United States Congressional elections results, 2012

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33 U.S. Senate and 435 U.S. House seats were up for election on November 6, 2012.

This page contains Congressional election results.

The tables under each state heading reflect the House delegation partisan breakdown before and after the election.

Click the election links in each state section for more details on the seats where a vote took place in 2012.


U.S. Senate Partisan Breakdown
Party As of November 2012 After the 2012 Election
     Democratic Party 51 53
     Republican Party 47 45
     Independent 2 2
Total 100 100


U.S. House Partisan Breakdown
Party As of November 2012 After the 2012 Election
     Democratic Party 193 201
     Republican Party 242 234
Total 435 435


US House analysis

2012 United States House General Election Results
Party Total Winners Incumbent Winners Defeated Incumbents Incumbent Re-Election Rate** Non-Incumbent Winners
Democratic 201 151 10 93.8% 50
Republican 234 198 17 92.1% 35
TOTALS 435 349 27 92.8% 85
**Note: The incumbent re-election rate is calculated by dividing the total incumbents winners by the total incumbents who appeared on the general election ballot.

US House Margin of Victory

There were a total of 435 seats up for election in 2012. The following table shows the margin of victory for each race winner, which is calculated by examining the percentage difference between the top-two vote getters. If the race was uncontested, the margin of victory is listed as 100%. Some general facts:

  • 30 races (6.9 percent) had a margin of victory of less than 5 percent. Of those 30 races, 18 were Democratic winners while 12 were Republican.
  • 33 races (7.6 percent) had a margin of victory between 5 and 10 percent. Of those 33 races, 15 were Democratic winners while 18 were Republican.
  • 87 races (20 percent) had a margin of victory between 10 and 20 percent. Of those 87 races, 23 were Democratic winners while 64 were Republican.
  • 285 races (65.5 percent) had a margin of victory of greater than 20 percent. Of those 285 races, 145 were Democratic winners while 140 were Republican.
  • The fewest votes were in Texas' 29th District, with only 95,611 total votes. Incumbent Gene Green (D) faced two third-party candidates in the general election.
  • The most votes were in Montana, with 479,740 votes cast. Montana has a total population of 998,199 -- which is roughly 250,000 above the average district size in states without single districts. Because Montana has only one district for the whole state, its voters per district is higher than the rest of the country. The average size of each district is 709,000. The second-most votes cast came in Colorado's 2nd District, with 421,580 total votes.
  • The smallest margin of victory, was North Carolina's 7th District, where incumbent Democrat Mike McIntyre defeated David Rouzer (R) by 0.2 percent (654 votes).
  • The largest margin of victory where both major parties fielded a general election candidate was in New York's 15th District, where incumbent Democrat Jose Serrano defeated Frank Della Valle (R) by 83%.
  • The average margin of victory of all congressional districts was 31.85%, meaning that on average the winner of each race received nearly twice as many votes as the top opponent. Average MOV for Democratic winners was 35.7%, while the average for Republicans was 28.6%.
  • The average number of votes cast per district was 281,917, yielding an average voter turnout of 39.76%.

US Senate Margin of Victory

There were a total of 33 seats up for election in 2012. The following table shows the margin of victory for each race winner, which is calculated by examining the percentage difference between the top-two vote getters. If the race was uncontested, the margin of victory is listed as 100%. Some general facts:

  • The fewest votes were in Wyoming, with only 244,445 total votes.
  • The most votes were in California, with 12,578,511
  • The average margin of victory was 20 percent.
  • The smallest margin of victory, where Democrat Heidi Heitkamp defeated Rick Berg (R) by 0.9 percent.
  • The largest margin of victory was in Wyoming, where Republican John Barrasso defeated Tim Chesnut (D) by 54.1%
  • 11 races had a margin of victory of less than 10 percent. Of those 11 races, 9 were Democratic winners while 2 were Republican.

Incumbents defeated

Senate

General

One incumbent was defeated in the general election on November 6, 2012. Republican Scott Brown of Massachusetts lost to Elizabeth Warren (D).

Primary

Only one incumbent was defeated in the primary as well. Republican Richard Lugar of Indiana was defeated by Richard Mourdock in the primary on May 8, 2012.

House

General

A total of 27 incumbents were defeated in the general election on November 6, 2012. Of those 27 incumbents, 10 were Democrats and 17 were Republicans.

U.S. House incumbents defeated in 2012 general election
Name Party District
Allen B. West Republican Party Republican Florida, District 22
Ann Marie Buerkle Republican Party Republican New York, District 25
Ben Chandler Democratic Party Democratic Kentucky, District 6
Betty Sutton Democratic Party Democratic Ohio, District 13
Robert T. Schilling Republican Party Republican Illinois, District 17
Brian Bilbray Republican Party Republican California, District 50
Charles Bass Republican Party Republican New Hampshire, District 2
Chip Cravaack Republican Party Republican Minnesota, District 8
Dan Lungren Republican Party Republican California, District 3
David Rivera Republican Party Republican Florida, District 25
Francisco Canseco Republican Party Republican Texas, District 23
Frank Guinta Republican Party Republican New Hampshire, District 1
Howard Berman Democratic Party Democratic California, District 28
Jeff Landry Republican Party Republican Louisiana, District 3
Joe Baca Democratic Party Democratic California, District 43
Joe Walsh Republican Party Republican Illinois, District 8
Judy Biggert Republican Party Republican Illinois, District 13
Kathy Hochul Democratic Party Democratic New York, District 26
Larry Kissell Democratic Party Democratic North Carolina, District 8
Laura Richardson Democratic Party Democratic California, District 37
Leonard Boswell Democratic Party Democratic Iowa, District 3
Mark Critz Democratic Party Democratic Pennsylvania, District 12
Mary Bono Mack Republican Party Republican California, District 45
Nan Hayworth Republican Party Republican New York, District 19
Pete Stark Democratic Party Democratic California, District 13
Robert J. Dold Republican Party Republican Illinois, District 10
Roscoe Bartlett Republican Party Republican Maryland, District 6

Primary

A total of 13 incumbents were defeated in their primary elections.

U.S. House incumbents defeated in 2012 primary elections
Name Party District
Benjamin Quayle Republican Party Republican Arizona, District 3
Cliff Stearns Republican Party Republican Florida, District 6
Dennis J. Kucinich Democratic Party Democratic Ohio, District 10
Donald A. Manzullo Republican Party Republican Illinois, District 16
Hansen Clarke Democratic Party Democratic Michigan, District 13
Jason Altmire Democratic Party Democratic Pennsylvania, District 4
Jean Schmidt Republican Party Republican Ohio, District 2
John Sullivan Republican Party Republican Oklahoma, District 1
Russ Carnahan Democratic Party Democratic Missouri, District 3
Sandy Adams Republican Party Republican Florida, District 24
Silvestre Reyes Democratic Party Democratic Texas, District 16
Steve Rothman Democratic Party Democratic New Jersey, District 9
Tim Holden Democratic Party Democratic Pennsylvania, District 17

U.S. Senate results

United States Senate Elections Results in 2012
State Incumbent Incumbent Party Incumbent Running? 2012 Winner Partisan switch?
Arizona Jon Kyl Ends.png Republican No Republican Party Jeff Flake No
California Dianne Feinstein Electiondot.png Democratic Yes Democratic Party Dianne Feinstein No
Connecticut Joe Lieberman Grey.png Nonpartisan No Democratic Party Chris Murphy Yes
Delaware Tom Carper Electiondot.png Democratic Yes Democratic Party Tom Carper No
Florida Bill Nelson Electiondot.png Democratic Yes Democratic Party Bill Nelson No
Hawaii Daniel Akaka Electiondot.png Democratic No Democratic Party Mazie Hirono No
Indiana Richard Lugar Ends.png Republican Yes Democratic Party Joe Donnelly Yes
Maine Olympia Snowe Ends.png Republican Yes Grey.png Angus King (I) Yes
Maryland Ben Cardin Electiondot.png Democratic Yes Democratic Party Ben Cardin No
Massachusetts Scott Brown Ends.png Republican Yes Democratic Party Elizabeth Warren Yes
Michigan Debbie Stabenow Electiondot.png Democratic Yes Democratic Party Debbie Stabenow No
Minnesota Amy Klobuchar Electiondot.png Democratic Yes Democratic Party Amy Klobuchar No
Mississippi Roger Wicker Ends.png Republican Yes Republican Party Roger Wicker No
Missouri Claire McCaskill Electiondot.png Democratic Yes Democratic Party Claire McCaskill No
Montana Jon Tester Electiondot.png Democratic Yes Democratic Party Jon Tester No
Nebraska Ben Nelson Electiondot.png Democratic No Republican Party Deb Fischer Yes
Nevada Dean Heller Ends.png Republican Yes Republican Party Dean Heller No
New Jersey Bob Menendez Electiondot.png Democratic Yes Democratic Party Bob Menendez No
New Mexico Jeff Bingaman Electiondot.png Democratic No Democratic Party Martin Heinrich No
New York Kirsten Gillibrand Electiondot.png Democratic Yes Democratic Party Kirsten Gillibrand No
North Dakota Kent Conrad Electiondot.png Democratic No Democratic Party Heidi Heitkamp No
Ohio Sherrod Brown Electiondot.png Democratic Yes Democratic Party Sherrod Brown No
Pennsylvania Bob Casey Jr. Electiondot.png Democratic Yes Democratic Party Bob Casey Jr. No
Rhode Island Sheldon Whitehouse Electiondot.png Democratic Yes Democratic Party Sheldon Whitehouse No
Tennessee Bob Corker Ends.png Republican Yes Republican Party Bob Corker No
Texas Kay Bailey Hutchison Ends.png Republican No Republican Party Ted Cruz No
Utah Orrin Hatch Ends.png Republican Yes Republican Party Orrin Hatch No
Vermont Bernie Sanders Grey.png Nonpartisan Yes Grey.png Bernie Sanders No
Virginia Jim Webb Electiondot.png Democratic No Democratic Party Tim Kaine No
Washington Maria Cantwell Electiondot.png Democratic Yes Democratic Party Maria Cantwell No
West Virginia Joe Manchin Electiondot.png Democratic Yes Democratic Party Joe Manchin No
Wisconsin Herb Kohl Electiondot.png Democratic No Democratic Party Tammy Baldwin No
Wyoming John Barrasso Ends.png Republican Yes Republican Party John Barrasso No

U.S. House results by state

Alabama

See also: United States House of Representatives elections in Alabama, 2012
Members of the U.S. House from Alabama -- Partisan Breakdown
Party As of November 2012 After the 2012 Election
     Democratic Party 1 1
     Republican Party 6 6
Total 7 7

Alaska

See also: United States House of Representatives elections in Alaska, 2012
Members of the U.S. House from Alaska -- Partisan Breakdown
Party As of November 2012 After the 2012 Election
     Democratic Party 0 0
     Republican Party 1 1
Total 1 1

Arizona

See also: United States Senate elections in Arizona, 2012 and United States House of Representatives elections in Arizona, 2012
Members of the U.S. House from Arizona -- Partisan Breakdown
Party As of November 2012 After the 2012 Election
     Democratic Party 3 5
     Republican Party 5 4
Total 8 9

Arkansas

See also: United States House of Representatives elections in Arkansas, 2012
Members of the U.S. House from Arkansas -- Partisan Breakdown
Party As of November 2012 After the 2012 Election
     Democratic Party 1 0
     Republican Party 3 4
Total 4 4

California

See also: United States Senate elections in California, 2012 and United States House of Representatives elections in California, 2012
Members of the U.S. House from California -- Partisan Breakdown
Party As of November 2012 After the 2012 Election
     Democratic Party 34 38
     Republican Party 19 15
Total 53 53

Colorado

See United States House of Representatives elections in Colorado, 2012
Members of the U.S. House from Colorado -- Partisan Breakdown
Party As of November 2012 After the 2012 Election
     Democratic Party 3 3
     Republican Party 4 4
Total 7 7

Connecticut

See also: United States Senate elections in Connecticut, 2012 and United States House of Representatives elections in Connecticut, 2012
Members of the U.S. House from Connecticut -- Partisan Breakdown
Party As of November 2012 After the 2012 Election
     Democratic Party 5 5
     Republican Party 0 0
Total 5 5

Delaware

See also: United States Senate elections in Delaware, 2012 and United States House of Representatives elections in Delaware, 2012
Members of the U.S. House from Delaware -- Partisan Breakdown
Party As of November 2012 After the 2012 Election
     Democratic Party 1 1
     Republican Party 0 0
Total 1 1

Florida

See also: United States Senate elections in Florida, 2012 and United States House of Representatives elections in Florida, 2012
Members of the U.S. House from Florida -- Partisan Breakdown
Party As of November 2012 After the 2012 Election
     Democratic Party 6 10
     Republican Party 19 17
Total 25 27

Georgia

See also: United States House of Representatives elections in Georgia, 2012
Members of the U.S. House from Georgia -- Partisan Breakdown
Party As of November 2012 After the 2012 Election
     Democratic Party 5 5
     Republican Party 8 9
Total 13 14

Hawaii

See also: United States Senate elections in Hawaii, 2012 and United States House of Representatives elections in Hawaii, 2012
Members of the U.S. House from Hawaii -- Partisan Breakdown
Party As of November 2012 After the 2012 Election
     Democratic Party 2 2
     Republican Party 0 0
Total 2 2

Idaho

See also: United States House of Representatives elections in Idaho, 2012
Members of the U.S. House from Idaho -- Partisan Breakdown
Party As of November 2012 After the 2012 Election
     Democratic Party 0 0
     Republican Party 2 2
Total 2 2

Illinois

See also: United States House of Representatives elections in Illinois, 2012
Members of the U.S. House from Illinois -- Partisan Breakdown
Party As of November 2012 After the 2012 Election
     Democratic Party 8 12
     Republican Party 11 6
Total 19 18

Indiana

See also: United States Senate elections in Indiana, 2012 and United States House of Representatives elections in Indiana, 2012
Members of the U.S. House from Indiana -- Partisan Breakdown
Party As of November 2012 After the 2012 Election
     Democratic Party 3 2
     Republican Party 6 7
Total 9 9

Iowa

See also: United States House of Representatives elections in Iowa, 2012
Members of the U.S. House from Iowa -- Partisan Breakdown
Party As of November 2012 After the 2012 Election
     Democratic Party 3 2
     Republican Party 2 2
Total 5 4

Kansas

See also: United States House of Representatives elections in Kansas, 2012
Members of the U.S. House from Kansas -- Partisan Breakdown
Party As of November 2012 After the 2012 Election
     Democratic Party 0 0
     Republican Party 4 4
Total 4 4

Kentucky

See also: United States House of Representatives elections in Kentucky, 2012
Members of the U.S. House from Kentucky -- Partisan Breakdown
Party As of November 2012 After the 2012 Election
     Democratic Party 2 1
     Republican Party 4 5
Total 6 6

Louisiana

See also: United States House of Representatives elections in Louisiana, 2012
Members of the U.S. House from Louisiana -- Partisan Breakdown
Party As of November 2012 After the 2012 Election
     Democratic Party 1 1
     Republican Party 6 5
Total 7 6

Maine

See also: United States Senate elections in Maine, 2012 and United States House of Representatives elections in Maine, 2012
Members of the U.S. House from Maine -- Partisan Breakdown
Party As of November 2012 After the 2012 Election
     Democratic Party 2 2
     Republican Party 0 0
Total 2 2

Maryland

See also: United States Senate elections in Maryland, 2012 and United States House of Representatives elections in Maryland, 2012
Members of the U.S. House from Maryland -- Partisan Breakdown
Party As of November 2012 After the 2012 Election
     Democratic Party 6 7
     Republican Party 2 1
Total 8 8

Massachusetts

See also: United States Senate elections in Massachusetts, 2012 and United States House of Representatives elections in Massachusetts, 2012
Members of the U.S. House from Massachusetts -- Partisan Breakdown
Party As of November 2012 After the 2012 Election
     Democratic Party 10 9
     Republican Party 0 0
Total 10 9

Michigan

See also: United States Senate elections in Michigan, 2012 and United States Senate elections in Michigan, 2012
Members of the U.S. House from Michigan -- Partisan Breakdown
Party As of November 2012 After the 2012 Election
     Democratic Party 6 5
     Republican Party 9 9
Total 15 14

Minnesota

See also: United States Senate elections in Minnesota, 2012 and United States House of Representatives elections in Minnesota, 2012
Members of the U.S. House from Minnesota -- Partisan Breakdown
Party As of November 2012 After the 2012 Election
     Democratic Party 4 5
     Republican Party 4 3
Total 8 8

Mississippi

See also: United States Senate elections in Mississippi, 2012 and United States House of Representatives elections in Mississippi, 2012
Members of the U.S. House from Mississippi -- Partisan Breakdown
Party As of November 2012 After the 2012 Election
     Democratic Party 1 1
     Republican Party 3 3
Total 4 4

Missouri

See also: United States Senate elections in Missouri, 2012 and United States House of Representatives elections in Missouri, 2012
Members of the U.S. House from Missouri -- Partisan Breakdown
Party As of November 2012 After the 2012 Election
     Democratic Party 3 2
     Republican Party 6 6
Total 9 8

Montana

See also: United States Senate elections in Montana, 2012 and United States House of Representatives elections in Montana, 2012
Members of the U.S. House from Montana -- Partisan Breakdown
Party As of November 2012 After the 2012 Election
     Democratic Party 0 0
     Republican Party 1 1
Total 1 1

Nebraska

See also: United States Senate elections in Nebraska, 2012
Members of the U.S. House from Nebraska -- Partisan Breakdown
Party As of November 2012 After the 2012 Election
     Democratic Party 0 0
     Republican Party 3 3
Total 3 3

Nevada

See also: United States Senate elections in Nevada, 2012 and United States House of Representatives elections in Nevada, 2012
Members of the U.S. House from Nevada -- Partisan Breakdown
Party As of November 2012 After the 2012 Election
     Democratic Party 1 2
     Republican Party 2 2
Total 3 4

New Hampshire

See also: United States House of Representatives elections in New Hampshire, 2012
Members of the U.S. House from New Hampshire -- Partisan Breakdown
Party As of November 2012 After the 2012 Election
     Democratic Party 0 2
     Republican Party 2 0
Total 2 2

New Jersey

See also: United States Senate elections in New Jersey, 2012 and United States House of Representatives elections in New Jersey, 2012
Members of the U.S. House from New Jersey -- Partisan Breakdown
Party As of November 2012 After the 2012 Election
     Democratic Party 7 6
     Republican Party 6 6
Total 13 12

New Mexico

See also: United States Senate elections in New Mexico, 2012 and United States House of Representatives elections in New Mexico, 2012
Members of the U.S. House from New Mexico -- Partisan Breakdown
Party As of November 2012 After the 2012 Election
     Democratic Party 2 2
     Republican Party 1 1
Total 3 3

New York

See also: United States Senate elections in New York, 2012 and United States House of Representatives elections in New York, 2012
Members of the U.S. House from New York -- Partisan Breakdown
Party As of November 2012 After the 2012 Election
     Democratic Party 21 21
     Republican Party 8 6
Total 29 27

North Carolina

See also: United States House of Representatives elections in North Carolina, 2012
Members of the U.S. House from North Carolina -- Partisan Breakdown
Party As of November 2012 After the 2012 Election
     Democratic Party 7 4
     Republican Party 6 9
Total 13 13

North Dakota

See also: United States Senate elections in North Dakota, 2012 and United States House of Representatives elections in North Dakota, 2012
Members of the U.S. House from North Dakota -- Partisan Breakdown
Party As of November 2012 After the 2012 Election
     Democratic Party 0 0
     Republican Party 1 1
Total 1 1

Ohio

See also: United States Senate elections in Ohio, 2012 and United States House of Representatives elections in Ohio, 2012
Members of the U.S. House from Ohio -- Partisan Breakdown
Party As of November 2012 After the 2012 Election
     Democratic Party 5 4
     Republican Party 13 12
Total 18 16

Oklahoma

See also: United States House of Representatives elections in Oklahoma, 2012
Members of the U.S. House from Oklahoma -- Partisan Breakdown
Party As of November 2012 After the 2012 Election
     Democratic Party 1 0
     Republican Party 4 5
Total 5 5

Oregon

See also: United States House of Representatives elections in Oregon, 2012
Members of the U.S. House from Oregon -- Partisan Breakdown
Party As of November 2012 After the 2012 Election
     Democratic Party 4 4
     Republican Party 1 1
Total 5 5

Pennsylvania

See also: United States Senate elections in Pennsylvania, 2012 and United States House of Representatives elections in Pennsylvania, 2012
Members of the U.S. House from Pennsylvania-- Partisan Breakdown
Party As of November 2012 After the 2012 Election
     Democratic Party 6 5
     Republican Party 13 13
Total 19 18

Rhode Island

See also: United States Senate elections in Rhode Island, 2012 and United States House of Representatives elections in Rhode Island, 2012
Members of the U.S. House from Rhode Island-- Partisan Breakdown
Party As of November 2012 After the 2012 Election
     Democratic Party 2 2
     Republican Party 0 0
Total 2 2

South Carolina

See also: United States House of Representatives elections in South Carolina, 2012
Members of the U.S. House from South Carolina -- Partisan Breakdown
Party As of November 2012 After the 2012 Election
     Democratic Party 1 1
     Republican Party 5 6
Total 6 7

South Dakota

See also: United States House of Representatives elections in South Dakota, 2012
Members of the U.S. House from South Dakota -- Partisan Breakdown
Party As of November 2012 After the 2012 Election
     Democratic Party 0 0
     Republican Party 1 1
Total 1 1

Tennessee

See also: United States Senate elections in Tennessee, 2012 and United States House of Representatives elections in Tennessee, 2012
Members of the U.S. House from Tennessee -- Partisan Breakdown
Party As of November 2012 After the 2012 Election
     Democratic Party 2 2
     Republican Party 7 7
Total 9 9

Texas

See also: United States Senate elections in Texas, 2012 and United States House of Representatives elections in Texas, 2012
Members of the U.S. House from Texas -- Partisan Breakdown
Party As of November 2012 After the 2012 Election
     Democratic Party 9 12
     Republican Party 23 24
Total 32 36

Utah

See also: United States Senate elections in Utah, 2012 and United States House of Representatives elections in Utah, 2012
Members of the U.S. House from Utah -- Partisan Breakdown
Party As of November 2012 After the 2012 Election
     Democratic Party 1 1
     Republican Party 2 3
Total 3 4

Vermont

See also: United States Senate elections in Vermont, 2012 and United States House of Representatives elections in Vermont, 2012
Members of the U.S. House from Vermont -- Partisan Breakdown
Party As of November 2012 After the 2012 Election
     Democratic Party 1 1
     Republican Party 0 0
Total 1 1

Virginia

See also: United States Senate elections in Virginia, 2012 and United States House of Representatives elections in Virginia, 2012
Members of the U.S. House from Virginia -- Partisan Breakdown
Party As of November 2012 After the 2012 Election
     Democratic Party 3 3
     Republican Party 8 8
Total 11 11

Washington

See also: United States Senate elections in Washington, 2012 and United States House of Representatives elections in Washington, 2012
Members of the U.S. House from Washington -- Partisan Breakdown
Party As of November 2012 After the 2012 Election
     Democratic Party 5 6
     Republican Party 4 4
Total 9 10

West Virginia

See also: United States Senate elections in West Virginia, 2012 and United States House of Representatives elections in West Virginia, 2012
Members of the U.S. House from West Virginia -- Partisan Breakdown
Party As of November 2012 After the 2012 Election
     Democratic Party 1 1
     Republican Party 2 2
Total 3 3

Wisconsin

See also: United States Senate elections in Wisconsin, 2012 and United States House of Representatives elections in Wisconsin, 2012
Members of the U.S. House from Wisconsin -- Partisan Breakdown
Party As of November 2012 After the 2012 Election
     Democratic Party 3 3
     Republican Party 5 5
Total 8 8

Wyoming

See also: United States Senate elections in Wyoming, 2012 and United States House of Representatives elections in Wyoming, 2012
Members of the U.S. House from Wyoming -- Partisan Breakdown
Party As of November 2012 After the 2012 Election
     Democratic Party 0 0
     Republican Party 1 1
Total 1 1

See also