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U.S. Senate special election, Massachusetts, 2010

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United States Senate
U.S. Senate Seal.png
Elections, 2010
Primary election dates, 2010

A United States Senate special election took place in Massachusetts on Tuesday, January 19, 2010, to fill the vacancy following the death of former United States Senator Edward M. Kennedy on August 25, 2009.

Scott Brown (R) defeated Martha Coakley (D), breaking the Democrats' 60-40 filibuster-proof supermajority in the Senate. Brown became the first Republican in nearly five decades to win a U.S. Senate seat in Massachusetts.[1][2][3]

General election results

Electoral results

Mass special election map.png
2010 Race for United States Senate - General Election[4]
Party Candidate Vote Percentage
     Republican Party Approveda Scott Brown 51.9%
     Democratic Party Martha Coakley 47.1%
     Liberty Party Joseph Kennedy 1.0%
Total Votes 2,252,582

Primary results

Donkey symbol.png Democratic primary

Martha Coakley

Candidates

  • Martha Coakley, elected as Attorney General of Massachusetts in 2006, announced her candidacy on September 3, 2009.[5]
  • Stephen Pagliuca, a private equity investor, managing partner at Bain Capital, and co-owner of the Boston Celtics, officially announced his candidacy on September 17, 2009.[6]
  • Mike Capuano, a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, entered the Senate race on September 18, 2009.[7]
  • Alan Khazei, president and CEO of Be the Change, Inc., announced his candidacy on September 24, 2009.[8]

Electoral results

2010 Race for United States Senate - Democratic Primary[9]
Party Candidate Vote Percentage
     Democratic Party Approveda Martha Coakley 46.6%
     Democratic Party Mike Capuano 27.7%
     Democratic Party Alan Khazei 13.3%
     Democratic Party Stephen Pagliuca 12.0%
     Write-In 0.4%
Total Votes 668,926

Gop logo2.jpg Republican primary

Scott Brown

Candidates

  • Jack E. Robinson III

Electoral results

2010 Race for United States Senate - Republican Primary[11]
Party Candidate Vote Percentage
     Republican Party Approveda Scott Brown 88.8%
     Republican Party Jack E. Robinson 10.5%
     Write-In 0.7%
Total Votes 164,540

General election campaign

United States Senate
U.S. Senate Seal.png
Elections, 2010
Primary election dates, 2010

Endorsements

Scott P. Brown

  • Barbara Anderson, executive director of Citizens for Limited Taxation (CLT)[12]
  • Boston Herald[13]
  • Cambridge Police Patrol Officers Association[14]
  • Curt Schilling, former Boston Red Sox pitcher[15]
  • Commissioned Officers Association of the Massachusetts State Police
  • Doug Flutie, former Heisman Trophy winner[16]
  • Fred Thompson, actor, former senator and presidential candidate[17]
  • James Sheets, six term Democratic mayor of Quincy[18]
  • Lawrence Eagle Tribune[19]
  • Local 504 - International Brotherhood of Police Officers
  • Local 911 - New England Police Benevolent Association
  • Mitt Romney, former Governor of Massachusetts and presidential candidate[20]
  • NFIB SAFE Trust[21]
  • Rudolph Giuliani, former Mayor of New York City and presidential candidate[22]
  • Sarah Palin, former governor of Alaska and vice presidential candidate[23]
  • Senator John McCain, former presidential candidate and Republican from Arizona[24]
  • State Police Association of Massachusetts[25]
  • Tea Party Express
  • Tim Pawlenty, Governor of Minnesota[26]
  • Veterans for Scott Brown
  • Worcester Telegram & Gazette[27]

Martha Coakley

Polling data

Suffolk University Poll

Suffolk University in Boston, Massachusetts, surveyed 500 registered Massachusetts voters between September 12 and September 15, 2009, and found that Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley held an early lead in a head-to-head contest with her Republican opponent, Scott Brown. Of the 500 registered voters who took part in the survey, 39% identified themselves as registered Democrats, 44% as Independents, and 15% indicated they were registered Republicans.[34]

Suffolk University Poll - September 12-15, 2009[35]
Candidates Percentage
Green check mark.jpg Martha Coakley (D) 54%
Scott Brown (R) 24%
Undecided 20%
Total voters 500

WNEC Poll

Western New England College (WNEC), a private college in Springfield, Massachusetts, randomly dialed 522 adults ages 18 and older drawn from across the state of Massachusetts between October 18 and 22, 2009.

WNEC Poll - October 18-22, 2009[36]
Candidates Percentage
Green check mark.jpg Martha Coakley (D) 55%
Scott Brown (R) 29%
Undecided 16%
Total voters 468

Suffolk University 2nd Poll

The second survey conducted by Suffolk University was conducted November 4 through November 8, 2009. Of the 600 registered voters who took part in the telephone interview, 226, or 38%, identified themselves as registered Democrats, 46% considered themselves independents, and 15% were registered Republicans.[37]

Suffolk University Poll - November 4-8, 2009[38]
Candidates Percentage
Green check mark.jpg Martha Coakley (D) 58%
Scott Brown (R) 27%
Other 15%
Undecided 9%
Total voters 600

Boston Globe poll

This telephone survey of 554 likely voters was conducted between January 2 and January 6, 2009.[39]

Boston Globe Poll - January 2-6, 2010[40]
Candidates Percentage
Green check mark.jpg Martha Coakley (D) 50%
Scott Brown (R) 35%
Joseph L. Kennedy (Libertarian) 5%
Undecided 9%
Total voters 554

Rasmussen poll

Rasmussen Poll - January 4, 2010[41]
Candidates Percentage
Green check mark.jpg Martha Coakley (D) 50%
Scott Brown (R) 41%
Other 1%
Undecided 7%
Total voters 500

Public Policy poll

The Public Policy Polling (PPP) survey conducted from January 7 through January 9, 2010 surveyed 744 likely voters. The firm said in a press release, "Brown leads 63-31 with independents and is winning 17% of the Democratic vote while Coakley receives only 6% support from GOP voters."[42]

Public Policy Polling (PPP) Poll - January 7-9, 2010[43]
Candidates Percentage
Green check mark.jpg Scott Brown (R) 48%
Martha Coakley (D) 47%
Undecided 6%
Total voters 744

Rasmussen 2nd poll

Rasmussen Poll - January 11, 2010[44]
Candidates Percentage
Green check mark.jpg Martha Coakley (D) 49%
Scott Brown (R) 47%
Joseph Kennedy 3%
Undecided 2%
Total voters 1,000

Suffolk University 3rd poll

The third and final poll conducted by Suffolk University prior to the January 19 special election had Scott Brown take a four-point lead, which was within the survey's margin of error.[45]

Suffolk University Poll - January 11-13, 2010[46]
Candidates Percentage
Green check mark.jpg Scott Brown (R) 50%
Martha Coakley (D) 46%
Joseph Kennedy 3%
Undecided 1%
Total voters 500

American Research Group poll

America Research Group, Inc., the United States opinion polling and marketing research company based out of Manchester, New Hampshire, surveyed 600 randomly chosen likely voters. It showed Brown leading Coakley among independent voters 58% - 37%, and among the nine percent of likely voters who said they had already voted by absentee ballot, 58% to 42%.

American Research Group Poll - January 12-14, 2010[47]
Candidates Percentage
Green check mark.jpg Scott Brown (R) 48%
Martha Coakley (D) 45%
Joseph Kennedy 2%
Undecided 5%
Total voters 600

Public Policy 2nd poll

Public Policy Polling (PPP) conducted their second survey prior to the January 19 special election in Massachusetts. After interviewing 1,231 likely voters, Brown was shown to lead by 5 percentage points, within the margin of error, over his opponent, Martha Coakley.[48]

Public Policy Polling (PPP) Poll - January 16-17, 2010[49]
Candidates Percentage
Green check mark.jpg Scott Brown (R) 51%
Martha Coakley (D) 46%
Undecided 4%
Total voters 1,231

InsiderAdvantage poll

The InsiderAdvantage survey was conducted on January 17, 2010, the day before the election.[50]

InsiderAdvantage Poll - January 17, 2010[51]
Candidates Percentage
Green check mark.jpg Scott Brown (R) 52.2%
Martha Coakley (D) 43.1%
Joseph Kennedy (Libertarian) 1.9%
Undecided 2.8%
Total voters 804

Noteworthy events

Presidential visit

Jake Tapper, Senior White House Correspondent for ABC News in Washington, D.C., first reported on Friday, January 15, 2010, that President Barack Obama (D) would travel to Massachusetts to campaign for Coakley. President Obama stood with Coakley on stage at Northeastern University's Cabot Physical Education Center in downtown Boston and spoke to a crowd of supporters, numbering between 2,000 and 2,500. In his speech, Obama said, "Understand what's at stake here, Massachusetts. It's whether we're going forward or going backwards."[52]

Appointment

In 2004, Massachusetts revised its process for filling vacant U.S. Senate seats, requiring that a special election be held between 145 and 160 days after the incumbent senator vacated the office.[53]

State Senate President Robert E. Travaglini supported the new special election process, stating, “This is an elected position, not an appointed position,” and emphasized that the public should have a say in important decisions.[54] In contrast, Governor Mitt Romney opposed the change and vetoed the measure. However, his veto was overridden by both the state House and state Senate.[55][56]

In September 2009, the Massachusetts legislature passed and Governor Deval Patrick signed a new law that gave the governor the authority to appoint an interim senator until the special election. The governor appointed former Democratic National Committee chairman and John F. Kennedy aide Paul Kirk to fill the vacancy.[57]

External links

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Congressional Quarterly, "Brown Goes After Coakley in Third Ad," January 10, 2010
  2. ↑ Politico, "Charlie Cook: Brown now favored" 17 Jan. 2010
  3. ↑ The Guardian, "'I'm Scott Brown. I'm from Wrentham. I drive a truck': How the former Cosmopolitan centrefold became Ted Kennedy's Republican successor," accessed May 14, 2024
  4. ↑ Massachusetts Elections Division - 2010 Special Senate Election Results
  5. ↑ Boston Globe, "AG Coakley officially announces run for Senate" 3 Sept. 2009
  6. ↑ Boston Globe, "Celtics co-owner Pagliuca plots Senate run" 14 Sept. 2009
  7. ↑ NECN " Rep. Capuano announces candidacy for U.S." 18 Sept. 2009
  8. ↑ Boston Globe, "Khazei enters race for Kennedy Senate seat" 25 Sept. 2009
  9. ↑ Massachusetts Elections Division - Special State Democratic Primary Results
  10. ↑ Red Mass Group, "Scott Brown Announcement Video" 12 Sept. 2009
  11. ↑ Massachusetts Elections Division - Special State Republican Primary Results
  12. ↑ Kennedy Seat, "Scott Brown picks up CLT endorsement; kicks off "Kitchen Table Conversations" 11 Dec. 2009
  13. ↑ Boston Herald, "Herald: Scott Brown for U.S. Senate" 11 Jan. 2010
  14. ↑ Massachusetts Municipal Police Coalition, "Cambridge Police Patrol Officers endorse State Senator Scott Brown for United States Senator" 15 Jan. 2010
  15. ↑ Politico, "Curt Schilling endorses Scott Brown in Mass. Senate race" 4 Jan. 2010
  16. ↑ Red State, "Doug Flutie Endorses Scott Brown" 13 Jan. 2010
  17. ↑ Washington Independent, "Fred Thompson Endorses Scott Brown" 6 Jan. 2010
  18. ↑ Red Mass Group, "Former Quincy Mayor and lifelong Democrat James Sheets endorses Scott Brown" 18 Jan. 2010
  19. ↑ Lawrence Eagle Tribune, "Editorial: Electing Brown sends real change to the Senate" 10 Jan. 2010
  20. ↑ Mitt Romney Central, "Scott Brown Could be our 41st Vote in the Senate!" 30 Dec. 2009
  21. ↑ NFIB - Massachusetts U.S. Senate Special Election News
  22. ↑ Boston Herald, "Rudy Giuliani joins Scott Brown, slams Martha Coakley on terrorism" 15 Jan. 2010
  23. ↑ Sarah Palin's Twitter account
  24. ↑ Boston Globe, "Republican gets McCain’s nod; rival adds to her list" 4 Jan. 2010
  25. ↑ State Police Association of Massachusetts, "S.P.A.M. Endorses Brown for U. S. Senate" 16 Dec. 2009
  26. ↑ Politico, "Mitt Romney, Tim Pawlenty get behind Scott Brown" 11 Jan. 2010
  27. ↑ Worcester Telegram & Gazette, "Brown for Senate: Massachusetts needs balance in Washington" 10 Jan. 2010
  28. ↑ New York Times, "Bill Clinton Rallies With Coakley" 15 Jan. 2010
  29. ↑ Boston Globe, "Globe endorsement: Martha Coakley for Senate" 13 Jan. 2010
  30. ↑ Boston Phoenix, "Coakley for Senate" 13 Jan. 2010
  31. ↑ EMILY's List - Martha Coakley endorsement
  32. ↑ Newton TAB "Newton TAB Editorial: Vote Coakley for Senate" 13 Jan. 2010 (dead link)
  33. ↑ Providence Journal, "Editorial: Coakley for U.S. Senate" 13 Jan. 2010
  34. ↑ Suffolk University, "POLL: COAKLEY HAS EARLY LEAD IN U.S. SENATE RACE," accessed May 14, 2024
  35. ↑ Suffolk University, "Poll: Coakley has Early Lead in U.S. Senate Race" 16 Sept. 2009
  36. ↑ Western New England College, "New Poll Finds Coakley Leads Field for U.S. Senate Nomination" 26 Oct. 2009
  37. ↑ Suffolk University, "POLL: COAKLEY STILL LEADS OPPONENTS," accessed May 14, 2024
  38. ↑ Suffolk University - November 2009 Polling Data
  39. ↑ Politico, "Globe poll shows Coakley up by 15 points," accessed May 14, 2024
  40. ↑ Boston Globe, "Senate poll: Coakley up 15 points" 10 Jan. 2010
  41. ↑ Rasmussen Reports, "2010 Massachusetts Senate: Coakley 50%, Brown 41%" 5 Jan. 2010
  42. ↑ [chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://www.publicpolicypolling.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/PPP_Release_MA_45398436.pdf Public Policy Polling, "Senate Race Competitive," accessed May 14, 2024]
  43. ↑ Public Policy Polling, "Senate Race Competitive" 9 Jan. 2010
  44. ↑ Rasmussen Reports, "Massachusetts Senate Election: Coakley (D) 49%, Brown (R) 47%" 12 Jan. 2010
  45. ↑ Politico, "Suffolk University poll: Scott Brown up by 4" 14 Jan. 2010
  46. ↑ Politico, "Suffolk University poll: Scott Brown up by 4" 14 Jan. 2010
  47. ↑ America Research Group, "Massachusetts US Senate Poll" 15 Jan. 2010
  48. ↑ Public Policy Polling, "Massachusetts Senate Poll" 17 Jan. 2010
  49. ↑ Public Policy Polling, "Massachusetts Race Still Close" 17 Jan. 2010
  50. ↑ Politico, "New poll: Martha Coakley 'in freefall'" 18 Jan. 2010
  51. ↑ Politico, "Massachusetts Senate Race Poll" 18 Jan. 2010
  52. ↑ Washington Post, "Obama returns to Massachusetts with urgent Senate election plea" 18 Jan. 2010
  53. ↑ PolitiFact, "On whether the governor of Massachusetts should be able to appoint an interim U.S. senator," accessed May 14, 2024
  54. ↑ New York Times, "Massachusetts Politicians Fight Over a Kerry Victory" 25 June, 2004
  55. ↑ New York Times, "Massachusetts Politicians Fight Over a Kerry Victory" 25 June, 2004
  56. ↑ PolitiFact, "On whether the governor of Massachusetts should be able to appoint an interim U.S. senator," accessed May 14, 2024
  57. ↑ PolitiFact, "On whether the governor of Massachusetts should be able to appoint an interim U.S. senator," accessed May 14, 2024


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