2012 United States Senate election in Tennessee

The 2012 United States Senate election in Tennessee took place on November 6, 2012, as part of the general election including the 2012 U.S. presidential election, elections to the House of Representatives and various state and local elections. Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Bob Corker won a second term in a landslide, carrying all but two counties in the state.

Corker narrowly flipped reliably Democratic Davidson County, home to Nashville, which had not voted Republican on the presidential level since 1988. He faced Democratic nominee Mark E. Clayton"2012's worst candidate? With Mark Clayton, Tennessee Democrats hit bottom." by David A. Fahrenthold, Washington Post, October 22, 2012, Retrieved 2012-10-23, ""If there are people who don't believe that there's a campaign here, then guess what? They can come to Tennessee, if they're a voter, and they can see Mark E. Clayton, and next to Mark E. Clayton there's going to be a 'D,' " he said on the phone. "Like it or not, Mark Clayton is the Democratic nominee in Tennessee."" as well as several third-party candidates and several independents in this election.

Corker easily won the Republican primary with 85% of the vote, and anti-LGBT activist and conspiracy theorist Clayton won the Democratic nomination with 30% of the vote, despite raising no money and having a website that was four years out of date.

The next day Tennessee's Democratic Party disavowed Clayton over his active role in the Public Advocate of the United States, which they described as a "known hate group". They blamed his victory among candidates for whom the TNDP provided little forums to become known on the fact that his name appeared first on the ballot, and said they would do nothing to help his campaign, urging Democrats to vote for "the write-in candidate of their choice" in November. One of the Democratic candidates, Larry Crim, filed a petition seeking to offer the voters a new primary in which to select a Democratic nominee among the remaining candidates the party had affirmed as bona fide and as a preliminary motion sought a temporary restraining order against certification of the results, but after a judge denied the temporary order Crim withdrew his petition.

Background The incumbent in the race, former Chattanooga mayor Bob Corker, was elected in 2006 with 50.7% of the vote in a win against U.S. representative Harold Ford, Jr.

Republican primary

Candidates

Declared Fred R. Anderson Mark Twain Clemens, unemployed Bob Corker, incumbent U.S. Senator James Durkan, businessman Brenda Lenard, businesswoman & doctoral student Zach Poskevich, technology consultant

Publicly Speculated, but Declined Hank Williams, Jr., country music entertainer

Polling

Poll source BobCorker challenger Other UndecidedPublic Policy PollingPublic Policy Polling February 9–13, 2011 400 ±4.9% 38% 43% — 19% Poll source BobCorker MarshaBlackburn Other UndecidedPublic Policy Polling February 9–13, 2011 400 ±4.9% 50% 30% — 20%

Poll source BobCorker HankWilliams, Jr. Other UndecidedPublic Policy Polling February 9–13, 2011 400 ±4.9% 66% 13% — 21%

Results

Democratic primary

Candidates

Declared Mark E. Clayton, Vice President of the nonprofit organization Public Advocate of the United States and candidate for the U.S. Senate in 2008 Larry Crim, nonprofit executive Gary Gene Davis Dave Hancock Park Overall, actress Thomas K. Owens Benjamin Roberts

Results

General election

Candidates Bob Corker (Republican), incumbent U.S. Senator Mark E. Clayton (Democratic) Shaun Crowell (Libertarian) Martin Pleasant (Green) Kermit Steck (Constitution) David Gatchell (independent) James Higdon (independent) Michel Joseph Long (independent) Troy Stephen Scoggin (independent) Jacob Maurer (Write-In)

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 BobCorker (R) MarkClayton (D) Other UndecidedIssues and Answers Network Inc.Issues and Answers Network Inc. October 16–21, 2011 609 ±4% 59% 21% 4% 15%

Poll source BobCorker (R) PhilBredesen (D) Other UndecidedPublic Policy PollingPublic Policy Polling February 9–13, 2011 500 ±4.4% 41% 46% — 12% Poll source BobCorker (R) JimCooper (D) Other UndecidedPublic Policy Polling February 9–13, 2011 500 ±4.4% 50% 32% — 22%

Poll source BobCorker (R) HaroldFord, Jr. (D) Other UndecidedPublic Policy Polling February 9–13, 2011 500 ±4.4% 55% 32% — 14%

Poll source BobCorker (R) BartGordon (D) Other UndecidedPublic Policy Polling February 9–13, 2011 500 ±4.4% 52% 29% — 19%

Poll source BobCorker (R) AlGore (D) Other UndecidedPublic Policy Polling February 9–13, 2011 500 ±4.4% 53% 38% — 9%

Poll source BobCorker (R) TimMcGraw (D) Other UndecidedPublic Policy Polling February 9–13, 2011 500 ±4.4% 50% 28% — 22%

Results Despite the TN Democratic Party encouraging write-in voting, the general election only saw 0.05% cast write-in votes. Clayton significantly underperformed compared to Barack Obama, running for re-election to the presidency on the same day. Clayton got about 9% and 254,827 votes fewer than Obama.

By county

County Bob CorkerRepublican Mark ClaytonDemocratic OthersIndependent Margin Totalvotes % # % # % # Anderson 70.11% 19,604 23.95% 6,698 5.94% 1,660 12,906 27,962 Bedford 73.23% 9,671 23.09% 3,050 3.68% 486 6,621 13,207 Benton 62.67% 3,746 32.52% 1,944 4.80% 287 1,802 5,977 Bledsoe 73.59% 3,069 23.05% 961 3.36% 140 2,108 4,170 Blount 76.80% 35,846 17.77% 8,295 5.43% 2,536 27,551 46,677 Bradley 81.56% 28,186 15.33% 5,299 3.10% 1,072 22,887 34,557 Campbell 74.06% 8,336 21.42% 2,411 4.51% 508 5,925 11,255 Cannon 70.26% 3,199 23.96% 1,091 5.78% 263 2,108 4,553 Carroll 68.21% 6,910 27.60% 2,796 4.19% 424 4,114 10,130 Carter 79.17% 14,874 16.54% 3,107 4.30% 807 11,767 18,788 Cheatham 72.81% 10,544 21.63% 3,132 5.56% 805 7,412 14,481 Chester 75.43% 4,572 20.89% 1,266 3.68% 223 3,306 6,061 Claiborne 76.45% 7,219 19.15% 1,808 4.41% 416 5,411 9,443 Clay 67.23% 1,676 28.64% 714 4.13% 103 962 2,493 Cocke 79.92% 8,396 16.24% 1,706 3.84% 403 6,690 10,505 Coffee 71.38% 13,227 24.22% 4,488 4.40% 815 8,739 18,530 Crockett 73.94% 3,623 23.43% 1,148 2.63% 129 2,475 4,900 Cumberland 75.94% 17,900 19.02% 4,483 5.04% 1,188 13,417 23,571 Davidson 47.80% 111,176 45.42% 105,631 6.78% 15,778 5,545 232,585 Decatur 67.83% 2,735 28.20% 1,137 3.97% 160 1,598 4,032 DeKalb 67.92% 3,836 26.96% 1,523 5.12% 289 2,313 5,648 Dickson 68.83% 11,471 25.58% 4,264 5.58% 931 7,207 16,666 Dyer 74.41% 9,570 22.70% 2,919 2.90% 373 6,651 12,862 Fayette 71.94% 12,828 24.72% 4,407 3.34% 596 8,421 17,831 Fentress 79.05% 4,996 17.71% 1,119 3.24% 205 3,877 6,320 Franklin 68.92% 10,312 27.35% 4,092 3.73% 558 6,220 14,962 Gibson 69.03% 12,473 27.65% 4,996 3.32% 600 7,477 18,069 Giles 66.00% 6,494 29.71% 2,923 4.29% 422 3,571 9,839 Grainger 78.38% 5,318 17.50% 1,187 4.13% 280 4,131 6,785 Greene 77.08% 17,614 18.31% 4,185 4.61% 1,053 13,429 22,852 Grundy 63.62% 2,453 32.78% 1,264 3.60% 139 1,189 3,856 Hamblen 77.42% 14,547 19.22% 3,612 3.35% 630 10,935 18,789 Hamilton 66.52% 91,497 30.22% 41,570 3.25% 4,472 49,927 137,539 Hancock 79.91% 1,456 15.97% 291 4.12% 75 1,165 1,822 Hardeman 53.49% 4,785 41.50% 3,712 5.01% 448 1,073 8,945 Hardin 75.36% 7,534 21.47% 2,146 3.17% 317 5,388 9,997 Hawkins 75.23% 14,344 21.20% 4,042 3.58% 682 10,302 19,068 Haywood 45.60% 3,180 51.87% 3,617 2.52% 176 -437 6,973 Henderson 75.52% 7,103 21.06% 1,981 3.41% 321 5,122 9,405 Henry 67.86% 7,934 27.98% 3,271 4.17% 487 4,663 11,692 Hickman 65.86% 4,675 27.68% 1,965 6.45% 458 2,710 7,098 Houston 55.23% 1,558 39.88% 1,125 4.89% 138 433 2,821 Humphreys 58.31% 3,786 35.42% 2,300 6.27% 407 1,486 6,493 Jackson 62.97% 2,282 31.10% 1,127 5.93% 215 1,155 3,624 Jefferson 77.48% 12,811 18.09% 2,991 4.43% 733 9,820 16,535 Johnson 77.73% 4,456 17.60% 1,009 4.67% 268 3,447 5,733 Knox 69.89% 114,940 23.38% 38,459 6.73% 11,071 76,481 164,470 Lake 55.54% 1,062 39.85% 762 4.60% 88 300 1,912 Lauderdale 59.44% 4,671 36.51% 2,869 4.06% 319 1,802 7,859 Lawrence 73.45% 9,867 23.23% 3,120 3.32% 446 6,747 13,433 Lewis 68.41% 3,036 25.33% 1,124 6.26% 278 1,912 4,438 Lincoln 73.30% 9,155 22.55% 2,816 4.15% 518 6,339 12,489 Loudon 80.08% 17,015 15.41% 3,274 4.51% 959 13,741 21,248 Macon 78.66% 4,854 17.02% 1,050 4.33% 267 3,804 6,171 Madison 59.12% 22,629 37.72% 14,439 3.16% 1,208 8,190 38,276 Marion 66.59% 6,608 30.18% 2,995 3.22% 320 3,613 9,923 Marshall 66.67% 6,696 28.44% 2,856 4.89% 491 3,840 10,043 Maury 62.69% 19,992 32.12% 10,243 5.19% 1,654 9,749 31,889 McMinn 78.09% 13,422 18.26% 3,139 3.65% 627 10,283 17,188 McNairy 71.67% 6,812 25.35% 2,409 2.98% 283 4,403 9,504 Meigs 75.55% 2,799 21.57% 799 2.89% 107 2,000 3,705 Monroe 74.59% 11,845 20.06% 3,186 5.35% 850 8,659 15,881 Montgomery 60.12% 30,923 34.79% 17,893 5.09% 2,618 13,030 51,434 Moore 76.06% 2,036 20.32% 544 3.62% 97 1,492 2,677 Morgan 75.35% 4,626 20.41% 1,253 4.23% 260 3,373 6,139 Obion 66.96% 7,710 26.92% 3,100 6.11% 704 4,610 11,514 Overton 67.78% 4,372 27.86% 1,797 4.36% 281 2,575 6,450 Perry 66.51% 1,529 28.49% 655 5.00% 115 874 2,299 Pickett 75.39% 1,740 21.32% 492 3.29% 76 1,248 2,308 Polk 70.64% 4,143 25.80% 1,513 3.56% 209 2,630 5,865 Putnam 71.12% 16,703 23.02% 5,406 5.86% 1,377 11,297 23,486 Rhea 79.78% 7,989 17.03% 1,705 3.19% 320 6,284 10,014 Roane 74.66% 15,075 20.89% 4,218 4.45% 899 10,857 20,192 Robertson 72.58% 17,722 22.87% 5,584 4.55% 1,110 12,138 24,416 Rutherford 65.50% 61,962 29.32% 27,731 5.18% 4,904 34,231 94,597 Scott 80.24% 4,768 16.39% 974 3.37% 200 3,794 5,942 Sequatchie 76.19% 3,652 20.09% 963 3.71% 178 2,689 4,793 Sevier 79.80% 26,266 16.09% 5,296 4.11% 1,353 20,970 32,915 Shelby 43.90% 152,612 52.14% 181,253 3.96% 13,776 -28,641 347,641 Smith 68.90% 4,403 26.87% 1,717 4.23% 270 2,686 6,390 Stewart 62.72% 3,011 32.41% 1,556 4.87% 234 1,455 4,801 Sullivan 75.69% 43,329 20.48% 11,725 3.83% 2,195 31,604 57,249 Sumner 75.22% 46,321 20.49% 12,616 4.30% 2,646 33,705 61,583 Tipton 73.15% 16,480 23.36% 5,264 3.49% 786 11,216 22,530 Trousdale 63.78% 1,615 31.52% 798 4.70% 119 817 2,532 Unicoi 75.92% 4,939 19.17% 1,247 4.92% 320 3,692 6,506 Union 77.30% 4,093 18.68% 989 4.02% 213 3,104 5,295 Van Buren 65.53% 1,321 30.95% 624 3.52% 71 697 2,016 Warren 67.62% 7,905 27.46% 3,210 4.92% 575 4,695 11,690 Washington 72.98% 32,637 22.07% 9,869 4.95% 2,215 22,768 44,721 Wayne 78.86% 3,891 17.67% 872 3.47% 171 3,019 4,934 Weakley 67.60% 8,011 27.64% 3,276 4.76% 564 4,735 11,851 White 70.04% 6,039 24.51% 2,113 5.45% 470 3,926 8,622 Williamson 77.22% 72,402 17.91% 16,789 4.87% 4,570 55,613 93,761 Wilson 74.31% 36,993 21.08% 10,497 4.61% 2,294 26,496 49,784 Total 64.89% 1,506,443 30.41% 705,882 4.70% 109,152 800,561 2,321,477

Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican Cannon (Largest city: Woodbury) Crockett (Largest city: Bells) DeKalb (Largest city: Smithville) Dickson (Largest city: Dickson) Franklin (Largest city: Winchester) Giles (Largest city: Pulaski) Henry (Largest city: Paris) Hickman (Largest city: Centerville) Lewis (Largest city: Hohenwald) Marion (Largest city: Jasper) Marshall (Largest city: Lewisburg) Warren (Largest city: McMinnville) White (Largest city: Sparta) Benton (largest municipality: Camden) Clay (largest municipality: Celina) Grundy (largest municipality: Altamont) Humphreys (largest municipality: Waverly) Lake (largest municipality: Tiptonville) Lauderdale (largest municipality: Ripley) Overton (largest municipality: Livingston) Perry (largest municipality: Linden) Smith (largest municipality: Carthage) Stewart (largest municipality: Dover) Trousdale (largest municipality: Hartsville) Van Buren (largest municipality: Spencer) Houston (largest city: Erin) Jackson (largest town: Gainesboro) Hardeman (largest city: Bolivar) Macon (Largest city: Lafayette)