2010 United States Senate election in Washington

2010 United States Senate election in Washington
	County results; Murray: 50–60% 60–70% ; Rossi: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80%
U.S. senator before election; Patty Murray; Democratic	Elected U.S. Senator ; Patty Murray; Democratic

The 2010 United States Senate election in Washington was held on November 2, 2010, alongside other elections to the United States Senate in other states as well as elections to the United States House of Representatives and various state and local elections. Incumbent Democrat Senator Patty Murray won re-election to a fourth term by a margin of 52.1% – 47.4% over Republican Dino Rossi, who had run for governor in 2004 and 2008. This was the last U.S. Senate election in Washington where the margin of victory was single digits.

Top-two primary election

Candidates

Democrats

Patty Murray, incumbent U.S. Senator
Charles Allen^[1]^[2]^[3]
Bob Burr^[3]

Republicans

Dino Rossi, former State Senator and gubernatorial candidate^[4]
Paul Akers, salesman^[5]
William Chovil^[3]^[6]
Clint Didier, former NFL football player^[7]
Norma Gruber^[3]
Michael Latimer^[8]

Others

Will Baker (Reform Party)^[3]
Schalk Leonard^[3]
Skip Mercer, professor^[9]
Mohammad Said (Centrist Party)^[3]

Polling

Poll source	Dates administered	Patty Murray (D)	Dino Rossi (R)	Clint Didier (R)	Paul Akers (R)	Undecided
Elway Research^[10]	April 29 – May 2, 2010	48%	––	4%	8%	36%
Elway Research^[11]	June 13, 2010	43%	31%	5%	2%	17%
Survey USA^[12]	June 30, 2010	37%	33%	5%	3%	19%
Public Policy Polling^[13]	July 27 – August 1, 2010	47%	33%	10%	4%	6%
Survey USA^[14]	August 6–9, 2010	41%	33%	11%	5%	4%

Results

Blanket primary election results^[15]^[16]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Patty Murray (incumbent)	670,284	46.22%
	Republican	Dino Rossi	483,305	33.33%
	Republican	Clint Didier	185,034	12.76%
	Republican	Paul Akers	37,231	2.57%
	Independent	Skip Mercer	12,122	0.84%
	Democratic	Charles Allen	11,525	0.79%
	Democratic	Bob Burr	11,344	0.78%
	Republican	Norma Gruber	9,162	0.63%
	Republican	Michael Latimer	6,545	0.45%
	Democratic	Mike the Mover	6,019	0.42%
	Democratic	Goodspaceguy	4,718	0.33%
	Reform	William Baker	4,593	0.32%
	Independent	Mohammad Said	3,387	0.23%
	Independent	Schalk Leonard	2,818	0.19%
	Republican	William Chovil	2,039	0.14%
Total votes			1,450,126	100.00%

General election

Candidates

The top 2 candidates from the blanket primary advanced to the general election.

Patty Murray (D), incumbent U.S. Senator
Dino Rossi (R), former State Senator and gubernatorial candidate

Campaign

Rossi heavily criticized Murray for her support of the 2009 economic stimulus package; however, Rossi's economic promises are nearly identical to those of President Bush who asked for the stimulus.^[17] Rossi supports repealing the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. He also criticized Murray for her support for earmarks. In response, Murray said, "You bet that seniority and leadership has a big thing to do with it, but the other part of it is, I get up every day and I work hard and I believe in this and I am going to continue fighting for the community I represent."^[18]

The National Rifle Association spent $414,100 supporting Rossi and opposing Murray in the 2010 senatorial contest.^[19]

Debates

Rossi offered six debates, five of which would be in-state and one nationally.^[20] Murray agreed to two debates, and only two debates were held.^[21]

Seattle on KOMO-TV.
Spokane on KSPS-TV and KXLY-TV.

Fundraising

Candidate (party)	Receipts	Disbursements	Cash on hand	Debt
Patty Murray (D)	$10,951,403	$12,438,133	$1,032,034	$0
Dino Rossi (R)	$7,365,098	$4,331,414	$2,960,039	$0
Source: Federal Election Commission^[22]

Predictions

Source	Ranking	As of
Cook Political Report^[23]	Tossup	October 26, 2010
Rothenberg^[24]	Tossup	November 1, 2010
RealClearPolitics^[25]	Tossup	October 26, 2010
Sabato's Crystal Ball^[26]	Lean D	October 21, 2010
CQ Politics^[27]	Tossup	October 26, 2010

Polling

Aggregate polls

Source of poll aggregation	Dates administered	Dates updated	Patty Murray (D)	Dino Rossi (R)	Other/Undecided ^[a]	Margin
Real Clear Politics^[28]	October 24–31, 2010	October 31, 2010	48.3%	48.0%	3.7%	Murray +0.3%

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Patty Murray (D)	Dino Rossi (R)	Other	Undecided
Moore Information^[29]	January 23–24, 2010	500	± 4.4%	43%	45%	––	––
Rasmussen Reports^[30]	February 11, 2010	500	± 4.5%	46%	48%	1%	5%
Rasmussen Reports^[31]	March 9, 2010	500	± 4.5%	46%	49%	3%	2%
Research 2000^[32]	March 22–24, 2010	600	± 4.0%	52%	41%	––	7%
Rasmussen Reports^[33]	April 6, 2010	500	± 4.5%	48%	46%	3%	4%
Survey USA^[34]	April 22, 2010	517	± 4.4%	42%	52%	––	7%
The Washington Poll^[35]	May 3–23, 2010	626	± 3.9%	44%	40%	––	16%
Rasmussen Reports^[33]	May 4, 2010	500	± 4.5%	48%	46%	2%	3%
Rasmussen Reports^[36]	May 25, 2010	500	± 4.5%	48%	47%	2%	4%
The Washington Poll^[37]	May 24–28, 2010	221	± 6.6%	39%	42%	5%	13%
The Washington Poll^[35]	May 28 – June 7, 2010	848	± 3.3%	42%	40%	––	12%
Elway Research^[38]	June 13, 2010	405	± 5.0%	47%	40%	––	13%
Rasmussen Reports^[39]	June 22, 2010	500	± 4.5%	47%	47%	3%	3%
Rasmussen Reports^[40]	July 14, 2010	750	± 4.0%	45%	48%	3%	3%
Rasmussen Reports^[33]	July 30, 2010	750	± 4.0%	49%	47%	2%	2%
Public Policy Polling^[13]	July 27 – August 1, 2010	1,204	± 2.8%	49%	46%	––	5%
Rasmussen Reports^[41]	August 18, 2010	750	± 4.0%	48%	44%	4%	4%
Survey USA^[42]	August 18, 2010	618	± 4.0%	45%	52%	––	––
Rasmussen Reports^[43]	August 31, 2010	750	± 4.0%	46%	48%	3%	3%
Elway Research^[44]	September 9–12, 2010	500	± 4.5%	50%	41%	3%	7%
CNN/Time^[45]	September 10–14, 2010	906	± 3.5%	53%	44%	2%	1%
Rasmussen Reports^[46]	September 16, 2010	750	± 4.0%	51%	46%	1%	2%
SurveyUSA^[47]	September 22, 2010	609	± 4.1%	50%	48%	––	3%
Fox News^[48]	September 25, 2010	1,000	± 3.0%	48%	47%	2%	3%
Rasmussen Reports^[46]	September 28, 2010	750	± 4.0%	47%	48%	2%	3%
Rasmussen Reports^[46]	October 6, 2010	750	± 4.0%	46%	49%	3%	2%
Fox News^[49]	October 9, 2010	1,000	± 3.0%	46%	47%	7%	0%
Elway^[50]	October 7–11, 2010	450	± 4.6%	55%	40%	0%	5%
CNN/Opinion Research^[51]	October 8–12, 2010	850	± 3.5%	51%	43%	2%	0%
The Washington Poll^[52]	October 4–14, 2010	500	± 4.3%	50%	42%	––	8%
SurveyUSA^[53]	October 11–14, 2010	606	± 4.1%	50%	47%	0%	3%
Public Policy Polling^[54]	October 14–16, 2010	1,873	± 2.3%	49%	47%	––	4%
McClatchy/Marist^[55]	October 14–17, 2010	589	± 4.0%	48%	47%	1%	5%
Rasmussen Reports^[56]	October 17, 2010	750	± 4.0%	49%	46%	2%	3%
Rasmussen Reports^[46]	October 27, 2010	750	± 4.0%	47%	48%	3%	2%
SurveyUSA^[57]	October 24–27, 2010	678	± 3.8%	47%	47%	––	6%
The Washington Poll^[58]	October 18–28, 2010	500	± 4.3%	51%	45%	––	4%
Marist College^[59]	October 26–28, 2010	838	± 3.5%	49%	48%	2%	1%
Fox News/Pulse Opinion Research^[60]	October 30, 2010	1,000	± 3.0%	49%	47%	4%	0%
YouGov^[61]	October 25–30, 2010	850	± 4.1%	50%	48%	0%	2%
Public Policy Polling^[62]	October 29–31, 2010	2,055	± 2.2%	48%	50%	0%	2%

Results

Murray defeated Rossi by about 114,000 votes. King County, the home of Seattle, likely gave Murray a victory.^[63]

General election results
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Patty Murray (incumbent)	1,314,930	52.08%
	Republican	Dino Rossi	1,196,164	47.37%
	Write-in		13,939	0.55%
Total votes			2,525,033	100.00%
Turnout				71.24
	Democratic hold

Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican

Island (largest city: Oak Harbor)
Pierce (largest city: Tacoma)
Skagit (largest city: Mount Vernon)
Clallam (largest city: Port Angeles)
Mason (largest city: Shelton)
Skamania (Largest city: Carson)
Cowlitz (Largest city: Longview)
Wahkiakum (Largest city: Puget Island)

By congressional district

Murray won 5 of 9 congressional districts.^[64]

District	Murray	Rossi	Representative
1st	56%	44%	Jay Inslee
2nd	51%	49%	Rick Larsen
3rd	47%	53%	Brian Baird
3rd	47%	53%	Jaime Herrera Beutler
4th	36%	64%	Doc Hastings
5th	41%	59%	Cathy McMorris Rodgers
6th	53%	47%	Norm Dicks
7th	81%	19%	Jim McDermott
8th	49%	51%	Dave Reichert
9th	53%	47%	Adam Smith

Notes

^ Calculated by taking the difference of 100% and all other candidates combined.

References

^ "REPORTS IMAGE INDEX FOR CANDIDATE ID S0WA00332". Images.nictusa.com. May 13, 2010. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved June 14, 2010.
^ "REPORTS IMAGE INDEX FOR COMMITTEE ID C00483461". Images.nictusa.com. May 13, 2010. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved June 14, 2010.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g "Candidates who have filed". Wei.secstate.wa.gov. Archived from the original on June 11, 2010. Retrieved June 14, 2010.
^ Rothenberg, Stuart. "Reasons to Keep Your Eye on Patty Murray". CQ Politics. Retrieved June 14, 2010.^{[permanent dead link]}
^ "Home". Akers for US Senate. Archived from the original on February 9, 2010. Retrieved June 14, 2010.
^ "REPORTS IMAGE INDEX FOR CANDIDATE ID S4WA00466". Images.nictusa.com. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved June 14, 2010.
^ Song, Kyung (January 4, 2010). "Ex-footballer latest GOP challenger to Murray's Senate seat". The Seattle Times. Retrieved January 30, 2010.
^ "REPORTS IMAGE INDEX FOR CANDIDATE ID S0WA00340". Images.nictusa.com. Archived from the original on July 23, 2012. Retrieved June 14, 2010.
^ Spokesman-Review (June 1, 2010). "Mercer staying in U.S. Senate race – Spin Control – Spokesman.com – June 1, 2010". Spokesman.com. Retrieved June 14, 2010.
^ Elway Research
^ Elway Research Archived February 19, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
^ Survey USA
^ ^a ^b Public Policy Polling
^ Survey USA
^ "August 17, 2010 Primary – Federal". Vote.wa.gov. August 17, 2010. Archived from the original on August 21, 2010. Retrieved August 21, 2010.
^ "The 2010 Results Maps". Politico.Com. Retrieved August 21, 2010.
^ "The Stimulus 18-Month Check Up: Murray Plan Means Big Debt, Few Jobs | Dino Rossi for Senate". Archived from the original on November 11, 2010. Retrieved September 1, 2010.
^ Brunner, Jim (August 7, 2010). "Murray touts bringing home the bucks". The Seattle Times.
^ "Campaign cash: National Rifle Association (washingtonpost.com)". www.washingtonpost.com. Retrieved February 16, 2018.
^ Brunner, Jim (August 20, 2010). "Rossi wants six debates with Murray". The Seattle Times.
^ Brunner, Jim (August 27, 2010). "Murray agrees to two debates". The Seattle Times.
^ "2010 House and Senate Campaign Finance for Washington". fec.gov. Archived from the original on May 22, 2010. Retrieved May 28, 2010.
^ "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.
^ Real Clear Politics
^ Moore Information
^ Rasmussen Reports
^ Rasmussen Reports
^ Research 2000
^ ^a ^b ^c Rasmussen Reports
^ Survey USA
^ ^a ^b The Washington Poll
^ Rasmussen Reports
^ The Washington Poll
^ Elway Research
^ Rasmussen Reports
^ Rasmussen Reports
^ Rasmussen Reports
^ Survey USA
^ Rasmussen Reports
^ Elway Research
^ CNN/Time
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Rasmussen Reports
^ SurveyUSA
^ Fox News
^ Fox News
^ Elway ^{[permanent dead link]}
^ CNN/Opinion Research
^ The Washington Poll
^ SurveyUSA
^ Public Policy Polling
^ McClatchy/Marist
^ Rasmussen Reports
^ SurveyUSA
^ The Washington Poll
^ Marist College
^ Fox News/Pulse Opinion Research
^ YouGov
^ Public Policy Polling
^ "November 2, 2010 General – Federal". Archived from the original on November 11, 2010. Retrieved November 11, 2010.
^ Results. sos.wa.gov (Report).

External links

Elections and Voting at the Washington Secretary of State
U.S. Congress candidates for Washington Archived October 30, 2010, at the Wayback Machine at Project Vote Smart
Campaign contributions from Open Secrets
2010 Washington Senate General Election: All Head-to-Head Matchups graph of multiple polls from Pollster.com
Election 2010: Washington Senate from Rasmussen Reports
2010 Washington Senate Race from Real Clear Politics
2010 Washington Senate Race from CQ Politics
Race profile from The New York Times
Editorial board endorsement interview: Senate 2010 from The Seattle Times

Official campaign websites (Archived)

Patty Murray for U.S. Senate incumbent
Dino Rossi for U.S. Senate

[28] Calculated by taking the difference of 100% and all other candidates combined.

[nictusa1-1] "REPORTS IMAGE INDEX FOR CANDIDATE ID S0WA00332". Images.nictusa.com. May 13, 2010. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved June 14, 2010.

[2] "REPORTS IMAGE INDEX FOR COMMITTEE ID C00483461". Images.nictusa.com. May 13, 2010. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved June 14, 2010.

[secstate1-3] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g "Candidates who have filed". Wei.secstate.wa.gov. Archived from the original on June 11, 2010. Retrieved June 14, 2010.

[4] Rothenberg, Stuart. "Reasons to Keep Your Eye on Patty Murray". CQ Politics. Retrieved June 14, 2010.^{[permanent dead link]}

[5] "Home". Akers for US Senate. Archived from the original on February 9, 2010. Retrieved June 14, 2010.

[6] "REPORTS IMAGE INDEX FOR CANDIDATE ID S4WA00466". Images.nictusa.com. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved June 14, 2010.

[7] Song, Kyung (January 4, 2010). "Ex-footballer latest GOP challenger to Murray's Senate seat". The Seattle Times. Retrieved January 30, 2010.

[8] "REPORTS IMAGE INDEX FOR CANDIDATE ID S0WA00340". Images.nictusa.com. Archived from the original on July 23, 2012. Retrieved June 14, 2010.

[9] Spokesman-Review (June 1, 2010). "Mercer staying in U.S. Senate race – Spin Control – Spokesman.com – June 1, 2010". Spokesman.com. Retrieved June 14, 2010.

[10] Elway Research

[11] Elway Research Archived February 19, 2012, at the Wayback Machine

[12] Survey USA

[Public_Policy_Polling-13] Public Policy Polling

[14] Survey USA

[15] "August 17, 2010 Primary – Federal". Vote.wa.gov. August 17, 2010. Archived from the original on August 21, 2010. Retrieved August 21, 2010.

[16] "The 2010 Results Maps". Politico.Com. Retrieved August 21, 2010.

[17] "The Stimulus 18-Month Check Up: Murray Plan Means Big Debt, Few Jobs | Dino Rossi for Senate". Archived from the original on November 11, 2010. Retrieved September 1, 2010.

[18] Brunner, Jim (August 7, 2010). "Murray touts bringing home the bucks". The Seattle Times.

[19] "Campaign cash: National Rifle Association (washingtonpost.com)". www.washingtonpost.com. Retrieved February 16, 2018.

[20] Brunner, Jim (August 20, 2010). "Rossi wants six debates with Murray". The Seattle Times.

[21] Brunner, Jim (August 27, 2010). "Murray agrees to two debates". The Seattle Times.

[22] "2010 House and Senate Campaign Finance for Washington". fec.gov. Archived from the original on May 22, 2010. Retrieved May 28, 2010.

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

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

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

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

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

[29] Real Clear Politics

[30] Moore Information

[31] Rasmussen Reports

[32] Rasmussen Reports

[33] Research 2000

[Rasmussen_Reports-34] Rasmussen Reports

[35] Survey USA

[The_Washington_Poll-36] The Washington Poll

[37] Rasmussen Reports

[38] The Washington Poll

[39] Elway Research

[40] Rasmussen Reports

[41] Rasmussen Reports

[42] Rasmussen Reports

[43] Survey USA

[44] Rasmussen Reports

[45] Elway Research

[46] CNN/Time

[rasmussenreports.com-47] Rasmussen Reports

[48] SurveyUSA

[49] Fox News

[50] Fox News

[51] Elway ^{[permanent dead link]}

[52] CNN/Opinion Research

[53] The Washington Poll

[54] SurveyUSA

[55] Public Policy Polling

[56] McClatchy/Marist

[57] Rasmussen Reports

[58] SurveyUSA

[59] The Washington Poll

[60] Marist College

[61] Fox News/Pulse Opinion Research

[62] YouGov

[63] Public Policy Polling

[64] "November 2, 2010 General – Federal". Archived from the original on November 11, 2010. Retrieved November 11, 2010.

[65] Results. sos.wa.gov (Report).

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2010 United States Senate election in Washington

Top-two primary election

Candidates

Democrats

Republicans

Others

Polling

Results

General election

Candidates

Campaign

Debates

Fundraising

Predictions

Polling

Results

Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican

By congressional district

Notes

References

External links

€4.95