2010 Idaho elections


A general election was held in the U.S. state of Idaho on November 2, 2010. All of Idaho's executive offices were up for election, as well as a United States Senate seat and Idaho's two seats in the United States House of Representatives. Primary elections were held on May 25, 2010.

Federal offices

United States Senate

One of the two United States Senators representing Idaho was up for election. Incumbent Republican
Mike Crapo was re-elected to a third term with 71% of the votes.

United States House of Representatives

Idaho has two representatives in the United States House of Representatives. While incumbent Republican Mike Simpson comfortably won re-election, Democrat Walt Minnick was seen as one of the most vulnerable incumbents heading into election day as he worked to build a moderate profile. Republican state representative Raúl Labrador won the Republican primary and eventually defeated Minnick, flipping his district.

Governor

Incumbent Republican governor Butch Otter won re-election, defeating Democrat Keith Allred.

Lieutenant governor

Republican Brad Little was appointed to the office of lieutenant governor by Butch Otter in 2009 to fill the vacancy left by Jim Risch following his election to the United States Senate in 2008. Little ran for a full term and easily won both the Republican primary and then the general election, defeating Democrat Eldon Wallace.

Republican primary

Candidates

  • Brad Little, incumbent.
  • Joshua Blessinger, media director.
  • Steven Dana Pankey

Democratic Nominee

  • Eldon Wallace

Third party candidates

  • Paul Venable

Attorney general

Incumbent Republican attorney general Lawrence Wasden won re-election to a third term unopposed as no other candidate filed to run.

Republican Nominee

Secretary of state

Incumbent Republican secretary of state Ben Ysursa won re-election to a third term with a landslide victory over Democrat Mack Sermon.

Treasurer

Incumbent Republican state treasurer Ron Crane won re-election to a fourth term unopposed as no other candidate filed to run.

Republican Nominee

Controller

Incumbent Republican state controller Donna Jones won re-election to a second term, defeating Democrat Bruce Robinett.

Republican Primary

Candidates

Democratic Nominee

  • Bruce Robinett, finance manager.

Superintendent of Public Instruction

Incumbent Republican superintendent Tom Luna won re-election to a second term, defeating Democrat Stan Olson.

Republican Nominee

Democratic Nominee

  • Stan Olson, educator.

State legislature

All 35 seats of the Idaho Senate and 70 seats of the Idaho House of Representatives were up for election.

Judicial seats

Supreme Court

Two incumbent justices on the Idaho Supreme Court sought re-election.
Justice Jim Jones who has been serving since 2005 ran unopposed and won another term. However, justice Roger Burdick faced a challenger in his bid for re-election.

Burdick's seat

Burdick was challenged by John Bradbury, a district judge from Idaho's second judicial district.
Candidates

Court of Appeals

Incumbent Idaho Court of Appeals judge Karen Lansing ran unopposed and secured another term.

Ballot measures

Four statewide ballot measures appeared on the ballot.