2010 United States Senate special election in West Virginia

The 2010 United States Senate special election in West Virginia was held on November 2, 2010. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Robert Byrd died in office on June 28, 2010. Democratic Governor Joe Manchin appointed Carte Goodwin to temporarily fill the vacancy. Goodwin pledged to not run for election to the seat for the appointment. Manchin won the open seat and served out the remainder of Byrd's elected term, which ended on January 3, 2013.[1]

2010 United States Senate special election in West Virginia
November 2, 2010
 
Nominee Joe Manchin John Raese
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 283,358 230,013
Percentage 53.5% 43.4%
County results
Manchin:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%
Raese:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%
U.S. senator before election

Carte Goodwin
Democratic

 Elected U.S. Senator

Joe Manchin
Democratic

Elections in West Virginia
Federal elections
Presidential Elections
Presidential Primaries
U.S. Senate Elections
U.S. House Elections
Special elections
State government
General elections
Gubernatorial elections
Secretary of State elections
Senate elections
House of Delegates elections

Background

Byrd's career

Byrd had held his seat in the U.S. Senate since 1959, after having served in the House of Representatives since 1953, making him the longest-serving person in Congress. Byrd led his party in the Senate from 1977 to 1989, as Majority Leader or Minority Leader. Afterwards, as the most senior Democrat in the Senate, he served as President pro tempore of the Senate whenever his party was in the majority, including at the time of his death. The Democrats held a 59–41 seat majority in the Senate at the time of Byrd's death.

State politics

West Virginia had not elected a Republican to the U.S. Senate since 1956,[2] but voted Republican in presidential elections since 2000. 77% of voters in the state approved of Democratic governor Joe Manchin, but only 35% approved of Democratic President Barack Obama.[3]

Additionally, the Mountain (Green), Libertarian, and Constitution Parties have been slowly growing forces in the state, hoping to capitalize on discontent from both political parties. All three minor parties fielded ballot-qualified candidates in the 2014 Senate election to fill the open seat of retiring longtime Senator Jay Rockefeller.[4]

Interim appointment

State law allowed Governor Joe Manchin to make a temporary appointment to the vacant seat. Manchin named a former aide, 36-year-old Carte Goodwin, an attorney and fellow Democrat. Goodwin was sworn in on July 20, 2010, and chose not to run in the special election.[5] Hours later, Manchin announced his intention to seek Byrd's seat.[6]

Timing of the election

Gov. Manchin urged the West Virginia Legislature to pass legislation scheduling the special election for 2010.[7] Without a revision, West Virginia Secretary of State Natalie Tennant believed that state law would not allow an election to be held until 2012.[8] On July 19, legislators hammered out a compromise bill setting an Aug 28 special primary and Nov 2 special election to elect a senator for the roughly two years and five months remaining in Byrd's term. The bill only changes election law for 2010 and will not apply to other future elections. It also allows a West Virginian who is on the November general election ballot for some other office to also run in the special election.[9]

Democratic primary

Candidates

Campaign

Despite Manchin's very high popularity in the state, he received two politically experienced challengers. Hechler was a former Secretary of State and U.S. Representative, who at the age of 95 campaigned across the state on an anti-mountaintop removal platform.[13]

Results
Democratic Primary results[14]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Joe Manchin 67,498 72.9
Democratic Ken Hechler 16,039 17.3
Democratic Sheirl Fletcher 9,035 9.8
Total votes 92,572 100

Republican primary

Candidates

Campaign

During the Republican primary campaign, only Raese and Warner released television advertisements.[25]

Results
Republican Primary results[14]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican John Raese 38,152 71.4
Republican Mac Warner 7,892 14.8
Republican Scott H. Williams 1,530 2.9
Republican Kenneth Culp 1,364 2.6
Republican Harry C. Bruner Jr. 1,283 2.4
Republican Thomas Ressler 1,184 2.2
Republican Lynette Kennedy McQuain 907 1.7
Republican Frank Kubic 462 0.9
Republican Daniel Scott Rebich 450 0.8
Republican Albert Howard 176 0.3
Total votes 53,400 100

General election

Candidates

Campaign

Manchin's campaign ads emphasized his support from labor unions and Cecil Roberts (President of United Mine Workers of America), while criticizing Raese for "putting profits before people,",[28] supporting the elimination of the minimum wage, and supporting the FairTax.[29] Manchin was endorsed by both the AFL-CIO and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.[30] Raese was endorsed from numerous pro-life PACs[31] and Freedom Works.[32] Raese criticized Manchin for supporting House Bill 103, which is similar to Cap and trade.[33]

Debates

The first and only debate was held October 18. It featured all four Senate candidates.[34] Raese wanted at least three debates.[35]

Predictions
Source Ranking As of
The Cook Political Report[36] Tossup October 31, 2010
The Rothenberg Political Report[37] Tilt D October 28, 2010
Rasmussen Reports[38] Tossup October 30, 2010
RealClearPolitics[39] Tossup October 31, 2010
Sabato's Crystal Ball[40] Lean D October 28, 2010
CQ Politics[41] Tossup October 31, 2010

Polling
Poll source Date(s)
administered		 Sample
size		 Margin
of error		 Joe
Manchin (D)		 John
Raese (R)		 Other Undecided
Rasmussen Reports (report) July 22, 2010 500 ± 4.5% 51% 35% 5% 9%
MindField Poll (report) August 6, 2010 413 ± 6.0% 54% 32% — 14%
Rasmussen Reports (report) August 29, 2010 500 ± 4.5% 48% 42% 4% 7%
Rasmussen Reports (report) September 8, 2010 500 ± 4.5% 50% 45% 2% 3%
Rasmussen Reports (report) September 19, 2010 750 ± 4.0% 50% 43% 1% 5%
Public Policy Polling (report) September 19, 2010 1,397 ± 2.6% 43% 46% — 10%
Rasmussen Reports (report) September 27, 2010 500 ± 4.5% 46% 48% 2% 4%
Fox News/Pulse Opinion Research (report) October 2, 2010 1,000 ± 3.0% 43% 48% 3% 6%
Rasmussen Reports (report) October 6, 2010 750 ± 4.0% 44% 50% 2% 5%
Public Policy Polling (report) October 9–10, 2010 1,247 ± 2.8% 48% 45% — 7%
CNN/Time/Opinion Research (report) October 8–12, 2010 1,507 ± 2.5% 44% 44% 4% —
Marshall University Poll conducted by Orion Strategies (report) October 11–12, 2010 450 ± 4.6% 48% 38% — 12%
Rasmussen Reports (report) October 12, 2010 750 ± 4.0% 46% 49% 2% 3%
Fox News/Pulse Opinion Research (report) October 16, 2010 1,000 ± 3.0% 45% 48% 2% 4%
Rasmussen Reports (report) October 19, 2010 750 ± 4.0% 43% 50% 2% 5%
Fox News/Pulse Opinion Research (report) October 23, 2010 1,000 ± 3.0% 46% 48% 3% 3%
Public Policy Polling (report) October 23–24, 2010 1,246 ± 2.8% 50% 44% — 6%
Rasmussen Reports (report) October 26, 2010 750 ± 4.0% 49% 46% 2% 4%
Public Policy Polling (report) October 30–31, 2010 1,676 ± 2.4% 51% 46% — 3%
Rasmussen Reports (report) October 31, 2010 750 ± 4.0% 50% 46% 1% 3%

Fundraising
Candidate (Party) Receipts Disbursements Cash on Hand Debt
John Raese (R) $3,071,909 $2,728,034 $343,876 $3,273,959
Joe Manchin (D) $3,351,829 $2,746,439 $605,390 $3,568
Source: Federal Election Commission[42]

Results
United States Senate special election in West Virginia, 2010 results[43]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Joe Manchin 283,358 53.47% -10.96%
Republican John Raese 230,013 43.40% +9.69%
Mountain Jesse Johnson 10,152 1.92% +0.06%
Constitution Jeff Becker 6,425 1.21% N/A
Majority 53,345 10.07%
Total votes 529,948 100
Democratic hold Swing

References
  1. "Democrat Manchin wins key W. Va. Senate race". Chicago Sun-Times. Associated Press. November 2, 2010.
  2. See List of United States Senators from West Virginia
  3. "Election 2010: West Virginia Senate Special Election". Rasmussen Reports. July 9, 2010. Retrieved July 13, 2010.
  4. "Candidate Listing By Office, 2014". West Virginia Secretary of State. August 19, 2014. Retrieved August 19, 2014.
  5. Capehart, Jonathan (July 16, 2010). "Sen. Carte Goodwin (D-Caretaker-W.Va.)". The Washington Post. Retrieved July 21, 2010.
  6. "Joe Manchin Makes It Official: He's Running for WV Senate Seat". CBS News. July 20, 2010. Retrieved January 8, 2021.
  7. "Joe Manchin Makes It Official: He's Running for WV Senate Seat". CBS News. July 20, 2010. Retrieved January 8, 2021.
  8. Kleefeld, Eric (June 28, 2010). "Talking Points Memo: West Virginia Sec. of State: No Election for Byrd's Seat Until 2012". Tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com. Retrieved March 23, 2011.
  9. "Charleston Gazette: Compromise reached in Byrd replacement process". Wvgazette.com. December 31, 1969. Retrieved March 23, 2011.
  10. Toeplitz, Shira (July 20, 2010). "Joe Manchin's in, with nod to Robert Byrd". Politico. Retrieved July 21, 2010.
  11. https://www.wvgazettemail.com/news/politics/perennial-candidate-sheirl-fletcher-files-for-senate-run/article_24221bc4-6e47-58b2-bdfa-65534f4b54f9.html
  12. Toeplitz, Shira (July 21, 2010). "Manchin gets veteran Dem challenger". Politico. Retrieved July 21, 2010.
  13. "Hechler ready for rough terrain – State News – Charleston Daily Mail – West Virginia News and Sports". Daily Mail. August 12, 2010. Archived from the original on August 14, 2010. Retrieved August 21, 2010.
  14. "U.S. Senate Special Election (Unofficial Results)". Secretary of State of West Virginia. Retrieved August 29, 2010.
  15. Toeplitz, Shira (July 22, 2010). "Raese is in for W.Va. Senate special". Politico. Retrieved August 28, 2010.
  16. "Harry C. Bruner Jr". The Herald-Dispatch. Archived from the original on July 11, 2011. Retrieved August 28, 2010.
  17. "Kenneth A. Culp". The Herald-Dispatch. Archived from the original on July 11, 2011. Retrieved August 28, 2010.
  18. "Albert Howard". The Herald-Dispatch. Archived from the original on July 11, 2011. Retrieved August 28, 2010.
  19. John McVey (July 24, 2010). "Kubic files for Senate position". The Journal. Retrieved April 8, 2015.
  20. "Lynette Kennedy McQuain". The Herald-Dispatch. Archived from the original on March 11, 2012. Retrieved August 28, 2010.
  21. "Daniel Scott Rebich". The Herald-Dispatch. Archived from the original on July 11, 2011. Retrieved August 28, 2010.
  22. "Thomas Ressler". The Herald-Dispatch. Archived from the original on March 11, 2012. Retrieved August 28, 2010.
  23. "Mac Warner". The Herald-Dispatch. Archived from the original on March 11, 2012. Retrieved August 28, 2010.
  24. "Scott H. Williams". The Herald-Dispatch. Archived from the original on July 11, 2011. Retrieved August 28, 2010.
  25. "Special Election Ads Slow to Start – WOWK-TV". WOWKTV.com. August 17, 2010. Archived from the original on July 26, 2011. Retrieved August 21, 2010.
  26. [email protected] (September 2, 2010). "Constitution Party Candidate on Ballot for Senate Seat – WVNS-TV". WVNSTV.com. Retrieved March 23, 2011.
  27. "Jesse Johnson". The Herald-Dispatch. Archived from the original on July 11, 2011. Retrieved August 28, 2010.
  28. "Joe Manchin for Senate :: West Virginia :: News". Joemanchinwv.com. Retrieved March 23, 2011.
  29. "Joe Manchin for Senate :: West Virginia :: What Does John Raese Really Believe In?". Archived from the original on September 22, 2010. Retrieved September 23, 2010.
  30. "Joe Manchin for Senate :: West Virginia :: Manchin Receives Endorsements from State and U.S. Chamber". Joemanchinwv.com. September 20, 2010. Retrieved March 23, 2011.
  31. "John Raese Proudly Announces the Primary Endorsement of West Virginians for Life! | John Raese For Senate". Raeseforsenate.org. August 24, 2010. Archived from the original on June 18, 2011. Retrieved March 23, 2011.
  32. "WCHS Radio 58". 58wchs.com. Retrieved March 23, 2011.
  33. "Manchin vs. Raese on the Coal Controversy". Wsaz.com. Archived from the original on July 18, 2011. Retrieved March 23, 2011.
  34. "All candidates for WV Senate seat agree to debate". WVPubcast.org. December 24, 2010. Retrieved March 23, 2011.
  35. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on September 18, 2010. Retrieved September 23, 2010.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  36. "Senate". Cook Political Report. Retrieved October 31, 2010.
  37. "Senate Ratings". Rothenberg Political Report. Retrieved October 31, 2010.
  38. "Election 2010: Senate Balance of Power". Rasmussen Reports. Retrieved October 31, 2010.
  39. "Battle for the Senate". RealClearPolitics. Retrieved October 31, 2010.
  40. "2010 Senate Ratings". Sabato's Crystal Ball. Retrieved October 31, 2010.
  41. "Race Ratings Chart: Senate". CQ Politics. Archived from the original on October 28, 2010. Retrieved October 31, 2010.
  42. "Discloser Search: WV 2010". Retrieved October 20, 2010.
  43. "WV SOS – Elections". Apps.sos.wv.gov. November 2, 2010. Retrieved March 23, 2011.
Official candidate sites
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