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2012 United States Senate election in Minnesota

none

Field	Value
election_name	2012 United States Senate election in Minnesota
country	Minnesota
flag_year	1983
type	presidential
ongoing	no
previous_election	2006 United States Senate election in Minnesota
previous_year	2006
next_election	2018 United States Senate election in Minnesota
next_year	2018
election_date	November 6, 2012
image_size	x150px
image1	File:Amy Klobuchar, official portrait, 113th Congress (cropped 2).jpg
nominee1	Amy Klobuchar
party1	Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party
popular_vote1	1,854,595
percentage1	65.23%
image2	Kurt Bills (cropped).jpg
nominee2	Kurt Bills
party2	Republican Party (United States)
popular_vote2	867,874
percentage2	30.53%
map_image
map_size	270px
map_caption	Klobuchar:
Bills:
Tie:
title	U.S. Senator
before_election	Amy Klobuchar
before_party	Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party
after_election	Amy Klobuchar
after_party	Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party

Bills:
Tie:

The 2012 United States Senate election in Minnesota took place on November 6, 2012, concurrently with the U.S. presidential election as well as other elections to the United States Senate and House of Representatives as well as various state and local elections. Incumbent Democratic–Farmer–Labor U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar faced Republican State Representative Kurt Bills. Klobuchar was reelected in a landslide, defeating Bills by a greater than 2-to-1 margin and carrying all but two of the state's 87 counties by double digits, only narrowly losing the counties of Pipestone and Rock in the state's southwest corner. This was the first time since 1996 that an incumbent Democratic senator was reelected and the first time since 1976 that an incumbent Democratic senator was reelected to this seat.

Background

Incumbent Amy Klobuchar was first elected in 2006 to succeed retiring DFL incumbent Mark Dayton. She beat Republican nominee Mark Kennedy, 58% to 38%. Klobuchar served as Minnesota's only senator between January 3 and July 7, 2009, due to the contested results of Minnesota's senatorial election held the previous year, finally decided in favor of DFLer Al Franken.

DFL primary

The Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party held its Senate primary on August 14, 2012.

Candidates

Declared

Dick Franson, perennial candidate
Amy Klobuchar, incumbent U.S. Senator
Jack Shepard, dentist, convicted felon, fugitive and perennial candidate
Darryl Stanton

Results

Republican primary

The Republican Party of Minnesota held its nominating convention in May 2012 and its Senate primary on August 14, 2012.

Candidates

Declared

Kurt Bills, state representative; won May 2012 convention nomination
David Carlson, former Marine Corps sergeant; candidate in August 2012 primary
Bob Carney Jr., inventor, independent businessman; finished 2nd in 2010 GOP primary for Governor of Minnesota, candidate in August 2012 primary

Withdrew

Joe Arwood, St. Bonifacius city councilman; withdrew before May 2012 convention
Pete Hegseth, executive director of Vets for Freedom; withdrew after May 2012 convention
Anthony Hernandez, former state senate candidate; withdrew before May 2012 convention to run for Congress against Betty McCollum
Dan Severson, former state representative; withdrew after May 2012 convention

Results

Results by county:

| | | | | | ]]

Independence primary

Campaign

The Independence Party of Minnesota did not plan to run a candidate in the general election. Party chairman Mark Jenkins said in November 2011 that he saw the Senate election as "a distraction from having our best and brightest engaged in state legislative races". At the party's convention in June 2012, neither candidate was endorsed. Williams won a majority of the votes and came within two votes of the required 60% needed for the party's endorsement. He proceeded with his Senate campaign but the party focused on state legislative races.

Candidates

Stephen Williams, farmer and Independence Party endorsed candidate for the U.S. Senate in 2008
Glen R. Anderson Menze, accountant and Republican nominee in 2008 and Independence Party nominee in 2010 for the 7th congressional district

Results

General election

Candidates

Amy Klobuchar (DFL), incumbent U.S. Senator
Kurt Bills (Republican), State Representative
Stephen Williams (Independence), Farmer
Michael Cavlan (Minnesota Open Progressives), Registered Nurse
Tim Davis (Grassroots), environmental activist

Debates

On August 29 Klobuchar and Bills held their second debate at the State Fair, sponsored by MPR News. Their third debate, on September 16 in Duluth, was about the nation's struggle with deficit spending and unemployment. The audience was assembled by the Duluth Area Chamber of Commerce and Duluth News Tribune.

External links

Complete video at Minnesota Public Radio, second debate, August 29, 2012
Audio from Minnesota Public Radio, third debate, September 18, 2012

Fundraising

Candidate (party)	Receipts	Disbursements	Cash on hand	Debt	Current Through
	Amy Klobuchar (DFL)	$6,301,413	$2,530,567	$5,393,798	$0	July 25, 2012
	Kurt Bills (R)	$394,547	$388,720	$5,841	$0	July 25, 2012
Source: Federal Election Commission

Top contributors

This section lists the top contributors by employer. These organizations themselves did not donate, but these numbers include donations from their PACs, members, employees, owners, and their immediate families.

Amy Klobuchar	Contribution	Kurt Bills	Contribution
Dorsey & Whitney	$61,100	Liberty PAC	$10,000
Target Corp	$56,050	Craw	$10,000
General Mills	$51,750	Primera Technology	$10,000
U.S. Bancorp	$51,139	Minnesota Limited Pipeline	$7,500
Robins, Kaplan, Miller & Ciresi	$49,150	Ameriprise Financial	$5,000
Medtronic Inc.	$41,025	Bachmann for Congress	$5,000
Toys R Us	$36,500	Exactdrive	$5,000
Leonard, Street & Deinard	$34,350	New Spark Holdings	$5,000
Comcast Corp	$33,623	TACPAC	$5,000
Wells Fargo	$32,400	Twin City Fan Companies	$5,000
Source: OpenSecrets, Current through: March 9, 2012

Top industries

Amy Klobuchar	Contribution	Kurt Bills	Contribution
Lawyers/Law Firms	$989,929	Leadership PACs	$17,850
Retired	$447,082	Republican/Conservative	$13,750
Leadership PACs	$302,150	Financial Institutions	$13,250
Lobbyists	$282,430	Real Estate	$12,550
Financial Institutions	$269,033	Retired	$10,350
Entertainment industry	$256,711	Energy Industry	$10,250
Women's Issues	$196,866	Electronics Manufacturing	$10,000
Retail industry	$181,850	Misc. Business	$9,450
Commercial Banks	$159,139	Manufacturing & Distributing	$7,850
Pharmaceuticals/Health Products	$149,725	Computers/Internet	$7,350
Source: OpenSecrets, Current through: March 9, 2012

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	Date(s)
administered	Sample
size	Margin of
error	Amy
Klobuchar (DFL)	Kurt
Bills (R)	Other	Undecided
Public Policy Polling	May 31 – June 3, 2012	973	±3.1%	55%	29%	—	16%
Survey USA	July 17–19, 2012	552	±4.3%	55%	31%	5%	9%
KSTP/Survey USA	September 6–9, 2012	551	±4.2%	55%	34%	—	11%
Public Policy Polling	September 10–11, 2012	824	±3.4%	55%	36%	—	10%
Star Tribune/Mason-Dixon	September 17–19, 2012	800	±3.5%	57%	28%	7%	8%
Public Policy Polling	October 5–8, 2012	937	±3.2%	57%	31%	—	12%
SurveyUSA/KSTP	October 12–14, 2012	550	±4.2%	58%	30%	5%	7%
St. Cloud State U.	October 15–21, 2012	600	±5%	63%	36%	1%	—
Rasmussen Reports	October 21, 2012	500	±4.5%	56%	33%	2%	9%
Star Tribune/Mason-Dixon	October 23–25, 2012	800	±3.5%	65%	22%	—	13%
SurveyUSA	October 26–28, 2012	574	±4.1%	60%	29%	4%	7%
KSTP/SurveyUSA	November 1–3, 2012	556	±4.2%	60%	30%	3%	7%
Public Policy Polling	November 2–3, 2012	1,164	±2.9%	62%	32%	—	6%

Republican primary

Poll source	Date(s)
administered	Sample
size	Margin of
error	Michele
Bachmann	Laura
Brod	Norm
Coleman	Chip
Cravaack	Tom
Emmer	John
Kline	Erik
Paulsen	Tim
Pawlenty	Other/
Undecided
Public Policy Polling	December 4–5, 2010	387	±5.0%	36%	4%	14%	7%	6%	5%	2%	20%	6%

General election

Poll source	Date(s)
administered	Sample
size	Margin of
error	Amy
Klobuchar (DFL)	Joe
Arwood (R)	Other	Undecided
Survey USA	November 2–6, 2011	543	±4.3%	56%	22%	—	22%
Public Policy Polling	January 21–22, 2012	1,236	±2.8%	55%	30%	—	15%
Survey USA	January 31 – February 2, 2012	542	±4.2%	59%	28%	—	14%
Public Policy Polling	May 31 – June 3, 2012	973	±3.1%	56%	29%	—	15%

Poll source	Date(s)
administered	Sample
size	Margin of
error	Amy
Klobuchar (DFL)	Michele
Bachmann (R)	Other	Undecided
Public Policy Polling	December 4–5, 2010	949	±3.2%	56%	39%	—	4%
Public Policy Polling	May 27–30, 2011	1,179	±2.9%	57%	37%	—	5%
Public Policy Polling	January 21–22, 2012	1,236	±2.8%	58%	35%	—	7%

Poll source	Date(s)
administered	Sample
size	Margin of
error	Amy
Klobuchar (DFL)	Norm
Coleman (R)	Other	Undecided
Public Policy Polling	December 4–5, 2010	949	±3.2%	54%	40%	—	6%
Survey USA	November 2–6, 2011	543	±4.3%	50%	37%	—	14%

Poll source	Date(s)
administered	Sample
size	Margin of
error	Amy
Klobuchar (DFL)	Tom
Emmer (R)	Other	Undecided
Public Policy Polling	December 4–5, 2010	949	±3.2%	56%	38%	—	6%

Poll source	Date(s)
administered	Sample
size	Margin of
error	Amy
Klobuchar (DFL)	Pete
Hegseth (R)	Other	Undecided
Public Policy Polling	May 31 – June 3, 2012	973	±3.1%	56%	28%	—	16%

Poll source	Date(s)
administered	Sample
size	Margin of
error	Amy
Klobuchar (DFL)	Anthony
Hernandez (R)	Other	Undecided
Public Policy Polling	January 21–22, 2012	1,236	±2.8%	55%	29%	—	16%

Poll source	Date(s)
administered	Sample
size	Margin of
error	Amy
Klobuchar (DFL)	Erik
Paulsen (R)	Other	Undecided
Public Policy Polling	December 4–5, 2010	949	±3.2%	52%	34%	—	14%

Poll source	Date(s)
administered	Sample
size	Margin of
error	Amy
Klobuchar (DFL)	Tim
Pawlenty (R)	Other	Undecided
Public Policy Polling	December 4–5, 2010	949	±3.2%	53%	43%	—	4%
Public Policy Polling	May 27–30, 2011	1,179	±2.9%	54%	41%	—	5%
Survey USA	November 2–6, 2011	543	±4.3%	49%	37%	—	14%
Public Policy Polling	January 21–22, 2012	1,236	±2.8%	54%	39%	—	7%

Poll source	Date(s)
administered	Sample
size	Margin of
error	Amy
Klobuchar (DFL)	Dan
Severson (R)	Other	Undecided
Public Policy Polling	May 27–30, 2011	1,179	±2.9%	56%	28%	—	16%
Survey USA	November 2–6, 2011	543	±4.3%	55%	23%	—	22%
Public Policy Polling	January 21–22, 2012	1,236	±2.8%	55%	32%	—	13%
Survey USA	January 31 – February 2, 2012	542	±4.3%	56%	29%	—	15%
Public Policy Polling	May 31 – June 3, 2012	973	±3.1%	55%	27%	—	19%

Poll source	Date(s)
administered	Sample
size	Margin of
error	Amy
Klobuchar (DFL)	Dave
Thompson (R)	Other	Undecided
Public Policy Polling	May 27–30, 2011	1,179	±2.9%	55%	28%	—	17%

Results

Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic

Carver (largest city: Chaska)
Redwood (largest city: Redwood Falls)
Wright (largest city: Otsego)
Sherburne (largest city: Elk River)
Otter Tail (largest city: Fergus Falls)
Wadena (largest city: Wadena)

By congressional district

Klobuchar won all eight congressional districts, including three held by Republicans.

District	Klobuchar	Representative
62%	32%	Tim Walz
62%	34%	John Kline
63%	34%	Erik Paulsen
71%	25%	Betty McCollum
79%	17%	Keith Ellison
59%	37%	Michele Bachmann
61%	34%	Collin Peterson
65%	31%	Rick Nolan

References

"2012 General Election for U.S. Senator".
"Minnesota Office of the Secretary of State : Important General Election Dates".
Grow, Doug. (August 22, 2011). "GOP ready to go after Sen. Klobuchar but has a problem: no first-tier candidate". [[MinnPost.com]].
(June 1, 2012). "Convicted felon Jack Shepard, exiled in Italy, files again to run for U.S. Senate". MinnPost.
(June 27, 2012). "Fugitive U.S. Senate candidate Shepard sues Huffington Post, says he's not an arsonist". MinnPost.
(August 15, 2012). "Statewide Results for U.S. Senator". Minnesota Secretary of State.
(May 18, 2012). "Bills wins GOP nod for U.S. Senate".
Jr, Bob Carney. (May 28, 2012). "OPINION EXCHANGE | Minnesota's cookie-cutter GOP".
(November 12, 2011). "Minn. Independence Party not in 2012 Senate race". Real Clear Politics.
(June 25, 2011). "Independence Party stays out of U.S. Senate race, opposes constitutional amendments". Politics in Minnesota.
Condon }}{{Dead link, Patrick. (April 2019). "Minn. 3rd party gets contested Senate primary". [[Star Tribune]].
(September 18, 2012). "Klobuchar, Bills debate unemployment, deficit".
(July 25, 2012). "Federal Election Commission". Summary Reports Search.
(September 3, 2012). "Top Contributors". [[OpenSecrets]].
(September 3, 2012). "Top Industries". [[OpenSecrets]].
"2012 Senate Race Ratings for November 1, 2012".
"2012 Senate".
"2012 Senate Ratings". The Rothenberg Political Report.
"2012 Elections Map - Battle for the Senate 2012". Real Clear Politics.
[http://www.publicpolicypolling.com/pdf/2011/PPP_Release_MN_060812.pdf Public Policy Polling]
[http://www.surveyusa.com/client/PollReport.aspx?g=7eeab57a-eb71-47e3-aed7-5cab8493d94f Survey USA]
link. (September 17, 2012)
[http://www.publicpolicypolling.com/pdf/2011/PPP_Release_MN_091312.pdf Public Policy Polling]
[http://www.startribune.com/politics/statelocal/171439231.html?refer=y Star Tribune/Mason-Dixon]
[http://www.publicpolicypolling.com/pdf/2011/PPP_Release_MN_10912.pdf Public Policy Polling]
[http://kstp.com/article/stories/s2803512.shtml SurveyUSA/KSTP] {{Webarchive. link. (October 21, 2012)
(February 2022)
[http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/elections/election_2012/election_2012_senate_elections/minnesota/election_2012_minnesota_senate Rasmussen Reports]
[http://www.startribune.com/politics/statelocal/176350381.html?refer=y Star Tribune/Mason-Dixon]
[http://www.surveyusa.com/client/PollReport.aspx?g=d67b9051-ae5f-4d9b-890a-eca249f45000 SurveyUSA]
[http://kstp.com/news/stories/S2823379.shtml KSTP/SurveyUSA] {{Webarchive. link. (November 8, 2012)
[http://www.publicpolicypolling.com/pdf/2011/PPP_Release_MN_1103.pdf Public Policy Polling]
[http://www.publicpolicypolling.com/pdf/PPP_Release_MN_1213.pdf Public Policy Polling]
[http://www.surveyusa.com/client/PollReport.aspx?g=98e06008-a002-4bda-b2dc-d5093903734a Survey USA]
[http://www.publicpolicypolling.com/pdf/2011/PPP_Release_MN_012312.pdf Public Policy Polling]
[http://www.surveyusa.com/client/PollReport.aspx?g=2911f444-ad7c-40e3-8060-4a9a7b185cc2 Survey USA]
[http://www.publicpolicypolling.com/pdf/PPP_Release_MN_12071023.pdf Public Policy Polling]
[http://www.publicpolicypolling.com/pdf/PPP_Release_MN_0602.pdf Public Policy Polling]
"2012 General Election Results".
"Home - Election Results".

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