2010 United States Senate special election in Delaware

2010 United States Senate special election in Delaware

← 2008 November 2, 2010 2014 →

Nominee Chris Coons Christine O'Donnell Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 174,012 123,053 Percentage 56.61% 40.03%

County results House district results Coons:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90% O'Donnell:      50–60%      60–70%

U.S. senator before election Ted Kaufman[a] Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Chris Coons Democratic

Elections in Delaware
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The 2010 United States Senate special election in Delaware took place on November 2, 2010, concurrently with elections to the United States Senate in other states, as well as elections to the United States House of Representatives and various state and local elections. It was a special election to fill Delaware's Class II Senate seat, then held by Democrat Ted Kaufman, an appointee. The seat had been previously held by the state's longest-serving senator, Democrat Joe Biden, who vacated it when he became Vice President of the United States in 2009.

The state's primary election occurred on September 14, 2010.^[1] Republican U.S. Representative and former Governor Mike Castle was believed to be heavily favored to win both the primary and the general election.^[2] However, Castle was upset by Christine O'Donnell in a primary contest that had national visibility. During the general election campaign, O'Donnell, a Tea Party candidate, drew media attention for making several false claims and gaffes, as well as an unusual campaign ad in which she denied that she was a witch. In the general election, O'Donnell lost to Democratic nominee Chris Coons by a vote of 57% to 40%.^[3] Coons was sworn in on November 15, 2010 and served out the remainder of the term ending in 2015. This was the first open Senate seat in Delaware since 1970, and the first in this seat since 1913.

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