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2012 United States House of Representatives elections in Utah

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FieldValue
election_name2012 United States House of Representatives elections in Utah
countryUtah
flag_year2011
typelegislative
ongoingno
previous_election2010 United States House of Representatives elections in Utah
previous_year2010
next_election2014 United States House of Representatives elections in Utah
next_year2014
seats_for_electionAll 4 Utah seats to the United States House of Representatives
election_dateNovember 6, 2012
party1Republican Party (United States)
last_election12
seats13
seat_change11
popular_vote1647,873
percentage164.86%
swing13.82%
party2Democratic Party (United States)
last_election21
seats21
seat_change2
popular_vote2324,309
percentage232.47%
swing21.6%
map_image
map_caption

Republican Democratic

The 2012 United States House of Representatives elections in Utah were held on Tuesday, November 6, 2012, and elected the four U.S. representatives from the state of Utah, an increase of one seat in reapportionment following the 2010 United States census. The elections coincided with the elections of other federal and state offices, including a quadrennial federal presidential election, a concurrent quadrennial statewide gubernatorial election, all other simultaneous quadrennial statewide executive official election, and an election to the U.S. Senate. Primary elections were held on June 26, 2012.

Overview

United States House of Representatives elections in Utah, 2012PartyVotesPercentageSeats BeforeSeats After+/–
Republican647,87364.86%23+1
Democratic324,30932.47%11-
Constitution14,4811.45%00-
Libertarian6,4390.64%00-
Independent5,7950.58%00-
Totals998,897100.00%34+1

Redistricting

In Utah, the redistricting process was controlled by members of the Republican Party, who formed a majority on the State Legislature's redistricting committee. The plan, passed in October 2011, divided Salt Lake County among three districts, which Republicans argued would require Utah's U.S. representatives to focus on both urban and rural issues. Jim Dabakis, the chair of the Utah Democratic Party, argued that the map constituted a gerrymander designed to benefit the Republican Party.

District 1

Republican incumbent Rob Bishop, who had represented Utah's 1st congressional district since 2003, ran for re-election, having decided against running for governor.

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee
  • Rob Bishop, incumbent U.S. representative
Eliminated in primary
  • Leonard "Joe" Fabiano, business entrepreneur and candidate for senate in 2010
  • Jacqueline Smith, homemaker and Tea Party activist
Withdrawn
  • Michael Miller, Iraq War veteran

Results

Rob Bishop became the official Republican candidate on April 21, 2012 at the State Republican Convention.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee
  • Donna McAleer, management consultant and West Point graduate
Eliminated in primary
  • Ryan Combe, small business owner

Results

Constitution primary

Candidates

Nominee
  • Sherry Phipps

General election

Polling

Poll sourceDate(s)
administeredSample
sizeMargin of
errorRob
Bishop (R)Donna
McAleer (D)Sherry
Phipps (C)Undecided
Dan Jones & AssociatesOctober 26–November 1, 2012194 (RV)±7.0%70%15%2%10%
Key Research/Brigham Young UniversityOctober 9–13, 2012407 (LV)±7.0%62%20%18%

Predictions

SourceRankingAs of
The Cook Political ReportNovember 5, 2012
RothenbergNovember 2, 2012
Roll CallNovember 4, 2012
Sabato's Crystal BallNovember 5, 2012
NY TimesNovember 4, 2012
RCPNovember 4, 2012
The HillNovember 4, 2012

Results

By county

Source

CountyRob Bishop
RepublicanDonna M. McAleer
DemocraticSherry Phipps
ConstitutionMarginTotalVotes%Votes%Votes%Votes%
Box Elder15,64281.68%2,71114.16%7974.16%12,93167.52%19,150
Cache31,51876.29%8,07619.55%1,7184.16%23,44256.74%41,312
Daggett34170.60%11824.43%244.97%22346.17%483
Davis52,78075.48%14,52320.77%2,6213.75%38,25754.71%69,924
Duchesne5,08981.94%79612.82%3265.25%4,29369.12%6,211
Morgan3,64981.32%64814.44%1904.23%3,00166.88%4,487
Rich82884.58%11011.24%414.19%71873.34%979
Summit7,39143.28%9,31754.55%3712.17%-1,926-11.28%17,079
Uintah9,65985.14%1,30111.47%3853.39%8,35873.67%11,345
Weber48,59065.17%23,01130.86%2,9573.97%25,57934.31%74,558

District 2

Democratic incumbent Jim Matheson, who had represented Utah's 2nd congressional district since 2001, sought re-election in the new 4th district.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee
  • Jay Seegmiller, former state representative
Eliminated in primary
  • Dean Collinwood
  • Mike Small

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee
  • Chris Stewart, author, former U.S. Air Force pilot, and president of an energy consulting firm
Eliminated in primary
  • Jason Buck, former American football player at Brigham Young University and in the National Football League
  • Dave Clark, former speaker of the Utah House of Representatives
  • Cherilyn Eagar, business owner and candidate for Senate in 2010
  • Robert Fuehr, former telecommunications executive and Harvard University MBA alumnus
  • Milton Hanks
  • Edward Mayerhofer
  • Jeramey McElhaney, small business owner
  • Howard Wallack
  • Chuck Williams, former assistant Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Installations and Environment and retired U.S. Air Force lieutenant colonel
  • John Willoughby, airline pilot
Withdrawn
  • Morgan Philpot, former state representative and nominee for this seat in 2010
Declined
  • Dan Liljenquist, state senator

Results

Constitution primary

Candidates

Nominee
  • Jonathan D. Garrard

Independents

Independent candidate Charles Kimball also filed.

General election

Endorsements

Organizations

  • Sierra Club

Organizations

  • National Republican Congressional Committee "Young Guns" Program

Polling

Poll sourceDate(s)
administeredSample
sizeMargin of
errorJay
Seegmiller (D)Chris
Stewart (R)OtherUndecided
Dan Jones & AssociatesOctober 26–November 1, 2012229 (RV)±6.5%28%44%5%22%
Mason-Dixon/Salt Lake TribuneOctober 29–31, 2012625 (LV)±4.0%28%55%5%12%
Key Research/Brigham Young UniversityOctober 9–13, 2012100 (LV)±10.0%20%46%34%

Predictions

SourceRankingAs of
The Cook Political ReportNovember 5, 2012
RothenbergNovember 2, 2012
Roll CallNovember 4, 2012
Sabato's Crystal BallNovember 5, 2012
NY TimesNovember 4, 2012
RCPNovember 4, 2012
The HillNovember 4, 2012

Results

By county

Source

CountyChris Stewart
RepublicanJay Seegmiller
DemocraticJonathan D. Garrard
ConstitutionJoseph Andrade
IndependentCharles E. Kimball
IndependentMarginTotalVotes%Votes%Votes%Votes%Votes%Votes%
Beaver1,92677.69%46518.76%502.02%130.52%251.01%1,46158.94%2,479
Davis36,13374.15%11,10922.80%7531.55%2880.59%4450.91%25,02451.35%48,728
Garfield1,66679.56%34316.38%462.20%150.72%241.15%1,32363.18%2,094
Iron12,69578.01%2,73716.82%4762.92%1340.82%2321.43%9,95861.19%16,274
Juab18152.31%14943.06%92.60%30.87%41.16%329.25%346
Kane2,29370.73%80224.74%611.88%381.17%481.48%1,49145.99%3,242
Millard4,00180.91%65913.33%1573.17%460.93%821.66%3,34267.58%4,945
Piute63685.14%7610.17%162.14%81.07%111.47%56074.97%747
Salt Lake30,29736.06%49,20558.57%1,4121.68%1,9702.34%1,1271.34%-18,908-22.51%84,011
Sanpete4,30784.09%61111.93%1202.34%200.39%641.25%3,69672.16%5,122
Sevier6,55183.18%1,02312.99%1371.74%490.62%1161.47%5,52870.19%7,876
Tooele12,42366.64%5,06427.16%8004.29%1200.64%2361.27%4,77251.63%18,643
Washington40,40176.59%10,70020.28%1,0061.91%2530.48%3920.74%29,70156.30%52,752
Wayne1,01378.77%23318.12%80.62%141.09%181.40%78060.65%1,286

District 3

Jason Chaffetz was seeking a third term in representing Utah's 3rd congressional district.

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee
  • Jason Chaffetz, incumbent U.S. representative
Eliminated in primary
  • Brian Jenkins
  • Lynn D. Wardle
Withdrawn
  • Kurt Bradburn
  • Leonard "Joe" Fabiano, business entrepreneur and candidate for senate in 2010

Results

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee
  • Soren Simonsen, Salt Lake City Council chair
Eliminated in primary
  • Richard Clark

General election

Endorsements

Organizations

  • Equality Utah

Polling

Poll sourceDate(s)
administeredSample
sizeMargin of
errorJason
Chaffetz (R)Soren
Simonsen (D)OtherUndecided
Dan Jones & AssociatesOctober 26–November 1, 2012232±6.4%68%18%3%10%
Key Research/Brigham Young UniversityOctober 9–13, 2012100 (LV)±4.4%68%15%17%

Predictions

SourceRankingAs of
The Cook Political ReportNovember 5, 2012
RothenbergNovember 2, 2012
Roll CallNovember 4, 2012
Sabato's Crystal BallNovember 5, 2012
NY TimesNovember 4, 2012
RCPNovember 4, 2012
The HillNovember 4, 2012

Results

By county

Source

CountyJason Chaffetz
RepublicanSoren D. Simonsen
DemocraticMarginTotalVotes%Votes%Votes%
Carbon4,58262.51%2,74837.49%1,83425.02%7,330
Emery3,43680.47%83419.53%2,60260.94%4,270
Grand1,91950.70%1,86649.30%531.40%3,785
Salt Lake52,31262.78%31,00837.22%21,30425.57%83,320
San Juan3,10159.50%2,11140.50%99018.99%5,212
Utah126,64386.57%19,64913.43%106,99473.14%146,292
Wasatch6,83573.20%2,50326.80%4,33246.39%9,338

District 4

Democratic U.S. Representative Jim Matheson, who had represented Utah's 2nd congressional district since 2001 and had considered running for governor or for the U.S. Senate, sought re-election to the House in Utah's new 4th congressional district after his previous seat was split up by the redistricting.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee
  • Jim Matheson, incumbent U.S. representative for the 2nd district

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee
  • Mia Love, mayor of Saratoga Springs
Eliminated in primary
  • Jay Cobb, attorney
  • Kenneth Gray
  • Stephen Sandstrom, state representative
  • Carl Wimmer, state representative
Declined
  • Jason Buck, former American football player at Brigham Young University and National Football League

Polling

Poll sourceDate(s)
administeredSample
sizeMargin of
errorJay
CobbMia
LoveStephen
SandstromCarl
WimmerOtherUndecided
Mason-DixonApril 9–11, 2011625 (LV)± 4.0%23%14%35%28%
Dan Jones & AssociatesDecember 19–21, 2011341 (RV)± 5.3%3%8%15%15%19%41%

Results

In the Republican convention, held on April 21, 2012, Love received 70.4% of the vote (she needed more than 60% to avoid a primary).

Libertarian primary

Candidates

Nominee
  • Jim Vein
Withdrawn
  • Ken Larsen, medical researcher

Justice primary

Candidates

Withdrawn
  • Torin Nelson

General election

Campaign

Despite beginning her campaign at a significant name-recognition disadvantage to Matheson, Love was able to mount a strong challenge. This was in part fueled by a prime-time speaking slot at the Republican National Convention, where she impressed many with her backstory of a being the daughter of Haitian immigrants whose parents "Immigrated to the U.S. with $10 in their pocket" and her themes of self-reliance, small government and fiscal responsibility. However, she was later hit by claims that she was technically an "anchor baby", despite having seemingly backing the deportation of the US-born children of illegal immigrants.

Facing a district largely new to him, Matheson ran ads showcasing his independent credentials and airing clips of Love voicing support for cutting the Department of Education and privatizing Social Security. Despite the NRCC running ads trying to tie him to Nancy Pelosi and Barack Obama, Matheson's favorability rating remained at around 60% throughout the campaign.

Endorsements

Organizations

  • Blue Dog Coalition
  • Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee "Frontline" Program

Organizations

  • Maggie's List
  • National Republican Congressional Committee "Young Guns" Program
  • Susan B. Anthony List
Polling
Poll sourceDate(s)
administeredSample
sizeMargin of
errorJim
Matheson (D)Mia
Love (R)Jim
Vein (L)Undecided
Dan Jones & AssociatesOctober 26–November 1, 2012414 (RV)±4.8%43%48%3%6%
Mason-Dixon/Salt Lake TribuneOctober 29–31, 2012625 (LV)±4.0%40%52%2%6%
Key Research/Brigham Young UniversityOctober 9–13, 2012407 (LV)±7.0%43%43%14%
Global Strategy (D)October 9–10, 2012407 (LV)±4.9%48%41%11%
Dan Jones & AssociatesSeptember 26–29, 2012414 (RV)±5.0%43%49%8%
Public Opinion Strategies (R-Love)/NRCC)September 10–11, 2012400 (LV)±4.9%36%51%13%
Global Strategy (D)July 26–29, 2012400 (LV)±4.9%51%33%16%
Dan Jones & AssociatesJune 15–21, 2012379 (RV)±5.1%53%38%1%8%
Mason-Dixon/Salt Lake TribuneApril 9–11, 2012625 (LV)±4.0%45%42%13%
Dan Jones & AssociatesDecember 19–21, 2011341 (RV)±5.3%53%36%4%12%

An early poll published by the Deseret News on Dec 25, 2011 showed Jim Matheson leading all potential opponents.

With Cobb
Poll sourceDate(s)
administeredSample
sizeMargin of
errorJim
Matheson (D)Jay
Cobb (R)Undecided
Dan Jones & AssociatesDecember 19–21, 2011341 (RV)±5.3%54%35%11%
With Sandstrom
Poll sourceDate(s)
administeredSample
sizeMargin of
errorJim
Matheson (D)Stephen
Sandstrom (R)Undecided
Mason-DixonApril 9–11, 2012625 (LV)±4.0%45%42%13%
Dan Jones & AssociatesDecember 19–21, 2011341 (RV)±5.3%50%41%10%
With Wimmer
Poll sourceDate(s)
administeredSample
sizeMargin of
errorJim
Matheson (D)Carl
Wimmer (R)Undecided
Mason-DixonApril 9–11, 2012625 (LV)±4.0%46%45%9%
Dan Jones & AssociatesDecember 19–21, 2011341 (RV)±5.3%52%41%7%

Predictions

SourceRankingAs of
The Cook Political ReportNovember 5, 2012
RothenbergNovember 2, 2012
Roll CallNovember 4, 2012
Sabato's Crystal BallNovember 5, 2012
NY TimesNovember 4, 2012
RCPNovember 4, 2012
The HillNovember 4, 2012

Results

Matheson narrowly defeated Love in the general election by only 768 votes. If Love had won the seat, she would have become the first African-American Republican woman to sit in the House.

By county

Source

CountyJim Matheson
DemocraticMia Love
RepublicanJim L. Vein
LibertarianMarginTotalVotes%Votes%Votes%Votes%
Juab1,25334.80%2,24162.23%1072.97%-988-27.44%3,601
Salt Lake109,59952.32%94,23644.99%5,6262.69%15,3637.33%209,461
Sanpete1,31630.91%2,82666.38%1152.70%-1,510-35.47%4,257
Utah7,63527.31%19,73270.58%5912.11%-12,097-43.27%27,958

References

References

  1. "2012 Election Information". [[Lieutenant Governor of Utah.
  2. "Utah Election Results".
  3. (October 18, 2011). "Congress: SB3002, Final Congressional Boundaries Designation, by Sen. Okerlund".
  4. (October 18, 2011). "Republicans approve new Utah congressional map".
  5. Davidson, Lee. (September 27, 2011). "Favored redistricting map splits Salt Lake County three ways". [[The Salt Lake Tribune]].
  6. Romboy, Dennis. (October 10, 2011). "Redistricting squabble has GOP congressional hopefuls wondering where to line up". [[Deseret News]].
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  9. (November 5, 2012). "The Cook Political Report — Charts – 2012 House Competitive Races". Cookpolitical.com.
  10. (November 2, 2012). "House Ratings". Rothenbergpoliticalreport.com.
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  16. (2012). "Historical Election Results".
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  18. Roche, Lisa Riley. (November 12, 2011). "Author Chris Stewart running for 2nd District seat". [[Deseret News]].
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  36. (6 July 2012). "Equality Utah Releases 2012 Endorsements, Some Stay Private".
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  40. (October 28, 2011). "Matheson Decides Against Utah Senate Bid". [[Roll Call]].
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  42. (3 May 2012). "In Utah, GOP House Candidate Out To Make History".
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  45. (28 August 2012). "Rising GOP star Mia Love glides into the spotlight at convention".
  46. (1 October 2012). "GOP Rising Star Mia Love: "Anchor Baby"? (Updated)".
  47. (15 November 2012). "Matheson Brand Trumped Top of the Ticket in Utah".
  48. "Blue Dog Membership". Blue Dog Coalition.
  49. "2012 Frontline Democrats". DCCC.
  50. "Maggie's List is pleased to endorse these conservative women candidates". Maggie's List.
  51. "CANDIDATES".
  52. (27 June 2012). "2012 Candidate List".
  53. [https://web.archive.org/web/20150204165154/http://www.deseretnews.com/article/765614673/Love-has-slim-edge-on-Matheson-in-volatile-4th-District.html Dan Jones & Associates]
  54. [https://web.archive.org/web/20121114214054/http://www.thehousemajoritypac.com/press/2012/10/15/matheson-continues-to-lead-mia-love-in-house-majority-paccenter-forward-poll/ Global Strategy (D)]
  55. [https://web.archive.org/web/20121002233929/http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865563581/Latest-poll-Mia-Love-pulls-ahead-of-Jim-Matheson-4th-District.html Dan Jones & Associates]
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  57. [https://web.archive.org/web/20160322084801/http://files.hmp.gethifi.com/news/press-releases/jim-matheson-leads-mia-love-by-double-digits-in-house-majority-paccenter-forward-poll/UT-04-Poll-Memo.pdf Global Strategy (D)]
  58. [https://web.archive.org/web/20120625120118/http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865558012/Rep-Paul-Ryan-courts-fellow-GOP-members-for-Mia-Love-Love-trails-Matheson-in-early-poll.html Dan Jones & Associates]
  59. [http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/politics/53904666-90/beat-candidates-jim-matheson.html.csp Mason-Dixon/Salt Lake Tribune]
  60. [https://web.archive.org/web/20120109170420/http://www.deseretnews.com/article/705396386/Rep-Jim-Matheson-leads-all-comers-in-Utahs-new-4th-Congressional-District-poll-shows.html?pg=1 Dan Jones & Associates]
  61. Romboy, Dennis. (December 25, 2011). "Rep. Jim Matheson leads all comers in Utah's new 4th Congressional District, poll shows". [[Deseret News]].
  62. [https://web.archive.org/web/20120415123717/http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/politics/53904666-90/beat-candidates-jim-matheson.html.csp Mason-Dixon]
  63. [https://web.archive.org/web/20150907120231/http://elections.huffingtonpost.com/pollster/polls/deseret-morning-news-13764 Dan Jones & Associates]
  64. (7 November 2012). "Mia Love Election Results: Jim Matheson Bests Republican Challenger". [[The Huffington Post]].
  65. Moody, Chris. (April 24, 2012). "Mia Love: black, conservative, Mormon, GOP House candidate from Utah". ABC News.
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