The 2012 special election in Michigan's 11th congressional district was a special election that took place in Michigan on November 6, 2012, to replace Republican United States Congressman Thaddeus McCotter, who resigned after a failed presidential campaign and a series of scandals. Former autoworker David Curson, the Democratic nominee, narrowly defeated Republican nominee Kerry Bentivolio, a reindeer farmer, to win the seat for the last few months of McCotter's term.
As a matter of convenience and cost saving, this special election was held in conjunction with the regularly scheduled general election on November 6, 2012. Voters were asked on the November ballot to select two candidates: one to serve the remainder of McCotter's term in the 112th Congress, and the other to serve the full 2-year term in the 113th Congress beginning in January 2013.[1]
Democratic primary[]
Candidates[]
David Curson, labor activist
Despite the fact that Canton Township Trustee Syed Taj was the Democratic nominee in the regularly-scheduled general election, Taj did not opt to run in the special election and Curson did not opt to run in the general election.
The election to fill the remaining 6 weeks of McCotter's term was largely ignored as the attention was focused on the presidential election and the race for the full two-year term between Bentivolio and Taj.
Candidates[]
Kerry Bentivolio, Republican nominee
David Curson, Democratic nominee
John J. Tartar, Libertarian Party nominee
Marc J. Sosnowski, Constitution Party nominee
Election results[]
Michigan's 11th congressional district special election, 2012[3]
Detroit
Grand Rapids