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2010 United States elections

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The 2010 United States elections were held on Tuesday, November 2, 2010. All 435 seats in the United States House of Representatives and 37 of the 100 seats in the United States Senate were contested in this election along with 38 state and territorial governorships, 46 state legislatures (except Louisiana, Mississippi, New Jersey and Virginia),[1] four territorial legislatures and numerous state and local races.

Approximately 82.5 million people voted.[2] The Democratic Party suffered major defeats in many national and state level elections, with many seats switching to Republican control. Current totals put 68 seats switching to Republicans[citation needed] which is the most in over two generations[citation needed].

Dissatisfaction with the economy caused support for Obama and the Democrats to suffer significantly. Political analysts in October 2010 predicted sweeping Republican gains this election, pointing to the swing in political polling, and a reported "enthusiasm gap" between the percentage of likely Republican and Democratic voters.[3]

Issues

Candidates and voters in 2010 focused on national economic conditions and the economic policies of the Obama Administration, especially regarding bailouts, health care, taxes, and deficits, as well as corruption in government and terrorism.[4] Voters have paid relatively little attention to foreign affairs or the environment. Political analyst Dick Morris claims that, in a "fundamental change", social issues did not dominate Republican activism in 2010, because "economic and fiscal issues prevail. The Tea Party has made the Republican Party safe for libertarians",[5] although this does not address the issue of abortion.

Immigration reform had become an important issue, particularly with observers outside the United States[6] following Arizona SB 1070.

Federal election

Congressional election

Senate election

Main article: United States Senate elections, 2010

The 34 seats in the United States Senate Class III were up for election. In addition, the Class II Senate seat in Delaware currently held by Ted Kaufman, the Class I Senate seat in New York currently held by Kirsten Gillibrand, and the Class I seat in West Virginia currently held by Carte Goodwin were contested in special elections resulting from Joe Biden's 2008 election as Vice President of the United States and Hillary Clinton's appointment to the Cabinet as U.S. Secretary of State and their subsequent resignations from the Senate, as well as incumbent Senator Robert C. Byrd's death and the interim appointment of Goodwin to the Senate. A special election was also held for the Class I seat in Massachusetts, as a result of the death of incumbent Senator Ted Kennedy. The election was held on January 19, 2010, resulting in Republican state senator Scott Brown winning the seat.

House of Representatives election

Main article: United States House of Representatives elections, 2010

All 435 voting seats in the United States House of Representatives were up for election. Additionally, elections were held to select the delegates for the District of Columbia and four of the five U.S. territories. The only seat in the house not up for election was that of the Resident Commissioner of Puerto Rico, who serves a four-year term and will next face election in 2012.

State elections

Gubernatorial elections

Main article: United States gubernatorial elections, 2010

Thirty-six of the fifty United States governors were up for election. Elections were also held for the governorships of two U.S. territories. One state, Louisiana, had no campaign for governor but did feature a special election for Lieutenant Governor of Louisiana#lieutenant governor.[7]

Other state-wide officer elections

In many states where the following positions are elected offices, voters elected state executive branch offices (including Lieutenant Governors (though some will be voted for on the same ticket as the gubernatorial nominee), Secretary of state, state Treasurer, state Auditor, state Attorney General, state Superintendent of Education, Commissioners of Insurance, Agriculture or, Labour, and etc.) and state judicial branch offices (seats on state Supreme Courts and, in some states, state appellate courts).

State legislative elections

All states except Louisiana, Mississippi, New Jersey and Virginia held elections for their state legislatures.[8]

Local elections

Mayoral elections

The following major American cities held mayoral elections in 2010. (Incomplete list)

References

  1. ^ "2010 Primary Dates and Seats Up". September 23, 2009. Retrieved January 26, 2010.
  2. ^ "Turnout: says a lot". November 3, 2010. Retrieved November 3, 2010.
  3. ^ See Jonathan Weisman, "GOP in Lead in Final Lap," Wall Street Journal Oct 20, 2010
  4. ^ Jeffrey M. Jones, "Americans Give GOP Edge on Most Election Issues; Greatest Republican advantages on terrorism, immigration, federal spending", Gallup, September 1, 2010
  5. ^ Dick Morris, "The New Republican Right", TheHill.com October 19, 2010
  6. ^ "Mexicans follow US poll debates -- Americas". Al Jazeera English. 2010-10-26. Retrieved 2010-10-31.
  7. ^ See Louisiana state elections, 2010#Lieutenant governor.
  8. ^ "2010 Primary Dates and Seats Up". September 23, 2009. Retrieved January 26, 2010.
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