2010 Connecticut Attorney General election

none February 2026 September 2023 2010 Connecticut attorney general election Connecticut presidential Yes 2006 Connecticut attorney general election 2006 2014 Connecticut attorney general election 2014 November 2, 2010 File:George Jepsen (cropped).jpg 150x150px George Jepsen Democratic Party (United States) Working Families Party 591,725 53.7% 3x4.svg Martha Dean Republican Party (United States) 480,310 43.6% 220px County results 220px Municipality results 220px Congressional district results 1 Jepsen: #A5B0FF 40–50% #7996e2 50–60% #6674de 60–70% #584cde 70–80% #3933e5 80–90%Dean: #FFB2B2 40–50% #E27F7F 50–60% #d75d5d 60–70% Attorney general Richard Blumenthal Democratic Party (United States) George Jepsen Democratic Party (United States) The 2010 Connecticut attorney general election was held on Tuesday, November 2, 2010, to elect the 24th attorney general of the state of Connecticut. Five-term incumbent attorney general Richard Blumenthal declined to seek re-election in 2010, instead opting to run for Connecticut's open U.S. Senate seat held by the retiring Christopher Dodd. Blumenthal's decision not to seek a sixth term set-up the first open race for attorney general in the state since Blumenthal's election in 1990. At their May 2010 state convention, Democratic candidate George Jepsen won the endorsement of his party outright and did not face a primary challenger. The Republican candidate, Martha Dean, secured her party's nomination via a primary election defeat of Ross Garber on August 10.http://www.courant.com/news/local/statewire/hc-ap-ct-connattorneygeneraug10,0,7303758.storyAugust 2019 InternetArchiveBot yes Candidates Democratic Announced Former State Senate Majority Leader George JepsenArticle titleAugust 2017 InternetArchiveBot yes Declined Incumbent attorney general Richard Blumenthal Waterbury Mayor Michael Jarjurahttp://blogs.courant.com/capitol_watch/2010/01/waterbury-mayor-michael-jarjur.html Waterbury Mayor Michael Jarjura Will Not Run for Attorney General; Still Considering a Possible Run for Governor - Capitol Watch 2010-01-28 https://archive.today/20120711210016/http://blogs.courant.com/capitol_watch/2010/01/waterbury-mayor-michael-jarjur.html 2012-07-11 dead State Representative Cameron Stapleshttp://www.wtic.com/Staples-Drops-Bid-for-Attorney-General-Nomination/7022911 Staples Drops Bid for Attorney General Nomination - WTIC News/Talk 10… https://archive.today/20100519223921/http://www.wtic.com/Staples-Drops-Bid-for-Attorney-General-Nomination/7022911 19 May 2010 dead Disqualified Secretary of the State Susan Bysiewiczhttp://www.ctpost.com/news/article/High-court-bounces-Bysiewicz-491658.php High court bounces Bysiewicz 19 May 2010 Primary polling Poll source Dates administered Susan Bysiewicz George Jepsen Michael JarjuraQuinnipiacQuinnipiacMarch 9–15, 2010 54%10%—QuinnipiacQuinnipiacJanuary 14–19, 2010 62%10%3% Republican Announced Martha Dean, attorney from Avon and 2002 Republican attorney general nominee Ross Garber, attorney from Glastonbury and 2002 Republican nominee for state treasurer Kie Westby, attorney from Southbury State Representative Arthur O'Neill of Southbury Declined Mayor Jason L. McCoy from Vernon, who later took his name out of consideration at the convention and nominated Ross Garberhttp://ct-n.com/ondemand.asp?ID=5476 Connecticut Network CT-N On-Demand State Senator Andrew Rorabackhttp://www.rep-am.com/articles/2010/05/02/news/elections/478486.txt Roraback won't run for attorney general The Republican-American 2010-05-07 https://web.archive.org/web/20110928085514/http://www.rep-am.com/articles/2010/05/02/news/elections/478486.txt 2011-09-28 dead John Pavia, attorney from Easton, originally intended to seek the nomination,http://blogs.courant.com/capitol_watch/2010/01/attorney-john-pavia-running-fo.html GOP's John Pavia Running for Attorney General; Worked with Ex-Democratic State Chairman John Droney - Capitol Watch 2010-02-06 https://archive.today/20120707171628/http://blogs.courant.com/capitol_watch/2010/01/attorney-john-pavia-running-fo.html 2012-07-07 dead however, took his name out of consideration prior to the state convention Primary polling Poll source Dates administered Martha Dean Andrew Roraback John PaviaQuinnipiacMarch 9–15, 20109% 13%8% Other parties Green Party: Stephen Fournierhttp://www.stepfour.com/fournier2010/index2010.htm Fournier 2010 Early campaign On January 6, 2010, five-term Connecticut United States Senator Christopher Dodd announced that he would not seek re-election in 2010.http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2010/01/06/politics/politicalhotsheet/entry6062586.shtml Richard Blumenthal Prepares to Run for Chris Dodd's Senate Seat CBS News January 26, 2010 Stephanie Condon January 6, 2010 On this same day, Richard Blumenthal, the 23rd and incumbent state attorney general, announced that he would not run for re-election for the state's top legal office and would instead seek the Democratic nomination for Dodd's Senate seat. Blumenthal had previously been considered a likely Democratic candidate for the 2012 Senate race, when incumbent Independent Democrat Joe Lieberman's seat is next up. Blumenthal's decision not to seek re-election set-up the first open race for attorney general in the state since his election in 1990. A week after Blumenthal's announcement, on January 13, 2010, Democratic Secretary of the State Susan Bysiewicz announced that she would run for her party's nomination for attorney general.http://www.courant.com/news/politics/hc-susan-ag-0114.artjan14,0,7217182.story AG Candidate Bysiewicz Won't Rule Out Challenging Lieberman In 2012 - Courant.com 2010-01-28 https://web.archive.org/web/20100117040635/http://www.courant.com/news/politics/hc-susan-ag-0114.artjan14,0,7217182.story 2010-01-17 dead Bysiewicz had previously declined seeking re-election to the Secretary of the State's office to instead run in the 2010 gubernatorial election, but dropped her candidacy when she switched to run for attorney general. There was controversy about whether Bysiewicz was legally qualified to run for attorney general in Connecticut, as state law requires the attorney general to be "an attorney of law of at least 10 years' active practice"http://www.registercitizen.com/articles/2010/01/14/news/doc4b4f92c95bf3e031090410.txt February 2022 in the state. Bysiewicz worked at New York law firm White and Case for two years, then in Connecticut at Robinson and Cole from 1988 to 1992 and Aetna Insurance from 1992 to 1994, totaling six years of Connecticut practice. Her campaign stated that Bysiewicz was qualified to hold the attorney general position because her service as Secretary of the State counted toward the 10-year requirement,http://www.middletownpress.com/articles/2010/01/16/news/doc4b51363e51b8a845057234.txt Is Bysiewicz qualified for top legal spot? - The Middletown Press : Serving Middletown, CT 2010-01-28 https://web.archive.org/web/20120220074521/http://www.middletownpress.com/articles/2010/01/16/news/doc4b51363e51b8a845057234.txt 2012-02-20 dead although she "acknowledged during a [March 31, 2010] deposition that she has virtually no experience as a litigator and has never argued a case before a judge."http://www.courant.com/news/local/statewire/hc-ap-ct-attorneygeneralapr06,0,746691.storyAugust 2019 InternetArchiveBot yes On May 5, 2010, Superior Court Judge Michael Sheldon ruled that Bysiewicz was legally qualified to run for state attorney general.http://www.courant.com/news/politics/hc-susan-bysiewicz-attorney-general-ruling-0505,0,4610724.story https://archive.today/20120723063716/http://www.courant.com/news/politics/hc-susan-bysiewicz-attorney-general-ruling-0505,0,4610724.story dead 2012-07-23 Susan Bysiewicz: Court Ruling She's Eligible to Run for Attorney Gene… However, when the case reached the Connecticut Supreme Court on May 18, Justice Flemming L. Norcott, Jr. handed down the court's 7-0 unanimous ruling that Bysiewicz failed to meet the requirements of General Statutes Section 3–124, which outlines the qualifications for state attorney general.http://www.connecticutplus.com/blogs/ctpolitics/?p=251 Connecticut Supreme Court ruled Susan Bysiewicz out of the race | ConnecticutPlus.com Blogs – Connecticut Politics 2010-05-19 2011-07-27 https://web.archive.org/web/20110727022029/http://www.connecticutplus.com/blogs/ctpolitics/?p=251 dead As a consequence, Bysiewicz could not run for attorney general in 2010, which left former State Senator George Jepsen the sole remaining Democratic candidate in the race. Nominations George Jepsen won the Democratic nomination by acclamationhttp://blogs.courant.com/capitol_watch/2010/05/martha-dean-wins-gop-ag-endors.html Martha Dean Wins GOP AG Endorsement; Ross Garber Qualifies For Primary Capitol Watch Blog Hartford Courant May 23, 2010 https://archive.today/20130119204326/http://blogs.courant.com/capitol_watch/2010/05/martha-dean-wins-gop-ag-endors.html January 19, 2013 dead mdy-all at the party's state convention held on May 22, 2010. Four Republicans contested their party's nomination at their May 22 state convention, with the convention endorsing Martha Dean. Ross Garber, whose sister-in-law is Democrat Susan Bysiewicz, attracted sufficient support to qualify for an August 10, 2010 primary and challenged Dean for the nomination. Dean then defeated Garber in the GOP primary. Republican primary Republican primary results http://www.sots.ct.gov/sots/lib/sots/Attorney_General.pdf Election results for Attorney General Office of the Connecticut Secretary of the State September 13, 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20100826111611/http://www.sots.ct.gov/sots/lib/sots/Attorney_General.pdf August 26, 2010 dead Martha Dean Republican Party (United States) 68,309 60.50 Ross Garber Republican Party (United States) 44,603 39.50 112,912 100 General election Debates On September 23, 2010, Martha Dean and George Jepsen participated in a debate sponsored by the Connecticut Law Tribune and the University of Connecticut School of Law in Hartford.http://www.courant.com/news/politics/hc-ag-debate-0924-20100923,0,322948.story https://archive.today/20130119195423/http://www.courant.com/news/politics/hc-ag-debate-0924-20100923,0,322948.story dead January 19, 2013 Dean, Jepsen Argue About The Scope, Power Of Attorney General's Office Edmund H. Mahony Hartford Courant September 23, 2010 September 26, 2010 In the debate, Dean stated that "ending the job-killing practices of the attorney general and restoring common sense to the office of attorney general" were priorities in the election, and that the size of the office and the scope of lawsuits filed by it should be reduced. Jepsen argued that Dean's desire to reduce the office's role might be counterproductive, and criticized her for wishing to join about 20 other states in challenging the federal government on the federal healthcare reforms enacted earlier in the year. Dean and Jepsen met again for a second debate on October 11 at the Quinnipiac University School of Law in Hamden.http://www.newstimes.com/local/article/Differences-stand-out-in-AG-debate-699228.php Differences stand out in AG debate Perrefort Dirk NewsTimes.com October 11, 2010 October 12, 2010 Polling Poll source Dates administered George Jepsen (D) Martha Dean (R)Suffolk UniversitySuffolk University April 2019 InternetArchiveBot yes October 19–20, 2010 40% 28% Martha Dean lawsuit Claiming that Jepsen was not qualified to hold office, Dean filed a lawsuit on October 26 requesting the courts remove Jepsen from the following week's ballot.http://www.newstimes.com/news/article/Dean-seeks-to-have-Jepsen-removed-from-ballot-for-724389.php Dean seeks to have Jepsen removed from ballot for attorney general, claims he isn't qualified Perrefort Dirk NewsTimes.com October 26, 2010 July 20, 2011 Dean's rationale for bringing the lawsuit forward was based on Jepsen's admission that he did not have a background in litigation and the fact that he lacked admission to argue cases before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit and the U.S. Supreme Court. One day after the election, on November 3, Superior Court judge Julia Aurigemma granted a dismissal of the lawsuit, stating in her decision that, "In this case, there is no statutory authority that authorizes [Dean] to bring her ... action prior to the election."http://www.ctpost.com/news/article/Judge-dismisses-lawsuit-filed-by-GOP-attorney-796461.php Judge dismisses lawsuit filed by GOP attorney general candidate Martha Dean Perrefort Dirk Connecticut Post November 3, 2010 July 20, 2011 Reacting to the decision, Dean said that the campaign was "evaluating the decision and our options and will take whatever steps are necessary to ensure that Connecticut has an attorney general who is fully qualified to vigorously represent the state's interests in court." In his reaction, Jepsen said that the lawsuit had been a "publicity stunt" and that he "was never worried about the merits of the case in court." Results 2010 Connecticut Attorney General electionhttp://www.statementofvote-sots.ct.gov/StatementOfVote/WebModules/ReportsLink/AttGenTownView.aspx?Parameter=11/02/2010-General Election Results for Attorney General: Summarized by Town State of Connecticut, Secretary of the State December 16, 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20110619160018/http://www.statementofvote-sots.ct.gov/StatementOfVote/WebModules/ReportsLink/AttGenTownView.aspx?Parameter=11%2F02%2F2010-General June 19, 2011 dead mdy-all George Jepsen Democratic Party (United States) 568,857 51.6 George Jepsen Working Families Party 22,868 2.1 George Jepsen Total 591,725 53.7 Martha Dean Republican Party (United States) 480,310 43.6 Stephen E.D. Fournier Independent Party of Connecticut 15,011 1.4 Stephen E.D. Fournier Green Party (United States) 14,748 1.3 Stephen E.D. Fournier Total 29,759 2.7 1,101,794 100 Democratic Party (United States) Republican Party (United States) By congressional district Jepsen won four of five congressional districts, with Dean winning the remaining one, which elected a Democrat.https://portal.ct.gov/-/media/sots/electionservices/statementofvote_pdfs/2010sovpdf.pdf?rev=3495059e5c27427faa908e102f7f1348&hash=1D6406E85ED073E16A6DEE6113A1FC2E Statement of Vote Secretary of the State of Connecticut May 14, 2025 live https://web.archive.org/web/20250317103520/https://portal.ct.gov/-/media/sots/electionservices/statementofvote_pdfs/2010sovpdf.pdf?rev=3495059e5c27427faa908e102f7f1348&hash=1D6406E85ED073E16A6DEE6113A1FC2E 2025-03-17 District Jepsen Dean RepresentativeConnecticut 1 1st 60% 37%John B. LarsonConnecticut 2 2nd 52% 45%Joe CourtneyConnecticut 3 3rd 59% 39%Rosa DeLauroConnecticut 4 4th 50% 48%Jim HimesConnecticut 5 5th 48.5% 48.6%Chris Murphy References External links Martha Dean for Attorney General Stephen Fournier for Attorney General George Jepsen for Attorney General attorney Category:2010 United States state attorney general elections 2010 Category:November 2010 in the United States