The 2010 Iowa gubernatorial election was held on Tuesday, November 2, 2010, to elect the governor and lieutenant governor, to serve a four-year term beginning on January 14, 2011. In Iowa, the governor and lieutenant governor are elected on the same ticket. Along with the election in Ohio, this was one of the two gubernatorial elections where the incumbent lost re-election.
The two major party candidates were first-term incumbent Governor Chet Culver, a Democrat, who ran for re-election with first-term incumbent lieutenant governor Patty Judge, and former four-term Governor Terry Branstad, who won a three-way primary for the Republican nomination and ran with State Senator Kim Reynolds.
Branstad defeated Culver in the general election, becoming the first challenger to unseat an incumbent Iowa governor since Harold Hughes in 1962.
Democratic primary
Candidates Chet Culver, incumbent governor
Results
Republican primary
Candidates
On ballot As listed by the Iowa Secretary of State's office:
Terry Branstad, former governor Rod Roberts, State Representative Bob Vander Plaats, businessman and nominee for lieutenant governor in 2006
Withdrew State Senator Jerry Behn withdrew from the race and endorsed Terry Branstad. Cedar Rapids businessman Christian Fong suspended his campaign due to a lack of campaign finances. State Senator Paul McKinley withdrew after Terry Branstad formed an exploratory committee. Minority Leader of the Iowa House of Representatives Christopher Rants withdrew from the race due to lack of campaign funds.
Polling Poll source Dates administered TerryBranstad BobVander Plaats RodRobertsSelzer & Co. Inc of Des MoinesSelzer & Co. Inc of Des Moines June 1–3, 2010 57% 29% 8%Public Policy PollingPublic Policy Polling May 25–27, 2010 46% 31% 13%
Results
General election
Candidates Terry Branstad (R), former four-term governor; running with State Senator Kim Reynolds Eric Cooper (L), professor at Iowa State University, running with judicial administrator Nick Weltha Chet Culver (D), incumbent governor, running with incumbent lieutenant governor Patty Judge Jonathan Narcisse (Iowa Party), former member of the Des Moines school board, running with truck driver Rick Marlar. Narcisse is a Democrat and Marlar is a Republican. Narcisse's campaign and that of Senate District 45 candidate Douglas William Phillips were not affiliated, though both appeared on the ballot under the "Iowa Party" name. Gregory James Hughes (I), running with Robin Prior-Calef David Rosenfeld (SWP), running with Helen Meyers
Predictions Source Ranking As of Cook Political Report October 14, 2010 Rothenberg October 28, 2010 RealClearPolitics November 1, 2010 Sabato's Crystal Ball October 28, 2010 CQ Politics October 28, 2010
Polling Poll source Dates administered ChetCulver (D) TerryBranstad (R)Rasmussen ReportsRasmussen Reports September 23, 2010 37% 55%Rasmussen ReportsRasmussen Reports August 5, 2010 36% 52%Rasmussen ReportsRasmussen Reports June 14, 2010 31% 57%Public Policy PollingPublic Policy Polling May 25–27, 2010 37% 52%KCCI-TVKCCI-TV May 3–5, 2010 41% 48%Rasmussen ReportsRasmussen Reports April 29, 2010 38% 53%Rasmussen ReportsRasmussen Reports March 17, 2010 36% 52%Rasmussen ReportsRasmussen Reports February 18, 2010 37% 53%KCCI-TVKCCI-TV February 15–17, 2010 38% 54%Selzer & Co. of Des MoinesSelzer & Co. of Des Moines January 31 – February 3, 2010 33% 53%Selzer & Co. of Des MoinesSelzer & Co. of Des Moines November 8–11, 2009 33% 57%Daily Kos/Research 2000Daily Kos/Research 2000 October 12–14, 2009 43% 48%Rasmussen ReportsRasmussen Reports September 22, 2009 34% 54%Iowa First FoundationIowa First Foundation July 23–July 26, 2009 34% 53%Concordia Group LLCConcordia Group LLC July 2009 37% 53%
Results
Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican Adams (largest city: Corning) Audubon (largest city: Audubon) Benton (largest city: Vinton) Emmet (largest city: Estherville) Greene (largest city: Jefferson) Hamilton (largest city: Webster City) Hardin (largest city: Iowa Falls) Iowa (largest city: Williamsburg) Kossuth (largest city: Algona) Palo Alto (largest city: Emmetsburg) Warren (largest city: Indianola) Winnebago (largest city: Forest City) Allamakee (largest city: Waukon) Boone (largest city: Boone) Bremer (largest city: Waverly) Buchanan (largest city: Independence) Cedar (largest city: Tipton) Cerro Gordo (largest city: Mason City) Chickasaw (largest city: New Hampton) Clarke (largest city: Osceola) Clayton (largest city: Guttenberg) Clinton (largest city: Clinton) Fayette (largest city: Oelwein) Floyd (largest city: Charles City) Howard (largest city: Cresco) Jackson (largest city: Maquoketa) Jasper (largest city: Newton) Jones (largest city: Anamosa) Louisa (largest city: Wapello) Marshall (largest city: Marshalltown) Mitchell (largest city: Osage) Muscatine (largest city: Muscatine) Poweshiek (largest city: Grinnell) Scott (largest city: Davenport) Tama (largest city: Tama) Union (largest city: Creston) Wapello (largest city: Ottumwa) Webster (largest city: Fort Dodge) Winneshiek (largest city: Decorah) Worth (largest city: Northwood) Appanoose (largest city: Centerville) Davis (largest city: Bloomfield) Decatur (largest city: Lamoni) Hancock (largest city: Garner) Henry (largest city: Mount Pleasant) Lucas (largest city: Chariton) Monona (largest city: Onawa) Monroe (largest city: Albia) Ringgold (largest city: Mount Ayr) Taylor (largest city: Bedford) Wayne (largest city: Corydon) Wright (largest city: Eagle Grove)
By congressional district Branstad won four of five congressional districts, including two that elected Democrats. District Culver Branstad Representative 47% 50%Bruce Braley 50% 46%Dave Loebsack 44% 51%Leonard Boswell 42% 54%Tom Latham 32% 65%Steve King
References
External links Iowa Secretary of State – Voter/Elections Iowa Governor Candidates at Project Vote Smart Campaign contributions for 2010 Iowa Governor from Follow the Money 2010 Iowa Gubernatorial General Election: All Head-to-Head Matchups graph of multiple polls from Pollster.com Election 2010: Iowa Governor from Rasmussen Reports 2010 Iowa Governor – Branstad vs. Culver from Real Clear Politics 2010 Iowa Governor's Race from CQ Politics Race Profile in The New York Times Debates Iowa Gubernatorial Debate, September 14, 2010, C-SPAN Official campaign websites (archived) Chet Culver for Governor Greg Hughes – Independent for Governor Eric Cooper for Governor Terry Branstad for Governor Jonathan Narcisse for Governor Bob Vander Plaats for Governor