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 County results Congressional district results Precinct resultsHickenlooper: 30–40% 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% >90% Tancredo: 30–40% 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% >90% Maes: 30–40% 40–50% 50–60% Tie: 30–40% 40–50% No Data | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The2010 Colorado gubernatorial election was held on Tuesday, November 2, 2010, to elect theGovernor of Colorado, who would serve a four-year term that began in January 2011. One-term incumbentDemocratBill Ritter announced that he would not run for re-election in 2010.[1] Dan Maes, backed by theTea Party movement, won theRepublican nomination in the primary with 50.6% of the vote and a 1.3% margin over rivalScott McInnis. In claiming victory, Maes called on former representativeTom Tancredo, running as theConstitution Party's nominee to "stop your campaign tonight."Denver mayorJohn Hickenlooper was unopposed for the Democratic nomination. Hickenlooper won the race with over 50% of the vote.[2]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | John Hickenlooper | 303,245 | 100.00 | |
| Total votes | 303,245 | 100.00 | ||
While a head-to-head polling matchup of McInnis against Maes bySurvey USA was not reported for July 2010, theMcInnis plagiarism story and the entry of Tom Tancredo into the race led to a changed landscape in advance of the August 10 Republican primary. "When asked who would be the 'strongest Republican gubernatorial candidate,' ... Tancredo easily led the pack of six choices with 29 percent. McInnis followed with 19 percent, and ... Maes, had 13 percent. Another 17 percent ... were not sure", in the Survey USA poll commissioned by theDenver Post and9News. While Tancredo's run was on theConstitution Party ticket, he spoke as a Republican in responding to the poll results. "Tancredo, originally a McInnis supporter, has said that both Maes and McInnis should 'both eventually drop out' of the race even if it's after one wins the primary. 'Neither can win the general election,' he said. Tancredo said he was 'surprised and flattered' by the poll results. 'I want us as a party to get this governor's seat,' he said. 'If I can do it, believe me, I will.'"[14] Tancredo was delivered a "message, signed bytea party,9-12 Project andconstitutionalist groups, [which] read in part: 'Withdraw your ultimatum, stay in the Republican Party, let the process play out for the governor's race within the rules already set forth, and continue to help us improve this party, its candidates, and the process — in other words to trust and respect the newly awakened, energized and informed voters of Colorado.'"[15] As of late July, both McInnis and Maes had rejected Tancredo's ultimatum that they withdraw before or after the primary. And "political observers — and even state GOP chairmanDick Wadhams — were already predicting [Tancredo]'s entry into the race sounded the death knell for the party's gubernatorial bid and may cause problems for state legislative races. 'It's difficult if not impossible to beat ... Hickenlooper with Tancredo in the race,' said Wadhams, noting that Tancredo will siphon just enough votes away from the GOP nominee to give Hickenlooper a win."[16] Post-primary polling (see below), however, showed growing support for Tancredo with Maes in danger of receiving a vote share in the single digits.
| Poll source | Dates administered | Dan Maes | Scott McInnis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public Policy Polling[17] | August 7–8, 2010 | 40% | 41% |
| Survey USA[18] | August 1, 2010 | 43% | 39% |
| Survey USA[19] | June 15–17, 2010 | 29% | 57% |
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Dan Maes | 197,629 | 50.66 | |
| Republican | Scott McInnis | 192,479 | 49.34 | |
| Total votes | 390,108 | 100.00 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Libertarian | Jaimes Brown | 1,438 | 64.03 | |
| Libertarian | Dan Sallis | 808 | 35.98 | |
| Total votes | 2,246 | 100.00 | ||
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| Source | Ranking | As of |
|---|---|---|
| Cook Political Report[23] | Likely D | October 14, 2010 |
| Rothenberg[24] | Lean D | October 28, 2010 |
| RealClearPolitics[25] | Tossup | November 1, 2010 |
| Sabato's Crystal Ball[26] | Likely D | October 28, 2010 |
| CQ Politics[27] | Tossup | October 28, 2010 |
Graphical summary
| Poll source | Dates administered | John Hickenlooper (D) | Dan Maes (R) | Tom Tancredo (ACP) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public Policy Polling[28] | October 30–31, 2010 | 47% | 8% | 43% |
| Rasmussen Reports[29] | October 29, 2010 | 49% | 5% | 42% |
| Public Policy Polling[30] | October 21–23, 2010 | 47% | 5% | 44% |
| Magellan Strategies[31] | October 22, 2010 | 44% | 9% | 43% |
| Rasmussen Reports[29] | October 15, 2010 | 42% | 12% | 38% |
| Rasmussen Reports[29] | October 3, 2010 | 43% | 16% | 35% |
| Public Policy Polling[32] | September 30 – October 2, 2010 | 47% | 13% | 33% |
| Survey USA[33] | September 28–30, 2010 | 46% | 15% | 34% |
| Fox News[34] | September 25, 2010 | 44% | 15% | 34% |
| CNN/Time[35] | September 17–21, 2010 | 47% | 21% | 29% |
| Rasmussen Reports[29] | September 14, 2010 | 46% | 21% | 25% |
| Rasmussen Reports[36] | August 29, 2010 | 36% | 24% | 14% |
| Ipsos/Reuters[37] | August 20–22, 2010 | 41% | 33% | 16% |
| 45% | 45% | –– | ||
| Rasmussen Reports[38] | August 11, 2010 | 43% | 31% | 18% |
| Public Policy Polling[39] | August 7–8, 2010 | 48% | 23% | 22% |
| 50% | 38% | –– | ||
| Rasmussen Reports[40] | August 2, 2010 | 42% | 27% | 24% |
| Survey USA[41] | July 27–29, 2010 | 46% | 24% | 24% |
| 50% | 41% | –– | ||
| Rasmussen Reports[42] | July 15, 2010 | 46% | 43% | –– |
| Survey USA[19] | June 15–17, 2010 | 44% | 45% | –– |
| Rasmussen Reports[43] | June 14, 2010 | 41% | 41% | –– |
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | John Hickenlooper | 915,436 | 51.05% | −5.93% | |
| Constitution | Tom Tancredo | 652,376 | 36.38% | +35.76% | |
| Republican | Dan Maes | 199,792 | 11.14% | −29.02% | |
| Libertarian | Jaimes Brown | 13,365 | 0.75% | −0.75% | |
| Independent | Jason R. Clark | 8,601 | 0.48% | — | |
| Independent | Paul Noel Fiorino | 3,492 | 0.19% | — | |
| Write-ins | 86 | 0.00% | — | ||
| Majority | 263,060 | 14.67% | −2.15% | ||
| Turnout | 1,793,148 | ||||
| Democratichold | |||||
| County[45] | John Hickenlooper Democratic | Tom Tancredo Constitution | Dan Maes Republican | James Brown Libertarian | Jason R. Clark Independent | Paul Noel Fiorino Independent | Write-in | Margin | Total | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Votes | % | Votes | % | Votes | % | Votes | % | Votes | % | Votes | % | Votes | % | Votes | % | ||
| Adams | 55,805 | 49.78% | 44,738 | 39.90% | 9,851 | 8.79% | 735 | 0.66% | 689 | 0.61% | 289 | 0.26% | 5 | 0.00% | 11,067 | 9.87% | 112,112 |
| Alamosa | 2,910 | 58.47% | 1,079 | 21.68% | 887 | 17.82% | 48 | 0.96% | 35 | 0.70% | 18 | 0.36% | 0 | 0.00% | 1,831 | 36.79% | 4,977 |
| Arapahoe | 104,147 | 52.56% | 76,702 | 38.71% | 15,011 | 7.57% | 1,230 | 0.62% | 776 | 0.39% | 300 | 0.15% | 0 | 0.00% | 27,445 | 13.85% | 198,166 |
| Archuleta | 2,133 | 41.51% | 1,329 | 25.87% | 1,554 | 30.25% | 74 | 1.44% | 31 | 0.60% | 17 | 0.33% | 0 | 0.00% | 579[a] | 11.27% | 5,138 |
| Baca | 667 | 34.03% | 738 | 37.65% | 512 | 26.12% | 18 | 0.92% | 19 | 0.97% | 6 | 0.31% | 0 | 0.00% | -71 | -3.62% | 1,960 |
| Bent | 743 | 46.12% | 521 | 32.34% | 314 | 19.49% | 11 | 0.68% | 16 | 0.99% | 6 | 0.37% | 0 | 0.00% | 222 | 13.78% | 1,611 |
| Boulder | 87,878 | 70.03% | 29,368 | 23.40% | 6,772 | 5.40% | 1,074 | 0.86% | 267 | 0.21% | 125 | 0.10% | 2 | 0.00% | 58,510 | 46.63% | 125,486 |
| Broomfield | 11,996 | 52.39% | 8,666 | 37.85% | 1,987 | 8.68% | 143 | 0.62% | 67 | 0.29% | 39 | 0.17% | 0 | 0.00% | 3,330 | 14.54% | 22,898 |
| Chaffee | 4,331 | 51.11% | 2,708 | 31.96% | 1,339 | 15.80% | 44 | 0.52% | 29 | 0.34% | 23 | 0.27% | 0 | 0.00% | 1,323 | 15.61% | 8,474 |
| Cheyenne | 237 | 24.66% | 520 | 54.11% | 195 | 20.29% | 2 | 0.21% | 4 | 0.42% | 3 | 0.31% | 0 | 0.00% | -283 | -29.45% | 961 |
| Clear Creek | 2,538 | 55.25% | 1,724 | 37.53% | 278 | 6.05% | 29 | 0.63% | 17 | 0.37% | 8 | 0.17% | 0 | 0.00% | 814 | 17.72% | 4,594 |
| Conejos | 1,747 | 55.90% | 738 | 23.62% | 598 | 19.14% | 16 | 0.51% | 17 | 0.54% | 9 | 0.29% | 0 | 0.00% | 1,009 | 32.29% | 3,125 |
| Costilla | 1,032 | 70.11% | 237 | 16.10% | 174 | 11.82% | 12 | 0.82% | 15 | 1.02% | 2 | 0.14% | 0 | 0.00% | 795 | 54.01% | 1,472 |
| Crowley | 517 | 39.56% | 510 | 39.02% | 245 | 18.75% | 12 | 0.92% | 21 | 1.61% | 2 | 0.15% | 0 | 0.00% | 7 | 0.54% | 1,307 |
| Custer | 796 | 35.05% | 952 | 41.92% | 478 | 21.05% | 24 | 1.06% | 17 | 0.75% | 4 | 0.18% | 0 | 0.00% | -156 | -6.87% | 2,271 |
| Delta | 4,469 | 34.06% | 5,176 | 39.45% | 3,158 | 24.07% | 144 | 1.10% | 112 | 0.85% | 61 | 0.46% | 1 | 0.01% | -707 | -5.39% | 13,121 |
| Denver | 142,645 | 74.35% | 39,009 | 20.33% | 8,068 | 4.21% | 1,267 | 0.66% | 552 | 0.29% | 309 | 0.16% | 3 | 0.00% | 103,636 | 54.02% | 191,853 |
| Dolores | 337 | 33.27% | 283 | 27.94% | 366 | 36.13% | 15 | 1.48% | 11 | 1.09% | 1 | 0.10% | 0 | 0.00% | -29[b] | -2.86% | 1,013 |
| Douglas | 46,914 | 40.11% | 56,093 | 47.96% | 12,918 | 11.05% | 624 | 0.53% | 313 | 0.27% | 90 | 0.08% | 0 | 0.00% | -9,179 | -7.85% | 116,952 |
| Eagle | 8,557 | 58.63% | 3,632 | 24.89% | 2,168 | 14.86% | 146 | 1.00% | 61 | 0.42% | 18 | 0.12% | 12 | 0.08% | 4,925 | 33.75% | 14,594 |
| El Paso | 72,107 | 37.08% | 83,580 | 42.98% | 35,160 | 18.08% | 1,779 | 0.91% | 1,335 | 0.69% | 492 | 0.25% | 1 | 0.00% | -11,473 | -5.90% | 194,454 |
| Elbert | 2,761 | 25.06% | 6,993 | 63.47% | 1,156 | 10.49% | 51 | 0.46% | 44 | 0.40% | 12 | 0.11% | 0 | 0.00% | -4,232 | -38.41% | 11,017 |
| Fremont | 5,832 | 36.33% | 6,371 | 39.69% | 3,436 | 21.41% | 171 | 1.07% | 171 | 1.07% | 70 | 0.44% | 0 | 0.00% | -539 | -3.36% | 16,051 |
| Garfield | 8,624 | 48.04% | 5,780 | 32.20% | 3,242 | 18.06% | 160 | 0.89% | 118 | 0.66% | 27 | 0.15% | 0 | 0.00% | 2,844 | 15.84% | 17,951 |
| Gilpin | 1,373 | 51.29% | 1,083 | 40.46% | 176 | 6.57% | 27 | 1.01% | 12 | 0.45% | 6 | 0.22% | 0 | 0.00% | 290 | 10.83% | 2,677 |
| Grand | 3,196 | 48.59% | 2,463 | 37.45% | 831 | 12.63% | 52 | 0.79% | 23 | 0.35% | 11 | 0.17% | 1 | 0.02% | 733 | 11.14% | 6,577 |
| Gunnison | 3,859 | 61.07% | 1,331 | 21.06% | 1,023 | 16.19% | 63 | 1.00% | 27 | 0.43% | 16 | 0.25% | 0 | 0.00% | 2,528 | 40.01% | 6,319 |
| Hinsdale | 291 | 50.09% | 141 | 24.27% | 139 | 23.92% | 6 | 1.03% | 2 | 0.34% | 2 | 0.34% | 0 | 0.00% | 150 | 25.82% | 581 |
| Huerfano | 1,628 | 55.07% | 801 | 27.10% | 476 | 16.10% | 17 | 0.58% | 24 | 0.81% | 10 | 0.34% | 0 | 0.00% | 827 | 27.98% | 2,956 |
| Jackson | 302 | 39.27% | 279 | 36.28% | 175 | 22.76% | 7 | 0.91% | 6 | 0.78% | 0 | 0.00% | 0 | 0.00% | 23 | 2.99% | 769 |
| Jefferson | 116,120 | 50.80% | 94,375 | 41.29% | 15,419 | 6.75% | 1,480 | 0.65% | 780 | 0.34% | 401 | 0.18% | 1 | 0.00% | 21,745 | 9.51% | 228,576 |
| Kiowa | 204 | 26.67% | 374 | 48.89% | 167 | 21.83% | 9 | 1.18% | 8 | 1.05% | 3 | 0.39% | 0 | 0.00% | -170 | -22.22% | 765 |
| Kit Carson | 941 | 31.20% | 1,450 | 48.08% | 589 | 19.53% | 13 | 0.43% | 15 | 0.50% | 8 | 0.27% | 0 | 0.00% | -509 | -16.88% | 3,016 |
| La Plata | 10,869 | 53.30% | 3,875 | 19.00% | 5,186 | 25.43% | 283 | 1.39% | 122 | 0.60% | 53 | 0.26% | 4 | 0.02% | 5,683[a] | 27.87% | 20,392 |
| Lake | 1,243 | 56.32% | 734 | 33.26% | 192 | 8.70% | 24 | 1.09% | 10 | 0.45% | 4 | 0.18% | 0 | 0.00% | 509 | 23.06% | 2,207 |
| Larimer | 64,538 | 51.38% | 45,397 | 36.14% | 13,813 | 11.00% | 1,012 | 0.81% | 592 | 0.47% | 248 | 0.20% | 1 | 0.00% | 19,141 | 15.24% | 125,601 |
| Las Animas | 3,075 | 55.65% | 1,420 | 25.70% | 902 | 16.32% | 50 | 0.90% | 52 | 0.94% | 27 | 0.49% | 0 | 0.00% | 1,655 | 29.95% | 5,526 |
| Lincoln | 502 | 26.66% | 1,064 | 56.51% | 296 | 15.72% | 4 | 0.21% | 12 | 0.64% | 5 | 0.27% | 0 | 0.00% | -562 | -29.85% | 1,883 |
| Logan | 2,697 | 35.60% | 3,547 | 46.82% | 1,210 | 15.97% | 47 | 0.62% | 58 | 0.77% | 17 | 0.22% | 0 | 0.00% | -850 | -11.22% | 7,576 |
| Mesa | 19,869 | 36.42% | 23,316 | 42.74% | 9,870 | 18.09% | 603 | 1.11% | 621 | 1.14% | 219 | 0.40% | 51 | 0.09% | -3,447 | -6.32% | 54,549 |
| Mineral | 306 | 52.49% | 127 | 21.78% | 138 | 23.67% | 9 | 1.54% | 2 | 0.34% | 1 | 0.17% | 0 | 0.00% | 168[a] | 28.82% | 583 |
| Moffat | 1,021 | 22.14% | 2,092 | 45.36% | 1,393 | 30.20% | 43 | 0.93% | 46 | 1.00% | 17 | 0.37% | 0 | 0.00% | -699[c] | -15.16% | 4,612 |
| Montezuma | 3,570 | 37.17% | 2,146 | 22.34% | 3,644 | 37.94% | 121 | 1.26% | 92 | 0.96% | 31 | 0.32% | 1 | 0.01% | -74[b] | -0.77% | 9,605 |
| Montrose | 5,459 | 34.50% | 5,893 | 37.25% | 4,079 | 25.78% | 187 | 1.18% | 160 | 1.01% | 41 | 0.26% | 3 | 0.02% | -434 | -2.74% | 15,822 |
| Morgan | 2,789 | 33.81% | 4,332 | 52.52% | 1,025 | 12.43% | 27 | 0.33% | 58 | 0.70% | 18 | 0.22% | 0 | 0.00% | -1,543 | -18.71% | 8,249 |
| Otero | 2,894 | 45.11% | 2,121 | 33.06% | 1,286 | 20.04% | 46 | 0.72% | 56 | 0.87% | 13 | 0.20% | 0 | 0.00% | 773 | 12.05% | 6,416 |
| Ouray | 1,430 | 54.85% | 655 | 25.12% | 483 | 18.53% | 23 | 0.88% | 14 | 0.54% | 2 | 0.08% | 0 | 0.00% | 775 | 29.73% | 2,607 |
| Park | 3,006 | 39.64% | 3,657 | 48.22% | 809 | 10.67% | 58 | 0.76% | 38 | 0.50% | 16 | 0.21% | 0 | 0.00% | -651 | -8.58% | 7,584 |
| Phillips | 647 | 33.06% | 931 | 47.57% | 363 | 18.55% | 7 | 0.36% | 8 | 0.41% | 1 | 0.05% | 0 | 0.00% | -284 | -14.51% | 1,957 |
| Pitkin | 5,258 | 72.45% | 954 | 13.15% | 943 | 12.99% | 74 | 1.02% | 19 | 0.26% | 9 | 0.12% | 0 | 0.00% | 4,304 | 59.31% | 7,257 |
| Prowers | 1,388 | 36.85% | 1,621 | 43.03% | 712 | 18.90% | 17 | 0.45% | 22 | 0.58% | 7 | 0.19% | 0 | 0.00% | -233 | -6.19% | 3,767 |
| Pueblo | 30,862 | 57.44% | 15,414 | 28.69% | 6,608 | 12.30% | 326 | 0.61% | 376 | 0.70% | 144 | 0.27% | 0 | 0.00% | 15,448 | 28.75% | 53,730 |
| Rio Blanco | 578 | 22.33% | 1,076 | 41.56% | 890 | 34.38% | 26 | 1.00% | 16 | 0.62% | 3 | 0.12% | 0 | 0.00% | -186[c] | -7.18% | 2,589 |
| Rio Grande | 2,107 | 47.24% | 1,384 | 31.03% | 892 | 20.00% | 41 | 0.92% | 25 | 0.56% | 11 | 0.25% | 0 | 0.00% | 723 | 16.21% | 4,460 |
| Routt | 5,932 | 62.69% | 1,989 | 21.02% | 1,413 | 14.93% | 87 | 0.92% | 27 | 0.29% | 14 | 0.15% | 0 | 0.00% | 3,943 | 41.67% | 9,462 |
| Saguache | 1,482 | 61.57% | 460 | 19.11% | 398 | 16.54% | 40 | 1.66% | 16 | 0.66% | 11 | 0.46% | 0 | 0.00% | 1,022 | 42.46% | 2,407 |
| San Juan | 267 | 58.30% | 90 | 19.65% | 79 | 17.25% | 17 | 3.71% | 3 | 0.66% | 2 | 0.44% | 0 | 0.00% | 177 | 38.65% | 458 |
| San Miguel | 2,160 | 71.90% | 372 | 12.38% | 402 | 13.38% | 55 | 1.83% | 11 | 0.37% | 4 | 0.13% | 0 | 0.00% | 1,758[a] | 58.52% | 3,004 |
| Sedgwick | 466 | 41.64% | 432 | 38.61% | 199 | 17.78% | 9 | 0.80% | 8 | 0.71% | 5 | 0.45% | 0 | 0.00% | 1,277 | 62.66% | 1,119 |
| Summit | 6,455 | 64.10% | 2,571 | 25.53% | 919 | 9.13% | 76 | 0.75% | 34 | 0.34% | 15 | 0.15% | 0 | 0.00% | 3,884 | 38.57% | 10,070 |
| Teller | 3,168 | 32.24% | 4,503 | 45.82% | 1,995 | 20.30% | 92 | 0.94% | 55 | 0.56% | 14 | 0.14% | 0 | 0.00% | -1,335 | -13.59% | 9,827 |
| Washington | 533 | 23.10% | 1,377 | 59.69% | 375 | 16.25% | 9 | 0.39% | 12 | 0.52% | 1 | 0.04% | 0 | 0.00% | -844 | -36.58% | 2,307 |
| Weld | 32,056 | 40.16% | 37,149 | 46.54% | 9,652 | 12.09% | 431 | 0.54% | 384 | 0.48% | 146 | 0.18% | 0 | 0.00% | -5,093 | -6.38% | 79,818 |
| Yuma | 1,172 | 29.97% | 1,933 | 49.44% | 764 | 19.54% | 18 | 0.46% | 18 | 0.46% | 5 | 0.13% | 0 | 0.00% | 23,235 | 28.57% | 3,910 |
Hickenlooper won five of seven congressional districts, including two that elected Republicans, with the remaining two going to Tancredo, which both elected Republicans.<[46]
| District | Hickenlooper | Maes | Tancredo | Representative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 73% | 5% | 22% | Diana DeGette |
| 2nd | 62% | 7% | 30% | Jared Polis |
| 3rd | 49% | 20% | 32% | Scott Tipton |
| 4th | 46% | 12% | 41% | Cory Gardner |
| 5th | 38% | 18% | 43% | Doug Lamborn |
| 6th | 45.1% | 9% | 45.2% | Mike Coffman |
| 7th | 53% | 7% | 38% | Ed Perlmutter |
A result of Tancredo's ACP candidacy and Maes' political implosion was the party's legal elevation from minor to major party status.
Under state law, Tancredo's showing in the gubernatorial election elevated theAmerican Constitution Party from minor to major party status. Any party that earns 10% or more of the votes cast for governor is a "major party." Major party status gives the party a place at or near the top of the ballot in the 2014 gubernatorial election. However, because of the additional organizational, financial, and compliance requirements triggered by major party status, ACP leaders have been ambivalent about the change.[47][48]
As the campaign wore on, the question was not whether Hickenlooper would win, but whether Maes would get at least 10% of the vote. Had he dropped below 10%, the Republican Party would have been legally defined as a minor party under Colorado law. Maes' campaign received no financial support from the Colorado GOP, RNC, nor the Republican Governor's Association. Ultimately, he finished with 11 percent of the vote, just 20,477 votes over the threshold, allowing the Colorado GOP to retain major party status.[49]
The Constitution Party did not field a candidate in the2014 election, and thus lost its major party status.
Debate
Official campaign websites (Archived)
