2012 United States House of Representatives elections in Georgia
| Elections in Georgia |
|---|
 |
The 2012 United States House of Representatives elections in Georgia were held on Tuesday, November 6, 2012, and elected the 14 U.S. Representatives from the state, one from each of the state's 14 congressional districts, an increase of one seat following the 2010 United States Census. The elections coincided with the elections of other federal and state offices, including a quadrennial presidential election. The party primary elections were held July 31, 2012, and the run-off on August 21, 2012.
The new congressional map, drawn and passed by the Republican-controlled Georgia General Assembly, was signed into law by Governor Nathan Deal on September 7, 2011. The new district, numbered the 9th, is based in Hall County. The map also makes the 12th district, currently represented by Democrat John Barrow, much more favorable to Republicans.[1]
Overview
| United States House of Representatives elections in Georgia, 2012[2] | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Votes | Percentage | Seats before | Seats after | +/– | |
| Republican | 2,104,098 | 59.2% | 8 | 9 | +1 | |
| Democratic | 1,448,869 | 40.8% | 5 | 5 | ±0 | |
| Others[3] | 611 | 0.0% | 0 | 0 | - | |
| Totals | 3,553,578 | 100.00% | 13 | 14 | +1 | |
District 1
Republican incumbent Jack Kingston, who has represented Georgia's 1st congressional district since 1993, is running for re-election.[4]
Lesli Rae Messinger, a businesswoman,[5] defeated Nathan Russo, a retired businessman,[6] to win the Democratic nomination.[7]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Jack Kingston (incumbent) | 157,181 | 62.98 | ||
| Democratic | Lesli Messinger | 92,399 | 37.02 | ||
| Total votes | 249,580 | 100 | |||
| Republican hold | Swing | {{{swing}}} | |||
- External links
District 2
Democratic incumbent Sanford Bishop, who has represented Georgia's 2nd congressional district since 1993, is running for re-election.[8] In redistricting, the 2nd district was made majority-African American[9] and Macon was moved from the 8th district to the 2nd.[10]
Army veteran John House won the Republican nomination.[11] He defeated Rick Allen, who unsuccessfully ran in the 2nd district in 2010,[12] and Ken DeLoach, a pastor and Christian school dean who ran in the Republican primary in the 8th district in 2010.[13]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | John House | 92,410 | 36.22 | ||
| Democratic | Sanford Bishop (incumbent) | 162,751 | 63.78 | ||
| Total votes | 255,161 | 100 | |||
| Democratic hold | Swing | {{{swing}}} | |||
- External links
District 3
Republican incumbent Lynn Westmoreland, who has represented Georgia's 3rd congressional district since 2007, and had previously represented the 8th district from 2005 to 2007, is running for re-election. Chip Flanegan; and Kent Kingsley, a former chairman of the Lamar County Commission and retired Army lieutenant colonel, unsuccessfully challenged Westmoreland in the Republican primary.[14][15][16]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Lynn Westmoreland (incumbent) | 232,380 | 100 | ||
| Total votes | 232,380 | 100 | |||
| Republican hold | Swing | {{{swing}}} | |||
- External links
District 4
Democratic incumbent Hank Johnson, who has represented Georgia's 4th congressional district since 2007, is running for re-election.[17] Courtney Dillard, a candidate for the Rockdale County Board of Commissioners in 2010,[18] and Lincoln Nunnally, a business consultant,[19] unsuccessfully challenged Johnson in the Democratic primary.[20]
Chris Vaughn, a pastor and motivational speaker,[21] defeated businessman Greg Pallen[22] to win the Republican nomination.[20]
Former U.S. Representative Cynthia McKinney, who represented the 4th district from 1997 to 2003 and from 2005 to 2007 and ran for president as the Green Party nominee in 2008, will run as the Green Party candidate.[23]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | J. Chris Vaughn | 75,041 | 26.43 | ||
| Democratic | Henry C. "Hank" Johnson (incumbent) | 208,861 | 73.57 | ||
| Total votes | 283,902 | 100 | |||
| Democratic hold | Swing | {{{swing}}} | |||
- External links
District 5
Democratic incumbent John Lewis, who has represented Georgia's 5th congressional district since 1987, is running for re-election.[24] Former Fulton County superior court judge Michael Johnson unsuccessfully challenged Lewis in the Democratic primary.[20][25]
Howard Stopeck, a retired attorney, won the Republican nomination without opposition.[20]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Howard Stopeck | 43,335 | 15.61 | ||
| Democratic | John Lewis (incumbent) | 234,330 | 84.39 | ||
| Total votes | 277,665 | 100 | |||
| Democratic hold | Swing | {{{swing}}} | |||
- External links
District 6
Republican incumbent Tom Price, who has represented Georgia's 6th congressional district since 2005, is running for re-election.[26] In redistricting, the 6th district was made slightly less favorable to Republicans: Cherokee County was removed from the district, while parts of DeKalb County were added to it.[9]
Jeff Kazanow, a business consultant,[26] defeated Robert Montigel, a businessman,[27] to win the Democratic nomination to challenge Price.[20]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Tom Price (incumbent) | 189,669 | 64.51 | ||
| Democratic | Jeff Kazanow | 104,365 | 35.49 | ||
| Total votes | 294,034 | 100 | |||
| Republican hold | Swing | {{{swing}}} | |||
- External links
District 7
Republican incumbent Rob Woodall, who has represented Georgia's 7th congressional district since January 2011, is running for re-election.[28] David Hancock, a software company executive, unsuccessfully challenged Woodall in the Republican primary.[20][29]
Steve Reilly, an attorney, won the Democratic nomination without opposition.[29]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Rob Woodall (incumbent) | 156,689 | 62.16 | ||
| Democratic | Steve Reilly | 95,377 | 37.84 | ||
| Total votes | 252,066 | 100 | |||
| Republican hold | Swing | {{{swing}}} | |||
- External links
District 8
Republican incumbent Austin Scott, who was first elected to represent Georgia's 8th congressional district in 2010, is running unopposed in the primary as well as the general election.[30] In redistricting, most of Macon—the heart of the 8th and its predecessors for over a century—was shifted to the neighboring 2nd, thereby making the 8th district more favorable to Republicans.[10]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Austin Scott (incumbent) | 197,789 | 100 | ||
| Total votes | 197,789 | 100 | |||
| Republican hold | Swing | {{{swing}}} | |||
- External links
District 9
In redistricting, the new 9th district is centered around Gainesville and has no incumbent.[31] State Representative Doug Collins;[32] Roger Fitzpatrick, a school principal;[33] and radio personality Martha Zoller,[34] sought the Republican nomination. Collins defeated Zoller in an August runoff election.[35]
Hunter Bicknell, the chairman of the Jackson County Commission, had also planned to seek the Republican nomination,[36] but dropped out of the race in May 2012.[37] Lieutenant governor Casey Cagle chose not to run.[38]
Jody Cooley, an attorney, won the Democratic nomination unopposed.[39]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Doug Collins | 192,101 | 76.18 | ||
| Democratic | Jody Cooley | 60,052 | 23.82 | ||
| Total votes | 252,153 | 100 | |||
| Republican hold | Swing | {{{swing}}} | |||
- External links
District 10
Republican incumbent Paul Broun, who has represented Georgia's 10th congressional district since 2007, ran for re-election.[28] Stephen Simpson, a businessman and retired Army officer, unsuccessfully challenged Broun in the Republican primary.[40]
Former U.S. Representative Mac Collins, who represented the 3rd district from 1993 until 2003 and the 8th district from 2003 until 2005 and had considered challenging Broun in the Republican primary, chose not to run.[41]
In a leaked video of a speech given at Liberty Baptist Church Sportsman's Banquet on September 27, Broun is heard telling supporters that, "All that stuff I was taught about evolution and embryology and the Big Bang Theory, all that is lies straight from the pit of Hell." Broun also believes that the world is less than 9000 years old and that it was created in six literal days. In response to this, and as Broun is also on the House Science Committee, libertarian radio talk show host Neil Boortz spearheaded a campaign to run deceased biologist Charles Darwin against Broun as the Democratic candidate, with the intention of drawing attention to these comments from the scientific community and having him removed from his post on the House Science Committee.[42] Darwin received nearly 4,000 write-in votes in the election, which Broun won.[43]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Paul C. Broun (incumbent) | 211,065 | 100 | ||
| Total votes | 211,065 | 100 | |||
| Republican hold | Swing | {{{swing}}} | |||
- External links
District 11
Republican incumbent Phil Gingrey, who has represented Georgia's 11th congressional district since 2003, is running for re-election. Allan Levene, an information technology specialist,[44] William Llop, a certified public accountant, and Michael Opitz, unsuccessfully challenged Gingrey in the Republican primary.[20][45]
Patrick Thompson won the Democratic nomination unopposed.[46]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Phil Gingrey (incumbent) | 196,968 | 68.55 | ||
| Democratic | Patrick Thompson | 90,353 | 31.45 | ||
| Total votes | 287,321 | 100 | |||
| Republican hold | Swing | {{{swing}}} | |||
- External links
District 12
In redistricting, Savannah was removed from Georgia's 12th congressional district and replaced with the Augusta area, thereby making the district more favorable to Republicans.[10] The former 12th district gave 55 per cent of its vote in the 2008 presidential election to Democratic nominee, whereas only 40 per cent of the new district's voters voted for Obama.[9] Democratic incumbent John Barrow, who has represented the 12th district since 2005, is running for re-election.[47]
Rick Allen, a businessman;[48] state Representative Lee Anderson;[48] Wright McLeod, a real estate lawyer and retired Navy commander;[49] and Maria Sheffield, an attorney who unsuccessfully sought the Republican nomination for state insurance commissioner in 2010,[50] sought the Republican nomination to challenge Barrow. Anderson defeated Allen in an August runoff election, winning the Republican nomination.[51] Tommie Williams, the state Senate president pro tempore, said in August 2011 that he was not considering seeking the Republican nomination.[52]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Lee Anderson | 119,973 | 46.30 | ||
| Democratic | John Barrow (incumbent) | 139,148 | 53.70 | ||
| Total votes | 259,121 | 100 | |||
| Democratic hold | Swing | {{{swing}}} | |||
- External links
District 13
Democratic incumbent David Scott, who has represented Georgia's 13th congressional district since 2003, is running for re-election.[53]
S. Malik won the Republican nomination unopposed.[20]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | S. Malik | 79,550 | 28.26 | ||
| Democratic | David Scott (incumbent) | 201,988 | 71.74 | ||
| Total votes | 281,538 | 100 | |||
| Democratic hold | Swing | {{{swing}}} | |||
- External links
District 14
In redistricting, the new 14th district includes almost all of northwestern Georgia. Republican incumbent Tom Graves, who has represented the 9th district since May 2010, lives in this new district and is running for re-election here.[31]
Former U.S. Representative Bob Barr, who represented the 7th district from 1995 until 2003 and ran for president as the Libertarian Party nominee in 2008;[54] Jerry Shearin, the former chair of the Paulding County Commission;[55] and Steve Tarvin, a businessman and former member of the Chickamauga City Council who unsuccessfully challenged Graves in 2010,[56] chose not to challenge Graves in the Republican primary.
Danny Grant, an electrician, won the Democratic nomination to challenge Graves unopposed.[57]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Tom Graves (incumbent) | 159,947 | 72.97 | ||
| Democratic | Daniel "Danny" Grant | 59,245 | 27.03 | ||
| Total votes | 219,192 | 100 | |||
| Republican hold | Swing | {{{swing}}} | |||
- External links
References
- ^ Miller, Joshua (September 22, 2011). "Race Ratings: In Georgia, New Geography Won't Hurt GOP". Roll Call. Retrieved September 29, 2011.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o http://results.enr.clarityelections.com/GA/42277/113204/en/summary.html
- ^ http://sos.ga.gov/elections/election_results/2012_1106/writein.htm
- ^ Peterson, Larry (April 18, 2012). "Jack Kingston has $1.25 million on hand for re-election bid". Savannah Morning News. Retrieved May 2, 2012.
- ^ Peterson, Larry; Few, Jenel (May 24, 2012). "More candidates qualify to seek Chatham County elected offices". Savannah Morning News. Retrieved May 26, 2012.
- ^ Peterson, Larry (April 7, 2012). "St. Simons Democrat running in Kingston's congressional district". Savannah Morning News. Retrieved May 2, 2012.
- ^ Peterson, Larry (September 23, 2012). "Political Notes: Lesli Messinger has steep hill to climb". Savannah Morning News. Retrieved October 7, 2012.
- ^ "US Rep. Sanford Bishop to seek re-election". The Washington Examiner. November 30, 2011. Retrieved December 6, 2011.
- ^ a b c Wyman, Hastings (October 3, 2011). "Georgia's new congressional map -- surprise! -- helps the GOP". Southern Political Report. Archived from the original on April 25, 2012. Retrieved October 25, 2011.
{{cite web}}: Check|first=value (help); Unknown parameter|dead-url=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ a b c Hirschhorn, Dan (August 22, 2011). "Georgia redistricting plan imperils John Barrow". Politico. Retrieved August 23, 2011.
- ^ Chitwood, Tim (August 21, 2012). "2nd Congressional District runoff update: John House wins, faces Sanford Bishop Nov. 6". Ledger-Enquirer.
- ^ Lewis, Terry (December 5, 2011). "Rick Allen to run against Sanford Bishop". The Albany Herald. Retrieved December 6, 2011.
- ^ Stucka, Mike (February 22, 2012). "Ken DeLoach plans new congressional bid". The Macon Telegraph. Retrieved May 2, 2012.
- ^ Winters, John (February 10, 2012). "Kingsley announces run for Third District Congressional seat". Newnan Times-Herald. Retrieved February 11, 2012.
- ^ Campbell, Sarah Fay (May 26, 2012). "Qualifying for Coweta's elections ends". Newnan Times-Herald. Retrieved May 26, 2012.
- ^ Campbell, Sarah Fay (August 1, 2012). "Voters return Westmoreland to U.S. Congress". Newnan Times-Herald. Retrieved October 7, 2012.
- ^ Ellis, Ralph (May 23, 2012). "U.S. Reps. John Lewis, Hank Johnson Face Challengers". Decatur-Avondale Estates, GA Patch. Retrieved May 26, 2012.
- ^ "Race for district 4 heats up". The Covington News. April 26, 2012. Retrieved May 3, 2012.
- ^ Queen, Alice (April 20, 2012). "Nunnally running for 4th Congressional District seat". The Rockdale Citizen. Retrieved May 3, 2012.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Primary results
- ^ Jones, Jay (February 4, 2012). "Rockdale resident Vaughn announces run for Congress". The Rockdale Citizen. Retrieved February 11, 2012.
- ^ Queen, Alice (April 30, 2012). "Pallen running for Congress". The Rockdale Citizen. Retrieved May 3, 2012.
- ^ Scott, Jeffry (April 23, 2012). "Cynthia McKinney back and running for her old congressional seat". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved May 3, 2012.
- ^ Garner, Marcus K. (April 26, 2011). "Lewis to defend congressional seat in 2012". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved July 8, 2011.
- ^ Galloway, Jim (June 6, 2011). "Michael Johnson announces Democratic challenge to John Lewis". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
- ^ a b Pepalis, Bob (May 25, 2012). "UPDATED: Price To Face A Democrat From Roswell or Alpharetta". Alpharetta-Milton, GA Patch. Retrieved May 26, 2012.
- ^ Copsey, Jonathan (April 30, 2012). "Montigel to run against Price". The Milton Herald. Retrieved May 3, 2012.
- ^ a b Milligan, Stephen (April 8, 2012). "U.S. reps. Broun, Woodall join forces for town hall meeting Tuesday". The Walton Tribune. Retrieved May 3, 2012.
- ^ a b Burns, Steve (May 26, 2012). "Woodall Draws Two Challengers for Seat". Duluth, GA Patch. Retrieved May 26, 2012.
- ^ "6 Ga. congressmen draw opponents for July primary". Associated Press. WDEF-TV. May 25, 2012. Retrieved May 26, 2012.
- ^ a b Sheinin, Aaron Gould; Torres, Kristina (August 22, 2011). "GOP redistricting plan would tighten grip on congressional delegation". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved August 23, 2011.
- ^ Galloway, Jim (September 1, 2011). "Doug Collins becomes first in race for new 9th". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved September 1, 2011.
- ^ Aued, Blake (April 14, 2012). "Congressional race kicking into high gear". Athens Banner-Herald. Retrieved May 3, 2012.
- ^ Fielding, Ashley (September 7, 2011). "Zoller announces bid for seat in Congress". The Gainesville Times (Georgia). Retrieved September 7, 2011.
- ^ Redmon, Jeremy (August 22, 2012). "Collins defeats Zoller in 9th District GOP runoff". Atlanta Journal Constitution. Retrieved October 7, 2012.
- ^ Fielding, Ashley (December 22, 2011). "Radio station tunes out air time request". The Gainesville Times (Georgia). Retrieved January 8, 2012.
- ^ "Bicknell bows out of Congressional race; to run for current BOC chairman's seat". Jackson Herald Today. May 24, 2012. Retrieved May 26, 2012.
- ^ McCaffrey, Shannon (August 22, 2011). "Republicans weigh running for new US House seat". CBS Atlanta. Retrieved August 23, 2011.
- ^ Bauder, Charlie; Kneiser, MJ (May 26, 2012). "Candidates from northeast Georgia qualifyas candidates for state- and federal-level offices". The Anderson Independent-Mail. Retrieved May 26, 2012.
- ^ Aued, Blake (October 24, 2011). "Retired Army officer will challenge Broun". Athens Banner-Herald. Retrieved October 24, 2011.
- ^ Galloway, Jim (May 19, 2012). "Mac Collins says he won't run against Paul Broun". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved May 26, 2012.
- ^ "Paul Broun, Charles Darwin Face Off: Republican Faces Odd Write-In Opponent In Georgia House Race". The Huffington Post. October 17, 2012. Retrieved October 21, 2012.
- ^ Thompson, Jim (November 9, 2012). "Charles Darwin gets 4,000 write-in votes in Athens against Paul Broun". Athens Banner-Herald. Retrieved November 9, 2012.
- ^ "US Congress candidate Allan Levene's humble beginnings in West Ham - News". Newham Recorder. February 26, 2012. Retrieved January 24, 2014.
- ^ Gillooly, Jon (May 25, 2012). "Two decide not to seek re-election". Marietta Daily Journal. Retrieved May 26, 2012.
- ^ "Congressional seat sought by Cherokee Democrat". Cherokee Tribune. May 26, 2012. Retrieved May 26, 2012.
- ^ Peterson, Larry (June 22, 2011). "Congressman John Barrow discloses prostate cancer". Savannah Morning News. Retrieved June 23, 2011.
- ^ a b Galloway, Jim (October 18, 2011). "Maria Sheffield considers a move to south Georgia for 12th District contest". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved October 24, 2011.
- ^ McCord, Susan (October 25, 2011). "McLeod joins 12th Congressional District race". The Augusta Chronicle. Retrieved October 28, 2011.
- ^ Walton, Kiri (December 5, 2011). "Mableton's Sheffield Announces Run for 12th Congressional District". South Cobb, GA Patch. Retrieved May 3, 2012.
- ^ McCord, Susan (September 5, 2012). "Vote recount certifies Lee Anderson as winner of GOP runoff for U.S. District 12 seat". The Augusta Chronicle. Retrieved October 7, 2012.
- ^ Galloway, Jim (August 30, 2011). "Tommie Williams says no to a run against John Barrow". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
- ^ Walton, Kiri (May 23, 2012). "9 Candidates Qualify on Day 1 for Open South Cobb Seats". South Cobb, GA Patch. Retrieved May 26, 2012.
- ^ "Bob Barr says he won't run for Congress". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. December 13, 2011. Retrieved December 14, 2011.
- ^ Galloway, Jim (November 23, 2011). "Jerry Shearin passes on challenge to Tom Graves, but Bob Barr still in wings". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved January 7, 2012.
- ^ Harper, Charlie (December 6, 2011). "Rumors Have Steve Tarvin Out Of GA-14 Race". Peach Pundit. Retrieved May 4, 2012.
- ^ Spigolon, Tom (May 25, 2012). "Incumbents face challengers from own party in two Paulding state races". Neighbor Newspapers. Retrieved May 26, 2012.
External links
- Elections Division at the Georgia Secretary of State
- United States House of Representatives elections in Georgia, 2012 at Ballotpedia
- Georgia U.S. House at OurCampaigns.com
- Campaign contributions for U.S. Congressional races in Georgia at OpenSecrets.org
- Outside spending at the Sunlight Foundation