The 2010 Connecticut gubernatorial election took place on November 2, 2010, to elect the 88th Governor of Connecticut. Incumbent Republican Governor Jodi Rell had announced in a press conference in Hartford on November 9, 2009, that she would not seek re-election in 2010. The sites Cook Political Report and CQ Politics both rated the election as a toss-up. This was the first open seat gubernatorial election in the state since 1994. , this is the last time the Governor's office in Connecticut changed partisan control.

Gubernatorial primaries for the Republican and Democratic parties took place on August 10, 2010. The Democratic nominee, former Stamford Mayor Dan Malloy, narrowly won the general election, defeating Republican Thomas C. Foley. Foley conceded the race on November 8, 2010. Malloy became the first Democrat to be elected governor of Connecticut since 1986. With a margin of 0.7%, this election was also the second-closest race of the 2010 gubernatorial election cycle, behind only the election in Minnesota. As of , this was the last time the Republican candidate won the counties of Fairfield and New London in a statewide election. Malloy was re-elected Governor in 2014 in a rematch with Foley.

Republican primary

Candidates Michael Fedele, incumbent lieutenant governor Thomas C. Foley, former United States Ambassador to Ireland Oz Griebel, president and CEO of the MetroHartford Alliance

Declined Jodi Rell, incumbent governor Kevin J. O'Connor, former U.S. Attorney for the District of Connecticut Lawrence F. "Larry" Cafero, State House Republican Leader Chris Shays, former U.S. Representative John P. McKinney, State Senate Republican Leader Jeff Wright, mayor of Newington—ran for state treasurer Mark Boughton, mayor of Danbury—ran for lieutenant governor Lawrence J. DeNardis, former U.S. Representative from Connecticut's 3rd congressional district

Campaign

State convention results The state Republican convention endorsed Tom Foley for governor on May 22, 2010.

* Denotes candidate met the minimum threshold of 15 percent to appear on the primary ballot

Polling Poll source Dates administered Thomas C.Foley MichaelFedele OzGriebel MarkBoughton LarryDeNardisQuinnipiacQuinnipiacAugust 3–8, 2010 38%30%17%——QuinnipiacQuinnipiacJuly 28 – August 2, 2010 41%26%13%——QuinnipiacQuinnipiacJuly 7–13, 2010 48%13%7%——QuinnipiacQuinnipiacJune 2–8, 2010 39%12%2%——QuinnipiacQuinnipiacMay 24–25, 2010 37%11%5%——QuinnipiacQuinnipiacMarch 9–15, 2010 30%4%2%4%2%QuinnipiacQuinnipiacJanuary 14–19, 2010 17%8%2%6%4%

Results

In the Republican primary, state party-endorsed candidate Tom Foley, former U.S. Ambassador to Ireland, defeated incumbent Lieutenant Governor Michael Fedele.

Democratic primary

Candidates Ned Lamont, businessman and 2006 Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate Dannel Malloy, former mayor of Stamford and candidate in 2006

Declined James A. Amann, former speaker of the Connecticut House of Representatives Richard Blumenthal, Connecticut Attorney General Susan Bysiewicz, Connecticut Secretary of State Juan Figueroa, Universal Health Care Foundation of Connecticut president and former state legislator Mary Glassman, Simsbury first selectman and former Democratic nominee for lieutenant governor (ran for Lieutenant Governor of Connecticut instead) Michael Jarjura, mayor of Waterbury Gary LeBeau, state senator Rudy Marconi, Ridgefield first selectman (endorsed Lamont) Donald E. "Don" Williams, Jr., president of the Connecticut Senate – endorsed LamontAmann In, Williams Out of Gov's Race Connecticut Post (February 11, 2009)Ken Dixon, Don Williams Sounds As If He's Running For Something, Connecticut Post (January 15, 2009).Jonathan Kantrowitz, . Connecticut Post (March 4, 2010).

Campaign

State convention results The state Democratic convention endorsed Dan Malloy for governor on May 22, 2010.

* Denotes candidate met the minimum threshold of 15 percent to appear on the primary ballot

Polling Poll source Dates administered SusanBysiewicz NedLamont DannelMalloy JimAmann MaryGlassman RudyMarconiQuinnipiac August 3–8, 2010—45%42%———Quinnipiac July 28 – August 2, 2010—45%40%———Quinnipiac July 7–13, 2010—46%37%———Quinnipiac June 2–8, 2010—39%22%———QuinnipiacMay 24–25, 2010—41%24%———QuinnipiacMarch 9–15, 2010—28%18%—4%2%QuinnipiacJanuary 14–19, 2010—27%11%5%4%1%QuinnipiacQuinnipiacNovember 3–8, 2009 26%23%9%3%—1%QuinnipiacQuinnipiacFebruary 5–8, 2009 44% — 12% 4% — —

Results

In the Democratic primary, state party-endorsed candidate Dan Malloy, former mayor of Stamford, defeated businessman Ned Lamont.

General election In Connecticut, candidates for governor and lieutenant governor are elected jointly on the same ballot line in the general election. In party primaries, however, they are nominated separately. Gubernatorial candidates often select an individual to be their preferred running mate prior to any such primaries, but their running mate in the general election is ultimately at the will of their party's primary electorate.

Prior to the state conventions and primaries, three gubernatorial candidates announced who they would wish to run with if so nominated to run for governor:

Democrat Ned Lamont selected Simsbury First Selectwoman Mary Glassman to be his running mate on May 3. Democrat Dannel Malloy selected state comptroller Nancy Wyman to be his running mate on May 11. Republican Michael Fedele selected Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton, previously a fellow GOP candidate for governor, to be his running mate on May 17.

Additionally, one Republican, Lisa Wilson-Foley, ran for lieutenant governor without having been selected as a running mate by a gubernatorial candidate.

Prior to the Republican convention, Republican gubernatorial candidate Tom Foley decided not to name a running mate, stating that he believes that the state's tradition of a gubernatorial candidate naming a preferred running mate before party conventions and primaries is "out of date." While never named a preferred running for mate himself, Foley gave praise to both Michael Fedele's choice, Mark Boughton, and Lisa Wilson-Foley (of no relation).

At their respective party conventions, Boughton and Wyman won their party's endorsements on May 22, though both went on to face primary challenges. In the party primaries held on August 10, both party-endorsed candidates won, with Boughton defeating Wilson-Foley for the GOP nomination and Wyman winning the Democratic nod over Glassman.

The death penalty disagreement between Foley and Malloy gained additional attention due to the contemporaneous trial, conviction, and sentencing phase (which was under deliberation in the lead-up to Election Day)Beach, Randall, "Hayes described as 'likable klutz'" , New Haven Register, October 26, 2010. Retrieved November 1, 2010. of Steven J. Hayes for a home invasion/murder in 2007 in Cheshire.Chen, David W., "In Connecticut, Big Races on the Ballot", The New York Times, October 31, 2010 (November 1, 2010 p. A28 NY ed.). Retrieved 2010-11-01.

Candidates and running mates Democratic Party (also on line of the Working Families Party): Dannel Malloy – Nancy Wyman Republican Party: Thomas C. Foley – Mark Boughton Independent: Tom Marsh – Cicero Booker

Debates On September 28, 2010, candidates Thomas C. Foley, Dannel Malloy, and Tom Marsh participated in the first gubernatorial debate of the 2010 race, a 50-minute, non-televised forum on education concerns in Hartford. In the debate, Foley stated that jobs and education would be his top priorities if elected governor, that more spending is not the solution to solve education-related problems, and that Malloy has "support[ed] the status quo" of teachers' unions. Malloy used the forum to advocate that schools report the amount of money spent in the classroom versus on school administration, stated that one "can be for reform and for teachers at the same time", and voiced support for a statewide universal pre-K program. Marsh stated that teachers' performance standards must improve and criticized the ratio that poorly performing doctors are removed from their jobs versus the rate at which underperforming teachers are.

Foley and Malloy met again two days later, on October 1, for a debate in Greenwich sponsored by the Greenwich, Stamford, and Norwalk chambers of commerce.

The first televised gubernatorial debate of the 2010 campaign took place on October 5, moderated by Fox News Channel chief political correspondent Carl Cameron and aired live on Fox Connecticut. Among other things in the debate in which the two opponents "clashed sharply," Foley voiced his support for retaining Connecticut's death penalty as is, pledging to veto abolishment bills placed on his desk as governor, while Malloy reiterated his opposition to capital punishment, though he stated he would not retroactively undo death sentences of individuals currently in the process. The candidates also took issue with each other's records, with Malloy accusing Foley of mismanagement while CEO of a Georgia textile mill and Foley labeling Malloy as a career politician who presided as mayor of Stamford during years in which the city had net job losses. State labor department figures have shown Stamford to have lost more than 5,000 net jobs during the 14-year period of Malloy's tenure as mayor. The Republican and the Democrat also took issue with statements and actions taken during the election season, with Foley stating that Malloy's pledge to cut gubernatorial staff by 15 percent would amount to only approximately five positions being cut and Malloy criticizing Foley for not naming a preferred running mate for the position of lieutenant governor. Malloy clarified that he had meant cutting from all positions the governor has a role in filling, stating that "about 600" positions was the real figure. Foley responded to Malloy's questioning over his running mate by stating that Republican primary voters placed Danbury mayor Mark Boughton in the position as Republican nominee for lieutenant governor, not him, but praised Boughton's experience.

A second televised debate was held between the Republican and the Democrat on October 13 in New London. A third, an afternoon debate broadcast live from Fairfield University on Connecticut Public Television, WFSB, and WNPR radio, occurred on October 19. The candidates met for a final time on October 26 for a televised debate aired on NBC 30.

Predictions Source Ranking As of Cook Political Report October 14, 2010 Rothenberg October 28, 2010 RealClearPolitics November 1, 2010 Sabato's Crystal Ball October 28, 2010 CQ Politics October 28, 2010

Polling