2010 United States Senate election in Utah

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Nominee Mike Lee Sam Granato Scott Bradley Party Republican Democratic Constitution Popular vote 390,179 207,685 35,937 Percentage 61.56% 32.77% 5.67%

County results Lee:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90% Granato:      50–60%

U.S. senator before election Bob Bennett Republican Elected U.S. Senator Mike Lee Republican

Elections in Utah
Federal government Presidential elections 1896 1900 1904 1908 1912 1916 1920 1924 1928 1932 1936 1940 1944 1948 1952 1956 1960 1964 1968 1972 1976 1980 1984 1988 1992 1996 2000 2004 2008 2012 2016 2020 2024 Presidential primaries Democratic 2000 2004 2008 2016 2020 2024 Republican 2008 2012 2016 2020 2024 U.S. Senate elections 1896 1897 1899 1901 sp 1903 1905 1908 1909 1911 1914 1916 1920 1922 1926 1928 1932 1934 1938 1940 1944 1946 1950 1952 1956 1958 1962 1964 1968 1970 1974 1976 1980 1982 1986 1988 1992 1994 1998 2000 2004 2006 2010 2012 2016 2018 2022 2024 2028 U.S. House of Representatives elections 1895 1896 1898 1900 AL sp 1902 1904 1906 1908 1910 1912 1914 1916 1918 1920 1922 1924 1926 1928 1930 2nd sp 1932 1934 1936 1938 1940 1942 1944 1946 1948 1950 1952 1954 1956 1958 1960 1962 1964 1966 1968 1970 1972 1974 1976 1978 1980 1982 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2017 3rd sp 2018 2020 2022 2023 2nd sp 2024
State government General elections 2014 2016 2018 2020 Gubernatorial elections 1895 1900 1904 1908 1912 1916 1920 1924 1928 1932 1936 1940 1944 1948 1952 1956 1960 1964 1968 1972 1976 1980 1984 1988 1992 1996 2000 2004 2008 2010 sp 2012 2016 2020 2024 Attorney General elections 1996 2020 2024 Auditor elections 2024 State Senate elections 2016 2018 2020 2022 2024 House of Representatives elections 2018 2020 2022 2024
Ballot measures 2004 Amendment 3 2018 Proposition 4 2020 Amendment A
Salt Lake City Mayoral elections 1999 2003 2007 2011 2015 2019 2023
Salt Lake County Mayoral elections 2000 2004 2008 2012 2016 2020
v t e

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 2024, 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.^[1]

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 (he needed at least 60 percent) to avoid a primary election runoff against Lee.^[2] At the Democratic convention, delegates nominated businessman Sam Granato, who received 77.5 percent of the vote.^[3]

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.^[4]

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.^[5]

Republican nomination

Convention

Candidates

On Ballot

• Bob Bennett, incumbent U.S. Senator^[6]
• Tim Bridgewater, businessman and candidate for UT-02 in 2002 and 2004^[7]
• David Chiu
• Merrill Cook, former U.S. Representative^[8]
• Cherilyn Eagar, businesswoman^[7]
• Leonard Fabiano
• Jeremy Friedbaum
• Mike Lee, attorney^[9]

Withdrew

• Mark Shurtleff State Attorney General^[7]

Endorsements

The following are endorsements made before the convention

Bennett