The Green Papers: Iowa 2012 General Election
 
This page is for offices up for election in 2012. Find 2013 elections here.
 
Flag images courtesy of The World Flag Database. Copyright http://www.flags.net/ Iowa
Elections for Statewide offices and Congress
Primary: Tuesday 5 June 2012
General Election: Tuesday 6 November 2012
Senators:2(Electoral Classes 2 and 3)
Governor:1 
2010 Census:3,053,787 (0.99% of 309,785,186)
2012, 2016, 2020 Electoral Votes:6(1.12% of 538)
2012-2020 Representatives:4(0.92% of 435)
2000 Census:2,931,923 (1.04% of 281,998,273)
2004, 2008 Electoral Votes:7(1.30% of 538)
2002-2010 Representatives:5(1.15% of 435)
Capital:Des Moines
Tuesday 5 June 2012 polling hours 7:00a CDT (1200 UTC) to 9:00p CDT (0200 UTC).
Tuesday 6 November 2012 polling hours 7:00a CST (1300 UTC) to 9:00p CST (0300 UTC).
 

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Iowa State and Local Government

Iowa 2012 Presidential Primaries, Caucuses, and Conventions:
Democrats, Republicans, Third Parties


Under State law, a candidate in a Primary must receive at least 35% of the vote in that Primary to win a Party's nomination. If no candidate receives 35% in the Primary, the nominee is chosen by the State Convention of the Party.

Voters must be registered voters of either the Democratic or Republican Party to participate in the primary election. Voters can change their party affiliation anytime before election day or at their polling place on election day.


6 November 2012 General election candidate list from the Iowa Secretary of State.

6 November 2012 General election returns from the Iowa Secretary of State.

 
           

President  4 year term, Election Cycle: 2012, 2016. Term Limit: No more than 2 4-year terms in a lifetime. Electors: 6 (Winner-take-all), How Appointed, Meeting Place, Duly Appointed Presidential Electors, List of Presidential Candidates.
Up for election in 2012
  Elected Democratic 822,544 51.99% President Barack Hussein Obama
(6 Electoral Votes)
Vice President: Vice President Joseph Robinette "Joe" Biden, Jr.

FEC P80003338; 26 Nov 12; Tot $732,741,988; Dsb $729,647,987
  Candidate Republican 730,617 46.18% former Massachusetts Governor Willard "Mitt" Romney
Vice President: Wisconsin Congressman Paul D. Ryan

FEC P80003353; 26 Nov 12; Tot $478,704,347; Dsb $465,787,141
  Candidate Libertarian 12,926 0.82% former New Mexico Governor Gary Earl Johnson
Vice President: James P. Gray

FEC P20002671; 26 Nov 12; Tot $2,575,529; Dsb $2,572,585
  Candidate Scattering 7,442 0.47% Write-In
  Candidate Green 3,769 0.24% Jill E. Stein
Vice President: Cheri Honkala

FEC P20003984; 26 Nov 12; Tot $1,005,788; Dsb $1,093,022
  Candidate Constitution 3,038 0.19% former Congressman Virgil Hamlin Goode, Jr.
Vice President: James Clymer

FEC P20004685; 26 Nov 12; Tot $202,258; Dsb $202,253
  Candidate Nominated By Petition 1,027 0.06% Jerry Litzel
Vice President: Jim Litzel

FEC P20005278
  Candidate Socialist Workers Party 445 0.03% James E. Harris, Jr.
Vice President: Alyson Kennedy

FEC P20005112
  Candidate Socialism and Liberation 372 0.02% Gloria Estela La Riva
Vice President: Stefanie Beacham

FEC P80005572
Total 1,582,180 100.00%  

U.S. Senate  6 year term. No Term Limit. 112th Senate  Senate Electoral Classes

Class 2 Democratic Senator Thomas Richard "Tom" Harkin
First elected: 1984; re-elected: 1990, 1996; 2002, 2008
[also served in U.S. House- elected: 1974, 1976, 1978, 1980, 1982]
Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2014

Class 3 Republican Senator Charles E. "Chuck" Grassley
First elected: 1980; re-elected: 1986, 1992, 1998, 2004, 2010.
[also served in U.S. House- elected: 1974, 1976, 1978]
Seat up for election: Tuesday 8 November 2016

Governor  4 year term, Election Cycle: 2010, 2014. Term Limit: None, All Governors

  Republican Governor Terry E. Branstad
First elected: 2010
Chair up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2014

Lieutenant Governor  4 year term, Election Cycle: 2010, 2014. Elected on a ticket with Governor.

  Republican Lieutenant Governor Kimberly "Kim" Reynolds
First elected: 2010
Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2014

112th U.S. House of Representatives  2-year term. Election Cycle 2010, 2012. No Term Limit. 112th House
Partisan Composition (primary disposition):
3 Democratic (3 Renominated);
2 Republican (2 Renominated)

Incumbent - 112th Congress / 2000 apportionment - map
CD 1
Seat up for election
Democratic Congressman Bruce L. Braley
• Re-elected Tuesday 6 November 2012
First elected: 2006
Seat up for election: Tuesday 6 November 2012
Renominated - 5 June 2012 Primary
 Candidate list - 113th Congress / 2010 apportionment
  Elected Democratic 222,422 56.91% Congressman Bruce L. Braley
FEC H6IA01098; 26 Nov 12; Tot $2,686,985; Dsb $2,625,868
  Candidate Republican 162,465 41.57% Benjamin Michael "Ben" Lange
FEC H0IA01117; 26 Nov 12; Tot $1,079,585; Dsb $1,072,206
  Candidate Nominated By Petition 4,772 1.22% Gregory "Greg" Hughes
FEC H2IA01063
  Candidate Nominated By Petition 931 0.24% George Todd Krail, II
FEC H2IA01071; 26 Nov 12; Tot $200; Dsb $160
  Candidate Scattering 259 0.07% Write-In
Total 390,849 100.00%  

Incumbent - 112th Congress / 2000 apportionment - map
CD 2
Seat up for election
Democratic Congressman David Wayne "Dave" Loebsack
• Re-elected Tuesday 6 November 2012
First elected: 2006
Seat up for election: Tuesday 6 November 2012
Renominated - 5 June 2012 Primary
 Candidate list - 113th Congress / 2010 apportionment
  Elected Democratic 211,863 55.57% Congressman David Wayne "Dave" Loebsack
FEC H6IA02146; 26 Nov 12; Tot $1,562,340; Dsb $1,523,570
  Candidate Republican 161,977 42.48% John Henry Archer, Jr.
FEC H2IA02053; 31 Dec 12; Tot $967,708; Dsb $967,708
  Candidate Nominated By Petition 7,112 1.87% Alan Aversa
FEC H2IA02103
  Candidate Scattering 323 0.08% Write-In
Total 381,275 100.00%  

Incumbent - 112th Congress / 2000 apportionment - map
CD 3
Seat up for election
Democratic Congressman Leonard L. Boswell
First elected: 1996
Seat up for election: Tuesday 6 November 2012
Renominated - 5 June 2012 Primary
 ** Incumbents running against one another **
 Candidate list - 113th Congress / 2010 apportionment
  Elected Republican 202,000 52.22% Congressman Thomas P. "Tom" Latham
Congressman Latham, incumbent in the old CD 4, is a candidate for re-election in the new CD # 3.

FEC H4IA05102; 26 Nov 12; Tot $3,402,701; Dsb $3,854,406
  Candidate Democratic 168,632 43.59% Congressman Leonard L. Boswell
FEC H6IA03144; 26 Nov 12; Tot $1,741,222; Dsb $1,721,534
  Candidate Nominated By Petition; (Republican) 9,352 2.42% Scott G. Batcher
FEC H0IA03170
  Candidate Socialist Workers Party 6,286 1.62% David Rosenfeld
FEC H2IA03085
  Candidate Scattering 572 0.15% Write-In
Total 386,842 100.00%  

Incumbent - 112th Congress / 2000 apportionment - map
CD 4
Seat up for election
Republican Congressman Thomas P. "Tom" Latham
• Re-elected Tuesday 6 November 2012
First elected: 1994
Seat up for election: Tuesday 6 November 2012
Renominated - 5 June 2012 Primary.
Congressman Latham is a candidate for re-election in the new CD # 3.
 Candidate list - 113th Congress / 2010 apportionment
  Elected Republican 200,063 52.94% Congressman Steven A. "Steve" King
Congressman King, incumbent in the old CD 5, is a candidate for re-election in the new CD # 4.

FEC H2IA05072; 26 Nov 12; Tot $3,746,810; Dsb $3,729,716
  Candidate Democratic 169,470 44.85% Christie Vilsack
Former First Lady of Iowa

FEC H2IA04117; 26 Nov 12; Tot $3,358,871; Dsb $3,338,759
  Candidate Nominated By Petition 8,124 2.15% Martin James Monroe
FEC H0IA05100
  Candidate Scattering 226 0.06% Write-In
Total 377,883 100.00%  

Incumbent - 112th Congress / 2000 apportionment - Seat lost in 2010 apportionment - No election in 2012 - map
CD 5 Republican Congressman Steven A. "Steve" King
• Re-elected Tuesday 6 November 2012
First elected: 2002
Renominated - 5 June 2012 Primary.
Congressman King is a candidate for re-election in the new CD # 4.

Secretary of State  4 year term, Election Cycle: 2010, 2014

  Republican Secretary of State Matt Schultz
First elected: 2010
Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2014

Attorney General  4 year term, Election Cycle: 2010, 2014

  Democratic Attorney General Tom Miller
First elected: 1978; re-elected: 1982, 1986; elected again: 1994, 1998, 2002, 2006, 2010
Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2014

Treasurer  4 year term, Election Cycle: 2010, 2014

  Democratic Treasurer Michael L. "Mike" Fitzgerald
First elected: 1982; re-elected: 1986, 1990, 1994, 1998, 2002, 2006, 2010
Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2014

Auditor  4 year term, Election Cycle: 2010, 2014

  Republican Auditor David A. "Dave" Vaudt
First elected: 2002; re-elected: 2006, 2010
Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2014

Secretary of Agriculture and Land Stewardship  4 year term, Election Cycle: 2010, 2014

  Republican Secretary of Agriculture and Land Stewardship Bill Northey
First elected: 2006; re-elected: 2010
Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2014
 

Political Parties    Parties appear in parenthesis and italics when a candidate receives the endorsement of a given Party and/or official sources indicate a candidate's association with a particular Party but only where the Party in question does not appear on the actual ballot as such.

Major Parties
  Democratic (affiliates): 6 incumbents, 5 candidates
  Republican: 8 incumbents, 6 candidates
Major Third Parties
  Constitution (affiliates): 1 candidate
  Green (affiliates): 1 candidate
  Libertarian: 1 candidate
Other Third Parties
  Socialism and Liberation: 1 candidate
  Socialist Workers Party: 2 candidates
Independents
  Nominated By Petition: 6 candidates
Write-in/Scattered/otherwise not readily classifiable
  Scattering: 5 candidates
 
Candidates running under the banner of more than one party are counted towards each party's total. A candidate who has lost a primary or is apparently no longer a candidate is not counted.

Notes

Candidates for office appear on this page in italics where 'The Green Papers' does not yet have independent confirmation from a legal election authority that the person has been officially certified to appear on the ballot.

"FEC" indicates the Federal Election Commission (FEC) Campaign Finance Summary.

When available, we post each candidate's FEC identification number, the date of their most recently filed Report of Receipts and Disbursements, their "Tot" [Total Receipts (contributions received or what came in: FEC Form 3, Line 16, Column B)] and their "Dsb" [Total Disbursements (expenditures or what was spent: FEC Form 3, Line 23, Column B)]. A link is provided to the Federal Election Commission's Summary Report for those who might wish to explore the details.

If a candidate raises or spends $5,000 or less, he or she is not subject to FEC reporting requirements.


 


  2012 General Election Home  
 
  President Popular Vote and FEC Total Receipts by Party  
  113th U.S. Senate Popular Vote and FEC Total Receipts by Party  
  Gubernatorial Popular Vote by Party  
  113th U.S. House Popular Vote and FEC Total Receipts by Party  
  Close Contests Summary - Decision by 2% or less  
  Contests Where No Candidate Received a Majority  
 
2012 Primaries and Runoffs for Statewide offices/Congress
  Alphabetically   --   Chronologically   --   Poll Closing Times  
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General Election Poll Closing Times
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  Polling Hours  
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  President (Details)     Governors     Senate     House  
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  Senators by 'Class'  
  Governors by election 'cycle'  
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  Gubernatorial Primaries at a Glance   --   Senatorial Primaries at a Glance  
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  Open Governor's Chairs, Senate and House Seats (the incumbent is not running for re-election)  
  Governor's Chairs, Senate, and U.S. House Seats with no incumbent running for them  
  Uncontested Governor's Chairs, Senate, and U.S. House Seats (one candidate running for office)  
  Governor's Chairs, Senate, and U.S. House Seats with multiple incumbents running for them  
  Governor's Chairs, Senate, and U.S. House Seats with only one major party candidate running for office  
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  2012 Partisan Composition by State  
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  Political Parties  
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  Senate Electoral Classes  
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  Explanation of the Debate Scoring System  
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History
  Political Party Floor Leaders in the Congress of the United States  
  Dates of DIRECT PRIMARY Elections re: Major Party Nominations for Statewide and/or Federal Office  
  Length of Terms of Office of STATE Governors throughout American History  
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  Dates of U.S. Presidential Election "Events": 1789 to present  
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Electoral College
  How Appointed  
  Meeting Place  
  Duly Appointed Presidential Electors  
  Tabulation Joint Session of Congress  
  Faithless Electors  
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  Presidential Candidates  
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  (downloads)