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2012 United States Senate election in Nevada

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2012 United States Senate election in Nevada
← 2006 November 6, 2012 2018 →
Turnout57.1% (voting eligible)[1]
 
Nominee Dean Heller Shelley Berkley
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 457,656 446,080
Percentage 45.9% 44.7%
County Results
Heller:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%
Berkley:      50–60%
U.S. senator before election

Dean Heller
Republican

Elected U.S. Senator

Dean Heller
Republican

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The 2012 United States Senate election in Nevada was held on Tuesday, November 6, 2012, alongside 33 other elections to the United States Senate in other states as well as elections to the United States House of Representatives and the 2012 presidential election. The primary election was held June 12, 2012. Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Dean Heller, who was appointed to this Senate seat in May 2011 following the resignation of Sen. John Ensign, was narrowly elected to his first full term over Congresswoman Shelley Berkley. As of 2019, this is the last Senate election won by a Republican in Nevada.

Background

Main article: John Ensign scandal

Ensign was reelected to the United States Senate in 2006 against Jack Carter, son of former president Jimmy Carter, by a margin of 55–41%. Ensign's reelection campaign was expected to be complicated after it was revealed in 2009 that he had been involved in an extramarital affair with the wife of one of his campaign staffers, allegedly made payments to the woman's family and arranged work for her husband to cover himself.[2][3]

Ensign faced an investigation from the Senate Ethics Committee and his poll numbers declined significantly.[4][5] There was speculation that Ensign might resign before the election, but he denied these charges and initially stated he would run.[6] However, he changed his mind and on March 7, 2011, Ensign announced that he would not seek reelection.[7] On April 22, Ensign announced that he was resigning effective May 3.[8]

Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval appointed U.S. Representative Dean Heller to the U.S. Senate to fill the vacancy created by Ensign's resignation. Heller took office on May 9, 2011.[9]

Republican primary

Candidates

  • Sherry Brooks, retired secretary[10]
  • Richard Charles[10]
  • Eddie Hamilton, retired auto executive and perennial candidate[10]
  • Dean Heller, incumbent U.S. Senator, former U.S. Representative, former Nevada Secretary of State and former state assemblyman[11][12]
  • Carlo Poliak, sanitation worker and perennial candidate[10]
  • David Lory Vanderbeek, marriage and family therapist[10]

Declined

Polling

Results

Republican primary results[15]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Dean Heller (incumbent) 88,958 86.3
Republican Sherry Brooks 5,356 5.2
None of These Candidates 3,358 3.3
Republican Eddie "In Liberty" Hamilton 2,628 2.6
Republican Richard Charles 2,295 2.2
Republican Carlo "Nakusa" Poliak 512 0.5
Total votes 103,107 100

Democratic primary

Candidates

Withdrew

Polling

Results

Democratic primary results[15]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Shelley Berkley 62,081 79.5
Democratic Nancy Price 4,210 5.4
Democratic Steve Brown 3,998 5.1
None of These Candidates 3,637 4.7
Democratic Barry Ellsworth 2,491 3.2
Democratic Louis Macias 1,714 2.2
Total votes 78,131 100

General election

Candidates

Debates

The first Berkley and Heller debate was on September 27, 2012. They met again in Las Vegas on October 11 and on Jon Ralston's "Face to Face" program on October 15.

External links

Fundraising

Candidate (party) Receipts Disbursements Cash on hand Debt
Dean Heller (R) $8,447,489 $6,510,874 $1,936,618 $0
Shelley Berkley (D) $8,779,074 $8,947,424 $924,918 $0
Source: Federal Election Commission[22][23]

Top contributors

[24]

Shelly Berkley Contribution Dean Heller Contribution
EMILY's List $93,049 Las Vegas Sands $43,750
NORPAC $59,750 MGM Resorts International $35,500
MGM Resorts International $53,700 Alliance Resource Partners $34,500
DaVita Inc. $49,300 Crow Holdings $30,000
Diamond Resorts $44,000 Elliott Management Corporation $29,413
Cantor Fitzgerald $27,000 Brady Industries $25,000
Caesars Entertainment, Inc. $26,000 Mewbourne Oil Co $25,000
Fresenius Medical Care $24,500 Wynn Resorts $22,500
Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck $23,650 Southwest Gas $21,800
Station Casinos $20,200 Bank of America $20,500

Top industries

Shelley Berkley Contribution Dean Heller Contribution
Lawyers/Law Firms $607,407 Leadership PACs $379,718
Pro-Israel $384,580 Retired $300,560
Health Professionals $369,954 Financial Institutions $217,084
Women's Issues $309,817 Real Estate $206,362
Leadership PACs $292,500 Casinos/Gambling $205,832
Retired $281,490 Oil & Gas $187,500
Real Estate $261,779 Insurance $182,155
Financial Institutions $228,393 Lobbyists $159,812
Casinos/Gambling $227,350 Mining $149,745
Lobbyists $175,147 Health Professionals $132,450

Predictions

Source Ranking As of
The Cook Political Report[25] Tossup November 1, 2012
Sabato's Crystal Ball[26] Lean R November 5, 2012
Rothenberg Political Report[27] Tilt R November 2, 2012
Real Clear Politics[28] Tossup November 5, 2012

Polling

Poll source Date(s)
administered 		Sample
size 		Margin of
error 		Dean
Heller (R) 		Shelley
Berkley (D) 		Other Undecided
Public Policy Polling January 3–5, 2011 932 ±3.2% 51% 38% — 16%
Public Policy Polling April 21–24, 2011 491 ±4.4% 47% 43% — 10%
Public Policy Polling July 28–31, 2011 601 ±4.0% 46% 43% — 12%
Public Policy Polling October 20–23, 2011 500 ±4.4% 45% 45% — 10%
Cannon Survey Center December 12–20, 2011 600 ±4.0% 43% 44% — 6.9%
Rasmussen Reports March 19, 2012 500 ±4.5% 47% 40% 2% 11%
Public Policy Polling March 29 – April 1, 2012 553 ±4.2% 46% 43% — 12%
Rasmussen Reports April 30, 2012 500 ±4.5% 51% 40% 2% 8%
NBC News/Marist May 22–24, 2012 1,040 ±3.0% 46% 44% — 10%
Public Policy Polling June 7–10, 2012 500 ±4.4% 44% 43% — 13%
Magellan Strategies July 16–17, 2012 665 ±3.8% 45% 42% — 13%
Rasmussen Reports July 24, 2012 500 ±4.5% 51% 42% 2% 5%
LVRJ/Survey USA August 16–21, 2012 869 ±3.4% 44% 39% 9% 8%
Public Policy Polling August 23–26, 2012 831 ±3.4% 47% 45% — 8%
Rasmussen Reports September 18, 2012 500 ±4.5% 42% 41% 4% 12%
Public Policy Polling September 18–20, 2012 501 ±4.4% 44% 48% — 8%
NBC/WSJ/Marist September 23–25, 2012 984 ±3.1% 49% 43% 1% 6%
We Ask America September 25–27, 2012 1,152 ±3.1% 45% 45% — 10%
Gravis Marketing October 3, 2012 1,006 ±3.1% 53% 36% — 12%
Precision Opinion October 6, 2012 1,521 ±2.5% 45% 43% — 12%
LVRJ/Survey USA October 3–8, 2012 1,222 ±2.9% 47% 39% 8% 6%
Rasmussen Reports October 8, 2012 500 ±4.5% 48% 45% 3% 4%
Suffolk October 6–9, 2012 500 ±4.4% 40% 37% 7% 14%
Public Policy Polling October 8–10, 2012 594 ±4.0% 47% 44% 4% 5%
LVRJ/Survey USA October 11–15, 2012 806 ±3.5% 46% 40% 8% 6%
Rasmussen Reports October 15, 2012 500 ±4.5% 50% 43% 4% 3%
Rasmussen Reports October 23, 2012 500 ±4.5% 50% 45% 1% 4%
Public Policy Polling October 22–24, 2012 636 ±3.9% 44% 44% 7% 5%
NBC/WSJ/Marist October 23–24, 2012 1,042 ±2.8% 48% 45% 2% 6%
LVRJ/SurveyUSA October 23–29, 2012 1,212 ±2.9% 46% 40% 10% 4%
Public Policy Polling November 3–4, 2012 750 ±3.6% 48% 46% 4% 1%

Results

United States Senate election in Nevada, 2012[29]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Dean Heller (incumbent) 457,656 45.87% −9.49%
Democratic Shelley Berkley 446,080 44.71% +3.72%
Independent American David Lory VanDerBeek 48,792 4.89% +3.56%
n/a None of These Candidates 45,277 4.54% +3.13%
Total votes '997,805' '100.0%' N/A
Republican 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 April 3, 2013.
  2. ^ Eric Lichtblau and Eric Lipton (October 2, 2009). "Senator's Aid to Mistress's Husband Raises Ethics Flags". The New York Times.
  3. ^ Chris Cillizza (July 9, 2009). "Ensign Acknowledges Mistress Payment". Washington Post.
  4. ^ Raju, Manu; John Bresnahan (February 1, 2011). "John Ensign running, despite ethics investigation". The Politico. Retrieved February 8, 2011.
  5. ^ BALL, MOLLY (July 19, 2009). "New poll reveals Ensign's status sinking, But most Nevadans still say Republican senator should not resign". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Stephens Media, LLC. Retrieved July 20, 2009.
  6. ^ Mascaro, Lisa (July 14, 2009). "Ensign to stay in Senate, seek reelection". Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved July 14, 2009.
  7. ^ a b Yurkanin, Justin (March 7, 2011). "Senator John Ensign announces he will not seek reelection". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved March 7, 2011.
  8. ^ "Sen. Ensign says he will resign May 3". CNN. April 22, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  9. ^ https://www.politico.com/story/2011/05/heller-takes-senate-oath-054594
  10. ^ a b c d e f g h Myers, Laura (June 3, 2012). "2012 PRIMARY ELECTION: U.S. SENATE". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved June 12, 2012.
  11. ^ Meyers, Laura (November 7, 2010). "2012 ELECTION: Senate race field already looking full". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved November 30, 2010.
  12. ^ Ralston, Jon (November 10, 2010). "GOP may be setting its sights on Ensign". Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved December 15, 2010.
  13. ^ "Angle in race for Heller's House seat", ReviewJournal.com
  14. ^ Krolicki endorses Heller, mulls House bid by David Catanese at POLITICO.com]
  15. ^ a b "Official Results of the 2012 Primary Election". Secretary of State of Nevada. Retrieved September 15, 2012.
  16. ^ Trygstad, Kyle (April 14, 2011). "Shelley Berkley Will Run for Senate in Nevada". Roll Call. Retrieved June 12, 2012.
  17. ^ Ralston, Jon (January 11, 2012). "Renewable energy company founder will run as Democrat for U.S. Senate in Nevada". Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved January 12, 2012.
  18. ^ Tetreault, Steve. "Entrepreneur files to oppose Berkley in Senate race". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved January 11, 2012.
  19. ^ Coleman, Kyle. "Green Energy Pioneer Barry Ellsworth Announces Nevada US Senate Run Against Corrupt Career Politician Shelley Berkley". yahoo.news. Retrieved January 31, 2012.
  20. ^ Damon, Anjeanette (August 10, 2011). "Georgiou abandons U.S. Senate bid, clears way for Berkley on Democratic ticket". Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved June 12, 2012.
  21. ^ "Meet the Candidates: David Lory Van Der Beek". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved June 12, 2012.
  22. ^ Campaign Finances[permanent dead link]
  23. ^ Campaign Finances[permanent dead link]
  24. ^ [http://www.opensecrets.org/races/contrib.php?cycle=2012&id=nvs1 Center for Responsive Politics
  25. ^ "2012 Senate Race Ratings for November 1, 2012". The Cook Political Report. Retrieved September 20, 2018.
  26. ^ "2012 Senate". Sabato's Crystal Ball. Retrieved September 20, 2018.
  27. ^ "2012 Senate Ratings". Senate Ratings. The Rothenberg Political Report. Retrieved September 20, 2018.
  28. ^ "2012 Elections Map - Battle for the Senate 2012". Real Clear Politics. Retrieved September 20, 2018.
  29. ^ https://www.nvsos.gov/silverstate2012gen/USSenate/
Official campaign sites
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