2010 Alabama gubernatorial election

The 2010 Alabama gubernatorial election took place on November 2, 2010. Incumbent Governor Bob Riley was term-limited and unable to seek re-election. The party primaries were held on June 1, 2010, with a Republican runoff on July 13. In the general election, Robert J. Bentley defeated Democrat Ron Sparks. This was the first election in which Republicans won three consecutive gubernatorial elections in the state. This was also the first time since Reconstruction that a Republican carried Colbert County, Franklin County, and Lawrence County in a gubernatorial race.

Republican primary

Candidates Robert J. Bentley, state representative Bradley Byrne, former state two-year college chancellor, former state senator and former member of the Alabama State Board of Education Tim James, businessman, son of former Governor Fob James and candidate for governor in 2002 Bill Johnson, former director of the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs and former Birmingham City Councilman Roy Moore, former Chief Justice of the Alabama Supreme Court and candidate for governor in 2006 James Potts, perennial candidate Charles Taylor, perennial candidate

Endorsements

Polling Source Date(s) administered Robert J. Bentley Bradley Byrne Kay Ivey Tim James Bill Johnson Roy Moore UndecidedResearch 2000Research 2000 May 17–19, 2010 9% 29% -- 17% 3% 23% 17%Public Strategy AssociatesPublic Strategy Associates May 10–11, 2010 12% 24% n/a 23% 2% 18% 21%Ayres, McHenry and AssociatesAyres, McHenry and Associates May 3–4, 2010 7% 20% n/a 26% n/a 21% 26%Public Policy PollingPublic Policy Polling March 27–29, 2010 10% 27% 10% 9% 1% 23% 20%Public Strategy AssociatesPublic Strategy Associates February 3–4, 2010 4% 20% 3% 8% 2% 17% 46%

Results

Democratic primary

Candidates Ron Sparks, Alabama Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries Artur Davis, U.S. Representative

Polling Source Date(s) administered Artur Davis Ron Sparks Sam Franklin UndecidedResearch 2000Research 2000 May 17–19, 2010 41% 33% -- 11%Public Policy PollingPublic Policy Polling March 27–29, 2010 38% 28% 9% 25%

Results

General election

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

Polling Poll source Dates administered RobertBentley (R) RonSparks (D)Rasmussen ReportsRasmussen Reports September 21, 2010 55% 35%Rasmussen ReportsRasmussen Reports August 19, 2010 58% 34%Rasmussen ReportsRasmussen Reports July 22, 2010 55% 35%Rasmussen ReportsRasmussen Reports June 3, 2010 56% 37%Rasmussen ReportsRasmussen Reports May 25, 2010 44% 31%

Results

Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic Jefferson County (largest city: Birmingham) Butler (Largest city: Greenville) Chambers (Largest city: Valley) Montgomery (Largest city: Montgomery) Henry (Largest city:Headland)

Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican Franklin (Largest city: Russellville) Marion (Largest city: Hamilton) Walker (Largest city: Jasper) Colbert (Largest city: Muscle Shoals) Lamar (Largest city: Vernon) Talladega (Largest city: Talladega) Lawrence (Largest city: Moulton)

2010 Alabama gubernatorial election

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