2012 United States Senate election in California

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The 2012 United States Senate election in California took place on November 6, 2012, concurrently with the 2012 U.S. presidential election as well as other elections to the United States Senate and House of Representatives and various state and local elections.

Quick facts Turnout, Candidate ...
2012 United States Senate election in California
← 2006
November 6, 2012
2018 →
Turnout55.2% (voting eligible)[1]
 
Candidate Dianne Feinstein Elizabeth Emken
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 7,864,624 4,713,887
Percentage 62.52% 37.48%
Feinstein:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90%
Emken:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%
U.S. senator before election

Dianne Feinstein
Democratic

 Elected U.S. Senator

Dianne Feinstein
Democratic

Close

The primary election on June 5 took place under California's new blanket primary law, where all candidates appear on the same ballot, regardless of party. In the primary, voters voted for any candidate listed, or write-in any other candidate. The top two finishers—regardless of party—advanced to the general election in November, even if a candidate managed to receive a majority of the votes cast in the June primary. In the primary, less than 15% of the total 2010 census population voted. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein announced her intention to run for a fourth full term in April 2011[2] and finished first in the blanket primary with 49.5% of the vote. The second-place finisher was Republican candidate and autism activist Elizabeth Emken, who won 12.7% of the vote.

Feinstein ultimately defeated Emken in the general election on November 6, winning 62.5% of the vote to Emken's 37.5%. Feinstein's total of 7.86 million popular votes was the most ever received by a candidate for U.S. Senate in American history until Adam Schiff won the same seat with over 9 million votes in 2024.[3] For a full decade, Emken was the only Republican candidate to have advanced to a general U.S. Senate election in California, as only Democratic candidates advanced to the general election in 2016 and 2018; however, this streak was broken 10 years later in 2022.

Primary

Candidates

Democratic Party

  • Dianne Feinstein, incumbent U.S. senator[4]
  • Colleen Shea Fernald
  • David Levitt, computer scientist and engineer[5]
  • Nak Shah, environmental health consultant
  • Diane Stewart, businesswoman
  • Mike Strimling, attorney and former U.S. Peace Corps legal adviser

Republican Party

Libertarian

  • Gail Lightfoot, retired nurse

Peace and Freedom

American Independent

  • Don J. Grundmann, chiropractor

Despite Don J. Grundmann running, the American Independent Party gave their party endorsement to Republican Robert Lauten.[14]

Polling

Open Primary
More information Party, Candidate ...
Survey USA poll of 1,314 likely voters, March 29–April 2, 2012. MoE: ±2.8%
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Dianne Feinstein (incumbent) 51
Republican Dan Hughes 2
Republican Elizabeth Emken 2
Democratic Diane Stewart 1
Republican John Boruff 1
Republican Rick Williams 1
Republican Al Ramirez 1
Republican Robert Lauten 1
Republican Orly Taitz 1
Libertarian Gail Lightfoot 1
Democratic David Alex Levitt 1
Republican Greg Conlon 1
Republican Dennis Jackson 1
Republican Donald Krampe 1
American Independent Don J. Grundmann 1
Republican Oscar Alejandro Braun 0
Republican Dirk Allen Konopik 0
Democratic Mike Strimling 0
Democratic Nak Shah 0
Democratic Colleen Shea Fernald 0
Peace and Freedom Marsha Feinland 0
Republican Rogelio T. Gloria 0
Peace and Freedom Kabiruddin Karim Ali 0
Republican Nachum Shifren 0
n/a Undecided 30
Total votes
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More information Party, Candidate ...
Survey USA poll of 1,232 likely voters, May 27–29, 2012. MoE: ±2.8%
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Dianne Feinstein (incumbent) 42
Republican Elizabeth Emken 4
Republican Dan Hughes 4
Republican Rick Williams 3
Republican Al Ramirez 3
Republican Donald Krampe 2
Democratic Diane Stewart 2
Democratic David Alex Levitt 2
Libertarian Gail Lightfoot 2
Republican Orly Taitz 1
Republican Greg Conlon 1
Republican Robert Lauten 1
Republican Nachum Shifren 1
Republican Dennis Jackson 1
Republican John Boruff 1
Republican Dirk Allen Konopik 1
Democratic Colleen Shea Fernald 1
Democratic Mike Strimling 1
Peace and Freedom Marsha Feinland 1
American Independent Don J. Grundmann 1
Republican Oscar Alejandro Braun 0
Peace and Freedom Kabiruddin Karim Ali 0
Democratic Nak Shah 0
Republican Rogelio T. Gloria 0
n/a Undecided 24
Total votes
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Results

Primary results by county:
  Feinstein ≥ 20%
  Feinstein ≥ 30%
  Feinstein ≥ 40%
  Feinstein ≥ 50%
  Feinstein ≥ 60%
  Feinstein ≥ 70%
More information Party, Candidate ...
United States Senate primary election in California, 2012[15]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Dianne Feinstein (incumbent) 2,392,822 49.3%
Republican Elizabeth Emken 613,613 12.6%
Republican Dan Hughes 323,840 6.7%
Republican Rick Williams 157,946 3.3%
Republican Orly Taitz 154,781 3.2%
Republican Dennis Jackson 137,120 2.8%
Republican Greg Conlon 135,421 2.8%
Republican Al Ramirez 109,399 2.3%
Libertarian Gail Lightfoot 101,648 2.1%
Democratic Diane Stewart 97,782 2.0%
Democratic Mike Strimling 97,024 2.0%
Democratic David Levitt 76,482 1.6%
Republican Oscar Braun 75,842 1.6%
Republican Robert Lauten 57,720 1.2%
Peace and Freedom Marsha Feinland 54,129 1.2%
Democratic Colleen Shea Fernald 51,623 1.1%
Republican Donald Krampe 39,035 0.8%
American Independent Don J. Grundmann 33,037 0.7%
Republican Dirk Allen Konopik 29,997 0.6%
Republican John Boruff 29,357 0.6%
Democratic Nak Shah 27,203 0.6%
Republican Rogelio T. Gloria 22,529 0.5%
Republican Nachum Shifren 21,762 0.4%
Peace and Freedom Kabiruddin Karim Ali 12,269 0.3%
Republican Linda R. Price (write-in) 25 0.0%
Total votes 4,852,406 100.0%
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Election contest

In July 2012, Taitz sued to block the certification of the primary election results, alleging "rampant election fraud", but her suit was denied.[16][17]

General election

Fundraising

More information Candidate (party), Receipts ...
Candidate (party) Receipts Disbursements Cash on hand Debt
Dianne Feinstein (D) $12,673,306 $12,105,960 $865,541 $373,734
Elizabeth Emken (R) $1,114,350 $1,110,209 $4,140 $4,479
Source: Federal Election Commission[18][19]
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Top contributors

More information Dianne Feinstein, Contribution ...
Dianne Feinstein Contribution Elizabeth Emken Contribution
Pacific Gas and Electric Company $120,700 Thomas H. Lee Partners $10,000
JStreetPAC $82,171 DevicePharm, Inc. $7,500
General Atomics $56,750 Troy Group $7,500
Edison International $54,250 Jelly Belly $5,500
General Dynamics $43,500 Autism Advocate $5,000
BAE Systems $40,000 Geier Group $5,000
Diamond Foods $31,599 Generations Healthcare $5,000
Northrop Grumman $30,800 Gingery Development $4,000
International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees $30,000 MIR3, Inc. $3,000
Wells Fargo $27,250 Northrop Grumman $2,800
Source: OpenSecrets[20]
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Top industries

More information Dianne Feinstein, Contribution ...
Dianne Feinstein Contribution Elizabeth Emken Contribution
Lawyers/Law Firms $565,129 Retired $63,849
Retired $463,058 Republican/Conservative $35,800
Agribusiness $367,132 Financial Institutions $26,100
Real Estate $334,321 Real Estate $19,200
Lobbyists $324,196 Business Services $16,000
Financial Institutions $321,744 Misc Finance $12,750
Electric Utilities $313,450 Printing & Publishing $8,000
Entertainment Industry $300,321 Food & Beverage $6,000
Women's Issues $207,449 Petroleum Industry $6,000
High-Tech Industry $205,789 Lawyers/Law Firms $5,458
Source: OpenSecrets[21]
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Candidates

  • Dianne Feinstein (D), incumbent U.S. Senator
  • Elizabeth Emken (R), former Vice President of Autism Speaks[22]

Debates

No debates were scheduled. Senator Feinstein decided to focus on her own campaign rather than debate her challenger.[23][24]

Predictions

More information Source, Ranking ...
Source Ranking As of
The Cook Political Report[25] Solid D November 1, 2012
Sabato's Crystal Ball[26] Safe D November 5, 2012
Rothenberg Political Report[27] Safe D November 2, 2012
Real Clear Politics[28] Safe D November 5, 2012
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Polling

More information Poll source, Date(s)administered ...
Poll source Date(s)
administered		 Sample
size		 Margin of
error		 Dianne
Feinstein (D)		 Elizabeth
Emken (R)		 Other Undecided
SurveyUSA[29] May 27–29, 2012 1,575 ±2.5% 50% 34% — 15%
The Field Poll[30] June 21 – July 2, 2012 848 ±3.5% 51% 32% — 17%
CBRT Pepperdine[31] July 30 – August 1, 2012 873 ±3.3% 46% 34% — 21%
SurveyUSA[32] September 9–11, 2012 524 ±4.2% 55% 37% — 9%
The Field Poll[33] September 6–18, 2012 902 ±3.4% 57% 31% — 12%
SurveyUSA[34] October 7–9, 2012 539 ±4.3% 54% 35% — 10%
Reason-Rupe[35] October 11–15, 2012 508 ±5.1% 60% 34% 2% 5%
LA Times/USC[36] October 15–21, 2012 1,440 ±n/a 55% 38% 1% 6%
The Field Poll[37] October 17–24, 2012 815 ±3.6% 56% 32% — 12%
The Field Poll[37] October 25–30, 2012 751 ±3.6% 54% 33% — 13%
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Results

More information Party, Candidate ...
2012 United States Senate election in California[38]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Dianne Feinstein (incumbent) 7,864,624 62.52% +3.09%
Republican Elizabeth Emken 4,713,887 37.48% +2.46%
Total votes 12,578,511 100.00% N/A
Democratic hold
Close

By county

More information County, Dianne Feinstein Democratic ...
County[39] Dianne Feinstein
Democratic		 Elizabeth Emken
Republican		 Margin Total votes cast
# % # % # %
Alameda 468,456 81.93% 103,313 18.07% 365,143 63.86% 571,769
Alpine 409 64.11% 229 35.89% 180 28.21% 638
Amador 7,051 40.80% 10,232 59.20% -3,181 -18.41% 17,283
Butte 43,681 49.27% 44,981 50.73% -1,300 -1.47% 88,662
Calaveras 8,878 41.57% 12,479 58.43% -3,601 -16.86% 21,357
Colusa 2,482 43.28% 3,253 56.72% -771 -13.44% 5,735
Contra Costa 300,194 70.06% 128,310 29.94% 171,884 40.11% 428,504
Del Norte 4,065 47.45% 4,502 52.55% -437 -5.10% 8,567
El Dorado 35,776 41.31% 50,820 58.69% -15,044 -17.37% 86,596
Fresno 129,267 51.14% 123,499 48.86% 5,768 2.28% 252,766
Glenn 3,520 38.96% 5,515 61.04% -1,995 -22.08% 9,035
Humboldt 36,162 65.04% 19,437 34.96% 16,725 30.08% 55,599
Imperial 25,342 67.24% 12,346 32.76% 12,996 34.48% 37,688
Inyo 3,333 42.58% 4,494 57.42% -1,161 -14.83% 7,827
Kern 92,252 42.29% 125,906 57.71% -33,654 -15.43% 218,158
Kings 13,304 42.61% 17,916 57.39% -4,612 -14.77% 31,220
Lake 13,543 58.97% 9,424 41.03% 4,119 17.93% 22,967
Lassen 3,150 29.89% 7,390 70.11% -4,240 -40.23% 10,540
Los Angeles 2,183,654 71.53% 868,924 28.47% 1,314,730 43.07% 3,052,578
Madera 15,997 41.08% 22,942 58.92% -6,945 -17.84% 38,939
Marin 105,153 80.11% 26,105 19.89% 79,048 60.22% 131,258
Mariposa 3,551 40.27% 5,268 59.73% -1,717 -19.47% 8,819
Mendocino 24,254 70.35% 10,224 29.65% 14,030 40.69% 34,478
Merced 32,955 54.97% 27,000 45.03% 5,955 9.93% 59,955
Modoc 1,188 30.08% 2,761 69.92% -1,573 -39.83% 3,949
Mono 2,600 51.96% 2,404 48.04% 196 3.92% 5,004
Monterey 84,585 69.61% 36,930 30.39% 47,655 39.22% 121,515
Napa 37,122 66.52% 18,682 33.48% 18,440 33.04% 55,804
Nevada 25,495 50.41% 25,078 49.59% 417 0.82% 50,573
Orange 515,902 47.48% 570,574 52.52% -54,672 -5.03% 1,086,476
Placer 68,599 41.39% 97,139 58.61% -28,540 -17.22% 165,738
Plumas 4,162 42.81% 5,560 57.19% -1,398 -14.38% 9,722
Riverside 327,698 51.90% 303,651 48.10% 24,047 3.81% 631,349
Sacramento 302,078 60.72% 195,412 39.28% 106,666 21.44% 497,490
San Benito 11,389 61.09% 7,255 38.91% 4,134 22.17% 18,644
San Bernardino 298,067 54.05% 253,433 45.95% 44,634 8.09% 551,500
San Diego 622,781 54.41% 521,884 45.59% 100,897 8.81% 1,144,665
San Francisco 305,126 88.52% 39,589 11.48% 265,537 77.03% 344,715
San Joaquin 113,706 57.00% 85,787 43.00% 27,919 13.99% 199,493
San Luis Obispo 62,216 50.80% 60,262 49.20% 1,954 1.60% 122,478
San Mateo 213,503 77.22% 62,979 22.78% 150,524 54.44% 276,482
Santa Barbara 93,921 59.62% 63,599 40.38% 30,322 19.25% 157,520
Santa Clara 454,647 72.93% 168,722 27.07% 285,925 45.87% 623,369
Santa Cruz 91,109 78.16% 25,463 21.84% 65,646 56.31% 116,572
Shasta 27,155 36.53% 47,184 63.47% -20,029 -26.94% 74,339
Sierra 677 38.58% 1,078 61.42% -401 -22.85% 1,755
Siskiyou 8,196 41.97% 11,334 58.03% -3,138 -16.07% 19,530
Solano 98,251 65.99% 50,634 34.01% 47,617 31.98% 148,885
Sonoma 154,892 73.71% 55,256 26.29% 99,636 47.41% 210,148
Stanislaus 78,470 51.79% 73,060 48.21% 5,410 3.57% 151,530
Sutter 12,395 41.17% 17,715 58.83% -5,320 -17.67% 30,110
Tehama 8,349 36.96% 14,241 63.04% -5,892 -26.08% 22,590
Trinity 2,658 47.46% 2,943 52.54% -285 -5.09% 5,601
Tulare 42,395 42.87% 56,499 57.13% -14,104 -14.26% 98,894
Tuolumne 10,336 42.78% 13,823 57.22% -3,487 -14.43% 24,159
Ventura 171,483 54.42% 143,603 45.58% 27,880 8.85% 315,086
Yolo 49,148 67.68% 23,468 32.32% 25,680 35.36% 72,616
Yuba 7,896 40.97% 11,376 59.03% -3,480 -18.06% 19,272
Totals7,864,62462.52%4,713,88737.48%3,150,73725.05%12,578,511
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Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican

By congressional district

Feinstein won 41 of the 53 congressional districts, including three held by Republicans.[40]

More information District, Feinstein ...
District Feinstein Emken Representative
1st 42% 58% Doug LaMalfa
2nd 73% 27% Jared Huffman
3rd 56% 44% John Garamendi
4th 41% 59% Tom McClintock
5th 72% 28% Mike Thompson
6th 71% 29% Doris Matsui
7th 53% 47% Ami Bera
8th 43% 57% Paul Cook
9th 60% 40% Jerry McNerney
10th 52% 48% Jeff Denham
11th 72% 28% George Miller
12th 89% 11% Nancy Pelosi
13th 91% 9% Barbara Lee
14th 79% 21% Jackie Speier
15th 71% 29% Eric Swalwell
16th 59% 41% Jim Costa
17th 75% 25% Mike Honda
18th 72% 28% Anna Eshoo
19th 74% 26% Zoe Lofgren
20th 73% 27% Sam Farr
21st 56% 44% David Valadao
22nd 43% 57% Devin Nunes
23rd 38% 62% Kevin McCarthy
24th 56% 44% Lois Capps
25th 49% 51% Buck McKeon
26th 56% 44% Julia Brownley
27th 65% 35% Judy Chu
28th 73% 27% Adam Schiff
29th 78% 22% Tony Cárdenas
30th 69% 31% Brad Sherman
31st 59% 41% Gary Miller
32nd 67% 33% Grace Napolitano
33rd 65% 35% Henry Waxman
34th 85% 15% Xavier Becerra
35th 68% 32% Gloria Negrete McLeod
36th 54% 46% Raul Ruiz
37th 86% 14% Karen Bass
38th 67% 33% Linda Sánchez
39th 49% 51% Ed Royce
40th 81% 19% Lucille Roybal-Allard
41st 63% 37% Mark Takano
42nd 43% 57% Ken Calvert
43rd 78% 22% Maxine Waters
44th 85% 15% Janice Hahn
45th 44% 56% John B. T. Campbell III
46th 63% 37% Loretta Sánchez
47th 61% 39% Alan Lowenthal
48th 45% 55% Dana Rohrabacher
49th 47% 53% Darrell Issa
50th 40% 60% Duncan Hunter
51st 70% 30% Juan Vargas
52nd 54% 46% Scott Peters
53rd 63% 37% Susan Davis
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See also

References

External links

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