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2010 United States Senate election in North Carolina

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2010 United States Senate election in North Carolina
← 2004 November 2, 2010 2016 →
 
Nominee Richard Burr Elaine Marshall
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 1,458,046 1,145,074
Percentage 54.81% 43.05%
Burr:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90%
Marshall:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90%
Tie:      40–50%
U.S. senator before election

Richard Burr
Republican

Elected U.S. Senator

Richard Burr
Republican

Elections in North Carolina
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The 2010 United States Senate election in North Carolina was held on November 2, 2010. The filing deadline for the primaries was February 26; the primaries were held on May 4, with a Democratic primary runoff held on June 22.[1] Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Richard Burr won re-election to a second term. Burr is the first incumbent to win re-election for this seat since Sam Ervin's last re-election in 1968.[2]

Burr was the first Republican re-elected to this seat. Burr's 54.8% also represented the highest vote share a North Carolina Republican received since the state began directly electing its senators.

Background

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This Senate seat was unfavorable to incumbents over the past several decades. No person elected to this seat was re-elected since Sam Ervin in 1968. His successor, Democrat Robert Burren Morgan, was defeated for re-election in 1980, along with many other incumbents from his party. His Republican successor, John Porter East, committed suicide in 1986. East's appointed successor, Jim Broyhill, served for just four months, resigning upon his November 1986 election loss to former Democratic Governor Terry Sanford. In 1992, the seat changed hands yet again, as Sanford was defeated by wealthy GOP businessman Lauch Faircloth, who himself lost in his bid for a second term six years later by John Edwards. In 2004, no incumbent was defeated, as Edwards was running for vice president and was not allowed to be on the ballot in both races. However, that year the seat did change parties for the fifth time in a row, with Richard Burr defeating Bill Clinton's onetime Chief of Staff Erskine Bowles.

Republican primary

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Candidates

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Polling

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Poll source Dates administered Richard
Burr 		Brad
Jones 		Eddie
Burks
Public Policy Polling[7] February 15, 2010 55% 10% 3%
Public Policy Polling[8] March 12–15, 2010 58% 5% 4%
Public Policy Polling[9] April 8–11, 2010 67% 7% 3%
Survey USA[10] April 26, 2010 59% 6% 3%

Results

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Republican primary results[11]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Richard Burr (incumbent) 297,993 80.1%
Republican Brad Jones 37,616 10.1%
Republican Eddie Burks 22,111 5.9%
Republican Larry Linney 14,248 3.8%
Total votes 371,968 100.0%

Democratic primary

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Candidates

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From the North Carolina State Board of Elections:[5]

Polling

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Poll source Dates administered Elaine
Marshall 		Cal
Cunningham 		Kenneth
Lewis
Marshall[18] December 1, 2009 42% 5% 7%
Public Policy Polling[7] February 15, 2010 29% 12% 5%
Public Policy Polling[8] March 12–15, 2010 20% 16% 11%
Public Policy Polling[9] April 8–11, 2010 23% 17% 9%
WRAL-TV/SurveyUSA[19] April 25, 2010 23% 19% 10%
Public Policy Polling[20] April 27, 2010 26% 23% 7%
Public Policy Polling[21] May 1–2, 2010 28% 21% 9%
Rasmussen Reports[22] May 4, 2010 42% 37% ––
Public Policy Polling[23] May 8–10, 2010 36% 36% ––

Results

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Primary results by county:
  Marshall
  •   20–30%
  •   30–40%
  •   40–50%
  •   50–60%
  •   60–70%
  Cunningham
  •   20–30%
  •   30–40%
  •   40–50%
  •   50–60%
  Lewis
  •   30–40%
  •   40–50%
  Williams
  •   30–40%
Democratic primary results – May 4, 2010*[11]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Elaine Marshall 154,605 36.4%
Democratic Cal Cunningham 115,851 27.3%
Democratic Ken Lewis 72,510 17.1%
Democratic Marcus W. Williams 35,984 8.5%
Democratic Susan Harris 29,738 7.0%
Democratic Ann Worthy 16,655 3.9%
Total votes 425,343 100.0%

* Note: Since no candidate received 40% of the vote on May 4, state law allowed a runoff (or "second primary") election if requested by the second-place finisher. Cunningham requested such a runoff.[24]

Runoff results by county:
  Marshall
  •   50–60%
  •   60–70%
  •   70–80%
  Cunningham
  •   50–60%
  •   60–70%
  •   80–90%
Democratic primary runoff results – June 22, 2010[11]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Elaine Marshall 95,390 60.0%
Democratic Cal Cunningham 63,691 40.0%
Total votes 159,081 100.0%

General election

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Candidates

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Campaign

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Marshall was endorsed by The Charlotte Observer, The Wilmington Star-News, the Elizabeth City Daily Advance and The Southern Pines Pilot.[26] Burr was endorsed by the Greensboro News & Record[27] and the Asheville Citizen-Times.[28]

Debates

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Predictions

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Source Ranking As of
Cook Political Report[32] Likely R October 26, 2010
Rothenberg[33] Likely R October 22, 2010
RealClearPolitics[34] Likely R October 26, 2010
Sabato's Crystal Ball[35] Likely R October 21, 2010
CQ Politics[36] Likely R October 26, 2010

Polling

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Poll source Dates administered MoE Richard
Burr (R) 		Elaine
Marshall (D) 		Michael
Beitler (L)
Public Policy Polling[37] March 12–15, 2009 ± 3.1% 43% 35% ––
Public Policy Polling[38] August 4–10, 2009 ± 3.6% 43% 31% ––
Public Policy Polling[39] September 2–8, 2009 ± 4.0% 42% 31% ––
Rasmussen Reports[40] September 15, 2009 ± 4.5% 48% 38% ––
Public Policy Polling[41] October 2–4, 2009 ± 3.8% 44% 32% ––
Public Policy Polling[42] November 9–11, 2009 ± 3.7% 45% 34% ––
Public Policy Polling[43] December 11–13, 2009 ± 4.0% 42% 37% ––
Public Policy Polling[44] January 15–18, 2010 ± 3.8% 44% 37% ––
Rasmussen Reports[45] January 27, 2010 ± 4.5% 47% 37% ––
Public Policy Polling[46] February 12–15, 2010 ± 3.5% 43% 33% ––
Rasmussen Reports[47] February 23, 2010 ± 4.5% 50% 34% ––
Rasmussen Reports[48] March 22, 2010 ± 4.5% 51% 35% ––
Rasmussen Reports[49] April 19, 2010 ± 4.5% 50% 32% ––
Rasmussen Reports[50] May 5, 2010 ± 4.5% 48% 40% ––
Public Policy Polling[51] May 8–10, 2010 ± 3.9% 43% 42% ––
Rasmussen Reports[52] June 3, 2010 ± 3.0% 50% 36% ––
Public Policy Polling[53] June 4–6, 2010 ± 3.9% 46% 39% ––
Rasmussen Reports[54] June 23, 2010 ± 4.5% 44% 43% ––
SurveyUSA[55] June 23–24, 2010 ± 4.0% 50% 40% 6%
Public Policy Polling[56] June 26–27, 2010 ± 4.4% 38% 33% 10%
Rasmussen Reports[57] July 6, 2010 ± 4.5% 52% 37% ––
Survey USA[58] July 8–11, 2010 ± 4.2% 46% 36% 6%
Lake Research[59] July 15–19, 2010 ± 4.0% 35% 37% 5%
Public Policy Polling[60] July 27–31, 2010 ± 3.9% 39% 37% 7%
Rasmussen Reports[61] August 3, 2010 ± 4.5% 49% 40% ––
Public Policy Polling[62] August 27–29, 2010 ± 3.6% 43% 38% 6%
Rasmussen Reports[57] September 8, 2010 ± 4.5% 54% 38% ––
SurveyUSA[63] September 14, 2010 ± 4.1% 58% 32% 6%
Civitas[64] September 15–17, 2010 ± 4.0% 49% 29% 3%
Public Polling Policy[65] September 23–26, 2010 ± 3.8% 49% 36% 4%
High Point University[66] September 25–30, 2010 ± 5.0% 45% 31% 4%
Rasmussen Reports[57] October 12, 2010 ± 4.5% 52% 38% ––
Public Policy Polling[67] October 15–17, 2010 ± 4.0% 48% 40% 3%
SurveyUSA[68] October 22–25, 2010 ± 4.1% 53% 38% 5%
Public Policy Polling[69] October 29–31, 2010 ± 3.4% 52% 40% 2%

Fundraising

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Candidate (party) Receipts Disbursements Cash on hand Debt
Richard Burr (R) $8,444,115 $8,735,725 $1,600,695 $0
Elaine Marshall (D) $2,561,900 $2,229,840 $329,886 $71,500
Michael Beitler (L) $16,302 $9,951 $6,350 $11,906
Source: Federal Election Commission[70]

Results

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2010 United States Senate election in North Carolina[71]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Richard Burr (incumbent) 1,458,046 54.81% +3.21%
Democratic Elaine Marshall 1,145,074 43.05% −3.97%
Libertarian Mike Beitler 55,682 2.09% +0.72%
Write-in 1,272 0.05% +0.04%
Total votes 2,660,079 100.00% N/A
Republican hold

Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ "State Board of Elections Calendar". Sboe.state.nc.us. Archived from the original on June 18, 2010. Retrieved June 14, 2010.
  2. ^ Election 2010: North Carolina Senate, Rasmussen Reports, March 24, 2010.
  3. ^ "Asheboro council member to challenge Burr". News & Record. January 21, 2010. Retrieved February 10, 2010.
  4. ^ "Western NC businessman files for Senate race". The Sun News. February 16, 2010. Retrieved February 27, 2010. [dead link‍]
  5. ^ a b "State Board of Elections: Candidate Filing List". Sboe.state.nc.us. February 26, 2010. Archived from the original on June 18, 2010. Retrieved June 14, 2010.
  6. ^ "He's at it again: Larry Linney files for U.S. Senate run". Asheville Citizen-Times. March 2, 2010. Retrieved March 2, 2010. [dead link‍]
  7. ^ a b Public Policy Polling
  8. ^ a b Public Policy Polling
  9. ^ a b Public Policy Polling
  10. ^ Survey USA
  11. ^ a b c "The 2010 Results Maps". Politico.Com. Retrieved June 14, 2010.
  12. ^ "NC-Sen: Democrats get Cunningham". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on July 20, 2012. Retrieved May 27, 2010.
  13. ^ McArdle, John. "Good News, Bad Timing on N.C. Senate Race". CQ Politics. Retrieved June 14, 2010. [permanent dead link‍]
  14. ^ Christensen, Rob. "News & Observer: 2nd-tier Senate hopefuls soldier on". Newsobserver.com. Archived from the original on April 29, 2010. Retrieved June 14, 2010.
  15. ^ "News & Observer: Durham lawyer eyes Burr seat". Projects.newsobserver.com. Archived from the original on August 31, 2009. Retrieved June 14, 2010.
  16. ^ "Democrats expand their search for Burr challenger". March 10, 2009. Archived from the original on December 16, 2017. Retrieved March 10, 2009.
  17. ^ "News & Observer blog: Marshall running for U.S. Senate". Projects.newsobserver.com. Archived from the original on March 5, 2011. Retrieved June 14, 2010.
  18. ^ Marshall
  19. ^ WRAL-TV/SurveyUSA
  20. ^ Public Policy Polling
  21. ^ Public Policy Polling
  22. ^ Rasmussen Reports
  23. ^ Public Policy Polling
  24. ^ "News & Observer: Cunningham wants a runoff". Projects.newsobserver.com. Archived from the original on April 1, 2012. Retrieved June 14, 2010.
  25. ^ "Bryan School directory". Archived from the original on May 15, 2011. Retrieved July 6, 2010.
  26. ^ "Marshall Nabs Key Newspaper Endorsements | Elaine Marshall for U.S. Senate". Archived from the original on October 28, 2010. Retrieved December 20, 2022.
  27. ^ "Editorial: Burr for Senate : News-Record.com : Greensboro & the Triad's most trusted source for local news and analysis". Archived from the original on September 5, 2012. Retrieved December 20, 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  28. ^ "Tar Heels need a senator who can say yes | The Asheville Citizen-Times | citizen-times.com". Retrieved December 20, 2022.
  29. ^ "News". The Asheville Citizen-Times. Retrieved December 20, 2022.
  30. ^ NC Senate Candidates Burr and Marshall Miami Herald. 14 October 2010 [dead link‍]
  31. ^ Testy debate [permanent dead link‍]
  32. ^ "Senate". Cook Political Report. Retrieved October 26, 2010.
  33. ^ "Senate Ratings". Rothenberg Political Report. Retrieved October 26, 2010.
  34. ^ "Battle for the Senate". RealClearPolitics. Retrieved October 26, 2010.
  35. ^ "2010 Senate Ratings". Sabato's Crystal Ball. Archived from the original on October 28, 2010. Retrieved October 26, 2010.
  36. ^ "Race Ratings Chart: Senate". CQ Politics. Archived from the original on October 28, 2010. Retrieved October 26, 2010.
  37. ^ Public Policy Polling
  38. ^ Public Policy Polling
  39. ^ Public Policy Polling
  40. ^ Rasmussen Reports
  41. ^ Public Policy Polling
  42. ^ Public Policy Polling
  43. ^ Public Policy Polling
  44. ^ Public Policy Polling
  45. ^ Rasmussen Reports
  46. ^ Public Policy Polling
  47. ^ Rasmussen Reports
  48. ^ Rasmussen Reports
  49. ^ Rasmussen Reports
  50. ^ Rasmussen Reports
  51. ^ Public Policy Polling
  52. ^ Rasmussen Reports
  53. ^ Public Policy Polling
  54. ^ Rasmussen Reports
  55. ^ SurveyUSA
  56. ^ Public Policy Polling
  57. ^ a b c Rasmussen Reports
  58. ^ Survey USA
  59. ^ Lake Research
  60. ^ Public Policy Polling
  61. ^ Rasmussen Reports
  62. ^ Public Policy Polling
  63. ^ SurveyUSA
  64. ^ Civitas
  65. ^ Public Polling Policy
  66. ^ High Point University Archived November 11, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
  67. ^ Public Policy Polling
  68. ^ SurveyUSA
  69. ^ Public Policy Polling
  70. ^ "2010 House and Senate Campaign Finance for North Carolina". fec.gov. Retrieved July 25, 2010. [permanent dead link‍]
  71. ^ "NC – Election Results". Retrieved December 20, 2022.
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Debates

Official campaign sites (archived)

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