Candidates Major •
Michael Bennet (D), incumbent U.S. Senator •
Ken Buck (R), Weld County DA
Minor • Bob Kinsey (G) (campaign site, archived November 4, 2010, PVS) • Charley Miller (I) (campaign site, PVS) • J. Moromisato (I) (campaign site, PVS) • Jason Napolitano (I) (PVS) • Mac Stringer (L) (campaign site , PVS) • Bruce E. Lohmiller (G) (Write-in) (Congress.org) • Michele M. Newman (I) (Write-in) (*Robert Rank (R) (Write-in) ([http://www.writeinrank.com/) campaign site, (YouTube campaign video Source: [http://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/elections/vote/2010PrimaryAndGeneralElection/2010_GENERAL_LIST_LOG.pdf Official Candidate List
Campaign This was one of the most expensive elections in the nation, as more than $30 million was spent by outside organizations. Conservative third party groups hammered Bennet for voting 92% of the time with the Democratic leadership, including voting for healthcare reform and the stimulus package. Liberal third party groups called Buck extremist. Bennet focused on attacking Buck's views on abortion, which he believed should be banned including those of cases of
rape and
incest. He was also attacked for wanting to eliminate the
Seventeenth Amendment and refusing to prosecute an alleged rapist as Weld County district attorney.
Planned Parenthood mounted a mail campaign, targeting women voters with the warning that "Colorado women can't trust Ken Buck." Bennet won the women vote by 17 points according to exit polls. After the election, Buck conceded to the
Denver Post that the main reason why he lost is because of social issues.
Debates • September 12: Sponsored by Club 20 in
Grand Junction Predictions Polling Fundraising These totals reflect the campaign accounts of the candidates themselves, and do not include independent expenditures by other groups.
Results Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican •
Garfield (largest municipality:
Glenwood Springs) •
Bent (Largest city:
Las Animas) •
Mineral (Largest city:
Creede) •
Rio Grande (Largest city:
Monte Vista) •
Archuleta (Largest city:
Pagosa Springs)
Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic •
Chaffee (largest city:
Salida) •
Ouray (largest city:
Ouray) == Notes ==