United States Senate election in Maryland, 2010
Encyclopedia
The 2010 United States Senate election in Maryland was held on November 2, 2010. Primary election
s were held on September 14, 2010. Incumbent Democratic
U.S. Senator Barbara Mikulski
won re-election to a fifth term.
as the longest serving senator in state history, and also becoming the longest serving female senator in history, turning 80 years old in the process. On February 15, 2010, rumors began to circulate that Mikulski would not seek reelection; however, these were denied by Democratic sources soon after.
High-profile opposition for Mikulski was not anticipated since she remained popular in the state. She has previously won senate elections in 1986
, 1992
, 1998
, and 2004
by margins of 21, 42, 41 and 31 percentage points, respectively. Additionally, in the general election
, state Republicans
are expected to focus most of their attention on the seats of Governor Martin O'Malley
and first-term Congressman Frank Kratovil
, the latter of whom won a surprise victory in a conservative district of the state. Nitkin and Larry Sabato
's Crystal Ball
consider her seat as overwhelmingly "safe."
by calling her a political "insidersaurus" for being in Washington for over thirty years. Mikulski released positive advertisements emphsizing education and job creation. The incumbent had one of the highest approval ratings among U.S. Senators in the nation, with a 54% approval rating in a PPP
poll.
Despite Wargotz's limited campaign and resources he received the highest percentage of votes against Mikulski in over 10 years.
Official campaign sites
Primary election
A primary election is an election in which party members or voters select candidates for a subsequent election. Primary elections are one means by which a political party nominates candidates for the next general election....
s were held on September 14, 2010. Incumbent Democratic
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...
U.S. Senator Barbara Mikulski
Barbara Mikulski
Barbara Ann Mikulski is the senior United States Senator from Maryland and a member of the Democratic Party. Mikulski, a former U.S. Representative, is the longest-serving female senator in U.S...
won re-election to a fifth term.
Background
According to Baltimore Sun columnist David Nitkin, Mikulski had indicated she planned to seek re-election to a fifth term. If Mikulski were to win re-election and serve the full term, she would tie Paul SarbanesPaul Sarbanes
Paul Spyros Sarbanes , a Democrat, is a former United States Senator who represented the state of Maryland. Sarbanes was the longest-serving senator in Maryland history, having served from 1977 until 2007. He did not seek re-election in 2006, when he was succeeded by fellow Democrat Ben Cardin...
as the longest serving senator in state history, and also becoming the longest serving female senator in history, turning 80 years old in the process. On February 15, 2010, rumors began to circulate that Mikulski would not seek reelection; however, these were denied by Democratic sources soon after.
High-profile opposition for Mikulski was not anticipated since she remained popular in the state. She has previously won senate elections in 1986
United States Senate election in Maryland, 1986
The 1986 United States Senate election in Maryland was held on November 3, 1986. Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Charles Mathias, Jr. decided to retire, instead of seeking a fourth term. Democratic nominee Barbara Mikulski won the open seat vs. Linda Chavez, who won more votes by any Republican...
, 1992
United States Senate election in Maryland, 1992
The 1992 United States Senate election in Maryland was held on November 3, 1992. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Barbara Mikulski won re-election to a second term.-Candidates:*Barbara Mikulski, incumbent U.S. Senator*Thomas M...
, 1998
United States Senate election in Maryland, 1998
The 1998 United States Senate election in Maryland was held on November 3, 2004. Incumbent Democrat U.S. Senator Barbara Mikulski won re-election to a third term.-Results:-Candidates:*Ross Pierpont*John Taylor*Michael Gloth*Kenneth Wayman...
, and 2004
United States Senate election in Maryland, 2004
The 2004 United States Senate election in Maryland was held on November 2, 2004. Incumbent Democrat U.S. Senator Barbara Mikulski won re-election to a fourth term.- Candidates :*Barbara Mikulski, incumbent U.S. Senator*Robert Kaufman, social organizer...
by margins of 21, 42, 41 and 31 percentage points, respectively. Additionally, in the general election
General election
In a parliamentary political system, a general election is an election in which all or most members of a given political body are chosen. The term is usually used to refer to elections held for a nation's primary legislative body, as distinguished from by-elections and local elections.The term...
, state 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...
are expected to focus most of their attention on the seats of Governor Martin O'Malley
Martin O'Malley
Martin Joseph O'Malley is an American Democratic politician who is currently serving as the 61st Governor of Maryland. Previously, he served as the mayor of Baltimore from 1999 to 2007. He is currently the chairman of the Democratic Governors Association.-Early life, education and career:O'Malley...
and first-term Congressman Frank Kratovil
Frank Kratovil
Frank Michael Kratovil Jr., is the former U.S. Representative for , serving since 2009. He was defeated in his bid for reelection on November 2, 2010. He is a member of the Democratic Party...
, the latter of whom won a surprise victory in a conservative district of the state. Nitkin and Larry Sabato
Larry Sabato
Larry Joseph Sabato is an American political scientist and analyst. He is the Robert Kent Gooch Professor of Politics at the University of Virginia, and director of its Center for Politics. He founded Sabato's Crystal Ball, an online newsletter and website that provides free political analysis and...
'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...
consider her seat as overwhelmingly "safe."
Democratic primary
Republican primary
Major
- Barbara MikulskiBarbara MikulskiBarbara Ann Mikulski is the senior United States Senator from Maryland and a member of the Democratic Party. Mikulski, a former U.S. Representative, is the longest-serving female senator in U.S...
(D), incumbent U.S. Senator - Eric Wargotz (R), Queen Anne's CountyQueen Anne's County, MarylandQueen Anne's County is a county located on the Eastern Shore of the U.S. state of Maryland.As of 2010, the population was 47,798. Its county seat and most populous municipality is Centreville. The census-designated place of Stevensville is the county's most populous place...
Commissioner and doctor
Minor
- Don Kaplan (Independent) website and videos: donkaplanforussenate.com
- Richard Shawver (Constitution)
- Kenniss Henry (Green)
- Natasha Pettigrew (deceased) was the Green Party candidate. On September 19, while cycling, Pettigrew was hit by an SUV. Her mother, Kenniss Henry, was chosen by the Green Party to replace Pettigrew on the ballot.
Campaign
Wargotz, a political unknown, released only one television ad, comparing Mikulski to a dinosaurDinosaur
Dinosaurs are a diverse group of animals of the clade and superorder Dinosauria. They were the dominant terrestrial vertebrates for over 160 million years, from the late Triassic period until the end of the Cretaceous , when the Cretaceous–Paleogene extinction event led to the extinction of...
by calling her a political "insidersaurus" for being in Washington for over thirty years. Mikulski released positive advertisements emphsizing education and job creation. The incumbent had one of the highest approval ratings among U.S. Senators in the nation, with a 54% approval rating in a PPP
Public Policy Polling
Public Policy Polling is an American Democratic Party-affiliated polling firm based in Raleigh, North Carolina. PPP was founded in 2001 by businessman and Democratic pollster Dean Debnam, the firm's current president and chief executive officer...
poll.
Despite Wargotz's limited campaign and resources he received the highest percentage of votes against Mikulski in over 10 years.
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... |
Solid D | October 19, 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 D | October 15, 2010 |
| Swing State Project | Safe D | |
| 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... |
Safe D | October 19, 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 D | October 14, 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... |
Safe D | October 19, 2010 |
Polling
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of error |
Barbara Mikulski (D) | Eric Wargotz (R) | Other | Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rasmussen Reports (report) | October 24, 2010 | 750 | ± 4.0% | 56% | 38% | 2% | 4% |
| Baltimore Sun/OpinionWorks (report) | October 15–20, 2010 | 798 | ± 3.5% | 59% | 32% | –– | 8% |
| Gonzales Research & Marketing Strategies, Inc. (report) | October 11–16, 2010 | 816 | ± 3.5% | 55% | 38% | –– | 7% |
| 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... (report) |
September 15, 2010 | 750 | ± 4.0% | 54% | 38% | 4% | 4% |
| 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... (report) |
August 20, 2010 | 750 | ± 4.0% | 55% | 39% | 3% | 3% |
| Public Policy Polling Public Policy Polling Public Policy Polling is an American Democratic Party-affiliated polling firm based in Raleigh, North Carolina. PPP was founded in 2001 by businessman and Democratic pollster Dean Debnam, the firm's current president and chief executive officer... (report) |
July 10–12, 2010 | 569 | ± 4.1% | 59% | 27% | –– | 14% |
| 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... (report) |
July 8, 2010 | 500 | ± 4.5% | 58% | 33% | 2% | 7% |
Fundraising
| Candidate (party) | Receipts | Disbursements | Cash on hand | Debt | Cash minus debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barbara Mikulski (D) | $3,690,724 | $2,792,437 | $1,772,774 | $0 | $1,772,774 |
| Eric Wargotz (R) | $1,210,327 | $743,392 | $466,931 | $850,000 | $-383,069 |
| Source: Federal Election Commission | |||||
Results
External links
- Maryland State Board of Elections
- U.S. Congress candidates for Maryland at Project Vote SmartProject Vote SmartProject Vote Smart is a non-profit, non-partisan research organization that collects and distributes information on candidates for public office in the United States...
- Maryland U.S. Senate from OurCampaigns.com
- Campaign contributions from Open SecretsOpen SecretsOpen Secrets is a book of short stories by Alice Munro published by McClelland and Stewart in 1994. It was nominated for the 1994 Governor General's Award for English Fiction.-Stories:* "Carried Away"* "A Real Life"...
- 2010 Maryland Polls graph of multiple polls from Pollster.com
- Election 2010: Maryland Senate from Rasmussen ReportsRasmussen ReportsRasmussen 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...
- Maryland Senate from Real Clear Politics
- 2010 Maryland Senate Race from CQ PoliticsCongressional QuarterlyCongressional Quarterly, Inc., or CQ, is a privately owned publishing company that produces a number of publications reporting primarily on the United States Congress...
- Race profile from The New York TimesThe New York TimesThe New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
- Candidate blogs at The Baltimore SunThe Baltimore SunThe Baltimore Sun is the U.S. state of Maryland’s largest general circulation daily newspaper and provides coverage of local and regional news, events, issues, people, and industries....
Official campaign sites