Governor's Chairs, Senate and House Seats...
Open (incumbent not running for re-election)
No incumbent running
Uncontested (one candidate running)
Multiple incumbents running
| Incumbent | Party | Office | Reason for not seeking re-election |
| Arizona | |||
| Senator Jon L. Kyl | Republican | Senate Class 1 | Open Seat. 10 February 2011: Announced retirement |
| Governor Janice K. "Jan" Brewer | Republican | Governor | Open Chair. Term Limit. At term limit |
| Congressman Jeff Flake | Republican | House CD 6 | Open Seat. 14 February 2011: Announced that he will run for the U.S. Class 1 Senate Seat in 2012. |
| Congressman Gabrielle "Gabby" Giffords | Democratic | House CD 8 | Vacant Office. 8 January 2011: Congressman Giffords was shot at a constituent meeting at a Safeway grocery store in Tuscon. Fox News, CNN. 22 January 2012: Announced that she will resign from Congress. "I will return, and we will work together for Arizona and this great country." Once she officially resigns, the Governor will call a special primary (80 to 90 days after the occurrence of the vacancy-- circa April) and a special general election (50 to 60 days after the primary-- circa June). [Arizona Revised Statutes 16-222]. 25 January 2012: Resigned. 27 January 2012: Arizona Governor Janice K. "Jan" Brewer called a Special U.S. House CD 8 Primary for Tuesday 17 April 2012 and a Special Election for Tuesday 12 June 2012 to fill the Seat vacated by the resignation of Congressman Gabrielle "Gabby" Giffords (Democratic). |
| Arkansas | |||
| Governor Mike Beebe | Democratic | Governor | Open Chair. Term Limit. At term limit |
| Congressman Michael Avery "Mike" Ross | Democratic | House CD 4 | Open 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. | Republican | House CD 2 | Open Seat. 10 January 2012: Announced retirement. |
| Congressman Lynn C. Woolsey | Democratic | House CD 6 | Open Seat. 27 June 2011: Congressman Woolsey announced her retirement. |
| Congressman Dennis A. Cardoza | Democratic | House CD 18 | Open Seat. 20 October 2011: Announced he will not seek re-election. |
| Congressman Elton Gallegly | Republican | House CD 24 | Open 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 Dreier | Republican | House CD 26 | Open 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 Lewis | Republican | House CD 41 | Open 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 Filner | Democratic | House CD 51 | Open Seat. 9 June 2011: Candidate for Mayor of San Diego in 2012. |
| Connecticut | |||
| Senator Joseph I. "Joe" Lieberman | Independent Democrat | Senate Class 1 | Open Seat. 19 January 2011: Announced that he will not seek re-election. |
| Congressman Christopher Scott "Chris" Murphy | Democratic | House CD 5 | Open Seat. 20 January 2011: Announced he is running for the U.S. Senate Class 1 seat in 2012. |
| Florida | |||
| Congressman Connie Mack, IV | Republican | House CD 14 | Open 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. |
| Hawaii | |||
| Senator Daniel Kahikina Akaka | Democratic | Senate Class 1 | Open Seat. 2 March 2011: Announced retirement. |
| Congressman Mazie K. Hirono | Democratic | House CD 2 | Open Seat. 19 May 2011: Announced her candidacy for the U.S. Senate Class 1 Seat in 2012. |
| Illinois | |||
| Congressman Jerry F. Costello | Democratic | House CD 12 | Open Seat. 4 October 2011: Announced retirement. |
| Congressman Timothy V. "Tim" Johnson | Republican | House CD 15 | Open Seat. 4 April 2012: Announce his retirement. 20 March 2012: Renominated by Primary for re-election in the new CD # 13. |
| Congressman Donald A. Manzullo | Republican | House CD 16 | Lost Primary / No Longer Running. 20 March 2012 |
| Indiana | |||
| Senator Richard G. Lugar | Republican | Senate Class 1 | Lost Primary / No Longer Running. Defeated in 8 May 2012 Primary |
| Governor Mitchell E. "Mitch" Daniels, Jr. | Republican | Governor | Open Chair. Term Limit |
| Congressman Joseph Simon "Joe" Donnelly | Democratic | House CD 2 | Open Seat. 7 May 2011: Candidate for the Class 1 Senate Seat in 2012 |
| Congressman Danny L. "Dan" Burton | Republican | House CD 5 | Open Seat. 31 January 2012: Announced retirement. |
| Congressman Mike Pence | Republican | House CD 6 | Open Seat. 5 May 2011: Candidate for Governor in 2012 |
| Kentucky | |||
| Governor Steven L. "Steve" Beshear | Democratic | Governor | Open Chair. Term Limit. At Term Limit |
| Congressman Geoffrey C. "Geoff" Davis | Republican | House CD 4 | Open Seat. 15 December 2011: Announced retirement. |
| Louisiana | |||
| Governor Piyush "Bobby" Jindal | Republican | Governor | Open Chair. Term Limit |
| Maine | |||
| Senator Olympia J. Snowe | Republican | Senate Class 1 | Open 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'Malley | Democratic | Governor | Open Chair. Term Limit |
| Massachusetts | |||
| Governor Deval L. Patrick | Democratic | Governor | Open Chair. March 2012: Announced he is not running for re-election in 2014. |
| Congressman John Walter Olver | Democratic | House CD 1 | Open Seat. 26 October 2011: "Therefore, I will retire from the House of Representatives at the conclusion of the current [112th] Congress." |
| Congressman Barney Frank | Democratic | House CD 4 | Open Seat. 28 November 2011: Congressman Frank announced that he will not run for re-election. |
| Michigan | |||
| Congressman Dale E. Kildee | Democratic | House CD 5 | Open 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..." |
| Minnesota | |||
| Congressman Michele M. Bachmann | Republican | House CD 6 | Open Seat. 13 June 2011: Announced she is a candidate for President in 2012. |
| Missouri | |||
| Congressman William Todd "Todd" Akin | Republican | House CD 2 | Open Seat. 17 May 2011: Candidate for the Senate Class 1 seat in 2012. |
| Montana | |||
| Governor Brian Schweitzer | Democratic | Governor | Open Chair. Term Limit. At Term Limit |
| Congressman Dennis Ray "Denny" Rehberg | Republican | House At-Large | Open Seat. 1 February 2011: Media reports Congressman Rehberg is running for the Class 1 Senate Seat in 2012. |
| Nebraska | |||
| Senator E. Benjamin "Ben" Nelson | Democratic | Senate Class 1 | Open 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 Heineman | Republican | Governor | Open Chair. Term Limit. At term limit |
| Nevada | |||
| Congressman Shelley Berkley | Democratic | House CD 1 | Open Seat. 14 April 2011: Announced she is running for the Senate Class 1 seat in 2012. |
| New Hampshire | |||
| Governor John H. Lynch | Democratic | Governor | Open Chair. 15 September 2011: Announced he will not run for re-election. |
| New Jersey | |||
| Congressman Donald M. Payne | Democratic | House CD 10 | Vacant Office. 6 March 2012: Congressman Payne, 77, died from colon cancer. |
| New Mexico | |||
| Senator Jesse F. "Jeff" Bingaman, Jr. | Democratic | Senate Class 1 | Open Seat. 18 February 2011: Announced retirement. |
| Congressman Martin Trevor Heinrich | Democratic | House CD 1 | Open Seat. 2 April 2011: Congressman Heinrich announced he is running for the Class 1 Senate Seat in 2012. |
| New York | |||
| Congressman Gary L. Ackerman | Democratic | House CD 5 | Open Seat. 15 March 2012: Announced he will not seek re-election. |
| Congressman Robert L. "Bob" Turner | Republican | House CD 9 | Open Seat. 13 March 2012: Congressman Turner is a candidate for the U.S. Senate Class 1 seat. |
| Congressman Edolphus "Ed" Towns | Democratic | House CD 10 | Open Seat. 15 April 2012: Media reports indicate a withdrawal. |
| Congressman Maurice D. Hinchey | Democratic | House CD 22 | Open Seat. 18 January 2012: Media reports state that Congressman Hinchey will retire due to health concerns. |
| North Carolina | |||
| Governor Beverly Eaves "Bev" Perdue | Democratic | Governor | Open Chair. 26 January 2012: Announced that she will not seek reelection in 2012. |
| Congressman Suellen "Sue" Myrick | Republican | House CD 9 | Open 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" Shuler | Democratic | House CD 11 | Open Seat. 2 February 2012: Media reports state Congressman Shuler will not seek re-election. |
| Congressman Ralph Bradley "Brad" Miller | Democratic | House CD 13 | Open Seat. 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" Conrad | Democratic | Senate Class 1 | Open Seat. 18 January 2011: Announced retirement. |
| Congressman Richard A. "Rick" Berg | Republican | House At-Large | Open Seat. 16 May 2011: Congressman Berg announced that he will run for the Senate Class 1 Seat in 2012. |
| Ohio | |||
| Congressman Jeannette H. "Jean" Schmidt | Republican | House CD 2 | Lost Primary / No Longer Running. 6 March 2012 |
| Congressman Steve C. Austria | Republican | House CD 7 | Open Seat. 31 December 2011: Retiring |
| Congressman Dennis J. Kucinich | Democratic | House CD 10 | Lost Primary / No Longer Running. 6 March 2012: Congressman Kucinich was a candidate for re-election in the new CD # 9. |
| Oklahoma | |||
| Senator Tom Coburn | Republican | Senate Class 3 | Open Seat. 16 August 2011: Announced he would not run for re-election in 2016: ".. I'm not running again..." |
| Congressman David Daniel "Dan" Boren | Democratic | House CD 2 | Open 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 Altmire | Democratic | House CD 4 | Lost Primary / No Longer Running. Congressman Altmire was a candidate for re-election in the new CD # 12. |
| Congressman Timothy T. "Tim" Holden | Democratic | House CD 17 | Lost Primary / No Longer Running |
| Congressman Todd R. Platts | Republican | House CD 19 | Open Seat. 17 January 2012: Announced retirement |
| South Carolina | |||
| Senator James W. "Jim" DeMint | Republican | Senate Class 3 | Open Seat. 30 August 2011: Announced he will not run for re-election in 2016. |
| Texas | |||
| Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison | Republican | Senate Class 1 | Open Seat. 13 January 2011: "I am announcing today that I will not be a candidate for re-election in 2012...". |
| Congressman Ronald E. "Ron" Paul | Republican | House CD 14 | Open 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 Charles A. Gonzalez | Democratic | House CD 20 | Open Seat. 25 November 2011: Announced retirement. |
| Virginia | |||
| Senator James H. "Jim" Webb, Jr. | Democratic | Senate Class 1 | Open 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" McDonnell | Republican | Governor | Open Chair. Term Limit |
| Washington | |||
| Governor Christine "Chris" Gregoire | Democratic | Governor | Open Chair. 13 June 2011: "Today, I say I will not run for a third term as governor ...." |
| Congressman Jay R. Inslee | Democratic | House CD 1 | Vacant Office. 24 June 2011: Candidate for Governor in 2012.
6 March 2012: Announced resignation on 20 March 2012. "Effective March 20, I'm stepping down from my seat in Congress to devote myself full-time to my race for governor..." 20 March 2012: Resigned. |
| Congressman Norman D. "Norm" Dicks | Democratic | House CD 6 | Open Seat. 2 March 2012: Announced retirement. |
| Wisconsin | |||
| Senator Herbert H. "Herb" Kohl | Democratic | Senate Class 1 | Open Seat. 13 May 2011: Media reports say Senator Kohl will not seek re-election in 2012. |
| Congressman Tammy Baldwin | Democratic | House CD 2 | Open Seat. 5 September 2011: Candidate for the U.S. Senate Class 1 Seat in 2012. |
| Tally | ||||||
| Office | Reason for Open Chair or Seat | |||||
| Term Limit | Voluntary | Vacant | Lost Primary | Total | ||
| Governor | Democratic | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 8 |
| Republican | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | |
| Congressman | Democratic | 0 | 22 | 3 | 3 | 28 |
| Republican | 0 | 19 | 0 | 2 | 21 | |
| Senator | Republican | 0 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 6 |
| Independent Democrat | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |
| Democratic | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 | |
| Totals | 9 | 57 | 3 | 6 | 75 | |
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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