2010 United States Senate election in North Carolina explained

Election Name:	2010 United States Senate election in North Carolina
Country:	North Carolina
Type:	presidential
Ongoing:	Yes
Previous Election:	2004 United States Senate election in North Carolina
Previous Year:	2004
Next Election:	2016 United States Senate election in North Carolina
Next Year:	2016
Election Date:	November 2, 2010
Image1:	Richard Burr official portrait crop.jpg
Nominee1:	Richard Burr
Party1:	Republican Party (United States)
Popular Vote1:	1,458,046
Percentage1:	54.81%
Nominee2:	Elaine Marshall
Party2:	Democratic Party (United States)
Popular Vote2:	1,145,074
Percentage2:	43.05%
U.S. Senator
Before Election:	Richard Burr
Before Party:	Republican Party (United States)
After Election:	Richard Burr
After Party:	Republican Party (United States)

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

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.

Democratic primary

Candidates

From the North Carolina State Board of Elections:^[3]

• Cal Cunningham, former State Senator^{[4] [5]}
• Susan Harris, retired accountant^[6]
• Ken Lewis, attorney^[7]
• Elaine Marshall, North Carolina Secretary of State and candidate in 2002^{[8] [9]}
• Marcus Williams, attorney
• Ann Worthy, former Gaston County Board of Education member

Polling

Poll source	Dates administered	Elaine Marshall	Cal Cunningham	Kenneth Lewis
align=left	Marshall^[10]	December 1, 2009		42%	5%	7%
align=left	Public Policy Polling^[11]	February 15, 2010		29%	12%	5%
align=left	Public Policy Polling^[12]	March 12–15, 2010		20%	16%	11%
align=left	Public Policy Polling^[13]	April 8–11, 2010		23%	17%	9%
align=left	WRAL-TV/SurveyUSA^[14]	April 25, 2010		23%	19%	10%
align=left	Public Policy Polling^[15]	April 27, 2010		26%	23%	7%
align=left	Public Policy Polling^[16]	May 1–2, 2010		28%	21%	9%
align=left	Rasmussen Reports^[17]	May 4, 2010		42%	37%	––
align=left	Public Policy Polling^[18]	May 8–10, 2010	36%	36%	––

Results

• 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.^[19]

Republican primary

Candidates

• Eddie Burks, Asheboro City Councilman^[20]
• Richard Burr, incumbent U.S. Senator
• Brad Jones, businessman^[21]
• Larry Linney, former State Representative^{[3] [22]}

Polling

Poll source	Dates administered	Richard Burr	Brad Jones	Eddie Burks
align=left	Public Policy Polling	February 15, 2010		55%	10%	3%
align=left	Public Policy Polling	March 12–15, 2010		58%	5%	4%
align=left	Public Policy Polling	April 8–11, 2010		67%	7%	3%
align=left	Survey USA^[23]	April 26, 2010		59%	6%	3%

Results

General election

Candidates

• Michael Beitler (L), lecturer of Bryan School of Business and Economics at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro^[24]
• Richard Burr (R), incumbent U.S. Senator
• Elaine Marshall (D), North Carolina Secretary of State

Campaign

Marshall was endorsed by The Charlotte Observer, The Wilmington Star-News, the Elizabeth City Daily Advance and The Southern Pines Pilot.^[25] Burr was endorsed by the Greensboro News & Record^[26] and the Asheville Citizen-Times.^[27]

Debates

• October 11: Sponsored by the North Carolina Association of Broadcasters Education Foundation and moderated by the Carl Kasell. It was televised by UNC-TV in Raleigh.^[28]
• October 14: In Raleigh^[29]
• October 21: Sponsored by N.C. Association of Broadcasters and moderated by Judy Woodruff in Durham.^[30]

Predictions

Source	Ranking	As of
Cook Political Report^[31]		October 26, 2010
Rothenberg^[32]		October 22, 2010
RealClearPolitics^[33]		October 26, 2010
Sabato's Crystal Ball^[34]		October 21, 2010
CQ Politics^[35]		October 26, 2010

Polling

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

Fundraising

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^[69]

Results

Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican

• Caswell (largest city: Yanceyville)
• Columbus (largest municipality: Whiteville)
• Yancey (largest municipality: Burnsville)
• Perquimans (largest city: Hertford)
• Camden (largest city: Camden)
• Tyrrell (largest municipality: Columbia)
• Guilford (largest city: Greensboro)
• Swain (largest municipality: Cherokee)
• Granville (largest city: Oxford)
• Hyde (largest community: Ocracoke)
• Jackson (largest town: Cullowhee)
• Wake (largest town: Raleigh)

See also

• 2010 North Carolina elections
• 2010 United States House of Representatives elections in North Carolina

External links

• North Carolina State Board of Elections
• U.S. Congress candidates for North Carolina at Project Vote Smart
• North Carolina U.S. Senate 2010 from OurCampaigns.com
• Campaign contributions from Open Secrets
• 2010 North Carolina Senate General Election: All Head-to-Head Matchups graph of multiple polls from Pollster.com
• Election 2010: North Carolina Senate from Rasmussen Reports
• 2010 North Carolina Senate Race from Real Clear Politics
• 2010 North Carolina Senate Race from CQ Politics
• Race profile from The New York Times

Debates

• North Carolina Democratic Senate Primary Runoff Debate, C-SPAN, June 15, 2010

Official campaign sites (archived)

• Elaine Marshall for U.S. Senate
• Mike Beitler for U.S. Senate
• Richard Burr for U.S. Senate incumbent

Notes and References

1. Web site: State Board of Elections Calendar . Sboe.state.nc.us . June 14, 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100618211919/http://www.sboe.state.nc.us/content.aspx?id=72 . June 18, 2010 . dead . mdy-all .
2. http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/elections2/election_2010/election_2010_senate_elections/north_carolina/election_2010_north_carolina_senate Election 2010: North Carolina Senate
3. Web site: State Board of Elections: Candidate Filing List . Sboe.state.nc.us . February 26, 2010 . June 14, 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100618211938/http://www.sboe.state.nc.us/content.aspx?id=82 . June 18, 2010 . dead . mdy-all .
4. News: NC-Sen: Democrats get Cunningham . The Washington Post . May 27, 2010.
5. Web site: McArdle . John . Good News, Bad Timing on N.C. Senate Race . CQ Politics . June 14, 2010 .
6. Web site: Christensen . Rob . News & Observer: 2nd-tier Senate hopefuls soldier on . Newsobserver.com . June 14, 2010 . April 29, 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100429203516/http://www.newsobserver.com/2010/04/23/450331/2nd-tier-senate-hopefuls-soldier.html . dead .
7. Web site: News & Observer: Durham lawyer eyes Burr seat . Projects.newsobserver.com . June 14, 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090831051632/http://projects.newsobserver.com/under_the_dome/durham_lawyer_eyes_burr_seat . August 31, 2009 . dead . mdy-all .
8. Web site: Democrats expand their search for Burr challenger . March 10, 2009 . March 10, 2009 . https://web.archive.org/web/20171216091306/http://www.rockymounttelegram.com/news/state/democrats-expand-their-search-for-burr-challenger-480830.html . December 16, 2017 . dead .
9. Web site: News & Observer blog: Marshall running for U.S. Senate . Projects.newsobserver.com . June 14, 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110305071434/http://projects.newsobserver.com/under_the_dome/marshall_running_for_u_s_senate . March 5, 2011 . dead . mdy-all .
10. https://archive.today/20130131130730/http://www.pollster.com/blogs/nc_2010_sen_primary_marshall_1.php Marshall
11. http://www.publicpolicypolling.com/pdf/PPP_Release_NC_218.pdf Public Policy Polling
12. http://www.publicpolicypolling.com/pdf/PPP_Release_NC_316.pdf Public Policy Polling
13. http://www.publicpolicypolling.com/pdf/PPP_Release_NC_413.pdf Public Policy Polling
14. http://www.wral.com/news/local/politics/story/7488963 WRAL-TV/SurveyUSA
15. http://www.publicpolicypolling.com/pdf/PPP_Release_NC_427.pdf Public Policy Polling
16. http://www.publicpolicypolling.com/pdf/PPP_Release_NC_502424.pdf Public Policy Polling
17. http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/elections2/election_2010/election_2010_senate_elections/north_carolina/election_2010_north_carolina_democratic_primary_runoff_for_senate Rasmussen Reports
18. http://www.publicpolicypolling.com/pdf/PPP_Release_NC_5121.pdf Public Policy Polling
19. Web site: News & Observer: Cunningham wants a runoff . Projects.newsobserver.com . June 14, 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120401164140/http://projects.newsobserver.com/under_the_dome/cunningham_wants_a_runoff . April 1, 2012 . dead . mdy-all .
20. Web site: Asheboro council member to challenge Burr . January 21, 2010 . February 10, 2010 . News & Record.
21. Web site: Western NC businessman files for Senate race . February 16, 2010 . February 27, 2010 . The Sun News.
22. Web site: He's at it again: Larry Linney files for U.S. Senate run . March 2, 2010 . March 2, 2010 . Asheville Citizen-Times.
23. http://www.surveyusa.com/client/PollReport.aspx?g=25a12adf-9012-424e-b4f3-8b73d86aaf90 Survey USA
24. Web site: Bryan School directory . July 6, 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110515043951/http://web.uncg.edu/bae/directory/profile.php?username=mabeitle . May 15, 2011 . dead .
25. Web site: Marshall Nabs Key Newspaper Endorsements | Elaine Marshall for U.S. Senate. https://web.archive.org/web/20101028221125/http://www.elainemarshall.com/node/1023. dead. 28 October 2010. 20 December 2022.
26. Web site: Editorial: Burr for Senate : News-Record.com : Greensboro & the Triad's most trusted source for local news and analysis. 20 December 2022. September 5, 2012. https://archive.today/20120905133704/http://www.news-record.com/content/2010/10/29/article/editorial_burr_for_senate. bot: unknown.
27. Web site: Tar Heels need a senator who can say yes | The Asheville Citizen-Times | citizen-times.com. 20 December 2022.
28. Web site: The Asheville Citizen-Times. News. 20 December 2022.
29. http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/10/14/1872917/nc-senate-candidates-burr-marshall.html NC Senate Candidates Burr and Marshall
30. http://www.kentucky.com/2010/10/21/1490193/burr-marshall-hold-testy-debate.html#ixzz1406x6Vat Testy debate
31. Web site: Senate . . October 26, 2010.
32. Web site: Senate Ratings . . October 26, 2010.
33. Web site: Battle for the Senate . . October 26, 2010.
34. Web site: 2010 Senate Ratings . . October 26, 2010 . October 28, 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20101028092918/http://www.centerforpolitics.org/crystalball/articles/category/2010-senate/ . dead .
35. Web site: Race Ratings Chart: Senate . . October 26, 2010 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20101028234525/http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=ratings-senate . October 28, 2010 .
36. http://www.publicpolicypolling.com/pdf/surveys/2009_Archives/PPP_Release_NC_319.pdf Public Policy Polling
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38. http://www.publicpolicypolling.com/pdf/surveys/2009_Archives/PPP_Release_NC_911.pdf Public Policy Polling
39. http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/elections/election_2010/election_2010_senate_elections/north_carolina/toplines/toplines_2010_north_carolina_senate_september_15_2009 Rasmussen Reports
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44. http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/elections/election_2010/election_2010_senate_elections/north_carolina/toplines/toplines_2010_north_carolina_senate_january_27_2010 Rasmussen Reports
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47. http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/elections/election_2010/election_2010_senate_elections/north_carolina/toplines/toplines_2010_north_carolina_senate_march_22_2010 Rasmussen Reports
48. http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/elections/election_2010/election_2010_senate_elections/north_carolina/toplines/toplines_2010_north_carolina_senate_april_19_2010 Rasmussen Reports
49. http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/elections/election_2010/election_2010_senate_elections/north_carolina/toplines/toplines_north_carolina_senate_may_5_2010 Rasmussen Reports
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51. http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/elections/election_2010/election_2010_senate_elections/north_carolina/toplines/toplines_north_carolina_senate_june_3_2010 Rasmussen Reports
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54. http://www.surveyusa.com/client/PollReport.aspx?g=49aae9f8-15ef-4a62-b891-50b84f373847 SurveyUSA
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57. http://www.surveyusa.com/client/PollReport.aspx?g=e60896b9-ddf1-4e3d-b72d-b616f1dc9ee1 Survey USA
58. http://www.dailykos.com/story/2010/7/22/886678/-NC-Sen:-Elaine-Marshall-LEADS-Senator-Burr! Lake Research
59. http://www.publicpolicypolling.com/pdf/PPP_Release_NC_8031102.pdf Public Policy Polling
60. http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/elections/election_2010/election_2010_senate_elections/north_carolina/toplines/toplines_north_carolina_senate_august_3_2010 Rasmussen Reports
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64. http://www.publicpolicypolling.com/pdf/PPP_Release_NC_929424.pdf Public Polling Policy
65. http://acme.highpoint.edu/~mkifer/src/Slides10072010 High Point University
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67. http://www.surveyusa.com/client/PollReport.aspx?g=72c6ea8c-1b3b-4a8e-b753-8000c5d82d24 SurveyUSA
68. http://www.publicpolicypolling.com/pdf/PPP_Release_NC_1101.pdf Public Policy Polling
69. Web site: 2010 House and Senate Campaign Finance for North Carolina . fec.gov . July 25, 2010 .