2012 United States Senate election in Virginia

The 2012 United States Senate election in Virginia 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. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Jim Webb retired instead of running for reelection to a second term, and former Democratic Governor of Virginia Tim Kaine won the open seat over Republican former Senator and Governor George Allen.[2][3] Kaine was unopposed for the Democratic nomination, and the Republicans nominated Allen through a primary on June 12, 2012.[4] Allen had previously held this seat for one term before narrowly losing reelection to Webb in 2006.

2012 United States Senate election in Virginia

November 6, 2012
Turnout66.4% (voting eligible)[1]
 
Nominee Tim Kaine George Allen
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 2,010,067 1,785,542
Percentage 52.8% 46.9%

County and independent city results
Kaine:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%
Allen:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%

U.S. senator before election

Jim Webb
Democratic

Elected U.S. Senator

Tim Kaine
Democratic

Republican primary

In Virginia, parties have the option of whether to hold a primary or to nominate their candidate through a party convention. In November 2010, the Virginia GOP announced that it had chosen to hold a primary.[5]

Declared

Withdrawn

  • Tim Donner, founder of Horizons Television and LibertyNation.com[10]
  • David McCormick, attorney[11]

Declined

Debates

Three debates between Republican candidates were announced before the primary on June 12, 2012. The debates took place in Richmond, Northern Virginia, and Hampton Roads.[17]

Polling

Poll source Date(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin of
error
George
Allen
Other
candidates
Undecided
Public Policy Polling February 24–27, 2011 400 ±4.9% 52% 25% 23%
Public Policy Polling July 21–24, 2011 400 ±4.9% 58% 23% 19%
Public Policy Polling December 11–13, 2011 350 ±5.2% 53% 25% 22%
Poll source Date(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin of
error
George
Allen
E. W.
Jackson
Bob
Marshall
David
McCormick
Jamie
Radtke
Undecided
Public Policy Polling July 21–24, 2011 400 ±4.9% 68% 2% 2% 0% 6% 22%
Public Policy Polling December 11–13, 2011 350 ±5.2% 67% 2% 3% 2% 5% 21%
Public Policy Polling April 26–29, 2012 400 ±4.9% 66% 2% 8% 3% 20%
Washington Post April 28 – May 2, 2012 1,101 ±3.5% 62% 3% 12% 5% 18%

Endorsements

George Allen
Jamie Radtke
  • Bob Arment, Louisa County Republican Party Chairman
  • Steve Arrington, Bedford County Supervisor
  • James Fisher, Fauquier County Commonwealth’s Attorney
  • Jeff Frederick, former Virginia House of Delegates member
  • Joe Glover, Family Policy Network president
  • Jack Reid, former Virginia House of Delegates member
  • Eva Scott, Former Virginia state senator
  • John Sharp, Bedford County Supervisor
  • Richard Viguerie, conservative activist

Results

Republican primary results[23]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican George Allen 167,607 65.5
Republican Jamie Radtke 59,005 23.0
Republican Bob Marshall 17,302 6.8
Republican E. W. Jackson 12,083 4.7
Total votes 255,997 100

General election

Candidates

Only Allen and Kaine qualified for the ballot.

Debates

David Gregory moderated a debate between Kaine and Allen on September 20, 2012. Topics included partisan gridlock in Washington policy making, job creation, tax policy, and Middle East unrest.[26]

External links

Campaign

Once incumbent U.S. Senator Jim Webb decided to retire, many Democratic candidates were speculated. These included U.S. Congressmen Rick Boucher,[27] Gerry Connolly,[28] Glenn Nye,[29] Tom Perriello[30] and Bobby Scott.[31] However, they all declined and encouraged Kaine to run for the seat, believing he would be by far the most electable candidate. Courtney Lynch, former Marine Corps Officer and Fairfax business consultant[32] and Julien Modica, former CEO of the Brain Trauma Recovery & Policy Institute,[32] eventually withdrew from the election, allowing Kaine to be unopposed in the Democratic primary.

Fundraising

Candidate (party) Receipts Disbursements Cash on hand Debt
Tim Kaine (D) $10,390,929 $7,666,452 $2,724,476 $0
George Allen (R) $8,015,948 $4,678,004 $3,337,942 $0
Kevin Chisholm (I) $24,165 $24,162 $0 $0
Terrence Modglin (I) $5,655 $5,389 $266 $0
Source: Federal Election Commission[33][34][35][36]

Top contributors

[37]

Tim Kaine Contribution George Allen Contribution Kevin Chisholm Contribution
League of Conservation Voters $76,568 McGuireWoods LLP $76,950 Valu Net $2,475
Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld $51,650 Altria Group $64,749 Geolq Inc $1,500
University of Virginia $42,075 Alpha Natural Resources $38,000
McGuireWoods LLP $38,550 Elliott Management Corporation $35,913
Covington & Burling $36,700 Koch Industries $35,000
DLA Piper $31,750 Lorillard Tobacco Company $34,715
Bain Capital $30,000 Alliance Resource Partners $33,500
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom $28,250 Dominion Resources $31,800
Patton Boggs LLP $26,750 Norfolk Southern $31,550
Norfolk Southern $26,000 Boeing $23,750

Top industries

[38]

Tim Kaine Contribution George Allen Contribution Kevin Chisholm Contribution Terrence Modglin Contribution
Lawyers/Law Firms $1,297,792 Retired $709,693 Misc Energy $250 Lawyers/Law Firms $200
Retired $762,722 Real Estate $384,038
Financial Institutions $477,700 Lawyers/Law Firms $348,459
Business Services $373,900 Financial Institutions $299,115
Real Estate $372,829 Leadership PACs $277,000
Lobbyists $287,545 Lobbyists $275,600
Education $282,475 Mining $197,206
Misc Finance $218,600 Oil & Gas $196,400
Leadership PACs $201,500 Insurance $159,065
Entertainment industry $156,279 Misc Finance $157,963

Independent expenditures

In early October 2012, Crossroads GPS announced it would launch a $16 million advertising buy in national races, of which four were this and three other Senate elections.[39]

Predictions

Source Ranking As of
The Cook Political Report[40] Tossup November 1, 2012
Sabato's Crystal Ball[41] Lean D November 5, 2012
Rothenberg Political Report[42] Tossup November 2, 2012
Real Clear Politics[43] Tossup November 5, 2012

Polling

Poll source Date(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin of
error
Tim
Kaine (D)
George
Allen (R)
Other Undecided
Public Policy Polling November 10–13, 2010 551 ±4.2% 50% 44% 6%
Public Policy Polling February 24–27, 2011 524 ±3.5% 47% 47% 6%
Washington Post April 28 – May 4, 2011 1,040 ±3.5% 46% 46% 6%
Public Policy Polling May 5–8, 2011 547 ±4.2% 46% 44% 10%
Quinnipiac June 21–27, 2011 1,434 ±2.6% 43% 42% 2% 11%
Public Policy Polling July 21–24, 2011 500 ±4.4% 46% 43% 11%
Quinnipiac September 7–12, 2011 1,368 ±4.0% 44% 45% 1% 9%
Rasmussen Reports September 28, 2011 500 ±4.5% 46% 45% 3% 7%
CNU/Times-Dispatch October 3–8, 2011 1,027 ±3.1% 44% 42% 3% 12%
Quinnipiac October 3–9, 2011 1,459 ±2.6% 45% 44% 1% 9%
Public Policy Polling December 10–12, 2011 600 ±4.0% 47% 42% 11%
Quinnipiac December 13–19, 2011 1,135 ±2.9% 42% 44% 1% 12%
Mason-Dixon January 16–18, 2012 625 ±3.9% 46% 46% 8%
Quinnipiac February 1–6, 2012 1,544 ±2.5% 45% 44% 1% 9%
CNU/Times-Dispatch February 4–13, 2012 1,018 ±3.1% 40% 42% 2% 16%
Rasmussen Reports February 21, 2012 500 ±4.5% 46% 46% 3% 5%
Roanoke College February 13–26, 2012 607 ±4.0% 37% 45% 19%
NBC News/Marist February 29 – March 2, 2012 2,518 ±2% 48% 39% 14%
Quinnipiac March 13–18, 2012 1,034 ±3.1% 47% 44% 1% 8%
Rasmussen Reports March 20, 2012 500 ±4.5% 44% 46% 3% 7%
Roanoke College March 26 – April 5, 2012 537 ±4.2% 39% 46% 15%
Rasmussen Reports April 23, 2012 500 ±4.5% 45% 46% 4% 5%
Public Policy Polling April 26–29, 2012 680 ±3.8% 46% 45% 9%
Washington Post April 28 – May 2, 2012 964 ±4% 46% 46% 8%
Marist May 17–20, 2012 1,076 ±3% 49% 43% 9%
Rasmussen Reports June 3, 2012 500 ±4.5% 46% 44% 3% 6%
Quinnipiac May 30 – June 4, 2012 1,282 ±2.7% 44% 43% 2% 10%
We Ask America June 25, 2012 1,106 ±2.95% 35% 44% 21%
Public Policy Polling July 5–8, 2012 647 ±3.9% 46% 44% 11%
Quinnipiac July 10–16, 2012 1,673 ±2.4% 44% 46% 1% 10%
Rasmussen Reports July 16–17, 2012 500 ±4.5% 46% 45% 5% 5%
Quinnipiac July 31 – August 6, 2012 1,412 ±2.6% 48% 46% 6%
Rasmussen Reports August 7, 2012 500 ±4.5% 46% 46% 2% 6%
Public Policy Polling August 16–19, 2012 855 ±3.4% 46% 46% 9%
Rasmussen Reports August 23, 2012 500 ±4.5% 45% 45% 2% 8%
Gravis Marketing September 8–9, 2012 2,238 ±2.2% 43% 48% 10%
NBC/WSJ/Marist Poll September 9–11, 2012 996 ±3.1% 46% 46% 8%
Rasmussen Reports September 13, 2012 500 ±4.5% 47% 45% 2% 6%
Washington Post September 12–16, 2012 847 ±4% 51% 43% 3% 4%
Public Policy Polling September 13–16, 2012 1,021 ±3.1% 47% 46% 7%
CBS/NYT/Quinnipiac September 11–17, 2012 1,485 ±2.5% 51% 44% 5%
FOX NEWS Poll September 16–18, 2012 1,006 ±3% 47% 43% 1% 9%
Gravis Marketing September 17, 2012 2,238 ±2.2% 43% 48% 9%
Huffpost Politics September 20, 2012 1,000 ±3% 46% 45% 9%
Suffolk University September 24–26, 2012 600 ±4% 44% 44% 12%
NBC/WSJ/Marist Poll September 30 – October 1, 2012 969 ±3.1% 49% 44% 1% 7%
Rasmussen Reports October 4, 2012 500 ±4.5% 52% 45% 3%
Public Policy Polling October 4–7, 2012 725 ±3.6% 51% 44% 5%
CBS/NYT/Quinnipiac October 4–9, 2012 1,288 ±2.7% 51% 44% 5%
We Ask America October 7–9, 2012 1,296 ±2.9% 41% 46% 13%
NBC/WSJ/Marist Poll October 7–9, 2012 981 ±3.1% 47% 46% 7%
Rasmussen Reports October 11, 2012 750 ±4.0% 48% 47% 1% 4%
Old Dominion University September 19 – October 17, 2012 465 ±3.4% 50% 43% 6%
Rasmussen Reports October 18, 2012 500 ±4.0% 49% 48% 3%
Rasmussen Reports October 24, 2012 750 ±4.0% 49% 48% 3%
Washington Post October 22–26, 2012 1,228 ±3.5% 51% 44% 5%
Roanoke College October 23–26, 2012 638 ±4.0% 42% 47% 10%
Gravis Marketing October 26, 2012 645 ±3.9% 46% 48% 5%
CBS/NYT/Quinnipiac October 23–28, 2012 1,074 ±3% 50% 46% 4%
Zogby/Newsmax October 26–28, 2012 1,076 ±3% 47% 45% 8%
Zogby/Newsmax October 27–29, 2012 829 ±3.5% 45% 46% 9%
Reuters/Ipsos October 29–31, 2012 703 ±4.2% 47% 45% 1% 7%
855 ±3.8% 50% 38% 1% 11%
WeAskAmerica October 30 – November 1, 2012 1,069 ±3% 50% 50%
NBC/WSJ/Marist November 1–2, 2012 1,165 ±2.9% 49% 46% 4%
Public Policy Polling November 3–4, 2012 975 ±3.1% 52% 46% 2%
Rasmussen Reports November 4, 2012 750 ±4% 49% 47% 1% 4%

Results

United States Senate election in Virginia, 2012[44]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Tim Kaine 2,010,067 52.83% +3.24%
Republican George Allen 1,785,542 46.92% -2.28%
Write-in 9,410 0.25% +0.15%
Total votes 3,805,019 100.00% N/A
Democratic hold

See also

References

  1. Dr. Michael McDonald (February 9, 2013). "2012 General Election Turnout Rates". George Mason University. Archived from the original on April 24, 2013. Retrieved March 4, 2013.
  2. "Kaine hits the road to tout economic plan", The Washington Post.
  3. Trygstad, Kyle (February 9, 2011). "Webb Won't Seek Re-Election". Roll Call. Retrieved February 9, 2011.
  4. "Va. Dems will choose U.S. Senate nominee in June primary". The Pilot Online. September 20, 2011.
  5. Heiderman, Rosalind (November 20, 2010). "UPDATED: Virginia GOP chooses primary over convention for 2012 senate race". The Washington Post.
  6. Catanese, David (January 24, 2011). "Allen e-mails supporters; Webb reacts". Politico. Retrieved January 24, 2011.
  7. Sherfinski, David (May 8, 2011) http://washingtonexaminer.com/local/virginia/2011/05/dark-horse-candidates-expand-gop-field-va-senate-race%5B%5D Retrieved May 9, 2011
  8. GOP State Delegate Bob Marshall to Enter Va. Senate Race : Roll Call Politics
  9. King, Neil (December 27, 2010). "Tea Party Organizer Jumps Into Va. Senate Race". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved December 27, 2010.
  10. Cain, Andrew (December 28, 2011). "Donner drops out of Virginia's U.S. Senate race". WSLS. Retrieved December 28, 2011.
  11. Kumar, Anita (March 29, 2012). "McCormick fails to make GOP Senate primary ballot; four others submit signatures". The Washington Post. Retrieved March 30, 2012.
  12. Brown, Carrie (October 2, 2011). "Liz Cheney won't run for office in 2012". Politico. Retrieved October 2, 2011.
  13. Martella, Ashley; Meyers, Jim (December 14, 2010). "Cuccinelli: Defeating Obamacare Critical to 'Constitution and Liberty'". Newsmax Media. Retrieved December 14, 2010.
  14. Kumar, Anita (August 16, 2011). "Cuccinelli says he may challenge Warner for U.S. Senate in 2014". The Washington Post. Retrieved August 16, 2011.
  15. Goodin, Emily (December 13, 2010). "Former Rep. Davis said it's unlikely he'll run for Virginia Senate in 2012". The Hill. Retrieved December 14, 2010.
  16. Corey Stewart Endorses George Allen in Virginia : Roll Call Politics
  17. Pershing, Ben (November 10, 2011). "Virginia Republicans announce plans for three 2012 Senate primary debates". The Washington Post.
  18. Bolling Backs Allen In U.S. Senate Race | Virginia Right!
  19. Pershing, Ben (April 20, 2012). "George Allen gets endorsement from tea party-backed Sen. Ron Johnson". Washington Post. Retrieved April 24, 2012.
  20. Catalina Camia (November 11, 2011). "Va. Gov. McDonnell endorses George Allen for Senate". USA Today. Retrieved December 6, 2011.
  21. "Allen wins Rubio's backing in bid for U.S. Senate". Washington Times. June 14, 2012. Retrieved June 14, 2012.
  22. "George Allen Getting Corey Stewart's Endorsement". NBC Washington. November 1, 2011. Retrieved April 9, 2012.
  23. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on June 14, 2012. Retrieved June 13, 2012.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  24. Cillizza, Chris (April 5, 2011) "Tim Kaine announces for Senate in Virginia", Washington Post. Retrieved April 5, 2011.
  25. O'Brien, Michael (April 5, 2011) "Tim Kaine launches Virginia Senate bid", The Hill. Retrieved April 5, 2011
  26. "Va. Senate debate: Kaine open to minimum tax, Allen sidesteps Romney". CNN. September 20, 2012.
  27. Gruenwald, Juliana (March 2, 2011). "Boucher Appears Unlikely To Seek Senate Seat". National Journal. Archived from the original on January 25, 2012. Retrieved February 16, 2012.
  28. D'Aprile, Shane (March 4, 2011). "Rep. Connolly rules out 2012 Senate run; hopes for Kaine". The Hill. Retrieved March 4, 2011.
  29. Catanese, David; Martin, Jonathan (February 11, 2011). "Nye has "no interest," Kaine wary of run". Politico. Retrieved February 11, 2011.
  30. Pershing, Ben (February 16, 2011). "Ex-rep. Perriello might run for U.S. Senate in Va. if Kaine doesn't". The Washington Post. Retrieved February 16, 2011.
  31. Wilson, Todd Allen (September 5, 2011). "Rep. Scott says he won't run for Senate". Newport News Daily Press. Retrieved September 5, 2011.
  32. Hester, Wesley P. (March 25, 2012). "Allen to face host of GOP challengers; Kaine none". Richmond Times-Dispatch. Archived from the original on March 29, 2012. Retrieved March 30, 2012.
  33. Tim Kaine Campaign Finances
  34. George Allen Campaign Finances
  35. Kevin Chisholm Campaign Finances
  36. Terrence Modglin Campaign Finances
  37. [http://www.opensecrets.org/races/contrib.php?cycle=2012&id=vas1 Center for Responsive Politics
  38. Donors by industry (opensecrets.org)
  39. Haberman, Maggie (October 2, 2012). "Crossroads launches $16 million buy in Senate, presidential contests". Politico.com. Retrieved October 2, 2012.
  40. "2012 Senate Race Ratings for November 1, 2012". The Cook Political Report. Retrieved September 20, 2018.
  41. "2012 Senate". Sabato's Crystal Ball. Retrieved September 20, 2018.
  42. "2012 Senate Ratings". Senate Ratings. The Rothenberg Political Report. Retrieved September 20, 2018.
  43. "2012 Elections Map - Battle for the Senate 2012". Real Clear Politics. Retrieved September 20, 2018.
  44. http://historical.elections.virginia.gov/elections/search/year_from:2012/year_to:2012/office_id:6/stage:General
Official campaign websites
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