The Green Papers
Open Governor's Chairs, Senate and House Seats
at the time of the 2012 General Election


Governor's Chairs, Senate and House Seats...
Open (incumbent not running for re-election)
No incumbent running
Uncontested (one candidate running)
Multiple incumbents running


 
IncumbentPartyOfficeReason for not seeking re-election
Arizona
Senator Jon L. KylRepublicanSenate Class 1Open Seat. 10 February 2011: Announced retirement
Governor Janice K. "Jan" BrewerRepublicanGovernorOpen Chair. Term Limit. At term limit
Congressman Ben QuayleRepublicanHouse CD 3Lost Primary / No Longer Running. 28 August 2012 Primary.
Congressman Quayle is a candidate for re-election in the new CD # 6.
Congressman Jeff FlakeRepublicanHouse CD 6Open Seat. 14 February 2011: Announced that he will run for the U.S. Class 1 Senate Seat in 2012.
Arkansas
Governor Mike BeebeDemocraticGovernorOpen Chair. Term Limit. At term limit
Congressman Michael Avery "Mike" RossDemocraticHouse CD 4Open Seat. 25 July 2011: "...I have decided not to seek a seventh term to the United States House..."
California
Congressman Walter William "Wally" Herger, Jr.RepublicanHouse CD 2Open Seat. 10 January 2012: Announced retirement.
Congressman Lynn C. WoolseyDemocraticHouse CD 6Open Seat. 27 June 2011: Congressman Woolsey announced her retirement.
Congressman Dennis A. CardozaDemocraticHouse CD 18Vacant Office. 20 October 2011: Announced he will not seek re-election.
14 August 2012: Resigned citing family needs. Due to the timing of the resignation, there will be no special election to fill the vacant seat.
Congressman Elton GalleglyRepublicanHouse CD 24Open Seat. 6 January 2012: Congressman Gallegly announces that he will not seek re-election. "The decision to step aside at this time did not come lightly. But in the end, Janice and I decided now was the right time to begin the next chapter in our lives."
Congressman David DreierRepublicanHouse CD 26Open Seat. 29 February 2012: "... the American people are asking for change in Congress, and so I'm announcing today that I will leave the Congress at the end of this year..."
Congressman Jerry LewisRepublicanHouse CD 41Open Seat. 12 January 2012: "After months of consultation with loved ones and family, my wife Arlene and I have decided to retire from public life."
Congressman Bob FilnerDemocraticHouse CD 51Vacant Office. 9 June 2011: Candidate for Mayor of San Diego in 2012.
6 November 2012: Elected Mayor of San Diego.
3 December 2012: Resigned prior to being sworn in as Mayor of San Diego.
Connecticut
Senator Joseph I. "Joe" LiebermanIndependent DemocratSenate Class 1Open Seat. 19 January 2011: Announced that he will not seek re-election.
Congressman Christopher Scott "Chris" MurphyDemocraticHouse CD 5Open Seat. 20 January 2011: Announced he is running for the U.S. Senate Class 1 seat in 2012.
Florida
Congressman Clifford Bundy "Cliff" StearnsRepublicanHouse CD 6Lost Primary / No Longer Running. Congressman Stearns is a candidate for re-election in the new CD # 3.
Congressman Connie Mack, IVRepublicanHouse CD 14Open Seat. 25 March 2011: Congressman Mack WILL NOT be a candidate for the Senate in 2011.
26 October 2011: Update- Media reports state Congressman Mack WILL be a candidate for the Senate in 2011.
28 November 2011: Announced his candidacy for the Florida Class 1 Senate seat in 2012.
Congressman Sandra "Sandy" AdamsRepublicanHouse CD 24Lost Primary / No Longer Running. Lost 14 August Primary
Congressman Adams was a candidate for re-election in the new CD # 7.
Hawaii
Senator Daniel Kahikina AkakaDemocraticSenate Class 1Open Seat. 2 March 2011: Announced retirement.
Congressman Mazie K. HironoDemocraticHouse CD 2Open Seat. 19 May 2011: Announced her candidacy for the U.S. Senate Class 1 Seat in 2012.
Illinois
Congressman Jesse Louis Jackson, Jr.DemocraticHouse CD 2Vacant Office. 20 March 2012 Primary.
25 June 2012: the Congressman's office announced he was undergoing treatment for exhaustion and has been on a medical leave of absence retroactive to 10 June.
27 June 2012: vague public comments by the Congressman's wife, Chicago City Alderman Sandi Jackson, and Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel today have led to much media speculation that the Congressman's condition might well be rather serious.
5 July 2012: a statement issued by his staff today notes that the Congressman's "medical condition is more serious than we thought and initially believed" and that "he has grappled with certain physical and emotional ailments privately for a long period of time"; the statement went on to note that he will require "extended in-patient treatment as well as continuing medical treatment thereafter".
27 July 2012: Reports state that Congressman Jackson has been admitted to the Rochester Minnesota Mayo Clinic for depression and gastrointestinal ailments.
13 August 2012: The Mayo Clinic has confirmed that Congressman Jackson is being treated at their facility for Bipolar Disorder II. It was thought that- based on statements by an aide last week- the Congressman might be back in his District for the first time in some two months sometime later this week; the Congressman's staff has not publicly commented on the Mayo Clinic's announcement.
7 September 2012: Media reports state that Congressman Jackson has left the Mayo Clinic and is back home.
21 November 2012: Resigned stating "... I hereby resign as a member of the United States House of Representatives, effective today, in order to focus on restoring my health."
Congressman Jerry F. CostelloDemocraticHouse CD 12Open Seat. 4 October 2011: Announced retirement.
Congressman Timothy V. "Tim" JohnsonRepublicanHouse CD 15Open Seat. 4 April 2012: Announce his retirement.
20 March 2012: Renominated by Primary for re-election in the new CD # 13.
Congressman Donald A. ManzulloRepublicanHouse CD 16Lost Primary / No Longer Running. 20 March 2012
Indiana
Senator Richard G. LugarRepublicanSenate Class 1Lost Primary / No Longer Running. Defeated in 8 May 2012 Primary
Governor Mitchell E. "Mitch" Daniels, Jr.RepublicanGovernorOpen Chair. Term Limit
Congressman Joseph Simon "Joe" DonnellyDemocraticHouse CD 2Open Seat. 7 May 2011: Candidate for the Class 1 Senate Seat in 2012
Congressman Danny L. "Dan" BurtonRepublicanHouse CD 5Open Seat. 31 January 2012: Announced retirement.
Congressman Mike PenceRepublicanHouse CD 6Open Seat. 5 May 2011: Candidate for Governor in 2012
Kentucky
Governor Steven L. "Steve" BeshearDemocraticGovernorOpen Chair. Term Limit. At Term Limit
Louisiana
Governor Piyush "Bobby" JindalRepublicanGovernorOpen Chair. Term Limit
Maine
Senator Olympia J. SnoweRepublicanSenate Class 1Open Seat. 28 February 2012: "After an extraordinary amount of reflection and consideration, I am announcing today that I will not be a candidate for re-election to the United States Senate."
Maryland
Governor Martin O'MalleyDemocraticGovernorOpen Chair. Term Limit
Massachusetts
Senator John F. KerryDemocraticSenate Class 2Open Seat. 15 December 2012: Media reports state that President Obama will nominate Senator John F. Kerry for Secretary of State.
21 December 2012: Officially nominated.
Governor Deval L. PatrickDemocraticGovernorOpen Chair. March 2012: Announced he is not running for re-election in 2014.
Congressman John Walter OlverDemocraticHouse CD 1Open Seat. 26 October 2011: "Therefore, I will retire from the House of Representatives at the conclusion of the current [112th] Congress."
Congressman Barney FrankDemocraticHouse CD 4Open Seat. 28 November 2011: Congressman Frank announced that he will not run for re-election.
Michigan
Congressman Dale E. KildeeDemocraticHouse CD 5Open Seat. 15 July 2011: "After careful consideration, I have decided to retire at the end of this term to enjoy more time with my wife, three children and ten grandchildren..."
Congressman Hansen ClarkeDemocraticHouse CD 13Lost Primary / No Longer Running. Lost 7 August 2012 Primary--
Congressman Clarke was a candidate for re-election in the new CD # 14.
Missouri
Congressman William Todd "Todd" AkinRepublicanHouse CD 2Open Seat. 17 May 2011: Candidate for the Senate Class 1 seat in 2012.
Congressman John Russell "Russ" CarnahanDemocraticHouse CD 3Lost Primary / No Longer Running. Lost 7 August 2012 Primary--Congressman Carnahan was a candidate for re-election in the new CD #1.
Congressman Jo Ann EmersonRepublicanHouse CD 8Open Seat. 7 August 2012 Primary.
6 November 2012: Re-elected.
3 December 2012: Announced her resignation effective in February 2013 when she assumes the role of President and Chief Executive Officer of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association.
Montana
Governor Brian SchweitzerDemocraticGovernorOpen Chair. Term Limit. At Term Limit
Congressman Dennis Ray "Denny" RehbergRepublicanHouse At-LargeOpen Seat. 1 February 2011: Media reports Congressman Rehberg is running for the Class 1 Senate Seat in 2012.
Nebraska
Senator E. Benjamin "Ben" NelsonDemocraticSenate Class 1Open Seat. 27 December 2011: Media reports indicate that Senator Nelson will announce his retirement from the Senate at the end of his current term (which ends at Noon, 3 January 2013)
Governor Dave HeinemanRepublicanGovernorOpen Chair. Term Limit. At term limit
Nevada
Congressman Shelley BerkleyDemocraticHouse CD 1Open Seat. 14 April 2011: Announced she is running for the Senate Class 1 seat in 2012.
New Hampshire
Governor John H. LynchDemocraticGovernorOpen Chair. 15 September 2011: Announced he will not run for re-election.
New Jersey
Congressman Steven R. "Steve" RothmanDemocraticHouse CD 9Lost Primary / No Longer Running
New Mexico
Senator Jesse F. "Jeff" Bingaman, Jr.DemocraticSenate Class 1Open Seat. 18 February 2011: Announced retirement.
Congressman Martin Trevor HeinrichDemocraticHouse CD 1Open Seat. 2 April 2011: Congressman Heinrich announced he is running for the Class 1 Senate Seat in 2012.
New York
Congressman Gary L. AckermanDemocraticHouse CD 5Open Seat. 15 March 2012: Announced he will not seek re-election.
Congressman Robert L. "Bob" TurnerRepublicanHouse CD 9Open Seat. 13 March 2012: Congressman Turner is a candidate for the U.S. Senate Class 1 seat.
26 June 2012: Congressman Turner lost the Senate primary.
Congressman Edolphus "Ed" TownsDemocraticHouse CD 10Open Seat. 15 April 2012: Media reports indicate a withdrawal.
Congressman Maurice D. HincheyDemocraticHouse CD 22Open Seat. 18 January 2012: Media reports state that Congressman Hinchey will retire due to health concerns.
North Carolina
Governor Beverly Eaves "Bev" PerdueDemocraticGovernorOpen Chair. 26 January 2012: Announced that she will not seek reelection in 2012.
Congressman Suellen "Sue" MyrickRepublicanHouse CD 9Open Seat. 7 February 2012: "After thoughtful discussion with my family, I have decided not to run for another term in Congress."
Congressman Joseph Heath "Heath" ShulerDemocraticHouse CD 11Open Seat. 2 February 2012: Media reports state Congressman Shuler will not seek re-election.
Congressman Ralph Bradley "Brad" MillerDemocraticHouse CD 13Open Seat. Congressman Miller is a candidate for re-election in the new CD # 4.
26 January 2012: "I will not seek another term in Congress ... I knew Republicans in the legislature would dismantle the district that I have represented for the last decade, and they did."
North Dakota
Senator Gaylord Kent "Kent" ConradDemocraticSenate Class 1Open Seat. 18 January 2011: Announced retirement.
Congressman Richard A. "Rick" BergRepublicanHouse At-LargeOpen Seat. 16 May 2011: Congressman Berg announced that he will run for the Senate Class 1 Seat in 2012.
Ohio
Congressman Jeannette H. "Jean" SchmidtRepublicanHouse CD 2Lost Primary / No Longer Running. 6 March 2012
Congressman Steve C. AustriaRepublicanHouse CD 7Open Seat. 31 December 2011: Retiring
Congressman Dennis J. KucinichDemocraticHouse CD 10Lost Primary / No Longer Running. 6 March 2012: Congressman Kucinich was a candidate for re-election in the new CD # 9.
Congressman Steven C. "Steve" LaTouretteRepublicanHouse CD 14Open Seat. 6 March 2012: Renominated by Primary. 30 July 2012: Media reports indicate the Congressman will not run for re-election. 31 July 2012: Congressman LaTourette confirmed his retirement. The Republican Party will select a replacement nominee.
Oklahoma
Senator Tom CoburnRepublicanSenate Class 3Open Seat. 16 August 2011: Announced he would not run for re-election in 2016: ".. I'm not running again..."
Congressman John SullivanRepublicanHouse CD 1Lost Primary / No Longer Running. 26 June 2012 Primary
Congressman David Daniel "Dan" BorenDemocraticHouse CD 2Open Seat. 7 June 2011: Media reports state Congressman Boren plans to retire. However, he filed a Statement of Candidacy with the FEC on 13 December 2011.
Pennsylvania
Congressman Jason AltmireDemocraticHouse CD 4Lost Primary / No Longer Running. Congressman Altmire was a candidate for re-election in the new CD # 12.
Congressman Timothy T. "Tim" HoldenDemocraticHouse CD 17Lost Primary / No Longer Running
Congressman Todd R. PlattsRepublicanHouse CD 19Open Seat. 17 January 2012: Announced retirement
South Carolina
Senator James W. "Jim" DeMintRepublicanSenate Class 3Open Seat. 30 August 2011: Announced he will not run for re-election in 2016.
6 December 2012: Resigned effective January 2013 to lead the Heritage Foundation. "It's been an honor to serve the people of South Carolina in the United States Senate for the past eight years, but now it's time for me to pass the torch to someone else and take on a new role in the fight for America's future." Governor Nikki Randhawa Haley (Republican) will appoint a replacement to serve until a special election is called.
17 December 2012: Media reports indicate Congressman Timothy E. "Tim" Scott (Republican CD 1) will be appointed by Governor Nikki Randhawa Haley (Republican) to this U. S. Senate seat.
Congressman Timothy E. "Tim" ScottRepublicanHouse CD 1Open Seat. 17 December 2012: Media reports indicate Congressman Scott will be appointed by Governor Nikki Randhawa Haley (Republican) to the U. S. Senate.
The Congressman had been re-elected to the U. S. House on 6 November 2012. Renominated by primary on 12 June 2012 Primary.
Texas
Senator Kay Bailey HutchisonRepublicanSenate Class 1Open Seat. 13 January 2011: "I am announcing today that I will not be a candidate for re-election in 2012...".
Congressman Ronald E. "Ron" PaulRepublicanHouse CD 14Open Seat. 26 April 2011: Announced he was forming a presidential exploratory committee for 2012.
13 May 2011: Announced he is a candidate for President in 2012.
12 July 2011: Announced he will not run for re-election.
Congressman Silvestre ReyesDemocraticHouse CD 16Lost Primary / No Longer Running. 29 May 2012 Primary
Congressman Charles A. GonzalezDemocraticHouse CD 20Open Seat. 25 November 2011: Announced retirement.
Virginia
Senator James H. "Jim" Webb, Jr.DemocraticSenate Class 1Open Seat. 9 February 2011: "...after much thought and consideration I have decided to return to the private sector ... and will not seek re-election in 2012."
Governor Robert F. "Bob" McDonnellRepublicanGovernorOpen Chair. Term Limit
Washington
Governor Christine "Chris" GregoireDemocraticGovernorOpen Chair. 13 June 2011: "Today, I say I will not run for a third term as governor ...."
Congressman Norman D. "Norm" DicksDemocraticHouse CD 6Open Seat. 2 March 2012: Announced retirement.
Wisconsin
Senator Herbert H. "Herb" KohlDemocraticSenate Class 1Open Seat. 13 May 2011: Media reports say Senator Kohl will not seek re-election in 2012.
Congressman Tammy BaldwinDemocraticHouse CD 2Open Seat. 5 September 2011: Candidate for the U.S. Senate Class 1 Seat in 2012.
 
 
Tally
OfficeReason for Open Chair or Seat
Term LimitVoluntaryLost PrimaryVacantTotal
GovernorDemocratic44008
Republican50005
CongressmanDemocratic0207330
Republican0206026
SenatorRepublican05106
Independent Democrat01001
Democratic07007
Totals95714383
 
 

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.

 


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