2012 Arizona's 8th congressional district special election

Last updated

2012 United States House of Representatives Special election in Arizona's 8th congressional district
Flag of Arizona.svg
  2010 June 12, 2012 2012  

Arizona's 8th congressional district
  Ron Barber, official portrait, 112th Congress (cropped).jpg 3x4.svg
Nominee Ron Barber Jesse Kelly
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote111,20496,465
Percentage52.3%45.4%

2012 AZ-08 special update.svg
County results
Barber:     50–60%
Kelly:     50–60%

U.S. Representative before election

Gabby Giffords
Democratic

Elected U.S. Representative

Ron Barber
Democratic

A 2012 special election in Arizona's 8th congressional district was held on June 12, with primary elections held on April 17, to fill a seat in the United States House of Representatives for Arizona's 8th congressional district until the 112th United States Congress ends on January 3, 2013. [1] The election was caused by the resignation of Representative Gabby Giffords on January 25, 2012, to concentrate on recovering from her injuries from the 2011 Tucson shooting. [2] The seat was won by Ron Barber, a former aide to Giffords who was wounded in the attempt on her life.

Contents

Background

Governor of Arizona Jan Brewer announced April 17 to be the date for the special primary elections and June 12 for the special general election. [3]

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

  • Ron Barber, small business owner and Giffords' District Director [4]

Withdrawn

Declined

Results

Democratic primary results [17]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Ron Barber 44,185 100.0
Total votes44,185 100.0

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

  • Jesse Kelly, Iraq War veteran and nominee for this seat in 2010 Republican [18]

Eliminated in primary

Declined

Results

Republican primary results [17]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Jesse Kelly 27,101 35.1
Republican Martha McSally19,41325.1
Republican Frank Antenori17,49722.6
Republican Dave Sitton13,29917.2
Total votes77,310 100

General election

Polling

Poll sourceDate(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin of
error
Ron
Barber (D)
Jesse
Kelly (R)
Charlie
Manolakis (G)
Undecided
Public Policy Polling June 9–10, 20121,058± 3.0%53%41%4%3%
National Research (R) April 12, 2012300±5.7%45%49%6%
Hypothetical polling

With McSally

Poll sourceDate(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin of
error
Ron
Barber (D)
Martha
McSally (R)
Undecided
National Research (R) April 12, 2012300±5.7%42%42%16%

Results

Arizona's 8th congressional district, 2012 (special) [22]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Democratic Ron Barber 111,204 52.32% +3.56%
Republican Jesse Kelly96,46545.39%−1.91%
Green Charlie Manolakis4,8692.29%N/A
Total votes'212,538''100.0%'N/A
Democratic hold

See also

Related Research Articles

Paula Aboud is an American politician who was a member of the Arizona Senate, representing the 28th District. A Democrat, she served as the Senate's minority whip.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gabby Giffords</span> American politician and gun control activist (born 1970)

Gabrielle Dee Giffords is an American retired politician and gun control activist. She served as a member of the United States House of Representatives representing Arizona's 8th congressional district from January 2007 until January 2012, when she resigned because of a severe brain injury suffered during an assassination attempt. A member of the Democratic Party, she was the third woman in Arizona's history to be elected to the U.S. Congress.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2006 United States House of Representatives elections in Arizona</span>

The 2006 congressional elections in Arizona were elections for Arizona's delegation to the United States House of Representatives, which occurred along with congressional elections nationwide on November 7, 2006. Arizona has eight seats, as apportioned during the 2000 United States census. Prior to the election, Republicans held six of the eight seats and Democrats held two. In the 8th district, Republican Congressman Jim Kolbe retired, leaving an open seat. Following the elections, Democrats gained two seats at the expense of the Republicans, who lost two.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2006 Arizona's 8th congressional district election</span>

The 2006 Arizona 8th congressional district election was an election for the United States House of Representatives for the open seat of incumbent Republican Jim Kolbe, who was not running for re-election. The primary was held on September 12, 2006, and the two major party winners were Republican Randy Graf, a former state Representative who challenged Kolbe for the GOP nomination in 2004, and former State Senator Gabby Giffords. Libertarian Dave Nolan, who was uncontested in the primary, was also in the November 7, 2006 general election. Graf was considered too conservative for the district: Kolbe withheld his endorsement, and towards the end of the election the National GOP pulled their support. By election time, most non-partisan analyses considered this race the most likely district to switch hands, which it did, as Giffords won a decisive victory, 54% to 42%.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jonathan Paton</span> American politician

Jonathan Paton is an American politician who served in both houses of the Arizona State Legislature. He served as an intelligence officer in the U.S. Army Reserve, and participated in Operation Iraqi Freedom. As a Republican, he was first elected to represent Arizona's 30th legislative district in the Arizona House of Representatives in 2004. In 2008, he was elected to the Arizona Senate from the same district.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Martha McSally</span> American politician and military pilot (born 1966)

Martha Elizabeth McSally is an American politician and former military pilot who represented Arizona in both chambers of Congress between 2015 and 2020. She is to date the last Republican to serve Arizona in the U.S. Senate.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Arizona</span>

The 2008 congressional elections in Arizona were held on November 4, 2008, to determine who would represent the state of Arizona in the United States House of Representatives, coinciding with the presidential election. Representatives are elected for two-year terms; those elected would serve in the 111th Congress from January 4, 2009, until January 3, 2011.

Matthew G. Heinz is an American doctor and politician. A Democrat, he was appointed by President Barack Obama in June 2013 as Director of Provider Outreach in the Office of Intergovernmental and External Affairs, a part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Heinz was tasked with helping Secretary Kathleen Sebelius with the roll-out of the Affordable Care Act, with one aspect of his job to work with LGBT organizations across the country as they inform their members of their options in each state. For one or two weekends per month, Heinz continued his work as a hospitalist in Tucson, Arizona. Heinz left the position in March 2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2010 United States Senate election in Arizona</span>

The 2010 United States Senate election in Arizona took place on November 2, 2010, along with other elections to the United States Senate in other states as well as elections to the United States House of Representatives and various state and local elections. The primaries were held on August 24, 2010. Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator John McCain, who had lost the 2008 United States presidential election to then-United States Senator from Illinois Barack Obama, ran for reelection to a fifth term and won. As of 2024, this was the last time the counties of Coconino and Pima voted for the Republican candidate.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2010 United States House of Representatives elections in Arizona</span>

The 2010 congressional elections in Arizona were held on November 2, 2010, to determine who would represent the state of Arizona in the United States House of Representatives. Arizona had eight seats in the House, apportioned according to the 2000 United States census. Representatives were elected for two-year terms; those elected were to serve in the 112th Congress from January 3, 2011 until January 3, 2013.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2010 Arizona elections</span>

The 2010 Arizona state elections were held on November 2, 2010, with primaries on August 24, 2010. These include gubernatorial and both sides of Congress. A special election was also on May 18 for Proposition 100.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2012 United States Senate election in Arizona</span>

The 2012 United States Senate election in Arizona was held on November 6, 2012, alongside a presidential election, other elections to the United States Senate in other states, as well as elections to the United States House of Representatives and various state and local elections. Incumbent Senator Jon Kyl (R), the Senate Minority Whip, decided to retire instead of seeking a fourth term. U.S. Representative Jeff Flake won the open seat. As of 2024, this was the last time that a Republican won Arizona's Class 1 Senate seat. This is also the last time an Arizona Republican was elected to and served a full term in the US Senate.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ron Barber</span> American politician (born 1945)

Ronald Sylvester Barber is an American politician. He was a member of the United States House of Representatives from 2012 to 2015. Barber, a member of the Democratic Party from Arizona, served as district director for U.S. Representative Gabby Giffords before Giffords resigned her seat due to the severe injuries she sustained in an assassination attempt, during which Barber was also injured. He won the Democratic nomination for the special election to finish Giffords's term and was sworn into office on June 19, 2012.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2012 United States House of Representatives elections in Arizona</span>

The 2012 United States House of Representatives elections in Arizona were held on Tuesday, November 6, 2012, to elect the nine U.S. representatives from the state, one from each of the state's nine congressional districts, including the newly created 9th district following the 2010 United States census. The elections coincided with other federal and state elections, including a quadrennial presidential election, and a U.S. Senate election. Primary elections were held on August 28, 2012.

Frank Ronald Antenori is an American politician who was a Republican member of the Arizona Senate, based in Tucson, Arizona.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2014 United States House of Representatives elections in Arizona</span>

The 2014 United States House of Representatives elections in Arizona were held on Tuesday, November 4, 2014, to elect the nine U.S. representatives from the state of Arizona, one from each of the state's nine congressional districts, with Democratic and Republican primaries taking place on August 26. The elections coincided with the elections of other federal and state offices, including governor of Arizona.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2016 United States House of Representatives elections in Arizona</span>

The 2016 United States House of Representatives elections in Arizona were held on November 8, 2016, to elect the nine U.S. representatives from the state of Arizona, one from each of the state's nine congressional districts. The elections coincided with the 2016 U.S. presidential election, as well as other elections to the House of Representatives, elections to the United States Senate and various state and local elections. The primaries were held on August 30.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2018 United States Senate election in Arizona</span>

The 2018 United States Senate election in Arizona took place on November 6, 2018. Incumbent Republican Senator Jeff Flake did not seek reelection to a second term. The election was held concurrently with a gubernatorial election, other elections to the U.S. Senate, elections to the U.S. House of Representatives, and various other state and local elections.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2018 United States House of Representatives elections in Arizona</span>

The 2018 United States House of Representatives elections in Arizona were held on November 6, 2018, to elect the nine U.S. representatives from the State of Arizona, one from each of the state's nine congressional districts. The elections coincided with the 2018 Arizona gubernatorial election, as well as other elections to the U.S. House of Representatives, elections to the United States Senate and various state and local elections. The 2018 general elections saw the Democratic party gain the 2nd congressional district, thus flipping the state from a 5–4 Republican advantage to a 5–4 Democratic advantage, the first time since the 2012 election in which Democrats held more House seats in Arizona than the Republicans.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2018 Arizona's 8th congressional district special election</span>

A special election for Arizona's 8th congressional district was held in 2018 subsequent to the resignation of Republican U.S. Representative Trent Franks. Governor Doug Ducey called a special primary election for Tuesday, February 27, 2018, and a special general election for the balance of Franks' eighth term for Tuesday, April 24, 2018.

References

  1. "Giffords to Resign From Congress". The Wall Street Journal. January 22, 2012. Retrieved January 22, 2012.
  2. Espo, David (January 22, 2012). "Rep. Giffords to resign this week from Congress, focus on recovering from shooting injuries". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel . Washington. Associated Press. Archived from the original on January 24, 2012. Retrieved January 22, 2012.
  3. "Brewer Orders Special Election For June 12". The Huffington Post. January 27, 2012. Retrieved January 28, 2012.
  4. "Giffords aide to run for seat in special election". AP. February 9, 2012. Retrieved February 10, 2012.
  5. "Heinz for Congress". heinzforcongress.com.
  6. Rep. Heinz pledged to drop out and endorse Ron Barber if he chose to run in the special election. Heinz will still run in the primary for the general election in the district, which was renumbered the 2nd in redistricting.
  7. 1 2 "Governor will declare April special election for Giffords' seat". KOLD. January 22, 2012. Retrieved January 22, 2012.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 Livingston, Abby (January 27, 2012). "Arizona: GOP State Senator Enters Race to Replace Giffords". Roll Call . Archived from the original on January 29, 2012. Retrieved January 27, 2012.
  9. "Giffords resignation sets off competitive special election for her Ariz. House seat". The Hill. January 22, 2012. Retrieved January 22, 2012.
  10. "With Giffords Stepping Down, Who Might Step Up?". National Journal. January 22, 2012. Retrieved January 22, 2012.
  11. "Latas is Back". Rum, Romanism, and Rebellion. January 22, 2012. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved January 22, 2012.
  12. 1 2 "Arizona Candidates Race for Giffords Seat". Roll Call. January 24, 2012. Retrieved January 24, 2012.
  13. "Janet Napolitano Not Interested in Gabrielle Giffords' Seat". Roll Call. January 24, 2012. Retrieved January 24, 2012.
  14. 1 2 Nintzel, Jim (January 26, 2012). "What's Next?". Tucson Weekly . Retrieved January 27, 2012.
  15. "Potential candidates for Giffords' seat begin to emerge". FOX 11 . January 24, 2012. Retrieved January 27, 2012.[ permanent dead link ]
  16. "Giffords meets with supporters, says she'll run again". Green Valley News and Sun. January 22, 2012. Retrieved January 22, 2012.
  17. 1 2 Special election canvass
  18. Livingston, Abby (January 24, 2012). "Jesse Kelly to Run in Arizona Special Election". Roll Call . Retrieved January 25, 2012.
  19. McCombs, Brady (February 9, 2012). "1st Female AF Air Combat Vet in Run for Congress". Arizona Daily Star . Retrieved February 10, 2012.
  20. "Politicians Scramble to Fill Giffords' Void". Arizona Daily Star . February 3, 2012.
  21. Smith, Dylan (January 25, 2012). "Paton to seek CD1 seat in Congress". Tucson Sentinel. Retrieved January 25, 2012.
  22. 2012 General Election Canvass