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.

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.

"[16] On May 5, 2010, Superior Court Judge Michael Sheldon ruled that Bysiewicz was legally qualified to run for state attorney general.

[6][18] 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.

[19] Ross Garber, whose sister-in-law is Democrat Susan Bysiewicz,[19] attracted sufficient support to qualify for an August 10, 2010 primary and challenged Dean for the nomination.