United States Senate special election in West Virginia, 2010
Encyclopedia
The 2010 United States Senate special election in West Virginia was held on November 2, 2010. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Robert C. Byrd died in office on June 28, 2010. Democrat Governor Joe Manchin
appointed Carte Goodwin
to temporarily fill the vacancy. Goodwin pledged to not run for election to the seat in exchange for the appointment. Governor Joe Manchin won the open seat and will serve out the remainder of Byrd's elected term, which ends on January 3, 2013.
from 1977 to 1989, as Majority Leader or Minority Leader. Afterwards, as the most senior Democrat in the Senate, he served as President pro tempore of the Senate
whenever his party was in the majority, including at the time of his death. The Democrats held a 59-41 seat majority in the Senate at the time of Byrd's death.
.
Additionally, the Mountain Party has been a slowly growing force in the state, hoping to capitalize on discontent from both political parties.
to make a temporary appointment to the vacant seat. Manchin named a former aide, 36-year old Carte Goodwin
, an attorney and fellow Democrat. Goodwin was sworn in on July 20, 2010, and chose not to run in the special election. Hours later, Manchin announced his intention to seek Byrd's seat.
to pass legislation scheduling the special election for 2010. Without a revision, West Virginia Secretary of State Natalie Tennant
believed that state law would not allow an election to be held until 2012. On July 19, legislators hammered out a compromise bill setting an Aug. 28 special primary and Nov. 2 special election to elect a senator for the roughly two years and five months remaining in Byrd's term. The bill only changes election law for 2010 and will not apply to other future elections. It also allows a West Virginian who is on the November general election ballot for some other office to also run in the special election.
In a surprise move after the primary, Hechler endorsed Jesse Johnson
of the Mountain Party
rather than his own party's nominee (Manchin). Corruption issues surrounding Manchin and the governor's exceedingly poor environmental record were cited as major reasons for endorsing the state's Green Party affiliate.
(President of United Mine Workers of America), while criticizing Raese for "putting profits before people,", supporting the elimination of the minimum wage, and supporting the FairTax
. Manchin has been endorsed by both the AFL-CIO
and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Raese has been endorsed from numerous pro-life PACs and Freedom Works. Raese has criticized Manchin for supporting House Bill 103, which is similar to Cap and trade.
Official candidate sites
Joe Manchin
Joseph "Joe" Manchin III is the junior United States Senator representing West Virginia. Manchin, a Democrat, was Governor of West Virginia from 2005 to 2010...
appointed Carte Goodwin
Carte Goodwin
Carte Patrick Goodwin is an American politician and attorney who served as a United States Senator from West Virginia. He is a member of the Democratic Party. Goodwin was appointed by West Virginia Governor Joe Manchin on July 16, 2010, to fill the vacancy created by the death of Robert Byrd. ...
to temporarily fill the vacancy. Goodwin pledged to not run for election to the seat in exchange for the appointment. Governor Joe Manchin won the open seat and will serve out the remainder of Byrd's elected term, which ends on January 3, 2013.
Byrd's career
Byrd had held his seat in the U.S. Senate since 1959, after having served in the House of Representatives since 1953, making him the longest-serving person in Congress. Byrd led his party in the SenateParty leaders of the United States Senate
The Senate Majority and Minority Leaders are two United States Senators who are elected by the party conferences that hold the majority and the minority respectively. These leaders serve as the chief Senate spokespeople for their parties and manage and schedule the legislative and executive...
from 1977 to 1989, as Majority Leader or Minority Leader. Afterwards, as the most senior Democrat in the Senate, he served as President pro tempore of the Senate
President pro tempore of the United States Senate
The President pro tempore is the second-highest-ranking official of the United States Senate. The United States Constitution states that the Vice President of the United States is the President of the Senate and the highest-ranking official of the Senate despite not being a member of the body...
whenever his party was in the majority, including at the time of his death. The Democrats held a 59-41 seat majority in the Senate at the time of Byrd's death.
State politics
West Virginia has not elected a Republican to the U.S. Senate since 1956, but has voted Republican in presidential elections since 2000. Seventy-seven percent of voters in the state approve of Democratic governor Joe Manchin, but only 35% approve of Democratic President Barack ObamaBarack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
.
Additionally, the Mountain Party has been a slowly growing force in the state, hoping to capitalize on discontent from both political parties.
Interim appointment
State law allowed Governor Joe ManchinJoe Manchin
Joseph "Joe" Manchin III is the junior United States Senator representing West Virginia. Manchin, a Democrat, was Governor of West Virginia from 2005 to 2010...
to make a temporary appointment to the vacant seat. Manchin named a former aide, 36-year old Carte Goodwin
Carte Goodwin
Carte Patrick Goodwin is an American politician and attorney who served as a United States Senator from West Virginia. He is a member of the Democratic Party. Goodwin was appointed by West Virginia Governor Joe Manchin on July 16, 2010, to fill the vacancy created by the death of Robert Byrd. ...
, an attorney and fellow Democrat. Goodwin was sworn in on July 20, 2010, and chose not to run in the special election. Hours later, Manchin announced his intention to seek Byrd's seat.
Timing of the election
Gov. Manchin urged the West Virginia LegislatureWest Virginia Legislature
The West Virginia Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of West Virginia. A bicameral legislative body, the Legislature is split between the upper Senate and the lower House of Delegates. It was established under Article VI of the West Virginia Constitution following the state's...
to pass legislation scheduling the special election for 2010. Without a revision, West Virginia Secretary of State Natalie Tennant
Natalie Tennant
Natalie E. Tennant is the Secretary of State of West Virginia. She was elected in 2008 and officially took office as the 29th Secretary of State on January 19, 2009...
believed that state law would not allow an election to be held until 2012. On July 19, legislators hammered out a compromise bill setting an Aug. 28 special primary and Nov. 2 special election to elect a senator for the roughly two years and five months remaining in Byrd's term. The bill only changes election law for 2010 and will not apply to other future elections. It also allows a West Virginian who is on the November general election ballot for some other office to also run in the special election.
Candidates
- Joe ManchinJoe ManchinJoseph "Joe" Manchin III is the junior United States Senator representing West Virginia. Manchin, a Democrat, was Governor of West Virginia from 2005 to 2010...
, incumbent Governor of West Virginia - Sheirl Fletcher, former State DelegateWest Virginia House of DelegatesThe West Virginia House of Delegates is the lower house of the West Virginia Legislature. Only three states—Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia—refer to their lower house as the House of Delegates.-Historical:-Current:-District organization:...
- Ken HechlerKen HechlerKenneth William Hechler is an American politician. A member of the Democratic Party, he represented West Virginia in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1959 to 1977 and was West Virginia Secretary of State from 1985 to 2001....
, former West Virginia Secretary of State and former U.S. RepresentativeUnited States House of RepresentativesThe United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
Campaign
Despite Manchin's very high popularity in the state, he received two politically experienced challengers. Hechler is a former Secretary of State and U.S. Representative, who at the age of 95 campaigned across the state on an anti-mountaintop removal platform.In a surprise move after the primary, Hechler endorsed Jesse Johnson
Jesse Johnson
Jesse Johnson is the name of:* Jesse Johnson , American politician, filmmaker, actor, 2008 presidential candidate* Jesse Johnson , American musician, lead guitarist of The Time...
of the Mountain Party
Mountain Party
The Mountain Party is a political party in the state of West Virginia that on July 8, 2007, at its state convention, voted to become the West Virginia affiliate of the Green Party. At the 2007 Green Party National Meeting the party was admitted to the Green Party as a state affiliate. It is a...
rather than his own party's nominee (Manchin). Corruption issues surrounding Manchin and the governor's exceedingly poor environmental record were cited as major reasons for endorsing the state's Green Party affiliate.
Results
Candidates
- John RaeseJohn RaeseJohn R. Raese is an American business owner and politician. He has lost campaigns to represent West Virginia in the U.S. Senate in 1984, 2006 and 2010, and a campaign for Governor of West Virginia in 1988....
, businessman - Harry C. Bruner Jr., attorney
- Kenneth Culp, Vietnam WarVietnam WarThe Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
veteran and accountant - Albert Howard, and candidate in the 2008 New Hampshire Republican presidential primaryNew Hampshire Republican primary, 2008The 2008 New Hampshire Republican primary took place on January 8, 2008, with 12 national delegates being allocated proportionally to the popular vote...
- Frank Kubic, epigramEpigramAn epigram is a brief, interesting, usually memorable and sometimes surprising statement. Derived from the epigramma "inscription" from ἐπιγράφειν epigraphein "to write on inscribe", this literary device has been employed for over two millennia....
matist author - Lynette Kennedy McQuain, substitute teacher's aide
- Daniel Scott Rebich, concrete contracting business owner
- Thomas Ressler, retired officer of the Maryland Department of Corrections
- Mac Warner, businessman
- Scott H. Williams, wood products industry supervisor and manager
Campaign
During the Republican primary campaign, only Raese and Warner released television advertisements.Results
Candidates
- Jeff Becker (Constitution PartyConstitution 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...
), West Virginia Constitution Party chairman (campaign site, PVS) - Jesse JohnsonJesse Johnson (politician)Jesse C. Johnson, Jr. is an Executive Committee member and former chair of the environmentalist Mountain Party, the West Virginia affiliate of the Green Party. He has twice been his party's candidate for Governor of West Virginia, and once for a Senate seat...
(Mountain PartyMountain PartyThe Mountain Party is a political party in the state of West Virginia that on July 8, 2007, at its state convention, voted to become the West Virginia affiliate of the Green Party. At the 2007 Green Party National Meeting the party was admitted to the Green Party as a state affiliate. It is a...
), lobbyist, freelance writer and lecturer - Joe ManchinJoe ManchinJoseph "Joe" Manchin III is the junior United States Senator representing West Virginia. Manchin, a Democrat, was Governor of West Virginia from 2005 to 2010...
(Democratic Party), Governor - John RaeseJohn RaeseJohn R. Raese is an American business owner and politician. He has lost campaigns to represent West Virginia in the U.S. Senate in 1984, 2006 and 2010, and a campaign for Governor of West Virginia in 1988....
(Republican Party), businessman - John R "Rick" Bartlett (Write In)
- Charles G. "Bud" Railey (Write In)
Campaign
Manchin's campaign ads emphasized his support from labor unions and Cecil RobertsCecil Roberts (unionist)
Cecil Roberts is a miner and president of the United Mine Workers of America . He is also a vice president of the AFL-CIO, and sits on the AFL-CIO's executive council.-Early life:Roberts was born on Halloween in 1946...
(President of United Mine Workers of America), while criticizing Raese for "putting profits before people,", supporting the elimination of the minimum wage, and supporting the FairTax
FairTax
The FairTax is a tax reform proposal for the federal government of the United States that would replace all federal taxes on personal and corporate income with a single broad national consumption tax on retail sales. The Fair Tax Act would apply a tax once at the point of purchase on all new goods...
. Manchin has been endorsed by both the AFL-CIO
AFL-CIO
The American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations, commonly AFL–CIO, is a national trade union center, the largest federation of unions in the United States, made up of 56 national and international unions, together representing more than 11 million workers...
and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Raese has been endorsed from numerous pro-life PACs and Freedom Works. Raese has criticized Manchin for supporting House Bill 103, which is similar to Cap and trade.
Debates
The first and only debate was held October 18. It featured all four Senate candidates. Raese wanted at least three debates.Predictions
| Source | Ranking | As of |
|---|---|---|
| The Cook Political Report | Toss up | October 31, 2010 |
| The Rothenberg Political Report 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... |
Toss up/tilt D | 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... |
Toss up | October 30, 2010 |
| 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... |
Toss up | October 31, 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... |
Leans D | October 28, 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... |
Toss up | October 31, 2010 |
Polling
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of error |
Joe Manchin (D) | John Raese (R) | Other | Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rasmussen Reports (report) | October 31, 2010 | 750 | ± 4.0% | 50% | 46% | 1% | 3% |
| Public Policy Polling (report) | October 30–31, 2010 | 1,676 | ± 2.4% | 51% | 46% | — | 3% |
| Rasmussen Reports (report) | October 26, 2010 | 750 | ± 4.0% | 49% | 46% | 2% | 4% |
| Public Policy Polling (report) | October 23–24, 2010 | 1,246 | ± 2.8% | 50% | 44% | — | 6% |
| Fox News/Pulse Opinion Research (report) | October 23, 2010 | 1,000 | ± 3.0% | 46% | 48% | 3% | 3% |
| Rasmussen Reports (report) | October 19, 2010 | 750 | ± 4.0% | 43% | 50% | 2% | 5% |
| Fox News/Pulse Opinion Research (report) | October 16, 2010 | 1,000 | ± 3.0% | 45% | 48% | 2% | 4% |
| Rasmussen Reports (report) | October 12, 2010 | 750 | ± 4.0% | 46% | 49% | 2% | 3% |
| Marshall University (report) | October 11–12, 2010 | 450 | ± 4.6% | 48% | 38% | — | 12% |
| CNN/Time/Opinion Research (report) | October 8–12, 2010 | 1,507 | ± 2.5% | 44% | 44% | 4% | — |
| Public Policy Polling (report) | October 9–10, 2010 | 1,247 | ± 2.8% | 48% | 45% | — | 7% |
| Rasmussen Reports (report) | October 6, 2010 | 750 | ± 4.0% | 44% | 50% | 2% | 5% |
| Fox News/Pulse Opinion Research (report) | October 2, 2010 | 1,000 | ± 3.0% | 43% | 48% | 3% | 6% |
| Rasmussen Reports (report) | September 27, 2010 | 500 | ± 4.5% | 46% | 48% | 2% | 4% |
| Public Policy Polling (report) | September 19, 2010 | 1,397 | ± 2.6% | 43% | 46% | — | 10% |
| Rasmussen Reports (report) | September 19, 2010 | 750 | ± 4.0% | 50% | 43% | 1% | 5% |
| Rasmussen Reports (report) | September 8, 2010 | 500 | ± 4.5% | 50% | 45% | 2% | 3% |
| Rasmussen Reports (report) | August 29, 2010 | 500 | ± 4.5% | 48% | 42% | 4% | 7% |
| MindField Poll (report) | August 6, 2010 | 413 | ± 6.0% | 54% | 32% | — | 14% |
| Rasmussen Reports (report) | July 22, 2010 | 500 | ± 4.5% | 51% | 35% | 5% | 9% |
Fundraising
| Candidate (Party) | Receipts | Disbursements | Cash On Hand | Debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| John Raese (R) | $3,071,909 | $2,728,034 | $343,876 | $3,273,959 |
| Joe Manchin (D) | $3,351,829 | $2,746,439 | $605,390 | $3,568 |
| Source: Federal Election Commission | ||||
Results
External links
- Elections Division at the West Virginia Secretary of State
- U.S. Congress candidates for West Virginia 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...
- West Virginia U.S. Senate - Special Election 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 West Virginia Senate General Election: John Raese (R) vs Joe Manchin (D) graph of multiple polls from Pollster.com
- Election 2010: West Virginia Senate Special Election 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...
- West Virginia Senate Special Election, Raese vs. Manchin from Real Clear Politics
- 2010 West Virginia 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...
Official candidate sites