2012 Indiana gubernatorial election

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2012 Indiana gubernatorial election
Flag of Indiana.svg
←  2008 November 6, 2012 (2012-11-06) 2016  →
  Mike Pence in November 2013.jpg John R. Gregg.jpg
Nominee Mike Pence John R. Gregg
Party Republican Democratic
Running mate Sue Ellspermann Vi Simpson
Popular vote1,275,4241,200,016
Percentage49.5%46.6%
2012 Indiana gubernatorial election results map by county.svg
2012 Indiana gubernatorial election by Congressional District.svg

Pence:      40–50%     50–60%     60–70%

Gregg:      40–50%     50–60%     60–70%
Governor before election

Mitch Daniels
Republican

Elected Governor

Mike Pence
Republican

The 2012 Indiana gubernatorial election took place on November 6, 2012. Incumbent governor Mitch Daniels was term-limited and unable to seek a third term. The Republican candidate, Congressman Mike Pence; the Democratic candidate, former Speaker of the Indiana House of Representatives John R. Gregg; and the Libertarian candidate, youth mentor, small business owner and reality TV personality, Rupert Boneham, were all unopposed in their respective primaries or conventions and contested the general election. This is the first open Indiana gubernatorial election since 1996 and the first gubernatorial election since 1972 without the governor or lieutenant governor as a nominee.

Contents

When the polls closed, the election was very close, and continued to stay close throughout the night. Gregg performed well in Marion County (Indianapolis) and Lake County (Gary), which were Democratic strongholds. Pence performed well in the Indianapolis suburbs and the Fort Wayne area. At 12:34 am EST, the Associated Press called the race for Pence. At 1:06 am, Gregg called Pence to concede, realizing there were not enough votes left to overtake him. Pence ultimately won the election and took office on January 14, 2013. This was the closest race for governor since 1960.

Primaries

Democratic

Results

Democratic Indiana gubernatorial election primary in Indiana, 2012 [2]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic John R. Gregg 207,365 100
Total votes207,365 100

Libertarian

General election

Candidates

  • Running mate: George Fish [8]

Debates

The Indiana Debate Commission organized three televised debates between Indiana Gubernatorial candidates Republican Mike Pence, Democrat John R. Gregg and Libertarian Rupert Boneham.

Debate schedule

The first debate was held on Wednesday, October 10, 2012 at the Zionsville Performing Arts Center in Zionsville, Indiana and was moderated by former Indianapolis Star editor Dennis Ryerson.

The second debate was held on Wednesday, October 17, 2012 at the DeBartolo Performing Arts Center in South Bend, Indiana and was moderated by Indiana Fiscal Policy Institute president John Ketzenberger.

The third debate was held on Thursday, October 25, 2012 at the WFWA PBS 39 studio in Fort Wayne, Indiana and was moderated by DePauw University Executive Director of Media Relations Ken Owen.

Predictions

SourceRankingAs of
The Cook Political Report [9] Likely RNovember 1, 2012
Sabato's Crystal Ball [10] Likely RNovember 5, 2012
Rothenberg Political Report [11] Likely RNovember 2, 2012
Real Clear Politics [12] Likely RNovember 5, 2012

Polling

Poll sourceDate(s)
administered		Sample
size		Margin of
error		Mike
Pence (R)		John R.
Gregg (D)		Rupert
Boneham (L)		OtherUndecided
Howey Politics/DePauw October 28–30, 2012800± 3.5%47%40%5%——
Benenson Strategy Group October 18–21, 2012701± 3.7%44%38%6%—12%
YouGov October 4–11, 2012470± 5.6%49%38%——13%
Howey Politics/DePauw University September 19–23, 2012800± 3.5%47%34%5%—14%
Market Research Insight August 6–9, 2012600± 4%50%32%3%—15%
Market Research Insight March 26–27, 2012503± 4.5%44%31%5%—20%

Statewide results

State Senate district results 2012 Indiana gubernatorial election by state senate district.svg
State Senate district results
Indiana gubernatorial election, 2012 [13]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Republican Mike Pence/Sue Ellspermann 1,275,424 49.49% -8.35%
Democratic John R. Gregg/Vi Simpson 1,200,01646.56%+6.52%
Libertarian Rupert Boneham 101,8683.95%+1.83%
Independent Donnie Harold Harris (write-in)210.00%N/A
Total votes2,577,329 100.0% N/A
Republican hold

Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic

Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican

By congressional district

Pence won 6 of 9 congressional districts. [14]

DistrictPenceGreggRepresentative
1st 33.61%63.98% Pete Visclosky
2nd 50.63%46.15% Joe Donnelly (112th Congress)
Jackie Walorski (113th Congress)
3rd 58.24%38.77% Marlin Stutzman
4th 53.82%40.87% Todd Rokita
5th 55.34%40.44% Dan Burton (112th Congress)
Susan Brooks (113th Congress)
6th 56.56%38.49% Mike Pence (112th Congress)
Luke Messer (113th Congress)
7th 33.07%61.73% André Carson
8th 48.28%48.69% Larry Bucshon
9th 53.08%42.70% Todd Young

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References

  1. ↑ Rader, Kevin (May 16, 2011). "Former speaker Gregg to run for Indiana governor". WTHR . Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved May 21, 2012.
  2. ↑ "Indiana Primary Election, May 8, 2012-United States Senator". Secretary of State of Indiana . June 5, 2012. Archived from the original on October 18, 2014. Retrieved June 11, 2012.
  3. ↑ "'Survivor's' Rupert Boneham Announces He'll Run for Governor of Indiana". The Hollywood Reporter . October 22, 2011. Retrieved May 21, 2012.
  4. ↑ "Rupert Receives Libertarian Nomination" . Retrieved November 9, 2012.
  5. ↑ Kelly, Niki (May 21, 2012). "Pence names running mate". The Journal Gazette . Retrieved May 21, 2012.
  6. 1 2 "Republican gubernatorial candidate Mike Pence chooses running mate". WXIN . May 21, 2012. Retrieved May 21, 2012.
  7. ↑ Shella, Jim (May 21, 2012). "Gregg to name Sen. Simpson as running mate". WISH-TV . Retrieved May 21, 2012.
  8. ↑ Rodgers, Lauren (May 7, 2012). "State executive primary preview: No surprises in Indiana tomorrow". Ballotnews. Archived from the original on May 16, 2012. Retrieved May 21, 2012.
  9. ↑ "2012 Governor Race Ratings for November 1, 2012". The Cook Political Report. Retrieved November 30, 2018.
  10. ↑ "PROJECTION: OBAMA WILL LIKELY WIN SECOND TERM". Sabato's Crystal Ball. Archived from the original on December 1, 2018. Retrieved November 30, 2018.
  11. ↑ "2012 Gubernatorial Ratings". Gubernatorial Ratings. The Rothenberg Political Report. Retrieved November 30, 2018.
  12. ↑ "2012 Elections Map - 2012 Governor Races". Real Clear Politics. Retrieved November 30, 2018.
  13. ↑ "Election Results". in.gov/apps/sos. November 28, 2012. Retrieved December 17, 2012.
  14. ↑ "Daily Kos".
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