2012 United States Senate election in Vermont

2012 United States Senate election in Vermont
Turnout	63.47% (voting eligible)
	County results; Sanders: 60–70% 70–80%
U.S. senator before election; Bernie Sanders; Independent	Elected U.S. Senator ; Bernie Sanders; Independent

The 2012 United States Senate election in Vermont was held on November 6, 2012, alongside the presidential election, other elections to the United States Congress, as well as various state and local elections. Incumbent Independent U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders won re-election to a second term in a landslide, capturing nearly three-quarters of the vote.

Background[]

Then-U.S. representative Bernie Sanders, an independent and self-described democratic socialist was elected with 65% of the vote in the 2006 U.S. senatorial election in Vermont.

Democratic primary[]

Candidates[]

Bernie Sanders, incumbent U.S. Senator^[2]

Sanders also received the nomination of the Vermont Progressive Party, but declined both the Democratic and Progressive nominations after the primary.^[3]

Republican primary[]

Candidates[]

Declared[]

John MacGovern, former Massachusetts State Representative^[4]
H. Brooke Paige, former CEO of Remmington News Service^[5]

Declined[]

Kevin Dorn, former Secretary of the Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development^[6]
Jim Douglas, former Governor^{[citation needed]}
Thom Lauzon, Mayor of Barre^[7]
Tom Salmon, state auditor^[8]

Results[]

Republican primary results^[9]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	John MacGovern	6,343	75.4
	Republican	H. Brooke Paige	2,073	24.6
Total votes			8,416	100.0

General election[]

Candidates[]

Peter Diamondstone (Liberty Union), perennial candidate
Cris Ericson (U.S. Marijuana), perennial candidate (also running for Governor)^[10]
Laurel LaFramboise (VoteKISS)^[11]
John MacGovern (Republican), former Massachusetts State Representative
Peter Moss (Peace and Prosperity)^[11]
Bernie Sanders (I), incumbent U.S. Senator^[12]

Predictions[]

Source	Ranking	As of
The Cook Political Report^[13]	Solid I	November 1, 2012
Sabato's Crystal Ball^[14]	Safe I	November 5, 2012
Rothenberg Political Report^[15]	Safe I	November 2, 2012
Real Clear Politics^[16]	Safe I	November 5, 2012

Debates[]

Complete video of debate, October 25, 2012 - C-SPAN

Polling[]

Results[]

United States Senate election in Vermont, 2012^[17]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Independent	Bernie Sanders (incumbent)	207,848	71.00%	+5.59%
	Republican	John MacGovern	72,898	24.90%	-7.46%
	Marijuana	Cris Ericson	5,924	2.02%	N/A
	Liberty Union	Peter Diamondstone	2,511	0.86%	+0.55%
	Peace and Prosperity	Peter Moss	2,452	0.84%	+0.26%
	VoteKISS	Laurel LaFramboise	877	0.30%	N/A
	Write-in		252	0.08%	-0.02%
Total votes			292,762	100.00%	N/A
	Independent hold

References[]

^ Dr. Michael McDonald (February 9, 2013). "2012 General Election Turnout Rates". George Mason University. Archived from the original on April 24, 2013. Retrieved April 6, 2013.
^ Dobbs, Taylor (June 13, 2012). "Sanders' papers filed, Peyton running for governor". VTDigger.org. Retrieved June 23, 2012.
^ "Progressives nominate Sanders, Hoffer, Condos and Stanak for statewide office". VTDigger.org. June 12, 2012. Retrieved June 23, 2012.
^ Gregg, John P. (March 10, 2012). "MacGovern Plans Run at U.S. Senate". Valley News. Archived from the original on March 18, 2012. Retrieved June 23, 2012.
^ Gregg, John P. (March 15, 2012). "Republican in Waiting?". Valley News. Archived from the original on September 3, 2014. Retrieved June 23, 2012.
^ Hirschfeld, Peter (March 19, 2012). "Kevin Dorn opts against run for office". Vermont Press Bureau. Archived from the original on March 29, 2012. Retrieved March 29, 2012.
^ "Lauzon wants 2 more years in Barre". Vermont Today. December 21, 2011. Retrieved January 29, 2011.
^ Remsen, Nancy (September 23, 2011). "Salmon says he wants to remain as Vermont Auditor". The Burlington Free Press. Retrieved September 24, 2011.
^ Grasgreen, Allie (January 23, 1964). "2016 Primary Election Results: President Live Map by State, Real-Time Voting Updates". Politico. Retrieved January 23, 2016.
^ McCarty, Alicia (November 13, 2011). "A look ahead to the key races in the Northeast in 2012". USA Today. Retrieved February 15, 2012.
^ Jump up to: ^a ^b Dobbs, Taylor (June 14, 2012). "And they're off: Candidates file for races". VTDigger.org. Retrieved June 23, 2012.
^ Hemingway, Sam (January 31, 2012). "Sanders has nearly $3 million for re-election bid". The Burlington Free Press. Retrieved February 15, 2012.
^ "2012 Senate Race Ratings for November 1, 2012". The Cook Political Report. Retrieved September 20, 2018.
^ "2012 Senate". Sabato's Crystal Ball. Retrieved September 20, 2018.
^ "2012 Senate Ratings". Senate Ratings. The Rothenberg Political Report. Retrieved September 20, 2018.
^ "2012 Elections Map - Battle for the Senate 2012". Real Clear Politics. Retrieved September 20, 2018.
^ "VT Elections Database » Search Elections". Vermont Secretary of State. Archived from the original on July 10, 2019. Retrieved June 14, 2021.

External links[]

Elections and Campaign Finance Division at the Vermont Secretary of State
Campaign contributions at OpenSecrets.org
Outside spending at Sunlight Foundation
Candidate issue positions at On the Issues

Official campaign websites (Archived)

[VEP12-1] Dr. Michael McDonald (February 9, 2013). "2012 General Election Turnout Rates". George Mason University. Archived from the original on April 24, 2013. Retrieved April 6, 2013.

[2] Dobbs, Taylor (June 13, 2012). "Sanders' papers filed, Peyton running for governor". VTDigger.org. Retrieved June 23, 2012.

[3] "Progressives nominate Sanders, Hoffer, Condos and Stanak for statewide office". VTDigger.org. June 12, 2012. Retrieved June 23, 2012.

[4] Gregg, John P. (March 10, 2012). "MacGovern Plans Run at U.S. Senate". Valley News. Archived from the original on March 18, 2012. Retrieved June 23, 2012.

[5] Gregg, John P. (March 15, 2012). "Republican in Waiting?". Valley News. Archived from the original on September 3, 2014. Retrieved June 23, 2012.

[6] Hirschfeld, Peter (March 19, 2012). "Kevin Dorn opts against run for office". Vermont Press Bureau. Archived from the original on March 29, 2012. Retrieved March 29, 2012.

[7] "Lauzon wants 2 more years in Barre". Vermont Today. December 21, 2011. Retrieved January 29, 2011.

[8] Remsen, Nancy (September 23, 2011). "Salmon says he wants to remain as Vermont Auditor". The Burlington Free Press. Retrieved September 24, 2011.

[9] Grasgreen, Allie (January 23, 1964). "2016 Primary Election Results: President Live Map by State, Real-Time Voting Updates". Politico. Retrieved January 23, 2016.

[10] McCarty, Alicia (November 13, 2011). "A look ahead to the key races in the Northeast in 2012". USA Today. Retrieved February 15, 2012.

[VTD-11] Jump up to: ^a ^b Dobbs, Taylor (June 14, 2012). "And they're off: Candidates file for races". VTDigger.org. Retrieved June 23, 2012.

[12] Hemingway, Sam (January 31, 2012). "Sanders has nearly $3 million for re-election bid". The Burlington Free Press. Retrieved February 15, 2012.

[13] "2012 Senate Race Ratings for November 1, 2012". The Cook Political Report. Retrieved September 20, 2018.

[14] "2012 Senate". Sabato's Crystal Ball. Retrieved September 20, 2018.

[15] "2012 Senate Ratings". Senate Ratings. The Rothenberg Political Report. Retrieved September 20, 2018.

[16] "2012 Elections Map - Battle for the Senate 2012". Real Clear Politics. Retrieved September 20, 2018.

[17] "VT Elections Database » Search Elections". Vermont Secretary of State. Archived from the original on July 10, 2019. Retrieved June 14, 2021.

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