2010 United States Senate election in Washington explained

Election Name:	2010 United States Senate election in Washington
Country:	Washington
Type:	presidential
Ongoing:	Yes
Previous Election:	2004 United States Senate election in Washington
Previous Year:	2004
Next Election:	2016 United States Senate election in Washington
Next Year:	2016
Election Date:	November 2, 2010
Image1:	File:Patty Murray, official portrait, 113th Congress (cropped).jpg
Nominee1:	Patty Murray
Party1:	Democratic Party (United States)
Popular Vote1:	1,314,930
Percentage1:	52.08%
Nominee2:	Dino Rossi
Party2:	Republican Party (United States)
Popular Vote2:	1,196,164
Percentage2:	47.37%
Map Size:	275px
U.S. Senator
Before Election:	Patty Murray
Before Party:	Democratic Party (United States)
After Election:	Patty Murray
After Party:	Democratic Party (United States)

The 2010 United States Senate election in Washington was held on November 2, 2010, alongside other elections to the United States Senate in other states as well as elections to the United States House of Representatives and various state and local elections. Incumbent Democrat Senator Patty Murray won re-election to a fourth term by a margin of 52.1% – 47.4% over Republican Dino Rossi, who had run for governor in 2004 and 2008. This was the last U.S. Senate election in Washington where the margin of victory was single digits.

Top-two primary election

Candidates

Democrats

• Patty Murray, incumbent U.S. Senator
• Charles Allen^{[1] [2] [3]}
• Bob Burr^[3]

Republicans

• Dino Rossi, former State Senator and gubernatorial candidate^[4]
• Paul Akers, salesman^[5]
• William Chovil^{[3] [6]}
• Clint Didier, former NFL football player^[7]
• Norma Gruber^[3]
• Michael Latimer^[8]

Others

• Will Baker (Reform Party)^[3]
• Schalk Leonard^[3]
• Skip Mercer, professor^[9]
• Mohammad Said (Centrist Party)^[3]

Polling

Poll source	Dates administered	Patty Murray (D)	Dino Rossi (R)	Clint Didier (R)	Paul Akers (R)	Undecided
Elway Research^[10]	April 29 – May 2, 2010		48%	––	4%		8%		36%
Elway Research^[11]	June 13, 2010		43%		31%	5%	2%	17%
Survey USA^[12]	June 30, 2010		37%		33%	5%	3%	19%
Public Policy Polling^[13]	July 27 – August 1, 2010		47%		33%	10%	4%	6%
Survey USA^[14]	August 6–9, 2010		41%		33%	11%	5%	4%

Results

General election

Candidates

The top 2 candidates from the blanket primary advanced to the general election.

• Patty Murray (D), incumbent U.S. Senator
• Dino Rossi (R), former State Senator and gubernatorial candidate

Campaign

Rossi heavily criticized Murray for her support of the 2009 economic stimulus package; however, Rossi's economic promises are nearly identical to those of President Bush who asked for the stimulus.^[15] Rossi supports repealing the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. He also criticized Murray for her support for earmarks. In response, Murray said, "You bet that seniority and leadership has a big thing to do with it, but the other part of it is, I get up every day and I work hard and I believe in this and I am going to continue fighting for the community I represent."^[16]

The National Rifle Association spent $414,100 supporting Rossi and opposing Murray in the 2010 senatorial contest.^[17]

Debates

Rossi offered six debates, five of which would be in-state and one nationally.^[18] Murray agreed to two debates, and only two debates were held.^[19]

• Seattle on KOMO-TV.
• Spokane on KSPS-TV and KXLY-TV.

Fundraising

Candidate (party)	Receipts	Disbursements	Cash on hand	Debt
	Patty Murray (D)	$10,951,403	$12,438,133	$1,032,034	$0
	Dino Rossi (R)	$7,365,098	$4,331,414	$2,960,039	$0
Source: Federal Election Commission^[20]

Predictions

Source	Ranking	As of
Cook Political Report^[21]		October 26, 2010
Rothenberg^[22]		November 1, 2010
RealClearPolitics^[23]		October 26, 2010
Sabato's Crystal Ball^[24]		October 21, 2010
CQ Politics^[25]		October 26, 2010

Polling

Aggregate polls

Poll source	Date(s) administered			Patty Murray (D)	Dino Rossi (R)	Other	Undecided
Moore Information^[27]	January 23–24, 2010	500	± 4.4%	43%		45%	––	––
Rasmussen Reports^[28]	February 11, 2010	500	± 4.5%	46%		48%	1%	5%
Rasmussen Reports^[29]	March 9, 2010	500	± 4.5%	46%		49%	3%	2%
Research 2000^[30]	March 22–24, 2010	600	± 4.0%		52%	41%	––	7%
Rasmussen Reports^[31]	April 6, 2010	500	± 4.5%		48%	46%	3%	4%
Survey USA^[32]	April 22, 2010	517	± 4.4%	42%		52%	––	7%
The Washington Poll^[33]	May 3–23, 2010	626	± 3.9%		44%	40%	––	16%
Rasmussen Reports	May 4, 2010	500	± 4.5%		48%	46%	2%	3%
Rasmussen Reports^[34]	May 25, 2010	500	± 4.5%		48%	47%	2%	4%
The Washington Poll^[35]	May 24–28, 2010	221	± 6.6%	39%		42%	5%	13%
The Washington Poll	May 28 – June 7, 2010	848	± 3.3%		42%	40%	––	12%
Elway Research^[36]	June 13, 2010	405	± 5.0%		47%	40%	––	13%
Rasmussen Reports^[37]	June 22, 2010	500	± 4.5%	47%	47%	3%	3%
Rasmussen Reports^[38]	July 14, 2010	750	± 4.0%	45%		48%	3%	3%
Rasmussen Reports	July 30, 2010	750	± 4.0%		49%	47%	2%	2%
Public Policy Polling	July 27 – August 1, 2010	1,204	± 2.8%		49%	46%	––	5%
Rasmussen Reports^[39]	August 18, 2010	750	± 4.0%		48%	44%	4%	4%
Survey USA^[40]	August 18, 2010	618	± 4.0%	45%		52%	––	––
Rasmussen Reports^[41]	August 31, 2010	750	± 4.0%	46%		48%	3%	3%
Elway Research^[42]	September 9–12, 2010	500	± 4.5%		50%	41%	3%	7%
CNN/Time^[43]	September 10–14, 2010	906	± 3.5%		53%	44%	2%	1%
Rasmussen Reports^[44]	September 16, 2010	750	± 4.0%		51%	46%	1%	2%
SurveyUSA^[45]	September 22, 2010	609	± 4.1%		50%	48%	––	3%
Fox News^[46]	September 25, 2010	1,000	± 3.0%		48%		47%	2%	3%
Rasmussen Reports	September 28, 2010	750	± 4.0%		47%		48%	2%	3%
Rasmussen Reports	October 6, 2010	750	± 4.0%		46%		49%	3%	2%
Fox News^[47]	October 9, 2010	1,000	± 3.0%		46%		47%	7%	0%
Elway^[48]	October 7–11, 2010	450	± 4.6%		55%		40%	0%	5%
CNN/Opinion Research^[49]	October 8–12, 2010	850	± 3.5%		51%		43%	2%	0%
The Washington Poll^[50]	October 4–14, 2010	500	± 4.3%		50%		42%		––		8%
SurveyUSA^[51]	October 11–14, 2010	606	± 4.1%		50%		47%	0%	3%
Public Policy Polling^[52]	October 14–16, 2010	1,873	± 2.3%		49%		47%		––		4%
McClatchy/Marist^[53]	October 14–17, 2010	589	± 4.0%		48%		47%	1%		5%
Rasmussen Reports^[54]	October 17, 2010	750	± 4.0%		49%		46%	2%		3%
Rasmussen Reports	October 27, 2010	750	± 4.0%		47%		48%	3%		2%
SurveyUSA^[55]	October 24–27, 2010	678	± 3.8%	47%	47%	––		6%
The Washington Poll^[56]	October 18–28, 2010	500	± 4.3%		51%		45%		––		4%
Marist College^[57]	October 26–28, 2010	838	± 3.5%		49%		48%		2%		1%
Fox News/Pulse Opinion Research^[58]	October 30, 2010	1,000	± 3.0%		49%		47%		4%		0%
YouGov^[59]	October 25–30, 2010	850	± 4.1%		50%		48%		0%		2%
Public Policy Polling^[60]	October 29–31, 2010	2,055	± 2.2%		48%		50%		0%		2%

Results

Murray defeated Rossi by about 114,000 votes. King County, the home of Seattle, likely gave Murray a victory.^[61]

Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican

• Island (largest city: Oak Harbor)
• Pierce (largest city: Tacoma)
• Skagit (largest city: Mount Vernon)
• Clallam (largest city: Port Angeles)
• Mason (largest city: Shelton)
• Skamania (Largest city: Carson)
• Cowlitz (Largest city: Longview)
• Wahkiakum (Largest city: Puget Island)

By congressional district

Murray won 5 of 9 congressional districts.^[62]

District	Murray	Rossi	Representative
		56%	44%		Jay Inslee
		51%	49%		Rick Larsen
	47%	53%		Brian Baird
			Jaime Herrera Beutler
		36%	64%		Doc Hastings
		41%	59%		Cathy McMorris Rodgers
		53%	47%		Norm Dicks
		81%	19%		Jim McDermott
		49%	51%		Dave Reichert
		53%	47%		Adam Smith

External links

• Elections and Voting at the Washington Secretary of State
• U.S. Congress candidates for Washington at Project Vote Smart
• Campaign contributions from Open Secrets
• 2010 Washington Senate General Election: All Head-to-Head Matchups graph of multiple polls from Pollster.com
• Election 2010: Washington Senate from Rasmussen Reports
• 2010 Washington Senate Race from Real Clear Politics
• 2010 Washington Senate Race from CQ Politics
• Race profile from The New York Times
• Editorial board endorsement interview: Senate 2010 from The Seattle Times

Official campaign websites (Archived)

• Patty Murray for U.S. Senate incumbent
• Dino Rossi for U.S. Senate

Notes and References

1. Web site: REPORTS IMAGE INDEX FOR CANDIDATE ID S0WA00332 . Images.nictusa.com . May 13, 2010 . June 14, 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160303204530/http://images.nictusa.com/cgi-bin/fecimg/?S0WA00332 . March 3, 2016 . dead .
2. Web site: REPORTS IMAGE INDEX FOR COMMITTEE ID C00483461 . Images.nictusa.com . May 13, 2010 . June 14, 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160303232131/http://images.nictusa.com/cgi-bin/fecimg/?C00483461 . March 3, 2016 . dead .
3. Web site: Candidates who have filed . Wei.secstate.wa.gov . June 14, 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100611202147/http://wei.secstate.wa.gov/osos/en/candidatefiling/Pages/Candidateswhohavefiled.aspx . June 11, 2010 . dead . mdy-all .
4. Web site: Rothenberg . Stuart . Reasons to Keep Your Eye on Patty Murray . CQ Politics . June 14, 2010 .
5. Web site: Home . Akers for US Senate . June 14, 2010 . February 9, 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100209214045/http://www.akersforussenate.com/ . dead .
6. Web site: REPORTS IMAGE INDEX FOR CANDIDATE ID S4WA00466 . Images.nictusa.com . June 14, 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160303165536/http://images.nictusa.com/cgi-bin/fecimg/?S4WA00466 . March 3, 2016 . dead .
7. News: Ex-footballer latest GOP challenger to Murray's Senate seat . January 4, 2010 . January 30, 2010 . . Kyung . Song.
8. Web site: REPORTS IMAGE INDEX FOR CANDIDATE ID S0WA00340 . https://archive.today/20120723234014/http://images.nictusa.com/cgi-bin/fecimg/?S0WA00340 . dead . July 23, 2012 . Images.nictusa.com . June 14, 2010 .
9. Web site: Spokesman-Review . Mercer staying in U.S. Senate race – Spin Control – Spokesman.com – June 1, 2010 . Spokesman.com . June 1, 2010 . June 14, 2010.
10. https://www.scribd.com/doc/30944176/Elway-PollonMurrayre-elect050510-1#fullscreen:on Elway Research
11. http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2010/06/16/poll-rossi-front-runner-in-washington-gop-senate-race/?fbid=Qud4ibig5dO Elway Research
12. https://web.archive.org/web/20100704044054/http://www.king5.com/news/politics/POL-Poll-points-to-Murray-Rossi-showdown-97533579.html Survey USA
13. https://web.archive.org/web/20110222215500/http://www.publicpolicypolling.com/pdf/PPP_Release_WA_803.pdf Public Policy Polling
14. http://www.surveyusa.com/client/PollReport.aspx?g=f9bb1102-9a1a-4a4d-963d-9c6143c23c3b Survey USA
15. Web site: The Stimulus 18-Month Check Up: Murray Plan Means Big Debt, Few Jobs Dino Rossi for Senate . September 1, 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20101111191726/http://www.dinorossi.com/the-stimulus-18-month-check-up-murray-plan-means-big-debt-few-jobs/ . November 11, 2010 . dead . mdy-all .
16. News: Murray touts bringing home the bucks . The Seattle Times . Jim . Brunner . August 7, 2010.
17. Web site: Campaign cash: National Rifle Association (washingtonpost.com). www.washingtonpost.com. 2018-02-16.
18. News: Rossi wants six debates with Murray . The Seattle Times . Jim . Brunner . August 20, 2010.
19. News: Murray agrees to two debates . The Seattle Times . Jim . Brunner . August 27, 2010.
20. Web site: 2010 House and Senate Campaign Finance for Washington . fec.gov . May 28, 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100522083654/http://www.fec.gov/DisclosureSearch/HSRefreshCandList.do?category=stateS_all&stateName=WA&election_yr=2010 . May 22, 2010 . dead .
21. Web site: Senate . . October 26, 2010.
22. Web site: Senate Ratings . . October 26, 2010.
23. Web site: Battle for the Senate . . October 26, 2010.
24. 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 .
25. 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 .
26. https://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2010/senate/wa/washington_senate_rossi_vs_murray-1183.html Real Clear Politics
27. https://web.archive.org/web/20100201011209/http://hotlineoncall.nationaljournal.com/archives/2010/01/murrays_seat_in.php Moore Information
28. http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/elections2/election_2010/election_2010_senate_elections/washington/toplines/toplines_2010_washington_senate_february_11_2010 Rasmussen Reports
29. http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/elections2/election_2010/election_2010_senate_elections/washington/toplines/toplines_2010_washington_senate_march_9_2010 Rasmussen Reports
30. https://web.archive.org/web/20100327144923/http://www.dailykos.com/statepoll/2010/3/24/WA/461 Research 2000
31. http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/elections2/election_2010/election_2010_senate_elections/washington/election_2010_washington_senate Rasmussen Reports
32. http://www.surveyusa.com/client/PollReport.aspx?g=8aa1293f-dc76-414f-832b-e9764de86b07 Survey USA
33. https://web.archive.org/web/20160410204840/http://www.washingtonpoll.org/results/MAY2010.pdf The Washington Poll
34. http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/elections/election_2010/election_2010_senate_elections/washington/toplines/toplines_washington_senate_may_26_2010 Rasmussen Reports
35. https://web.archive.org/web/20110728170958/http://www.washingtonpoll.org/results/JUNE2010.pdf The Washington Poll
36. https://archive.today/20130201011826/http://www.pollster.com/blogs/wa_2010_sen_elway_6913.php Elway Research
37. http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/elections/election_2010/election_2010_senate_elections/washington/toplines/toplines_2010_washington_senate_june_22_2010 Rasmussen Reports
38. http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/elections/election_2010/election_2010_senate_elections/washington/toplines/toplines_2010_washington_senate_july_14_2010 Rasmussen Reports
39. http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/elections/election_2010/election_2010_senate_elections/washington/toplines/toplines_washington_senate_august_18_2010 Rasmussen Reports
40. https://web.archive.org/web/20100821130405/http://www.king5.com/news/politiking/First-general-election-poll-puts-Rossi-ahead-confirms-competitive-race-101199184.html Survey USA
41. http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/elections/election_2010/election_2010_senate_elections/washington/toplines/toplines_washington_senate_august_31_2010 Rasmussen Reports
42. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/09/14/new-washington-poll-good-_1_n_715867.html Elway Research
43. http://blog.seattlepi.com/seattlepolitics/archives/221497.asp CNN/Time
44. http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/elections/election_2010/election_2010_senate_elections/washington/election_2010_washington_senate Rasmussen Reports
45. http://www.surveyusa.com/client/PollReport.aspx?g=87e9197e-1381-4def-b7a2-47059fad7a0e SurveyUSA
46. http://www.foxnews.com/projects/pdf/0925_WA_topline.pdf Fox News
47. http://www.foxnews.com/projects/pdf/WA_Topline.pdf Fox News
48. http://www.publicola.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/Elway-Poll-OCT12-Senate.pdf Elway
49. http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2010/images/10/13/topstate6.pdf CNN/Opinion Research
50. https://web.archive.org/web/20110129104808/http://www.washingtonpoll.org/results/oct15_2010.pdf The Washington Poll
51. http://www.surveyusa.com/client/PollReport.aspx?g=ed33e615-a849-457e-8849-2a68010e92ce&c=28 SurveyUSA
52. https://web.archive.org/web/20101024102729/http://www.publicpolicypolling.com/pdf/PPP_Release_WA_1019.pdf Public Policy Polling
53. http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2010/10/19/102291/poll-sen-murray-has-1-point-lead.html McClatchy/Marist
54. http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/elections/election_2010/election_2010_senate_elections/washington/toplines/questions_washington_senate_october_17_2010 Rasmussen Reports
55. http://www.surveyusa.com/client/PollReport.aspx?g=029f384a-4eb6-4d84-95a4-492c810d1018 SurveyUSA
56. https://web.archive.org/web/20110209172207/http://www.washingtonpoll.org/results/oct29_2010.pdf The Washington Poll
57. http://maristpoll.marist.edu/wp-content/misc/WA101026/October%2030,%202010_WA_Complete%20Survey%20Findings.pdf Marist College
58. http://www.foxnews.com/projects/pdf/WA_Topline.pdf Fox News/Pulse Opinion Research
59. http://cdn.yougov.com/downloads/releases/2010_Election/WArelease_20101030.pdf YouGov
60. https://web.archive.org/web/20110612085239/http://www.publicpolicypolling.com/pdf/PPP_Release_WA_1101330.pdf Public Policy Polling
61. Web site: November 2, 2010 General – Federal . November 11, 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20101111084357/http://vote.wa.gov/elections/WEI/Results.aspx?RaceTypeCode=O&JurisdictionTypeID=1&ElectionID=37&ViewMode=Results . November 11, 2010 . dead . mdy-all .
62. Results . sos.wa.gov.