2010 New Hampshire gubernatorial election

The 2010 New Hampshire gubernatorial election was held on November 2, 2010. Incumbent Democratic Governor John Lynch was re-elected to his fourth and final term.[1]

2010 New Hampshire gubernatorial election

← 2008November 2, 20102012 →
 
NomineeJohn LynchJohn Stephen
PartyDemocraticRepublican
Popular vote239,390205,433
Percentage52.6%45.1%

Lynch:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90%
Stephen:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%
     70–80%
Tie:      40–50%

Governor before election

John Lynch
Democratic

Elected Governor

John Lynch
Democratic

New Hampshire is one of only two states where the Governor serves for a two-year term, the other being neighboring Vermont. Lynch was re-elected by landslide margins in 2006 and 2008, and enjoyed historically high approval ratings. In early 2010, his approval rating showed a downward trend, with an April poll indicating that his approval had fallen below 50% (44% approve, 42% disapprove).[2] After the primary elections in mid-September, Lynch's approval rating rebounded (51% approve, 38% disapprove).[3]

Democratic primary

Candidates

Declared

  • John Lynch, incumbent Governor[4]
  • Timothy Robertson, state representative
  • Frank Sullivan

Results

Democratic primary results[5]
PartyCandidateVotes%
DemocraticJohn Lynch (incumbent) 49,832 87.5
DemocraticTimothy Robertson3,7716.6
DemocraticFrank Sullivan3,3775.9
Total votes56,980 97.3

Republican primary

Candidates

Declared

  • Frank Robert Emiro Sr., state representative
  • Jack Kimball, businessman[6]
  • John Stephen, former Health and Human Services Commissioner[7]
  • Karen Testerman, conservative activist[6]

Declined

Polling

Poll sourceDates administeredJack
Kimball
John
Stephen
Karen
Testerman
Public Policy PollingSeptember 11–12, 201024%45%8%
Public Policy PollingJuly 23–25, 201015%26%5%
Public Policy PollingApril 17–18, 201010%29%15%

Results

Results by county:
  Stephen–60–70%
  Stephen–50–60%
  Stephen–40–50%
Republican primary results[5]
PartyCandidateVotes%
RepublicanJohn Stephen 77,962 61.6
RepublicanJack Kimball31,58124.9
RepublicanKaren Testerman12,70810.0
RepublicanFrank Emiro4,3943.5
Total votes126,645 96.7

General election

Candidates

  • John Babiarz, Libertarian
  • John Lynch, Democratic
  • John Stephen, Republican

Predictions

SourceRankingAs of
Cook Political Report[11]TossupOctober 14, 2010
Rothenberg[12]Lean DOctober 28, 2010
RealClearPolitics[13]Lean DNovember 1, 2010
Sabato's Crystal Ball[14]Lean DOctober 28, 2010
CQ Politics[15]Likely DOctober 28, 2010

Polling

Poll sourceDate(s)
administered
John
Lynch (D)
John
Stephen (R)
Rasmussen ReportsOctober 27, 201051%45%
WMUR/UNHOctober 7–12, 201051%38%
American Research GroupOctober 3–5, 201051%41%
Granite State PollOctober 1, 201051%34%
American Research GroupSeptember 22–26, 201042%40%
Rasmussen ReportsSeptember 15, 201048%46%
Public Policy PollingSeptember 11–12, 201051%39%
Rasmussen ReportsAugust 5, 201050%39%
Public Policy PollingJuly 23–25, 201051%34%
Rasmussen ReportsMay 26, 201047%35%
Public Policy PollingApril 17–18, 201047%36%
Rasmussen ReportsApril 7, 201047%37%
Rasmussen ReportsMarch 8, 201050%35%
Granite State PollJanuary 27-February 3, 201050%30%
Hypothetical polling
With Kimball
Poll SourceDates AdministeredJohn
Lynch (D)
Jack
Kimball (R)
Public Policy PollingJuly 23–25, 201052%29%
Rasmussen ReportsMay 26, 201050%31%
Public Policy PollingApril 17–18, 201047%35%
Rasmussen ReportsApril 7, 201050%34%
Rasmussen ReportsMarch 8, 201051%32%
Research 2000February 1–3, 201059%13%
Rasmussen ReportsJanuary 12, 201051%32%
Rasmussen ReportsSeptember 14, 200952%31%
With Morse
Poll SourceDates AdministeredJohn
Lynch (D)
Chuck
Morse (R)
Rasmussen ReportsSeptember 14, 200951%29%
With Sununu
Poll SourceDates AdministeredJohn
Lynch (D)
John
Sununu (R)
Granite State PollSeptember 25-October 2, 200950%37%
Rasmussen ReportsSeptember 14, 200948%43%
With Testerman
Poll SourceDates AdministeredJohn
Lynch (D)
Karen
Testerman (R)
Public Policy PollingJuly 23–25, 201052%28%
Rasmussen ReportsMay 26, 201051%32%
Public Policy PollingApril 17–18, 201047%29%
Rasmussen ReportsApril 7, 201050%33%
Rasmussen ReportsMarch 8, 201054%28%
Rasmussen ReportsJanuary 12, 201053%30%

Results

2010 New Hampshire gubernatorial election
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
DemocraticJohn Lynch (incumbent) 240,346 52.63% -17.57%
RepublicanJohn Stephen205,61645.03%+17.43%
LibertarianJohn Babiarz10,0892.21%+0.02%
Write-in537<0.01%N/A
Total votes456,588 100.00% N/A
Democratic hold

Counties that swung from Democratic to Republican

References

External links

Official campaign sites (Archived)