2010 Oregon gubernatorial election
County results
Kitzhaber: 40–50% 50–60%
70–80%
Dudley: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80%
The 2010 Oregon gubernatorial election was held on Tuesday, November 2, 2010 to elect the Governor of Oregon to a four-year term beginning on January 10, 2011 . The incumbent governor, Democrat Ted Kulongoski , was ineligible to run due to term limits barring him from being elected to more than two consecutive terms.
The Democratic candidate John Kitzhaber , who had previously served two terms as governor from 1995 to 2003, was elected to a third term, earning a narrow victory over Republican candidate Chris Dudley and two minor party candidates. Kitzhaber's election marked the first time in Oregon's history that a person has been elected to a third term as governor.
Oregon first used its new cross-nomination system, a form of fusion voting , in the 2010 general elections. In this system, a candidate for partisan public office can be nominated by up to three political parties.[ 1]
Kitzhaber was nominated by the Independent Party of Oregon in addition to the Democratic Party.
Almost every opinion poll throughout the election season showed a statistical tie between the two, state Republicans saw this election as the best chance to win the governorship since the last Republican governor, Victor Atiyeh , was re-elected in 1982 . Once polls closed on election day, Dudley had led in early vote counts, but Kitzhaber narrowly won due to wide margins in Multnomah and Lane counties.[ 2] However, this remains the closest Republicans have come to winning the governorship since that election.
Results by county: 40–50%
50–60%
60–70%
70–80%
80–90%
Chris Dudley sign
Results by county: 30–40%
40–50%
50–60%
60–70%
Independent Party primary [ edit ]
Oregon first used its new cross nomination system, a form of fusion voting , in the 2010 general elections. In this system, a candidate for partisan public office can be nominated by up to three political parties.[ 1]
As a result, the Independent Party of Oregon did not file a candidate and instead chose to hold a month-long online primary in July.[ 6] In doing so, it became the first political party in the United States to conduct a binding statewide primary election entirely over the Internet,[ 7]
and it was the largest nominating process ever held by an Oregon minor political party.[ 8]
Republican Chris Dudley did not apply for the Independent Party nomination by the required date, so he was not on the ballot, but he could be written in.[ 6]
Voters' pamphlet for the 2010 general election
Following the primaries, the two leading candidates, Dudley and Kitzhaber, campaigned separately throughout the state for the summer. Despite attempts by both campaigns to arrange a debate, the candidates could only agree on a single debate on September 30.[ 10] Through the end of September, the Dudley campaign had raised $5.6 million, more than twice as much as the Kitzhaber campaign.[ 11]
Throughout the last few months of the campaign, opinion polls showed a tight race with the lead apparently changing frequently. Due to the closeness of the race, President Barack Obama , for whom Oregon voted by a 16-percent margin in 2008 , stumped for Kitzhaber; then headlined a rally at the Oregon Convention Center in Portland on October 20, 2010 .
Newspaper endorsements [ edit ]
Poll source
Date(s) administered
Margin of error
John Kitzhaber (D)
Chris Dudley (R)
Other candidate(s)
Undecided
Davis & Hibbitts [ 34]
October 30–31, 2010
± 3.1%
46%
43%
Survey USA [ 35]
October 23–28, 2010
± 4.2%
48%
41%
2%
8%
Rasmussen Reports [ 36]
October 25, 2010
± 4.0%
46%
49%
3%
3%
Hibbitts [ 37]
October 24–25, 2010
± 4.4%
42%
45%
2%
12%
Elway Research [ 38]
October 18–19, 2010
± 4.4%
45%
44%
3%
5%
Public Policy Polling [ 39]
October 16–17, 2010
± 2.8%
48%
47%
5%
Survey USA [ 40]
October 12–14, 2010
± 3.9%
46%
45%
4%
5%
Rasmussen Reports [ 41]
October 10, 2010
± 4.0%
48%
46%
3%
4%
Survey USA [ 42]
September 12–14, 2010
± 4.2%
43%
49%
5%
3%
Riley Research [ 43]
August 31 – September 9, 2010
± 5.0%
40%
39%
5%
16%
Rasmussen Reports [ 44]
September 8, 2010
± 4.0%
44%
49%
2%
5%
Rasmussen Reports [ 45]
August 22, 2010
± 4.0%
44%
45%
3%
8%
Grove Insight [ 46]
August 18–21, 2010
± 4.0%
44%
35%
4%
14%
Survey USA [ 47]
July 25–27, 2010
± 4.2%
44%
46%
7%
4%
Rasmussen Reports [ 48]
July 26, 2010
± 4.0%
44%
47%
5%
4%
Magellan Strategies [ 49]
June 28, 2010
± 3.2%
40%
41%
10%
9%
Davis, Hibbits and Midghall [ 50]
June 21, 2010
unk
41%
41%
6%
12%
Rasmussen Reports [ 51]
June 17, 2010
± 4.5%
45%
47%
4%
4%
Survey USA [ 52]
June 7–9, 2010
± 4.2%
40%
47%
6%
7%
Rasmussen Reports [ 53]
May 20, 2010
± 4.5%
44%
45%
4%
6%
Rasmussen Reports [ 54]
April 26, 2010
± 4.0%
41%
41%
4%
4%
Moore Insight [ 55]
February 20–21, 2010
± 4.0%
45%
33%
21%
Rasmussen Reports [ 56]
February 17, 2010
± 4.5%
42%
36%
7%
15%
Kitzhaber gives his victory speech after winning the Oregon governorship
Dudley won 29 of Oregon's 36 counties. Kitzhaber won seven, including Multnomah County by a 43% margin of victory.[ 57]
County
Kitzhaber
Votes
Dudley
Votes
Kord
Votes
Wagner
Votes
Various
Votes
Total
Baker
26.8%
1,949
68.1%
4,816
2.6%
187
2.3%
166
0.3%
21
7,276
Benton
59.4%
21,498
38.0%
13,767
1.1%
399
1.2%
448
0.2%
77
36,189
Clackamas
44.3%
69,250
53.4%
83,516
1.1%
1,686
1.0%
1,547
0.2%
288
156,287
Clatsop
51.3%
7,654
45.5%
6,792
1.3%
196
1.6%
166
0.2%
37
14,913
Columbia
44.4%
8,973
51.0%
10,302
2.4%
493
1.8%
368
0.3%
54
20,190
Coos
41.3%
10,456
53.9%
13,652
2.4%
618
2.3%
583
0.1%
34
25,343
Crook
26.1%
2,314
70.3%
6,231
1.7%
152
1.6%
144
0.2%
21
8,862
Curry
38.8%
3,986
56.0%
5,761
2.7%
275
2.4%
245
0.1%
14
10,281
Deschutes
38.1%
24,289
59.1%
37,706
1.3%
861
1.3%
815
0.2%
112
63,783
Douglas
32.5%
14,072
63.3%
27,438
2.2%
952
1.9%
807
0.2%
66
43,335
Gilliam
32.0%
308
64.4%
620
2.6%
25
0.7%
7
0.2%
2
962
Grant
21.6%
749
74.3%
2,576
2.5%
86
1.4%
50
0.2%
8
3,469
Harney
23.8%
800
72.3%
2,436
2.3%
76
1.4%
48
0.2%
8
3,368
Hood River
56.7%
4,778
40.7%
3,434
1.1%
95
1.2%
103
0.2%
17
8,427
Jackson
41.7%
32,360
55.0%
42,715
1.8%
1,389
1.4%
1,117
0.1%
109
77,690
Jefferson
32.3%
2,132
64.2%
4,240
1.7%
110
1.7%
110
0.2%
10
6,602
Josephine
34.7%
11,558
60.2%
20,025
3.1%
1,018
1.9%
646
0.1%
43
33,290
Klamath
25.1%
5,820
70.4%
16,295
2.4%
560
1.8%
428
0.2%
55
23,158
Lake
21.0%
658
74.2%
2,323
2.6%
80
2.0%
64
0.3%
6
3,131
Lane
57.0%
81,731
40.0%
57,394
1.3%
1,855
1.4%
2,045
0.3%
488
143,513
Lincoln
53.0%
10,484
43.2%
8,540
1.8%
347
2.0%
389
0.2%
31
19,791
Linn
34.8%
14,466
61.1%
25,370
2.2%
898
1.7%
708
0.3%
110
41,552
Malheur
24.4%
1,884
70.4%
5,440
3.2%
246
2.0%
157
0.1%
5
7,732
Marion
44.4%
44,795
52.7%
53,177
1.5%
1,530
1.2%
1,192
0.2%
242
100,936
Morrow
26.8%
850
68.8%
2,184
2.7%
87
1.5%
48
0.2%
6
3,175
Multnomah
70.6%
198,157
27.4%
76,915
0.8%
2,149
1.0%
2,879
0.3%
750
280,850
Polk
43.4%
12,899
53.7%
15,966
1.5%
456
1.1%
336
0.2%
67
29,724
Sherman
26.3%
238
70.1%
634
1.7%
15
1.9%
17
0.1%
1
905
Tillamook
46.0%
5,072
50.8%
5,604
1.5%
163
1.6%
173
0.2%
19
11,031
Umatilla
32.1%
6,321
63.8%
12,574
2.2%
441
1.6%
320
0.2%
47
19,703
Union
31.6%
3,366
64.5%
6,869
2.1%
221
1.5%
165
0.3%
31
10,652
Wallowa
28.6%
1,088
67.9%
2,581
2.1%
79
1.1%
43
0.2%
9
3,800
Wasco
43.2%
4,024
53.1%
4,938
1.7%
161
1.7%
156
0.3%
27
9,306
Washington
49.6%
92,811
48.1%
89,926
1.1%
1,977
1.1%
1,983
0.2%
336
187,033
Wheeler
28.6%
216
66.3%
500
2.9%
22
2.0%
15
0.1%
1
754
Yamhill
39.7%
14,519
57.2%
20,893
1.6%
570
1.3%
492
0.2%
61
36,535
Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican [ edit ]
^ a b Mapes, Jeff (July 8, 2009). "Kulongoski will sign fusion voting bill" . The Oregonian . Retrieved October 12, 2010 .
^ "The Oregonian's prediction: John Kitzhaber wins Oregon governor race" . The Oregonian . November 3, 2010. Retrieved November 3, 2010 .
^ a b Davis, Hibbetts & Midghall Archived May 23, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
^ a b Survey USA
^ a b "Official Results: May 18, 2010 Primary Election" . records.sos.state.or.us . Retrieved April 2, 2020 .
^ a b "IPO primary FAQ" . Archived from the original on September 25, 2010. Retrieved October 12, 2010 .
^ "E-voting not ready yet" . The Oregonian . Retrieved August 11, 2010 .
^ "Oregon Independent Party Releases Results of its Private Primary" . Ballot Access News. Retrieved August 11, 2010 .
^ "Archived copy" (PDF) . Archived from the original (PDF) on August 17, 2011. Retrieved October 21, 2016 .{{cite web }}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link )
^ Esteve, Harry (October 1, 2010). "John Kitzhaber and Chris Dudley spar in Oregon gubernatorial campaign's only debate" . The Oregonian . Retrieved October 1, 2010 .
^ Steves, David (September 29, 2010). "Dudley doubles donor dollars" . The Register-Guard . Retrieved October 1, 2010 .
^ "Our endorsement: Kitzhaber for governor" . The Oregonian . Portland. October 10, 2010. Retrieved November 6, 2010 .
^ "Save Our State!" . Willamette Week . Portland. October 13, 2010. Archived from the original on November 2, 2010. Retrieved November 7, 2010 .
^ "Let Kitzhaber steer state into future" . Portland Tribune . Pamplin Media Group . October 14, 2010. Retrieved November 7, 2010 .
^ "Kitzhaber for governor: Oregon needs experience, not a fresh face" . The Register-Guard . Eugene. October 17, 2010. Retrieved November 6, 2010 .
^ "Chris Dudley worth taking a risk on: Candidate more likely to bring jobs, unity to state" . Statesman Journal . Salem. October 10, 2010. Retrieved November 6, 2010 .[permanent dead link ]
^ "Governor: John Kitzhaber: Oregon's problems are too complex for a newcomer; the state needs his experience" . Mail Tribune . Medford. October 17, 2010. Retrieved November 6, 2010 .
^ "Pick Dudley for governor" . The Bulletin . Bend. October 15, 2010. Archived from the original on July 7, 2011. Retrieved November 6, 2010 .
^ "Kitzhaber brings a clear vision for Oregon's future" . East Oregonian . Pendleton. October 17, 2010. Retrieved November 6, 2010 .[permanent dead link ]
^ "It's Kitzhaber by a nose in state gubernatorial contest" . The Lake Oswego Review . October 21, 2010. Retrieved November 6, 2010 .
^ "Kitzhaber's experience more valuable than fresh face" . The News-Review . Roseburg. October 24, 2010. Retrieved November 6, 2010 .
^ "Kitzhaber must use experience to bring change" . The Outlook . Gresham. October 16, 2010. Retrieved November 6, 2010 .
^ "John Kitzhaber for governor" . The Daily Astorian . October 7, 2010. Retrieved November 6, 2010 .[permanent dead link ]
^ "Kitzhaber best suited to lead Oregon" . Corvallis Gazette-Times . October 21, 2010. Retrieved November 6, 2010 .
^ "Endorsement summary: November 2010 general election" . News-Register . McMinnville. October 30, 2010. Retrieved November 6, 2010 .[permanent dead link ]
^ "Kitzhaber must use experience to bring change" . The Sandy Post . Pamplin Media Group. October 20, 2010. Retrieved April 20, 2013 .
^ "Kitzhaber earns slim nod thanks to his experience" . Beaverton Valley Times . Pamplin Media Group. October 14, 2010. Retrieved April 20, 2013 .
^ "Let Kitzhaber steer Oregon" . West Linn Tidings . Pamplin Media Group. October 21, 2010. Retrieved April 20, 2013 .
^ "2010 Governors Race Ratings" . Cook Political Report . Archived from the original on October 28, 2010. Retrieved October 28, 2010 .
^ "Governor Ratings" . Rothenberg Political Report . Retrieved October 28, 2010 .
^ "2010 Governor Races" . RealClearPolitics . Retrieved October 28, 2010 .
^ "THE CRYSTAL BALL'S FINAL CALLS" . Sabato's Crystal Ball . Retrieved October 28, 2010 .
^ "Race Ratings Chart: Governor" . CQ Politics . Archived from the original on October 5, 2010. Retrieved October 28, 2010 .
^ Davis & Hibbitts Archived December 5, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
^ Survey USA
^ Rasmussen Reports
^ Hibbitts Archived November 4, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
^ Elway Research
^ Public Policy Polling
^ Survey USA
^ Rasmussen Reports
^ Survey USA
^ Riley Research Archived September 23, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
^ Rasmussen Reports
^ Rasmussen Reports
^ Grove Insight
^ Survey USA
^ Rasmussen Reports
^ Magellan Strategies
^ Davis, Hibbits and Midghall Archived June 26, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
^ Rasmussen Reports
^ Survey USA
^ Rasmussen Reports
^ Rasmussen Reports
^ Moore Insight
^ Rasmussen Reports
^ a b "Official Results: November 2, 2010 General Election" . records.sos.state.or.us . Retrieved April 2, 2020 .
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