A general election was held in the U.S. state of Arizona on November 6, 2012. Along with the presidential election, a Class I U.S. Senate seat, nine seats in the United States House of Representatives and several statewide and local offices were up for election. Primary elections were held on August 28, 2012.
President of the United States
Republican nominee Mitt Romney won Arizona by defeating Democratic incumbent Barack Obama and gained eleven electoral votes.
United States Senate
Incumbent Republican senator and Senate minority whip Jon Kyl decided not to seek a fourth term, thus creating an open seat. Republican U.S. representative Jeff Flake won the election by narrowly defeating Democratic nominee and former surgeon general of the United States Richard Carmona.
United States House of Representatives June special election
A special election was held in the 8th congressional district to replace Gabby Giffords. Democrat Ron Barber won the election by defeating Republican Jesse Kelly.
November general election
Following the 2010 United States census, Arizona gained one electoral vote, thus bringing the total number of congressional districts in the state to nine.
Corporation Commission
Three of the five seats on the Arizona Corporation Commission were up for election. Democratic incumbents Paul Newman and Sandra Kennedy and Republican incumbent Bob Stump all ran for re-election. Both Newman and Kennedy were ousted as Republicans swept all three seats.
Republican primary Candidates Bob Stump, incumbent commissioner. Bob Burns, former Arizona Senate president. Susan Bitter Smith, telecommunications executive and former Scottsdale councilwoman.
Results
Democratic primary Candidates Sandra Kennedy, incumbent commissioner. Paul Newman, incumbent commissioner. Marcia Busching, attorney.
Results
Third party candidates Christopher Gohl (Libertarian Party) Thomas Meadows (Green Party) Daniel Pout (Green Party)
General election Debate + 2012 Arizona Corporation Commission election debate Date Host Moderator October 2, 2012 Arizona PBS Ted SimonsKey: Participant Absent Not invited Invited Withdrawn Republican Democratic Green Libertarian Bob Stump Bob Burns Susan Bitter Smith Paul Newman Sandra Kennedy Marcia Busching Thomas Meadows Daniel Pout Christopher Gohl Link: YouTube
Results
State Legislature
All 30 members of the Arizona Senate and all 60 members of the Arizona House of Representatives were up for election. Democrats flipped multiple seats in both chambers.
State Senate Party Before After Change Republican 21 17 4 Democratic 9 13 4 Total 30 30
House of Representatives Party Before After Change Republican 40 36 4 Democratic 19 24 5 Independent 1 0 1 Total 60 60
Supreme Court
One seat on the Arizona Supreme Court was up for retention. Justice John Pelander was appointed by Governor Jan Brewer in 2009 to succeed retiring justice Ruth McGregor.
Ballot propositions
Arizona had nine statewide propositions on the ballot in 2012. +2012 Arizona ballot propositionsNo.DescriptionVotesTypeYes%No%114Prohibits felony crime victims from having to pay damages. 1,664,473 79.95417,43120.05 Legislatively referred constitutional amendment115Increases term lengths and retirement age for the judiciary and requires superior courts to publish decisions online.553,13227.66 1,446,970 72.34116Establishes the tax exemption amount for business equipment to be equal to the combined earnings of 50 workers.852,98143.92 1,089,294 56.08117Sets a 5% annual cap on increases in property values used to determine property taxes and establish a single limited property value as the basis for calculating all property taxes on real property. 1,132,766 56.67866,24943.33118Adjusts the distribution formula for the State Land Trust Permanent Endowment Fund. 950,938 50.52931,23849.48119Authorizes the exchange of state trust lands for protecting military facilities or improving land management. 1,194,594 61.94733,90738.06120Declares Arizona's sovereignty over public lands and all natural resources within its boundaries, excluding Indian reservations, federal property, or land ceded by the state.623,46132.27 1,308,299 67.73121Establishes a top-two system for primary elections.662,36633.07 1,340,286 66.93 Citizen-initiated constitutional amendment204Permanently increases the state sales tax by one cent per dollar.768,42236.22 1,353,212 63.78 Citizen-initiated state statute Source: Arizona Secretary of State
References