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Secretary of State 2010 elections
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Legend - A signature filing deadline has elapsed or a primary election has been held. - Endorsed by the Secretary of State Project

Twenty-six secretary of state elections are scheduled for November 2, 2010. Of the 26 seats up for election, 14 are currently held by a Democrat and 12 by a Republican.

In four of the seats up for election, the incumbent cannot run again because of term limits, leaving ten seats guaranteed to be open to non-incumbents. Of the incumbent but limited-out secretaries of state, one is Democratic and three are Republican.

• The Democratic Secretary of State who is limited-out is Charlie Daniels (Arkansas)
• Republican secretaries of state who are limited-out are Todd Rokita (Indiana), Terri Lynn Land (Michigan), and Chris Nelson (South Dakota).

In mid-November 2009, it was estimated that five incumbent secretaries of state who could run again (three Democrats and two Republicans) voluntarily choose not to seek re-election. Three months later, however, only the three Democrats remained on the list as both of the Republicans (Karen Handel of Georgia and Ron Thornburgh of Kansas) resigned from office resulting in the governor from each of the respective states having to appoint a replacement; both appointees in these instances were already candidates seeking the statewide office in November.

• Democratic secretaries of state who are voluntarily choosing not to run for re-election are Susan Bysiewicz (Connecticut), Jennifer Brunner (Ohio) and Deborah L. Markowitz (Vermont). Bysiewicz, who over the course of two years switched campaigns from the gubernatorial race to the state attorney general contest, has decided to seek neither higher office nor re-election to her current position, Markowtiz is seeking to become governor and Brunner was in the hunt for her party's nomination for United States Senate, though she ultimately lost to the Lieutenant Governor Lee Fisher.

At this point in the 2010 election cycle, all signature-filling deadlines in each of the respective 26 states with secretary of state elections have lapsed and all primary elections have been held.

Impact of 2010 Gubernatorial elections

See also: Gubernatorial elections, 2010

In 6 states, the party affiliation of the Secretary of State is likely to change after the November 2 elections for reasons other than the direct popular election of a new statewide official. Each one of them - Florida, Maryland, New York, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, and Texas - has a gubernatorial election this year. In these states, the governor appoints the secretary of state and normally assigns an individual from his/her own party.

• Florida's current SOS is Dawn K. Roberts (R). She has served as interim secretary following the sudden resignation of Kurt Browning on April 30, 2010. Although the state's 2010 gubernatorial election appears to have tightened a bit in the last few weeks, Republican Rick Scott, according to Mason-Dixon and Rasmussen, is expected to win, so the post of Florida Secretary of State is likely to remain in the Republican column.
• Maryland's current SOS is John P. McDonough (D). He was appointed by Democrat Martin O'Malley. O'Malley is predicted to win re-election in the state's 2010 gubernatorial election; should that happen it would not be surprising were he to retain McDonough as Secretary of State.
• New York's current SOS is Lorraine Cortes-Vazquez (D). She was first appointed to the statewide position by disgraced former Governor Elliot Spitzer in 2007. With self-implosion of Carl P. Paladino's campaign, Democrat Andrew Cuomo is anticipated to run away with the election.
• Oklahoma's current SOS is M. Susan Savage (D). She was initially named to the office in 2003 during the first term of Democrat Brad Henry's governorship. Republican United States Congresswoman Mary Fallin is widely expected to win the state's 2010 gubernatorial election. If she does, then it is very likely that the post of Oklahoma Secretary of State will move into the Republican column.
• Pennsylvania's current SOS is Basil L. Merenda (D). He was nominated to the statewide position by Governor Ed Rendell in June 2010 following the sudden resignation of Pedro A. Cortés. ^[1] Republican State Attorney General Tom Corbett is anticipated to win the state's 2010 gubernatorial election, though Rasmussen states that the contest has tightened in the final two weeks.
• The current SOS of Texas is Hope Andrade (R). She was appointed by Governor Rick Perry and sworn into office on July 23, 2008, succeeding Phil Wilson, who resigned to "pursue other opportunities." ^[2] Hope is the sixth individual and the second woman to have served in this position since Perry assumed the governorship in December 2000. Perry is widely expected to win re-election in the state's 2010 gubernatorial election, so the position will remain Republican.

Effect of 2010 Elections on SOS Make-up
Category		Democrats	Republicans
Current party of SOS with 2010 elections		14	12
Gubernatorial appointment/Gov with 2010 election/Current party of SOS		4	2
SOS with no 2010 impact		9	6
Total		27	20

Election outcome predictions

For the methodology of this racetracking analysis, see Secretaries of State/Election Racetracking

Month	Safe D	Likely D	Lean D	Tossup	Lean R	Likely R	Safe R
August	0	7	4	6	1	8	0
September	0	7	1	2	4	9	0

Alabama

See also: Alabama Secretary of State election, 2010

Republican

• Incumbent Republican Beth Chapman ^[3]

Democrat

• Scott Gilliland

Arizona

See also: Arizona Secretary of State election, 2010

The date of the 2010 primary election was August 24, 2010.

Republican

• Incumbent Ken Bennett

Democrat

• State Representative Christopher Deschene ^[4] (November 2009)

Green Party

• Michelle Lochmann

Drop outs

Democrats

• Former Arizona Real Estate Commissioner Sam Wercinski lost in the Democratic primary contest on Tuesday, August 24, 2010. ^[5]

Arkansas

See also: Arkansas Secretary of State election, 2010

Current Democratic Secretary of State, Charlie Daniels, is barred by state term limit laws from running for a third term.

The date of the 2010 primary election was May 18, 2010. The primary run-off took place on June 8, 2010.

Republican

• State Representative Mark Martin ^[6] (January 2010)

Democrat

• Pulaski County Clerk and Obama delegate Pat O'Brien ^[7] (May 2009)

Drop outs

Democrats

• Sebastian County clerk Doris Tate placed third in the Democratic primary contest and did not make it to the Democratic primary run-off. ^[8]
• State Land Commissioner Mark Wilcox ^[9]

California

See also: California Secretary of State election, 2010

The date of the 2010 primary election was June 8, 2010.

Democrat

• Incumbent Debra Bowen

Republican

• Damon Dunn, former Arizona Cardinal wide receiver and kick return specialist ^[10] (January 2010)

Green Party

• Ann Menasche

Libertarian

• Christina Tobin

American Independent

• Merton Short

Peace and Freedom

• Marylou Cabral

Write In

• Roy V. Allmond, Jr.

Drop Outs

Republicans

• California State Assemblywoman for the 37th Congressional District, Audra Strickland, had filed paperwork in January 2009 to start raising money to run for Secretary of State in 2010, but has as of November 2009 decided to run for treasurer of Ventura County instead. ^{[11] [12]}
• Attorney and Leading Birther Figure, Orly Taitz ^[13] (March 2010)

Colorado

See also: Colorado Secretary of State election, 2010

The date of the 2010 primary election was August 10, 2010.

Democrat

• Incumbent Bernie Buescher

Republican

• Attorney Scott Gessler ^[14] (January 2009)

American Constitution Party

• Amanda Campbell

Connecticut

See also: Connecticut Secretary of State election, 2010

Current Democratic Secretary of State, Susan Bysiewicz, officially announced in January 2009 that she would be entering the governor's race in the state.^[15]

The date of the 2010 primary election was August 10, 2010.

Democrat

• State Representative and Majority Leader Denise Merrill ^[16] (December 2009) (Received the endorsement of the Connecticut Democratic Party) ^{[17] [18]}

Republican

• Consumer Protection Commissioner Jerry Farrell ^[19] (January 2010) (Received the endorsement of the Connecticut Republican Party) ^[20]

Green Party

• Michael "Mike" DeRosa

Drop outs

Republicans

• Hartford attorney Corey Brinson, who had announced his candidacy on June 29, 2009, withdrew his name from consideration a little under a year later and endorsed Farrell for the statewide position. ^{[21] [22]}

Democrats

• State Representative James Field Spallone ended his exploratory campaign on March 23, 2010 and endorsed Denise Merrill.
• In spite of receiving the requisite 15% at the state convention to force a primary, State Senator Jonathan Harris chose instead to drop out of the race. ^{[23] [24]}
• Former alderman Gerry Garcia lost in the Democratic primary contest on Tuesday, August 10, 2010. ^[25]

Georgia

See also: Georgia Secretary of State election, 2010

Incumbent Republican Karen Handel announced in March 2009 that she was officially entering the governor's race in her home state.^[26]

The date of the 2010 primary election was July 20, 2010. The primary run-off contest took place on August 10, 2010.

Republican

• Former State Senator and current Secretary of State Brian Kemp ^[27] (March 2009)

Democrat

• State Representative Georganna Sinkfield ^[28] (April 2010)

Libertarian

• David Chastain

Drop outs

Republicans

• Sandy Springs City Commissioner Doug MacGinnite lost in the Republican primary contest on Tuesday, July 20, 2010. ^[29]

Democrats

• Former press secretary to then-Gov. Roy Barnes and attorney Gary Horlacher lost in the Democratic primary contest on Tuesday, July 20, 2010. ^[30]
• Small business owner Michael Mills lost in the Democratic primary contest on Tuesday, July 20, 2010.
• Angela Moore lost in the Democratic primary contest on Tuesday, July 20, 2010. ^[31]
• State Senator Gail Buckner lost in the Democratic primary run-off contest on Tuesday, August 10, 2010. ^[32]

Idaho

See also: Idaho Secretary of State election, 2010

The date of the 2010 primary election was May 25, 2010.

Republican

• Incumbent Ben Ysursa

Democrat

• Mack Sermon

Illinois

See also: Illinois Secretary of State election, 2010

The date of the 2010 primary election was February 2, 2010.

Democrat

• Incumbent Democrat Jesse White ^[33] (September 2009)

Republican

• Businessman Robert Enriquez ^[34] (November 2009)

Libertarian

• Josh Hanson

Independent

• Christopher Pedersen

Drop outs

Independents

• Adrian Frost (Green Party)

Indiana

See also: Indiana Secretary of State election, 2010

Current Secretary of State of Indiana, Todd Rokita, is barred by Indiana state term limit laws from running for a third term.

Candidates for this office are nominated by party convention or petition. There is no primary election for this office.

Republican

• Current Chairman of the Hamilton County GOP, Charlie White ^[35] (September 2009)

Democrat

• Vop Osili, founder and president of A2SO4, an Indianapolis-based architectural firm ^[36] (October 2009)

Libertarian

• Mike Wherry

Iowa

See also: Iowa Secretary of State election, 2010

The date of the 2010 primary election was June 8, 2010.

Democrat

• Incumbent Democrat Michael Mauro ^[37] (January 2009)

Republican

• Council Bluffs City Councilman Matt Schultz ^[38] (October 2009)

Libertarian

• Jake Porter

Drop outs

Republicans

• Former State Representative George Eichhorn lost in the Republican primary contest on Tuesday, June 8, 2010. ^[39]
• Chris Sanger lost in the Republican primary contest on Tuesday, June 8, 2010. ^[40]

Kansas

See also: Kansas Secretary of State election, 2010

Incumbent Republican Ron Thornburgh announced in June 2009 that in addition to the news that he would dropping out of the state's gubernatorial race that he would not be seeking a fifth term as Kansas Secretary of State.^[41]

The date of the 2010 primary election was August 3, 2010.

Republican

• Past Chairman of Kansas Republican Party Kris Kobach ^[42] (May 2009)

Democrat

• Former Kansas Securities Commissioner and current Secretary of State Chris Biggs ^[43] (June 2009)

Libertarian

• Phillip Horatio Lucas

Reform

• Derek Langseth

Drop outs

Republicans

• Former Salina resident J.R. Claeys lost in the Republican primary contest on Tuesday, August 3, 2010. ^[44]
• Shawnee County election commissioner Elizabeth Ensley lost in the Republican primary contest on Tuesday, August 3, 2010. ^[45]

Democrats

• State Senator Chris Steineger lost in the Democratic primary contest on Tuesday, August 3, 2010. ^[46]

Massachusetts

See also: Massachusetts Secretary of State election, 2010

The date of the 2010 primary election is September 14, 2010.

Democrat

• Incumbent William F. Galvin

Republican

• Woburn City Clerk William C. Campbell ^[47] (March 2010)

Independent

• Jim Henderson

Michigan

See also: Michigan Secretary of State election, 2010

Michigan state term limit laws prevent current Republican Michigan Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land from running for office for a third time.

Democratic and Republican candidates for Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, and Secretary of State are nominated by political parties at their fall state convention.

Republican

• Oakland County Clerk Ruth Johnson ^[48] (April 2010) (Received endorsement of Michigan Republican Party) ^[49]

Democrat

• Full time Assistant Professor of Law at Wayne State University Law School Jocelyn Benson ^[50] (October 2009)

Green

• John Anthony La Pietra

Libertarian

• Scotty Boman

Tea Party

• Kyle D. Franklin

U.S. Taxpayers

Robert Gale

Drop outs

Republicans

• State Senator Michelle McManus failed to win the nomination at the state party convention on Friday, August 28, 2010. ^[51]
• State Senator Cameron Brown failed to win the nomination at the state party convention on Friday, August 28, 2010. ^[52]
• Calhoun County Clerk Anne Norlander failed to win the nomination at the state party convention on Friday, August 28, 2010. ^[53]
• Former State Representative Judy Emmons failed to win the nomination at the state party convention on Friday, August 28, 2010. ^[54]
• State Representative Paul Scott failed to win the nomination at the state party convention on Friday, August 28, 2010. ^[55]

Minnesota

See also: Minnesota Secretary of State election, 2010

The date of the 2010 primary election was August 10, 2010.

Democrat

• Incumbent Mark Ritchie ^[56]

Republican

• State Representative Dan Severson ^[57]

Independent

• Jual Carlson

Drop outs

Democrats

• Dick Franson lost in the Democratic primary contest on Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Nebraska

See also: Nebraska Secretary of State election, 2010

The date of the 2010 primary election was May 11, 2010.

Republican

• Incumbent Republican John Gale ^[58] (October 2009)

Democrat

• Fremont attorney and former Mutual of Omaha corporate counsel, Janet Stewart ^[59] (October 2009)

Drop outs

Democrats

• Former executive director of the Douglas County Democratic Party Kris Pierce, four months after announcing his candidacy for Nebraska Secretary of State, withdrew from the race in order to fill a vacant seat on the Omaha City Council. ^{[60] [61]}

Nevada

See also: Nevada Secretary of State election, 2010

The date of the 2010 primary election was June 8, 2010.

Democrat

• Incumbent Ross Miller

Republican

• Robert Leslie "Rob" Lauer ^[62] (February 2010)

Independent American

• John Wagner

New Mexico

See also: New Mexico Secretary of State election, 2010

The date of the 2010 primary election was June 1, 2010.

Democrat

• Incumbent Mary Herrera ^[63]

Republican

• State Senator Dianna Duran ^[64] (February 2010)

North Dakota

See also: North Dakota Secretary of State election, 2010

The date of the 2010 primary election was June 8, 2010.

Republican

• Incumbent Al Jaeger ^[65]

Democrat

• State Representative Corey Mock ^[66] (February 2010)

Write In

• Joshua Voytek

Ohio

See also: Ohio Secretary of State election, 2010

Current Ohio Secretary of State, Democrat Jennifer Brunner announced in February 2009 that she was officially entering the race for the United States Senate seat currently occupied by retiring Republican Senator George Voinovich. ^[67]

The date of the 2010 primary election was May 4, 2010.

Democrat

• Franklin County Clerk of Courts Maryellen O'Shaughnessy ^[68] (February 2010)

Republican

• State Senator for the 6th Congressional District Jon A. Husted ^[69] (April 2009)

Libertarian

• Former State Legislator Charles R. "Charlie" Earl

Drop Outs

Democrats

• Franklin County Commissioner Marilyn Brown, who announced her candidacy in March 2009, withdrew seven months later to focus instead on her re-election campaign. ^{[70] [71]}
• State Representative for the 93rd Congressional District Jennifer Garrison, who launched her campaign in August 2009, dropped out of the race on January 30, 2010 ^{[72] [73]}

Republicans

• Former Ashtabula County Auditor Sandy O'Brien, who announced her candidacy in June 2009, lost in the state's Republican primary on May 4, 2010. ^[74]

Rhode Island

See also: Rhode Island Secretary of State election, 2010

The date of the 2010 primary election was September 14, 2010.

Democrat

• Incumbent Ralph Mollis ^[75]

Republican

• Catherine Terry Taylor ^[76]

Drop outs

Democrats

• State Senator Leonidas Raptakis lost in the Democratic primary contest on Tuesday, September 14, 2010. ^[77]

South Carolina

See also: South Carolina Secretary of State election, 2010

The date of the 2010 primary election was June 8, 2010.

Republican

• Incumbent Mark Hammond is seeking re-election for a second term in office.

Democrat

• Retired public relations executive Marjorie Johnson ^[78]

South Dakota

See also: South Dakota Secretary of State election, 2010

Current Republican South Dakota Secretary of State Chris Nelson announced in October 2009 that he would be challenging Thad Wasson and Blake Curd for the Republican nomination in the race for the 2010 South Dakota House of Representative seat^[79].

Candidates for this office are nominated at the state conventions of each political party.

Republican

• State Senator Jason Gant ^[80] (September 2009) (Received endorsement of the South Dakota Republican Party) ^[81]

Democrat

• State Senator Ben Nesselhuf ^[82] (October 2009) (Received the endorsement of the South Dakota Democratic Party) ^[83]

Drop outs

Republicans

• Deputy Secretary of State Teresa Bray failed to receive the Republican nomination at the State Party Convention.
• State Representative Thomas Deadrick failed to receive the Republican nomination at the State Party Convention.

Vermont

See also: Vermont Secretary of State election, 2010

Current Democrat Deborah L. Markowitz is vacating the position in order to run for governor of the state in November 2010.

The date of the 2010 primary election was August 24, 2010.

Republican

• Commissioner of Forests, Parks and Recreation Jason Gibbs ^[84] (April 2010)

Democrat

• Former State Senator Jim Condos ^[85] (April 2010)

Liberty Union

• Leslie Marmorale

Progressive Party

• Peter Cooper

Working Families

• Doug Gibson

Drop outs

Republicans

• Attorney Chris Roy lost in the Democratic primary contest on Tuesday, August 24, 2010. ^[86]

Democrats

• Attorney Charles Merriman lost in the Democratic primary contest on Tuesday, August 24, 2010. ^[87]

Wisconsin

See also: Wisconsin Secretary of State election, 2010

The date of the 2010 primary election is September 14, 2010.

Democrat

• Incumbent Douglas La Follette ^[88]

Republican

• David D. King ^[89] (August 2009)

Wyoming

See also: Wyoming Secretary of State election, 2010

The date of the 2010 primary election was August 17, 2010.

Republican

• Incumbent Max Maxfield ^[90] (February 2010)

Democrat

• Andrew Simons ^[91] (May 2010)

Libertarian

• Candice De Laat

References

v • d • e Current Secretaries of State     AL: Beth Chapman AK: No office AZ: Ken Bennett AR: Charlie Daniels CA: Debra Bowen CO: Bernie Buescher CT: Susan Bysiewicz DE: Jeffrey W. Bullock FL: Dawn K. Roberts GA: Brian Kemp HI: No office ID: Ben Ysursa IL: Jesse White IN: Todd Rokita IA: Michael Mauro KS: Chris Biggs KY: Trey Grayson LA: Jay Dardenne ME: Matthew Dunlap MD: John P. McDonough MA: Bill Galvin MI: Terri Lynn Land MN: Mark Ritchie MS: Delbert Hosemann MO: Robin Carnahan MT: Linda McCulloch NE: John Gale NV: Ross Miller NH: William Gardner NJ: Kim Guadagno NM: Mary Herrera NY: Lorraine Cortes-Vazquez NC: Elaine Marshall ND: Al Jaeger OH: Jennifer Brunner OK: M. Susan Savage OR: Kate Brown PA: Basil L. Merenda RI: Ralph Mollis SC: Mark Hammond SD: Chris Nelson TN: Tre Hargett TX: Hope Andrade UT: No office VT: Deborah L. Markowitz VA: Janet Polarek WA: Sam Reed WV: Natalie Tennant WI: Douglas Lafollette WY: Max Maxfield Secretary of State elections, 2010