The 2012 United States Senate election in Nevada was held on Tuesday, November 6, 2012, concurrently with elections to the United States Senate in other states, elections to the United States House of Representatives, and the 2012 presidential election. The primary election was held on June 12, 2012.

Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Dean Heller, who was appointed to his seat in May 2011 following the resignation of Senator John Ensign, was narrowly elected to a full term over Representative Shelley Berkley, despite President Barack Obama carrying the state by 6.7% in the concurrent presidential election. As a result, Heller became the only Republican Senate candidate in 2012 to win in a state that was lost by the Republican presidential candidate. With a margin of 1.2%, this election was the second-closest race of the 2012 Senate election cycle, behind only the election in North Dakota.

Despite the resignation of Ensign, this was not a special election. Nevada was the only state that had vacancy in Senate election already regularly scheduled for 2012. As of 2026, this is the last time that Republicans won a U.S. Senate election in Nevada.

Background

Ensign was re-elected to the United States Senate in 2006 against Jack Carter, son of former president Jimmy Carter, 55% to 41%. His re-election 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.

The Senate Ethics Committee was to investigate Ensign, and his poll numbers declined significantly. There was speculation that he might resign before the election, but he initially said he would run for reelection. On March 7, 2011, Ensign announced that he would not seek reelection, and on April 22, he announced that he would resign effective May 3.

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

Republican primary Candidates Nominated Dean Heller, incumbent U.S. senator, former U.S. representative, former Nevada secretary of state and former state assemblyman

Eliminated in primary Sherry Brooks, retired secretary Richard Charles Eddie Hamilton, retired auto executive and perennial candidate Carlo Poliak, sanitation worker and perennial candidate David Lory Vanderbeek, marriage and family therapist

Declined Sharron Angle, former state assembly member and nominee for U.S. Senate in 2010"Angle in race for Heller's House seat", ReviewJournal.com John Chachas, businessman John Ensign, former U.S. senator Sue Lowden, former state senator and candidate for U.S. Senate in 2010 Brian Krolicki, lieutenant governorKrolicki endorses Heller, mulls House bid by David Catanese at POLITICO.com Jon Porter, former U.S representative Danny Tarkanian, businessman, nominee for Secretary of State of Nevada in 2006 and candidate for U.S. Senate in 2010 (running for the 4th district)

Polling

Primary Poll source SharronAngle JohnChachas JohnEnsign DeanHeller BrianKrolicki SueLowden DannyTarkanian UndecidedPublic Policy PollingPublic Policy Polling January 3–5, 2011 400 ±4.9% 9% 5% 20% 30% 6% 12% 10% 8%

Appointment preference Poll source SueLowden BrianSandoval DannyTarkanian UndecidedMason-Dixon/LVJRMason-Dixon/LVJR October 8, 2009 4% 24% 14% 17% 17% 21%

Primaries with Ensign Poll source JohnEnsign DeanHeller Other UndecidedPublic Policy PollingPublic Policy Polling October 7–9, 2010 400 ±4.9% 45% 37% –– 18%Public Policy Polling January 3–5, 2011 400 ±4.9% 34% 52% –– 13%

Poll source JohnEnsign BrianKrolicki Other UndecidedPublic Policy Polling October 7–9, 2010 400 ±4.9% 55% 27% –– 18%

Results

Democratic primary Candidates Nominated Shelley Berkley, U.S. representative

Eliminated in primary Steve Brown, businessman Barry Ellsworth, renewable energy executive Louis Macias, art dealer Nancy Price, former regent of the Nevada System of Higher Education and Democratic nominee for the 2nd congressional district in 2010

Withdrew Byron Georgiou, businessman

Declined Catherine Cortez Masto, Nevada Attorney General Oscar Goodman, former Mayor of Las Vegas Kate Marshall, Nevada State Treasurer Ross Miller, Secretary of State of Nevada Dina Titus, former U.S. Representative and nominee for Governor in 2006 (running for the 1st district)

Polling

Poll source ShelleyBerkley ByronGeorgiou Other UndecidedPublic Policy PollingPublic Policy Polling April 21–24, 2011 300 ±5.7% 65% 8% –– 27%Public Policy PollingPublic Policy Polling July 28–31, 2011 400 ±4.9% 71% 6% –– 23%

Results

General election Candidates Shelley Berkley (D), U.S. representative Dean Heller (R), incumbent U.S. senator David Lory VanDerBeek (Independent American Party of Nevada), therapist

Campaign On July 9, the United States House Committee on Ethics voted unanimously to form an investigative subcommittee to see whether Berkley used her official position to advocate for policy that benefited her family's financial situation. More specifically, Berkley was accused of pushing healthcare legislation that would benefit her husband's medical practice as well as she was blamed for her efforts to block the closure of a kidney transplant center where her husband was employed.

Debates The first Berkley-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.

Complete video of debate, September 27, 2012 - C-SPAN Complete video of debate, October 11, 2012 - C-SPAN

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

Top contributors Nevada Senate 2012 Race, OpenSecrets 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 $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

Polling

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

Poll source DeanHeller (R) ByronGeorgiou (D) Other UndecidedPublic Policy Polling April 21–24, 2011 491 ±4.4% 52% 28% –– 20%Magellan Strategies (R)Magellan Strategies (R) June 21–22, 2011 720 ±3.65% 46% 33% –– 21%Public Policy Polling July 28–31, 2011 601 ±4.0% 48% 31% –– 20%

Poll source DeanHeller (R) OscarGoodman (D) Other UndecidedPublic Policy Polling January 3–5, 2011 932 ±3.2% 45% 38% –– 16%

Poll source DeanHeller (R) Catherine Other UndecidedPublic Policy Polling January 3–5, 2011 932 ±3.2% 46% 37% –– 16%

Poll source DeanHeller (R) RossMiller (D) Other UndecidedPublic Policy Polling January 3–5, 2011 932 ±3.2% 46% 34% –– 21%

with John Ensign Poll source JohnEnsign (R) ShelleyBerkley (D) Other UndecidedPublic Policy PollingPublic Policy Polling January 11–12, 2010 763 ±3.6% 49% 40% –– 11%Public Policy Polling January 3–5, 2011 932 ±3.2% 42% 45% –– 13%

Poll source JohnEnsign (R) Catherine Other UndecidedPublic Policy PollingPublic Policy Polling July 16–18, 2010 630 ±3.9% 48% 38% –– 14%Public Policy Polling January 3–5, 2011 932 ±3.2% 42% 44% –– 14%

Poll source JohnEnsign (R) OscarGoodman (D) Other UndecidedPublic Policy Polling January 11–12, 2010 763 ±3.6% 43% 41% –– 16%Public Policy Polling January 3–5, 2011 932 ±3.2% 35% 45% –– 20%

Poll source JohnEnsign (R) RossMiller (D) Other UndecidedPublic Policy Polling January 11–12, 2010 763 ±3.6% 47% 36% –– 18%Public Policy Polling January 3–5, 2011 932 ±3.2% 39% 40% –– 21%

Poll source JohnEnsign (R) DinaTitus (D) Other UndecidedPublic Policy Polling July 16–18, 2010 630 ±3.9% 51% 41% –– 8%

Predictions Source Ranking As of The Cook Political Report November 1, 2012 Inside Elections November 2, 2012 Sabato's Crystal Ball November 5, 2012 Real Clear Politics November 5, 2012

Results On election day, Heller edged out Berkley by just over a point; at the same time Barack Obama defeated Mitt Romney by 6.7%, becoming the only Republican in 2012 to win a Senate seat in a state that voted for Obama in the presidential election.

By county