The 2012 United States House of Representatives elections in Maryland were held on Tuesday, November 6, 2012, to elect the eight U.S. representatives from the state of Maryland, one from each of the state's eight congressional districts. The elections coincided with the elections of other federal and state offices, including the quadrennial presidential election and an election to the U.S. Senate.
The new congressional map, drawn and passed by the Democratic-controlled Maryland General Assembly, was signed into law by Governor Martin O'Malley on October 20, 2011. The map made the 6th district, at that time represented by Republican Roscoe Bartlett, much more favorable to Democrats.
Overview United States House of Representatives elections in Maryland, 2012PartyVotesPercentage+/–Seats+/– Democratic 1,626,872 62.92% +2.44% 7 +1 Republican 858,406 33.20% -3.74% 1 -1 Libertarian 69,298 2.68% +0.65% - Green 10,104 0.39% +0.39% - Others 20,834 0.81% +0.73% - Totals 2,585,514 100.00% - 8 -
District 1
The redrawn 1st district includes Caroline, Cecil, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne's, Somerset, Talbot, Wicomico, and Worcester counties, as well as parts of Baltimore, Carroll, and Harford counties. Republican incumbent Andy Harris, who had been first elected in 2010, ran for re-election.
Republican primary Candidates Nominee Andy Harris, incumbent U.S. Representative
Primary results
Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Wendy Rosen, businesswoman
Eliminated in primary John LaFerla, OB/GYN physician and former president of the Kent County Democratic Central Committee Kimberley Letke, businesswoman
Declined Frank Kratovil, former U.S. Representative
Primary results
Libertarian primary Nominee Muir Boda, asset protection manager
General election Campaign After Rosen won the primary, she was forced to withdraw from the race on September 10, 2012, after evidence surfaced that she had voted in both Maryland and Florida in the 2006 and 2008 elections. Rosen had property in Florida, and Maryland law allowed property owners to vote in local elections even if they live elsewhere. However, her Florida voting registration reportedly also gave her access to state and federal elections there, something which was not allowed by Maryland law. As the deadline for replacing a candidate on the general election ballot was August 28, members of the Democratic Central Committees of each county in the district had to choose a write-in candidate to run in November. Two potential candidates who indicated an interest were former U.S. Representative Wayne Gilchrest, who represented the 1st district as a Republican from 1991 to 2009, and LaFerla, who finished a close second in the primary. LaFerla was then endorsed as the Democratic write-in candidate.
Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political Report November 5, 2012 Rothenberg November 2, 2012 Roll Call, November 4, 2012 Sabato's Crystal BallCrystal Ball , November 5, 2012 NY TimesHouse Race Ratings, The New York Times, November 4, 2012RCP, November 4, 2012The Hill November 4, 2012
Results
District 2
The redrawn 2nd district includes parts of Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Harford, and Howard counties, and parts of the city of Baltimore. Democrat Dutch Ruppersberger, who had represented the 2nd district since 2003, ran for re-election.
Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Dutch Ruppersberger, incumbent U.S. Representative
Primary results
Republican primary Candidates Nominee Nancy Jacobs, State Senator
Eliminated in primary Ray Bly, veteran Vladmir Degen Richard Impallaria, state delegate Howard Orton Larry Smith, former aide to U.S. Representative Andy Harris
Declined Pat McDonough, state delegate
Primary results
Libertarian primary Nominee Leo Dymowski, Army veteran and attorney
General election Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political Report November 5, 2012 Rothenberg November 2, 2012 Roll Call November 4, 2012 Sabato's Crystal Ball November 5, 2012 NY Times November 4, 2012RCP November 4, 2012The Hill November 4, 2012
Results
District 3
The redrawn 3rd district includes parts of Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Howard, and Montgomery counties, and parts of the city of Baltimore. Democrat John Sarbanes, who had represented the 3rd district since 2007, ran for re-election.
Democratic primary Candidates Nominee John Sarbanes, incumbent U.S. Representative
Eliminated in primary Dave Lockwood, management consultant
Primary results
Republican primary Candidates Nominee Eric Delano Knowles, bartender and Constitution Party nominee for governor for 2010
Eliminated in primary Armand Girard, retired teacher Thomas E. "Pinkston" Harris, nominee for this seat in 2008 and candidate for in 2010 Draper Phelps
Primary results
Libertarian primary Candidates Nominee Paul Drgos Jr, computer programmer
General election Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political Report November 5, 2012 Rothenberg November 2, 2012 Roll Call November 4, 2012 Sabato's Crystal Ball November 5, 2012 NY Times November 4, 2012RCP November 4, 2012The Hill November 4, 2012
Results
District 4
The redrawn 4th district includes parts of Anne Arundel and Prince George's counties. Democrat Donna Edwards, who had represented the 4th district since 2008, ran for re-election.
Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Donna Edwards, incumbent U.S. Representative
Eliminated in primary Ian Garner, U.S. Navy veteran George McDermott, entrepreneur
Withdrawn Glenn Ivey, former Prince George's County State's Attorney
Declined Jaime Benoit, Anne Arundel County councilman
Primary results
Republican primary Candidates Nominee Faith Loudon
Eliminated in primary Randy Gearhart Greg Holmes Charles Shepherd
Primary results
Libertarian primary Candidates Nominee Scott Soffen
General election Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political Report November 5, 2012 Rothenberg November 2, 2012 Roll Call November 4, 2012 Sabato's Crystal Ball November 5, 2012 NY Times November 4, 2012RCP November 4, 2012The Hill November 4, 2012
Results
District 5
The redrawn 5th district includes Calvert, Charles, and St. Mary's counties, as well as parts of Anne Arundel and Prince George's counties. Democrat Steny Hoyer, who had represented the 5th district since 1981, ran from re-election
Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Steny Hoyer, incumbent U.S. Representative
Eliminated in primary Cathy Johnson Pendleton, publishing company founder
Primary results
Republican primary Candidates Nominee Tony O'Donnell, Minority Leader of the Maryland House of Delegates
Eliminated in primary David Hill, motorcycle technician Glenn Troy Morton, author
Declined Charles Lollar, nominee for this seat in 2010
Primary results
Libertarian primary Candidates Nominee Arvin Vohra, aeducator and entrepreneur
Green primary Candidates Nominee Bob Auerbach
General election Jeremy Stinson, an unaffiliated candidate, did not secure a ballot nomination and ran as a write-in candidate.
Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political Report November 5, 2012 Rothenberg November 2, 2012 Roll Call November 4, 2012 Sabato's Crystal Ball November 5, 2012 NY Times November 4, 2012RCP November 4, 2012The Hill November 4, 2012
Results
District 6
The redrawn 6th district includes Allegany, Garrett, and Washington counties, as well as parts of Frederick and Montgomery counties. Republican Roscoe Bartlett, who had represented the 6th district since 1993, ran for re-election.
Republican primary Candidates Nominee Roscoe Bartlett, incumbent U.S. Representative
Eliminated in primary Kathy Afzali, state delegate David R. Brinkley, state senator Robert Coblentz, systems analyst for the American Public University System and vice president of the Washington County Republican Club Robin Ficker, former state delegate and perennial candidate Peter James, farmer and nominee for the 4th district in 2008 Joseph Krysztoforski, retired entrepreneur Brandon Rippeon, businessman
Declined Alex X. Mooney, chairman of the Maryland Republican Party and former state senator Bud Otis, Rep. Bartlett's former chief of staff Christopher B. Shank, state senator
Endorsements
Debate + 2012 Maryland's 6th congressional district Republican primary debate Date Host Moderator Link Republican Republican Republican Republican Republican Republican Republican RepublicanKey: Participant Absent Not invited Invited Withdrawn Kathy Afzali Roscoe Bartlett David R. Brinkley Robert Coblentz Robin Ficker Peter James Joseph Krysztoforski Brandon Rippeon1 Mar. 12, 2012 AARP MarylandMaryland ReporterMontgomery College Germantown Len Lazarick YouTube
Primary results
Democratic primary Candidates Nominee John Delaney, commercial banker
Eliminated in primary Charles Bailey Robert J. Garagiola, state senator Ron Little, member of the Montgomery County Board of Social Services Milad Pooran, doctor and Air Force veteran
Withdrawn Duchy Trachtenberg, former member of the Montgomery County Council
Declined Doug Duncan, former Montgomery County Executive Mark Shriver, state delegate
Endorsements
Primary results
Libertarian primary Candidates Nominee Nickolaus Mueller
General election Campaign Facing a district that had been significantly redrawn to favor the Democrats (going from a seat that McCain carried with 57%, Obama would have carried the redrawn seat with 56%), the Bartlett campaign faced further difficulties when the Federal Election Commission fined Bartlett $5,000 for repeatedly failing to submit accurate campaign finance disclosure reports.
When Todd Akin made his controversial comments about female biology, Bartlett immediately repudiated them, adding, "There is no room in politics for these types of statements... As a human physiologist I know there is no scientific backing to Todd's claims." He reiterated that his view on abortion exceptions has been "the same for twenty years. I'm pro-life, with exceptions for the life of the mother, rape and incest... I'm so avidly pro-life I'm against corporal punishment."
However, it was later revealed that in 2001 Bartlett had supported a constitutional amendment which did not include the rape and incest exceptions.
Endorsements
Debates Complete video of debate, October 17, 2012
Polling Pollsource Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror RoscoeBartlett (R) JohnDelaney (D) NickolausMueller (L) UndecidedBaltimore Sun/OpinionWorks Baltimore Sun/OpinionWorks October 20–25, 2012 610 ± 4.0% 41% 42% — 16%Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research (D-Delaney)Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research (D-Delaney) July 23–25, 2012 400 ± 4.9% 42% 44% 6% 8%Garin-Hart-Yang (D-Delaney)Garin-Hart-Yang (D-Delaney) April 9–11, 2012 402 ± 5.0% 39% 48% — 13%
Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political Report November 5, 2012 Rothenberg November 2, 2012 Roll Call November 4, 2012 Sabato's Crystal Ball November 5, 2012 NY Times November 4, 2012RCP November 4, 2012The Hill November 4, 2012
Results
District 7
The redrawn 7th district includes parts of Baltimore and Howard counties, and parts of the city of Baltimore. Democrat Elijah Cummings, who had represented the 7th district since 1996, ran for re-election.
Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Elijah Cummings, incumbent U.S. Representative
Eliminated in primary Ty Busch Charles Smith
Primary results
Republican primary Candidates Nominee Frank Mirabile
Eliminated in primary Justin Kinsey
Primary results
Libertarian primary Candidates Nominee Ronald Owens-Bey
General election Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political Report November 5, 2012 Rothenberg November 2, 2012 Roll Call November 4, 2012 Sabato's Crystal Ball November 5, 2012 NY Times November 4, 2012RCP November 4, 2012The Hill November 4, 2012
Results
District 8