Texas Attorney General election, 2010
The Texas Attorney General election of 2010 was held on November 2, 2010. Incumbent Republican Greg Abbott fended off a challenge from Democrat Barbara Ann Radnofsky and Libertarian Jon Roland.
Race tracking
- See also: 2010 State Attorneys General/Election Racetracking
Ballotpedia and Governing magazine called the race an easy win for the Republican Party.
| 2010 Race Rankings for Texas Attorney General | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Race Tracker | Race Rating | |||
| Ballotpedia | Likely Republican | |||
| Governing[1] | Safe Republican | |||
| Overall Call | Likely Republican | |||
General Election campaign
Candidates
Republican Party - Incumbent Greg Abbott
Democratic Party - Former Houston attorney Barbara Ann Radnofsky
Libertarian Party - Computer consultant Jon Roland
General election results
On November 2, 2010, Greg Abbott won re-election to the office of Texas Attorney General. He defeated Barbara Ann Radnofsky (D) and Jon Roland (L) in the general election.
| Texas Attorney General, 2010 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican |  Greg Abbott Incumbent |
64.1% | 3,151,064 | |
| Democratic | Barbara Ann Radnofsky | 33.7% | 1,655,859 | |
| Libertarian | Jon Roland | 2.3% | 112,118 | |
| Total Votes | 4,919,041 | |||
| Election results via Texas Secretary of State. | ||||
Endorsements
- Can-Do Conservatives of America[2]
- Corpus Christi Caller-Times, local newspaper[3]
- Houston Chronicle, local newspaper[4]
- Austin Chronicle, local newspaper[5]
- Austin Lesbian/Gay Political Caucus (ALGPC)
- Austin Women's Political Caucus (AWPC)
- Canadian Record, local newspaper[6]
- Dallas Morning News, local newspaper[7][8]
- Democracy for Houston
- Education Austin[9]
- Houston GLBT Political Caucus[10]
- Judge William Kilgarlin, Former Texas State Supreme Court Justice
- Mexican American Bar Association of Houston[11]
- Planned Parenthood Action Fund of Texas[12]
- Texas AFL-CIO COPE[13]
- Texas American Federation of Teachers (AFT)
- Texas League of Conservation Voters (TLCV)[14]
- Women's Campaign Forum
Finances
According to the Texas Ethics Commission, as of July 28, 2010, the following was the breakdown of campaign finances for each of the candidates:
| Greg Abbott Campaign Finance Reports | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Report | Date Filed | Beginning Balance | Contributions | In-Kind [15] | Other Sources | Expenditures | Cash on Hand | |
| January 1 - June 30, 2010[16] | July 15, 2010 | $10,175,357.17 | $1,717,734.99 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $653,222.40 | $11,209,703.93 | |
| Barbara Ann Radnofsky Campaign Finance Reports | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Report | Date Filed | Beginning Balance | Contributions | In-Kind [15] | Other Sources | Expenditures | Cash on Hand | |
| January 1 - June 30, 2010[17] | July 15, 2010 | $388,033.37 | $233,941.91 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $176,092.13 | $463,852.09 | |
Polling
UT/TT poll
| University of Texas/Texas Tribune Poll - September 3 - 8, 2010[18] | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Percentage | |||
 Greg Abbott (R)
|
43% | |||
| Barbara Ann Radnofsky (D) | 26% | |||
| Jon Roland (Libertarian) | 5% | |||
| Undecided | 26% | |||
| Total voters | 800 | |||
Texas Lyceum Poll
| Texas Lyceum Poll - September 22 - 30, 2010[19] | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Percentage | |||
| Greg Abbott (R)
|
56% | |||
| Barbara Ann Radnofsky (D) | 29% | |||
| Undecided | 11% | |||
| Total voters | 416 | |||
March 2, 2010 primaries
- See also: Texas gubernatorial election, 2010
Democratic primary
Candidates
Electoral results
- Barbara Ann Radnofsky ran unopposed
Finances
According to the Texas Ethics Commission, as of January 15, 2010, the following was the breakdown of campaign finances for each of the candidates:
| Barbara Ann Radnofsky Campaign Finance Reports | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Report | Date Filed | Beginning Balance | Contributions | In-Kind [15] | Other Sources | Expenditures | Cash on Hand | |
| July 1 - December 31, 2009[21] | January 15, 2010 | $181,970.01 | $330,718.72 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $157,086.37 | $388,033.37 | |
| April 6 - June 30, 2009[22] | July 15, 2009 | $0.00 | $270,186.96 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $31,341.34 | $181,970.01 | |
Republican primary
Candidates
- Incumbent Greg Abbott
Electoral results
- Greg Abbott ran unopposed
Finances
According to the Texas Ethics Commission, as of January 15, 2010, the following was the breakdown of campaign finances for each of the candidates:
| Greg Abbott Campaign Finance Reports | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Report | Date Filed | Beginning Balance | Contributions | In-Kind [15] | Other Sources | Expenditures | Cash on Hand | |
| July 1 - December 31, 2009[23] | January 15, 2010 | $9,377,478.26 | $1,191,427.31 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $456,353.76 | $10,175,357.17 | |
Noteworthy events
Campaign advertisement
In a video on her campaign website, Democratic Party candidate Barbara Ann Radnofsky said of Republican incumbent Greg Abbott, "The attorney general requires that rape victims pay for the rape kit."[24] A rape kit is a forensic exam conducted by medical professionals to collect evidence for the investigation of sexual assault cases.[25]
Texas state law requires local law enforcement agencies to cover the cost of the hospital rape kits when the victim chooses to report the crime. If the victim decides against pursuing prosecution, it is the Texas Department of Public Safety that is required to pay for the exam. The latter condition did not become effective until HB 2626 was passed by the state legislature and signed by the governor on June 19, 2009.[26]
Politifact said, "A spokesman for Abbott's office says the attorney general did not have the authority to change a policy that was mandated by state law," and, "The attorney general's office said that as of Jan. 1, the office had paid for 57,702 rape exams since December 2002 and had not denied any requests for reimbursements for the kits from law enforcement agencies."[27]
See also
External links
- List of Republican candidates who filed nominating signatures to be listed on Texas's March 2010 primary election ballot
- Green Paper's list of candidates for Texas Attorney General, 2010
General Election candidates
- Barbara Ann Radnofsky for Texas Attorney General Campaign website
- Greg Abbott for Attorney General Campaign website
- Jon Roland for Attorney General Campaign website
Footnotes
- ↑ Governing “Attorney General Race Ratings” 12 Oct. 2010
- ↑ Can-Do Conservatives of America - Endorsements
- ↑ Corpus Christi Caller-Times, "Endorsement: We recommend Greg Abbott for re-election" 12 Oct. 2010
- ↑ Houston Chronicle, "The Chronicle endorses Greg Abbott for re-election" 11 Oct. 2010
- ↑ Austin Chronicle, "'Chronicle' Endorsements" 15 Oct. 2010
- ↑ Left Word, "Panhandle Newspaper Endorses Radnofsky" 22 Oct. 2010
- ↑ Dallas Morning News, "Editorial: We recommend Radnofsky for attorney general" 12 Oct. 2010
- ↑ Texas State Democrats, "Dallas Morning News Endorses Barbara Ann Radnofsky for Attorney General" 13 Oct. 2010
- ↑ Education Austin, "Political Endorsements" 16 Oct. 2010
- ↑ Out Smart, "GLBT Political Caucus Endorsements" 1 Oct. 2010
- ↑ Mexican American Bar Association of Houston - 2010 General Election Endorsements
- ↑ Planned Parenthood of Texas - PPHSET Action Fund PAC Endorsed Candidates
- ↑ Texas Liberal, "Harris County AFL-CIO Endorsements—Including Terrible Selection Of Edwards Over Miles" 1 March, 2010
- ↑ Texas League of Conservation Voters - Endorsements
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 15.3 As these are not cash contributions, they are not reflected in the reported ending balance.
- ↑ Texas Ethics Commission - Greg Abbott July 2010 Semiannual Campaign Finance Report
- ↑ Texas Ethics Commission - Barbara Ann Radnofsky July 2010 Semiannual Campaign Finance Report
- ↑ The Texas Tribune, "Perry Leads White 39-33 in September UT/TT Poll" 13 Sept. 2010
- ↑ The Texas Lyceum, "Governor’s Race Not a Forgone Conclusion" 6 Oct. 2010
- ↑ Texas Kaos, "Barbara Ann Radnofsky for Texas Attorney General" 28 Oct. 2009
- ↑ Texas Ethics Commission - Barbara Ann Radnofsky January 2010 Semiannual Campaign Finance Report
- ↑ Texas Ethics Commission - Barbara Ann Radnofsky July 2009 Semiannual Campaign Finance Report
- ↑ Texas Ethics Commission - Greg Abbott January 2010 Semiannual Campaign Finance Report
- ↑ YouTube, "We're Going to Need a Bigger List" 22 Oct. 2009
- ↑ Austin American-Statesman, "Radnofsky says the attorney general requires rape victims pay for rape kits" 12 Jan. 2010
- ↑ Texas Legislature Online - 81(R) History for HB 2626
- ↑ Austin American-Statesman, "Radnofsky says the attorney general requires rape victims pay for rape kits" 12 Jan. 2010
