2010 Connecticut elections explained

Election Name:	2010 Connecticut elections
Country:	Connecticut
Ongoing:	no
Previous Election:	2008 Connecticut elections
Previous Year:	2008
Next Election:	2012 Connecticut elections
Next Year:	2012

Elections for state and federal offices for the 2010 election cycle in Connecticut, US, were held on Tuesday, November 2, 2010. Any necessary primary elections for the Republican and Democratic parties were held on Tuesday, August 10, 2010.

Five of the six statewide positions, as well as the state's Class III U.S. Senate seat, were filled by new individuals by these elections, as their respective incumbents either had chosen to retire or seek other offices.^[1]

Federal offices up for election

U.S. Senate

See main article: United States Senate election in Connecticut, 2010. Five-term incumbent Senator Christopher J. Dodd announced in January 2010 that he would not seek re-election, thus creating an open seat for the November 2010 election.^[2] Incumbent Democratic state Attorney General Richard Blumenthal easily secured his party's nomination for the Senate in May,^[3] while the Republican candidate was officially decided by primary vote of the state's Republican electorate. State party-endorsed candidate Linda McMahon defeated challengers Peter Schiff and Rob Simmons in the August 10 contest.^[4]

In the election, Blumenthal defeated McMahon 636,040 votes (55.16%) to 498,341 (43.22%).^[5]

U.S. House

See main article: United States House of Representatives elections in Connecticut, 2010.

• District 1: Incumbent Democrat John B. Larson faced Republican challenger Ann Brickley in the election.^[6] Brickley defeated Mark Zydanowicz^[7] to win the Republican nomination on August 10. Larson faced no Democratic primary challenge. Larson was re-elected in the election, winning 61.25% to 37.20%.^[8]
• District 2: Incumbent Democrat Joe Courtney faced Republican challenger Janet Peckinpaugh^[6] in the election. Peckinpaugh defeated Daria I. Novak and Doug Dubitsky^[7] to win the Republican nomination on August 10. Courtney faced no Democratic primary challenge. Courtney was re-elected in the election, winning 59.86% to 38.76%.^[8]
• District 3: Incumbent Democrat Rosa L. DeLauro faced Republican challenger Jerry Labriola Jr.^[9] in the election. Neither faced a primary from their own party. DeLauro was re-elected in the election, winning 65.06% to 33.58%.^[8]
• District 4: Incumbent Democrat Jim Himes faced Republican challenger Dan Debicella^[6] in the election. Debicella defeated Rob Merkle and Rick Torres^[7] to win the Republican nomination on August 10. Himes faced no Democratic primary challenge. Himes was re-elected in the election, winning 53.06% to 46.93%.^[8]
• District 5: Incumbent Democrat Chris Murphy faced Republican challenger Sam Caligiuri^[6] in the election. Caligiuri defeated Justin Bernier and Mark Greenberg^[7] to win the Republican nomination on August 10. Murphy faced no Democratic primary challenge. Murphy was re-elected in the election, winning 54.06% to 45.93%.^[8]

State offices up for election

Statewide

Governor and Lieutenant Governor

See main article: Connecticut gubernatorial election, 2010. Incumbent Republican Governor M. Jodi Rell announced in November 2009 that she would not seek another term in office,^[10] creating an open seat for the 2010 election. Primaries on August 10, 2010, determined the Republican and Democratic nominees to be Rell's successor. Democrat Dan Malloy faced Republican Tom Foley in the election, with Malloy having beaten businessman Ned Lamont for the Democratic nomination and Foley having beaten Lieutenant Governor Michael Fedele and Oz Griebel for the GOP nod.^[11]

Candidates for Lieutenant Governor were also determined by primary voters, with Nancy Wyman clinching the Democratic nomination over Mary Glassman and Mark Boughton beating Lisa Wilson-Foley on the Republican side.^[6] While elected separately in primaries, each party's gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial candidate run together on the same ballot line in general elections.

In the election, Dan Malloy was elected governor, defeating Foley 567,278 votes (49.50%) to 560,874 (48.95%).^[12]

Attorney General

See main article: Connecticut attorney general election, 2010. Incumbent Democrat Richard Blumenthal opted not to seek another term as attorney general, and was instead his party's nominee for (and the winner of) the state's open U.S. Senate seat. Democratic candidate George Jepsen^[1] faced Republican Martha Dean^[6] in the election. Dean defeated Ross Garber^[7] to win the Republican nomination. With Blumenthal not running for re-election, the 2010 race was the first open attorney general election since 1990.

In the election, Jepsen defeated Dean.^[13]

Other Constitutional Officers

• Secretary of the State: Incumbent Democrat Susan Bysiewicz declined seeking another term, first intending to run for governor, then Attorney General. However, the Connecticut Supreme Court found her lacking the qualifications to serve as attorney general in May, and she decided to not seek any office in 2010.^[14] Republican candidate Jerry Farrell Jr. faced Democratic primary winner Denise Merrill^[6] in the election. Merrill defeated Gerry Garcia^[7] to win the Democratic nomination on August 10. In the election for Secretary of the State, Merrill defeated Farrell.^[13]
• Treasurer: Incumbent Democrat Denise Nappier ran for re-election against Republican challenger Jeff Wright^[1] and defeated him in the election.^[13]
• Comptroller: Incumbent Democrat Nancy Wyman declined seeking another term to instead run for lieutenant governor. Republican candidate Jack Orchulli^[1] faced Democratic primary winner Kevin Lembo,^[6] who defeated Michael Jarjura^[7] in the Democratic contest. In the election for comptroller, Lembo defeated Orchulli.^[13]

District offices

Connecticut State Senate

See main article: Connecticut Senate election, 2010. All 36 seats of the Connecticut Senate were up for election. The Democrats won 23 seats and the Republicans won 13 seats. The Republicans gained the 31st district. Winners served two-year terms which began in January 2011.

Connecticut House of Representatives

See main article: Connecticut House of Representatives election, 2010. All 151 seats of the Connecticut House were up for election. The Democrats won 97 seats while Republicans won 54 seats. Winners served two-year terms which began in January 2011.

Judges of Probate

See also: Connecticut Probate Courts. The state Probate Court system was realigned in 2009 to consolidate its 117 districts into 54^[15] for the 2010 election cycle. The 54 judges elected to their new districts are serving four-year terms which began in January 2011.

See also

• Elections in Connecticut
• Political party strength in Connecticut

External links

• Elections and Voting by the Connecticut Secretary of the State
• Connecticut Candidate List at Imagine Election - Search for candidates by address or zip code
• Connecticut judicial elections, 2010 at Judgepedia
• Connecticut Congressional Races in 2010 for campaign finance data for federal races from OpenSecrets
• Connecticut State Races in 2010 campaign finance data for state races from Follow the Money

Notes and References

1. Web site: Parties pick choices for Conn. statewide offices. Susan Haigh and Pat Eaton-Robb. Associated Press. Boston.com. May 22, 2010. August 6, 2010.
2. News: Senator Dodd Will Not Seek Re-election, Democrats Say. Nagourney. Adam. The New York Times. January 6, 2010. August 6, 2010.
3. News: 5/21 Democrats Nominate Blumenthal For Senate Seat . Courant.com . August 6, 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110611210436/http://www.courant.com/videobeta/?watchId=e35c791d-5cfa-4cc6-be36-f3c5b8ddbe85 . June 11, 2011 . dead . mdy-all .
4. News: McMahon wins CT-SEN primary. Altimari. Daniela. Hartford Courant. August 10, 2010. August 11, 2010. https://archive.today/20120707001934/http://blogs.courant.com/capitol_watch/2010/08/mcmahon-wins-ctsen-primary.html. July 7, 2012. dead. mdy-all.
5. Web site: Election Results for United States Senator . . January 11, 2011 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20101122180406/http://www.statementofvote-sots.ct.gov/StatementOfVote/WebModules/ReportsLink/USSenTownView.aspx?Parameter=11%2F02%2F2010-General . November 22, 2010 .
6. News: Connecticut Primaries: Underticket Results. Hartford Courant. August 10, 2010. August 10, 2010. https://archive.today/20120707160002/http://blogs.courant.com/capitol_watch/2010/08/connecticut-primaries-state-ho.html. July 7, 2012. dead. mdy-all.
7. Web site: Bysiewicz: A Total of 44 State and Federal Primaries on Connecticut Ballot in 2010. Office of the Connecticut Secretary of the State . PDF . June 25, 2010 . August 6, 2010.
8. Web site: Election Results for Representative in Congress . . January 11, 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110619153652/http://www.statementofvote-sots.ct.gov/StatementOfVote/WebModules/ReportsLink/RepCongView.aspx?Parameter=11%2F02%2F2010-General . June 19, 2011 . dead . mdy-all .
9. Web site: Republicans pick Congressional candidates. Jacqueline Rabe and Keith M. Phaneuf. CTMirror.org. May 21, 2010. August 6, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20100525200617/http://www.ctmirror.org/story/6066/gop-congressional-ticket-debicella-labriolla-brickley. May 25, 2010. dead. mdy-all.
10. Web site: Jodi Rell won't run for reelection. Barr. Andy. Politico.com . November 9, 2009 . August 6, 2010.
11. News: Democrat Dannel Malloy Wins Primary Handily; Ned Lamont Concedes; Republican Tom Foley Wins GOP Contest. Keating. Christopher. Hartford Courant. August 10, 2010. August 11, 2010. https://archive.today/20120701174425/http://blogs.courant.com/capitol_watch/2010/08/democrat-dannel-malloy-republi.html. July 1, 2012. dead. mdy-all.
12. Web site: Election Results for Governor and Lieutenant Governor . . January 11, 2011 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20101107061605/http://www.statementofvote-sots.ct.gov/StatementOfVote/WebModules/ReportsLink/GovLtGovTownView.aspx?Parameter=11%2F02%2F2010-General . November 7, 2010 .
13. Web site: News From The Associated Press. dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20121021060413/http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/files/elections/2010/general/by_state/statewide/CT.html?SITE=CTHARELN&SECTION=POLITICS . 2012-10-21 .
14. Web site: Susan Bysiewicz Not Running For Any Office; Former Front Runner For Governor and Attorney General Bows Out. Keating. Christopher. Courant.com. Hartford Courant. May 20, 2010. August 6, 2010. https://archive.today/20120707124226/http://blogs.courant.com/capitol_watch/2010/05/susan-bysiewicz-not-running-fo.html. July 7, 2012. dead. mdy-all.
15. Web site: 54 Probate Court Plan . State of Connecticut, Judicial Branch . PDF . August 6, 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110927182819/http://www.jud.state.ct.us/probate/Redistrict/54_court_plan.pdf . September 27, 2011 . dead . mdy-all .