2010 United States Senate election in Washington
← 2004 November 2, 2010 2016 →
 
Nominee Patty Murray Dino Rossi
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 1,314,930 1,196,164
Percentage 52.08% 47.37%
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

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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 Democratic U.S. Senator Patty Murray won re-election to a fourth term by a margin of 52.1% – 47.4% over Republican Dino Rossi, who had twice run for governor in 2004 and 2008. As of 2023, this was the last U.S. Senate election in Washington in which the margin of victory was within single digits.

Top-two primary election

Candidates

Democrats

Republicans

Others

Polling

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

Results

Blanket primary election results[10][11]
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.

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.[12] 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."[13]

The National Rifle Association spent $414,100 supporting Rossi and opposing Murray in the 2010 senatorial contest.[14]

Debates

Rossi offered six debates, five of which would be in-state and one nationally.[15] Murray agreed to two debates, and only two debates were held.[16]

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[17]

Predictions

Source Ranking As of
Cook Political Report[18] Tossup October 26, 2010
Rothenberg[19] Tossup November 1, 2010
RealClearPolitics[20] Tossup October 26, 2010
Sabato's Crystal Ball[21] Lean D October 21, 2010
CQ Politics[22] 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 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 January 23–24, 2010 500 ± 4.4% 43% 45% –– ––
Rasmussen Reports February 11, 2010 500 ± 4.5% 46% 48% 1% 5%
Rasmussen Reports March 9, 2010 500 ± 4.5% 46% 49% 3% 2%
Research 2000 March 22–24, 2010 600 ± 4.0% 52% 41% –– 7%
Rasmussen Reports April 6, 2010 500 ± 4.5% 48% 46% 3% 4%
Survey USA April 22, 2010 517 ± 4.4% 42% 52% –– 7%
The Washington Poll May 3–23, 2010 626 ± 3.9% 44% 40% –– 16%
Rasmussen Reports May 4, 2010 500 ± 4.5% 48% 46% 2% 3%
Rasmussen Reports May 25, 2010 500 ± 4.5% 48% 47% 2% 4%
The Washington Poll May 24–28, 2010 221 ± 6.6% 39% 42% 5% 13%
The Washington Poll May 28 – June 7, 2010 848 ± 3.3% 42% 40% –– 12%
Elway Research June 13, 2010 405 ± 5.0% 47% 40% –– 13%
Rasmussen Reports June 22, 2010 500 ± 4.5% 47% 47% 3% 3%
Rasmussen Reports July 14, 2010 750 ± 4.0% 45% 48% 3% 3%
Rasmussen Reports July 30, 2010 750 ± 4.0% 49% 47% 2% 2%
Public Policy Polling July 27 – August 1, 2010 1,204 ± 2.8% 49% 46% –– 5%
Rasmussen Reports August 18, 2010 750 ± 4.0% 48% 44% 4% 4%
Survey USA August 18, 2010 618 ± 4.0% 45% 52% –– ––
Rasmussen Reports August 31, 2010 750 ± 4.0% 46% 48% 3% 3%
Elway Research September 9–12, 2010 500 ± 4.5% 50% 41% 3% 7%
CNN/Time September 10–14, 2010 906 ± 3.5% 53% 44% 2% 1%
Rasmussen Reports September 16, 2010 750 ± 4.0% 51% 46% 1% 2%
SurveyUSA September 22, 2010 609 ± 4.1% 50% 48% –– 3%
Fox News September 25, 2010 1,000 ± 3.0% 48% 47% 2% 3%
Rasmussen Reports September 28, 2010 750 ± 4.0% 47% 48% 2% 3%
Rasmussen Reports October 6, 2010 750 ± 4.0% 46% 49% 3% 2%
Fox News October 9, 2010 1,000 ± 3.0% 46% 47% 7% 0%
Elway[permanent dead link] October 7–11, 2010 450 ± 4.6% 55% 40% 0% 5%
CNN/Opinion Research October 8–12, 2010 850 ± 3.5% 51% 43% 2% 0%
The Washington Poll October 4–14, 2010 500 ± 4.3% 50% 42% –– 8%
SurveyUSA October 11–14, 2010 606 ± 4.1% 50% 47% 0% 3%
Public Policy Polling October 14–16, 2010 1,873 ± 2.3% 49% 47% –– 4%
McClatchy/Marist October 14–17, 2010 589 ± 4.0% 48% 47% 1% 5%
Rasmussen Reports October 17, 2010 750 ± 4.0% 49% 46% 2% 3%
Rasmussen Reports October 27, 2010 750 ± 4.0% 47% 48% 3% 2%
SurveyUSA October 24–27, 2010 678 ± 3.8% 47% 47% –– 6%
The Washington Poll October 18–28, 2010 500 ± 4.3% 51% 45% –– 4%
Marist College October 26–28, 2010 838 ± 3.5% 49% 48% 2% 1%
Fox News/Pulse Opinion Research October 30, 2010 1,000 ± 3.0% 49% 47% 4% 0%
YouGov October 25–30, 2010 850 ± 4.1% 50% 48% 0% 2%
Public Policy Polling 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.[23]

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

Notes

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

References

  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.
  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. ^ "August 17, 2010 Primary – Federal". Vote.wa.gov. August 17, 2010. Archived from the original on August 21, 2010. Retrieved August 21, 2010.
  11. ^ "The 2010 Results Maps". Politico.Com. Retrieved August 21, 2010.
  12. ^ "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.
  13. ^ Brunner, Jim (August 7, 2010). "Murray touts bringing home the bucks". The Seattle Times.
  14. ^ "Campaign cash: National Rifle Association (washingtonpost.com)". www.washingtonpost.com. Retrieved February 16, 2018.
  15. ^ Brunner, Jim (August 20, 2010). "Rossi wants six debates with Murray". The Seattle Times.
  16. ^ Brunner, Jim (August 27, 2010). "Murray agrees to two debates". The Seattle Times.
  17. ^ "2010 House and Senate Campaign Finance for Washington". fec.gov. Archived from the original on May 22, 2010. Retrieved May 28, 2010.
  18. ^ "Senate". Cook Political Report. Retrieved October 26, 2010.
  19. ^ "Senate Ratings". Rothenberg Political Report. Retrieved October 26, 2010.
  20. ^ "Battle for the Senate". RealClearPolitics. Retrieved October 26, 2010.
  21. ^ "2010 Senate Ratings". Sabato's Crystal Ball. Retrieved October 26, 2010.
  22. ^ "Race Ratings Chart: Senate". CQ Politics. Archived from the original on October 28, 2010. Retrieved October 26, 2010.
  23. ^ "November 2, 2010 General – Federal". Archived from the original on November 11, 2010. Retrieved November 11, 2010.

External links

Official campaign websites (Archived)
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