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| Turnout | 41.32%  [1] 8.65 pp | ||||||||||||||||
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  Haslam: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% McWherter: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% | |||||||||||||||||
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| Elections in Tennessee |
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 Government |
The 2010 Tennessee gubernatorial election took place on November 2, 2010, to elect the next governor of Tennessee, alongside other state and local elections. Incumbent Democratic governor Phil Bredesen was term-limited, and is prohibited by the Constitution of Tennessee from seeking a third consecutive term. Knoxville mayor and Republican nominee, Bill Haslam was elected with 65.0% of the vote, defeating Democratic nominee Mike McWherter.
The primary election was held on August 5, 2010, with Haslam and McWherter winning their respective parties' nominations.[2]
Haslam received endorsements from former U.S. senator Howard Baker and Congressman Jimmy Duncan.[3][4] The Tennessean wrote, "Haslam appears most likely to be able to ride Gov. Phil Bredesen's pro-business coattails, despite the different party affiliation."[4]
Haslam campaigned on his executive experience as both Knoxville's mayor and the president of a major company. His opponents attacked him as an oil executive, especially in the wake of price-gouging allegations levied against Pilot in the wake of the post-Hurricane Katrina fuel shortages, and criticized his refusal to release information related to his income while at Pilot.[5]
With this win, Haslam flipped the state into Republican control, with the state legislature also being controlled by Republicans. The last time Republicans held a government trifecta in the state was in 1869.[6] Ever since this election, Republicans have maintained their trifecta.
News organizations The Cook Political Report,[7] CQ Politics,[8] and The New York Times[9] rated the gubernatorial election as leaning Republican, while The Rothenberg Political Report rated it as "Republican favored,"[10] RealClearPolitics[11] and Sabato's Crystal Ball[12] as "Likely Republican", and Rasmussen Reports as "Solid Republican."[13]
- ^ "Tennessee Voter Turnout in 2010". Tennessee Secretary of State. November 2, 2010. Retrieved February 28, 2023.
- ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on September 14, 2010. Retrieved July 30, 2010.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ "Haslam Endorsed By U.S. Rep. John J. Duncan". The Chattanoogan. May 8, 2010. Archived from the original on May 11, 2010. Retrieved May 11, 2010.
- ^ a b Underwood, Ryan; Michael Cass; Chas Sisk; Clay Carey (December 28, 2009). "Tennessee political movers". The Tennessean. p. 2.[dead link]
- ^ Flory, Josh (January 19, 2011). "Building on Experience as Knoxville's Mayor, 'Optimistic and Enthusiastic' Haslam Begins Leading State". Knoxville News Sentinel. Archived from the original on January 23, 2011. Retrieved September 22, 2011.
- ^ "Tennessee - Election Results 2010". The New York Times. Retrieved July 31, 2020.
- ^ "2010 governors race ratings". The Cook Political Report. August 12, 2010. Archived from the original on August 15, 2010. Retrieved August 21, 2010.
- ^ "Races for Governor in 2010". CQ Politics. Archived from the original on August 19, 2010. Retrieved August 21, 2010.
- ^ "Governor Race Ratings". The New York Times. Retrieved August 21, 2010.
- ^ "Governor Ratings". The Rothenberg Political Report. July 1, 2010. Retrieved August 21, 2010.
- ^ "2010 Governor Races". RealClearPolitics. Retrieved August 21, 2010.
- ^ "Tennessee Governor 2010". Sabato's Crystal Ball. June 3, 2010. Retrieved August 21, 2010.
- ^ "Election 2010: Gubernatorial Scorecard". Rasmussen Reports. August 21, 2010. Retrieved August 21, 2010.