The 2010 United States Senate election in Alabama took place on November 2, 2010, alongside other elections to the United States Senate in other states, as well as elections to the United States House of Representatives and various state and local elections. Incumbent Republican Senator Richard Shelby won re-election to a fifth term.
Background In 1986, Shelby won the Democratic nomination for the Senate seat held by Republican Jeremiah Denton, the first Republican elected to the Senate from Alabama since Reconstruction. He won a very close race as the Democrats regained control of the Senate. He was easily re-elected in 1992 even as Bill Clinton lost Alabama's electoral votes.
On November 9, 1994, Shelby switched his party affiliation to Republican, one day after the Republicans won control of both houses in the midterm elections, giving the Republicans a 53–47 majority in the Senate. He won his first full term as a Republican in 1998 by a large margin, and faced no significant opposition in 2004.
Shelby was popular in Alabama. A September 2009 poll showed he had a 58% approval rating, with 35% disapproving.
Republican primary
Candidates Clint Moser, Tea Party activist Richard Shelby, incumbent U.S. Senator
Polling Poll source RichardShelby ClintMoser Other UndecidedResearch 2000Research 2000 May 10–12, 2010 600 ± 4.0% 63% 14% — 23%
Results
Democratic primary
Candidates William G. Barnes, attorney Simone De Moore, teacher and soul singer
Polling Poll source WilliamBarnes Simone DeMoore Other UndecidedResearch 2000 May 10–12, 2010 600 ± 4.0% 39% 11% 3% 47%
Results
General election
Candidates William G. Barnes (D), attorney Richard Shelby (R), incumbent U.S. Senator since 1987
Campaign Shelby, who switched from Democrat to Republican in 1994, was a popular senator in Alabama for three decades, first elected in 1986. He has over $17 million in the bank, one of the highest of any candidate in the country. Recently, he became even more popular in his opposition to the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) and the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008, as the ranking member of the Senate Banking Committee.
In May, Shelby told reporters "I don't even know who my opponent is."
Predictions Source Ranking As of Cook Political Report October 26, 2010 Rothenberg October 22, 2010 RealClearPolitics October 26, 2010 Sabato's Crystal Ball October 21, 2010 CQ Politics October 26, 2010
Polling Poll source RichardShelby (R) William G.Barnes (D) Other Undecided Rasmussen Reports (report) March 29, 2010 500 ± 4.5% 59% 32% 3% 6% Research 2000 ( report) May 17–19, 2010 600 ± 4.0% 57% 33% 3% 7% Rasmussen Reports (report) May 25, 2010 500 ± 4.5% 58% 31% 3% 8% Rasmussen Reports (report) June 3, 2010 500 ± 4.5% 58% 31% 3% 7% Rasmussen Reports (report) July 22, 2010 500 ± 4.5% 59% 29% 6% 6% Rasmussen Reports (report) August 19, 2010 500 ± 4.5% 60% 28% 2% 10% Rasmussen Reports (report) September 21, 2010 500 ± 4.5% 58% 30% 4% 8%
Richard Shelby vs. generic Democrat Poll source RichardShelby (R) GenericDemocrat UndecidedPublic Policy PollingPublic Policy Polling March 27–29, 2010 1,270 ±2.8% 55% 37% 8%
Fundraising Candidate (party) Receipts Disbursements Cash on hand Debt Richard Shelby (R) $5,103,288 $1,456,041 $17,028,219 $0 William Barnes (D) $0 $0 $0 $0 Source: Federal Election Commission
Results
Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic Russell (largest city: Phenix City) Montgomery (largest city: Montgomery)
References
External links Alabama Secretary of State - Elections U.S. Congress candidates for Alabama at Project Vote Smart Alabama U.S. Senate from OurCampaigns.com Campaign contributions from Open Secrets Alabama Polls graph of multiple polls from Pollster.com Election 2010: Alabama Senate from Rasmussen Reports
from CQ Politics Race profile from The New York Times Official candidate websites Richard Shelby for U.S Senate William G. Barnes for U.S. Senate