The 2012 United States Senate election in Arizona was held on November 6, 2012, alongside a presidential election, other elections to the United States Senate in other states, as well as elections to the United States House of Representatives and various state and local elections.

Incumbent Senator Jon Kyl, a Republican and the Senate Minority Whip, decided to retire instead of seeking a fourth term. U.S. Representative Jeff Flake won the open seat.

As of 2026, this was the last time that a Republican won Arizona's Class 1 Senate seat.

Republican primary The filing deadline for Republican candidates was June 1, 2012, and the primary election took place on August 28, 2012.

Candidates

Declared Wil Cardon, CEO of a real estate investment firm Jeff Flake, U.S. representative from the 6th district Bryan Hackbarth, former mayor of Youngtown Clair Van Steenwyk, conservative radio host

Withdrew Doug McKee, businessman

Declined Joe Arpaio, Maricopa County sheriff (running for re-election as sheriff) Jan Brewer, Arizona governor Trent Franks, U.S. representative J. D. Hayworth, former U.S. representative Jon Kyl, incumbent U.S. senator Sarah Palin, former governor of Alaska (2006–2009) and nominee for vice president of the United States in 2008 Ben Quayle, U.S. representative David Schweikert, U.S. representative John Shadegg, former U.S. representative Fife Symington III, former Arizona governor

Endorsements

Polling Poll source WilCardon JeffFlake BryanHackbarth DougMcKee Clair Other UndecidedPublic Policy PollingPublic Policy Polling May 17–20, 2012 421 ± 4.8% 20% 42% 3% 1% 2% — 33%Public Policy PollingPublic Policy Polling February 17–19, 2012 412 ± 4.8% 7% 56% 5% 1% 1% — 31%Public Policy PollingPublic Policy Polling November 17–20, 2011 400 ± 4.9% 7% 53% 5% 1% 2% — 33%Magellan StrategiesMagellan Strategies November 14–15, 2011 722 ± 3.6% 4% 52% 1% 1% 2% 8% 32%

Debate + 2012 United States Senate election in Arizona Republican primary debate Date Host Moderator Link Republican Republican Republican RepublicanKey: Participant  Absent  Not invited  Invited Withdrawn Wil Cardon Jeff Flake Bryan Hackbarth Clair Van Steenwyk1 Aug. 16, 2012 Arizona PBS Ted Simons YouTube

Results

Democratic primary Former Surgeon General Richard Carmona was the only candidate for the Democratic nomination, receiving all 289,881 votes cast in the primary election.

Candidates

Declared Richard Carmona, former Surgeon General of the United States

Withdrew Don Bivens, former chairman of the Arizona Democratic Party David Ruben, physician

Declined Dennis Burke, United States attorney Gabby Giffords, former U.S. representative Phil Gordon, mayor of Phoenix Mark Kelly, astronaut and husband of Gabrielle Giffords (later elected to Arizona's Class 3 Senate seat in 2020). Janet Napolitano, U.S. secretary of Homeland Security and former Arizona governor Ed Pastor, U.S. representative Jim Pederson, former Arizona Democratic Party chairman and 2006 Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate Warren Stewart, civil rights leader

Polling

Poll source DennisBurke RodneyGlassman TerryGoddard PhilGordan HarryMitchell EdPastor FeleciaRotellini Other/UndecidedPublic Policy PollingPublic Policy Polling April 28 – May 1, 2011 300 ± 5.7% 2% 5% 50% 8% 11% 5% 6% 14%

Results

General election

Candidates Richard Carmona (Democratic), former U.S. Surgeon General Jeff Flake (Republican), U.S. representative Michael F. Meyer (independent) Marc J. Victor (Libertarian), attorney

Debates There were three debates before the election. The first was in Phoenix on October 10, 2012, the second in Tucson on October 15 and the last was in Yuma on October 25.

External links Complete video of debate, October 10, 2012 – C-SPAN Complete video of debate, October 15, 2012 – C-SPAN Complete video of debate, October 25, 2012 – C-SPAN

Fundraising Candidate (party) Receipts Disbursements Cash on hand Debt Jeff Flake (R) $9,026,951 $9,557,420 $97,360 $0 Richard Carmona (D) $6,459,739 $6,373,544 $86,195 $0 Marc J. Victor (L) $8,336 $8,334 $0 $0 Source: Federal Election Commission

Top contributors

Richard Carmona Contribution Jeff Flake Contribution University of Arizona $54,100 Club for Growth $1,000,112 League of Conservation Voters $53,148 Senate Conservatives Fund $176,484 Canyon Ranch $31,400 US Airways $54,300 Clorox Company $25,000 Freeport-McMoRan $53,750 Arizona State University $22,600 Cancer Treatment Centers of America $40,500 Banner Health $18,500 Knight Transportation $35,500 Lewis and Roca $17,100 Pinnacle West Capital $35,500 Taser International $15,500 Marriott International $29,750 Coca-Cola Co $15,286 Shamrock Farms $24,750 Pederson Group $15,000 Services Group of America $15,650 Source: OpenSecrets

Top industries Richard Carmona Contribution Jeff Flake Contribution Ian Gilyeat Contribution Retired $653,066 Republican/Conservative $1,146,046 Retired $250 Lawyers/law firms $409,395 Retired $643,260 Lawyers/law firms $250 Health professionals $313,135 Leadership PACs $502,352 Leadership PACs $279,530 Real estate $302,572 Colleges/universities $189,270 Financial institutions $279,670 Real estate $145,000 Lawyers/law firms $200,702 Business services $122,749 Misc. finance $188,122 Financial institutions $118,500 Mining $170,602 Democratic/Liberal $111,889 Health professionals $164,607 Lobbyists $105,172 Oil & gas $147,860 Source: OpenSecrets

Predictions Source Ranking As of The Cook Political Report November 1, 2012 Sabato's Crystal Ball November 5, 2012 Rothenberg Political Report November 2, 2012 Real Clear Politics November 5, 2012

Polling Poll source JeffFlake (R) RichardCarmona (D) Other UndecidedPublic Policy PollingPublic Policy Polling November 2–3, 2012 1,080 ± 3% 51% 46% — 3%Rasmussen ReportsRasmussen Reports October 21, 2012 500 ± 4.5% 50% 44% 3% 3%Rocky Mountain PollRocky Mountain Poll October 4–10, 2012 523 ± 4.4% 40% 44% — 16%Public Policy PollingPublic Policy Polling October 1–3, 2012 595 ± 4% 43% 45% — 12%HighGround/MooreHighGround/Moore September 25–26, 2012 500 ± 4% 43% 40% 5% 11%Rasmussen ReportsRasmussen Reports September 25, 2012 500 ± 4.5% 47% 41% 3% 9%LCV/Public Policy PollingLCV/Public Policy Polling September 7–9, 2012 993 ± n/a% 44% 43% — 13%LCV/Public Policy PollingLCV/Public Policy Polling July 23–25, 2012 833 ± 3.4% 38% 38% — 25%Rasmussen ReportsRasmussen Reports June 26, 2012 500 ± 4.5% 47% 31% 5% 17%Public Policy Polling June 4–5, 2012 791 ± 3.5% 43% 41% — 16%Public Policy Polling May 17–20, 2012 500 ± 4.4% 48% 35% — 17%Magellan StrategiesMagellan Strategies April 30 – May 2, 2012 909 ± 3.3% 44% 40% — 16%Rasmussen ReportsRasmussen Reports March 13, 2012 500 ± 4.5% 47% 34% 4% 16%NBC News/MaristNBC News/Marist February 19–20, 2012 2,487 ± 2.0% 42% 29% — 28%Public Policy PollingPublic Policy Polling February 17–19, 2012 743 ± 3.6% 46% 35% — 19%Public Policy PollingPublic Policy Polling November 17–20, 2011 500 ± 4.4% 40% 36% — 24%

Poll source WilCardon (R) RichardCarmona (D) Other UndecidedPublic Policy Polling November 17–20, 2011 500 ± 4.4% 35% 33% — 32%Public Policy Polling February 17–19, 2012 743 ± 3.6% 37% 33% — 30%Rasmussen Reports March 13, 2012 500 ± 4.5% 39% 38% 3% 20%Magellan Strategies April 30 – May 2, 2012 909 ± 3.3% 41% 40% — 19%Public Policy Polling May 17–20, 2012 500 ± 4.4% 40% 37% — 23%

Republican primary Poll source JeffFlake J.D.Hayworth SarahPalin GaryPierce MarilynQuayle FifeSymington Other/UndecidedPublic Policy Polling April 28 – May 1, 2011 400 ± 4.9% 33% 11% 35% 3% 2% 3% 13%

Democratic primary Poll source DennisBurke GabrielleGiffords RodneyGlassman TerryGoddard PhilGordan HarryMitchell EdPastor FeleciaRotellini Other/UndecidedPublic Policy Polling April 28 – May 1, 2011 300 ± 5.7% 2% 46% 4% 28% 2% 5% 4% 2% 6%

with Don Bivens Poll source WilCardon (R) DonBivens (D) Other UndecidedPublic Policy Polling November 17–20, 2011 500 ± 4.4% 35% 27% — 37%Public Policy Polling February 17–19, 2012 743 ± 3.6% 38% 32% — 31%Rasmussen Reports March 13, 2012 500 ± 4.5% 42% 30% 4% 24%

Poll source JeffFlake (R) DonBivens (D) Other UndecidedPublic Policy Polling November 17–20, 2011 500 ± 4.4% 42% 32% — 26%Public Policy Polling February 17–19, 2012 743 ± 3.6% 46% 35% — 19%Rasmussen Reports March 13, 2012 500 ± 4.5% 47% 30% 3% 20%

with J.D. Hayworth Poll source J.D.Hayworth (R) GabrielleGiffords (D) UndecidedPublic Policy PollingPublic Policy Polling April 28 – May 1, 2011 623 ± 3.9% 31% 57% 12%

Poll source J.D.Hayworth (R) TerryGoddard (D) UndecidedPublic Policy Polling April 28 – May 1, 2011 623 ± 3.9% 33% 51% 16%

Poll source J.D.Hayworth (R) PhilGordon (D) UndecidedPublic Policy Polling April 28 – May 1, 2011 623 ± 3.9% 36% 44% 20%

Poll source J.D.Hayworth (R) EdPastor (D) UndecidedPublic Policy Polling April 28 – May 1, 2011 623 ± 3.9% 37% 42% 21%

with Jeff Flake Poll source JeffFlake (R) GabrielleGiffords (D) UndecidedPublic Policy Polling April 28 – May 1, 2011 623 ± 3.9% 41% 48% 11%

with Jon Kyl Poll source JonKyl (R) TerryGoddard (D) UndecidedPublic Policy PollingPublic Policy Polling January 28–30, 2011 599 ± 4.0% 50% 40% 9%

Poll source JonKyl (R) PhilGordon (D) UndecidedPublic Policy Polling January 28–30, 2011 599 ± 4.0% 54% 33% 13%

Poll source JonKyl (R) AnnKirkpatrick (D) UndecidedPublic Policy Polling January 28–30, 2011 599 ± 4.0% 51% 35% 14%

Poll source JonKyl (R) JanetNapolitano (D) UndecidedPublic Policy Polling January 28–30, 2011 599 ± 4.0% 53% 41% 6%

with Sarah Palin Poll source SarahPalin (R) GabrielleGiffords (D) UndecidedPublic Policy Polling April 28 – May 1, 2011 623 ± 3.9% 36% 54% 10%

Poll source SarahPalin (R) TerryGoddard (D) UndecidedPublic Policy Polling April 28 – May 1, 2011 623 ± 3.9% 40% 49% 11%

Poll source SarahPalin (R) PhilGordon (D) UndecidedPublic Policy Polling April 28 – May 1, 2011 623 ± 3.9% 41% 45% 13%

Poll source SarahPalin (R) EdPastor (D) UndecidedPublic Policy Polling April 28 – May 1, 2011 623 ± 3.9% 43% 45% 12%

Results

CountyRichard CarmonaDemocraticJeff FlakeRepublicanOthers#%#%#%Apache16,45565.1%7,68030.4%1,1284.4%Cochise19,73640.9%26,20854.3%2,3444.9%Coconino28,72356.6%19,33438.1%2,6505.2%Gila8,09938.2%11,95456.4%1,1545.5%Graham3,77132.2%7,35262.8%5855.0%Greenlee1,34246.1%1,36546.9%2057.0%La Paz1,96135.6%3,12056.6%4317.8%Maricopa602,80944.9%675,50050.3%64,1094.8%Mohave20,86530.6%42,41062.2%4,9247.2%Navajo16,88145.9%18,22849.6%1,6704.5%Pima207,57855.5%153,84641.1%12,6313.4%Pinal45,55842.8%55,00851.6%5,9965.6%Santa Cruz9,45469.9%3,61726.7%4523.3%Yavapai34,90235.6%57,83859.0%5,2115.3%Yuma18,40845.4%20,99751.8%1,1204.6% Totals1,036,54246.2%1,104,45749.2%104,6104.6%

By congressional district Despite losing, Carmona carried five of nine congressional districts.

District Carmona Flake Representative 49.11% 46.32%Ann Kirkpatrick 51.52% 45.03%Ron Barber 63.08% 32.79%Raúl Grijalva 33.36% 60.94%Paul Gosar 35.52% 60.06%Matt Salmon 40.32% 55.35%David Schweikert 71.87% 23.14%Ed Pastor 38.9% 56.29%Trent Franks 51.77% 43.39%Kyrsten Sinema

See also 2012 United States Senate elections 2012 United States House of Representatives elections in Arizona

References

External links Arizona Secretary of State – Elections Campaign contributions at OpenSecrets.org Outside spending at the Sunlight Foundation Candidate issue positions at On the Issues

Official campaign websites (Archived) Richard Carmona for U.S. Senate Jeff Flake for U.S. Senate Ian Gilyeat for U.S. Senate Marc J. Victor For Senate