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The 2012 United States Senate election in Pennsylvania will be held on November 6, 2012, alongside a presidential election, other elections to the United States Senate in other states, as well as elections to the United States House of Representatives and various state and local elections. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Bob Casey, Jr. is running for re-election to a second term against Republican nominee Tom Smith.
Background
On November 7, 2006, Bob Casey, Jr., the State Treasurer and son of former Governor Bob Casey, Sr., defeated two-term incumbent Republican Senator Rick Santorum with 58.64% of votes cast. Santorum's margin of defeat was the largest for an incumbent Republican Senator in Pennsylvania history; it was also the first time a Democrat was elected to a full Senate term from Pennsylvania since Joseph Clark was re-elected in 1962.
Pennsylvania is considered a battleground state; since the 1970 election of Governor Milton Shapp, no governor has lost his bid for re-election and partisan control of the governorship has alternated between Democratic and Republican. Additionally, Republicans have controlled the State Senate since 1995, while Democrats assumed control of the State House following the 2006 election, only to lose control in the 2010 election. The state has, however, voted for every Democratic presidential candidate from 1992 onwards.
Democratic primary
Candidates
- Bob Casey, Jr., incumbent U.S. senator
- Joseph Vodvarka, Spring-maker
Results
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Bob Casey, Jr. | 565,488 | 80.9 | |
Democratic | Joseph Vodvarka | 133,683 | 19.1 | |
Total votes | 699,171 | 100 |
Republican primary
Candidates
On ballot
- David Christian, businessman and veterans' advocate
- John Kensinger, pharmacist
- Sam Rohrer, former state representative
- Marc Scaringi, attorney and former legislative aide to Rick Santorum
- Tom Smith, farmer and former businessman
- Steve Welch, businessman
Withdrew
- Tim Burns, businessman and unsuccessful candidate for the 12th district in the 2010 special and general elections
- Laureen Cummings, Tea Party activist
- John Vernon, retired Army colonel
Campaign
In January 2012, the Pennsylvania Republican Party officially endorsed Steve Welch for U.S. Senate. The largest state newspaper, Philadelphia Inquirer, also endorsed Welch. He was also endorsed by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. However, he was criticized for changing his party registration. In 2008, he became a Democrat so he could vote for Barack Obama in the 2008 Democratic presidential primary. In 2006, he donated money to Democrat U.S. Congressman Joe Sestak.
Tom Smith spent nearly $3 million in the first three months of 2012, outspending Welch 2-1. Smith has spent a wide majority of it in television advertising. Like Welch, Smith has also registered as a Democrat. However, unlike Welch who was a registered Democrat for only a few years, Smith was a Democrat for 42 years. Smith was a Plumcreek Township Supervisor and allegedly raised taxes 9 times (including the real estate, earned income, and per capita taxes). Over the past decade, he donated over $185,000 to Republican candidates. The only Democrat he donated to was U.S. Congressman Jason Altmire, a moderate Blue Dog.
Sam Rohrer, a former State Representative, ran for statewide office again after losing to State Attorney General Tom Corbett in the 2010 Republican primary for Pennsylvania Governor. Rohrer was endorsed by various tea party organizations, as well as U.S. Congresswoman Michele Bachmann and 2012 Republican presidential candidate Herman Cain.
David Christian, a Vietnam war veteran and businessman, also ran. He previously ran for congress in 1984 and 1986. He was endorsed by the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.
Polling
Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of error |
Tim Burns |
Laureen Cummings |
David Christian |
John Kensinger |
Sam Rohrer |
Marc Scaringi |
Tom Smith |
John Vernon |
Steve Welch |
Other | Undecided |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Franklin & Marshall College | March 20–25, 2012 | 505 | ± 4.2% | — | — | 1% | — | 7% | 1% | 9% | — | 1% | — | 81% |
Public Policy Polling | March 8–11, 2012 | 564 | ± 4.1% | — | — | 10% | — | 16% | 8% | 12% | — | 5% | — | 48% |
Tribune-Review/WPXI-TV | February 2–6, 2012 | 500 | ± 4.4% | — | — | 1% | 3% | 10% | 1% | 8% | — | 1% | — | 72% |
Public Policy Polling | November 17–20, 2011 | 400 | ± 4.9% | 15% | 2% | — | — | 25% | 0% | 3% | 1% | 1% | 8% | 43% |
Results
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Tom Smith | 299,726 | 39.5 | |
Republican | Sam Rohrer | 169,118 | 22.3 | |
Republican | Steve Welch | 158,181 | 20.9 | |
Republican | David Christian | 79,581 | 10.5 | |
Republican | Marc Scaringi | 51,908 | 6.8 | |
Total votes | 758,514 | 100 |
General election
Candidates
- Bob Casey, Jr. (Democratic), incumbent U.S. Senator
- Tom Smith (Republican), businessman
- Rayburn Smith (Libertarian)
Polling
Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of error |
Bob Casey, Jr. (D) |
Tom Smith (R) |
Other | Undecided |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Philadelphia Inquirer | August 21-23, 2012 | 601 | ± 4% | 53% | 34% | — | 13% |
MCall/Muhlenburg Poll | August 20-22, 2012 | 422 | ± 5% | 49% | 30% | — | 18% |
Franklin & Marshall College | August 7-12, 2012 | 681 | ± 3.8% | 35% | 23% | 2% | 39% |
Quinnipiac | July 24-30, 2012 | 1,168 | ± 2.9% | 55% | 37% | — | 8% |
Public Policy Polling | July 21-23, 2012 | 758 | ± 3.6% | 46% | 36% | — | 18% |
Rasmussen Reports | July 18, 2012 | 500 | ± 4.5% | 49% | 38% | — | 9% |
We Ask America | July 9-10, 2012 | 1,227 | ± 2.8% | 53% | 39% | — | 8% |
Quinnipiac | June 19-25, 2012 | 1,252 | ± 2.8% | 49% | 32% | 1% | 17% |
Quinnipiac | June 5–10, 2012 | 997 | ± 3.1% | 51% | 32% | 1% | 14% |
Franklin & Marshall College | May 29–June 4, 2012 | 412 | ± 4.8% | 42% | 21% | 2% | 35% |
Rasmussen Reports | May 21, 2012 | 500 | ± 4.5% | 48% | 41% | 3% | 7% |
Public Policy Polling | May 17–20, 2012 | 671 | ± 3.8% | 49% | 33% | — | 19% |
Public Policy Polling | March 8–11, 2012 | 689 | ± 3.7% | 49% | 31% | — | 20% |
Public Policy Polling | November 17–20, 2011 | 500 | ± 4.4% | 48% | 32% | — | 20% |
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Results
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Bob Casey, Jr. | ||||
Republican | Tom Smith | ||||
Libertarian | Rayburn Smith | ||||
Majority | |||||
Turnout |
See also
- United States Senate elections, 2012
- United States House of Representatives elections in Pennsylvania, 2012
References
- Itkowitz, Colby (November 21, 2010). "Mellow Casey has to up profile for re-election". The Morning Call. Retrieved November 25, 2010.
- ^ Malloy, Daniel (November 26, 2010). "Murrysville native planning for 2010 run against Casey". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved November 26, 2010.
- Itkowitz, Colby (February 15, 2012). "Petitions filed for Pa. primary". The Allentown Morning Call. Retrieved February 22, 2012.
- ^ "2012 General Primary: United States Senator". PA Department of State. Retrieved April 25, 2012.
- "2012: David Christian Enters U.S. Senate Race". Pike County Republican Committee. Retrieved September 24, 2011.
- Reabuck, Sandra K. (September 28, 2011). "New Paris pharmacist seeks GOP nomination". The Tribune-Democrat. Retrieved September 30, 2011.
- Levy, Marc (November 4, 2011). "Sam Rohrer to run for Casey's Senate seat". MSNBC. Retrieved November 6, 2011.
- Guerriero, John (September 29, 2011). "Armstrong County Republican announces candidacy for U.S. Senate in Erie". Erie Times-News. Retrieved September 30, 2011.
- Gibson, Keegan (September 13, 2011). "Welch to Enter Senate Race". PoliticsPA. Retrieved September 14, 2011.
- "Burns Exits Senate Race". PoliticsPA. February 2, 2012. Retrieved February 2, 2011.
- Gibson, Keegan (January 14, 2012). "Cummings Drops Out of Senate Race, Endorses Burns". Politics PA. Retrieved January 16, 2012.
- Jerry, Tara (January 16, 2012). "Vernon Endorses Burns for Senate". Politics PA. Retrieved January 17, 2012.
- Levy, Mark (January 29, 2012). "Pa. GOP endorses Welch to challenge Sen. Casey". Associated Press. Retrieved April 28, 2012.
- "Smith outspends, outraises Welch in US Senate race". Associated Press. April 13, 2012. Retrieved April 28, 2012.
- Gibson, Keegan (April 16, 2012). "Where's Tom Smith?". PoliticsPA. Retrieved April 28, 2012.
- Gibson, Keegan (March 26, 2012). "Smith Tax Votes Play in Senate Campaign". PoliticsPA. Retrieved April 28, 2012.
- Gibson, Keegan (August 17, 2011). "Sen. Candidate Smith a Heavyweight GOP Donor". PoliticsPA. Retrieved April 28, 2012.
- Gibson, Keegan (March 28, 2012). "Bachmann Endorses Rohrer". PoliticsPA. Retrieved April 28, 2012.
- "Primary 2012: Nominate Christian". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Retrieved April 28, 2012.
- Brennan, Kevin (April 24, 2012). "Smith Wins Pennsylvania Senate Primary". National Journal. Retrieved April 25, 2012.
- "11/6/2012 2012 GENERAL ELECTION GENERAL CANDIDATE LIST" (PDF). Pennsylvania Department of State. Retrieved August 27, 2012.
External links
- Pennsylvania Department of State
- Campaign contributions at OpenSecrets.org
- U.S. Congress candidates for Pennsylvania at Project Vote Smart
- Official campaign websites
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