2010 Wisconsin gubernatorial election
← 2006 November 2, 2010 2012 (recall) →
Turnout49.7%
 
Nominee Scott Walker Tom Barrett
Party Republican Democratic
Running mate Rebecca Kleefisch Tom Nelson
Popular vote 1,128,941 1,004,303
Percentage 52.3% 46.5%
Walker:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90%
Barrett:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90%
Tie:      
No data:     
Governor before election

Jim Doyle
Democratic

Elected Governor

Scott Walker
Republican

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The 2010 Wisconsin gubernatorial election took place on November 2, 2010, to elect the governor and lieutenant governor of Wisconsin. The primary elections on September 14 determined which candidates advanced to the general election.

Incumbent Democratic governor Jim Doyle did not seek re-election in 2010, making for the first open gubernatorial election in Wisconsin since 1982. Republican nominee Scott Walker, the Milwaukee County Executive, defeated Democratic nominee Tom Barrett, the mayor of Milwaukee. As of 2022, this was the last gubernatorial election in which a Republican gubernatorial candidate carried La Crosse and Columbia counties, and the last in which a Democratic candidate carried Trempealeau County.

Democratic primary

Barrett celebrating his victory in the Democratic primary

Candidates for governor

Declared

Failed to qualify

Candidates for lieutenant governor

Declared

Results

Democratic primary results[5]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Tom Barrett 210,921 90.45
Democratic Tim John 22,264 9.55
Total votes 233,185 100.00

Republican primary

Candidate Mark Neumann speaks with an attendee at a campaign event
Walker celebrating his victory in the Republican primary

Candidates for governor

Declared

Failed to qualify

Candidates for lieutenant governor

Declared

Polling

Poll source Dates administered Mark
Neumann 		Scott
Walker
Public Policy Polling[permanent dead link] June 26–27, 2010 19% 58%
WPRI March 9, 2010 27% 46%
WPRI October 1, 2009 14% 39%

Results

Results by county:
  Walker—70–80%
  Walker—60–70%
  Walker—50–60%
  Walker—40–50%
  Neumann—40–50%
  Neumann—50–60%
Republican primary results[5]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Scott Walker 360,032 58.59
Republican Mark Neumann 237,870 38.71
Republican Scott Paterick 16,609 2.70
Total votes 614,511 100.00

Others

Candidates

Declared

Failed to qualify

General election

Barrett (left) and Walker (right) debating each other on October 15
Walker campaigning at an October event hosted by American Solutions
Barrett at a campaign rally in Milwaukee in October

Candidates

Seven candidates appeared on the primary election ballot: two Democrats, three Republicans and two other candidates. After Walker and Barrett won their respective primaries, they faced each other and independent candidates using the "Independent" and "Common Sense" labels in the November general election.[11]

Predictions

Source Ranking As of
Cook Political Report[12] Tossup October 14, 2010
Rothenberg Political Report[13] Lean R (flip) October 28, 2010
RealClearPolitics[14] Lean R (flip) November 1, 2010
Sabato's Crystal Ball[15] Likely R (flip) October 28, 2010
CQ Politics[16] Tossup October 28, 2010

Polling

Poll source Dates administered Tom
Barrett (D) 		Scott
Walker (R)
McClatchy October 20, 2010 40% 52%
Wisconsin Herald October 16, 2010 44% 52%
CNN/Time Magazine October 8–12, 2010 44% 52%
Rasmussen Reports October 11, 2010 42% 51%
Ipsos/Reuters October 8–11, 2010 42% 52%
Rasmussen Reports September 29, 2010 44% 50%
CNN/Time September 17–21, 2010 42% 53%
Public Policy Polling September 18–19, 2010 41% 50%
Rasmussen Reports September 15, 2010 43% 51%
Rasmussen Reports August 24, 2010 44% 47%
Rasmussen Reports August 10, 2010 41% 49%
Rasmussen Reports July 27, 2010 43% 50%
Rasmussen Reports July 13, 2010 44% 48%
Public Policy Polling June 26–27, 2010 38% 45%
Rasmussen Reports June 21, 2010 41% 49%
Rasmussen Reports May 25, 2010 41% 48%
Rasmussen Reports April 20, 2010 44% 46%
Public Policy Polling March 20–21, 2010 39% 42%
Rasmussen Reports March 16, 2010 42% 48%
WPRI March 9, 2010 32% 36%
Rasmussen Reports February 17, 2010 40% 49%
Rasmussen Reports January 26, 2010 38% 48%
Public Policy Polling November 20–22, 2009 40% 40%

Results

Walker celebrating his victory on election night
Governor-elect Walker holding a press conference in December
Walker's gubernatorial inauguration
2010 Wisconsin gubernatorial election[17]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Scott Walker 1,128,941 52.29% +6.93%
Democratic Tom Barrett 1,004,303 46.52% -6.24%
Independent Jim Langer 10,608 0.49% —
Common Sense James James 8,273 0.38% —
Libertarian Terry Virgil 6,790 0.31% —
Write-in 59 0.00% —
Majority 124,638 5.77% -1.62%
Turnout 2,158,974
Republican gain from Democratic

Results by county

County Won
by 		Walker
 % 		Walker
votes 		Barrett
 % 		Barrett
votes
Adams Walker 52% 3,748 46% 3,298
Ashland Barrett 37 2205 62 3664
Barron Walker 55 8486 44 6746
Bayfield Barrett 41 2961 58 4185
Brown Walker 56 49567 43 37549
Buffalo Walker 54 2610 45 2174
Burnett Walker 57 3479 42 2555
Calumet Walker 60 11152 38 7065
Chippewa Walker 56 11901 41 8753
Clark Walker 61 6368 37 3844
Columbia Walker 52 11059 47 10014
Crawford Barrett 47 2792 51 3062
Dane Barrett 31 68238 68 149699
Dodge Walker 66 20568 33 10138
Door Walker 50 6932 48 6719
Douglas Barrett 41 6255 57 8703
Dunn Walker 54 7282 44 5972
Eau Claire Barrett 49 18018 50 18454
Florence Walker 65 1197 33 612
Fond du Lac Walker 64 24407 35 13145
Forest Walker 53 1790 46 1565
Grant Walker 52 8611 46 7573
Green Barrett 49 6391 50 6567
Green Lake Walker 64 4488 32 2262
Iowa Barrett 44 3867 54 4750
Iron Walker 53 1336 46 1139
Jackson Walker 51 3428 48 3219
Jefferson Walker 61 19155 38 11909
Juneau Walker 56 4502 42 3358
Kenosha Walker 51 25136 48 23312
Kewaunee Walker 57 4577 41 3345
La Crosse Walker 49 20754 49 20639
Lafayette Walker 52 2926 46 2566
Langlade Walker 61 4481 38 2754
Lincoln Walker 55 6201 43 4872
Manitowoc Walker 60 18234 39 11784
Marathon Walker 58 28516 40 20028
Marinette Walker 57 8222 42 6127
Marquette Walker 58 3483 40 2384
Menominee Barrett 22 166 78 586
Milwaukee Barrett 38 128612 62 209932
Monroe Walker 58 7570 40 5199
Oconto Walker 59 8131 39 5380
Oneida Walker 55 8773 43 6762
Outagamie Walker 54 35143 45 29223
Ozaukee Walker 69 29879 31 13233
Pepin Walker 53 1279 45 1093
Pierce Walker 53 7067 45 5925
Polk Walker 59 8842 39 5752
Portage Barrett 46 12794 52 14463
Price Walker 52 3284 45 2858
Racine Walker 56 40813 43 31333
Richland Walker 53 3293 46 2866
Rock Barrett 46 23813 53 27424
Rusk Walker 56 3045 40 2170
St. Croix Walker 62 17298 37 10329
Sauk Walker 50 11044 49 10741
Sawyer Walker 58 3766 41 2650
Shawano Walker 60 8663 38 5487
Sheboygan Walker 63 29657 36 16720
Taylor Walker 62 4212 35 2370
Trempealeau Barrett 49 4898 49 4928
Vernon Walker 50 5441 48 5278
Vilas Walker 63 6595 36 3773
Walworth Walker 65 22733 34 11870
Washburn Walker 53 3533 45 2974
Washington Walker 75 44222 24 14276
Waukesha Walker 72 134608 28 52684
Waupaca Walker 59 10596 40 7072
Waushara Walker 60 5178 38 3284
Winnebago Walker 54 33044 44 27141
Wood Walker 55 15626 43 12023

Counties that flipped Democratic to Republican

References

  1. ^ Trevey, Mick (August 20, 2009). "Will Barrett Run for Governor? | Today's TMJ4 – Milwaukee, Wisconsin News, Weather, Sports, WTMJ | Local News". Todaystmj4.com. Retrieved August 21, 2010.[permanent dead link]
  2. ^ "Tim John for Governor 2010 | Wisconsin, a Beacon of Hope | Wisconsin's Race for Governor 2010". Timjohnforgovernor.com. Archived from the original on April 20, 2010. Retrieved August 21, 2010.
  3. ^ a b c d "Ten have filed to run for Governor so far". JS Online. September 8, 2009. Retrieved June 27, 2010.
  4. ^ "Pittsville man enters race for governor".[permanent dead link]
  5. ^ a b "Wisconsin Gubernatorial Primary Results". Politico. September 14, 2010. Retrieved September 14, 2010.
  6. ^ "Statement from Wisconsin Rapids man on bid for governor".[permanent dead link]
  7. ^ a b Borowski, Greg J. (September 7, 2008). "Republicans keep an eye out for 2010 candidates". JSOnline.com. Retrieved January 21, 2009.
  8. ^ "Ingram for Governor website". Ingram4u.com. Retrieved April 20, 2012.
  9. ^ "Dills, Todd & Max Kvidera. "Election 2008: The Choice" Truckers News September 2008". Etrucker.com. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved April 20, 2012.
  10. ^ ""Candidates on the Fall 2010 Election Ballot: This report is the final list of all the candidates approved by the Wisconsin Government Accountability Board for the September 14, 2010, Primary Election. The list reflects Board action on July 21 and 22 with respect to challenges to ballot access." State of Wisconsin Governmental Accountability Board". Gab.wi.gov. Archived from the original on August 26, 2010. Retrieved April 20, 2012.
  11. ^ "Candidates on the Fall 2010 Election Ballot: This report is the final list of all the candidates approved by the Government Accountability Board for the September 14, 2010, Primary Election". Gab.wi.gov. Archived from the original on August 26, 2010. Retrieved April 20, 2012.
  12. ^ "2010 Governors Race Ratings". Cook Political Report. Archived from the original on October 28, 2010. Retrieved October 28, 2010.
  13. ^ "Governor Ratings". Rothenberg Political Report. Retrieved October 28, 2010.
  14. ^ "2010 Governor Races". RealClearPolitics. Retrieved October 28, 2010.
  15. ^ "THE CRYSTAL BALL'S FINAL CALLS". Sabato's Crystal Ball. Retrieved October 28, 2010.
  16. ^ "Race Ratings Chart: Governor". CQ Politics. Archived from the original on October 5, 2010. Retrieved October 28, 2010.
  17. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on May 21, 2012. Retrieved April 7, 2011.((cite web)): CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)

External links

Debates
Official campaign websites (Archived)
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