2010 Tennessee gubernatorial election

The 2010 Tennessee gubernatorial election took place on November 2, 2010, to elect the next governor of Tennessee, alongside other state and local elections. Incumbent Democratic Governor Phil Bredesen was term-limited, and is prohibited by the Constitution of Tennessee from seeking a third consecutive term. Knoxville mayor and Republican nominee, Bill Haslam was elected with 65.0% of the vote, defeating Democratic nominee Mike McWherter.

The primary election was held on August 5, 2010, with Haslam and McWherter winning their respective parties' nominations.

Haslam received endorsements from former U.S. Senator Howard Baker and Congressman Jimmy Duncan. The Tennessean wrote, "Haslam appears most likely to be able to ride Gov. Phil Bredesen's pro-business coattails, despite the different party affiliation." 

Haslam campaigned on his executive experience as both Knoxville's mayor and the president of a major company. His opponents attacked him as an oil executive, especially in the wake of price-gouging allegations levied against Pilot in the wake of the post-Hurricane Katrina fuel shortages, and criticized his refusal to release information related to his income while at Pilot.

With this win, Haslam flipped the state into Republican control, with the state legislature also being controlled by Republicans. The last time Republicans held a government trifecta in the state was in 1869. Ever since this election, Republicans have maintained their trifecta.

News organizations The Cook Political Report, CQ Politics, and The New York Times rated the gubernatorial election as leaning Republican, while The Rothenberg Political Report rated it as "Republican favored," RealClearPolitics and Sabato's Crystal Ball as "Likely Republican", and Rasmussen Reports as "Solid Republican."

Republican primary
A recorded debate featuring 3 of the candidates, organized by campaign coordinator James Crenshaw, was held at the Scarett-Benett Center in Nashville, TN.

From July 1, 2009, until January 15, 2010, Haslam collected $1.8 million, Ramsey raised $1,412,593 including a $200,000 loan, Wamp raised $1,373,078 including a $61,000 loan, and Gibbons raised $225,218.

Candidates

 * Bill Haslam, Mayor of Knoxville
 * Joe Kirkpatrick, businessman Withdrew from race
 * Basil Marceaux, Soddy Daisy resident
 * Ron Ramsey, Lieutenant Governor
 * Zach Wamp, U.S. Representative, 3rd district

Democratic primary
From July 1, 2009, until January 15, 2010,, State Senate Minority Leader Jim Kyle collected $741,485 including a $300,000 personal loan, McWherter raised $402,868, and McMillan raised $159,981.

Candidates

 * Mike McWherter, businessman, former attorney, son of former Governor Ned McWherter

Independents

 * Bayron Binkley, broker
 * Brandon Dodds, optometrist
 * Samuel David Duck, Independent Federalist (withdrew from race and endorsed Brandon Dodds)
 * David Gatchell
 * June Griffin
 * Toni Hall
 * Floyd Knois
 * Boyce McCall
 * J. David Maharrey, Tea Party
 * Linda Kay Perry
 * James Reesor, Tennessee author
 * Thomas Smith II
 * Howard Switzer, Architect (Green Party nominee; listed on the ballot as an independent)
 * Carl Twofeathers Whitaker, Native American Indian Movement chief

Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican
• Bledsoe (Largest city: Pikeville)

• Claiborne (Largest city: Harrogate)

• Hardin (Largest city: Savannah)

• Lincoln (Largest city: Fayetteville)

• Macon (Largest city: Lafayette)

• Pickett (Largest city: Byrdstown)

• Rutherford (Largest city: Murfreesboro)

• Sumner (Largest city: Hendersonville)

• Wilson (Largest city: Mt. Juliet)

• Tipton (Largest city: Atoka)

• Madison (Largest city: Jackson)

• Chester (Largest city: Henderson)

• Henderson (Largest city: Lexington)

• Wayne (Largest city: Waynesboro)

• Williamson (Largest city: Franklin)

• Scott (Largest city: Oneida)

• Cumberland (Largest city: Crossville)

• Meigs (Largest city: Decatur)

• Hamilton (Largest city: Chattanooga)

• Bradley (Largest city: Cleveland)

• McMinn (Largest city: Athens)

• Blount (Largest city: Maryville)

• Loudon (Largest city: Lenoir City)

• Monroe (Largest city: Sweetwater)

• Sevier (Largest city: Sevierville)

• Jefferson (Largest city: Jefferson City)

• Knox (Largest city: Knoxville)

• Cocke (Largest city: Newport)

• Grainer (Largest city: Bean Station)

• Hamlben (Largest city: Morristown)

• Greene (Largest city: Greenville)

• Hancock (Largest city: Sneedville)

• Hawkins (Largest city: Kingsport)

• Sullivan (Largest city: Kingsport)

• Johnson (Largest city: Mountain City)

• Washington (Largest city: Johnson City)

• Carter (Largest city: Elizabethton)

• Unicoi (Largest city: Erwin)

• Anderson (Largest city: Oak Ridge)

• Carroll (Largest city: McKenzie)

• Cheatham (Largest city: Ashland City)

• Coffee (Largest city: Tullahoma)

• Dyer (Largest city: Dyersburg)

• Fayette (Largest town: Oakland)

• Fentress (Largest city: Jamestown)

• Lawrence (Largest city: Lawrenceburg)

• Maury (Largest city: Columbia)

• McNairy (Largest city: Selmer)

• Meigs (Largest city: Decatur)

• Montgomery (Largest city: Clarksville)

• Moore (Largest city: Lynchburg)

• Morgan (Largest city: Coalfield)

• Obion (Largest city: Union City)

• Polk (Largest city: Benton)

• Putnam (Largest city: Cookeville)

• Roane (Largest city: Oak Ridge)

• Sequatchie (Largest city: Dunlap)

• Union (Largest city: Maynardville)

• Weakley (Largest city: Martin)

• Bedford (Largest city: Shelbyville)

• Campbell (Largest city: LaFollette)

• Cannon (Largest city: Woodbury)

• Crockett (Largest city: Bells)

• Decatur (Largest city: Parsons)

• DeKalb (Largest city: Smithville)

• Dickson (Largest city: Dickson)

• Franklin (Largest city: Winchester)

• Gibson (Largest city: Humboldt)

• Giles (Largest city: Pulaski)

• Henry (Largest city: Paris)

• Hickman (Largest city: Centerville)

• Lewis (Largest city: Hohenwald)

• Marion (Largest city: Jasper)

• Marshall (Largest city: Lewisburg)

• Robertson (Largest city: Springfield)

• Warren (Largest city: McMinnville)

• White (Largest city: Sparta)

• Benton (largest municipality: Camden)

• Clay (largest municipality: Celina)

• Grundy (largest municipality: Altamont)

• Humphreys (largest municipality: Waverly)

• Lauderdale (largest municipality: Ripley)

• Overton (largest municipality: Livingston)

• Perry (largest municipality: Linden)

• Smith (largest municipality: Carthage)

• Stewart (largest municipality: Dover)

• Trousdale (largest municipality: Hartsville)

• Van Buren (largest municipality: Spencer)

• Jackson (largest town: Gainesboro)

• Hardeman (largest city: Bolivar)

• Rhea (Largest city: Dayton)