2012 United States House of Representatives elections in Utah

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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.[1]

Quick facts All 4 Utah seats to the United States House of Representatives, Majority party ...
2012 United States House of Representatives elections in Utah

 2010
November 6, 2012
2014 

All 4 Utah seats to the United States House of Representatives
  Majority party Minority party
 
Party Republican Democratic
Last election 2 1
Seats won 3 1
Seat change Increase 1 Steady
Popular vote 647,873 324,309
Percentage 64.86% 32.47%
Swing Increase 3.82% Decrease 1.6%

Close

Overview

More information United States House of Representatives elections in Utah, 2012, Party ...
United States House of Representatives elections in Utah, 2012[2]
Party Votes Percentage Seats Before Seats After +/–
Republican 647,873 64.86% 2 3 +1
Democratic 324,309 32.47% 1 1 -
Constitution 14,481 1.45% 0 0 -
Libertarian 6,439 0.64% 0 0 -
Independent 5,795 0.58% 0 0 -
Totals 998,897 100.00% 3 4 +1
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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.[3][4] Jim Dabakis, the chair of the Utah Democratic Party, argued that the map constituted a gerrymander designed to benefit the Republican Party.[5]

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
Eliminated in primary
  • Leonard "Joe" Fabiano, business entrepreneur and candidate for senate in 2010
  • Jacqueline Smith, homemaker and Tea Party activist
Withdrawn

Results

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

More information Party, Candidate ...
Republican convention, 1st round results[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Rob Bishop 786 81.1
Republican Jacqueline Smith 158 16.3
Republican Leonard Fabiano 25 2.6
Total votes 969 100.0
Close

Democratic primary

Candidates

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

Results

More information Party, Candidate ...
Democratic primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Donna McAleer 3,881 66.6
Democratic Ryan Combe 1,944 33.4
Total votes 5,825 100.0
Close

Constitution primary

Candidates

Nominee
  • Sherry Phipps

General election

Polling

More information Poll source, Date(s) administered ...
Poll source Date(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin of
error
Rob
Bishop (R)
Donna
McAleer (D)
Sherry
Phipps (C)
Undecided
Dan Jones & Associates[8] October 26–November 1, 2012 194 (RV) ±7.0% 70% 15% 2% 10%
Key Research/Brigham Young University[9] October 9–13, 2012 407 (LV) ±7.0% 62% 20% 18%
Close

Predictions

More information Source, Ranking ...
Source Ranking As of
The Cook Political Report[10] Safe R November 5, 2012
Rothenberg[11] Safe R November 2, 2012
Roll Call[12] Safe R November 4, 2012
Sabato's Crystal Ball[13] Safe R November 5, 2012
NY Times[14] Safe R November 4, 2012
RCP[15] Safe R November 4, 2012
The Hill[16] Safe R November 4, 2012
Close

Results

More information Party, Candidate ...
Utah's 1st congressional district, 2012
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Rob Bishop (incumbent) 175,487 71.5
Democratic Donna M. McAleer 60,611 24.7
Constitution Sherry Phipps 9,430 3.8
Total votes 245,528 100.0
Republican hold
Close
By county

Source[17]

More information County, Rob Bishop Republican ...
County Rob Bishop
Republican
Donna M. McAleer
Democratic
Sherry Phipps
Constitution
Margin Total
Votes % Votes % Votes % Votes %
Box Elder 15,642 81.68% 2,711 14.16% 797 4.16% 12,931 67.52% 19,150
Cache 31,518 76.29% 8,076 19.55% 1,718 4.16% 23,442 56.74% 41,312
Daggett 341 70.60% 118 24.43% 24 4.97% 223 46.17% 483
Davis 52,780 75.48% 14,523 20.77% 2,621 3.75% 38,257 54.71% 69,924
Duchesne 5,089 81.94% 796 12.82% 326 5.25% 4,293 69.12% 6,211
Morgan 3,649 81.32% 648 14.44% 190 4.23% 3,001 66.88% 4,487
Rich 828 84.58% 110 11.24% 41 4.19% 718 73.34% 979
Summit 7,391 43.28% 9,317 54.55% 371 2.17% -1,926 -11.28% 17,079
Uintah 9,659 85.14% 1,301 11.47% 385 3.39% 8,358 73.67% 11,345
Weber 48,590 65.17% 23,011 30.86% 2,957 3.97% 25,579 34.31% 74,558
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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
Eliminated in primary
  • Dean Collinwood
  • Mike Small[18]

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee
Eliminated in primary
Withdrawn
Declined

Results

More information Party, Candidate ...
Republican convention, 1st round results[28]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Chris Stewart 365 39.6
Republican David Clark 234 25.0
Republican Milton Ray Hanks 121 13.0
Republican Howard Wallack 51 5.5
Republican Cherilyn Eagar 48 5.2
Republican Jason Buck 42 4.5
Republican Bob Fuehr 24 2.6
Republican Chuck Williams 16 1.7
Republican Jeramey McElhaney 14 1.5
Republican John W. Willoughby 6 0.7
Republican Edward Mayerhofer 0 0.0
Total votes 921 100.0
Close
More information Party, Candidate ...
Republican convention, 2nd round results
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Chris Stewart 386 43.9
Republican David Clark 283 32.2
Republican Milton Ray Hanks 65 7.4
Republican Jeramey McElhaney 63 7.2
Republican Jason Buck 57 6.5
Republican Bob Fuehr 25 2.8
Total votes 879 100.0
Close
More information Party, Candidate ...
Republican convention, 3rd round results
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Chris Stewart 511 61.6
Republican David Clark 319 38.4
Total votes 830 100.0
Close

Constitution primary

Candidates

Nominee
  • Jonathan D. Garrard

Independents

Independent candidate Charles Kimball also filed.

General election

Endorsements

Jay Seegmiller (D)

Organizations

Chris Stewart (R)

Organizations

Polling

More information Poll source, Date(s) administered ...
Poll source Date(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin of
error
Jay
Seegmiller (D)
Chris
Stewart (R)
Other Undecided
Dan Jones & Associates[31] October 26–November 1, 2012 229 (RV) ±6.5% 28% 44% 5% 22%
Mason-Dixon/Salt Lake Tribune[32] October 29–31, 2012 625 (LV) ±4.0% 28% 55% 5% 12%
Key Research/Brigham Young University[9] October 9–13, 2012 100 (LV) ±10.0% 20% 46% 34%
Close

Predictions

More information Source, Ranking ...
Source Ranking As of
The Cook Political Report[33] Safe R (flip) November 5, 2012
Rothenberg[11] Safe R (flip) November 2, 2012
Roll Call[12] Safe R (flip) November 4, 2012
Sabato's Crystal Ball[13] Safe R (flip) November 5, 2012
NY Times[14] Safe R (flip) November 4, 2012
RCP[15] Safe R (flip) November 4, 2012
The Hill[16] Safe R (flip) November 4, 2012
Close

Results

More information Party, Candidate ...
Utah's 2nd congressional district, 2012
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Chris Stewart 154,523 62.2
Democratic Jay Seegmiller 83,176 33.5
Constitution Jonathan D. Garrard 5,051 2.0
Independent Joseph Andrade 2,971 1.2
Independent Charles E. Kimball 2,824 1.1
Total votes 248,545 100.0
Republican gain from Democratic
Close
By county

Source[17]

More information County, Chris Stewart Republican ...
County Chris Stewart
Republican
Jay Seegmiller
Democratic
Jonathan D. Garrard
Constitution
Joseph Andrade
Independent
Charles E. Kimball
Independent
Margin Total
Votes % Votes % Votes % Votes % Votes % Votes %
Beaver 1,926 77.69% 465 18.76% 50 2.02% 13 0.52% 25 1.01% 1,461 58.94% 2,479
Davis 36,133 74.15% 11,109 22.80% 753 1.55% 288 0.59% 445 0.91% 25,024 51.35% 48,728
Garfield 1,666 79.56% 343 16.38% 46 2.20% 15 0.72% 24 1.15% 1,323 63.18% 2,094
Iron 12,695 78.01% 2,737 16.82% 476 2.92% 134 0.82% 232 1.43% 9,958 61.19% 16,274
Juab 181 52.31% 149 43.06% 9 2.60% 3 0.87% 4 1.16% 32 9.25% 346
Kane 2,293 70.73% 802 24.74% 61 1.88% 38 1.17% 48 1.48% 1,491 45.99% 3,242
Millard 4,001 80.91% 659 13.33% 157 3.17% 46 0.93% 82 1.66% 3,342 67.58% 4,945
Piute 636 85.14% 76 10.17% 16 2.14% 8 1.07% 11 1.47% 560 74.97% 747
Salt Lake 30,297 36.06% 49,205 58.57% 1,412 1.68% 1,970 2.34% 1,127 1.34% -18,908 -22.51% 84,011
Sanpete 4,307 84.09% 611 11.93% 120 2.34% 20 0.39% 64 1.25% 3,696 72.16% 5,122
Sevier 6,551 83.18% 1,023 12.99% 137 1.74% 49 0.62% 116 1.47% 5,528 70.19% 7,876
Tooele 12,423 66.64% 5,064 27.16% 800 4.29% 120 0.64% 236 1.27% 4,772 51.63% 18,643
Washington 40,401 76.59% 10,700 20.28% 1,006 1.91% 253 0.48% 392 0.74% 29,701 56.30% 52,752
Wayne 1,013 78.77% 233 18.12% 8 0.62% 14 1.09% 18 1.40% 780 60.65% 1,286
Close

District 3

Jason Chaffetz was seeking a third term in representing Utah's 3rd congressional district.[34]

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee
Eliminated in primary
  • Brian Jenkins
  • Lynn D. Wardle
Withdrawn
  • Kurt Bradburn[35]
  • Leonard "Joe" Fabiano, business entrepreneur and candidate for senate in 2010[36]

Results

More information Party, Candidate ...
Republican convention, 1st round results[37]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Jason Chaffetz 710 75.0
Republican Lynn D. Wardle 208 22.0
Republican Brian Jenkins 29 3.0
Total votes 947 100.0
Close

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee
  • Soren Simonsen, Salt Lake City Council chair[38]
Eliminated in primary
  • Richard Clark

General election

Endorsements

Soren Simonsen (D)

Organizations

Polling

More information Poll source, Date(s) administered ...
Poll source Date(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin of
error
Jason
Chaffetz (R)
Soren
Simonsen (D)
Other Undecided
Dan Jones & Associates[40] October 26–November 1, 2012 232 ±6.4% 68% 18% 3% 10%
Key Research/Brigham Young University[41] October 9–13, 2012 100 (LV) ±4.4% 68% 15% 17%
Close

Predictions

More information Source, Ranking ...
Source Ranking As of
The Cook Political Report[10] Safe R November 5, 2012
Rothenberg[11] Safe R November 2, 2012
Roll Call[12] Safe R November 4, 2012
Sabato's Crystal Ball[13] Safe R November 5, 2012
NY Times[14] Safe R November 4, 2012
RCP[15] Safe R November 4, 2012
The Hill[16] Safe R November 4, 2012
Close

Results

More information Party, Candidate ...
Utah's 3rd congressional district, 2012
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Jason Chaffetz 198,828 76.6
Democratic Soren D. Simonsen 60,719 23.4
Total votes 259,547 100.0
Republican hold
Close
By county

Source[17]

More information County, Jason Chaffetz Republican ...
County Jason Chaffetz
Republican
Soren D. Simonsen
Democratic
Margin Total
Votes % Votes % Votes %
Carbon 4,582 62.51% 2,748 37.49% 1,834 25.02% 7,330
Emery 3,436 80.47% 834 19.53% 2,602 60.94% 4,270
Grand 1,919 50.70% 1,866 49.30% 53 1.40% 3,785
Salt Lake 52,312 62.78% 31,008 37.22% 21,304 25.57% 83,320
San Juan 3,101 59.50% 2,111 40.50% 990 18.99% 5,212
Utah 126,643 86.57% 19,649 13.43% 106,994 73.14% 146,292
Wasatch 6,835 73.20% 2,503 26.80% 4,332 46.39% 9,338
Close

District 4

Democratic U.S. Representative Jim Matheson, who had represented Utah's 2nd congressional district since 2001 and had considered running for governor[42] or for the U.S. Senate,[43] sought re-election to the House in Utah's new 4th congressional district after his previous seat was split up by the redistricting.[44][45]

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee
Eliminated in primary
Declined

Polling

More information Poll source, Date(s) administered ...
Poll source Date(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin of
error
Jay
Cobb
Mia
Love
Stephen
Sandstrom
Carl
Wimmer
Other Undecided
Mason-Dixon[46] April 9–11, 2011 625 (LV) ± 4.0% 23% 14% 35% 28%
Dan Jones & Associates December 19–21, 2011 341 (RV) ± 5.3% 3% 8% 15% 15% 19% 41%
Close

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).[47]

More information Party, Candidate ...
Republican convention, 1st round results[48]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Mia Love 442 53.1
Republican Carl Wimmer 256 30.8
Republican Steve Sandstrom 81 9.7
Republican Jay Cobb 52 6.3
Republican Kenneth Gray 1 0.1
Total votes 863 100.0
Close
More information Party, Candidate ...
Republican convention, 2nd round results
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Mia Love 551 70.5
Republican Carl Wimmer 231 29.5
Total votes 782 100.0
Close

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.[49] 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.[50]

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.[51]

Endorsements

Jim Matheson (D)
Polling
More information Poll source, Date(s) administered ...
Poll source Date(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin of
error
Jim
Matheson (D)
Mia
Love (R)
Jim
Vein (L)
Undecided
Dan Jones & Associates[57] October 26–November 1, 2012 414 (RV) ±4.8% 43% 48% 3% 6%
Mason-Dixon/Salt Lake Tribune[32] October 29–31, 2012 625 (LV) ±4.0% 40% 52% 2% 6%
Key Research/Brigham Young University[9] October 9–13, 2012 407 (LV) ±7.0% 43% 43% 14%
Global Strategy (D)[58] October 9–10, 2012 407 (LV) ±4.9% 48% 41% 11%
Dan Jones & Associates[59] September 26–29, 2012 414 (RV) ±5.0% 43% 49% 8%
Public Opinion Strategies (R-Love)/NRCC)[60] September 10–11, 2012 400 (LV) ±4.9% 36% 51% 13%
Global Strategy (D)[61] July 26–29, 2012 400 (LV) ±4.9% 51% 33% 16%
Dan Jones & Associates[62] June 15–21, 2012 379 (RV) ±5.1% 53% 38% 1% 8%
Mason-Dixon/Salt Lake Tribune[63] April 9–11, 2012 625 (LV) ±4.0% 45% 42% 13%
Dan Jones & Associates[64] December 19–21, 2011 341 (RV) ±5.3% 53% 36% 4% 12%
Close

An early poll published by the Deseret News on Dec 25, 2011 showed Jim Matheson leading all potential opponents.[65]

Hypothetical polling
With Cobb
More information Poll source, Date(s) administered ...
Poll source Date(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin of
error
Jim
Matheson (D)
Jay
Cobb (R)
Undecided
Dan Jones & Associates December 1921, 2011 341 (RV) ±5.3% 54% 35% 11%
Close
With Sandstrom
More information Poll source, Date(s) administered ...
Poll source Date(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin of
error
Jim
Matheson (D)
Stephen
Sandstrom (R)
Undecided
Mason-Dixon[66] April 9–11, 2012 625 (LV) ±4.0% 45% 42% 13%
Dan Jones & Associates[67] December 1921, 2011 341 (RV) ±5.3% 50% 41% 10%
Close
With Wimmer
More information Poll source, Date(s) administered ...
Poll source Date(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin of
error
Jim
Matheson (D)
Carl
Wimmer (R)
Undecided
Mason-Dixon[66] April 9–11, 2012 625 (LV) ±4.0% 46% 45% 9%
Dan Jones & Associates[67] December 1921, 2011 341 (RV) ±5.3% 52% 41% 7%
Close

Predictions

More information Source, Ranking ...
Source Ranking As of
The Cook Political Report Lean R (flip) November 5, 2012
Rothenberg[11] Tilt R (flip) November 2, 2012
Roll Call[12] Lean R (flip) November 4, 2012
Sabato's Crystal Ball[13] Lean R (flip) November 5, 2012
NY Times[14] Tossup November 4, 2012
RCP[15] Tossup November 4, 2012
The Hill[16] Tossup November 4, 2012
Close

Results

Matheson narrowly defeated Love in the general election by only 768 votes.[68] If Love had won the seat, she would have become the first African-American Republican woman to sit in the House.[69]

More information Party, Candidate ...
Utah's 4th congressional district, 2012
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Jim Matheson (incumbent) 119,803 48.8
Republican Mia Love 119,035 48.5
Libertarian Jim L. Vein 6,439 2.6
Total votes 245,277 100.0
Democratic win (new seat)
Close
By county

Source[17]

More information County, Jim Matheson Democratic ...
County Jim Matheson
Democratic
Mia Love
Republican
Jim L. Vein
Libertarian
Margin Total
Votes % Votes % Votes % Votes %
Juab 1,253 34.80% 2,241 62.23% 107 2.97% -988 -27.44% 3,601
Salt Lake 109,599 52.32% 94,236 44.99% 5,626 2.69% 15,363 7.33% 209,461
Sanpete 1,316 30.91% 2,826 66.38% 115 2.70% -1,510 -35.47% 4,257
Utah 7,635 27.31% 19,732 70.58% 591 2.11% -12,097 -43.27% 27,958
Close

References

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