2010 United States Senate election in Utah


The 2010 United States Senate election in Utah took place on November 2, 2010, along with other midterm elections throughout the United States. Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Bob Bennett was seeking re-election to a fourth term, but lost renomination at the Republican Party's state convention. Mike Lee proceeded to win the Republican primary against Tim Bridgewater and the general election against Democrat Sam Granato. As of, this is the most recent U.S. Senate election in which a political party held the seat after denying renomination to the incumbent senator.

Process

The filing period for candidates began March 12, 2010 and ended March 19, 2010. Candidates who had not filed by that date cannot appear on the ballot in November. Eleven candidates filed with the Office of the Lieutenant Governor.
Both the Utah State Democratic Party and the Utah State Republican Party held statewide caucus meetings on March 23, 2010. Caucus meetings are grouped by legislative district and divided by precincts with each precinct electing delegates who attend their respective party's state nominating convention.
The Utah State Democratic and Republican Parties held their conventions on May 8, 2010. At the Republican convention, incumbent Senator Bob Bennett finished third in balloting among delegates and was eliminated from the race. Business owner Tim Bridgewater finished first and attorney Mike Lee finished second, but Bridgewater did not receive enough votes to avoid a primary election runoff against Lee. At the Democratic convention, delegates nominated businessman Sam Granato, who received 77.5 percent of the vote.
In the Republican primary election, held on June 22, 2010, Lee became the Republican nominee by winning 51 percent of the vote against Bridgewater's 49 percent.
The general election was held on November 2, 2010. Lee won the election with 62 percent of the vote to Granato's 33 percent and 6 percent for Constitution Party candidate Scott Bradley.

Republican nomination

Convention

Candidates

On Ballot
  • Bob Bennett, incumbent U.S. Senator
  • Tim Bridgewater, businessman and candidate for UT-02 in 2002 and 2004
  • David Chiu
  • Merrill Cook, former U.S. Representative
  • Cherilyn Eagar, businesswoman
  • Leonard Fabiano
  • Jeremy Friedbaum
  • Mike Lee, attorney
Withdrew
The following are endorsements made before the convention
Bennett

Lee

Polling

Results

Primary

Candidates

  • Tim Bridgewater, businessman
  • Mike Lee, attorney

    Endorsements

Bridgewater

Lee

Polling

Results

Democratic nomination

Candidates

  • Sam Granato, businessman
  • Christopher Stout, accountant

    Results

General election

Candidates

  • Scott Bradley, businessman
  • Sam Granato, businessman
  • Mike Lee, attorney

    Campaign

Granato emphasized his opposition to nuclear weapon tests in neighboring Nevada. In addition, he criticized Lee for his support of raising the retirement age and for questioning the constitutionality of Social Security.

Predictions

Polling

Fundraising

Results

Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic

  • Summit