The 2010 Colorado gubernatorial election was held on Tuesday, November 2, 2010, to elect the governor of Colorado, who would serve a four-year term that began in January 2011. One-term incumbent Democrat Bill Ritter announced that he would not run for re-election in 2010. Dan Maes, backed by the Tea Party movement, won the Republican nomination in the primary with 50.6% of the vote and a 1.3% margin over rival Scott McInnis. In claiming victory, Maes called on former representative Tom Tancredo, running as the Constitution Party's nominee to "stop your campaign tonight." Denver mayor John Hickenlooper was unopposed for the Democratic nomination. Hickenlooper won the race with over 50% of the vote.

Democratic primary Candidates Declared John Hickenlooper, mayor of Denver

Declined Bill Ritter, incumbent governor Andrew Romanoff, former speaker of the Colorado House of Representatives (ran for U.S. Senate) Ken Salazar, United States secretary of the interior and former U.S. senator

Results

Republican primary Candidates Declared Dan Maes, businessman Scott McInnis, former U.S. representative

Declined Josh Penry, state senator John Suthers, Colorado attorney general Tom Tancredo, former U.S. representative

Pre-primary polling and developments While a head-to-head polling matchup of McInnis against Maes by Survey USA was not reported for July 2010, the McInnis 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 the Denver Post and 9News. While Tancredo's run was on the Constitution 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.'""Poll shows slipping support for GOP gubernatorial candidate Scott McInnis", by Karen E. Crummy, The Denver Post, updated 2010-07-17 1:37:13 AM MDT. Retrieved October 18, 2010. Tancredo was delivered a "message, signed by the Tea Party movement, 9-12 Project, and constitutionalist 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.'""Tancredo pulls third-party trigger", by David Caterese, politico.com, 7/26/10 12:01 PM EDT. Retrieved 2010-07-27. 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 chairman Dick 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.""Tancredo entering governor's race as third-party candidate, splintering GOP", by Karen E. Crummy, The Denver Post, updated 27 July 2010 05:57:27 AM MDT. Retrieved 2010-07-27. Post-primary polling (see below), however, showed growing support for Tancredo with Maes in danger of receiving a vote share in the single digits.

McInnis vs. Maes Poll source Dates administered DanMaes ScottMcInnisPublic Policy PollingPublic Policy Polling August 7–8, 2010 40% 41%Survey USASurvey USA August 1, 2010 43% 39%Survey USASurvey USA June 15–17, 2010 29% 57%

Results

Libertarian Party

Candidates Jaimes Brown Dan "Kilo" Sallis, 2008 vice presidential candidate of the Boston Tea Party

Results

American Constitution Party

Confirmed Tom Tancredo, former Republican U.S. representative

General election

Candidates Jaimes Brown (L) Running mate: Ken Wyble Jason R. Clark (UAF) Paul Fiorino (I) Running mate: Heather McKibbin John Hickenlooper (D), mayor of Denver Running mate: Joseph Garcia, Colorado State University-Pueblo president Dan Maes (R), businessman Running mate: Tambor Williams, former state representative Tom Tancredo (ACP), former Republican U.S. representative Running mate: Pat Miller, former state representative and nominee for CO-02 in 1994 and 1996

Predictions Source Ranking As of Cook Political Report October 14, 2010 Rothenberg October 28, 2010 RealClearPolitics November 1, 2010 Sabato's Crystal Ball October 28, 2010 CQ Politics October 28, 2010

Debates Complete video of debate, September 25, 2010, C-SPAN Complete video of debate, October 29, 2010 - C-SPAN

Polling

Graphical summary

Poll source Dates administered John DanMaes (R) TomPublic Policy PollingPublic Policy Polling October 30–31, 2010 47% 8% 43%Rasmussen ReportsRasmussen Reports October 29, 2010 49% 5% 42%Public Policy PollingPublic Policy Polling October 21–23, 2010 47% 5% 44%Magellan StrategiesMagellan Strategies October 22, 2010 44% 9% 43%Rasmussen Reports October 15, 2010 42% 12% 38%Rasmussen Reports October 3, 2010 43% 16% 35%Public Policy PollingPublic Policy Polling September 30 – October 2, 2010 47% 13% 33%Survey USASurvey USA September 28–30, 2010 46% 15% 34%Fox NewsFox News September 25, 2010 44% 15% 34%CNN/TimeCNN/Time September 17–21, 2010 47% 21% 29%Rasmussen Reports September 14, 2010 46% 21% 25%Rasmussen ReportsRasmussen Reports August 29, 2010 36% 24% 14%Ipsos/ReutersIpsos/Reuters August 20–22, 2010 41% 33% 16% 45% 45% ––Rasmussen ReportsRasmussen Reports August 11, 2010 43% 31% 18%Public Policy PollingPublic Policy Polling August 7–8, 2010 48% 23% 22% 50% 38% ––Rasmussen ReportsRasmussen Reports August 2, 2010 42% 27% 24%Survey USASurvey USA July 27–29, 2010 46% 24% 24% 50% 41% ––Rasmussen ReportsRasmussen Reports July 15, 2010 46% 43% ––Survey USA June 15–17, 2010 44% 45% ––Rasmussen ReportsRasmussen Reports June 14, 2010 41% 41% ––

Results

By county County John HickenlooperDemocratic Tom TancredoConstitution Dan MaesRepublican James BrownLibertarian Jason R. ClarkIndependent Paul Noel FiorinoIndependent Write-in Margin Total Votes % Votes % Votes % Votes % Votes % Votes % Votes % Votes %Adams55,80549.78%44,73839.90%9,8518.79%7350.66%6890.61%2890.26%50.00%11,0679.87%112,112Alamosa2,91058.47%1,07921.68%88717.82%480.96%350.70%180.36%00.00%1,83136.79%4,977Arapahoe104,14752.56%76,70238.71%15,0117.57%1,2300.62%7760.39%3000.15%00.00%27,44513.85%198,166Archuleta2,13341.51%1,32925.87%1,55430.25%741.44%310.60%170.33%00.00%57911.27%5,138Baca66734.03%73837.65%51226.12%180.92%190.97%60.31%00.00%-71-3.62%1,960Bent74346.12%52132.34%31419.49%110.68%160.99%60.37%00.00%22213.78%1,611Boulder87,87870.03%29,36823.40%6,7725.40%1,0740.86%2670.21%1250.10%20.00%58,51046.63%125,486Broomfield11,99652.39%8,66637.85%1,9878.68%1430.62%670.29%390.17%00.00%3,33014.54%22,898Chaffee4,33151.11%2,70831.96%1,33915.80%440.52%290.34%230.27%00.00%1,32315.61%8,474Cheyenne23724.66%52054.11%19520.29%20.21%40.42%30.31%00.00%-283-29.45%961Clear Creek2,53855.25%1,72437.53%2786.05%290.63%170.37%80.17%00.00%81417.72%4,594Conejos1,74755.90%73823.62%59819.14%160.51%170.54%90.29%00.00%1,00932.29%3,125Costilla1,03270.11%23716.10%17411.82%120.82%151.02%20.14%00.00%79554.01%1,472Crowley51739.56%51039.02%24518.75%120.92%211.61%20.15%00.00%70.54%1,307Custer79635.05%95241.92%47821.05%241.06%170.75%40.18%00.00%-156-6.87%2,271Delta4,46934.06%5,17639.45%3,15824.07%1441.10%1120.85%610.46%10.01%-707-5.39%13,121Denver142,64574.35%39,00920.33%8,0684.21%1,2670.66%5520.29%3090.16%30.00%103,63654.02%191,853Dolores33733.27%28327.94%36636.13%151.48%111.09%10.10%00.00%-29-2.86%1,013Douglas46,91440.11%56,09347.96%12,91811.05%6240.53%3130.27%900.08%00.00%-9,179-7.85%116,952Eagle8,55758.63%3,63224.89%2,16814.86%1461.00%610.42%180.12%120.08%4,92533.75%14,594El Paso72,10737.08%83,58042.98%35,16018.08%1,7790.91%1,3350.69%4920.25%10.00%-11,473-5.90%194,454Elbert2,76125.06%6,99363.47%1,15610.49%510.46%440.40%120.11%00.00%-4,232-38.41%11,017 Fremont5,83236.33%6,37139.69%3,43621.41%1711.07%1711.07%700.44%00.00%-539-3.36%16,051Garfield8,62448.04%5,78032.20%3,24218.06%1600.89%1180.66%270.15%00.00%2,84415.84%17,951 Gilpin1,37351.29%1,08340.46%1766.57%271.01%120.45%60.22%00.00%29010.83%2,677 Grand3,19648.59%2,46337.45%83112.63%520.79%230.35%110.17%10.02%73311.14%6,577Gunnison3,85961.07%1,33121.06%1,02316.19%631.00%270.43%160.25%00.00%2,52840.01%6,319Hinsdale29150.09%14124.27%13923.92%61.03%20.34%20.34%00.00%15025.82%581Huerfano1,62855.07%80127.10%47616.10%170.58%240.81%100.34%00.00%82727.98%2,956Jackson30239.27%27936.28%17522.76%70.91%60.78%00.00%00.00%232.99%769Jefferson116,12050.80%94,37541.29%15,4196.75%1,4800.65%7800.34%4010.18%10.00%21,7459.51%228,576Kiowa20426.67%37448.89%16721.83%91.18%81.05%30.39%00.00%-170-22.22%765Kit Carson94131.20%1,45048.08%58919.53%130.43%150.50%80.27%00.00%-509-16.88%3,016La Plata10,86953.30%3,87519.00%5,18625.43%2831.39%1220.60%530.26%40.02%5,68327.87%20,392Lake1,24356.32%73433.26%1928.70%241.09%100.45%40.18%00.00%50923.06%2,207Larimer64,53851.38%45,39736.14%13,81311.00%1,0120.81%5920.47%2480.20%10.00%19,14115.24%125,601Las Animas3,07555.65%1,42025.70%90216.32%500.90%520.94%270.49%00.00%1,65529.95%5,526Lincoln50226.66%1,06456.51%29615.72%40.21%120.64%50.27%00.00%-562-29.85%1,883Logan2,69735.60%3,54746.82%1,21015.97%470.62%580.77%170.22%00.00%-850-11.22%7,576Mesa19,86936.42%23,31642.74%9,87018.09%6031.11%6211.14%2190.40%510.09%-3,447-6.32%54,549Mineral30652.49%12721.78%13823.67%91.54%20.34%10.17%00.00%16828.82%583Moffat1,02122.14%2,09245.36%1,39330.20%430.93%461.00%170.37%00.00%-699-15.16%4,612Montezuma3,57037.17%2,14622.34%3,64437.94%1211.26%920.96%310.32%10.01%-74-0.77%9,605Montrose5,45934.50%5,89337.25%4,07925.78%1871.18%1601.01%410.26%30.02%-434-2.74%15,822Morgan2,78933.81%4,33252.52%1,02512.43%270.33%580.70%180.22%00.00%-1,543-18.71%8,249Otero2,89445.11%2,12133.06%1,28620.04%460.72%560.87%130.20%00.00%77312.05%6,416Ouray1,43054.85%65525.12%48318.53%230.88%140.54%20.08%00.00%77529.73%2,607Park3,00639.64%3,65748.22%80910.67%580.76%380.50%160.21%00.00%-651-8.58%7,584Phillips64733.06%93147.57%36318.55%70.36%80.41%10.05%00.00%-284-14.51%1,957Pitkin5,25872.45%95413.15%94312.99%741.02%190.26%90.12%00.00%4,30459.31%7,257Prowers1,38836.85%1,62143.03%71218.90%170.45%220.58%70.19%00.00%-233-6.19%3,767Pueblo30,86257.44%15,41428.69%6,60812.30%3260.61%3760.70%1440.27%00.00%15,44828.75%53,730Rio Blanco57822.33%1,07641.56%89034.38%261.00%160.62%30.12%00.00%-186-7.18%2,589Rio Grande2,10747.24%1,38431.03%89220.00%410.92%250.56%110.25%00.00%72316.21%4,460Routt5,93262.69%1,98921.02%1,41314.93%870.92%270.29%140.15%00.00%3,94341.67%9,462Saguache1,48261.57%46019.11%39816.54%401.66%160.66%110.46%00.00%1,02242.46%2,407San Juan26758.30%9019.65%7917.25%173.71%30.66%20.44%00.00%17738.65%458San Miguel2,16071.90%37212.38%40213.38%551.83%110.37%40.13%00.00%1,75858.52%3,004Sedgwick46641.64%43238.61%19917.78%90.80%80.71%50.45%00.00%343.03%1,119Summit6,45564.10%2,57125.53%9199.13%760.75%340.34%150.15%00.00%3,88438.57%10,070Teller3,16832.24%4,50345.82%1,99520.30%920.94%550.56%140.14%00.00%-1,335-13.59%9,827Washington53323.10%1,37759.69%37516.25%90.39%120.52%10.04%00.00%-844-36.58%2,307Weld32,05640.16%37,14946.54%9,65212.09%4310.54%3840.48%1460.18%00.00%-5,093-6.38%79,818Yuma1,17229.97%1,93349.44%76419.54%180.46%180.46%50.13%00.00%23,23528.57%3,910