0.45%	Aaron Yehuda Honig
Total			716,529	100.00%

Rhode Island 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2006, 2010. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican

Open		Republican	Governor Donald L. Carcieri • First elected: 2002; re-elected: 2006 • Chair up for election: Tuesday 2 November 2010 • The current Governor is affected by a term limit and cannot run for re-election. • Open Chair - At term limit
			Open Chair (no incumbent)
		Independent	123,571	36.10%	former Senator Lincoln Davenport "Linc" Chafee • Mr. Chafee was previously affiliated with the Republican Party.

		Republican	114,911	33.57%	John F. Robitaille

		Democratic	78,896	23.05%	General Treasurer Frank T. Caprio

		Moderate	22,146	6.47%	Kenneth J. "Ken" Block

		Independent	1,091	0.32%	Joseph M. "Joe" Lusi
		Independent	882	0.26%	Todd Giroux
		Independent	793	0.23%	Ronald Algieri
Total			342,290	100.00%

South Carolina 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2006, 2010. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican

Open		Republican	Governor Marshall C. "Mark" Sanford, Jr. • First elected: 2002; re-elected: 2006 • Chair up for election: Tuesday 2 November 2010 • The current Governor is affected by a term limit and cannot run for re-election. • Open Chair - At term limit
			Open Chair (no incumbent)

		Republican	690,525	51.37%	state Representative Nikki Randhawa Haley • a.k.a Mrs. William Michael. Received 49% in the 8 June 2010 primary. Won the 22 June 2010 runoff with 65%.

		Democratic	630,534	46.91%	state Senator Vincent A. Sheheen

		Green; United Citizens	20,114	1.50%	Morgan Bruce Reeves

		Scattering	3,025	0.23%	Write-In
Total			1,344,198	100.00%

South Dakota 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2006, 2010. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican

Open		Republican	Governor Mike Rounds • First elected: 2002; re-elected: 2006 • Chair up for election: Tuesday 2 November 2010 • The current Governor is affected by a term limit and cannot run for re-election. • Open Chair - At term limit
			Open Chair (no incumbent)

		Republican	195,046	61.51%	Lieutenant Governor Dennis M. Daugaard • for Lieutenant Governor: Matthew "Matt" Michels

		Democratic	122,037	38.49%	state Senator Scott N. Heidepriem • for Lieutenant Governor: Ben Arndt
Total			317,083	100.00%

Texas 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2006, 2010. Term Limit: None
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican

		Republican	Governor Rick Perry • Re-elected Tuesday 2 November 2010 • Lt. Gov. Rick Perry became Governor 21 December 2000 when George W. Bush resigned to take the office of President of the United States. First elected to a full term: 2002, re-elected: 2006 • Chair up for election: Tuesday 2 November 2010 • Renominated - 2 March 2010 Primary

		Republican	2,737,481	54.97%	Governor Rick Perry

		Democratic	2,106,395	42.30%	former City of Houston Mayor Bill White

		Libertarian	109,211	2.19%	Katherine Youngblood "Kathie" Glass • 12 June 2010: Nominated

		Green	19,516	0.39%	Deb Shafto

		Write-in	7,267	0.15%	Andy Barron
Total			4,979,870	100.00%

Utah 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2008, 2012. Term Limit: None
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican

		Republican	Governor Gary R. Herbert • Re-elected Tuesday 2 November 2010 • As Lieutenant Governor, succeeded to the Governorship upon the resignation of Governor Jon M. Huntsman, Jr. (Republican), effective 11 August 2009. • Chair up for election: Tuesday 2 November 2010 • Renominated - 8 May 2010 Convention. There will be a special 2010 election to fill out the remainder of former Governor Jon M. Huntsman, Jr.'s term. Next regular election: Tuesday 6 November 2012.

		Republican	412,151	64.07%	Governor Gary R. Herbert • for Lieutenant Governor: Lieutenant Governor Gregory S. "Greg" Bell

		Democratic	205,246	31.90%	Salt Lake County Mayor Peter Corroon • for Lieutenant Governor: state Representative Sheryl L. Allen (Republican)

		Unaffiliated	13,038	2.03%	Farley M. Anderson • for Lieutenant Governor: Steve Maxfield

		Libertarian	12,871	2.00%	W. Andrew McCullough • for Lieutenant Governor: Aric M. Cramer, Sr.

		Write-in	1	0.00%	Michael William Heath
Total			643,307	100.00%

Vermont 2 year term, Election Cycle: 2008, 2010. Term Limit: None
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican

Open		Republican	Governor James H. "Jim" Douglas • First elected: 2002; re-elected: 2004, 2006, 2008 • Chair up for election: Tuesday 2 November 2010 • Open Chair - 27 August 2009: Announced he would not run for re-election
			Open Chair (no incumbent)

		Democratic; Working Families	119,543	49.48%	state Senator Peter Shumlin • 24 August 2010 Primary: 18,301 votes

		Republican	115,212	47.69%	Lieutenant Governor Brian E. Dubie

		Independent	1,917	0.79%	Dennis P. Steele • Vermont Independence Day Party / Second Vermont Republic

		Marijuana	1,819	0.75%	Cris Ericson • United States Marijuana. Also a candidate for U.S. Senate Class 3

		Independent	1,341	0.56%	Daniel "Dan" Feliciano
		Independent	684	0.28%	Em Peyton

		Scattering	660	0.27%	Combined Write-in votes

		Liberty Union; (Socialist Party USA)	429	0.18%	Ben Mitchell • 26 October 2010: Announced he was dropped out and endorsed Peter Shumlin (Democratic). His name remains on the ballot.
	If no candidate receives 50% of the vote in the November General Election, the state Legislature chooses the next Governor.
Total			241,605	100.00%

Political Parties Parties appear in parenthesis and italics when a candidate receives the endorsement of a given Party and/or official sources indicate a candidate's association with a particular Party but only where the Party in question does not appear on the actual ballot as such.

Major Parties
	• Democratic
	• Democratic-Farmer Labor
	• Republican
Major Third Parties
	• Constitution
	• Green
	• Green-Rainbow
	• Libertarian
	• Reform
Other Third Parties
	• Alaskan Independence
	• American Constitution
	• American Independent
	• Anti-Prohibition
	• Boston Tea
	• Conservative
	• Free Energy
	• Freedom
	• Independence
	• Independent American
	• Independent Party of Connecticut
	• Independent Party of Oregon
	• Iowa
	• Liberty Union
	• Marijuana
	• Moderate
	• Peace And Freedom
	• Prohibition Party
	• Rent is 2 Damn High
	• Socialist Party USA
	• Socialist Workers Party
	• Taxpayer
	• U.S. Taxpayers
	• United Citizens
	• Working Families
Independents
	• Independent
	• No Party Affiliation
	• Nominated By Petition
	• Nonpartisan
	• Unaffiliated
	• Unenrolled
Write-in/Scattered/otherwise not readily classifiable
	• None of these candidates
	• Scattering
	• Write-in

Notes

Candidates for office appear on this page in italics where 'The Green Papers' does not yet have independent confirmation from a legal election authority that the person has been officially certified to appear on the ballot.