2012 United States House of Representatives elections in Idaho
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All 2 Idaho seats to the United States House of Representatives | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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 Republican
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| Elections in Idaho |
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The 2012 United States House of Representatives elections in Idaho were held on Tuesday, November 6, 2012 and elected two U.S. Representatives, one from each of the state's two congressional districts. The elections coincided with those of other federal and state offices, including a quadrennial presidential election. Candidate filing took place between February 27 and March 9, 2012. Primary elections were held on May 15, 2012.[1]
Overview
| United States House of Representatives elections in Idaho, 2012[2] | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Votes | Percentage | Seats | +/– | |
| Republican | 406,814 | 64.04% | 2 | - | |
| Democratic | 208,297 | 32.79% | 0 | - | |
| Libertarian | 12,265 | 1.93% | 0 | - | |
| Independents | 7,607 | 1.20% | 0 | — | |
| Write-ins | 235 | 0.04% | 0 | — | |
| Totals | 635,218 | 100.00% | 2 | — | |
Redistricting
Although Idaho's overall population grew by more than 20 percent during the period between 2000 and 2010, more significant growth elsewhere meant the state did not gain extra representation in the House of Representatives, instead remaining at two seats. The 2010 United States Census found that the population of the 1st district, which previously comprised the state's western and northern counties, as well as parts of Ada County including much of western Boise, had 116,278 more residents than the 2nd district, which included the rest of Boise, the Magic Valley region and the state's eastern counties. This shift in population meant that the 2nd district, currently represented by Republican Mike Simpson, would include more of Ada County beginning in 2012 and up through the 2020 Congressional election.[3]
In October 2011 the Idaho Commission on Redistricting approved by a 4-2 vote a Congressional district map which moved the district boundary in Boise west from Cole Road to Cloverdale Road. This placed almost all of Boise in the 2nd district, with only a few far western neighborhoods remaining in the 1st district. Other Ada County cities including Meridian, Eagle, Star, Kuna and Garden City remained in the 1st district. No changes were made to Congressional district boundaries outside Ada County.[4]
On January 18, 2012, the Idaho Supreme Court struck down the redistricting plan approved by the Commission on Redistricting in October 2011 on the grounds that it violated the Idaho Constitution. The commission reconvened on January 26, 2012, to make necessary revisions which were approved the following day. The commission's January 2012 changes dealt solely with state legislative districts, leaving the original Congressional redistricting plan intact.[5]
District 1
Republican Raúl Labrador, who was first elected to represent the 1st district in 2010, will run for re-election.
Republican primary
Candidates
Nominee
- Raúl Labrador, incumbent U.S. Representative
Eliminated in primary
- Reed McCandless, truck driver[6]
Primary results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Raúl Labrador (incumbent) | 58,003 | 80.6 | |
| Republican | Reed McCandless | 13,917 | 19.4 | |
| Total votes | 71,920 | 100.0 | ||
Democratic primary
Candidates
Nominee
- Jimmy Farris, former NFL player[8]
Eliminated in primary
Declined
- Walt Minnick, former U.S. Representative[11]
Primary results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Jimmy Farris | 5,362 | 53.2 | |
| Democratic | Cynthia Clinkingbeard | 4,723 | 46.8 | |
| Total votes | 10,085 | 100.0 | ||
Libertarian primary
Candidates
Nominee
- Rob Oates, chairman of the Libertarian Party of Idaho and former member of the Caldwell City Council[12]
Independents
Pro-Life, a perennial candidate formerly known as Marvin Richardson, ran as an Independent.[9]
General election
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Raúl Labrador (incumbent) | 199,402 | 63.0 | |
| Democratic | Jimmy Farris | 97,450 | 30.8 | |
| Libertarian | Rob Oates | 12,265 | 3.9 | |
| Independent | Pro-Life | 7,607 | 2.4 | |
| Total votes | 316,724 | 100.0 | ||
| Republican hold | ||||
District 2
Republican Mike Simpson, who had represented the 2nd district since 1999, ran for re-election.
Republican primary
Candidates
Nominee
- Mike Simpson, incumbent U.S. Representative
Eliminated in primary
- Chick Heileson, businessman and candidate for this seat in 2010
Withdrew
- John Baird, businessman[13]
Declined
Primary results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Mike Simpson (incumbent) | 50,799 | 69.6 | |
| Republican | Chick Heileson | 22,240 | 30.4 | |
| Total votes | 73,039 | 100.0 | ||
Democratic primary
Candidates
Nominee
Eliminated in primary
- Jack Wayne Chappell
Withdrawn
- Eldon Wallace, nominee for Lieutenant Governor in 2010[9][13]
Primary results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Nicole LeFavour | 10,528 | 84.1 | |
| Democratic | Jack Wayne Chappell | 1,997 | 15.9 | |
| Total votes | 12,525 | 100.0 | ||
General election
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Mike Simpson (incumbent) | 207,412 | 65.1 | |
| Democratic | Nicole LeFavour | 110,847 | 34.8 | |
| Independent | Jack Wayne Campbell (write-in) | 235 | 0.1 | |
| Total votes | 318,494 | 100.0 | ||
| Republican hold | ||||
References
- ^ "On The Ballot In 2012". Idaho Secretary of State. Retrieved August 16, 2011.
- ^ a b c "2012 General Results statewide". Idaho Secretary of State Election Division. Retrieved March 29, 2013.
- ^ Iverson-Long, Brad (March 11, 2011). "Census population data will spur redistricting". IdahoReporter.com. Archived from the original on March 17, 2011. Retrieved April 24, 2011.
- ^ Adopted Redistricting Plans Archived 2012-05-01 at the Wayback Machine (accessed 2 February 2012)
- ^ Idaho State Legislature - Redistricting Commission - News - Updates Archived 2012-05-01 at the Wayback Machine (accessed 2 February 2012)
- ^ Macz, Brandon (March 9, 2012). "Labrador faces Moscow challenger in May primary". Moscow-Pullman Daily News. Retrieved March 11, 2012.
- ^ a b c d "May 15, 2012 Primary Election Results". Secretary of State of Idaho. Retrieved June 11, 2012.
- ^ Trygstad, Kyle (October 18, 2011). "Ex-NFL Player to Challenge Labrador in Idaho". Roll Call. Retrieved October 22, 2011.
- ^ a b c d Hurst, Dustin (March 10, 2012). "LeFavour joins crowded congressional race, McGeachin does not". Idaho Reporter. Retrieved March 11, 2012.
- ^ Orr, Patrick (April 6, 2012). "Judge orders a mental health evaluation for Cynthia Clinkingbeard". Idaho Statesman. Retrieved June 11, 2012.
- ^ Trygstad, Kyle (December 16, 2010). "Idaho's Minnick Says He's Done for Good". Roll Call. Retrieved April 24, 2011.
- ^ Butts, Mike (February 28, 2012). "Rob Oates to run for Congress". The Idaho Press-Tribune. Retrieved March 11, 2012.
- ^ a b Cockerham, Sean (March 28, 2012). "Boise Sen. Nicole LeFavour calls race for Congress less 'soul-wrenching'". Idaho Statesman. Retrieved June 11, 2012.
External links
- State of Idaho, Office of Elections government site
- Idaho Votes government site
- United States House of Representatives elections in Idaho, 2012 at Ballotpedia
- Idaho U.S. House at OurCampaigns.com
- Campaign contributions for U.S. Congressional races in Idaho at OpenSecrets
- Outside spending at the Sunlight Foundation