2010 United States Senate election in North Carolina

2010 United States Senate election in North Carolina
	Burr: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% >90%; Marshall: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% >90%; Tie: 40–50%
U.S. senator before election; Richard Burr; Republican	Elected U.S. Senator ; Richard Burr; Republican

The 2010 United States Senate election in North Carolina was held on November 2, 2010. The filing deadline for the primaries was February 26; the primaries were held on May 4, with a Democratic primary runoff held on June 22.^[1] Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Richard Burr won re-election to a second term. Burr is the first incumbent to win re-election for this seat since Sam Ervin's last re-election in 1968.^[2]

Burr was the first Republican re-elected to this seat. Burr's 54.8% also represented the highest vote share a North Carolina Republican received since the state began directly electing its senators.

Background

This Senate seat was unfavorable to incumbents over the past several decades. No person elected to this seat was re-elected since Sam Ervin in 1968. His successor, Democrat Robert Burren Morgan, was defeated for re-election in 1980, along with many other incumbents from his party. His Republican successor, John Porter East, committed suicide in 1986. East's appointed successor, Jim Broyhill, served for just four months, resigning upon his November 1986 election loss to former Democratic Governor Terry Sanford. In 1992, the seat changed hands yet again, as Sanford was defeated by wealthy GOP businessman Lauch Faircloth, who himself lost in his bid for a second term six years later by John Edwards. In 2004, no incumbent was defeated, as Edwards was running for vice president and was not allowed to be on the ballot in both races. However, that year the seat did change parties for the fifth time in a row, with Richard Burr defeating Bill Clinton's onetime Chief of Staff Erskine Bowles.

Republican primary

Candidates

Eddie Burks, Asheboro City Councilman^[3]
Richard Burr, incumbent U.S. Senator
Brad Jones, businessman^[4]
Larry Linney, former State Representative^[5]^[6]

Polling

Poll source	Dates administered	Richard Burr	Brad Jones	Eddie Burks
Public Policy Polling^[7]	February 15, 2010	55%	10%	3%
Public Policy Polling^[8]	March 12–15, 2010	58%	5%	4%
Public Policy Polling^[9]	April 8–11, 2010	67%	7%	3%
Survey USA^[10]	April 26, 2010	59%	6%	3%

Results

Republican primary results^[11]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Richard Burr (incumbent)	297,993	80.1%
	Republican	Brad Jones	37,616	10.1%
	Republican	Eddie Burks	22,111	5.9%
	Republican	Larry Linney	14,248	3.8%
Total votes			371,968	100.0%

Democratic primary

Candidates

From the North Carolina State Board of Elections:^[5]

Cal Cunningham, former State Senator^[12]^[13]
Susan Harris, retired accountant^[14]
Ken Lewis, attorney^[15]
Elaine Marshall, North Carolina Secretary of State and candidate in 2002^[16]^[17]
Marcus Williams, attorney
Ann Worthy, former Gaston County Board of Education member

Polling

Poll source	Dates administered	Elaine Marshall	Cal Cunningham	Kenneth Lewis
Marshall^[18]	December 1, 2009	42%	5%	7%
Public Policy Polling^[7]	February 15, 2010	29%	12%	5%
Public Policy Polling^[8]	March 12–15, 2010	20%	16%	11%
Public Policy Polling^[9]	April 8–11, 2010	23%	17%	9%
WRAL-TV/SurveyUSA^[19]	April 25, 2010	23%	19%	10%
Public Policy Polling^[20]	April 27, 2010	26%	23%	7%
Public Policy Polling^[21]	May 1–2, 2010	28%	21%	9%
Rasmussen Reports^[22]	May 4, 2010	42%	37%	––
Public Policy Polling^[23]	May 8–10, 2010	36%	36%	––

Results

Democratic primary results – May 4, 2010*^[11]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Elaine Marshall	154,605	36.4%
	Democratic	Cal Cunningham	115,851	27.3%
	Democratic	Ken Lewis	72,510	17.1%
	Democratic	Marcus W. Williams	35,984	8.5%
	Democratic	Susan Harris	29,738	7.0%
	Democratic	Ann Worthy	16,655	3.9%
Total votes			425,343	100.0%

* Note: Since no candidate received 40% of the vote on May 4, state law allowed a runoff (or "second primary") election if requested by the second-place finisher. Cunningham requested such a runoff.^[24]

Democratic primary runoff results – June 22, 2010^[11]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Elaine Marshall	95,390	60.0%
	Democratic	Cal Cunningham	63,691	40.0%
Total votes			159,081	100.0%

General election

Candidates

Michael Beitler (L), lecturer of Bryan School of Business and Economics at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro^[25]
Richard Burr (R), incumbent U.S. Senator
Elaine Marshall (D), North Carolina Secretary of State

Campaign

Marshall was endorsed by The Charlotte Observer, The Wilmington Star-News, the Elizabeth City Daily Advance and The Southern Pines Pilot.^[26] Burr was endorsed by the Greensboro News & Record^[27] and the Asheville Citizen-Times.^[28]

Debates

October 11: Sponsored by the North Carolina Association of Broadcasters Education Foundation and moderated by the Carl Kasell. It was televised by UNC-TV in Raleigh.^[29]
October 14: In Raleigh^[30]
October 21: Sponsored by N.C. Association of Broadcasters and moderated by Judy Woodruff in Durham.^[31]

Predictions

Source	Ranking	As of
Cook Political Report^[32]	Likely R	October 26, 2010
Rothenberg^[33]	Likely R	October 22, 2010
RealClearPolitics^[34]	Likely R	October 26, 2010
Sabato's Crystal Ball^[35]	Likely R	October 21, 2010
CQ Politics^[36]	Likely R	October 26, 2010

Polling

Poll source	Dates administered	MoE	Richard Burr (R)	Elaine Marshall (D)	Michael Beitler (L)
Public Policy Polling^[37]	March 12–15, 2009	± 3.1%	43%	35%	––
Public Policy Polling^[38]	August 4–10, 2009	± 3.6%	43%	31%	––
Public Policy Polling^[39]	September 2–8, 2009	± 4.0%	42%	31%	––
Rasmussen Reports^[40]	September 15, 2009	± 4.5%	48%	38%	––
Public Policy Polling^[41]	October 2–4, 2009	± 3.8%	44%	32%	––
Public Policy Polling^[42]	November 9–11, 2009	± 3.7%	45%	34%	––
Public Policy Polling^[43]	December 11–13, 2009	± 4.0%	42%	37%	––
Public Policy Polling^[44]	January 15–18, 2010	± 3.8%	44%	37%	––
Rasmussen Reports^[45]	January 27, 2010	± 4.5%	47%	37%	––
Public Policy Polling^[46]	February 12–15, 2010	± 3.5%	43%	33%	––
Rasmussen Reports^[47]	February 23, 2010	± 4.5%	50%	34%	––
Rasmussen Reports^[48]	March 22, 2010	± 4.5%	51%	35%	––
Rasmussen Reports^[49]	April 19, 2010	± 4.5%	50%	32%	––
Rasmussen Reports^[50]	May 5, 2010	± 4.5%	48%	40%	––
Public Policy Polling^[51]	May 8–10, 2010	± 3.9%	43%	42%	––
Rasmussen Reports^[52]	June 3, 2010	± 3.0%	50%	36%	––
Public Policy Polling^[53]	June 4–6, 2010	± 3.9%	46%	39%	––
Rasmussen Reports^[54]	June 23, 2010	± 4.5%	44%	43%	––
SurveyUSA^[55]	June 23–24, 2010	± 4.0%	50%	40%	6%
Public Policy Polling^[56]	June 26–27, 2010	± 4.4%	38%	33%	10%
Rasmussen Reports^[57]	July 6, 2010	± 4.5%	52%	37%	––
Survey USA^[58]	July 8–11, 2010	± 4.2%	46%	36%	6%
Lake Research^[59]	July 15–19, 2010	± 4.0%	35%	37%	5%
Public Policy Polling^[60]	July 27–31, 2010	± 3.9%	39%	37%	7%
Rasmussen Reports^[61]	August 3, 2010	± 4.5%	49%	40%	––
Public Policy Polling^[62]	August 27–29, 2010	± 3.6%	43%	38%	6%
Rasmussen Reports^[57]	September 8, 2010	± 4.5%	54%	38%	––
SurveyUSA^[63]	September 14, 2010	± 4.1%	58%	32%	6%
Civitas^[64]	September 15–17, 2010	± 4.0%	49%	29%	3%
Public Polling Policy^[65]	September 23–26, 2010	± 3.8%	49%	36%	4%
High Point University^[66]	September 25–30, 2010	± 5.0%	45%	31%	4%
Rasmussen Reports^[57]	October 12, 2010	± 4.5%	52%	38%	––
Public Policy Polling^[67]	October 15–17, 2010	± 4.0%	48%	40%	3%
SurveyUSA^[68]	October 22–25, 2010	± 4.1%	53%	38%	5%
Public Policy Polling^[69]	October 29–31, 2010	± 3.4%	52%	40%	2%

Fundraising

Candidate (party)	Receipts	Disbursements	Cash on hand	Debt
Richard Burr (R)	$8,444,115	$8,735,725	$1,600,695	$0
Elaine Marshall (D)	$2,561,900	$2,229,840	$329,886	$71,500
Michael Beitler (L)	$16,302	$9,951	$6,350	$11,906
Source: Federal Election Commission^[70]

Results

2010 United States Senate election in North Carolina^[71]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Richard Burr (incumbent)	1,458,046	54.81%	+3.21%
	Democratic	Elaine Marshall	1,145,074	43.05%	−3.97%
	Libertarian	Mike Beitler	55,682	2.09%	+0.72%
	Write-in		1,272	0.05%	+0.04%
Total votes			2,660,079	100.00%	N/A
	Republican hold

Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican

Caswell (largest city: Yanceyville)
Columbus (largest municipality: Whiteville)
Yancey (largest municipality: Burnsville)
Perquimans (largest city: Hertford)
Camden (largest city: Camden)
Tyrrell (largest municipality: Columbia)
Guilford (largest city: Greensboro)
Swain (largest municipality: Cherokee)
Granville (largest city: Oxford)
Hyde (largest community: Ocracoke)
Jackson (largest town: Cullowhee)
Wake (largest town: Raleigh)

References

^ "State Board of Elections Calendar". Sboe.state.nc.us. Archived from the original on June 18, 2010. Retrieved June 14, 2010.
^ Election 2010: North Carolina Senate, Rasmussen Reports, March 24, 2010.
^ "Asheboro council member to challenge Burr". News & Record. January 21, 2010. Retrieved February 10, 2010.
^ "Western NC businessman files for Senate race". The Sun News. February 16, 2010. Retrieved February 27, 2010. ^{[dead link]}
^ ^a ^b "State Board of Elections: Candidate Filing List". Sboe.state.nc.us. February 26, 2010. Archived from the original on June 18, 2010. Retrieved June 14, 2010.
^ "He's at it again: Larry Linney files for U.S. Senate run". Asheville Citizen-Times. March 2, 2010. Retrieved March 2, 2010. ^{[dead link]}
^ ^a ^b Public Policy Polling
^ ^a ^b Public Policy Polling
^ ^a ^b Public Policy Polling
^ Survey USA
^ ^a ^b ^c "The 2010 Results Maps". Politico.Com. Retrieved June 14, 2010.
^ "NC-Sen: Democrats get Cunningham". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on July 20, 2012. Retrieved May 27, 2010.
^ McArdle, John. "Good News, Bad Timing on N.C. Senate Race". CQ Politics. Retrieved June 14, 2010. ^{[permanent dead link]}
^ Christensen, Rob. "News & Observer: 2nd-tier Senate hopefuls soldier on". Newsobserver.com. Archived from the original on April 29, 2010. Retrieved June 14, 2010.
^ "News & Observer: Durham lawyer eyes Burr seat". Projects.newsobserver.com. Archived from the original on August 31, 2009. Retrieved June 14, 2010.
^ "Democrats expand their search for Burr challenger". March 10, 2009. Archived from the original on December 16, 2017. Retrieved March 10, 2009.
^ "News & Observer blog: Marshall running for U.S. Senate". Projects.newsobserver.com. Archived from the original on March 5, 2011. Retrieved June 14, 2010.
^ Marshall
^ WRAL-TV/SurveyUSA
^ Public Policy Polling
^ Public Policy Polling
^ Rasmussen Reports
^ Public Policy Polling
^ "News & Observer: Cunningham wants a runoff". Projects.newsobserver.com. Archived from the original on April 1, 2012. Retrieved June 14, 2010.
^ "Bryan School directory". Archived from the original on May 15, 2011. Retrieved July 6, 2010.
^ "Marshall Nabs Key Newspaper Endorsements | Elaine Marshall for U.S. Senate". Archived from the original on October 28, 2010. Retrieved December 20, 2022.
^ "Editorial: Burr for Senate : News-Record.com : Greensboro & the Triad's most trusted source for local news and analysis". Archived from the original on September 5, 2012. Retrieved December 20, 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
^ "Tar Heels need a senator who can say yes | The Asheville Citizen-Times | citizen-times.com". Retrieved December 20, 2022.
^ "News". The Asheville Citizen-Times. Retrieved December 20, 2022.
^ NC Senate Candidates Burr and Marshall Miami Herald. 14 October 2010 ^{[dead link]}
^ Testy debate ^{[permanent dead link]}
^ "Senate". Cook Political Report. Retrieved October 26, 2010.
^ "Senate Ratings". Rothenberg Political Report. Retrieved October 26, 2010.
^ "Battle for the Senate". RealClearPolitics. Retrieved October 26, 2010.
^ "2010 Senate Ratings". Sabato's Crystal Ball. Archived from the original on October 28, 2010. Retrieved October 26, 2010.
^ "Race Ratings Chart: Senate". CQ Politics. Archived from the original on October 28, 2010. Retrieved October 26, 2010.
^ Public Policy Polling
^ Public Policy Polling
^ Public Policy Polling
^ Rasmussen Reports
^ Public Policy Polling
^ Public Policy Polling
^ Public Policy Polling
^ Public Policy Polling
^ Rasmussen Reports
^ Public Policy Polling
^ Rasmussen Reports
^ Rasmussen Reports
^ Rasmussen Reports
^ Rasmussen Reports
^ Public Policy Polling
^ Rasmussen Reports
^ Public Policy Polling
^ Rasmussen Reports
^ SurveyUSA
^ Public Policy Polling
^ ^a ^b ^c Rasmussen Reports
^ Survey USA
^ Lake Research
^ Public Policy Polling
^ Rasmussen Reports
^ Public Policy Polling
^ SurveyUSA
^ Civitas
^ Public Polling Policy
^ High Point University Archived November 11, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
^ Public Policy Polling
^ SurveyUSA
^ Public Policy Polling
^ "2010 House and Senate Campaign Finance for North Carolina". fec.gov. Retrieved July 25, 2010. ^{[permanent dead link]}
^ "NC – Election Results". Retrieved December 20, 2022.

External links

North Carolina State Board of Elections
U.S. Congress candidates for North Carolina Archived September 30, 2010, at the Wayback Machine at Project Vote Smart
North Carolina U.S. Senate 2010 from OurCampaigns.com
Campaign contributions from Open Secrets
2010 North Carolina Senate General Election: All Head-to-Head Matchups graph of multiple polls from Pollster.com
Election 2010: North Carolina Senate from Rasmussen Reports
2010 North Carolina Senate Race from Real Clear Politics
2010 North Carolina Senate Race from CQ Politics
Race profile from The New York Times

Debates

North Carolina Democratic Senate Primary Runoff Debate, C-SPAN, June 15, 2010

Official campaign sites (archived)

[1] "State Board of Elections Calendar". Sboe.state.nc.us. Archived from the original on June 18, 2010. Retrieved June 14, 2010.

[2] Election 2010: North Carolina Senate, Rasmussen Reports, March 24, 2010.

[3] "Asheboro council member to challenge Burr". News & Record. January 21, 2010. Retrieved February 10, 2010.

[4] "Western NC businessman files for Senate race". The Sun News. February 16, 2010. Retrieved February 27, 2010. ^{[dead link]}

[state1-5] "State Board of Elections: Candidate Filing List". Sboe.state.nc.us. February 26, 2010. Archived from the original on June 18, 2010. Retrieved June 14, 2010.

[6] "He's at it again: Larry Linney files for U.S. Senate run". Asheville Citizen-Times. March 2, 2010. Retrieved March 2, 2010. ^{[dead link]}

[Public_Policy_Polling-7] Public Policy Polling

[publicpolicypolling.com-8] Public Policy Polling

[ReferenceA-9] Public Policy Polling

[10] Survey USA

[politico1-11] "The 2010 Results Maps". Politico.Com. Retrieved June 14, 2010.

[12] "NC-Sen: Democrats get Cunningham". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on July 20, 2012. Retrieved May 27, 2010.

[13] McArdle, John. "Good News, Bad Timing on N.C. Senate Race". CQ Politics. Retrieved June 14, 2010. ^{[permanent dead link]}

[14] Christensen, Rob. "News & Observer: 2nd-tier Senate hopefuls soldier on". Newsobserver.com. Archived from the original on April 29, 2010. Retrieved June 14, 2010.

[15] "News & Observer: Durham lawyer eyes Burr seat". Projects.newsobserver.com. Archived from the original on August 31, 2009. Retrieved June 14, 2010.

[burr-16] "Democrats expand their search for Burr challenger". March 10, 2009. Archived from the original on December 16, 2017. Retrieved March 10, 2009.

[17] "News & Observer blog: Marshall running for U.S. Senate". Projects.newsobserver.com. Archived from the original on March 5, 2011. Retrieved June 14, 2010.

[18] Marshall

[19] WRAL-TV/SurveyUSA

[20] Public Policy Polling

[21] Public Policy Polling

[22] Rasmussen Reports

[23] Public Policy Polling

[24] "News & Observer: Cunningham wants a runoff". Projects.newsobserver.com. Archived from the original on April 1, 2012. Retrieved June 14, 2010.

[25] "Bryan School directory". Archived from the original on May 15, 2011. Retrieved July 6, 2010.

[26] "Marshall Nabs Key Newspaper Endorsements | Elaine Marshall for U.S. Senate". Archived from the original on October 28, 2010. Retrieved December 20, 2022.

[27] "Editorial: Burr for Senate : News-Record.com : Greensboro & the Triad's most trusted source for local news and analysis". Archived from the original on September 5, 2012. Retrieved December 20, 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)

[28] "Tar Heels need a senator who can say yes | The Asheville Citizen-Times | citizen-times.com". Retrieved December 20, 2022.

[29] "News". The Asheville Citizen-Times. Retrieved December 20, 2022.

[30] NC Senate Candidates Burr and Marshall Miami Herald. 14 October 2010 ^{[dead link]}

[31] Testy debate ^{[permanent dead link]}

[32] "Senate". Cook Political Report. Retrieved October 26, 2010.

[33] "Senate Ratings". Rothenberg Political Report. Retrieved October 26, 2010.

[34] "Battle for the Senate". RealClearPolitics. Retrieved October 26, 2010.

[35] "2010 Senate Ratings". Sabato's Crystal Ball. Archived from the original on October 28, 2010. Retrieved October 26, 2010.

[36] "Race Ratings Chart: Senate". CQ Politics. Archived from the original on October 28, 2010. Retrieved October 26, 2010.

[37] Public Policy Polling

[38] Public Policy Polling

[39] Public Policy Polling

[40] Rasmussen Reports

[41] Public Policy Polling

[42] Public Policy Polling

[43] Public Policy Polling

[44] Public Policy Polling

[45] Rasmussen Reports

[46] Public Policy Polling

[47] Rasmussen Reports

[48] Rasmussen Reports

[49] Rasmussen Reports

[50] Rasmussen Reports

[51] Public Policy Polling

[52] Rasmussen Reports

[53] Public Policy Polling

[54] Rasmussen Reports

[55] SurveyUSA

[56] Public Policy Polling

[Rasmussen_Reports-57] Rasmussen Reports

[58] Survey USA

[59] Lake Research

[60] Public Policy Polling

[61] Rasmussen Reports

[62] Public Policy Polling

[63] SurveyUSA

[64] Civitas

[65] Public Polling Policy

[66] High Point University Archived November 11, 2010, at the Wayback Machine

[67] Public Policy Polling

[68] SurveyUSA

[69] Public Policy Polling

[70] "2010 House and Senate Campaign Finance for North Carolina". fec.gov. Retrieved July 25, 2010. ^{[permanent dead link]}

[71] "NC – Election Results". Retrieved December 20, 2022.

[1]

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Background

Republican primary

Candidates

Polling

Results

Democratic primary

Candidates

Polling

Results

General election

Candidates

Campaign

Debates

Predictions

Polling

Fundraising

Results

Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican

See also

References

External links