The 2010 Illinois gubernatorial election took place on November 2, 2010. Incumbent Democratic Governor Pat Quinn was elected to a full term in office, having become governor in 2009 following the impeachment and removal of Governor Rod Blagojevich. Quinn was elected as the Democratic nominee, the Illinois Green Party nominee was attorney and 2006 nominee Rich Whitney, the Republican nominee was State Senator Bill Brady, the Libertarian Party nominee was Lex Green, and Scott Lee Cohen ran as an independent. Quinn was elected to a full term in a very close race, defeating Brady by only about 32,000 votes, even though Brady carried 98 of the state's 102 counties. With a margin of 0.5%, this election was one of the two closest races of the 2010 gubernatorial election cycle, the other being the