The 2012 United States House of Representatives elections in Arizona were held on Tuesday, November 6, 2012, to elect the nine U.S. representatives from the state, one from each of the state's nine congressional districts, including the newly created 9th district following the 2010 United States census. The elections coincided with other federal and state elections, including a quadrennial presidential election and a U.S. Senate election. Primary elections were held on August 28, 2012.
Arizona was one of five states in which the party that won the state's popular vote did not win a majority of seats in 2012, the others being Michigan, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin.
Overview The table shows the number and percentage of votes, as well as the number of seats gained and lost, by each political party in the 2012 elections for the United States House of Representatives in Arizona.
Statewide PartyCandidatesVotesSeats %+/– %Republican81,131,66352.074 144.44Democratic9946,99443.575 255.56Libertarian782,2823.7900.0Americans Elect26,7400.3100.0Green15,6370.2600.0Write-in110.0000.0Total282,173,317100.09 1100.0
By district Results of the 2012 United States House of Representatives elections in Arizona by district:
DistrictRepublicanDemocraticOthersTotalResult Votes % Votes % Votes % Votes %District 1 113,594 45.15% 122,774 48.80% 15,227 6.05% 251,595 100.0% Democratic gainDistrict 2 144,884 49.57% 147,338 50.41% 57 0.02% 292,279 100.0% Democratic holdDistrict 3 62,663 37.15% 98,468 58.37% 7,567 4.49% 168,698 100.0% Democratic holdDistrict 4 162,907 66.83% 69,154 28.37% 11,699 4.80% 243,760 100.0% Republican winDistrict 5 183,470 67.19% 89,589 32.81% 0 0.00% 273,059 100.0% Republican holdDistrict 6 179,706 61.30% 97,666 33.31% 15,805 5.39% 293,177 100.0% Republican holdDistrict 7 0 0.00% 104,489 81.74% 23,338 18.26% 127,827 100.0% Democratic holdDistrict 8 172,809 63.35% 95,635 35.06% 4,347 1.59% 272,791 100.0% Republican holdDistrict 9 111,630 44.63% 121,881 48.73% 16,620 6.64% 250,131 100.0% Democratic gainTotal 1,131,663 52.07% 946,994 43.57% 94,660 4.36% 2,173,317 100.0%
Redistricting
Due to population gains reflected in the 2010 United States census, Arizona's congressional delegation increased from eight members to nine in 2012. In accordance with the Arizona Constitution, the Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission produced new congressional district maps for use in the 2012 and subsequent elections. In October 2011, the commission released a draft map and by November 5 that year had completed a round of public hearings for input on the draft map. The map became final after being cleared for compliance with the Voting Rights Act by the United States Department of Justice, and established the official district boundaries for the 2012 elections.
On November 1, 2011, Arizona Governor Jan Brewer, with the approval of the Arizona Senate, removed Colleen Mathis, the commission's chair, charging Mathis was guilty of "failure to apply the Arizona Constitution's redistricting provisions in an honest, independent and impartial fashion." On November 17, the Arizona Supreme Court overturned Brewer's decision and reinstated Mathis. On November 21, Brewer asked the Supreme Court to reconsider its decision and to temporarily reverse Mathis' reinstatement. The Supreme Court refused. The map was pre-cleared by the U.S. Department of Justice on April 9, 2012, and was in effect for the 2012 elections.
District 1
Based upon the new map, the 1st district is slightly friendlier to Democrats than its predecessor. Incumbent Republican Paul Gosar, first elected in 2010, ran for election in the more conservative 4th district.
Republican primary Candidates Nominee Jonathan Paton, state senator and candidate for the 8th district in 2010
Eliminated in primary Patrick Gatti Gaither Martin, former State Department official Douglas Wade, contractor
Withdrawn Doug McKee, contractor
Declined Paul Gosar, incumbent U.S. representative (running in the 4th) Bill Konopnicki, former state representative Gary Pierce, member of the Arizona Corporation Commission
Primary results
Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Ann Kirkpatrick, former U.S. representative
Eliminated in primary Wenona Benally Baldenegro, attorney and member of the Navajo Nation
Withdrawn Miguel Olivas, government consultant and former staffer for former U.S. Representative Rick Renzi
Endorsements
Primary results
Baldenegro would have been the first Native American woman to serve in Congress had she had won the seat.
Libertarian primary Candidates Nominee Kim Allen
Primary results
General election Endorsements
Polling Poll sourceDate(s)administeredSamplesizeMargin of errorJonathanPaton (R)AnnKirkpatrick (D)UndecidedNRCC (R)NRCC (R) October 4, 2012 501 ±5.6% 50% 45% 5%North Star Opinion Research (R)North Star Opinion Research (R) July 25–26, 2012 400 ±4.9% 43% 46% 11%
Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political Report November 5, 2012 Rothenberg November 2, 2012 Roll Call, November 4, 2012 Sabato's Crystal BallCrystal Ball , November 5, 2012 NY TimesHouse Race Ratings, The New York Times, November 4, 2012RCP, November 4, 2012The Hill November 4, 2012
Results
District 2
After redistricting, most of the 2nd district was composed of land previously located in the 8th district and was thus more favorable to Democrats. Democrat Gabby Giffords, who had represented the 8th district since 2007, was seriously wounded in a mass shooting in January 2011 and resigned her congressional seat in January 2012. A special election was held in June 2012 under the boundaries of the then current 8th district, with a primary election held in April 2012; in November 2012, another election took place under the new boundaries of the 2nd district, with a primary scheduled for August 2012.
Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Ron Barber, incumbent U.S. representative
Eliminated in primary Matt Heinz, state representative
Withdrawn Paula Aboud, state senator Steve Farley, state representative Nomiki Konst, journalist and University of Arizona alumna
Primary results
Republican primary Candidates Nominee Martha McSally, retired U.S. Air Force colonel and candidate for the 8th District in 2012 (special)
Eliminated in primary Mark Koskiniemi
Withdrawn Frank Antenori, state senator Jesse Kelly, U.S. Marine Corps veteran and nominee for the in 8th District in 2010 and 2012 (special)
Declined John Lervold, U.S. Army veteran and interrogation instructor at Fort Huachuca Dave Sitton, sports announcer for the University of Arizona and candidate for the 8th District in 2012 (special)
Primary results
Libertarian primary Candidates Nominee Anthony PowellLibertarian Party Candidates 2012 , Libertarian Party
General election Endorsements
Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror RonBarber (D) MarthaMcSally (R) UndecidedOnMessage Inc (R-McSally)OnMessage Inc (R-McSally) September 30–October 1, 2012 400 ± 4.9% 48% 47% 5%Grove Insight (D-DCCC)Grove Insight (D-DCCC) September 27–30, 2012 400 ± ?% 54% 40% 6%OnMessage Inc (R-McSally)OnMessage Inc (R-McSally) August 7–8, 2012 400 ± 4.9% 50% 45% 5%Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research (D-Barber)Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research (D-Barber) July 17–22, 2012 503 ± 4.4% 53% 40% 7%
Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political Report November 5, 2012 Rothenberg November 2, 2012 Roll Call November 4, 2012 Sabato's Crystal Ball November 5, 2012 NY Times November 4, 2012RCP November 4, 2012The Hill November 4, 2012
Results
District 3
In the October 2011 redistricting, most of the 7th district became the 3rd district and was more favorable to Democrats. Incumbent Democrat Raúl M. Grijalva, first elected in 2002, said in February 2011 that he had no plans to run for the U.S. Senate.
Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Raul Grijalva, incumbent U.S. representative
Eliminated in primary Amanda Aguirre, former state senator Manny Arreguin, OB/GYN
Withdrawn David Crowe Robles, defense contractor
Endorsements
Primary results
Republican primary Candidates Nominee Gabriela Saucedo Mercer, conservative activist
Eliminated in primary Jaime Vasquez, businessman
Declined Ruth McClung, nominee for the 7th district in 2010
Primary results
Libertarian primary Candidates Nominee Blanca Guerra
Primary results
General election Endorsements
Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political Report November 5, 2012 Rothenberg November 2, 2012 Roll Call November 4, 2012 Sabato's Crystal Ball November 5, 2012 NY Times November 4, 2012RCP November 4, 2012The Hill November 4, 2012
Results
District 4
The new 4th congressional district encompasses most of the rural areas in the old 2nd district, as well as significant portions of the old 1st, 5th, and 6th districts, according to the final mapsfinal maps of the Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission. The district is heavily Republican.
Paul Gosar, who had represented the 1st district since 2011, moved to Prescott in order to run in this district.
Republican primary Campaign Babeu dropped his congressional bid on May 11, 2012, instead seeking re-election as sheriff.Sheriff Babeu Abandons Race for Arizona Congressional Seat. Fox News Latino. May 11, 2012. Retrieved May 11, 2012. This came after he was accused of being lovers with an illegal immigrant whom he threatened with deportation to guarantee his silence. The Arizona solicitor general later exonerated Babeu after an investigation.
Candidates Nominee Paul Gosar, incumbent U.S. representative for the 1st District
Eliminated in primary Ron Gould, state senator Rick Murphy, founder and owner of Murphy Broadcasting
Withdrawn Paul Babeu, sheriff of Pinal County
Debate + 2012 Arizona's 4th congressional district Republican primary debate Date Host Moderator Link Republican Republican RepublicanKey: Participant Absent Not invited Invited Withdrawn Paul Gosar Ron Gould Rick Murphy1 Arizona PBS Ted Simons YouTube
Primary results
Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Johnnie Robinson
Eliminated in primary Mikel Weisser, author and political activist
Primary results
Libertarian primary Candidates Nominee Joe Pamelia, aerospace and defense professional
Primary results
Americans Elect primary Candidates Nominee Richard Grayson, writer, political activist and performance artist
Primary results
General election Endorsements
Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political Report November 5, 2012 Rothenberg November 2, 2012 Roll Call November 4, 2012 Sabato's Crystal Ball November 5, 2012 NY Times November 4, 2012RCP November 4, 2012The Hill November 4, 2012
Results
District 5
With the October 2011 redistricting, most of the 6th district became the 5th district and continued to favor Republicans. Incumbent Republican Jeff Flake, who had represented this district since 2001, sought the Republican nomination for the U.S. Senate.
Republican primary Candidates Nominee Matt Salmon, former U.S. representative and nominee for governor in 2002
Eliminated in primary Kirk Adams, former speaker of the Arizona House of Representatives
Withdrawn Travis Grantham, Arizona Air National Guard captain Chuck Gray, former majority leader of the Arizona Senate
Declined Jeff Flake, incumbent U.S. representative (ran for U.S. Senate) Russell Pearce, former president of the state senate
Primary results
Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Spencer Morgan, student at Mesa Community College
Primary results
General election Endorsements
Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political Report November 5, 2012 Rothenberg November 2, 2012 Roll Call November 4, 2012 Sabato's Crystal Ball November 5, 2012 NY Times November 4, 2012RCP November 4, 2012The Hill November 4, 2012
Results
District 6