2009 California's 10th congressional district special election

Background and procedures for election

On May 5, 2009, President Barack Obama nominated Democratic Representative Ellen Tauscher for the position of Undersecretary of State for Arms Control and International Security. She was confirmed by the United States Senate on June 26 and subsequently resigned from her congressional seat.

Following her resignation, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger called a special election. An open primary among candidates of all political parties took place on September 1, 2009. If a candidates received a majority of the vote in the primary, that candidate would wins the seat without an additional election. As that didn't occur, the general election took place on November 3, 2009, between the candidates with the most votes for each party.

Candidates

The following individuals appeared in the certified list of candidates and the certified list of write-in candidates published by the Secretary of State of California, and were thus eligible to receive votes in the special primary election.

American Independent

• Jerome "Jerry" Denham, an insurance agent

Democratic

• Tiffany René Estrella Attwood, a write-in candidate
• Joan Buchanan, the State Assemblymember from the 15th district
• Mark DeSaulnier, the State Senator from the 7th district who was endorsed by Tauscher as her successor
• John Garamendi, the Lieutenant Governor
• Adriel Hampton, a Government 2.0 blogger and investigator for the San Francisco City Attorney
• Anthony Woods, an Iraq War Veteran and economic policy analyst

Green

• Jeremy Cloward, a community college instructor

Peace and Freedom

• Mary C. McIlroy

Republican

• Chris Bunch, a small business owner
• Gary W. Clift, a retired police officer
• David Harmer, an independent businessman
• Mark Loos, a small business owner
• David Peterson, an accountability system owner
• John Toth, a physician

Polling

General election

Results

Primary

Since no candidate won a majority in the September 1, 2009, open primary, the candidates with the top votes for each party advanced to the special general election. Garamendi won more votes than any other Democrat and Harmer more than any Republican. Denham, Cloward, and McIlroy were the only candidates from their parties so they advanced the general election by default.

General

References

References

1. (May 5, 2009). "President Obama Announces More Key Administration Posts". [[whitehouse.gov]].
2. Vorderbrueggen, Lisa. (June 26, 2009). "Tauscher confirmed as Undersecretary for Arms Control and International Security". [[Contra Costa Times]].
3. (July 27, 2009). "Certified List of Candidates for the Special Primary Election, Tenth Congressional District, September 1, 2009". [[Secretary of State of California]].
4. (August 19, 2009). "Certified List of Write-In Candidates for the Special Primary Election, Tenth Congressional District, September 1, 2009". [[Secretary of State of California]].
5. Mart, Greta. (July 15, 2009). "DeSaulnier endorsed by George Miller, Torlakson, Tauscher". Martinez News-Gazette.
6. [http://www.surveyusa.com/client/PollReport.aspx?g=d0a09738-d7a8-4f8f-9ed9-a5275c7eab96 Survey USA]
7. (September 9, 2009). "Official Canvass: United States Representative 10th Congressional District Special Primary Election, September 1, 2009". [[Secretary of State of California]].
8. (November 16, 2009). "Official Canvass: United States Representative 10th Congressional District Special General Election, November 3, 2009". [[Secretary of State of California]].