The 2012 United States Senate election in Utah took place on November 6, 2012, concurrently with the 2012 U.S. presidential election, as well as other elections to the United States Senate and House of Representatives and as various state and local elections. Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Orrin Hatch won re-election to a seventh and final term against the Democratic candidate, former state senator and IBM executive Scott Howell, in a rematch of the 2000 Senate election, with Hatch doing slightly better than in 2000.

Background Orrin Hatch won re-election to a sixth term after winning 62.4% of the vote against Pete Ashdown in the 2006 U.S. senatorial election in Utah. Tea Party activists targeted Hatch for a primary challenge, similar to the victory of Mike Lee over Bob Bennett in the 2010 election.

Republican nomination

Convention

Candidates Declared Tim Aalders, radio talk show host and former business manager Dale Ash, retired sales manager Arlan Brunson, small business owner David Chiu Kevin Fisk, small business owner Jeremy Friedbaum, small business owner and candidate for the U.S. Senate in 2010 Orrin Hatch, incumbent U.S. Senator Chris Herrod, state representative William "Dub" Lawrence Dan Liljenquist, former state senator

Declined Jason Chaffetz, U.S. representative Jon Huntsman, Jr., former Ambassador to China, former Governor of Utah, former Ambassador to Singapore and candidate for President in 2012 David Kirkham, co-founder of the Utah tea party Morgan Philpot, former state representative and 2010 congressional candidate Mark Shurtleff, Utah Attorney General

Campaign In 2006, incumbent Orrin Hatch won re-election to a sixth term. In 2008, Chaffetz defeated the incumbent Republican U.S. Representative, Chris Cannon, in the 2008 primary for Utah's 3rd congressional district. In 2010, Mike Lee defeated Bob Bennett in the 2010 Utah Senate election. In March 2011, just-elected U.S. Senator Mike Lee said he will not endorse Hatch in the primary. In May 2011, Chaffetz told several Utah political insiders that he plans to run. He said he won't make an official decision until after Labor Day of 2011.

In June 2011, prominent conservative radio talk show host Mark Levin endorsed Hatch. The fiscally conservative 501(c)4 organization Club for Growth encouraged Chaffetz to run. The group cited Hatch's support for the Troubled Asset Relief Program, State Children's Health Insurance Program, No Child Left Behind Act, Bridge to Nowhere, and other votes among the reasons why they opposed his re-election. In an interview with Politico, Chaffetz stated, "After 34 years of service, I think most Utahans want a change. They want to thank him for his service, but it's time to move on. And for me personally, I think he's been on the wrong side of a host of major issues." The congressman cited Hatch's vote in favor of Equal Opportunity to Serve Act and the Health Equity and Access Reform Today Act of 1993. However, Chaffetz ultimately decided against a run.

Endorsements

Polling In a January 2012 UtahPolicy.com poll of 1,291 Salt Lake County Republican caucus participants, 42% chose Hatch, 23% Liljenquist, 5% Herrod, and 30% were undecided. In a January 28, 2012 straw poll of 194 votes at the Box Elder County Republican Party Lincoln Day Dinner, 42% chose Liljenquist, 41% for Hatch, and 17% for Herrod.

Results

Primary

Candidates Orrin Hatch, incumbent U.S. senator Dan Liljenquist, former state senator

Campaign After the convention, Hatch had $3 million more than Liljenquist.

Endorsements

Polling Poll source OrrinHatch DanLiljenquist Other/UndecidedUtah Data Points/Key ResearchUtah Data Points/Key Research June 12–19, 2012 500 ±4.4% 56% 25% 18%Deseret News/KSL-TVDeseret News/KSL-TV June 15–21, 2012 737 ±3.6% 60% 32% 8%

Results

Democratic nomination

Candidates Declared Pete Ashdown, businessman and nominee for the U.S. Senate in 2006 Scott Howell, former state senator and nominee for the U.S. Senate in 2000

Results Howell defeated Ashdown 63%-37% to win and avoid a primary.

General election

Candidates Bill Barron (Independent) Daniel Geery (Justice) Orrin Hatch (Republican), incumbent U.S. senator Scott Howell (Democratic), former state senator and nominee for the U.S. Senate in 2000 Shaun McCausland (Constitution)

Debates Complete video of debate, October 17, 2012 - C-SPAN

Fundraising Candidate (party) Receipts Disbursements Cash on hand Debt Scott Howell (D) $421,086 $420,779 $306 $0 Orrin Hatch (R) $11,577,851 $13,140,209 $779,719 $515,845 William Barron (I) $17,157 $14,116 $3,038 $0 Source: Federal Election Commission

Top contributors

Scott Howell Contribution Orrin Hatch Contribution William Barron Contribution International Union of Operating Engineers $10,000 OC Tanner Inc $72,010 Peace River Citrus Products $2,000 Altaview Orthodontics $5,000 Cancer Treatment Centers of America $67,500 Cirque Property $1,000 International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers $5,000 Cerberus Capital Management $65,000 International Association of Iron Workers $5,000 Fresenius Medical Care $65,500 Intermountain Healthcare National Education Association $5,000 Blue Cross & Blue Shield $54,500 Shurtleff Construction $5,000 Ernst & Young $53,000 St Mark's Hospital $5,000 PricewaterhouseCoopers $42,008 United Steelworkers $5,000 Herbalife International $41,900 Sutter Health $4,500 Marriott International $39,500 IBM Corporation $3,150 Apollo Global Management $39,000 Source: OpenSecrets

Top industries Scott Howell Contribution Orrin Hatch Contribution William Barron Contribution Retired $43,100 Financial institutions $1,113,746 Retired $4,050 Health professionals $17,000 Pharmaceuticals/health products $834,601 Agribusiness $2,000 Building trade unions $15,000 Lobbyists $508,567 Real estate $1,000 Hospitals/nursing homes $14,500 Insurance $495,968 Education $750 Lawyers/law firms $12,250 Lawyers/law firms $479,871 Misc. business $500 Industrial unions $10,000 Health professionals $447,415 General contractors $7,500 Real estate $412,394 Automotive $5,000 Health services/HMOs $396,132 Public sector unions $5,000 Leadership PACs $394,550 High-tech industry $4,900 Oil & gas $391,878 Source: OpenSecrets

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 OrrinHatch (R) ScottHowell (D) Other/UndecidedDeseret News/KSL-TV June 15–21, 2012 1,228 ±2.8% 63% 29% 8%Utah State UniversityUtah State University October 8–13, 2012 n/a ±7.6% 67% 24% 9%Key ResearchKey Research October 9–13, 2012 500 ±4.4% 61% 22% 17%Deseret News/KSLDeseret News/KSL October 26 – November 1, 2012 870 ±3.4% 63% 26% 11%

with Dan Liljenquist Poll source DanLiljenquist (R) ScottHowell (D) Other/UndecidedDeseret News/KSL-TV June 15–21, 2012 1228 ±2.8% 48% 34% 18%

with Jason Chaffetz Poll source JasonChaffetz (R) JanGraham (D) UndecidedPublic Policy PollingPublic Policy Polling July 8–10, 2011 732 ±3.6% 53% 34% 14%

Poll source JasonChaffetz (R) SamGranato (D) UndecidedPublic Policy Polling July 8–10, 2011 732 ±3.6% 54% 33% 14%

Poll source JasonChaffetz (R) JimMatheson (D) UndecidedDeseret News/KSL-TVDeseret News/KSL-TV June 13–16, 2011 406 ±5.0% 46% 45% 8%Public Policy Polling July 8–10, 2011 732 ±3.6% 42% 47% 11%Mason-DixonMason-Dixon August 8–10, 2011 625 ±4.0% 49% 43% 8%

with Orrin Hatch Poll source OrrinHatch (R) JimMatheson (D) UndecidedDeseret News/KSL-TV June 13–16, 2011 406 ±5.0% 47% 47% 6%Public Policy Polling July 8–10, 2011 732 ±3.6% 44% 45% 11%Mason-Dixon August 8–10, 2011 625 ±4.0% 48% 43% 9%

Poll source OrrinHatch (R) JanGraham (D) UndecidedPublic Policy Polling July 8–10, 2011 732 ±3.6% 55% 34% 12%

Poll source OrrinHatch (R) SamGranato (D) UndecidedPublic Policy Polling July 8–10, 2011 732 ±3.6% 56% 31% 13%

Republican primary Poll source OrrinHatch JasonChaffetz UndecidedDeseret News/KSL-TV June 13–16, 2011 406 ±5.0% 47% 44% 10%Public Policy PollingPublic Policy Polling July 8–10, 2011 406 ±4.9% 43% 47% 10%Mason-Dixon August 8–10, 2011 305 ±5.7% 49% 39% 12%

Results

By congressional district Hatch won all four congressional districts, including one that elected a Democrat.

District Hatch Howell Representative 69.84% 25.63%Rob Bishop 60.84% 33.85%Chris Stewart 70.35% 25.14%Jason Chaffetz 59.92% 35.62%Jim Matheson

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

References

External links Utah Government Services – Elections Campaign finances at OpenSecrets.org Outside spending at Sunlight Foundation Candidates issue positions at On the Issues

Official campaign websites Bill Barron for Senate Daniel Geery for Senate Orrin Hatch for Senate Scott Howell for Senate Shaun McCausland for Senate