Mayors, Former Mayors Elected to New Offices
By Ed Somers
November 8, 2010
There were ten mayors or former mayors seeking the Governorship in their states, five seeking to be Lt. Governor, one running for U.S. Senate, and nine running for the U.S. House of Representatives on November 2. Of this group, 14 mayors or former mayors were successful in there election bids for other offices.
California will now be led by both former Oakland Mayor Jerry Brown (Governor) and San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom (Lt. Governor). Newsom is a USCM Advisory Board Member and long-time co-chair of the USCM Hunger and Homelessness Task Force.
Also elected to statewide office were Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper (Governor of Colorado), former Stamford Mayor Dan Malloy (Governor of Connecticut), Knoxville Mayor Bill Haslam (Governor of Tennessee), former Warwick Mayor Lincoln Chafee (Governor of Rhode Island), Rochester Mayor Robert Duffy (Lt. Governor of New York), and Waterville Mayor Paul LePage (Governor of Maine). Hickenlooper is a USCM Advisory Board Member and chaired the USCM Transportation and Communications Committee. Duffy is a USCM Advisory Board Member and chaired the USCM Criminal and Social Justice Committee. And former mayor Malloy was a long-time USCM Trustee.
In addition, there were a number of sitting officials running for re-election who were former mayors – such as Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley who won re-election by an estimated margin of 56-42.
The incoming 112th Congress will also have a few more former mayors. Providence Mayor David Cicilline won election to the House. Cicilline is a USCM Advisory Board Member and chaired the USCM Children, Health and Human Services Committee. Other winners were Rogers (AR) Mayor Steve Womack, former Manchester (NH) Mayor Frank Guinta, former Corning (NY) Mayor Tom Reed, Hazelton (PA) Mayor Lou Barletta, and former Wadsworth (OH) Mayor Jim Renacci.
Mayors Remain in Office
While several mayors were unsuccessful in their races, their terms have not ended and they will remain in office. USCM Trustee Brenda Lawrence remains mayor of Southfield (MI) after her run for Lt. Governor. Also still in office will be Milwaukee (WI) Mayor Tom Barrett, Bethlehem (PA) Mayor John Callahan, Danbury (CT) Mayor Mark Boughton, Lansing (MI) Mayor Virg Bernero, and Palm Springs Mayor Steve Pougnet.
| Name | Title/City/State | Office Sought | Party | Result |
| Dan Malloy | Former Mayor Stamford CT | Governor | D | Won |
| John Hickenlooper | Mayor Denver CO | Governor | D | Won |
| Bill White | Former Mayor Houston TX | Governor | D | Lost |
| Virg Bernero | Mayor Lansing MI | Governor | D | Lost |
| Tom Barrett | Mayor Milwaukee WI | Governor | D | Lost |
| Bill Haslam | Mayor Knoxville TN | Governor | R | Won |
| Jerry Brown | Former Mayor Oakland CA | Governor | D | Won |
| Terry Goddard | Former Mayor Phoenix AZ | Governor | D | Lost |
| Lincoln Chafee | Former Mayor Warwick RI | Governor | I | Won |
| Paul LePage | Mayor Waterville ME | Governor | R | Won |
| Jerry E. Abramson | Mayor Louisville KY | Lt. Governor | D | 2011 Election |
| Gavin Newsom | Mayor San Francisco CA | Lt. Governor | D | Won |
| Robert Duffy | Mayor Rochester NY Lt. | Governor | D | Won |
| Brenda L. Lawrence | Mayor Southfield MI | Lt. Governor | D | Lost |
| Mark Boughton | Mayor Danbury CT | Lt. Governor | R | Lost |
| Scott McAdams | Mayor Sitka AK | U.S. Senate | D | Lost |
| David N. Cicilline | Mayor Providence RI | U.S. House | D | Won |
| John Callahan | Mayor Bethlehem PA | U.S. House | D | Lost |
| Beth Krom | Former Mayor Irvine CA | U.S. House | D | Lost |
| Steve Womack | Mayor Rogers AR | U.S. House | R | Won |
| Frank Guinta | Former Mayor Manchester NH | U.S House | R | Won |
| Steve Pougnet | Mayor Palm Springs CA | U.S. House | D | Lost |
| Tom Reed | Former Mayor Corning NY | U.S. House | R | Won |
| Lou Barletta | Mayor Hazleton PA | U.S. House | R | Won |
| Jim Renacci | Former Mayor Wadsworth OH | U.S. House | R | Won |
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