Senator Patrick Leahy was re-elected to a seventh term.

In a June 2010 poll, the incumbent was viewed very favorably by 52% of the state.

52% of the state opposed repeal of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and 50% opposed Arizona's immigration law.

His Republican opponent was Len Britton, a businessman who had never run for public office before.

As of August 2010, he had released two TV ads, criticizing Obama's stimulus and the deficits.