United States gubernatorial elections, 2012

United States gubernatorial elections, 2012
United States
2011 ←
 June 5 and November 6, 2012
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14 governorships

Governors Map.png
Light red: Term-limited Republican
Dark red: Incumbent Republican
Light blue: Term-limited or Retiring Democrat
Dark blue: Incumbent Democrat
Green: Recall Against Republican
Gray: no election

The United States gubernatorial elections of 2012 will be held in eleven states and two territories concurrent with other elections during the United States General election of 2012. In addition, a gubernatorial recall election for Wisconsin will be held on June 5.

Predictions

The position of Lieutenant Governor, unless otherwise stated, is elected on the same ticket as the gubernatorial nominee.

Source Safe Democratic Likely Democratic Leans Democratic Tossup Leans Republican Likely Republican Safe Republican
Consensus among
all predictions		 Delaware West Virginia North Carolina Utah
The Cook
Political Report
as of May 17, 2012
(updates) 		Vermont Missouri Montana
New Hampshire
Washington
Wisconsin 		Indiana North Dakota
FiveThirtyEight.com
Governing
as of January 18, 2012
(updates) 		Missouri
Vermont 		Montana New Hampshire
Washington 		Indiana
North Dakota
RealClearPolitics
The Rothenberg Political Report
as of March 23, 2012
(updates) 		Vermont Missouri Montana
New Hampshire
Washington
Wisconsin 		Indiana North Dakota
Larry Sabato's
Crystal Ball
as of May 8, 2012
(updates) 		Vermont Missouri New Hampshire
Washington 		Montana
Wisconsin 		Indiana North Dakota

Retiring and term-limited Democratic incumbents

Togiola Tulafono (American Samoa)

Main article: American Samoa gubernatorial election, 2012

Governor Togiola Tulafono will be ineligible to run for re-election due to term-limits.

Utu Abe Malae (R), former President of the Development Bank of American Samoa, is currently the only announced candidate as of August 2011.[1]

Brian Schweitzer (Montana)

Main article: Montana gubernatorial election, 2012

Governor Brian Schweitzer will be term-limited in 2012.

So far, the only declared Democratic candidates are state Senator Larry Jent[2] and state Attorney General Steve Bullock.[3] Potential candidates include Montana Department of Transportation Director Jim Lynch,[4][5]Lieutenant Governor John Bohlinger,[2] Carl Borgquist, the president of Grasslands Renewable Energy of Bozeman,[2] and state Senator Shannon Augare. Former U.S. Representative Pat Williams[6] and state Senator Dave Wanzenried have declined to run.[7]

The declared Republican candidates include Chouteau County commissioner Jim O'Hara,[8] former state Senators Corey Stapleton and Ken Miller, terrorism and national security analyst Neil Livingstone,[9] former Congressman Rick Hill,[10] and Truck driver Keith Winkler.[11] Another potential Republican candidate includes state Senate Majority leader Jeff Essmann.[2] Businessman Steve Daines and Representative Denny Rehberg, who were speculated to be candidates, will instead run for the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate respectively.[12]

John Lynch (New Hampshire)

Main article: New Hampshire gubernatorial election, 2012

Governor John Lynch will retire rather than run for re-election.[13]

Other potential candidates include Mark Connolly, the former director of the New Hampshire Bureau of Securities Regulation; Margaret Wood Hassan, former state Senate Majority Leader; and former Portsmouth Mayor Steve Marchand.[14]

Former Chairman of the New Hampshire Board of Education Ovide Lamontagne, a Tea Party favorite who narrowly lost the Republican primary for Senate in 2010, is considering running.[15] Other potential Republican candidates include state Senate Majority Leader and former U.S. Representative Jeb Bradley, former Health and Human Services Commissioner John Stephen, former state Senator Bruce Keough, and conservative activist Kevin Smith.[16]

New Hampshire does not have a position of Lieutenant Governor.

Beverly Perdue (North Carolina)

Main article: North Carolina gubernatorial election, 2012

Governor Beverly Perdue will retire rather than run for re-election.[17]

Potential Democratic candidates include Lt. Gov. Walter H. Dalton and state Rep. Bill Faison.[18]

Potential Republican candidates include former Mayor of Charlotte Pat McCrory (the 2008 Republican nominee for Governor);[19]Nido Qubein, President of High Point University;[20]Tom Fetzer, former Mayor of Raleigh; and former state Senator Fred Smith.[21]

The Lieutenant Governor of North Carolina will be elected separately.

Christine Gregoire (Washington)

Main article: Washington gubernatorial election, 2012

Governor Christine Gregoire will retire rather than run for re-election.[22]

U.S. Representative Jay Inslee is the only declared Democratic candidate.[23] Other potential Democratic candidates including state Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown, King County Executive Dow Constantine, state Treasurer Jim McIntire, Auditor General Brian Sonntag, and Snohomish County Executive Aaron Reardon have declined to run, or endorsed Inslee.[24][25][26][27][28][29]

State Attorney General Rob McKenna and Pastor Shahram Hadian, are the announced Republicans in the race. Seattle Port Commission President Bill Bryant is considered a potential Republican candidate.[30][31] U.S. Representative Dave Reichert decided against a bid, and threw his support to McKenna.[32]

The Lieutenant Governor will be elected separately.

Term-limited Republican incumbent

Mitch Daniels (Indiana)

Main article: Indiana gubernatorial election, 2012

Governor Mitch Daniels will be term-limited in 2012.

Mike Pence, a Republican currently serving his sixth term in the U.S. House of Representatives, has announced his candidacy for his party's nomination. Pence, whose announcement was anticipated by his resignation of a leading position in the GOP caucus in the House, is regarded as the favorite for election.[33] Indianapolis businessman and former Hamilton County Councilman Jim Wallace had announced his candidacy for the Republican nomination prior to Pence's entrance but failed to collect enough signatures to become an official candidate by the deadline in February 2012.[34][35][36] Other potential candidates included Superintendent of Public Education Tony Bennett, Speaker of the Indiana House of Representatives Brian Bosma, former state Attorney General Steve Carter, Indiana Republican Party Chairman Murray Clark, and President Pro Tempore of the Indiana state Senate David C. Long.[37][38].

Former state House Speaker John R. Gregg is unopposed for the Democratic Party's nomination.[39] Landscaping Contractor Thomas Lenfert and Former Lake county Sheriff Roy Dominguez were also potential candidates but did not enter the race.[40]

Former Survivor contestant and founder of the Rupert's Kids charity Rupert Boneham will be the Libertarian Party candidate. [41]

The filing deadline has passed in Indiana, so no other candidates can join the race.

Democratic incumbents running for re-election

Jay Nixon (Missouri)

Main article: Missouri gubernatorial election, 2012

Governor Jay Nixon will be eligible to run for re-election, and will do so.[42]

Potential Republican candidates include Lt. Governor Peter Kinder[43][44] and state Senator Jason Glennon Crowell.[45]

The Lieutenant Governor will be elected separately.

Earl Ray Tomblin (West Virginia)

Main article: West Virginia gubernatorial election, 2012

see also: West Virginia gubernatorial special election, 2011

The Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia ruled on January 18, 2011 that the state must hold a special gubernatorial election in 2011[46] to fill the vacancy resulting from Joe Manchin's election to the United States Senate. The special election occurred October 4, 2011 with state Senate President and acting Governor Earl Ray Tomblin winning the election. Tomblin will be eligible to run for a full term in 2012 and has indicated he will do so. Mike Stuart, the chairman of the West Virginia Republican Party has announced he is not running for Governor.[47]

Tomblin's 2011 Republican opponent, businessman Bill Maloney, has filed paperwork for a rematch.[48]

The Lieutenant Governor will be elected by the State Senate.

Democratic incumbents eligible for re-election

Jack Markell (Delaware)

Main article: Delaware gubernatorial election, 2012

Governor Jack Markell will be eligible to run for re-election, but has so far not announced if he will do so.

A Potential Republican candidate is former state House Speaker Terry R. Spence.[49]

The Lieutenant Governor will be elected separately.

Peter Shumlin (Vermont)

Main article: Vermont gubernatorial election, 2012

Governor Peter Shumlin, the victor of the Vermont gubernatorial election of 2010, will be eligible to run again in 2012, but has so far not announced if he will do so.

Thom Lauzon, the Mayor of Barre, has been mentioned as a potential Republican candidate. Others include former Lt. Governor Brian Dubie, state Senator Randy Brock, Vermont Auditor of Accounts Thomas M. Salmon, current Lt. Governor Phillip Scott, and son of former Gov. Richard Snelling and former Lt. Gov. Barbara Snelling, businessman Mark Snelling.[50]

The Lieutenant Governor will be elected separately.

Republican incumbent running for re-election

Jack Dalrymple (North Dakota)

Main article: North Dakota gubernatorial election, 2012

Governor Jack Dalrymple succeeded John Hoeven after the latter was elected Senator and will run for a full term in 2012.[51] Other potential Republican candidates include architect Paul Sorum and Lt. Governor Drew Wrigley.[52] Former United States Secretary of Agriculture and Governor Ed Schafer will not run.[53]

Potential Democratic candidates include former Representative Earl Pomeroy, former Agriculture Commissioner Roger Johnson, State School Superintendent Wayne G. Sanstead, former state Attorney General Heidi Heitkamp, and state Senate Minority Leader Ryan Taylor.[54]

Luis Fortuño (Puerto Rico)

Main article: Puerto Rico gubernatorial election, 2012

Governor Luis Fortuño (PNP/R) will be eligible to run for re-election, and will do so.

Fortuño had been mentioned as a long-shot potential Republican nominee for President or Vice President in 2012.[55] However, he announced on June 26, 2011 that he would run for re-election instead of seeking the Presidency.

Senator Alejandro García Padilla (PPD/D) is currently the only announced challenger.

Puerto Rico does not have a position of Lieutenant Governor.

Gary Herbert (Utah)

Main article: Utah gubernatorial election, 2012

Governor Gary Herbert, who won the 2010 gubernatorial special election to finish his predecessor's unfinished term, will run for a full four year term in 2012.[56]

Jennifer Duffy of the Cook Political Report in September 2010 suggested that the 2010 contest "may be a practice run for 2012 when the seat is up again."[57] However, Corroon has not made any announcement as to whether he will run in 2012. Current names being discussed in Utah as possible GOP Convention contenders are: former State Representative Craig Frank (R); CEO of Standard American Oil Company William Skokos; and State Senator John Valentine (R-Orem).[58]

Republican incumbent facing recall election

Scott Walker (Wisconsin)

Main article: Wisconsin gubernatorial recall election, 2012

Governor Scott Walker (R) will face a recall election on June 5. After the contentious collective bargaining dispute in 2011, culminating with the passage of the controversial Wisconsin budget repair bill, Walker's disapproval ratings have varied between 50–51% while his approval ratings have varied between 47–49% in 2011.[59] A post-primary poll in 2012 shows Walker with a five point lead over challenger Tom Barrett (D).[60]

See also

References

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  2. ^ a b c d Johnson, Charles S. (June 12, 2011). "Bohlinger, Essmann eye governor's race". Billings Gazette. http://billingsgazette.com/news/state-and-regional/montana/article_81d72166-4d61-5211-81b7-1920a717e174.html. Retrieved June 15, 2011. 
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  7. ^ http://billingsgazette.com/news/state-and-regional/montana/article_50550ded-d513-5b2d-b7f8-af02a603e060.html#ixzz1RRxM0oBg
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  16. ^ http://www.politics1.com/nh.htm
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  19. ^ News & Observer: Perdue vs. McCrory II?
  20. ^ [1][dead link]
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  29. ^ http://www.king5.com/news/local/State-auditor-Brian-Sonntag-makes-decision-on-governors-race-125005454.html
  30. ^ D.C.'s Political Report: Washington Congressional and Statewide Races. Dcpoliticalreport.com (2010-11-15). Retrieved on November 20, 2010.
  31. ^ http://www.politics1.com/wa.htm
  32. ^ Connelly, Joel (June 8, 2011). "Reichert: I'll support McKenna for governor". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. http://blog.seattlepi.com/seattlepolitics/2011/06/08/reichert-ill-support-mckenna/#more-9502. 
  33. ^ Muskal, Michael (May 5, 2011). "Mike Pence to run for Indiana governor". The Los Angeles Times. http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-pn-pence-governor-20110506,0,3385004.story. Retrieved May 5, 2011. 
  34. ^ Schneider, Mary Beth (April 16, 2012). "Pence leads rivals in fundraising for governor's race". Indianapolis Star. http://www.indystar.com/article/20120416/NEWS05/120416029/Pence-leads-rivals-fundraising-governor-s-race?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CNews. 
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  40. ^ Schneider Kirk, Chelsea (December 26, 2010). "Dominguez looks back on years as Lake sheriff". Post-Tribune. http://www.post-trib.com/news/lake/2986714,new-dominguez1226.article. Retrieved December 26, 2010. 
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  60. ^ [2]
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