The 2012 Missouri Attorney General election was held on November 6, 2012, alongside the presidential and gubernatorial elections. The incumbent Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster, a Democrat, won re-election for a second full term against Republican attorney Ed Martin. As of , this is the last time a Democrat was elected Attorney General of Missouri.
Background Koster was originally elected as attorney general in 2008 as a Democrat after switching from the Republican Party. Koster won despite accusations that his campaign violated state law in raising money from multiple committees. He also survived the disclosure that he played a supporting role in a plagiarism episode that damaged Attorney General William L. Webster’s campaign for governor in 1992. Fresh out of law school, Koster worked for Webster, a Republican, as an assistant state attorney general.
He defeated State Representative Margaret Donnelly in the Democratic primary for the nomination for Missouri Attorney General and won against Republican state senator Michael R. Gibbons in the general election, 53%-47%.Unofficial Election Returns Missouri Secretary of State He was sworn in as attorney general on January 12, 2009, succeeding Jay Nixon, who had served since 1993.
Timeline March 27, 2012 - Filing deadline for Democrats, Republicans and Libertarians from the Missouri Secretary of State August 7, 2012 - Primary (gubernatorial and other statewide office) elections August 21, 2012 - Filing deadline for other third parties and Independents November 6, 2012 - General election
Republican primary Candidates
Declared Ed Martin, attorneyMartin to run for Mo. Atty. General. Associated Press via Kirksville Daily Express. Published 2012-01-26. Adam Lee Warren, prosecuting attorney of Livingston County
Declined Cole McNary, state representative
Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror EdMartin AdamWarren UndecidedPublic Policy PollingPublic Policy Polling August 4–5, 2012 590 ± 4.0% 46% 17% 37%
Results 100% reporting (3,420 of 3,420 precincts)
Martin, who served as chief of staff for Governor Matt Blunt from 2006 until November 2007, won the Republican primary in a landslide, 72%-28% and became the party's nominee.
Democratic primary Candidates
Declared Chris Koster, incumbent attorney general since 2008
Koster was unopposed for the Democratic nomination.
General election Polling Poll source Date(s) administered Samplesize Margin oferror ChrisKoster (D) EdMartin (R) Other UndecidedMason-DixonMason-Dixon October 23–25, 2012 625 ± 4% 51% 37% — 12%Public Policy PollingPublic Policy Polling October 19–21, 2012 582 ± 4.1% 48% 38% — 13%Public Policy PollingPublic Policy Polling August 20, 2012 500 ± 4.4% 41% 39% — 20%
Results
On election day, Koster defeated Martin by a wide margin of over 14 percentage points, an increase from his 5% margin of victory in 2008. This was despite Republican Mitt Romney defeating Democratic President Barack Obama in the concurrent presidential election in Missouri, although other incumbent state Democratic officials were re-elected as well. Governor Jay Nixon won re-election by more than 12 percentage points, Senator Claire McCaskill won re-election by over 15 percentage points, and Clint Zweifel won by 5 percentage points. Jason Kander was also elected Secretary of State by just over one percentage point.
By congressional district Koster won six of eight congressional districts, including four that elected Republicans. District Koster Martin Representative1st83%15%Lacy Clay2nd51%46%Todd Akin (112th Congress)Ann Wagner (113th Congress)3rd50%46%Russ Carnahan (112th Congress)Blaine Luetkemeyer (113th Congress)4th52%44%Vicky Hartzler5th67%29%Emanuel Cleaver6th51%45%Sam Graves7th44%52%Billy Long8th48.0%48.3%Jo Ann Emerson
See also 2012 United States presidential election in Missouri 2012 United States Senate election in Missouri 2012 United States House of Representatives elections in Missouri 2012 Missouri gubernatorial election 2012 Missouri lieutenant gubernatorial election 2012 Missouri State Treasurer election 2012 Missouri Secretary of State election
References
External links Elections from the Missouri Secretary of State
Official campaign websites Chris Koster for Attorney General Ed Martin for Attorney General