The 2012 United States Senate election in Washington 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 Maria Cantwell won re-election to a third term by a significant margin, outperforming President Barack Obama's margin in the concurrent presidential election by 6%.

Background Maria Cantwell won re-election to a second term with 56.85% of the vote against Mike McGavick in the 2006 Washington U.S. Senate election.

Top-two primary election

Candidates

Democratic Maria Cantwell, incumbent U.S. senator Timothy Wilson

Republican Michael Baumgartner, state senator Art Coday, physician Chuck Jackson, merchant mariner Mike the Mover, perennial candidate Glen R. Stockwell, president of Washington State Economic Development Corporation

Declined Bill Bryant, Port of Seattle Commission president Clint Didier, former NFL football player (endorsed Coday) Doc Hastings, U.S. representative Jaime Herrera Beutler, U.S. representative John Koster, Snohomish County Councilman and candidate for the 2nd congressional district in 2010 (running for the U.S. House) Cathy McMorris Rodgers, U.S. representative Dave Reichert, U.S. representative Phillip Yin, Hong Kong–based anchor for Bloomberg Television

Others Will Baker (Reform Party)

Results

By congressional district District Cantwell Baumgartner Coday Representative 52% 32% 9%Suzan DelBene 58% 26% 7%Rick Larsen 46% 34% 6%Jaime Herrera Beutler 40% 41% 6%Doc Hastings 44% 43% 4%Cathy McMorris Rodgers 56% 28% 6%Norm Dicks 78% 15% 3%Jim McDermott 49% 35% 7%Dave Reichert 65% 24% 5%Adam Smith 57% 29% 6%Denny Heck

General election

Candidates Michael Baumgartner (Republican), state senator Maria Cantwell (Democratic), incumbent U.S. senator

Debates Complete video of debate, October 12, 2012 - C-SPAN

Fundraising Candidate (party) Receipts Disbursements Cash on hand Debt Maria Cantwell (D) $8,032,254 $6,355,260 $2,176,258 $2,171,350 Michael Baumgartner (R) $689,690 $422,428 $181,841 $45,689 Source: Federal Election CommissionMaria Cantwell Campaign FinancesMichael Baumgartner Campaign Finances

Top contributors [http://www.opensecrets.org/races/contrib.php?cycle=2012&id=WAS1 OpenSecrets Maria Cantwell Contribution Michael Baumgartner Contribution Microsoft $83,982 Anderson Hay & Grain $5,000 EMILY's List $77,900 Columbia Management Systems, By Lar $5,000 Morgan & Morgan $40,000 Ignition Partners $5,000 League of Conservation Voters $39,900 Kvc Development Co $5,000 University of Washington $35,900 Acorn Campus Ventures $4,000 K&L Gates $35,048 Legacy LLC $3,523 Boeing $30,625 Inland Empire Paper $3,750 Intellectual Ventures $27,250 Savers Inc $3,523 McBee Strategic Consulting $26,650 Red Lion Hotels $3,500 Second Avenue Partners $24,500 National Cotton Council $3,300

Top industries Donors by Industry (opensecrets.org) Maria Cantwell Contribution Michael Baumgartner Contribution Lawyers/law firms $696,936 Retired $45,756 Retired $621,231 Financial institutions $10,000 Lobbyists $539,418 Financial institutions $310,487 Financial institutions $310,487 Agribusiness $9,550 Computers/Internet $206,970 Health professionals $6,150 Real estate $179,169 Misc. finance $4,250 Health professionals $169,937 Mining $4,25 Business services $167,629 Timber/forest products $3,750 Casinos/gambling $165,850 General contractors $3,000 Entertainment industry $136,457 Real estate $2,950

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

Endorsements

Polling Aggregate polls Source of pollaggregationDatesadministeredDatesupdated MariaCantwell (D) MichaelBaumgartner (R) Other/UndecidedMarginReal Clear PoliticsReal Clear PoliticsOctober 14 – November 3, 2012November 3, 201256.7%36.3%7.0%Cantwell +20.4% Poll source MariaCantwell (D) Michael Other UndecidedSurvey USASurvey USA November 21–23, 2011 549 ±4.3% 51% 39% — 10%Survey USASurvey USA January 12–16, 2012 617 ±4.0% 50% 41% — 8%Public Policy PollingPublic Policy Polling February 16–19, 2012 1,264 ±2.76% 51% 36% — 13%Public Policy PollingPublic Policy Polling June 14–17, 2012 1,073 ±3.0% 51% 35% — 14%Survey USASurvey USA July 16–17, 2012 630 ±4.0% 51% 40% — 9%Survey USASurvey USA September 7–9, 2012 524 ±4.4% 54% 38% — 8%Rasmussen ReportsRasmussen Reports September 26, 2012 500 ±4.5% 57% 37% 1% 5%SurveyUSASurveyUSA September 28–30, 2012 540 ±4.3% 53% 40% — 6%The Washington PollThe Washington Poll October 1–16, 2012 782 ±3.5% 58% 35% — 7%Rasmussen Reports October 14, 2012 500 ±4.5% 52% 37% 1% 9%KCTS 9/Washington PollKCTS 9/Washington Poll October 18–31, 2012 632 ±3.9% 61% 33% — 6%Public Policy PollingPublic Policy Polling November 1–3, 2012 932 ±3.2% 57% 39% — 4%

Poll source MariaCantwell (D) BillBryant (R) Other UndecidedPublic Policy Polling February 16–19, 2012 1,264 ±2.76% 50% 36% — 14%

Poll source MariaCantwell (D) Cathy M.Rodgers (R) Other UndecidedPublic Policy PollingPublic Policy Polling July 27 – August 1, 2010 1,204 ±2.8% 49% 37% — 13%Public Policy PollingPublic Policy Polling May 12–15, 2011 1,098 ±3.0% 50% 31% — 19%

Poll source MariaCantwell (D) DaveReichert (R) Other UndecidedPublic Policy Polling July 27 – August 1, 2010 1,204 ±2.8% 47% 41% — 12%Public Policy Polling May 12–15, 2011 1,098 ±3.0% 49% 35% — 16%Survey USA November 21–23, 2011 549 ±4.3% 48% 41% — 10%

Poll source MariaCantwell (D) ClintDidier (R) Other UndecidedPublic Policy Polling May 12–15, 2011 1,098 ±3.0% 51% 35% — 13%

Poll source MariaCantwell (D) SusanHutchison (R) Other UndecidedPublic Policy Polling May 12–15, 2011 1,098 ±3.0% 49% 35% — 16%Survey USA November 21–23, 2011 549 ±4.3% 49% 38% — 13%

Poll source MariaCantwell (D) DinoRossi (R) Other UndecidedPublic Policy Polling May 12–15, 2011 1,098 ±3.0% 53% 40% — 8%Public Policy Polling February 16–19, 2012 1,264 ±2.76% 53% 41% — 7%

Results

By county

CountyMaria Cantwell DemocraticMichael Baumgartner RepublicanMarginTotal%#%#%#Adams39.29%1,85960.71%2,872–21.41%–1,0134,731Asotin46.77%4,56353.23%5,193–6.46%–6309,756Benton42.69%33,39157.31%44,828–14.62%–11,43778,219Chelan46.98%14,89253.02%16,808–6.04%–1,91631,700Clallam53.89%20,25246.11%17,3317.77%2,92137,583Clark53.05%98,45746.95%87,1506.09%11,307185,607Columbia36.97%82763.03%1,410–26.06%–5832,237Cowlitz56.42%24,82043.58%19,17012.89%5,67043,990Douglas42.09%6,22857.91%8,570–15.83%–2,34214,798Ferry43.67%1,49456.33%1,927–12.66%–4333,421Franklin43.11%9,68956.89%12,786–13.78%–3,09722,475Garfield36.39%45363.61%792–27.23%–3391,245Grant38.72%10,62161.28%16,811–22.56%–6,19027,432Grays Harbor61.45%17,49138.55%10,97122.91%6,52028,462Island55.48%23,02444.52%18,47510.96%4,54941,499Jefferson68.78%13,47131.22%6,11437.56%7,35719,585King72.27%683,06727.73%262,03444.55%421,033945,101Kitsap58.95%71,65641.05%49,89017.91%21,766121,546Kittitas49.22%8,74650.78%9,023–1.56%–27717,769Klickitat50.62%5,11549.38%4,9901.24%12510,105Lewis43.01%14,44556.99%19,139–13.98%–4,69433,584Lincoln37.12%2,15762.88%3,654–25.76%–1,4975,811Mason57.47%16,05742.53%11,88514.93%4,17227,942Okanogan47.84%7,96352.16%8,683–4.33%–72016,646Pacific60.86%6,32339.14%4,06721.71%2,25610,390Pend Oreille43.20%2,86756.80%3,769–13.59%–9026,636Pierce59.76%201,82740.24%135,88819.53%65,939337,715San Juan70.37%7,35129.63%3,09540.74%4,25610,446Skagit56.17%30,63543.83%23,90012.35%6,73554,535Skamania53.13%2,82346.87%2,4906.27%3335,313Snohomish60.50%196,53439.50%128,32221.00%68,212324,856Spokane49.92%110,03350.08%110,372–0.15%–339220,405Stevens39.21%8,67160.79%13,441–21.57%–4,77022,112Thurston62.82%78,46837.18%46,44925.63%32,019124,917Wahkiakum55.32%1,25344.68%1,01210.64%2412,265Walla Walla46.45%11,46453.55%13,217–7.10%–1,75324,681Whatcom59.49%59,93840.51%40,81818.98%19,120100,756Whitman49.77%8,38450.23%8,463–0.47%–7916,847Yakima50.05%38,18449.95%38,1150.09%6976,299Total60.45%1,855,49339.55%1,213,92420.90%641,5693,069,417

Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic Yakima (largest city: Yakima)

Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican Asotin (largest city: Clarkston) Spokane (largest city: Spokane) Whitman (largest city: Pullman)

By congressional district Cantwell won eight of ten congressional districts, including two that elected Republicans. District Cantwell Baumgartner Representative 57% 43%Suzan DelBene 63% 37%Rick Larsen 53% 47%Jaime Herrera Beutler 45% 55%Doc Hastings 48% 52%Cathy McMorris Rodgers 61% 39%Derek Kilmer 82% 18%Jim McDermott 55% 45%Dave Reichert 72% 28%Adam Smith 61% 39%Denny Heck

See also 2012 United States Senate elections 2012 United States House of Representatives elections in Washington 2012 United States presidential election in Washington 2012 Washington gubernatorial election

Notes

References

External links Elections & Voting at the Washington Secretary of State office Campaign contributions at OpenSecrets.org Outside spending at Sunlight Foundation Candidate issue positions at On the Issues

Official campaign websites (archived) Maria Cantwell Michael Baumgartner Art Coday