2010 Iowa gubernatorial election explained

The 2010 Iowa gubernatorial election was held on Tuesday, November 2, 2010, to elect the governor and lieutenant governor, to serve a four-year term beginning on January 14, 2011. In Iowa, the governor and lieutenant governor are elected on the same ballot. Along with the election in Ohio, this was one of the two gubernatorial elections where the incumbent lost reelection.

The two major party candidates were first-term incumbent governor Chet Culver, a Democrat, who ran for re-election with first-term incumbent lieutenant governor Patty Judge, and former four-term governor Terry Branstad, who won a three-way primary for the Republican nomination and ran with State Senator Kim Reynolds.

Branstad defeated Culver in the general election, becoming the first challenger to unseat an incumbent Iowa governor since Harold Hughes in 1962.^{[1] [2]}

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Chet Culver, incumbent Governor

Results

Republican primary

Candidates

On ballot

As listed by the Iowa Secretary of State's office:^[3]

• Terry Branstad, former Governor^[4]
• Rod Roberts, State Representative^[5]
• Bob Vander Plaats, businessman and nominee for lieutenant governor in 2006^[5]

Withdrew

• State Senator Paul McKinley withdrew after Terry Branstad formed an exploratory committee^[6]
• Cedar Rapids businessman Christian Fong suspended his campaign due to a lack of campaign finances^[7]
• Minority Leader of the Iowa House of Representatives Christopher Rants withdrew from the race due to lack of campaign funds^[8]
• State Senator Jerry Behn withdrew from the race and endorsed Terry Branstad^[9]

Polling

Poll source	Dates administered	Terry Branstad	Bob Vander Plaats	Rod Roberts
Selzer & Co. Inc of Des Moines[10]	June 1–3, 2010	align=center	57%	29%	8%
Public Policy Polling[11]	May 25–27, 2010	align=center	46%	31%	13%

Results

General election

Candidates

• Chet Culver (D), incumbent governor; running with incumbent lieutenant governor Patty Judge.
• Gregory James Hughes (I), running with Robin Prior-Calef.^[12]
• Terry Branstad (R), former four-term governor; running with State Senator Kim Reynolds.
• Eric Cooper (L), professor at Iowa State University; running with judicial administrator Nick Weltha.^[13]
• Jonathan Narcisse (Iowa Party), former member of the Des Moines school board; running with truck driver Rick Marlar. Narcisse is a Democrat and Marlar is a Republican.^[14] Narcisse's campaign and that of Senate District 45 candidate Douglas William Phillips were not affiliated, though both appeared on the ballot under the "Iowa Party" name.^{[15] [16]}
• David Rosenfeld (SWP), running with Helen Meyers.^[17]

Predictions

Source	Ranking	As of
Cook Political Report[18]		October 14, 2010
Rothenberg[19]		October 28, 2010
RealClearPolitics[20]		November 1, 2010
Sabato's Crystal Ball[21]		October 28, 2010
CQ Politics[22]		October 28, 2010

Polling

Poll source	Dates administered	Chet Culver (D)	Terry Branstad (R)
Rasmussen Reports[23]	September 23, 2010	37%	align=center	55%
Rasmussen Reports[24]	August 5, 2010	36%	align=center	52%
Rasmussen Reports[25]	June 14, 2010	31%	align=center	57%
Public Policy Polling[26]	May 25–27, 2010	37%	align=center	52%
KCCI-TV[27]	May 3–5, 2010	41%	align=center	48%
Rasmussen Reports[28]	April 29, 2010	38%	align=center	53%
Rasmussen Reports[29]	March 17, 2010	36%	align=center	52%
Rasmussen Reports[30]	February 18, 2010	37%	align=center	53%
KCCI-TV[31]	February 15–17, 2010	38%	align=center	54%
Selzer & Co. of Des Moines[32]	January 31 – February 3, 2010	33%	align=center	53%
Selzer & Co. of Des Moines[33]	November 8–11, 2009	33%	align=center	57%
Daily Kos/Research 2000[34]	October 12–14, 2009	43%	align=center	48%
Rasmussen Reports[35]	September 22, 2009	34%	align=center	54%
Iowa First Foundation[36]	July 23–July 26, 2009	34%	align=center	53%
Concordia Group LLC[37]	July 2009	37%	align=center	53%

Results

Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican

• Adams (largest city: Corning)
• Audubon (largest city: Audubon)
• Benton (largest city: Vinton)
• Emmet (largest city: Estherville)
• Greene (largest city: Jefferson)
• Hamilton (largest city: Webster City)
• Hardin (largest city: Iowa Falls)
• Iowa (largest city: Williamsburg)
• Kossuth (largest city: Algona)
• Palo Alto (largest city: Emmetsburg)
• Warren (largest city: Indianola)
• Winnebago (largest city: Forest City)
• Allamakee (largest city: Waukon)
• Boone (largest city: Boone)
• Bremer (largest city: Waverly)
• Buchanan (largest city: Independence)
• Cedar (largest city: Tipton)
• Cerro Gordo (largest city: Mason City)
• Chickasaw (largest city: New Hampton)
• Clarke (largest city: Osceola)
• Clayton (largest city: Guttenberg)
• Clinton (largest city: Clinton)
• Fayette (largest city: Oelwein)
• Floyd (largest city: Charles City)
• Howard (largest city: Cresco)
• Jackson (largest city: Maquoketa)
• Jasper (largest city: Newton)
• Jones (largest city: Anamosa)
• Louisa (largest city: Wapello)
• Marshall (largest city: Marshalltown)
• Mitchell (largest city: Osage)
• Muscatine (largest city: Muscatine)
• Poweshiek (largest city: Grinnell)
• Scott (largest city: Davenport)
• Tama (largest city: Tama)
• Union (largest city: Creston)
• Wapello (largest city: Ottumwa)
• Webster (largest city: Fort Dodge)
• Winneshiek (largest city: Decorah)
• Worth (largest city: Northwood)
• Appanoose (Largest city: Centerville)
• Davis (Largest city: Bloomfield)
• Decatur (Largest city: Lamoni)
• Hancock (Largest city: Garner)
• Henry (Largest city: Mount Pleasant)
• Lucas (Largest city: Chariton)
• Monona (Largest city: Onawa)
• Monroe (Largest city: Albia)
• Ringgold (Largest city: Mount Ayr)
• Taylor (Largest city: Bedford)
• Wayne (Largest city: Corydon)
• Wright (Largest city: Eagle Grove)

External links

• Iowa Secretary of State – Voter/Elections
• Iowa Governor Candidates at Project Vote Smart
• Campaign contributions for 2010 Iowa Governor from Follow the Money
• 2010 Iowa Gubernatorial General Election: All Head-to-Head Matchups graph of multiple polls from Pollster.com
• Election 2010: Iowa Governor from Rasmussen Reports
• 2010 Iowa Governor – Branstad vs. Culver from Real Clear Politics
• 2010 Iowa Governor's Race from CQ Politics
• Race Profile in The New York Times

Debates

• Iowa Gubernatorial Debate, C-SPAN, September 14, 2010

Official campaign websites (Archived)

• Chet Culver for Governor
• Greg Hughes – Independent for Governor
• Eric Cooper for Governor
• Terry Branstad for Governor
• Jonathan Narcisse for Governor
• Bob Vander Plaats for Governor

Notes and References

1. Web site: 2010 Iowa gubernatorial election results. SOS.Iowa.gov. November 24, 2019.
2. News: Terry Branstad 'ready to lead the charge' as Iowa's governor. Rod . Boshart. The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier.
3. Web site: Candidate Listing by Office, June 8, 2010 Primary Election . Iowa Secretary of State . https://web.archive.org/web/20100401021103/http://www.sos.state.ia.us/pdfs/elections/2010/candlistprim.pdf . April 1, 2010 . dead.
4. Web site: Gov. Terry Branstad announces 2010 run for governor | Branstad – Reynolds 2010 . Governorbranstad2010.com . 2010-01-19 . 2010-08-21 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100819194044/http://governorbranstad2010.com/gov-terry-branstad-announces-2010-run-for-governor/ . 2010-08-19 . dead .
5. Web site: Roberts claims GOP's fresh face in governor bid . Des Moines Register .
6. Web site: Paul McKinley for Iowa . Mckinleyforiowa.com . 2010-08-21 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110714061011/http://www.mckinleyforiowa.com/Paul%20McKinley/2009/11/06/mckinley-withdraws-from-gubernatorial-race-remains-focused-on-winning-back-iowa-senate-majority . 2011-07-14 . dead .
7. Web site: GOP's Fong withdraws, will stay active . Christian Fong . 2009-12-02 . 2010-08-21 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110708150838/http://www.christianfong.com/news/article/gops-fong-withdraws-will-stay-active/ . 2011-07-08 . dead .
8. Web site: Politically Speaking . Sioux City Journal . 2010-02-18 . 2010-08-21.
9. Web site: Behn out of GOP governor race, backs Branstad | Des Moines Register Staff Blogs . Blogs.desmoinesregister.com . 2009-12-22 . 2010-08-21 . dead . https://archive.today/20110709015753/http://blogs.desmoinesregister.com/dmr/index.php/2009/12/22/behn-out-in-gop-governor-race-backs-branstad/ . 2011-07-09 .
10. http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20100607/NEWS09/6070323/-1/GETPUBLISHED03SCRIPTS/Iowa-Poll-Branstad-camp-covers-most-sectors-of-GOP/ Selzer & Co. Inc of Des Moines
11. http://www.publicpolicypolling.com/pdf/PPP_Release_IA_601.pdf Public Policy Polling
12. Web site: Polls open Tuesday for 2010 midterm general election - Mount Vernon - Lisbon Sun - www.mtvernonlisbonsun.com. www.mvlsun.com.
13. Web site: Libertarians nominate statewide candidates for '10. Henderson. O. Kay. April 26, 2010. July 16, 2010. RadioIowa.
14. Web site: Narcisse: I'm an independent candidate for gov. Clayworth. Jason. July 1, 2010. July 16, 2010. Des Moines Register.
15. Web site: What's an Iowa Party? . Deeth. John. August 26, 2010. April 28, 2014.
16. Web site: Fifth candidate files for Iowa governor's race | Elections | qctimes.com. qctimes.com.
17. Web site: Socialist party seeks state office. Rod. Boshart. Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier.
18. Web site: 2010 Governors Race Ratings . https://web.archive.org/web/20101028141343/http://cookpolitical.com/charts/governors/raceratings_2010-10-14_12-35-09.php . dead . October 28, 2010 . . October 28, 2010.
19. Web site: Governor Ratings . . October 28, 2010.
20. Web site: 2010 Governor Races . . October 28, 2010.
21. Web site: THE CRYSTAL BALL'S FINAL CALLS . . October 28, 2010.
22. Web site: Race Ratings Chart: Governor . . October 28, 2010 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20101005231611/http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=ratings-governor . October 5, 2010 .
23. http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/elections/election_2010/election_2010_governor_elections/iowa/election_2010_iowa_governor Rasmussen Reports
24. http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/elections/election_2010/election_2010_governor_elections/iowa/toplines/toplines_iowa_governor_august_5_2010/ Rasmussen Reports
25. http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/elections/election_2010/election_2010_governor_elections/iowa/toplines/toplines_iowa_governor_june_14_2010/ Rasmussen Reports
26. http://www.publicpolicypolling.com/pdf/PPP_Release_IA_602.pdf Public Policy Polling
27. https://web.archive.org/web/20111206113345/http://www.kcci.com/politics/23473645/detail.html KCCI-TV
28. http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/elections2/election_2010/election_2010_governor_elections/iowa/election_2010_iowa_governor Rasmussen Reports
29. http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/elections2/election_2010/election_2010_governor_elections/iowa/toplines/toplines_2010_iowa_governor_march_17_2010 Rasmussen Reports
30. http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/elections2/election_2010/election_2010_governor_elections/iowa/toplines/toplines_2010_iowa_governor_election_february_18_2010/ Rasmussen Reports
31. https://web.archive.org/web/20110605222139/http://www.kcci.com/news/22602994/detail.html KCCI-TV
32. http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20100214/NEWS09/2140347/Iowa-Poll-Culver-rating-falls-even-among-base/ Selzer & Co. of Des Moines
33. http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20091114/NEWS09/911150335/Iowa-Poll-Low-rating-for-Culver-reveals-vulnerability&theme=IOWA_POLL/ Selzer & Co. of Des Moines
34. http://www.dailykos.com/statepoll/2009/10/14/IA/398 Daily Kos/Research 2000
35. http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/elections2/election_2010/election_2010_governor_elections/iowa/toplines/toplines_iowa_governor_s_race_september_22_2009/ Rasmussen Reports
36. http://blogs.desmoinesregister.com/dmr/index.php/2009/08/21/republican-survey-says-branstad-the-strongest-culver-challenger/ Iowa First Foundation
37. https://web.archive.org/web/20090917084613/http://theiowarepublican.com/home/2009/07/17/former-governor-branstad-defeats-culver-53-to-37-in-head-to-head-matchup/ Concordia Group LLC