Michigan gubernatorial election, 2010
Encyclopedia
The Michigan gubernatorial election of 2010 was held on November 2, 2010. Governor Jennifer Granholm
Jennifer Granholm
Jennifer Mulhern Granholm is a Canadian-born American politician, educator, and author who served as Attorney General and 47th Governor of the U.S. state of Michigan. A member of the Democratic Party, Granholm became Michigan's first female governor on January 1, 2003, when she succeeded Governor...

, a Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...

, was prohibited by the state's Constitution
Michigan Constitution
The Constitution of the State of Michigan is the governing document of the U.S. state of Michigan. It describes the structure and function of the state's government....

 from seeking a third term. This resulted in a large pool of candidates which was whittled down, when the May 11 filing deadline passed, to two Democrats and five Republicans
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...

. Both the Cook Political Report
Cook Political Report
The Cook Political Report is an independent, non-partisan online newsletter that analyzes elections and campaigns for the United States House of Representatives, the United States Senate, Governor's offices and the American Presidency. The Cook Political Report is led by a staff of five...

and the non-partisan Rothenberg Political Report rate the race as leaning Republican.

The Republican primary race was highly competitive; both local and national polling reported Congressman Peter Hoekstra, state Attorney General Mike Cox
Mike Cox
Mike Cox was Michigan's 52nd Attorney General; the first Republican to hold that office since 1955. Cox took office in 2003 and won re-election in 2006. Michigan Governor Jennifer M...

, and businessman Rick Snyder as being front-runners for the Republican Party nomination. The Democratic front-runner when the 2009 polls were conducted, Lieutenant Governor
Lieutenant governor
A lieutenant governor or lieutenant-governor is a high officer of state, whose precise role and rank vary by jurisdiction, but is often the deputy or lieutenant to or ranking under a governor — a "second-in-command"...

 John D. Cherry
John D. Cherry
John D. Cherry was the 60th Lieutenant Governor of Michigan of the U.S. state of Michigan from 2003 to 2011. Cherry served as a gubernatorial appointee to the Midwestern Higher Education Compact, and was the immediate past chair of the international Great Lakes Commission .Cherry was an announced...

, withdrew from the race in January 2010. The final polls just days before the primary election showed that, while Lansing mayor Virg Bernero
Virgil Bernero
Virgil "Virg" Bernero is the current mayor of Lansing, Michigan, elected on November 8, 2005 and re-elected on November 3, 2009. He is a member of the Democratic Party. Prior to serving as mayor, Bernero served as a legislative aide, an Ingham County Commissioner and as a member of the Michigan...

 was in the lead, over a quarter of those polled were still undecided. The deadline for candidates to file nominating petitions for the August 3 state primary was 4:00 PM on May 11, 2010.

A total of 1,575,167 registered voters voted in the primaries, with 66.4% of them voting in the Republican primary. Analysts believe a large portion of Democrats crossed party lines to vote for Snyder, whose ad campaign targeted bipartisan and independent support. In Michigan, voters may vote in either primary regardless of their political affiliation, but can only vote for one party. Ballots with split tickets are not counted in partisan races. Both races came in more disparate than predicted. Snyder won with a near 10-point lead over closest rival Pete Hoekstra, and Bernero won with an even larger 17-point lead over early favorite state house speaker Andy Dillon. The results were a clear message from voters that they wanted a political outsider for governor. On August 25, Snyder appointed State Representative Brian Calley
Brian Calley
Brian Calley , an American politician from the Republican Party is the 61st and current Lieutenant Governor of the State of Michigan...

 as his running mate. On August 28, Bernero appointed Southfield
Southfield, Michigan
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which 0.04% is water. The main branch of the River Rouge runs through Southfield. The city is bounded to the south by Eight Mile Road, its western border is Inkster Road, and to the east it is bounded by Greenfield Road...

 Mayor Brenda Lawrence as his running mate.

Snyder defeated Bernero in the general election.

Withdrawn Democrats

  • Alma Wheeler Smith
    Alma Wheeler Smith
    Alma Wheeler Smith is a politician from the U.S. state of Michigan. She was most recently a member of the Michigan House of Representatives, representing the 54th District, which includes the city of Ypsilanti, Augusta Township, Salem Township, Superior Township, and Ypsilanti Township in...

    , member of the Michigan House of Representatives (ended exploratory bid on May 10, 2010)
  • Robert Bowman, former Michigan treasurer (ended exploratory bid on February 15, 2010)
  • John Cherry
    John D. Cherry
    John D. Cherry was the 60th Lieutenant Governor of Michigan of the U.S. state of Michigan from 2003 to 2011. Cherry served as a gubernatorial appointee to the Midwestern Higher Education Compact, and was the immediate past chair of the international Great Lakes Commission .Cherry was an announced...

    , Lieutenant Governor
    Lieutenant Governor of Michigan
    The Lieutenant Governor of Michigan is the second-ranking official in U.S. state of Michigan, behind the governor, and one of four great offices of state...

     (ended exploratory bid on January 5, 2010)
  • Hansen Clarke
    Hansen Clarke
    Hansen Hashim Clarke is the U.S. Representative for . Clarke, a Democrat, was a member of the Michigan House of Representatives from 1991 through 1992, and from 1999 through 2002. He then served in the Michigan Senate, representing the 1st District from January 1, 2003 to January 3, 2011. Clarke...

    , member of the Michigan Senate (ended bid on January 15, 2010; ran for Congress instead)
  • John Freeman, former member of the Michigan House of Representatives (ended bid on January 11, 2010)
  • Dan Kildee, former Genesee County
    Genesee County, Michigan
    -Interstates:* I-69* I-75* I-475-Michigan State Trunklines:* M-13* M-15* M-21* M-54* M-57-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 436,141 people, 169,825 households, and 115,990 families residing in the county. The population density was 682 people per square mile . There were 183,630...

     Treasurer (ended exploratory bid on March 5, 2010)

Democratic primary polling

Names that are italicized appeared on the primary ballot.
Poll source Dates administered John D. Cherry Andy Dillon George Perles John Freeman Alma Wheeler Smith Dan Kildee Virg Bernero
EPIC-MRA July 28, 2010 -- 32% -- -- -- -- 40%
EPIC-MRA June 12–15, 2010 -- 34% -- -- -- -- 24%
Public Policy Polling May 25–27, 2010 -- 23% -- -- -- -- 26%
EPIC-MRA May 22–26, 2010 -- 29% -- -- -- -- 23%
Rasmussen Reports April 22, 2010 -- 13% -- -- 9% -- 12%
Rasmussen Reports March 24, 2010 -- 12% -- -- 10% -- 8%
Denno-Noor Research March 3–5, 2010 -- 13% -- -- 6% 6% 11%
EPIC-MRA February 22–25, 2010 -- 17% -- -- 7% 12% 8%
Detroit Free Press November 12–17, 2009 20% 6% 6% 2% 2% -- --
EPIC-MRA October 11–15, 2009 33% -- 3% 2% 5% -- --
Marketing Resource Group September 12–20, 2009 40% -- -- 9% 8% -- --

Democratic primary results

Defeated in Republican primary

  • Oakland County
    Oakland County, Michigan
    -Demographics:As of the 2010 Census, there were 1,202,362 people, 471,115 households, and 315,175 families residing in the county. The population density as of the 2000 census was 1,369 people per square mile . There were 492,006 housing units at an average density of 564 per square mile...

     Sheriff Mike Bouchard
    Mike Bouchard
    Michael J."Mike" Bouchard was a Republican candidate for governor of Michigan and is the sheriff of Oakland County...

  • Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox
    Mike Cox
    Mike Cox was Michigan's 52nd Attorney General; the first Republican to hold that office since 1955. Cox took office in 2003 and won re-election in 2006. Michigan Governor Jennifer M...

  • Michigan State Senator Tom George
    Tom George
    Thomas "Tom" George was a Republican politician from the U.S. state of Michigan. As a member of the Michigan State Senate, he represented Kalamazoo County as well as an eastern portion of Van Buren County...

  • U.S. Congressman Peter Hoekstra

Not on Republican ballot

  • Tim Rujan (failed to qualify), Huron County
    Huron County, Michigan
    -Highways:* M-19* M-25* M-53* M-142-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 36,079 people, 14,597 households, and 10,144 families residing in the county. The population density was 43 people per square mile . There were 20,430 housing units at an average density of 24 per square mile...

     Commissioner

Withdrawn Republicans

  • Terri Lynn Land
    Terri Lynn Land
    Terri Lynn Land was the 41st secretary of the State of Michigan. Land graduated from Grandville High School, and later received a bachelor of arts in political science from Hope College in Holland, Michigan...

    , Michigan Secretary of State. She was running for lieutenant governor
    Lieutenant Governor of Michigan
    The Lieutenant Governor of Michigan is the second-ranking official in U.S. state of Michigan, behind the governor, and one of four great offices of state...

     as Bouchard's running mate
  • David Kniffen, businessman

Republican primary polling

Poll source Dates administered Mike Cox Peter Hoekstra Mike Bouchard Rick Snyder Tom George David Kniffen
EPIC-MRA July 29, 2010 24% 23% 10% 26% 1% --
Detroit News 4/WDIV July 18, 2010 26.4% 25.6% 11.6% 20.2% 1.8% --
EPIC-MRA June 12–15, 2010 26% 24% 16% 20% 2% --
Public Policy Polling May 25–27, 2010 17% 19% 15% 20% 9% --
EPIC-MRA May 22–26, 2010 18% 30% 16% 17% 2% --
Rasmussen Reports April 22, 2010 13% 28% 9% 14% -- --
Rasmussen Reports March 30, 2010 13% 27% 6% 18% -- --
Marketing Research Group March 10–15, 2010 21% 21% 10% 20% 1% -
Denno-Noor Research March 3–5, 2010 12% 28% 8% 18% 2% --
EPIC-MRA February 22–25, 2010 21% 27% 10% 12% 1% --
Mitchell Research & Communications November 17–19, 2009 27% 24% 12% 3% 3% --
Detroit Free Press November 12–17, 2009 15% 21% 13% 5% 3% --
EPIC-MRA October 11–15, 2009 28% 29% -- 14% 3% 2%
Marketing Resource Group September 12–20, 2009 27% 23% 15% -- -- --
Marketing Resource Group March 4–10, 2009 15% 17% -- -- -- --

Republican primary results

Other parties

Based on past election performance, the Libertarian Party of Michigan
Libertarian Party of Michigan
The Libertarian Party of Michigan was founded in Taylor, Michigan in 1972 and remains on the ballot; as Michigan’s third oldest active political party...

, Green Party of Michigan
Green Party of Michigan
The Green Party of Michigan is the state party organization for Michigan of the Green Party of the United States. The party has had ballot access in Michigan since November 2000...

, and the U.S. Taxpayers Party of Michigan
U.S. Taxpayers Party of Michigan
The U.S. Taxpayers Party of Michigan is the Michigan affiliate of the Constitution Party. Like its national counterpart, the U.S. Taxpayers Party of Michigan is a strongly constitutional party and is committed to the principals of Biblical law...

 (affiliated with the Constitution Party
Constitution Party (United States)
The Constitution Party is a paleoconservative political party in the United States. It was founded as the U.S. Taxpayers' Party by Howard Philips in 1991. Phillips was the party's candidate in the 1992, 1996 and 2000 presidential elections...

) have automatic ballot access for the general election, but by state law they must nominate candidates through party conventions rather than primary elections. The Natural Law Party
Natural Law Party
The Natural Law Party was a transnational party based on the teachings of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. It was active in up to 74 countries, and ran candidates in at least ten. Founded in 1992, it was mostly disbanded in 2004 but continues in India and in some U.S. states.The NLP viewed "natural law" as...

 also has automatic ballot access in Michigan, but chose not to run a candidate for Governor in 2010.

Libertarian Party candidates

The Libertarian Party nominee is Kenneth Proctor. The nomination was won at the Michigan Libertarian Convention held in Okemos, Michigan on Saturday, May 22, in accordance with Michigan state law. He beat out Bhagwan Dashairya, who had been the 2006 U.S. Taxpayers Party nominee for governor. Dashairya ended up taking the Libertarian nomination for U.S. Congress in District 8.

Green Party candidates

The Green Party of Michigan held their statewide nominating convention July 31 and August 1 in Lansing, Michigan
Lansing, Michigan
Lansing is the capital of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is located mostly in Ingham County, although small portions of the city extend into Eaton County. The 2010 Census places the city's population at 114,297, making it the fifth largest city in Michigan...

, and nominated Harley Mikkelson for Governor and Lynn Meadows for Lieutenant Governor.

U.S. Taxpayers Party candidates

The 2010 U.S. Taxpayers Party of Michigan convention was held on June 26 in East Lansing, Michigan
East Lansing, Michigan
East Lansing is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. The city is located directly east of Lansing, Michigan, the state's capital. Most of the city is within Ingham County, though a small portion lies in Clinton County. The population was 48,579 at the time of the 2010 census, an increase from...

. In a nearly unanimous vote, Stacey Mathia and Chris Levels were formally nominated as candidates of the U.S. Taxpayers Party of Michigan for the offices of Governor and Lt. Governor.

According to Stacey Mathia's official press release, "The Convention applauded Mathia's agenda to institute Law-Abiding Constitutional Government and State Sovereignty in order to free the People of Michigan from the political oppression of big government operating outside of its authority."

The press release also stated, "Chris Levels, is currently well known as a radio talk show host on WSNL
WSNL
WSNL is a radio station broadcasting a religious format. Licensed to Flint, Michigan, it first began broadcasting in 1946.The original call letters were WFLM, but the station was purchased in December of 1946 by George W. Trendle and H. Allen Campbell, who changed the call letters to WTCB and made...

 in the Flint, Michigan area. His last minute nomination speech will be available on Mathia’s website. The USTPM Convention gave him a standing applause."

Debates

On August 12, it was reported that Virg Bernero accepted invitations to three debates. The first debate would be held September 21 and sponsored by WOOD-TV
WOOD-TV
WOOD-TV is the NBC-affiliated television station for Southwestern Michigan licensed to Grand Rapids. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on VHF channel 7 from a transmitter in Middleville near the Barry and Allegan County line. The station can also be seen on Comcast and Charter channel...

 in Grand Rapids
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Grand Rapids is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. The city is located on the Grand River about 40 miles east of Lake Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 188,040. In 2010, the Grand Rapids metropolitan area had a population of 774,160 and a combined statistical area, Grand...

. The second debate would be held October 7 and be broadcast on 55 radio and TV stations throughout the state. The third debate would be held October 21 and would be sponsored by WXYZ-TV
WXYZ-TV
WXYZ-TV, channel 7, is an ABC-affiliated television station in Detroit, Michigan, USA. WXYZ-TV is owned by the E.W. Scripps Company, and is the media company's largest-market TV station property...

, WWJ (AM)
WWJ (AM)
WWJ is Detroit, Michigan's only 24-hour all-news radio station. Broadcasting at 950 kHz, the station is owned and operated by CBS Corporation subsidiary CBS Radio. The station first went on the air on August 20, 1920 with the call sign 8MK...

 and Crain's Detroit Business. Then in early September, Bernero offered Snyder a deal of eight debates. Snyder proposed a counter-offer of three debates, which Bernero refused. A Detroit Free Press
Detroit Free Press
The Detroit Free Press is the largest daily newspaper in Detroit, Michigan, USA. The Sunday edition is entitled the Sunday Free Press. It is sometimes informally referred to as the "Freep"...

editorial was critical of Snyder for not agreeing to debates. Bernero called Snyder a wimp for not agreeing to debate him. An impromptu debate developed after Bernero crashed a town hall meeting Snyder was hosting in Westland
Westland, Michigan
Westland is a city in Wayne County in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is located about west of downtown Detroit. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 84,094.-Politics:...

 on September 13. The two sides agreed to an hour-long televised debate, broadcasted on October 10 from the studios of WTVS
WTVS
WTVS, branded as Detroit Public TV, is the Public Broadcasting Service member Public television station in Detroit, Michigan. Broadcasting since 1955, its vision statement is "educate, entertain and inspire — in partnership with our community." The viewer supported station produces many local...

 in Wixom
Wixom, Michigan
Wixom is a city in Oakland County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 13,498 at the 2010 census. The city was home to the former Wixom Assembly Plant, which produced the Lincoln LS, the Ford Thunderbird, the Ford GT, and the Lincoln Town Car...

. A group of Detroit clergy have invited the two candidates to a debate there on October 21. Only Bernero accepted the invitation.

General election polling and predictions

Poll source Dates administered Virg Bernero (D) Rick Snyder (R)
Detroit News/WDIV Local 4 October 25–26, 2010 35% 53%
Free Press/WXYZ-TV Channel 7 October 23–26, 2010 37% 55%
Rossman Group/Team TelCom October 18, 2010 36% 50%
Rasmussen Reports October 17, 2010 34% 54%
Mitchell Research October 10, 2010 29% 49%
EPIC-MRA October 3–7, 2010 29% 49%
Rasmussen Reports September 20, 2010 38% 51%
Public Policy Polling September 17–19, 2010 31% 52%
Mitchell Research August 25–29, 2010 26% 53%
Detroit News August 9–10, 2010 32% 51%
Rasmussen Reports August 4, 2010 37% 49%
Rasmussen Reports June 10, 2010 30% 42%
Public Policy Polling May 25–27, 2010 28% 44%
EPIC-MRA May 22–26, 2010 28% 51%
EPIC-MRA March 28–31, 2010 29% 42%
Michigan Research Group March 10–15, 2010 26% 42%

Predictions

Source Ranking As of
Cook Political Report
Cook Political Report
The Cook Political Report is an independent, non-partisan online newsletter that analyzes elections and campaigns for the United States House of Representatives, the United States Senate, Governor's offices and the American Presidency. The Cook Political Report is led by a staff of five...

Likely R October 29, 2010
Rothenberg
Stuart Rothenberg
Stuart Rothenberg is an American editor, publisher, and political analyst best known for his Washington-based, biweekly, self-proclaimed non-partisan political newsletter The Rothenberg Political Report...

Safe R October 28, 2010
Swing State Project Safe R
RealClearPolitics
RealClearPolitics
RealClearPolitics is a political news and polling data aggregator based in Chicago, Illinois. The site's founders say their goal is to give readers "ideological diversity." They have described themselves as frustrated with what they perceive as anti-conservative, anti-Christian media bias, and...

Solid R October 29, 2010
Sabato's Crystal Ball
Sabato's Crystal Ball
Sabato’s Crystal Ball is a free, nonpartisan weekly online newsletter and comprehensive website in the United States that analyzes the current American political scene and predicts electoral outcomes for U.S House of Representatives, U.S. Senate, governors, and U.S. president races...

Safe R October 28, 2010
Rasmussen Reports
Rasmussen Reports
Rasmussen Reports is an American media company that publishes and distributes information based on public opinion polling. Founded by pollster Scott Rasmussen in 2003, the company updates daily indexes including the President's job approval rating, and provides public opinion data, analysis, and...

Safe R October 20, 2010
CQ Politics
Congressional Quarterly
Congressional Quarterly, Inc., or CQ, is a privately owned publishing company that produces a number of publications reporting primarily on the United States Congress...

Lean R October 29, 2010

Results

External links




Debates
  • Michigan Democratic Gubernatorial Primary Debate on C-SPAN
    C-SPAN
    C-SPAN , an acronym for Cable-Satellite Public Affairs Network, is an American cable television network that offers coverage of federal government proceedings and other public affairs programming via its three television channels , one radio station and a group of websites that provide streaming...

    , June 21, 2010
  • Michigan Republican Gubernatorial Primary Debate on C-SPAN
    C-SPAN
    C-SPAN , an acronym for Cable-Satellite Public Affairs Network, is an American cable television network that offers coverage of federal government proceedings and other public affairs programming via its three television channels , one radio station and a group of websites that provide streaming...

    , June 24, 2010
  • Michigan Republican Gubernatorial Primary Debate on C-SPAN
    C-SPAN
    C-SPAN , an acronym for Cable-Satellite Public Affairs Network, is an American cable television network that offers coverage of federal government proceedings and other public affairs programming via its three television channels , one radio station and a group of websites that provide streaming...

    , July 13, 2010


Official campaign sites
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