2010 Calendar of Key Senate Primaries

Source of dates: CQ Politics – Key Senate primary information added

Notes
Incumbents bolded
Completed primaries italicized
Most likely Senate candidates listed
House primaries held at the same date as Senate primaries

February 2

  • Illinois - State treasurer Alexi Giannoulias (D) won his primary with 39% of the vote vs. suburban Chicago U.S. Rep. Mark Kirk (R), who won his primary with 57%

May 4

  • Indiana: U.S. Rep. Brad Ellsworth (D) (nominated by Democratic convention) vs. former Sen. Dan Coats (R) (who won his primary)
  • North Carolina: Sen. Richard Burr (R) vs. ex-state Senator Cal Cunningham (D) or Secretary of State Elaine Marshall (D) (runoff on June 22)
  • Ohio - Ex-U.S. Rep. and ex-Office of Management and Budget director Rob Portman (R) vs. Lt. Gov. Lee Fisher (D), who won his primary 55% - 45% over Jennifer Brunner (D)

May 18

  • Arkansas - Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D) won 45% of the vote compared to Lieutenant Governor Bill Halter (D) with 43%, and now both face a runoff on June 18; U.S. Rep. John Boozman (R) won the Republican nomination over several opponents.
  • Kentucky – Eye surgeon Rand Paul (R) easily beat Secretary of State Trey Grayson (R) and state Attorney General Jack Conway (D) won a tight contest against Lt. Gov. Dan Mongiardo (D).
  • Pennsylvania – U.S. Rep. Joseph Sestak (D) beat Sen. Arlen Specter (D) 54% - 46% and will face former conservative Club for Growth president Pat Toomey (R) in the fall.

June 8

  • California – Sen. Barbara Boxer (D) vs. ex-Hewlett Packard CEO Carly Fiorina (R) who won 56% of the primary vote against 22% for former U.S. Rep. Tom Campbell (R) and 19% for Assemblyman Chuck Devore (R).
  • Nevada – Sen. Majority Leader Harry Reid (D) vs. ex-Assemblyperson and tea party favorite.Sharron Angle (R), who won 40% of the primary vote compared to 26% for GOP chair Sue Lowden (R) and 23% for ex-UNLV basketball star Danny Tarkanian (R).
  • Arkansas - Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D) beat Lieutenant Governor Bill Halter (D) 52%-48% in the runoff election and faces U.S. Rep. John Boozman (R.
  • Iowa - Sen. Chuck Grassley (R) vs. '82 GOV nominee/ex-U.S. Atorneyy Roxanne Conlin (D), who easily won the Democratic primary with 78% of the vote.

June 22

  • Utah - ex-general counsel Mike Lee (R) beat venture capitalist Tim Bridgewater (R) 51% - 49% in the Republican primary for Sen. Robert Bennett's (R) seat
  • Secretary of State Elaine Marshall (D) easily won over ex-state Senator Cal Cunningham (D) in a runoff election and faces Sen. Richard Burr (R)

August 3

  • Kansas – U.S. Rep. Jerry Moran (R) beat U.S. Rep Todd Tiahrt (R) 49% - 45% for Sen.Sam Brownback's (R) seat. Democrats have not won a Kansas Senate seat since 1932.
  • Missouri - Secretary of State Robin Carnahan (D) and. U.S. Rep. Roy Blunt (R) easily won primaries against minor opponents.

August 10

  • Colorado – Sen. Michael Bennet (D) won over ex-state House Speaker Andrew Romanoff (D) 54% - 46%. Weld County District Attorney Ken Buck (R) beat former Lieutenant Governor Jane Norton (R) 51% - 48%.
  • Connecticut - State attorney general Richard Blumenthal (D) vs. World Wresting Entertainment CEO Linda McMahon (R) who won the GOP primary with 49% of the vote against two opponents.

August 17

  • Washington - Sen. Patty Murray (D) received 46%, Dino Rossi (R) 34%, Clint Didier (R) 12% in the open primary ballot with candidates from both parties on the same ballot. Mail-in votes are counted for many days after the primary.

August 24

  • Alaska - Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R) was losing to. attorney Joe Miller (R) by about 3,000 votes, but the final results are not yet in.
  • Arizona - Sen. John McCain (R) easily beat former U.S. Representative J.D. Hayworth (R) 56% - 32%, and faces Rodney Glassman (D) in the fall.
  • Florida - Governor Charles Crist (I) vs. former Florida state Speaker Marco Rubio (R) vs. U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek (D), who crushed real estate developer Jeff Greene (D) 57% - 31% in the primary.

August 28

  • Louisiana - Sen. David Vitter (R) slaughtered retired Supreme Court Justice Chet Traylor (R) 88% - 7% and faces U.S. Rep. Rep. Charlie Melancon (D), who won his primary with 71% of the vote.
  • West Virginia - Joe Manchin (D) won the Democratic nomination and faces wealthy businessman John Raese (R), who won the Republican nomination.

September 14

  • Delaware - Tea Party favorite Christine O'Donnell upset U.S. Rep. Mike Castle 53% - 47% for the Republican nomination and faces. New Castle County Executive Chris Coons (D)
  • New Hampshire - Rep. Paul Hodes (D) faces former New Hampshire attorney general Kelly Ayotte (R) who barely beat ex-gubernatorial candidate Ovide Lamontagne (R)
  • Wisconsin – Sen. Russ Feingold (D) vs. businessman Ron Johnson (R), who easily won her primary.
  • Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont