2012 United States House of Representatives elections in Idaho

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2012 United States House of Representatives elections in Idaho

← 2010 November 6, 2012 (2012-11-06) 2014 →

All 2 Idaho seats to the United States House of Representatives
  Majority party Minority party
 
Party Republican Democratic
Last election 2 0
Seats won 2 0
Seat change Steady Steady
Popular vote 406,814 208,297
Percentage 64.04% 32.79%
Swing Increase 5.07% Decrease 0.95%

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[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

Republican Raúl Labrador, who was first elected to represent the 1st district in 2010, will run for re-election.

Republican primary[edit]

Candidates[edit]

Nominee[edit]
Eliminated in primary[edit]
  • Reed McCandless, truck driver[6]

Primary results[edit]

Republican primary results[7]
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[edit]

Candidates[edit]

Nominee[edit]
Eliminated in primary[edit]
  • Cynthia Clinkingbeard, former physician and college professor[9][10]
Declined[edit]

Primary results[edit]

Democratic primary results[7]
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[edit]

Candidates[edit]

Nominee[edit]

Independents[edit]

Pro-Life, a perennial candidate formerly known as Marvin Richardson, ran as an Independent.[9]

General election[edit]

Results[edit]

Idaho's 1st congressional district, 2012 [2]
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[edit]

Republican Mike Simpson, who had represented the 2nd district since 1999, ran for re-election.

Republican primary[edit]

Candidates[edit]

Nominee[edit]
Eliminated in primary[edit]
  • Chick Heileson, businessman and candidate for this seat in 2010
Withdrew[edit]
  • John Baird, businessman[13]
Declined[edit]

Primary results[edit]

Republican primary results[7]
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[edit]

Candidates[edit]

Nominee[edit]
Eliminated in primary[edit]
  • Jack Wayne Chappell
Withdrawn[edit]

Primary results[edit]

Democratic primary results[7]
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[edit]

Results[edit]

Idaho's 2nd congressional district, 2012 [2]
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[edit]

  1. ^ "On The Ballot In 2012". Idaho Secretary of State. Retrieved August 16, 2011.
  2. ^ a b c "2012 General Results statewide". Idaho Secretary of State Election Division. Retrieved March 29, 2013.
  3. ^ 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.
  4. ^ Adopted Redistricting Plans Archived 2012-05-01 at the Wayback Machine (accessed 2 February 2012)
  5. ^ Idaho State Legislature - Redistricting Commission - News - Updates Archived 2012-05-01 at the Wayback Machine (accessed 2 February 2012)
  6. ^ Macz, Brandon (March 9, 2012). "Labrador faces Moscow challenger in May primary". Moscow-Pullman Daily News. Retrieved March 11, 2012.
  7. ^ a b c d "May 15, 2012 Primary Election Results". Secretary of State of Idaho. Retrieved June 11, 2012.
  8. ^ Trygstad, Kyle (October 18, 2011). "Ex-NFL Player to Challenge Labrador in Idaho". Roll Call. Retrieved October 22, 2011.
  9. ^ a b c d Hurst, Dustin (March 10, 2012). "LeFavour joins crowded congressional race, McGeachin does not". Idaho Reporter. Retrieved March 11, 2012.
  10. ^ Orr, Patrick (April 6, 2012). "Judge orders a mental health evaluation for Cynthia Clinkingbeard". Idaho Statesman. Retrieved June 11, 2012.
  11. ^ Trygstad, Kyle (December 16, 2010). "Idaho's Minnick Says He's Done for Good". Roll Call. Retrieved April 24, 2011.
  12. ^ Butts, Mike (February 28, 2012). "Rob Oates to run for Congress". The Idaho Press-Tribune. Retrieved March 11, 2012.
  13. ^ 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[edit]