2012 United States House of Representatives elections in Iowa

Overview

District 1

Braley:
Lange:

Bruce Braley, a Democrat the incumbent representative from the 1st district in northeastern Iowa since 2007, ran in the new 1st district. Fellow incumbent Dave Loebsack, who lived within the boundaries of the new 1st district in Linn County, but who had represented southeastern Iowa's 2nd district since 2007, moved to Johnson County and ran in the new 2nd district. The 1st district has become more favorable to Democrats with the inclusion of Linn County and its loss of Scott County. Braley won the Democratic nomination unopposed.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Bruce Braley, incumbent U.S. Representative

Declined

• Dave Loebsack, incumbent U.S. Representative for the 2nd district

Primary results

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Ben Lange, attorney and nominee for this seat in 2010

Eliminated in primary

• Rod Blum, businessman

Withdrawn

• Steve Rathje, businessman

Primary results

General election

Endorsements

Organizations

• National Republican Congressional Committee "Young Guns" Program

Predictions

Results

District 2

Loebsack:
Archer:

None of Iowa's current members of Congress resided in the newly drawn 2nd district; however, Democrat Dave Loebsack moved from Linn County to Johnson County in order to avoid a primary against Bruce Braley and continue representing southeastern Iowa. The 2nd district became slightly more favorable to Republicans as a result of the inclusion of Scott County, but retains Democratic-leaning Johnson County.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Dave Loebsack, incumbent U.S. Representative

Eliminated in primary

• Joe Seng, state senator

Primary results

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

• John Archer, senior legal counsel at John Deere

Eliminated in primary

• Dan Dolan, housing developer Withdrew
• Richard Gates, machinist and Tea Party activist

Primary results

General election

Endorsements

Organizations

• Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee "Frontline" Program

Organizations

• National Republican Congressional Committee "Young Guns" Program

Polling

Predictions

Results

District 3

Latham:
Boswell:

Leonard Boswell, a Democrat who represented the 3rd district in central Iowa since 1997, and Tom Latham, a Republican who represented the 4th district in northern and central Iowa since 1995, both ran in the new 3rd district. Latham, who lived in the new 4th district, moved south to avoid facing fellow Republican Steve King in a primary.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Leonard Boswell, incumbent U.S. Representative

Primary results

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Tom Latham, incumbent U.S. Representative

Primary results

General election

Campaign

Approximately half of the new 3rd district was at the time represented by Boswell, whereas the new 3rd district contained than 20 per cent of the area currently represented by Latham. However, Latham had $983,500 cash on hand at the end of March 2011, whereas Boswell had just $173,815.

Endorsements

Organizations

• Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee "Frontline" Program

Organizations

• National Republican Congressional Committee "Patriot" Program

Debate

The first debate was held October 10, 2012 at 7 pm, sponsored by KCCI and the Des Moines Register.

Polling

Predictions

Results

District 4

King:
Vilsack: Steve King, a Republican represented western Iowa's 5th district since 2003, ran in the new 4th district. The new 4th district comprises mostly territory which King represented and which tends to vote for Republican candidates.

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Steve King, incumbent U.S. Representative

Declined

• Tom Latham, incumbent U.S. Representative for the 4th district

Primary results

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Christie Vilsack, former First Lady of Iowa

Primary results

Independents

Martin James Monroe also ran.

General election

Endorsements

Organizations

• Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee "Red to Blue" Program
• EMILY's List

Debates

• Complete video of debate, September 27, 2012
• Complete video of debate, October 25, 2012

Polling

Predictions

Results

References

References

1. "3 Year Election Calendar". [[Iowa Secretary of State]].
2. Wright, Allie. (April 20, 2011). "Branstad signs redistricting bill". [[The Daily Iowan]].
3. "Secretary of State - Election Night Results - November 6th, 2012". Iowa Secretary of State.
4. Waddington, Lynda. (April 14, 2011). "Loebsack makes re-election hopes in new 2nd District official". [[American Independent News Network.
5. Toeplitz, Shira. (May 26, 2011). "Race Ratings: Competitive Races On Tap in Iowa". [[Roll Call]].
6. "2012 Primary Election Canvass Summary". [[Iowa Secretary of State]].
7. Lynch, James Q.. (October 12, 2011). "Lange: Rematch with Braley in Iowa 1st like an open seat race". Eastern Iowa Government.
8. Clayworth, Jason. (October 24, 2011). "Dubuque businessman to challenge Braley". [[The Des Moines Register]].
9. (July 20, 2011). "Rathje seeks Republican nomination in northeast Iowa's 1st Congressional District". The Republic.
10. Petroski, William. (December 16, 2011). "Rathje quits Iowa's 1st District congressional race, returns nearly $100,000 to donors". [[The Des Moines Register]].
11. "CANDIDATES".
12. (November 5, 2012). "The Cook Political Report — Charts – 2012 House Competitive Races". Cookpolitical.com.
13. (November 2, 2012). "House Ratings". Rothenbergpoliticalreport.com.
14. [http://www.rollcall.com/politics/race-ratings-chart-2012-house-elections.html], {{As of. 2012. 11. 04
15. [http://www.centerforpolitics.org/crystalball/articles/category/2012-house/ Crystal Ball], {{As of. 2012. 11. 05
16. [http://elections.nytimes.com/2012/ratings/house House Race Ratings], ''The New York Times'', {{As of. 2012. 11. 04
17. [http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2012/house/2012_elections_house_map.html], {{As of. 2012. 11. 04
18. (November 3, 2012). "House Ratings". The Hill.
19. (March 16, 2012). "Seng enters race for Congress". [[Quad-City Times]].
20. Lynch, James Q.. (July 7, 2011). "Quad Cities attorney to challenge Loebsack". [[The Gazette (Cedar Rapids)]].
21. Lemmon, Dustin. (June 20, 2011). "Dolan is Loebsack's first GOP challenger". [[Quad-City Times]].
22. Crippes, Christinia. (February 21, 2012). "Gates withdraws from GOP race". [[The Hawk Eye]].
23. "2012 Frontline Democrats". DCCC.
24. [https://web.archive.org/web/20120728041448/http://qctimes.com/news/local/government-and-politics/elections/poll-archer-moves-within-striking-distance-of-loebsack/article_a05edbae-cb59-11e1-b353-001a4bcf887a.html Tarrance (R-Archer)]
25. Price, Dave. (April 18, 2011). "POSITIVE OUTLOOK: Boswell said he feels confident about his chances". [[WHO-DT]].
26. Cillizza, Chris. (April 15, 2011). "Tom Latham to run in Iowa's 3rd district". [[The Washington Post]].
27. "Candidates". NRCC.
28. [http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20121010/NEWS09/121010015/Watch-tonight-Des-Moines-Register-KCCI-host-3rd-District-debate Watch tonight: Des Moines Register, KCCI host 3rd District debate], [[Des Moines Register]], October 10, 2012
29. [https://web.archive.org/web/20170411215113/http://b.3cdn.net/dccc/aa3da553882c37dad6_u5m6i6ykr.pdf Benenson (D-DCCC)]
30. Shea, Bill. (July 20, 2011). "Vilsack launches campaign". [[The Messenger (newspaper).
31. "RED TO BLUE 2012". DCCC.
32. "Help Our Candidates Win!".
33. [https://web.archive.org/web/20121004091517/http://www.scribd.com/doc/107176568/IA-04-PPP-for-CREDO-Sept-2012 Public Policy Polling (D-CREDO)]
34. [https://web.archive.org/web/20150907232821/http://elections.huffingtonpost.com/pollster/polls/gqr-d-vilsack-15359 Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research (D-Vilsack)]
35. [https://web.archive.org/web/20150907233717/http://elections.huffingtonpost.com/pollster/polls/american-viewpoint-r-american-future-fund-15381 American Viewpoint (R-American Future Fund)]
36. [http://www.thehousemajoritypac.com/press/2012/01/25/eight-gop-incuments-trouble/ Public Policy Polling (D-House Majority PAC)] {{Webarchive. link. (2012-01-28)