2012 United States Senate election in Ohio

The 2012 United States Senate election in Ohio took place on November 6, 2012, concurrently with the 2012 U.S. presidential election, other elections to the United States Senate and House of Representatives, and various state and local elections. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown won re-election to a second term, defeating Republican Josh Mandel, the Ohio state treasurer. Brown was unopposed in the Democratic primary, while Mandel won the Republican primary with 63% of the vote.ENR – My Results

Democratic primary Results

Republican primary

Candidates

Filed Russell Bliss David Dodt Donna Glisman, retired entrepreneur Eric LaMont Gregory, medical scientist Josh Mandel, Ohio state treasurer Michael Pryce, surgeon

Withdrew Kevin Coughlin, former Ohio state senator (dropped out)

Declined Jim Tressel, Ohio State football coach

Endorsements Josh Mandel was endorsed by Rob Portman, U.S. senator (R-OH); Jim DeMint, U.S. senator (R-SC); Jim Jordan, U.S. congressman (R-OH); Club for Growth; National Rifle Association of America; Tea Party Express;Tea Party Express 2012 Endorsements Tea Party Express John McCain, U.S. senator (R-AZ);Sen. John McCain praises Josh Mandel's military experience in endorsing his Senate campaign cleveland.com Marco Rubio, U.S. senator (R-FL); Chris Christie, governor of New Jersey; Afghanistan & Iraq Veterans for Congress (AIVC); Buckeye Firearms Association; National Right to Life Committee;NRL PAC Endorses Josh Mandel for Senate in Ohio NRL News Today Ohio Right to Life; and National Federation of Independent Business.

Results

General election

Candidates Sherrod Brown (Democratic), incumbent U.S. senator Josh Mandel (Republican), Ohio state treasurer Scott RupertScott Rupert (Independent), truck driver

Debates Complete video of debate, October 15, 2012 - C-SPAN Complete video of debate, October 25, 2012 - C-SPAN

Campaign U.S. Representative Sherrod Brown defeated two-term incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Mike DeWine 56%-44% in the 2006 election. Over the next six years, he established a very progressive, and populist record. The National Journal named Brown the most liberal U.S. Senator in the past two years. The Washington Post called him a "modern-day Paul Wellstone." One article said "Brown is way to the left of Ohio in general, but probably the only person who could outwork Brown is Portman." Brown is the only candidate the 60 Plus Association targeted in the 2012 election cycle.

Mandel, 34, was elected state treasurer in 2010. Before that, he was a Lyndhurst city councilman and Ohio state representative. He was criticized as Ohio treasurer for not fulfilling his pledge to serve a four-year term and for not attending any of the Board of Deposit monthly meetings. However, Mandel raised a lot of money. He was called a rising star in the Republican Party and was called "the rock star of the party." He was also compared to Marco Rubio.Politics - Molly Ball - Is Josh Mandel the Next Marco Rubio? - The Atlantic

Mandel's campaign was singled out by the independent fact-checking group Politifact for its "casual relationship with the truth" and its tendency to "double down" after inaccuracies were pointed out. The fact-checking group wrote: "For all the gifts Mandel has, from his compelling personal narrative as an Iraq war veteran to a well-oiled fundraising machine, whoppers are fast becoming a calling card of his candidacy."

Mandel raised $7.2 million through the first quarter of 2012. He had $5.3 million cash on hand, trailing Brown's $6.3 million. However, Mandel benefited from massive support from conservative out-of-state superPACs, which raise unlimited amounts of money from anonymous donors. These outside groups, including Crossroads GPS, aired over $60 million in TV advertising supporting Mandel and attacking Brown, outspending Democratically aligned outside groups by more than five-to-one. Mandel's campaign was aided by over $1 million spent primarily on attack ads by a 501(c)(4) organization called the Government Integrity Fund. The group was funded by anonymous donors and run by lobbyist Tom Norris of Columbus, Ohio-based Cap Square Solutions.

Endorsements Brown was endorsed by the Cleveland Plain Dealer, ], the Columbus Dispatch, the Toledo Blade, the Youngstown Vindicator, The Cincinnati Enquirer, and the Akron Beacon-Journal.

Mandel was endorsed by the Warren Tribune-Chronicle and the Marietta Times.

Fundraising Candidate (party) Receipts Disbursements Cash on hand Debt Sherrod Brown (D) $8,132,882 $3,379,775 $6,273,316 $0 Josh Mandel (R) $7,286,390 $1,999,397 $5,286,993 $0 Scott Rupert (I) $3,153 $2,594 $389 $0 Source: Federal Election CommissionSherrod Brown Campaign FinancesJosh Mandel Campaign FinancesScott Rupert Campaign Finances

Top contributors OpenSecrets Sherrod Brown Contribution Josh Mandel Contribution JStreetPAC $71,175 Club for Growth $172,904 Ohio State University $69,470 Senate Conservatives Fund $114,400 Kohrman, Jackson & Krantz $59,500 Suarez Corp $90,000 Cleveland Clinic $57,971 Kasowitz Benson Torres & Friedman $41,600 Forest City Enterprises $51,600 American Financial Group $32,750 American Electric Power $42,350 Cintas Corp $30,000 Squire Sanders $39,400 Sullivan & Cromwell $25,475 Baker & Hostetler $38,906 Susquehanna International Group $22,500 Case Western Reserve University $35,450 Timken Company $22,500 Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease $34,167 Crawford Group $22,000

Top industries Donors by Industry (opensecrets.org) Sherrod Brown Contribution Josh Mandel Contribution Lawyers/law firms $1,587,113 Retired $480,900 Retired $942,717 Financial institutions $397,140 Health professionals $536,954 Real estate $371,057 Real estate $435,066 Lawyers/law firms $362,515 Lobbyists $393,651 Leadership PACs $320,050 Education $369,722 Republican/Conservative $278,924 Leadership PACs $318,975 Manufacturing & distributing $276,600 Hospitals/nursing homes $286,072 Misc. finance $205,350 Insurance $223,983 Retail industry $166,650 Financial institutions $204,350 Pro-Israel $163,000

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

Polling Poll source SherrodBrown (D) JoshMandel (R) Other UndecidedPublic Policy PollingPublic Policy Polling March 10–13, 2011 559 ±4.1% 48% 32% — 21%QuinnipiacQuinnipiac May 10–16, 2011 1,379 ±2.6% 45% 31% 2% 21%Public Policy PollingPublic Policy Polling May 19–22, 2011 565 ±4.1% 48% 31% — 21%Quinnipiac July 12–18, 2011 1,659 ±4.1% 49% 34% 1% 16%Public Policy PollingPublic Policy Polling August 11–14, 2011 792 ±3.5% 48% 33% — 19%QuinnipiacQuinnipiac September 20–25, 2011 1,301 ±2.7% 49% 36% — 13%Public Policy PollingPublic Policy Polling October 13–16, 2011 581 ±4.1% 48% 40% — 12%QuinnipiacQuinnipiac October 17–23, 2011 1,668 ±2.4% 49% 34% 1% 14%Public Policy PollingPublic Policy Polling November 4–6, 2011 1,421 ±2.6% 48% 35% — 14%QuinnipiacQuinnipiac January 9–16, 2012 1,610 ±2.4% 47% 32% 1% 18%Public Policy PollingPublic Policy Polling January 28–29, 2012 820 ±3.4% 47% 36% — 17%Rasmussen ReportsRasmussen Reports February 8, 2012 500 ±4.5% 44% 40% 4% 12%QuinnipiacQuinnipiac February 7–12, 2012 500 ±4.5% 48% 35% 4% 17%NBC News/MaristNBC News/Marist February 29 – March 2, 2012 3,079 ±1.8% 47% 37% — 16%QuinnipiacQuinnipiac March 20–26, 2012 1,246 ±2.8% 46% 36% 3% 14%Rasmussen ReportsRasmussen Reports March 26, 2012 500 ±4.5% 43% 43% 3% 11%Rasmussen ReportsRasmussen Reports April 18, 2012 500 ±4.5% 44% 41% 3% 12%Public Policy PollingPublic Policy Polling May 3–6, 2012 875 ±3.3% 45% 37% — 19%QuinnipiacQuinnipiac May 2–7, 2012 1,069 ±3.0% 46% 40% 1% 13%NBC News/MaristNBC News/Marist May 17–20, 2012 1,103 ±3.0% 51% 37% — 12%Rasmussen ReportsRasmussen Reports May 29, 2012 500 ±4.5% 47% 42% 3% 7%Public Policy PollingPublic Policy Polling June 21–24, 2012 673 ±3.8% 46% 39% — 15%QuinnipiacQuinnipiac June 19–25, 2012 1,237 ±2.8% 50% 34% 1% 14%Rasmussen ReportsRasmussen Reports July 18, 2012 500 ±4.5% 46% 42% 4% 8%Magellan StrategiesMagellan Strategies July 23–24, 2012 597 ±4.0% 45% 38% 12% 5%QuinnipiacQuinnipiac July 24–30, 2012 1,193 ±2.8% 51% 39% 1% 9%Rasmussen ReportsRasmussen Reports August 13, 2012 500 ±4.5% 44% 44% 3% 9%QuinnipiacQuinnipiac August 15–21, 2012 1,253 ±2.8% 48% 45% 1% 10%Ohio PollOhio Poll August 16–21, 2012 847 ±3.4% 48% 47% — 5%Columbus DispatchColumbus Dispatch August 15–25, 2012 1,758 ±2.1% 44% 44% — 12%Gravis MarketingGravis Marketing September 7–8, 2012 1,548 ±2.7% 47% 42% — 11%Public Policy PollingPublic Policy Polling September 7–9, 2012 1,072 ±3.0% 48% 40% — 11%NBC/WSJ/Marist PollNBC/WSJ/Marist Poll September 9–11, 2012 979 ±3.1% 49% 42% — 9%Rasmussen ReportsRasmussen Reports September 12, 2012 500 ±4.5% 49% 41% 3% 7%Ohio Newspaper OrganizationOhio Newspaper Organization September 13–18, 2012 861 ±3.3% 52% 45% 1% 2%Fox News PollFox News Poll September 16–18, 2012 1,009 ±3.0% 47% 40% 1% 9%Gravis MarketingGravis Marketing September 21–22, 2012 594 ±4.3% 44% 43% — 13%The Washington PostWashington Post September 19–23, 2012 934 ±4.0% 53% 41% — 6%CBS/The New York Times/Quinnipiac September 18–24, 2012 1,162 ±4.0% 50% 40% — 10%NBC/WSJ/MaristNBC/WSJ/Marist September 30 – October 1, 2012 931 ±3.2% 50% 41% 1% 7%Rasmussen ReportsRasmussen Reports October 4, 2012 500 ±4.5% 46% 46% 2% 6%SurveyUSASurveyUSA October 5–8, 2012 808 ±3.5% 42% 38% 4% 16%NBC/WSJ/Marist PollNBC/WSJ/Marist Poll October 7–9, 2012 994 ±3.1% 52% 41% 1% 6%Rasmussen Reports October 10, 2012 500 ±4.5% 47% 46% 2% 4%Public Policy PollingPublic Policy Polling October 12–13, 2012 880 ±3.3% 49% 42% — 9%Survey USASurvey USA October 12–15, 2012 613 ±4.0% 43% 38% 4% 14%Rasmussen ReportsRasmussen Reports October 17, 2012 750 ±4.0% 49% 44% 1% 5%CBS News/QuinnipiacCBS News/Quinnipiac October 17–20, 2012 1,548 ±3.0% 51% 42% — 7%Public Policy PollingPublic Policy Polling October 18–20, 2012 532 ±4.3% 49% 44% — 7%Angus Reid Public Opinion October 18–20, 2012 550 ±4.2% 52% 45% 3% —SuffolkSuffolk October 18–21, 2012 600 unknown 46% 39% 6% 10%Pharos ResearchPharos Research October 19–21, 2012 810 ±3.4% 52% 41% — 7%SurveyUSASurveyUSA October 20–22, 2012 725 ±4.2% 43% 42% 3% 12%Rasmussen ReportsRasmussen Reports October 23, 2012 750 ±4.0% 48% 44% 2% 5%The Cincinnati Enquirer/Ohio NewsCincinnati Enquirer/Ohio News October 18–23, 2012 1,015 ±3.1% 51% 47% 1% 2%Gravis MarketingGravis Marketing October 27, 2012 730 ±3.6% 48% 47% — 5%CBS/Quinnipiac UniversityCBS/Quinnipiac University October 23–28, 2012 1,110 ±3.0% 51% 42% — 7%Public Policy PollingPublic Policy Polling October 26–28, 2012 718 ±3.7% 53% 42% — 6%Pharos ResearchPharos Research October 26–28, 2012 765 ±3.5% 53% 43% — 7%Rasmussen ReportsRasmussen Reports October 28, 2012 750 ±4.0% 50% 48% 1% 1%SurveyUSASurveyUSA October 26–29, 2012 603 ±4.1% 46% 41% 3% 10%University of Cincinnati/Ohio PollUniversity of Cincinnati/Ohio Poll October 25–30, 2012 1,182 ±2.9% 49% 44% 4% 3%Reuters/IpsosReuters/Ipsos October 29–31, 2012 885 ±3.8% 49% 41% 4% 6%NBC/WSJ/MaristNBC/WSJ/Marist October 31 – November 1, 2012 971 ±3.1% 50% 45% 1% 4%Rasmussen ReportsRasmussen Reports November 1, 2012 750 ±4.0% 48% 48% 2% 2%Columbus DispatchColumbus Dispatch October 24 – November 3, 2012 1,501 ±2.2% 51% 45% 4% —Ohio Poll/Univ. of CincinnatiOhio Poll/Univ. of Cincinnati October 31 – November 4, 2012 901 ±3.3% 51% 47% 3% —SurveyUSASurveyUSA November 1–4, 2012 803 ±3.5% 44% 41% 4% 9%Angus Reid Public Opinion November 2–4, 2012 572 ±4.1% 52% 46% 2% —Public Policy PollingPublic Policy Polling November 3–4, 2012 1,000 ±3.1% 54% 44% — 3%Rasmussen Reports November 4, 2012 750 ±4% 50% 48% 1% 1%

Democratic primary