2010 United States Senate election in Maryland

The 2010 United States Senate election in Maryland was held on November 2, 2010. Primary elections were held on September 14, 2010. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Barbara Mikulski won re-election to a fifth term.

2010 United States Senate election in Maryland
November 2, 2010
 
Nominee Barbara Mikulski Eric Wargotz
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 1,140,531 655,666
Percentage 62.2% 35.8%
County Results

Mikulski:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%

Wargotz:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%
U.S. senator before election

Barbara Mikulski
Democratic

 Elected U.S. Senator

Barbara Mikulski
Democratic

Elections in Maryland
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Background

According to The Baltimore Sun columnist David Nitkin, Mikulski had indicated she planned to seek re-election to a fifth term. If Mikulski were to win re-election and serve the full term, she would tie Paul Sarbanes as the longest-serving senator in state history, and also becoming the longest-serving female senator in history, turning 80 years old in the process.[1] On February 15, 2010, rumors began to circulate that Mikulski would not seek reelection; however, these were denied by Democratic sources soon after.[2][3]

She previously won senate elections in 1986, 1992, 1998, and 2004 by margins of 21, 42, 41 and 31 percentage points, respectively. Additionally, in the general election, state parties are expected to focus much of their attention on the seats of Governor Martin O'Malley and first-term Congressman Frank Kratovil, the latter of whom won a surprise victory in a conservative district of the state.[1] Nitkin[1] and Larry Sabato's Crystal Ball[4] consider her seat as overwhelmingly "safe."

Primary results

Results
Democratic primary results[5]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Barbara Mikulski (Incumbent) 388,868 82.32%
Democratic Christopher J. Garner 35,579 7.53%
Democratic A. Billy Bob Jaworski 15,131 3.20%
Democratic Blaine Taylor 10,787 2.28%
Democratic Theresa C. Scaldaferri 7,913 1.68%
Democratic Sanquetta Taylor 7,365 1.56%
Democratic Lih Young 6,733 1.43%
Total votes 472,376 100.00%

Candidates
  • Joseph Alexander
  • Barry Steve Asbury, newspaper publisher
  • Neil Cohen, dentist
  • Stephens Dempsey
  • Samuel R. Graham, Sr.
  • John B. Kimble, perennial candidate
  • Gregory Kump
  • Daniel W. McAndrew
  • Jim Rutledge, attorney
  • Eddie Vendetti, engineer
  • Eric Wargotz, Queen Anne's County Commissioner

Results
Republican primary results[5]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Eric Wargotz 92,464 38.57%
Republican Jim Rutledge 73,311 30.58%
Republican Joseph Alexander 14,026 5.85%
Republican Neil H. Cohen 13,613 5.68%
Republican Stephens Dempsey 9,325 3.89%
Republican Daniel W. McAndrew 8,460 3.53%
Republican John B. Kimble 8,081 3.37%
Republican Samuel R. Graham, Sr. 6,600 2.75%
Republican Barry Steve Asbury 5,900 2.46%
Republican Eddie Vendetti 5,046 2.10%
Republican Gregory Kump 2,931 1.22%
Total votes 239,757 100.00%

General election

Major

Minor
  • Don Kaplan (Independent)
  • Richard Shawver (Constitution)
  • Kenniss Henry (Green)
  • Natasha Pettigrew (deceased) was the Green Party candidate. On September 19, while cycling, Pettigrew was hit by an SUV. Her mother, Kenniss Henry, was chosen by the Green Party to replace Pettigrew on the ballot.[6]

Campaign

Dr. Eric Wargotz released two television ads, in the first he created and introduced the term "insidersaurus": comparing Mikulski to a dinosaur by calling her a political "insidersaurus" for being in Washington for over thirty years (a long-term political incumbent.) A second ad showed a hammer hitting a brick wall, breaking it down and citing criticisms of Mikulski's record as a U.S. Senator. Mikulski released positive advertisements emphasizing education and job creation.[7]

Despite Eric Wargotz's limited campaign and resources he received the highest percentage of votes against Mikulski as an incumbent U.S. Senator (over 20 years.)

Debates

Despite repeated requests by the Eric Wargotz Campaign formal debate(s) was declined by the incumbent U.S. Senator. The two candidates did appear together on Maryland Public Television (MPT) fielding common questions posed to both by the moderator but no formal debate was held.

Predictions
Source Ranking As of
Cook Political Report[8] Safe D October 19, 2010
Rothenberg[9] Safe D October 15, 2010
RealClearPolitics[10] Safe D October 19, 2010
Sabato's Crystal Ball[11] Safe D October 14, 2010
CQ Politics[12] Safe D October 19, 2010

Polling
Poll source Date(s)
administered		 Sample
size		 Margin
of error		 Barbara Mikulski (D) Eric Wargotz (R) Other Undecided
Rasmussen Reports (report) July 8, 2010 500 ± 4.5% 58% 33% 2% 7%
Public Policy Polling (report) July 10–12, 2010 569 ± 4.1% 59% 27% –– 14%
Rasmussen Reports (report) August 20, 2010 750 ± 4.0% 55% 39% 3% 3%
Rasmussen Reports (report) September 15, 2010 750 ± 4.0% 54% 38% 4% 4%
Gonzales Research & Marketing Strategies, Inc. (report) October 11–16, 2010 816 ± 3.5% 55% 38% –– 7%
Baltimore Sun/OpinionWorks (report) October 15–20, 2010 798 ± 3.5% 59% 32% –– 8%
Rasmussen Reports (report) October 24, 2010 750 ± 4.0% 56% 38% 2% 4%

Fundraising
Candidate (party) Receipts Disbursements Cash on hand Debt Cash minus debt
Barbara Mikulski (D) $3,690,724 $2,792,437 $1,772,774 $0 $1,772,774
Eric Wargotz (R) $1,210,327 $743,392 $466,931 $459,600 $-7331.
Source: Federal Election Commission[13]

Results
United States Senate election in Maryland, 2010[14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Barbara Mikulski (Incumbent) 1,140,531 62.19% -2.61%
Republican Eric Wargotz 655,666 35.75% +2.05%
Green Kenniss Henry 20,717 1.13% +0.06%
Constitution Richard Shawver 14,746 0.80% +0.42%
Write-ins 2,213 0.11% +0.05%
Majority 484,865 26.44%
Total votes 1,833,873 100.00%
Democratic hold Swing

References
  1. Nitkin, David (November 12, 2008). "Smooth sailing for Mikulski". Maryland Politics Blog. The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved January 9, 2009.
  2. Geraghty, Jim (February 15, 2010). "Let's Get Real: Barbara Mikulski Does Not Fear a Loss This Year". National Review. Archived from the original on July 7, 2012. Retrieved February 16, 2010.
  3. Hockstader, Lee (February 16, 2010). "Mikulski another Dem retirement? Not likely". The Washington Post. Retrieved February 16, 2010.
  4. "Senate 2010: A three-peat for Democrats or Comeback for the GOP?". Crystal Ball. February 19, 2009. Archived from the original on January 7, 2010.
  5. "Maryland Senate Primary Results". Maryland State Board of Elections. September 17, 2010. Retrieved September 17, 2010.
  6. Natasha Pettigrew – Mother to replace Green Party nominee for Senate – Baltimore Sun
  7. Pershing, Ben; Dropp, Kyle (October 4, 2010). "Mikulski leads despite drop in popularity". The Washington Post.
  8. "Senate". Cook Political Report. Retrieved October 19, 2010.
  9. "Senate Ratings". Rothenberg Political Report. Retrieved October 19, 2010.
  10. "Battle for the Senate". RealClearPolitics. Retrieved October 19, 2010.
  11. "2010 Senate Ratings". Sabato's Crystal Ball. Retrieved October 19, 2010.
  12. "Race Ratings Chart: Senate". CQ Politics. Archived from the original on October 28, 2010. Retrieved October 19, 2010.
  13. "2010 House and Senate Campaign Finance for Maryland". fec.gov. Retrieved May 1, 2010.
  14. Maryland State Board of Elections
Official campaign sites
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