2010 United States Senate election in Louisiana

2010 Louisiana Senate elections March 2026 December 2017 2010 United States Senate election in Louisiana Louisiana presidential Yes 2004 United States Senate election in Louisiana 2004 2016 United States Senate election in Louisiana 2016 November 2, 2010 150x150px File:DVitterOfficial.jpg David Vitter Republican Party (United States) 715,415 56.55% File:Charles Melancon (cropped).jpg Charlie Melançon Democratic Party (United States) 476,572 37.67% 2010 United States Senate election in Louisiana results map by parish.svg 280px Parish resultsVitter: #ffb2b2 40–50% #e27f7f 50–60% #d75d5d 60–70% #d72f30 70–80%Melançon: #a5b0ff 40–50% #7996e2 50–60% #584cde 70–80% U.S. Senator David Vitter Republican Party (United States) David Vitter Republican Party (United States) The 2010 United States Senate election in Louisiana was held on November 2, 2010. Republican incumbent U.S. Senator David Vitter won re-election to a second term, becoming the first Republican ever to be re-elected to the United States Senate from Louisiana. Background Party primaries: Saturday, August 28, 2010 Runoffs (if necessary): Saturday, October 2, 2010 General Election: Tuesday, November 2, 2010, Vitter faced a potentially serious challenge in the Republican primary as well as the general election. Lieutenant General Russel L. Honoré, who is best known for serving as commander of Joint Task Force Katrina responsible for coordinating military relief efforts for Hurricane Katrina-affected areas across the Gulf Coast, was allegedly mulling over whether or not to challenge Vitter in the Republican Primary.General Russell Honore To Run Vs David Vitter In Louisiana US Race? https://web.archive.org/web/20090901105635/http://www.bayoubuzz.com/News/Louisiana/Politics/General_Russell_Honore_To_Run_Vs_David_Vitter_In_Louisiana_US_Race__9439.asp September 1, 2009 Tony Perkins, a former Louisiana state representative and current president of the socially conservative Family Research Council, acknowledged interest in running against Vitter because of the prostitution scandal.https://www.politico.com/story/2008/04/perkins-toomey-for-senate-009423 Perkins, Toomey for Senate? Politico.com April 7, 2008 December 16, 2008https://www.politico.com/story/2009/02/perkins-porn-star-eye-vitters-seat-019260 Perkins, porn star eye Vitter's seat Daniel Libit Politico February 25, 2009 Nonetheless, Perkins decided not to run and endorsed Vitter for reelection.https://www.politico.com/blogs/scorecard/0309/Perkins_not_challenging_Vitter.html Perkins not challenging Vitter Josh Kraushaar The Scorecard Politico March 13, 2009 Some speculated that Vitter's reelection might have become complicated, by the prostitution scandal revealed in 2007, but he continued to lead in aggregate polling against potential opponents.https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/07/09/AR2007070902030.html Washington Post Senator's Number on 'Madam' Phone List July 10, 2007 Shailagh Murray May 27, 2010 Following a movement to draft him into the race,http://www.bayoubuzz.com/News/Louisiana/Politics/Draft_Cooksey_Campaign_To_Replace_Louisiana_David_Vitter__8443.asp Draft Cooksey Campaign To Replace Louisiana David Vitter BayouBuzz.com February 27, 2009 February 27, 2009 March 1, 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20090301063106/http://www.bayoubuzz.com/News/Louisiana/Politics/Draft_Cooksey_Campaign_To_Replace_Louisiana_David_Vitter__8443.asp dead John Cooksey, a former U.S. Representative, appeared poised to put together a challenge, planning on spending $200,000 of his own money.http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/louisiana-heats-up-with-potential-vitter-challenger-2009-02-27.html Louisiana heats up with potential Vitter challenger The Hill.com Aaron Blake February 27, 2009 February 27, 2009 March 2, 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20090302072239/http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/louisiana-heats-up-with-potential-vitter-challenger-2009-02-27.html dead Cooksey, however, pulled back and did not qualify. A campaign to draft porn actress Stormy Daniels began in early 2009. She considered whether to run before ultimately declining.Church Glenn http://foolocracy.com/2009/01/porn-star-to-run-against-vitter-in-louisiana-senate-race Porn Star To Run Against Vitter In Louisiana Senate Race? Foolocracy January 26, 2009 June 14, 2010ryan http://www.dailykingfish.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=1108 And the nominee is ... Stormy Daniels!publisher=Daily Kingfish June 14, 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20110708220900/http://www.dailykingfish.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=1108 July 8, 2011 dead http://www.wdsu.com/news/18673367/detail.html#- Porn Actress Considers Run For La. Senate Seat - New Orleans News Story - WDSU New Orleans Wdsu.com February 9, 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20110927225302/http://www.wdsu.com/news/18673367/detail.html September 27, 2011 May 5, 2015 On June 14, 2009, Congressman Charlie Melançon announced his intentions to run for Senate in 2010. Melançon, who was representing Louisiana's 3rd Congressional District since 2005, released the announcement to his supporters, saying that "Louisiana needs a different approach, more bi-partisan, more disciplined, more honest and with a whole lot more common sense." Melançon was a leader of the Blue Dog Coalition, a group of fiscally conservative Democrats who aim to lower the deficit and reform the budget.https://www.politico.com/blogs/scorecard/0809/Melancon_running_against_Vitter.html Melancon running against Vitter - The Scorecard Politico.Com June 14, 2010http://www.house.gov/melancon/BlueDogs/10%20Years%20of%20Leadership.html Blue Dogs - 15 Years of Leadership House.gov June 14, 2010 June 15, 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20100615173134/http://www.house.gov/melancon/BlueDogs/10%20Years%20of%20Leadership.html dead In the weeks before the election a major concern for Vitter's camp was possibly voter apathy about the race. For example, publisher Rolfe H. McCollister Jr., in his Greater Baton Rouge Business Report, endorsed fellow Republican Jay Dardenne over Democrat Caroline Fayard in the simultaneous race for Lieutenant Governor of Louisiana, but then explicitly made "no endorsement" for U.S. Senate: I have talked with a number of voters who are just not very excited about this race—the candidates or the tone. I'm not either. You're on your own here. http://www.businessreport.com/news/2010/oct/18/making-choices-nov-2/ Making choices on Nov. 2 October 19, 2010 October 26, 2010 Rolfe McCollister Greater Baton Rouge Business Report 6 https://web.archive.org/web/20101027132711/http://businessreport.com/news/2010/oct/18/making-choices-nov-2/ October 27, 2010 dead mdy-all Democratic primary Candidates Charlie Melançon, U.S. Representative Neeson Chauvin Cary Deaton Polling Poll Source Dates administered Charlie Melançon Neeson Chauvin UndecidedClarus Research GroupClarus Research Group August 15–16, 2010 43% 3% 52% Results thumb|right|280px|Results by parish #0645b4 Melançon—80–90% #1666cb Melançon—70–80% #4389e3 Melançon—60–70% #86b6f2 Melançon—50–60% #b9d7ff Melançon—40–50% Democratic Primary resultshttps://www.politico.com/2010/maps/#/Senate/2010/LA Louisiana Senate Primary Results Politico August 28, 2010 August 29, 2010 August 23, 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20100823031212/http://www.politico.com/2010/maps/#/Senate/2010/LA dead Charlie Melançon Democratic Party (United States) 77,702 70.61% Neeson Chauvin Democratic Party (United States) 19,507 17.73% Cary Deaton Democratic Party (United States) 12,842 11.67% 110,051 100% Republican primary Candidates David Vitter, incumbent U.S. Senator Nick Accardo, doctor Chet D. Traylor, former Louisiana Supreme Court justice Polling Poll Source Dates administered David Vitter (R) Chet Traylor (R) UndecidedClarus Research Group August 15–16, 2010 74% 5% 18%Public Policy PollingPublic Policy Polling August 21–22, 2010 81% 5% 9% Results thumb|right|280px|Results by parish #800000 Vitter—>90% #aa0000 Vitter—80–90% #d40000 Vitter—70–80% #cc2f4a Vitter—60–70% Republican Primary results David Vitter (Incumbent) Republican Party (United States) 85,179 87.6% Chet Traylor Republican Party (United States) 6,838 7.03% Nick Accardo Republican Party (United States) 5,221 5.37% 97,238 100% Libertarian primary Candidates Anthony Gentilehttp://www.gentileforsenator.com GentileForSenator.com GentileForSenator.com June 14, 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20100619035856/http://www.gentileforsenator.com/ June 19, 2010 dead Randall Todd Hayeshttps://www.anti-politician.com Randall Todd Hayes US Senate anti-politician.com June 14, 2010 Results Libertarian Primary results Randall Todd Hayes Libertarian Party (United States) 1,529 61.68% Anthony "Tony G" Gentile Libertarian Party (United States) 950 38.32% 2,479 100% General election Candidates Major Charlie Melançon (D), U.S. Congressman David Vitter (R), incumbent U.S. Senator Minor Michael Karlton Brown (I) Skip Galan (I) Milton Gordon (I) Randall Todd Hayes (L) Tommy LaFargue (I) Bob Lang (I) William McShan (Reform) Sam Houston Melton Jr. (I) Mike Spears (I) Ernest Wooton (I) Campaign Melançon heavily criticized Vitter for prostitution sex scandal.http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/08/melancons-first-tv-ad-david-vitter-hasnt-been-honest-with-louisiana-video.php Melancon's First TV Ad: 'David Vitter Hasn't Been Honest With Louisiana' (VIDEO) TPMDC October 30, 2010 August 18, 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20100818000049/http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/08/melancons-first-tv-ad-david-vitter-hasnt-been-honest-with-louisiana-video.php dead Melancon Turns Vitter Prostitutution Reenactment Video Into Two-Minute TV Ad (VIDEO) | TPMDCAugust 2026 InternetArchiveBot Vitter released television advertising criticizing Melançon for his support for Obama's stimulus package and his support for amnesty for illegal immigrants.David Vitter slams Charlie Melancon in new Senate TV ad | NOLA.com Debates Melançon claimed "In August, Melançon challenged Vitter to a series of five live, televised town hall-style debates across the state. In his 2004 campaign for Senate, Vitter committed to five live, televised debates. Since Melançon issued the challenge, Vitter and Melançon have been invited to a total of seven live, televised debates. Vitter only accepted invitations to debates hosted by WWL-TV and WDSU-TV, both in New Orleans."http://www.bayoubuzz.com/buzz/latest-buzz/82514-louisiana-politics-vitter-agrees-to-second-televised-debate-in-new-orleans Louisiana Politics: Vitter Agrees to Second Televised Debate in New Orleans November 1, 2010 March 13, 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120313221513/http://www.bayoubuzz.com/buzz/latest-buzz/82514-louisiana-politics-vitter-agrees-to-second-televised-debate-in-new-orleans dead September 7: Sponsored by the Alliance for Good Government at Loyola University.http://www.wwltv.com/home/Vitter-Melancon-meet-for-first-debate-102405019.html Vitter, Melancon meet for first debate wwltv.com WWL Home Page November 1, 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20100914083354/http://www.wwltv.com/home/Vitter-Melancon-meet-for-first-debate-102405019.html September 14, 2010 dead October 27: Sponsored by League of Women Voters-New Orleans, National Council of Jewish Women-New Orleans Junior League-New Orleans, and the American Association of University Women-Louisiana. Televised on WDSU-TV in New Orleans.https://archive.today/20120908223316/http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2010/10/david_vitter_charlie_melancon_1.html David Vitter, Charlie Melancon will debate tonight NOLA.com October 28: CBS News sponsored the debate. It was televised on WWL-TV and C-SPAN in New Orleanshttp://www.wwltv.com/news/politics/Senate-candidates-face-off-for-final-time-on-WWL-TV-106231978.html Senate candidates face off for final time on WWL-TV in heated debate New Orleans News, Local News, Breaking News, Weather wwltv.com Political News November 1, 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20110622034553/http://www.wwltv.com/news/politics/Senate-candidates-face-off-for-final-time-on-WWL-TV-106231978.html June 22, 2011 dead Predictions Source Ranking As of Cook Political Reporthttp://cookpolitical.com/senate Senate Cook Political Report October 26, 2010 Lean R October 26, 2010 Rothenberghttp://rothenbergpoliticalreport.com/ratings/senate Senate Ratings Rothenberg Political Report October 26, 2010 Likely R October 22, 2010 RealClearPoliticshttp://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2010/senate/2010_elections_senate_map.html Battle for the Senate RealClearPolitics October 26, 2010 Likely R October 26, 2010 Sabato's Crystal Ballhttp://www.centerforpolitics.org/crystalball/articles/category/2010-senate 2010 Senate Ratings Sabato's Crystal Ball October 26, 2010 October 28, 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20101028092918/http://www.centerforpolitics.org/crystalball/articles/category/2010-senate/ dead Likely R October 21, 2010 CQ Politicshttp://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=ratings-senate Race Ratings Chart: Senate CQ Politics October 26, 2010 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20101028234525/http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=ratings-senate October 28, 2010 Likely R October 26, 2010 Polling Poll source Date(s)administered DavidVitter (R) CharlieMelançon (D)Research 2000Research 2000 March 2–4, 2009 48% 41%Public Policy PollingPublic Policy Polling July 17–19, 2009 44% 32%Rasmussen ReportsRasmussen Reports October 5, 2009 46% 36%Rasmussen ReportsRasmussen Reports January 14, 2010 53% 35%YouGovPolimetrixYouGovPolimetrix January 6–11, 2010 52% 32%Rasmussen ReportsRasmussen Reports February 10, 2010 57% 33%Rasmussen ReportsRasmussen Reports March 10, 2010 57% 34%Rasmussen Reports April 7, 2010 52% 36%Magellan StrategiesMagellan Strategies https://web.archive.org/web/20100702091016/http://www.magellanstrategies.com/web/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/Magellan-Louisiana-Oil-Spill-Survey-Release-0614101.pdf July 2, 2010 June 10–13, 2010 51% 31%Public Policy PollingPublic Policy Polling June 12–13, 2010 46% 37%Rasmussen ReportsRasmussen Reports June 24, 2010 53% 35%Clarus Research Group August 15–16, 2010 48% 36%Public Policy PollingPublic Policy Polling August 21–22, 2010 51% 41%Rasmussen ReportsRasmussen Reports August 30, 2010 54% 33%Magellan StrategiesMagellan Strategies September 19, 2010 52% 34%Magellan Strategies October 10, 2010 51% 35%AnazaloneAnazalone https://web.archive.org/web/20101116090028/http://www.magellanstrategies.com/web/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/Magellan-Louisiana-US-Senate-Survey-Release-102510.pdf November 16, 2010 October 22, 2010 46% 43%Clarus Research GroupClarus Research Group October 21–24, 2010 50% 38%Magellan StrategiesMagellan Strategies https://web.archive.org/web/20101116090028/http://www.magellanstrategies.com/web/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/Magellan-Louisiana-US-Senate-Survey-Release-102510.pdf November 16, 2010 October 24, 2010 52% 35% Fundraising Candidate (Party) Receipts Disbursements Cash On Hand Debt David Vitter (R) $8,384,938 $6,833,900 $3,555,994 $0 Charles Melançon (D) $3,711,556 $4,043,362 $445,853 $0 Source: Federal Election Commissionhttp://www.fec.gov:80/DisclosureSearch/HSRefreshCandList.do?category=stateS_all&stateName=LA&election_yr=2010 2010 House and Senate Campaign Finance for Louisiana fec.gov August 22, 2010 August 2019 InternetArchiveBot yes Results United States Senate election in Louisiana, 2010http://elections.nytimes.com/2010/results/louisiana Louisiana - Election Results 2010 - New York Times New York Times November 2, 2010 November 7, 20102010 Election Official Results https://voterportal.sos.la.gov/graphical Louisiana Secretary of State David Vitter (incumbent) Republican Party (United States) 715,415 56.56% Charlie Melançon Democratic Party (United States) 476,572 37.67% Randall Hayes Libertarian Party (United States) 13,957 1.1% Michael Brown Independent 9,973 0.79% Mike Spears Independent 9,190 0.73% Ernest Wooton Independent 8,167 0.65% Skip Galan Independent 7,474 0.59% William McShan Reform Party (United States) 5,879 0.46% Bob Lang Independent 5,734 0.45% Milton Gordon Independent 4,810 0.38% Tommy LaFargue Independent 4,043 0.32% Sam Melton Independent 3,780 0.3% 1,264,994 100% Republican Party (United States) References External links Louisiana Secretary of State - Elections U.S. Congress candidates for Louisiana at Project Vote Smart Louisiana U.S. Senate 2010 from OurCampaigns.com Campaign contributions from Open Secrets https://archive.today/20130131234013/http://www.pollster.com/polls/la/10-la-sen-ge.php 2010 Louisiana Senate General Election: All Head-to-Head Matchups el graph of multiple polls from Pollster.com Election 2010: Louisiana Senate from Rasmussen Reports 2010 Louisiana Senate Race from Real Clear Politics 2010 Louisiana Senate Race from CQ Politics Race profile from The New York Times Official campaign websites (archived) David Vitter (R) for Senate Charlie Melançon (D) for Senate Louisiana 2010 Category:2010 Louisiana elections