2010 Texas gubernatorial election
Template:Short description Script error: No such module "For". Template:Use American English Template:Use mdy dates Script error: No such module "infobox".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Script error: No such module "sidebar". The 2010 Texas gubernatorial election was held on Tuesday, November 2, 2010, to elect the governor of Texas. Incumbent Republican governor Rick Perry ran successfully for election to a third consecutive term. He won the Republican primary against U.S. senator Kay Bailey Hutchison and political newcomer, Debra Medina. The former mayor of Houston, Bill White, won the Democratic nomination. Kathie Glass, a lawyer from Houston and previous candidate for Texas Attorney General, won the Libertarian nomination. Deb Shafto was the nominee of the Texas Green Party. Andy Barron, an orthodontist from Lubbock, was a declared write-in candidate.
Exit polls showed Perry winning Whites (71% to 29%), while White performed well among African Americans (88% to 12%) and Latinos (61% to 38%). Perry's fourth inauguration for a third full four-year term began on January 18, 2011, on the State Capitol South Grounds. As of 2023, this is the last time Foard, Falls, Trinity, Reeves, La Salle and Kleberg counties voted for the Democratic candidate for governor.
Republican primary
Candidates
- Kay Bailey Hutchison, U.S. senator
- Debra Medina, political activist
- Rick Perry, incumbent governor
Endorsements
Polling
Note: polls used different sample sizes and citizen groups. A candidate must have a majority of the vote (>50%) to avoid a runoff with their second place opponent.
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Rick Perry |
Kay Bailey Hutchison |
Debra Medina |
Other | Unde- cided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rasmussen Reports[1] | February 23, 2010 | style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" align=center| 48% | 27% | 16% | — | 9% |
| Public Policy Polling (report) | February 19–21, 2010 | style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" align=center| 40% | 31% | 20% | — | 9% |
| Research 2000 (report) | February 8–10, 2010 | style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" align=center| 42% | 30% | 17% | — | 11% |
| Public Policy Polling (report) | February 4–7, 2010 | style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" align=center| 39% | 28% | 24% | — | 10% |
| University of Texas (report) | February 1–7, 2010 | style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" align=center| 45% | 21% | 19% | — | 16% |
| Rasmussen Reports (report) | February 1, 2010 | style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" align=center| 44% | 29% | 16% | — | 11% |
| Rasmussen Reports (report) | January 17, 2010 | style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" align=center| 43% | 33% | 12% | — | 11% |
| Rasmussen Reports (report) | November 13, 2009 | style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" align=center| 46% | 35% | 4% | — | 14% |
| University of Texas (report) | November 3, 2009 | style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" align=center| 42% | 30% | 7% | 4% | 18% |
| Rasmussen Reports (report) | September 16, 2009 | 38% | style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" align=center| 40% | 3% | — | 19% |
| Rasmussen Reports (report) | July 15, 2009 | style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" align=center| 46% | 36% | — | 5% | 14% |
| Texas Politics (report) | June 11–22, 2009 | style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" align=center| 38% | 27% | — | 8% | 26% |
| style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" align=center| 38% | 26% | — | 9% | 27% | ||
| Texas Lyceum (report) | June 5–12, 2009 | style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" align=center| 33% | 21% | — | 1% | 41% |
| Rasmussen Reports (report) | May 7, 2009 | style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" align=center| 42% | 38% | — | 7% | 13% |
| Texas Politics (report) | February 24 – March 6, 2009 | 29% | style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" align=center| 37% | — | 10% | 24% |
| Public Policy Polling (report) | February 18–20, 2009 | 31% | style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" align=center| 56% | — | — | — |
| Texas Lyceum (report) | June 12–20, 2008 | 22% | style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" align=center| 35% | — | — | — |
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Script error: No such module "Political party". | Rick Perry (incumbent) | Script error: No such module "string". | 51.1 | |
| Script error: No such module "Political party". | Kay Bailey Hutchison | Script error: No such module "string". | 30.3 | |
| Script error: No such module "Political party". | Debra Medina | Script error: No such module "string". | 18.6 | |
| Total votes | Script error: No such module "string". | 100 | ||
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Democratic primary
Candidates
Declared
- Alma Ludivina Aguado, physician[3]
- Felix Alvarado, educator and U.S. Air Force veteran[4]
- Bill Dear, private investigator[3]
- Clement E. Glenn, associate professor of education at Prairie View A&M University[5]
- Star Locke, homebuilder[5]
- Farouk Shami, businessman[3]
- Bill White, former mayor of Houston[3]
Withdrew
Endorsements
Polling
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Felix Alvarado |
Alma Aguado |
Kinky Friedman* |
Tom Schieffer* |
Bill White |
Farouk Shami |
Unde- cided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public Policy Polling (report) | February 19–21, 2010 | 5% | 3% | — | — | style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" align=center| 59% | 12% | 18% |
| Public Policy Polling (report) | February 4–7, 2010 | 5% | 2% | — | — | style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" align=center| 49% | 19% | 24% |
| University of Texas (report) | October 20–27, 2009 | 2% | — | style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" align=center| 19% | 10% | — | — | 55% |
| University of Texas (report) | June 11–22, 2009 | — | — | style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" align=center| 12% | 2% | — | — | 62% |
| Texas Lyceum (report) | June 5–12, 2007 | — | — | style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" align=center| 10% | 6% | — | — | 73% |
| Wilson Research (report) | September 21, 2007 | — | — | 9% | — | style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" align=center| 12% | — | 30% |
* Dropped out prior to the primary.
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Script error: No such module "Political party". | Bill White | Script error: No such module "string". | 76.0 | |
| Script error: No such module "Political party". | Farouk Shami | Script error: No such module "string". | 12.8 | |
| Script error: No such module "Political party". | Felix Alvarado | Script error: No such module "string". | 5.0 | |
| Script error: No such module "Political party". | Alma Aguado | Script error: No such module "string". | 2.9 | |
| Script error: No such module "Political party". | Clement E. Glenn | Script error: No such module "string". | 1.4 | |
| Script error: No such module "Political party". | Bill Dear | Script error: No such module "string". | 1.0 | |
| Script error: No such module "Political party". | Star Locke | Script error: No such module "string". | 0.9 | |
| Total votes | Script error: No such module "string". | 100 | ||
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General election
Candidates
- Rick Perry (R), incumbent governor
- Bill White (D), former Houston mayor
- Kathie Glass (L), attorney[7]
- Deb Shafto (G), educator[8]
- Andy Barron (write-in), orthodontist[9]
Predictions
| Source | Ranking | As of |
|---|---|---|
| Cook Political Report[10] | Template:USRaceRating | October 14, 2010 |
| Rothenberg[11] | Template:USRaceRating | October 28, 2010 |
| RealClearPolitics[12] | Template:USRaceRating | November 1, 2010 |
| Sabato's Crystal Ball[13] | Template:USRaceRating | October 28, 2010 |
| CQ Politics[14] | Template:USRaceRating | October 28, 2010 |
Polling
| Poll source |
Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of error |
Rick Perry (R) |
Kathie Glass (L) |
Bill White (D) |
Other | Unde- cided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public Policy Polling (report) | October 26–28, 2010 | 568 | ± 4.1% | style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" align=center| 53% | — | 44% | — | 3% |
| Lighthouse Opinion and Polling Research (report) | October 15–17, 2010 | 1200 | ± 2.9% | style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" align=center| 48% | 3% | 37% | 1% | 11% |
| Public Policy Polling (report) | September 2–6, 2010 | 538 | ± 4.2% | style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" align=center| 48% | — | 42% | — | 10% |
| Rasmussen Reports (report) | August 22, 2010 | 500 | ± 4.5% | style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" align=center| 49% | — | 41% | 3% | 7% |
| Rasmussen Reports (report) | July 13, 2010 | 500 | ± 4.5% | style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" align=center| 50% | — | 41% | 2% | 7% |
| Public Policy Polling (report) | June 19–21, 2010 | 500 | ± 4.4% | 43% | — | 43% | — | 14% |
| Rasmussen Reports (report) | June 16, 2010 | 500 | ± 4.5% | style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" align=center| 48% | — | 40% | 5% | 8% |
| Rasmussen Reports (report) | May 13, 2010 | 500 | ± 4.5% | style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" align=center| 51% | — | 38% | 4% | 6% |
| Rasmussen Reports (report) | April 14, 2010 | 500 | ± 4.5% | style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" align=center| 48% | — | 44% | 2% | 6% |
| Rasmussen Reports (report) | March 3, 2010 | 500 | ± 4.5% | style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" align=center| 49% | — | 43% | 3% | 6% |
| Rasmussen Reports (report) | February 22, 2010 | 1,200 | ± 3.0% | style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" align=center| 47% | — | 41% | 5% | 7% |
| Public Policy Polling (report) | February 4–7, 2010 | 1,200 | ± 2.8% | style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" align=center| 48% | — | 42% | — | 10% |
| Rasmussen Reports (report) | February 1, 2010 | 1,000 | ± 3.0% | style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" align=center| 48% | — | 39% | 5% | 8% |
| Rasmussen Reports (reportScript error: No such module "Unsubst".) | January 17, 2010 | 1,000 | ± 3.0% | style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" align=center| 50% | — | 40% | 4% | 6% |
Results
Template:Election box winning candidate with party link| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | <templatestyles src="Template:Tooltip/styles.css" />±%Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Script error: No such module "Political party". | Bill White | 2,106,395 | 42.30 | Script error: No such module "String". | |
| Script error: No such module "Political party". | Kathie Glass | 109,211 | 2.19 | Script error: No such module "String". | |
| Script error: No such module "Political party". | Deb Shafto | 19,516 | 0.39 | Script error: No such module "String". | |
| Script error: No such module "Political party". | Andy Barron (write-in) | 7,267 | 0.15 | ||
| Majority | 631,086 | 12.67 | Script error: No such module "String". | ||
| Turnout | 4,979,870 | Script error: No such module "String". | |||
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Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican
- Bee (Largest city: Beeville)
- Fisher (Largest city: Rotan)
- Haskell (Largest city: Haskell)
- Marion (Largest city: Jefferson)
- Morris (Largest city: Daingerfield)
- Newton (Largest city: Newton)
- Calhoun (Largest city: Port Lavaca)
- Bastrop (Largest city: Elgin)
- Stonewall (Largest city: Aspermont)
- Swisher (Largest city: Tulia)
- Crosby (Largest city: Crosbyton)
- Red River (Largest city: Clarksville)
- Jefferson (largest city: Beaumont)
Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic
- Bexar (Largest city: San Antonio)
- Culberson (largest municipality: Van Horn)
- Harris (largest municipality: Houston)
- Kleberg (largest municipality: Kingsville)
Counties that flipped from Independent to Democratic
Counties that flipped from Independent to Republican
- Nolan (Largest city: Sweetwater)
- Coke (Largest city: Robert Lee)
- Goliad (Largest city: Goliad)
- Wilson (Largest city: Floresville)
- Wharton (Largest city: El Campo)
Analysis
Texas does not have term limits for its governors; thus, gubernatorial incumbents have been free to run as often as they want if they are eligible for the office. The Republicans and Democrats chose their gubernatorial nominees based on the results of primary votes held on March 2, 2010 (the first Tuesday in March.[16]) Both parties' candidates received at least 20 percent of the total votes cast for governor in the 2006 election; thus, they must nominate their candidates via primary election.[17] Any third party that obtains ballot access must nominate its candidates via a statewide convention, which by law must be held on June 12, 2010 (the second Saturday in June.[18]) The Libertarian Party obtained ballot access automatically due to its 2008 showing, in which one of its nominees attracted over one million votes.
In the primary election, the party's winning candidate must garner a majority (over 50%) of votes cast; otherwise, the top two candidates face each other in a runoff election. However, in the general election, the winning candidate needs only a plurality of votes to be elected governor (as was the case with the 2006 election and the 1990 election, in which Libertarian Jeff Daiell attracted over 129,000 votes). Independent and write-in candidates may seek ballot access; however, the criteria for such access are quite strict (see "Ballot Access" below). Nevertheless, in the 2006 election, two independent candidates, Carole Keeton Strayhorn, the Republican State Comptroller, and Kinky Friedman, a popular Texas country musician, obtained enough signatures to qualify. The Libertarian nominee, James Werner, was on the ballot automatically because of that party's Texas showing in the 2004 general election.
Political party candidates
Any political party whose candidate for governor, during the 2006 election, garnered at least 20 percent of the total votes cast, must nominate all its candidates for all offices sought via primary election.[17] In the 2006 election, both the Democratic candidate (Chris Bell) and the Republican candidate (Rick Perry) received this many votes; thus, both parties must hold primary elections using the two-round system. The primary elections must be held on the first Tuesday in March,[16] and a candidate must receive a majority of votes cast in the primary election;[19] otherwise, a runoff election between the top two finishers must be held[20] on the second Tuesday in April.[21]
A political party whose candidate for governor, during the 2006 election, received at least two percent but less than 20 percent of the total votes cast, may nominate its candidates for all offices sought via either a primary election (using the two-round system) or a state convention. If the party chooses to conduct a primary election, it must notify the Texas Secretary of State at least one year prior to the general election date and must nominate all its candidates via primary election.[22] No third-party candidate met this requirement in 2006; the last to do so was the Libertarian Party in 1990 (when nominee Jeff Daiell polled over 3.3% of the vote).
All other political parties must nominate their candidates via state convention,[23] which by law must be held on the second Saturday in June.[18] In order to qualify for ballot access at the general election, the party must either:
- have had at least one candidate, in the previous statewide election, garner at least five percent of the total votes cast for that office[24] (only the Libertarian Party met this requirement), or
- within 75 days after conducting its precinct conventions, submit lists of said conventions, whose total participant count equals at least one percent of the total votes cast in the previous gubernatorial election.[25]
- If the political party cannot meet the precinct convention count requirement, it may file a supplemental petition, the number of signatures on which, when added to the count from the precinct convention lists, totals the required one percent,[26] but must do so within the 75-day period above. Any person signing a supplemental petition must not have voted in any party's primary election or runoff election, or participated in any other third-party's convention.[27]
Independent candidates
Should an independent gubernatorial candidate seek ballot access in the state of Texas, the candidate must meet the following requirements:
- The candidate must obtain signatures from registered voters, in an amount equalling at least one percent of the total votes cast in the prior gubernatorial election,[28] the same as for third-party access.
- The signatures must come from registered voters who did not vote in either the Democratic or Republican primaries or in any runoff elections for governor.[29]
- The signatures must come from registered voters who have not signed a petition for any other independent candidate. If a supporter signed more than one petition, only the first signature counts.[30]
- The signatures cannot be obtained until after the primary election (if either political party primary requires a runoff election, the signatures cannot be obtained until after such runoff election)[31] and the petition must be filed no later than 5:00 pm (Austin time, the filing must be with the Texas Secretary of State) on the 30th day after the scheduled runoff primary election day (even if none is held).[32]
Write-in candidates
In the event a candidate does not qualify for independent status, the person may still run as a write-in candidate. The candidate must either:[33]
- pay a $3,750 filing fee,[34] or
- submit 5,000 qualified signatures.[35] However, the petition must be filed by 5:00 pm of the 70th day before general election day, and cannot be filed earlier than 30 days before this deadline.[36]
References
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- ↑ Rasmussen Reports
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- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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- ↑ a b Texas Election Code, Section 41.007(a).
- ↑ a b Texas Election Code, Section 172.001.
- ↑ a b Texas Election Code, Section 181.061(a).
- ↑ Texas Election Code, Section 172.003.
- ↑ Texas Election Code, Section 172.004.
- ↑ Texas Election Code, Section 41.007(b).
- ↑ Texas Election Code, Section 172.002.
- ↑ Texas Election Code, Section 181.003.
- ↑ Texas Election Code, Section 181.005(b).
- ↑ Texas Election Code, Section 181.005(a).
- ↑ Texas Election Code, Section 181.006(b)(2).
- ↑ Texas Election Code, Section 181.006(g).
- ↑ Texas Election Code, Section 142.007.
- ↑ Texas Election Code, Sections 142.008 and 142.009.
- ↑ Texas Election Code, Section 141.066.
- ↑ Texas Election Code, Section 142.009(1).
- ↑ Texas Election Code, Section 142.006(a).
- ↑ Texas Election Code, Section 146.023 (filing fee or signatures required).
- ↑ Texas Election Code, Section 146.0231 (referencing Section 172.024).
- ↑ Texas Election Code, Section 146.0230 (referencing Section 172.025).
- ↑ Texas Election Code, Section 146.025.
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External links
- Texas Secretary of State – Elections Division
- Texas Governor Candidates at Project Vote Smart
- Campaign contributions for 2010 Texas Governor from Follow the Money
- 2010 Texas Gubernatorial General Election: Rick Perry (R) vs Bill White (D) graph of multiple polls from Pollster.com
- Election 2010: Texas Governor from Rasmussen Reports
- 2010 Texas Governor Race from Real Clear Politics
- 2010 Texas Governor's RaceScript error: No such module "Unsubst". from CQ Politics
- Race Profile in The New York Times
Debate:
- Texas Republican Gubernatorial Primary Debate on C-SPAN, January 14, 2010
Voter resources:
- Am I registered to vote? – Also finds your polling place
- What is on the ballot? – Official lists of candidates (PDF)
- Imagine Election – Look up who will be on your ballot by zip code (includes US representative, governor and other state-level races, and state legislature)
Republican candidates for governor:
- Kay Bailey Hutchison for Governor
- Debra Medina for Governor
- Rick Perry for Governor Republican nominee
Democratic candidates for governor:
- Alma Aguado for Governor
- Felix Alvarado for Governor
- Bill Dear for Governor
- Clement Glenn for Governor
- Farouk Shami for Governor
- Bill White for Governor Democratic nominee
Libertarian candidate for governor:
- Kathie Glass for Governor Libertarian nominee
Third party/Independent candidates for governor:
- Fran Cavanaugh for Governor
- Hank Gilbert for Governor
- Kenneth Griffin for Governor
- Larry Kilgore for Governor
- Tom Schieffer for Governor
- Kevin Still for Governor
- Kinky Friedman for Governor
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