The 2012 United States Senate election in Texas was held on November 6, 2012, along with other elections to the United States Senate the United States House of Representatives in additional states. Incumbent Republican U.S. senator Kay Bailey Hutchison decided to retire instead of running for reelection to a fourth full term. This was the first open election for this seat since 1957.

Libertarian John Jay Myers was elected by nomination at the Texas Libertarian Party State Convention on June 8, 2012. After the first round of primary voting on May 29, 2012, a runoff was held on July 31, 2012, for both the Democratic Party and Republican Party. Former state representative Paul Sadler and former state solicitor general Ted Cruz respectively won the Democratic and Republican runoffs; Cruz won the general election by a wide margin.

Background In an interview with Texas Monthly published in December 2007, incumbent U.S. senator Kay Bailey Hutchison stated that she would not seek reelection and might also resign from the Senate as early as 2009 to run for Governor of Texas. After the 2008 elections, Hutchison formed an exploratory committee to run for the governorship in 2010. State Republican Party Chairman Cathie Adams later called upon Hutchison to clarify when she would vacate the Senate so that other Republican candidates could make preparations to run.

On December 4, 2008, Hutchison set up an exploratory committee, setting up a primary battle with incumbent Republican governor Rick Perry. Fellow Texas U.S. senator and National Republican Senatorial Committee Chairman John Cornyn tried to convince Hutchison to stay in the Senate, for fear of losing the seat to the Democrats. On January 15, 2009, Hutchison transferred nearly all the money, approximately $8 million, from her federal campaign account to her gubernatorial exploratory committee. On November 13, 2009, Hutchison announced that she would not resign from the Senate seat until after the primary on March 2, 2010.

Hutchison lost the gubernatorial primary to Perry and on March 31, 2010, she announced her intention to serve out her third term. On January 13, 2011, after some discussion about whether she would change her mind, Hutchison announced she would not seek re-election in 2012.

Requirements for nomination Texas requires a majority for nomination, as well as a second round runoff between the two candidates with the two highest pluralities if none win a majority on the first round. No candidate won a majority in either 2012 major party first round primary, so both parties had a runoff on July 31, 2012.

Republican primary

Candidates

Declared Glenn Addison, funeral home owner Joe Agris, plastic surgeon Curt Cleaver, owner of a hotel sales, consulting, and management company Ted Cruz, former State Solicitor General David Dewhurst, Texas Lieutenant Governor Ben Gambini Charles Holcomb, retired judge from the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals Craig James, sports commentator and former professional football player Tom Leppert, former mayor of Dallas Lela Pittenger, mediator

Withdrew Elizabeth Ames Jones, Texas Railroad Commissioner (ran for State Senate) Florence Shapiro, Texas state senator (later dropped out) Michael Williams, former Texas Railroad Commissioner (ran for U.S. House) Roger Williams, former Texas Secretary of State (ran for U.S. House)

Declined Kay Bailey Hutchison, incumbent U.S. senator Robert Paul, doctor and son of Ron Paul, and brother of U.S. Senator Rand Paul Ron Paul, U.S. representative from (ran for president) Dan Patrick, Texas state senator

Endorsements

Polling Poll source TedCruz DavidDewhurstElizabeth CraigJames TomLeppert LelaPittengerMichaelWilliamsRogerWilliams Other UndecidedPublic Policy PollingPublic Policy PollingJanuary 14–16, 2011400±4.9%3% 23%6%6%3%—3%1%55%UoT/Texas TribuneUoT/Texas TribuneFebruary 11–17, 2011374±5.07%3% 27%2%2%–—5%2%59%UoT/Texas TribuneUoT/Texas TribuneMay 11–18, 2011388±4.98%2% 25%1%1%4%—6%2%59%Texas LyceumTexas LyceumMay 24–31, 2011147±8.08%1% 27%2%2%3%—0%4%61%Public Policy PollingPublic Policy PollingSeptember 15–18, 2011400±4.9%12% 41%7%7%6%——6%21%UoT/Texas TribuneUoT/Texas TribuneOctober 19–26, 2011800±4.93%10% 22%2%2%5%———41%Baselice & AssociatesBaselice & Associates October 31 – November 2, 2011 600 ±4% 6% 50%— — 9% ——2% — 35%Public Policy PollingPublic Policy Polling January 12–15, 2012 559 ±4.2% 18% 36%— 4% 7% 1%—— 3%Joe Agris 2%, Glenn Addison 1%, Charles Holcomb 0% 31%UoT/Texas TribuneUoT/Texas Tribune February 8–15, 2012 366 ±5.12% 27% 38%— 7% 7% 1%—— 20%Glenn Addison 1%, Curt Cleaver 0%, Charles Holcomb 0%, Other 19% —Public Policy PollingPublic Policy Polling April 19–22, 2012 400 ±4.9% 26% 38%— 7% 8% ——— 22%DWBSDWBS April 27–30, 2012 400 ±4.5% 16% 51%— 2% 7% ——— — 24%UoT/Texas TribuneUoT/Texas Tribune May 2012 274 ±5.92% 31% 40%— 4% 17% 3%—— 4%Glenn Addison 2%, Joe Agris 1%, Curt Cleaver 1%, Ben Gambini 0% 2% May 15–16, 2012 557 ±4.2% 30% 43%— 5% 14% 4%—— 3%Glenn Addison 2%, Curt Cleaver 1%, Joe Agris 0%, Ben Gambini 0% —Public Policy PollingPublic Policy Polling May 22–23, 2012 482 ±4.5% 29% 46%— 5% 15% ——— 2% 5% Commissioned by David Dewhurst

With Dan Patrick Poll source TedCruz DavidDewhurst Elizabeth TomLeppert DanPatrick RogerWilliams Other UndecidedDWBSDWBS June 4–5, 2011 450 ±4.62% 2% — 4% 11% 19% 6% — 58% 6% — — — 29% — — 64%Public Policy PollingPublic Policy Polling June 25–27, 2011 400 ±4.9% 11% 40% 3% 5% 11% 2% 2%Glenn Addison 2%, Lela Pittenger 0% 26% Commissioned by Dan Patrick

Results

Runoff With no candidate reaching the 50% required to win the nomination outright in the May primary, Dewhurst and Cruz advanced to the July runoff election.

During the two-month period between the May primary and the July 31 runoff, the campaign transformed from a localized contest into a nationalized proxy war between the Republican establishment and the burgeoning Tea Party movement. Despite trailing Dewhurst by 11 points in the initial primary, Cruz utilized the runoff delay to consolidate the "anti-establishment" vote. He framed the race as a choice between a "moderate" career politician and a "true conservative."

National organizations flooded the state with resources, with groups like Club for Growth and FreedomWorks spending millions of dollars on Cruz's behalf, funding a massive ground game and television advertising blitz. Cruz held high-energy events featuring Tea Party politicians Sarah Palin and Rand Paul, which helped dominate the media narrative and cast him as the underdog hero of the grassroots.

Facing a collapsing lead, Dewhurst’s campaign and the Texas Conservatives Fund (a pro-Dewhurst Super PAC) launched ads attacking Cruz's legal career. They specifically targeted his work for a Chinese company in a patent lawsuit, attempting to paint him as "un-Texan." Cruz responded by highlighting Dewhurst's record as Lieutenant Governor, accusing him of allowing state spending to grow and being "timid" on conservative priorities.

While Dewhurst led Cruz by a 25 percentage point margin in hypothetical 1-on-1 polls taken just before the May election, Cruz had jumped out to a sizeable lead by the month of July.

Debates The runoff featured several televised debates where the candidates clashed directly. Cruz, a champion collegiate debater, was widely perceived to have performed well, using the platforms to challenge Dewhurst's conservative credentials. Dewhurst often found himself on the defensive, struggling to distance himself from the "establishment" label in a year when Republican primary voters were seeking radical change.

Polling Poll source TedCruz DavidDewhurst UndecidedPublic Policy Polling May 22–23, 2012 482 ±4.5% 34% 59% 7%Wenzel StrategiesWenzel Strategies July 10–11, 2012 600 ±4% 47% 38% 14%Public Policy PollingPublic Policy Polling July 10–11, 2012 468 ±4.5% 49% 44% 7%Public Policy PollingPublic Policy Polling July 28–29, 2012 665 ±3.8% 52% 42% 6%

Results

Democratic primary

Candidates

Filed Addie Allen, disaster assistance employee for the Department of Homeland Security Sean Hubbard, businessman Paul Sadler, attorney and former state Representative Grady Yarbrough, retired teacher

Withdrew Daniel Boone, retired Air Force Colonel (ran for U.S. House) Jason Gibson, president of the Houston Trial Lawyers Association (filed, but dropped out) Ricardo Sanchez, former United States Army Lieutenant General (dropped out)

Declined Julian Castro, Mayor of San Antonio Adrian Garcia, Harris County sheriff Ron Kirk, U.S. trade representative and former Mayor of Dallas Nick Lampson, former U.S. representative John Sharp, former Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts Leticia Van de Putte, Texas state senator Bill White, former Mayor of Houston, originally announced that he would be running for the seat when it is vacated by Hutchison. On December 4, 2009, White announced that he was running for governor instead. After receiving the Democratic nomination for governor and losing the general election, White declared on November 15, 2010, that he would not run for the U.S. Senate in 2012.

Polling Poll source AddieAllen SeanHubbard PaulSadler GradyYarbrough OthersUniversity of Texas/Texas TribuneUniversity of Texas/Texas Tribune May 2012 234 ±6.41% 22% 22% 35% 12% Don't know (9%)

Poll source AddieAllen DanielBoone SeanHubbard JohnMorton PaulSadler OthersUniversity of Texas/Texas TribuneUniversity of Texas/Texas Tribune February 8–15, 2012 255 ±6.14% 10% 10% 12% 3% 10% Other (55%)

Poll source ChrisBell ChetEdwards SylviaGarcia RicardoSanchez JohnSharp OthersTexas Lyceum May 24–31, 2011 103 ±9.66% 9% 6% 5% 6% 6% Haven't thought much about it (64%)University of Texas/Texas TribuneUniversity of Texas/Texas Tribune May 11–18, 2011 252 ±6.17% 7% 11% – 14% 6% Don't know (63%)University of Texas, AustinUniversity of Texas, Austin February 11–17, 2011 297 ±5.69% 16% 13% – – 12% Don't know (59%)

Results

Runoff

Libertarian Party nomination The Libertarian Party was qualified for the ballot (based on its 2010 performance at the polls). The Texas Libertarian Party nominated John Jay Myers as its Senate candidate, using approval voting on June 9 at the state convention in Fort Worth. The nominating process followed a two-round debate featuring six candidates for the nomination.

Candidates Robert Butler Wayne Huffman Scott Jameson John Jay Myers, restaurant owner S. Ropal Raju Jon Roland

Results

Green Party nomination The Green Party of Texas reported two candidates pre-selected at the June 9 convention: David B. Collins and Victoria Ann Zabaras. Collins was ultimately nominated (official blog).

General election

Candidates Ted Cruz, (Republican) former state solicitor general Paul Sadler, (Democratic) former state representative John Jay Myers, (Libertarian) restaurant owner David Collins (Green), IT service desk analyst Chris Tina Bruce (independent) Mike Champion (independent)

Debates Complete video of debate, October 2, 2012 - C-SPAN Complete video of debate, October 19, 2012 - C-SPAN

Fundraising Candidate (party) Receipts Disbursements Cash on hand Debt Ted Cruz (R) $9,053,212 $7,600,914 $1,452,297 $795,000 Paul Sadler (D) $139,197 $108,442 $30,753 $12,197 John Jay Myers (L) $6,139 $547 $5,591 $0 Source: Federal Election CommissionPaul Sadler Campaign FinancesTed Cruz Campaign FinancesJohn Jay Myers Campaign Finances

Top contributors http://www.opensecrets.org/races/contrib.php?cycle=2012&id=txs2 OpenSecrets