The 2012 United States House of Representatives elections in Kentucky were held on Tuesday, November 6, 2012, to elect the six U.S. representatives from the state of Kentucky, one from each of the state's six congressional districts. The elections coincided with the elections of other federal and state offices, including a quadrennial presidential election. Primary elections were held on May 22, 2012.
Overview United States House of Representatives elections in Kentucky, 2012PartyVotesPercentageSeats+/– Republican 1,027,582 58.87% 5 +1 Democratic 684,744 39.23% 1 -1 Libertarian 4,914 0.28% 0 — Others 28,137 1.61% 0 — Totals 1,745,377 100.00% 6 —
Redistricting Redistricting legislation was passed by both houses of the Kentucky General Assembly and signed into law by Governor Steve Beshear on February 10, 2012.
District 1
Republican Ed Whitfield, who had represented the 1st district since 1995, ran for re-election. In redistricting, the 1st district was made slightly more competitive, but continues to strongly favor Republicans.
Republican primary Candidates Nominee Ed Whitfield, incumbent U.S. Representative
Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Charles Kendall Hatchett, real estate broker and nominee for this seat in 2010
Eliminated in primary James Buckmaster
Declined Brent Yonts, state representative
Primary results
General election 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
Republican Brett Guthrie, who had represented the 2nd district since 2009, ran for re-election. In redistricting, the 2nd district was made slightly more favourable to Republicans.
Republican primary Candidates Nominee Brett Guthrie, incumbent U.S. Representative
Democratic primary Candidates Nominee David Lynn Williams, perennial candidateAP primary results
Declined Elaine Walker, former Secretary of State of Kentucky
Libertarian primary Craig Astor ran as a Libertarian:
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
Democrat John Yarmuth, who had represented the 3rd district since 2007, ran for re-election. The 3rd district was made more favorable to Democrats in redistricting.
Democratic primary Candidates Nominee John Yarmuth, incumbent U.S. Representative
Eliminated in primary Burrel Charles Farnsley, perennial candidate
Primary results
Republican primary Candidates Nominee Brooks Wicker, financial advisor and candidate for this seat in 2010
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
Republican Geoff Davis, who had represented 4th district from 2005 to 2012, resigned due to family health issues. In redistricting, the 4th district was made more favorable to Republicans.
Republican primary Candidates Nominee Thomas Massie, Lewis County judge-executive
Eliminated in primary Walter Christian Schumm, building contractor Marcus Carey, lawyer Gary Moore, Boone County judge-executive Brian Oerther, teacher Alecia Webb-Edgington, state representative Tom Wurtz, business consultant
Declined Hunter Bates, former chief of staff to Senator Mitch McConnell Kenny Brown, Boone County Clerk Ben Dusing, lawyer and former assistant U.S. Attorney Trey Grayson, former Secretary of State of Kentucky Adam Koenig, state representative K. Lance Lucas, lawyer and son of former Democratic U.S. Representative Ken Lucas Rick Robinson, aide to former senator Jim Bunning Kevin Sell, businessman Katie Stine, President Pro Tempore of the Kentucky Senate Damon Thayer, state senator
Primary results
Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Bill Adkins, lawyer and chair of the Grant County Democratic Party
Eliminated in primary Greg Frank, military veteran
Declined Kenny French, former Gallatin County Judge-Executive Patrick Hughes, attorney Linda Klembara, president of the Kentucky Women's Network Darrell Link, Grant County Judge-Executive Ken Rechtin, Campbell County Commissioner Nathan Smith, vice chairman of the Kentucky Democratic Party Diane Whalen, Mayor of Florence
Primary results
Special election Results
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
Republican Hal Rogers, who had represented the 5th district since 1981, ran for re-election. The 5th district was made slightly more competitive in redistricting.
Republican primary Candidates Nominee Hal Rogers, incumbent U.S. Representative
Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Kenneth Stepp, lawyer
Eliminated in primary Michael Ackerman
Primary results
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 6
Democrat Ben Chandler, who had represented the 6th district since 2004, ran for re-election. In redistricting, the 6th district was modified with the effect that, had the 2008 presidential election been held under the new boundaries, Democratic nominee Barack Obama would have received a share of the vote 1.5 percentage points greater than that which he achieved under the former boundaries.
Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Ben Chandler, incumbent U.S. Representative
Republican primary Candidates Nominee Andy Barr, attorney and nominee for this seat in 2010
Eliminated in primary Patrick J. Kelly II Curtis Kenimer
Primary results
General election Randolph S. Vance ran as a write-in candidate.
Endorsements
Polling Pollsource Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror BenChandler (D) AndyBarr (R) RandolphVance (I) UndecidedPublic Opinion Strategies (R-Barr)Public Opinion Strategies (R-Barr) September 30–October 1, 2012 400 ± % 49% 46% — 5%Mellman (D-Chandler) Mellman (D-Chandler) September 10–13, 2012 400 ± 4.9% 51% 37% 3% 9%Public Opinion Strategies (R-Barr)Public Opinion Strategies (R-Barr) June 24–26, 2012 400 ± 4.9% 47% 42% — 13%Mellman (D-Chandler)Mellman (D-Chandler) March 26–28, 2012 400 ± 4.9% 54% 30% — 16%Public Opinion Strategies (R-Barr)Public Opinion Strategies (R-Barr) February 20–21, 2012 400 ± 4.9% 49% 42% — 9%
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
References
External links Elections from the Kentucky Secretary of State United States House of Representatives elections in Kentucky, 2012 at Ballotpedia Kentucky U.S. House at OurCampaigns.com Campaign contributions for U.S. Congressional races in Kentucky at OpenSecrets Outside spending at the Sunlight Foundation House and Senate Campaign Finance at the Federal Election Commission - House and Senate Campaigns