United States Senate election in West Virginia, 2012
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| November 6, 2012 (2012-11-06) |
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| U.S. Senate election results map. Blue denotes counties/districts won by Manchin. Red denotes those won by Raese. |
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The 2012 United States Senate election in West Virginia was held on November 6, 2012. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Joe Manchin won re-election to a first full term.
Background
Robert Byrd held this seat in the U.S. Senate since 1959, after having served in the House of Representatives since 1953, making him the longest-serving person in Congress. Byrd led his party in the Senate from 1977 to 1989, as Majority Leader or Minority Leader. Afterward, as the most senior Democrat in the Senate, he served as President pro tempore of the Senate whenever his party was in the majority, including at the time of his death.
After Byrd's death, West Virginia Secretary of State Natalie Tennant initially announced that a special election would be held on the same day as the regular election for the six-year term. However, that special election was rescheduled to 2010 for it to coincide with the 2010 mid-term elections.
Governor Joe Manchin made a temporary appointment of Carte Goodwin to the vacant seat. Goodwin was later replaced by Manchin who won the 2010 special election.
Democratic primary
Candidates
- Sheirl Fletcher, former State Delegate and candidate for the U.S. Senate in 2008 and 2010[2]
- Joe Manchin, incumbent U.S. senator[3]
Results
Democratic primary results[4]
| Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
|
Democratic |
Joe Manchin (incumbent) |
163,891 |
79.9 |
|
Democratic |
Sheirl Fletcher |
41,118 |
20.1 |
| Total votes |
205,009 |
100 |
General election
Candidates
Debates
One debate took place at Shepherdstown University on October 2, 2012. It included United States Senator Joe Manchin (Democratic), Bob Baber (Mountain), and John Raese (Republican).[7]
Campaign
Raese filed a rematch against Manchin, arguing that he now had more material to criticize Manchin for. One example is how Manchin lost his long-time endorsement from West Virginians for Life because of his vote against defunding Planned Parenthood, the nation's largest abortion provider.[8] Another example is how he is undecided about whether or not to support Obama's re-election campaign.[9] Senior Obama campaign advisor David Axelrod commented in response, "His concern is about his own political well-being."[10] In addition, he voted against U.S. Congressman Paul Ryan's Republican budget.[11]
Raese wrote an op-ed in the Charleston Gazette saying about Manchin, "Yes, he'll talk like a conservative and act like he's fiscally responsible to appeal to more moderate voters, but under that outward appearance of a lovable rube is the heart of a tax-and-spend liberal."[9]
Raese continued to make controversial statements. In April 2012, he equated smoking bans with Adolf Hitler's yellow badge. He said "in Monongalia County now, I have to put a huge sticker on my buildings to say this is a smoke-free environment. This is brought to you by the government of Monongalia County. Okay? Remember Hitler used to put Star of David on everybody’s lapel, remember that? Same thing." That same day, he referred to President Franklin D. Roosevelt as "Fidel Roosevelt."[12] Raese didn't apologize for his statements on Hitler saying "I am not going to be intimidated by a bunch of bullshit. I'm not apologizing to anybody or any organization. It's my perfect right to make a speech about meaningful subject matters in this country."[13] He also called rocker Ted Nugent a "patriot" for criticizing President Barack Obama.[14]
Fundraising
| Candidate (party) |
Receipts |
Disbursements |
Cash on hand |
Debt |
| Joe Manchin(D) |
$9,467,003 |
$7,678,708 |
$1,788,297 |
$0 |
| John Raese (R) |
$1,607,740 |
$1,610,493 |
$4,679 |
$0 |
| Source: Federal Election Commission[15] |
Top contributors
| Joe Manchin |
Contribution |
John Raese |
Contribution |
| Lawyers/Law Firms |
$670,553 |
Entertainment industry |
$176,025 |
| Mining industry |
$647,548 |
Leadership PACs |
$143,190 |
| Electric Utilities |
$392,100 |
Retired |
$109,513 |
| Leadership PACs |
$366,000 |
Lawyers/Law Firms |
$62,069 |
| Health Professionals |
$287,498 |
Special Trade Contractors |
$59,450 |
| Retired |
$275,750 |
Health Professionals |
$54,300 |
| Pharmaceuticals/Health Products |
$272,900 |
Financial Institutions |
$52,695 |
| Petroleum Industry |
$256,150 |
Real Estate |
$45,875 |
| Real Estate |
$228,350 |
Petroleum Industry |
$35,900 |
| Lobbyists |
$200,689 |
Republican/Conservative |
$35,357 |
| Source: Center for Responsive Politics[16] |
Top industries
| Joe Manchin |
Contribution |
John Raese |
Contribution |
| FirstEnergy Corporation |
$136,950 |
Greer Industries |
$124,754 |
| Mylan Laboratories Inc. |
$127,500 |
Mountaineer Contractors Inc. |
$40,900 |
| Mepco LLC |
$64,400 |
Senate Conservatives Fund |
$37,690 |
| Dominion Resources |
$58,900 |
Frankovitch, Anetakis, Colantonio & Simon |
$25,650 |
| Centene Corporation |
$55,900 |
Wv Radio |
$22,550 |
| American Electric Power |
$55,750 |
West Virginia Radio Corporation |
$16,821 |
| Jackson Kelly PLLC |
$50,825 |
Polino Contracting |
$15,500 |
| Drummond Company |
$49,100 |
Cleveland Brothers |
$10,800 |
| Patriot Coal Corporation |
$48,400 |
American Financial Group |
$10,200 |
| Boich Companies |
$44,200 |
Senate Majority Fund |
$10,000 |
| Source: Center for Responsive Politics[17] |
Polling
|
Hypothetical polling |
| Poll source |
Date(s)
administered |
Sample
size |
Margin of
error |
Joe
Manchin (D) |
Bill
Maloney (R) |
Other |
Undecided |
| Public Policy Polling |
September 30-October 2, 2011 |
932 |
± 3.2% |
60% |
29% |
— |
11% |
|
Results
United States Senate election in West Virginia, 2012
| Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
± |
|
Democratic |
Joe Manchin |
394,532 |
60.55% |
+7.08% |
|
Republican |
John Raese |
237,825 |
36.50% |
-6.90% |
|
Mountain |
Bob Henry Baber |
19,231 |
2.95% |
+1.03% |
| Margin of victory |
156,707 |
24.05% |
+13.98% |
| Turnout |
651,588 |
52.79% |
+9.21% |
|
Democratic hold |
Swing |
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Note: The ±% column reflects the change in total number of votes won by each party from the previous (special) election. Neither the vote shares nor the turnout figure account for write-ins. Turnout percentage is the portion of registered voters (1,234,367 as of 10/1/2012)[18] who voted.
See also
References
- ↑ Dr. Michael McDonald (February 9, 2013). "2012 General Election Turnout Rates". George Mason University. Retrieved April 3, 2013.
- ↑ Messina, Lawrence (January 28, 2012). "W.Va. candidates file for Congress, state offices". The Washington Examiner. Associated Press. Retrieved January 29, 2012.
- ↑ King, Joselyn (January 19, 2012). "Manchin Wants To Stay In Senate". The Intelligencer & Wheeling News Register. Retrieved January 27, 2012.
- ↑ "Statewide Results". Secretary of State of West Virginia. Retrieved May 27, 2012.
- ↑ "Mountain Party nominates Johnson, Baber at Sutton convention". The Charleston Gazette. July 24, 2012. Retrieved August 1, 2012.
- ↑ Catanese, David (January 12, 2012). "Raese is back for a rematch". Politico. Retrieved January 27, 2012.
- ↑ http://wvgazette.com/News/201210020265
- ↑ Manchin, Raese face off for Senate again - WBOY.com: Clarksburg, Morgantown: News, Sports, Weather
- 1 2 John Raese: Gazette should endorse Manchin - Op-Ed Commentaries - The Charleston Gazette - West Virginia News and Sports
- ↑ Axelrod: Sen. Manchin Out for ‘Own Political Well-Being’ - ABC News
- ↑ GOP House budget bill | U.S. Congress Votes Database - The Washington PostThe Washington Post
- ↑ John Raese Equates Smoking Ban To Hitler Policy
- ↑ John Raese: Hitler Controversy Over Comparing Smoking Regulations To Nazi Policy Is 'Bull****'
- ↑ John Raese Calls Ted Nugent A Patriot After Obama Threat (VIDEO)
- ↑ Candidate Details
- ↑ Center for Responsive Politics (March 25, 2013). "Top Industries 2012 Race: West Virginia Senate". opensecrets.org.
- ↑ Center for Responsive Politics (March 25, 2013). "Top Contributors 2012 Race: West Virginia Senate". opensecrets.org.
- ↑ http://www.sos.wv.gov/elections/history/Pages/Voter_Registration_Totals.aspx
External links
- Official campaign websites
