2012 United States Senate election in New York

The 2012 United States Senate election in New York took place on November 6, 2012, concurrently with the U.S. presidential election, other elections to the United States Senate and House of Representatives, and various state and local elections.

Governor David Paterson appointed then-U.S. Representative Kirsten Gillibrand to serve as U.S. senator from New York until the 2010 special election, succeeding former U.S. Senator Hillary Clinton, who resigned to serve as U.S. Secretary of State in the Obama administration. Gillibrand won the special election in 2010 with 62.95% of the vote over former U.S. Representative Joseph DioGuardi.

Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand won re-election to her first full term by a landslide. She was opposed in the general election by Wendy Long (who ran on the Republican and Conservative Party tickets) and by three minor party candidates. Gillibrand was re-elected with 72% of the vote. She carried 60 out of 62 counties statewide, losing only Wyoming and Allegany counties.

Democratic primary Candidates Kirsten Gillibrand, incumbent U.S. senator

Gillibrand was endorsed by the Independence Party of New York and the Working Families Party and appeared on the ballot lines of both of those parties in the general election.

Republican primary Candidates Declared Wendy Long, attorney George Maragos, Nassau County comptroller Bob Turner, U.S. Representative, New York's 9th congressional district

The 2012 New York State Republican Convention took place on March 16, 2012.Seiler, Casey (February 19, 2012). Save the date: GOP plans March 16 convention. Capitol Confidential (Albany Times-Union). Retrieved February 19, 2012. Candidates Wendy Long, George Maragos, and Congressman Bob Turner each reached the threshold of 25% of the weighted vote necessary to qualify for the June 26 primary ballot; however, none of the candidates achieved a majority.Benjamin, Liz (March 16, 2012). . Capital Tonight. Retrieved March 16, 2012. Long prevailed by a sizeable margin in the June 26 Republican primary, receiving 50.9% of the vote; Turner received 35.6% and Maragos 13.5%.

Long was designated as the nominee for the Conservative Party of New York State, and appeared on its ballot line in the general election as well as the Republican Party line.

Withdrew Joe Carvin, Rye Town Supervisor, withdrew on March 16, 2012Benjamin, Elizabeth (March 16, 2012). . Capital Tonight. Retrieved March 16, 2012. to run for the House of Representatives against Nita Lowey.

Polling Poll source WendyLong GeorgeMaragos BobTurner Other UndecidedQuinnipiac March 28 – April 2, 2012 372 ±5.1% 11% 7% 19% 2% 61%Siena College April 1–4, 2012 218 ±6.6% 10% 5% 19% — 66%Siena College May 6–10, 2012 205 ±6.8% 12% 6% 15% — 67%Siena College June 3–6, 2012 201 ±6.9% 11% 3% 16% — 70%

Endorsements

Source: Update for US Senate Election NY 2012

Results

General election Candidates Colia Clark (Green), civil rights activist and candidate for the U.S. Senate in 2010 Chris Edes (Libertarian) Kirsten Gillibrand (Democratic, Working Families, Independence), incumbent U.S. senator Wendy Long (Republican, Conservative), attorney John Mangelli (Common Sense Party)

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

Fundraising Candidate (party) Receipts Disbursements Cash on hand Debt Kirsten Gillibrand (D) $13,778,867 $3,734,097 $10,541,156 $0 Wendy Long (R) $336,976 $240,564 $96,411 $250,077 Chris Edes (L) $2,017 $668 $1,348 $0 John Mangelli (I) $43,819 $43,820 $0 $22,120 Source: Federal Election Commission

Top contributors

Kirsten Gillibrand Contribution Wendy Long Contribution Boies, Schiller & Flexner $394,664 Citizens United $10,000 Davis Polk & Wardwell $314,600 Susan B. Anthony List $10,000 Corning Inc. $150,650 Davis, Polk & Wardwell $8,500 JPMorgan Chase & Co $143,800 Kirkland & Ellis $7,000 Morgan Stanley $140,800 Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz $6,000 National Amusements Inc. $126,850 Alta Partners $5,500 Goldman Sachs $117,400 Actimize $5,000 Blackstone Group $106,700 Carlyle Group $5,000 Sullivan & Cromwell $100,750 Credit Suisse Group $5,000 Simpson, Thacher & Bartlett $95,700 Crow Holdings $5,000

Top industries

Kirsten Gillibrand Contribution Wendy Long Contribution Lawyers/law firms $4,050,294 Lawyers/law firms $38,550 Financial institutions $2,748,640 Financial institutions $31,750 Real estate $1,257,504 Real estate $26,250 Retired $921,738 Retired $25,050 Women's issues $853,517 Misc. finance $16,000 Entertainment industry $764,677 Women's issues $15,150 Lobbyists $723,596 Republican/Conservative $11,250 Misc. finance $644,953 Education $7,250 Business services $621,286 Misc. business $7,000 Insurance $518,275 Construction services $5,000

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 KirstenGillibrand (D) WendyLong (R) Other UndecidedQuinnipiac March 28 – April 2, 2012 1,597 ±2.5% 58% 25% 1% 13%Siena College April 1–4, 2012 808 ±3.4% 63% 23% — 14%Siena College May 6–10, 2012 766 ±3.5% 60% 26% — 14%Quinnipiac May 22–28, 2012 1,504 ±2.5% 58% 24% 1% 15%Siena College June 3–6, 2012 807 ±3.4% 65% 22% — 12%Siena College July 10–15, 2012 758 ±3.6% 62% 25% — 13%Quinnipiac July 17–23, 2012 1,779 ±2.3% 57% 24% 1% 16%Siena College August 14–19, 2012 671 ±3.8% 65% 22% — 13%Quinnipiac September 4–9, 2012 1,468 ±2.5% 64% 27% — 9%Marist October 18–21, 2012 565 ±4.1% 68% 24% — 8%Siena College October 22–24, 2012 750 ±3.6% 67% 24% — 8%SurveyUSA October 23–25, 2012 554 ±4.1% 64% 22% 7% 7%

with George Maragos Poll source KirstenGillibrand (D) GeorgeMaragos (R) Other UndecidedSiena College November 8–13, 2011 803 ±3.5% 65% 17% — 18%Siena College January 8–12, 2012 805 ±3.5% 63% 22% — 15%Siena College January 29 – February 1, 2012 807 ±3.4% 63% 20% — 17%SurveyUSA February 24–26, 2012 518 ±4.4% 53% 23% — 25%Siena College February 26–29, 2012 808 ±3.4% 68% 19% — 13%Quinnipiac March 28 – April 2, 2012 1,597 ±2.5% 57% 23% 2% 15%Siena College April 1–4, 2012 808 ±3.4% 65% 21% — 14%Siena College May 6–10, 2012 766 ±3.5% 60% 25% — 15%Quinnipiac May 22–28, 2012 1,504 ±2.5% 57% 24% 1% 16%Siena College June 3–6, 2012 807 ±3.4% 65% 23% — 13%

with Bob Turner Poll source KirstenGillibrand (D) BobTurner (R) Other UndecidedQuinnipiac March 28 – April 2, 2012 1,597 ±2.5% 57% 27% 1% 13%Siena College April 1–4, 2012 808 ±3.4% 65% 24% — 11%Siena College May 6–10, 2012 766 ±3.5% 59% 25% — 15%Quinnipiac May 22–28, 2012 1,504 ±2.5% 56% 26% 0% 15%Siena College June 3–6, 2012 807 ±3.4% 63% 25% — 11%

with Marc Cenedella Poll source KirstenGillibrand (D) MarcCenedella (R) UndecidedSiena College January 29 – February 1, 2012 807 ±3.4% 65% 18% 17%

with Harry Wilson Poll source KirstenGillibrand (D) HarryWilson (R) UndecidedSiena College November 8–13, 2011 803 ±3.5% 63% 21% 16%Siena College January 8–12, 2012 805 ±3.5% 63% 23% 14%

Results

Results by county County Kirsten GillibrandDemocratic Wendy LongRepublican Various candidates Margin Total votes cast # % # % # % # % Albany 98,432 75.1% 30,317 23.1% 2,297 1.7% 68,115 52.0% 131,046 Allegany 7,635 47.5% 8,151 50.8% 275 1.7% −516 −3.3% 16,061 Bronx 321,378 93.1% 21,618 6.3% 2,231 0.7% 299,760 86.8% 345,227 Broome 49,814 64.4% 26,166 33.8% 1,375 1.7% 23,648 30.6% 77,355 Cattaraugus 15,654 55.5% 12,058 42.8% 482 1.6% 3,596 12.7% 28,194 Cayuga 18,067 62.0% 10,265 35.3% 788 2.8% 7,802 26.7% 29,120 Chautauqua 29,001 57.2% 20,869 41.2% 824 1.6% 8,132 16.0% 50,694 Chemung 20,682 61.8% 12,345 36.9% 449 1.3% 8,337 24.9% 33,476 Chenango 10,672 58.9% 6,956 38.4% 483 2.7% 3,716 20.5% 18,111 Clinton 19,439 68.5% 8,373 29.5% 554 2.0% 11,066 39.0% 28,366 Columbia 19,905 69.9% 8,154 28.6% 476 1.5% 11,751 41.3% 28,490 Cortland 11,166 60.7% 6,730 36.6% 514 2.8% 4,436 24.1% 18,410 Delaware 11,172 61.8% 6,606 36.6% 288 1.6% 4,566 25.2% 18,066 Dutchess 77,809 65.8% 38,607 32.6% 1,840 1.5% 39,202 33.2% 118,256 Erie 265,264 68.1% 117,861 30.3% 6,453 1.6% 147,403 37.8% 389,578 Essex 10,094 64.9% 5,201 33.4% 259 1.7% 4,893 31.5% 15,554 Franklin 9,960 66.8% 4,708 31.6% 243 1.7% 5,252 35.2% 14,911 Fulton 11,122 59.2% 7,401 39.4% 260 1.4% 3,721 19.8% 18,783 Genesee 11,845 51.4% 10,745 46.6% 458 1.9% 1,110 4.8% 23,048 Greene 12,098 60.6% 7,544 37.8% 314 1.7% 4,554 22.8% 19,956 Hamilton 1,487 50.0% 1,449 48.7% 39 1.3% 38 1.3% 2,975 Herkimer 14,655 62.4% 8,421 35.9% 405 1.8% 6,234 26.5% 23,481 Jefferson 21,746 63.7% 11,882 34.8% 509 1.5% 9,864 28.9% 34,137 Kings 598,834 87.1% 79,504 11.6% 9,249 1.3% 519,330 75.5% 687,587 Lewis 5,886 60.7% 3,662 37.8% 149 1.6% 2,224 22.9% 9,697 Livingston 13,462 54.3% 10,910 44.0% 442 1.7% 2,552 10.3% 24,814 Madison 15,732 59.2% 10,101 38.0% 755 2.9% 5,631 21.2% 26,588 Monroe 209,781 66.2% 101,323 32.0% 5,644 1.8% 108,458 34.2% 316,748 Montgomery 10,957 63.8% 5,938 34.6% 291 1.8% 5,019 29.2% 17,186 Nassau 342,644 63.8% 188,430 35.1% 5,584 1.1% 154,214 28.7% 536,658 New York 487,701 86.8% 65,699 11.7% 8,236 1.5% 422,002 75.1% 561,636 Niagara 51,592 61.6% 30,645 36.6% 1,491 1.8% 20,947 25.0% 83,728 Oneida 50,715 62.2% 29,059 35.6% 1,812 2.3% 21,656 26.6% 81,586 Onondaga 133,892 68.3% 56,997 29.1% 5,276 2.7% 76,895 39.2% 196,165 Ontario 25,987 56.8% 18,838 41.2% 901 2.0% 7,149 15.6% 45,726 Orange 88,689 65.3% 45,128 33.2% 2,026 1.5% 43,561 32.1% 135,843 Orleans 6,884 50.1% 6,556 47.7% 299 2.1% 328 2.4% 13,739 Oswego 25,117 60.2% 15,404 36.9% 1,182 2.9% 9,713 23.3% 41,703 Otsego 15,114 65.0% 7,767 33.4% 378 1.6% 7,347 31.6% 23,259 Putnam 24,310 58.7% 16,549 39.9% 582 1.4% 7,761 18.8% 41,441 Queens 468,079 84.1% 82,169 14.8% 6,651 1.1% 385,910 69.3% 556,899 Rensselaer 45,767 69.3% 19,310 29.2% 996 1.6% 26,457 40.1% 66,073 Richmond 94,843 63.9% 51,782 34.9% 1,691 1.1% 43,061 29.0% 148,316 Rockland 77,915 66.5% 37,955 32.4% 1,350 1.1% 39,960 34.1% 117,220 St. Lawrence 24,157 69.4% 10,092 29.0% 569 1.6% 14,065 40.4% 34,818 Saratoga 66,459 64.8% 34,728 33.8% 1,439 1.4% 31,731 31.0% 102,626 Schenectady 43,030 68.9% 18,273 29.3% 1,159 1.8% 24,757 39.6% 62,462 Schoharie 7,541 58.9% 5,048 39.4% 213 1.7% 2,493 19.5% 12,802 Schuyler 4,456 57.6% 3,107 40.2% 171 2.3% 1,349 17.4% 7,734 Seneca 7,345 59.0% 4,815 38.7% 284 2.3% 2,530 20.3% 12,444 Steuben 20,044 54.3% 16,240 44.0% 598 1.6% 3,804 10.3% 36,882 Suffolk 354,929 63.3% 198,683 35.4% 7,128 1.3% 156,246 27.9% 560,740 Sullivan 17,427 65.9% 8,551 32.4% 454 1.8% 8,876 33.5% 26,432 Tioga 11,206 54.3% 8,995 43.6% 423 2.0% 2,211 10.7% 20,654 Tompkins 27,764 73.0% 9,059 23.8% 1,211 3.2% 18,705 49.2% 38,034 Ulster 54,455 70.7% 29,908 27.1% 1,653 2.2% 33,547 43.6% 77,016 Warren 19,347 67.1% 9,095 31.6% 370 1.3% 10,252 35.5% 28,812 Washington 15,228 67.3% 7,067 31.2% 321 1.4% 8,161 36.1% 22,616 Wayne 18,974 53.1% 15,973 44.7% 783 2.1% 3,001 8.4% 35,730 Westchester 254,723 70.8% 100,279 27.9% 4,650 1.3% 154,444 42.9% 359,652 Wyoming 7,475 48.8% 7,556 49.3% 283 1.9% −81 −0.5% 15,314 Yates 4,772 52.8% 4,080 45.2% 181 2.0% 692 7.6% 9,033Totals4,511,04572.19%1,700,64026.33%93,2051.48%2,810,40545.86%6,679,678 Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic Genesee (largest municipality: Batavia) Hamilton (largest municipality: Long Lake) Putnam (largest municipality: Lake Carmel) Tioga (largest municipality: Waverly) Orleans (largest municipality: Albion) Wayne (largest municipality: Newark)

By congressional district Gillibrand won all 27 congressional districts, including six held by Republicans. She won all but two with over 60% of the vote, with the 27th being her weakest with only 55% of the vote.