2012 United States Senate Election in Nevada
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2012 United States Senate Election in Nevada
2012 United States Senate election in Nevada ← 2006
November 6, 2012 (2012-11-06 )
2018 →
Turnout 57.1% (voting eligible)[1]
County Results Heller: 50-60% 60-70% 70-80% Berkley: 50-60%
The 2012 United States Senate election in Nevada was held on Tuesday, November 6, 2012, alongside 33 other elections to the United States Senate in other states as well as elections to the United States House of Representatives and the 2012 presidential election . The primary election was held June 12, 2012. Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Dean Heller , who was appointed to his seat in May 2011 following the resignation of Senator John Ensign , was narrowly elected to his first full term over Representative Shelley Berkley . As of 2021, this is the last Senate election a Republican won in Nevada.
Background
Ensign was reelected to the United States Senate in 2006 against Jack Carter , son of former president Jimmy Carter , by a margin of 55-41%. His reelection campaign was expected to be complicated after it was revealed in 2009 that he had been involved in an extramarital affair with the wife of one of his campaign staffers, allegedly made payments to the woman's family and arranged work for her husband to cover himself.[2] [3]
The Senate Ethics Committee was to investigate Ensign, and his poll numbers declined significantly.[4] [5] There was speculation that he might resign before the election, but he initially said he would run for reelection.[6] On March 7, 2011, Ensign announced that he would not seek reelection,[7] and on April 22, he announced that he would resign effective May 3.[8]
Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval appointed U.S. Representative Dean Heller to fill the vacancy created by Ensign's resignation. Heller took office on May 9, 2011.[9]
Republican primary
Candidates
Sherry Brooks, retired secretary[10]
Richard Charles[10]
Eddie Hamilton, retired auto executive and perennial candidate[10]
Dean Heller , incumbent U.S. Senator, former U.S. Representative, former Nevada Secretary of State and former state assemblyman[11] [12]
Carlo Poliak, sanitation worker and perennial candidate[10]
David Lory Vanderbeek, marriage and family therapist[10] Declined
Polling
Hypothetical polling
Primary Poll source
Date(s) administered
Sample size
Margin of error
Sharron Angle
John Chachas
John Ensign
Dean Heller
Brian Krolicki
Sue Lowden
Danny Tarkanian
Undecided
Public Policy Polling
January 3-5, 2011
400
±4.9%
9%
5%
20%
30%
6%
12%
10%
8%
Appointment preference Poll source
Date(s) administered
Sample size
Margin of error
Sue Lowden
Brian Sandoval
Danny Tarkanian
Undecided
Mason-Dixon/LVJR
October 8, 2009
4%
24%
14%
17%
17%
21%
Primaries with Ensign Poll source
Date(s) administered
Sample size
Margin of error
John Ensign
Dean Heller
Other
Undecided
Public Policy Polling
October 7-9, 2010
400
±4.9%
45%
37%
--
18%
Public Policy Polling
January 3-5, 2011
400
±4.9%
34%
52%
--
13%
Poll source
Date(s) administered
Sample size
Margin of error
John Ensign
Brian Krolicki
Other
Undecided
Public Policy Polling
October 7-9, 2010
400
±4.9%
55%
27%
--
18%
Results
Democratic primary
Candidates
Withdrew
Polling
Hypothetical polling
Poll source
Date(s) administered
Sample size
Margin of error
Shelley Berkley
Byron Georgiou
Other
Undecided
Public Policy Polling
April 21-24, 2011
300
±5.7%
65%
8%
--
27%
Public Policy Polling
July 28-31, 2011
400
±4.9%
71%
6%
--
23%
Results
General election
Candidates
Debates
The first Berkley-Heller debate was on September 27, 2012. They met again in Las Vegas on October 11 and on Jon Ralston's "Face to Face" program on October 15.
External links Fundraising
Candidate (party)
Receipts
Disbursements
Cash on hand
Debt
Dean Heller (R)
$8,447,489
$6,510,874
$1,936,618
$0
Shelley Berkley (D)
$8,779,074
$8,947,424
$924,918
$0
Source: Federal Election Commission [22] [23]
Top contributors
[24]
Shelly Berkley
Contribution
Dean Heller
Contribution
EMILY's List
$93,049
Las Vegas Sands
$43,750
NORPAC
$59,750
MGM Resorts International
$35,500
MGM Resorts International
$53,700
Alliance Resource Partners
$34,500
DaVita Inc.
$49,300
Crow Holdings
$30,000
Diamond Resorts
$44,000
Elliott Management Corporation
$29,413
Cantor Fitzgerald
$27,000
Brady Industries
$25,000
Caesars Entertainment
$26,000
Mewbourne Oil Co
$25,000
Fresenius Medical Care
$24,500
Wynn Resorts
$22,500
Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck
$23,650
Southwest Gas
$21,800
Station Casinos
$20,200
Bank of America
$20,500
Top industries
Shelley Berkley
Contribution
Dean Heller
Contribution
Lawyers /Law Firms
$607,407
Leadership PACs
$379,718
Pro-Israel
$384,580
Retired
$300,560
Health Professionals
$369,954
Financial Institutions
$217,084
Women's Issues
$309,817
Real Estate
$206,362
Leadership PACs
$292,500
Casinos /Gambling
$205,832
Retired
$281,490
Oil & Gas
$187,500
Real Estate
$261,779
Insurance
$182,155
Financial Institutions
$228,393
Lobbyists
$159,812
Casinos/Gambling
$227,350
Mining
$149,745
Lobbyists
$175,147
Health Professionals
$132,450
Predictions
Polling
Poll source
Date(s) administered
Sample size
Margin of error
Dean Heller (R)
Shelley Berkley (D)
Other
Undecided
Public Policy Polling
January 3-5, 2011
932
±3.2%
51%
38%
--
16%
Public Policy Polling
April 21-24, 2011
491
±4.4%
47%
43%
--
10%
Public Policy Polling
July 28-31, 2011
601
±4.0%
46%
43%
--
12%
Public Policy Polling
October 20-23, 2011
500
±4.4%
45%
45%
--
10%
Cannon Survey Center
December 12-20, 2011
600
±4.0%
43%
44%
--
6.9%
Rasmussen Reports
March 19, 2012
500
±4.5%
47%
40%
2%
11%
Public Policy Polling
March 29 - April 1, 2012
553
±4.2%
46%
43%
--
12%
Rasmussen Reports
April 30, 2012
500
±4.5%
51%
40%
2%
8%
NBC News/Marist
May 22-24, 2012
1,040
±3.0%
46%
44%
--
10%
Public Policy Polling
June 7-10, 2012
500
±4.4%
44%
43%
--
13%
Magellan Strategies
July 16-17, 2012
665
±3.8%
45%
42%
--
13%
Rasmussen Reports
July 24, 2012
500
±4.5%
51%
42%
2%
5%
LVRJ/Survey USA
August 16-21, 2012
869
±3.4%
44%
39%
9%
8%
Public Policy Polling
August 23-26, 2012
831
±3.4%
47%
45%
--
8%
Rasmussen Reports
September 18, 2012
500
±4.5%
42%
41%
4%
12%
Public Policy Polling
September 18-20, 2012
501
±4.4%
44%
48%
--
8%
NBC/WSJ/Marist
September 23-25, 2012
984
±3.1%
49%
43%
1%
6%
We Ask America
September 25-27, 2012
1,152
±3.1%
45%
45%
--
10%
Gravis Marketing
October 3, 2012
1,006
±3.1%
53%
36%
--
12%
Precision Opinion
October 6, 2012
1,521
±2.5%
45%
43%
--
12%
LVRJ/Survey USA
October 3-8, 2012
1,222
±2.9%
47%
39%
8%
6%
Rasmussen Reports
October 8, 2012
500
±4.5%
48%
45%
3%
4%
Suffolk
October 6-9, 2012
500
±4.4%
40%
37%
7%
14%
Public Policy Polling
October 8-10, 2012
594
±4.0%
47%
44%
4%
5%
LVRJ/Survey USA
October 11-15, 2012
806
±3.5%
46%
40%
8%
6%
Rasmussen Reports
October 15, 2012
500
±4.5%
50%
43%
4%
3%
Rasmussen Reports
October 23, 2012
500
±4.5%
50%
45%
1%
4%
Public Policy Polling
October 22-24, 2012
636
±3.9%
44%
44%
7%
5%
NBC/WSJ/Marist
October 23-24, 2012
1,042
±2.8%
48%
45%
2%
6%
LVRJ/SurveyUSA
October 23-29, 2012
1,212
±2.9%
46%
40%
10%
4%
Public Policy Polling
November 3-4, 2012
750
±3.6%
48%
46%
4%
1%
Hypothetical polling
Poll source
Date(s) administered
Sample size
Margin of error
Dean Heller (R)
Oscar Goodman (D)
Other
Undecided
Public Policy Polling
January 3-5, 2011
932
±3.2%
45%
38%
--
16%
Poll source
Date(s) administered
Sample size
Margin of error
Dean Heller (R)
Catherine
Other
Undecided
Public Policy Polling
January 3-5, 2011
932
±3.2%
46%
37%
--
16%
Poll source
Date(s) administered
Sample size
Margin of error
Dean Heller (R)
Ross Miller (D)
Other
Undecided
Public Policy Polling
January 3-5, 2011
932
±3.2%
46%
34%
--
21%
with John Ensign Poll source
Date(s) administered
Sample size
Margin of error
John Ensign (R)
Catherine
Other
Undecided
Public Policy Polling
July 16-18, 2010
630
±3.9%
48%
38%
--
14%
Public Policy Polling
January 3-5, 2011
932
±3.2%
42%
44%
--
14%
Poll source
Date(s) administered
Sample size
Margin of error
John Ensign (R)
Dina Titus (D)
Other
Undecided
Public Policy Polling
July 16-18, 2010
630
±3.9%
51%
41%
--
8%
Results
See also
References
^ Dr. Michael McDonald (February 9, 2013). "2012 General Election Turnout Rates" . George Mason University . Archived from the original on April 24, 2013. Retrieved 2013 .
^ Eric Lichtblau and Eric Lipton (October 2, 2009). "Senator's Aid to Mistress's Husband Raises Ethics Flags" . The New York Times .
^ Chris Cillizza (July 9, 2009). "Ensign Acknowledges Mistress Payment" . Washington Post .
^ Raju, Manu; John Bresnahan (February 1, 2011). "John Ensign running, despite ethics investigation" . The Politico . Retrieved 2011 .
^ BALL, MOLLY (July 19, 2009). "New poll reveals Ensign's status sinking, But most Nevadans still say Republican senator should not resign" . Las Vegas Review-Journal . Stephens Media, LLC. Retrieved 2009 .
^ Mascaro, Lisa (July 14, 2009). "Ensign to stay in Senate, seek reelection" . Las Vegas Sun . Retrieved 2009 .
^ a b Yurkanin, Justin (March 7, 2011). "Senator John Ensign announces he will not seek reelection" . Las Vegas Review-Journal . Retrieved 2011 .
^ "Sen. Ensign says he will resign May 3" . CNN . April 22, 2011. Retrieved 2011 .
^ https://www.politico.com/story/2011/05/heller-takes-senate-oath-054594
^ a b c d e f g h Myers, Laura (June 3, 2012). "2012 PRIMARY ELECTION: U.S. SENATE" . Las Vegas Review-Journal . Retrieved 2012 .
^ Meyers, Laura (November 7, 2010). "2012 ELECTION: Senate race field already looking full" . Las Vegas Review-Journal . Retrieved 2010 .
^ Ralston, Jon (November 10, 2010). "GOP may be setting its sights on Ensign" . Las Vegas Sun . Retrieved 2010 .
^ "Angle in race for Heller's House seat" , ReviewJournal.com
^ Krolicki endorses Heller, mulls House bid by David Catanese at POLITICO.com]
^ a b "Official Results of the 2012 Primary Election" . Secretary of State of Nevada . Retrieved 2012 .
^ Trygstad, Kyle (April 14, 2011). "Shelley Berkley Will Run for Senate in Nevada" . Roll Call . Retrieved 2012 .
^ Ralston, Jon (January 11, 2012). "Renewable energy company founder will run as Democrat for U.S. Senate in Nevada" . Las Vegas Sun . Retrieved 2012 .
^ Tetreault, Steve. "Entrepreneur files to oppose Berkley in Senate race" . Las Vegas Review-Journal . Retrieved 2012 .
^ Coleman, Kyle. "Green Energy Pioneer Barry Ellsworth Announces Nevada US Senate Run Against Corrupt Career Politician Shelley Berkley" . yahoo.news . Retrieved 2012 .
^ Damon, Anjeanette (August 10, 2011). "Georgiou abandons U.S. Senate bid, clears way for Berkley on Democratic ticket" . Las Vegas Sun . Retrieved 2012 .
^ "Meet the Candidates: David Lory Van Der Beek" . Las Vegas Review-Journal . Retrieved 2012 .
^ Berkley Campaign Finances [dead link ]
^ Heller Campaign Finances [dead link ]
^ [http://www.opensecrets.org/races/contrib.php?cycle=2012&id=nvs1 Center for Responsive Politics
^ "2012 Senate Race Ratings for November 1, 2012" . The Cook Political Report . Retrieved 2018 .
^ "2012 Senate" . Sabato's Crystal Ball . Retrieved 2018 .
^ "2012 Senate Ratings" . Senate Ratings . The Rothenberg Political Report. Retrieved 2018 .
^ "2012 Elections Map - Battle for the Senate 2012" . Real Clear Politics. Retrieved 2018 .
^ https://www.nvsos.gov/silverstate2012gen/USSenate/
External links
Official campaign sites