2012 United States Senate election in Connecticut

Last updated

2012 United States Senate election in Connecticut
Flag of Connecticut.svg
  2006 November 6, 2012 (2012-11-06) 2018  
Turnout60.9% (voting eligible) [1]
  Chris murphy official photo govtrends version cropped.jpg Linda McMahon Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic.jpg
Nominee Chris Murphy Linda McMahon
Party Democratic Republican
Alliance Working Families Independent
Popular vote828,761651,089
Percentage54.82%43.07%

2012 United States Senate election in Connecticut results map by county.svg
2012 United States Senate election in Connecticut results map by municipality.svg
Murphy:      40–50%     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90%
McMahon:      40–50%     50–60%     60–70%

U.S. senator before election

Joe Lieberman
Independent

Elected U.S. Senator

Chris Murphy
Democratic

The 2012 United States Senate election in Connecticut was held on November 6, 2012, in conjunction with the 2012 U.S. 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. Primaries to elect Senate candidates from the Republican and Democratic parties were held on Tuesday, August 14, 2012. [2]

Contents

Incumbent U.S. Senator Joe Lieberman, an independent who caucused with the Democratic Party, decided to retire instead of running for re-election to a fifth term. [3] Republican businesswoman Linda McMahon faced Democratic representative Chris Murphy in the general election and lost, marking two defeats in as many years. [4] Elected at the age of 39, Chris Murphy would be the youngest senator in the 113th United States Congress.

Background

In the 2006 election, incumbent Joe Lieberman was defeated in the Democratic primary by businessman Ned Lamont and formed his own party, Connecticut for Lieberman, winning re-election. Lieberman promised to remain in the Senate Democratic Caucus, but had since stood against the Democrats on many significant issues, including his endorsement of Republican 2008 presidential nominee John McCain over Barack Obama. [5] As a result, Lieberman's poll numbers among Democrats dropped significantly. [6] [7]

Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal was reportedly considering a run against Lieberman, [8] but instead ran for and won Connecticut's other Senate seat in 2010 after U.S. Senator Christopher Dodd announced his retirement. [9]

Lieberman had publicly floated the possibility of running as a Democrat, [10] Republican, [11] or an independent. [12] However, on January 19, 2011, he announced that he would not run for another term. [3]

Democratic primary

Candidates

Declared

Withdrawn

  • Matthew Oakes, activist (endorsed Murphy) [17]
  • William Tong, State Representative (running for re-election; endorsed Murphy) [18]

Debates

The first Democratic debate took place on February 23, 2012, with Murphy, Bysiewicz, and Tong participating. [19] The first televised debate was held on April 5, with Murphy, Bysiewicz, Tong, Oakes, and Whitnum participating. [20] A debate was held at UConn on April 9, with the five candidates participating. [21] A debate sponsored by WFSB took place on April 15, with all five taking part. [22]

Convention

Delegates of the Connecticut Democratic Party endorsed Chris Murphy at their state party convention held on May 12. Murphy was the choice of 1,378 delegates (76 percent), while Susan Bysiewicz won 444 delegates (24 percent), enough to qualify for the August 14 primary. Matthew Oakes received the support of one delegate from Hartford. Lee Whitnum's name was not placed in nomination. [23]

Endorsements

Chris Murphy
Susan Bysiewicz

Polling

Poll sourceDate(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin of
error
Susan
Bysiewicz
Chris
Murphy
William
Tong
OtherUndecided
Public Policy Polling March 17–20, 2011400±4.9%38%40%21%
Quinnipiac September 8–13, 2011447±4.6%26%36%1%2%35%
Public Policy Polling September 22–25, 2011400±4.9%33%39%8%19%
Quinnipiac Archived March 22, 2012, at the Wayback Machine March 14–19, 2012640±3.9%25%37%4%5%29%
Quinnipiac Archived September 27, 2012, at the Wayback Machine May 29 – June 3, 2012538±4.2%20%50%5%24%
Public Policy Polling July 26–29, 2012400±4.9%32%49%18%

Results

Results by county:
.mw-parser-output .legend{page-break-inside:avoid;break-inside:avoid-column}.mw-parser-output .legend-color{display:inline-block;min-width:1.25em;height:1.25em;line-height:1.25;margin:1px 0;text-align:center;border:1px solid black;background-color:transparent;color:black}.mw-parser-output .legend-text{}
Murphy--70-80%
Murphy--60-70%
Murphy--50-60% 2012 CT US Senate Democratic primary.svg
Results by county:
  Murphy—70–80%
  Murphy—60–70%
  Murphy—50–60%
Democratic primary results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Chris Murphy 89,283 67.4%
Democratic Susan Bysiewicz 43,13532.6%
Total votes132,418 100.0%

Republican primary

Candidates

Declared

Declined

Debates

A debate sponsored by the Norwich Bulletin took place on April 19, 2012, with McMahon, Shays, Lumaj, Hill, and Westby in attendance. [35] The debate was not televised. The first televised debate took place on April 22, 2012, sponsored by WFSB. [36] All five candidates participated.

Convention

Delegates of the Connecticut Republican Party endorsed Linda McMahon at their state party convention held on May 18. McMahon was the choice of 730 delegates (60 percent), while Chris Shays won 389 delegates (32 percent), enough to qualify for the August 14 primary. Brian K. Hill, Peter Lumaj, and Kie Westby did not meet the 15 percent threshold necessary to automatically qualify for the primary, receiving the support of 62, 22, and 5 delegates, respectively. [37] Hill pursued a post-convention attempt to petition his way onto the primary ballot, but fell short of the 8,319 signatures required and suspended his campaign in June. [38]

Endorsements

Chris Shays

Organizations

Brian K. Hill

Polling

Poll sourceDate(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin of
error
Jason
McCoy
Linda
McMahon
Chris
Shays
OtherUndecided
Quinnipiac Archived September 13, 2012, at the Wayback Machine September 8–13, 2011332±5.4%50%35%2%12%
Public Policy Polling September 22–25, 2011400±4.9%3%60%27%10%
Quinnipiac Archived March 22, 2012, at the Wayback Machine March 14–19, 2012429±4.7%51%42%1%6%
Quinnipiac Archived September 27, 2012, at the Wayback Machine May 29 – June 3, 2012381±5.0%59%30%1%9%
Public Policy Polling July 26–29, 2012400±4.9%68%20%12%

Results

Results by county:
McMahon--80-90%
McMahon--70-80%
McMahon--60-70% CT U.S. Senate Republican primary, 2012.svg
Results by county:
  McMahon—80–90%
  McMahon—70–80%
  McMahon—60–70%
Republican primary results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Linda McMahon 83,413 72.7%
Republican Chris Shays 31,30527.3%
Total votes114,718 100.0%

General election

Candidates

Campaign

Susan Bysiewicz was the first to declare herself as a candidate. [50] However, by March 2011 Chris Murphy had raised over $1 million to Bysiewicz's $500,000. Murphy had won election to Connecticut's 5th congressional district, which is considered Republican-leaning, and he promoted himself as the most electable candidate against a Republican challenger. Bysiewicz, the former Secretary of the State of Connecticut, enjoyed high name recognition while a statewide officeholder, and had a formidable face-off with Murphy. William Tong, a state representative, joined the race touting his biography as the son of Chinese immigrants working at a Chinese restaurant. [51] In January East Hartford resident Matthew John Oakes announced his candidacy. Oakes pointed to his real-life experience being a disabled American, victim of crime, and civil rights activist, growing up in the inner city and being a political outsider. [52]

Wide speculation continued on Linda McMahon, who had a widely publicized race for senator in 2010. She lost the election decisively, but had strong finances and a well-established political organization. [51] McMahon met with her former campaign consultant to review her 2010 results, and said she was leaning towards running. She planned to make a decision regarding another run after the start of 2012. Former congressman Chris Shays joined in August 2011, promoting his involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan's military contracting. [53] Shays campaign had also gained traction from a series of independent polls showing him beating or in a dead heat with the top Democratic contenders in the general election, while those same polls showed McMahon losing handily to each of the top Democratic contenders. [43] The Shays campaign quickly capitalized on these polls, arguing for the former Congressman's electability while questioning McMahon's electability due to her loss in an open Senate seat contest in 2010 by a large margin despite spending $50 million of her own money, also citing her high unfavorable numbers among state voters, and the weak fundraising numbers of the McMahon campaign. [54]

In July 2012, Shays declared that he would not support McMahon if she won the primary. He said that he had "never run against an opponent that I have respected less—ever—and there are a lot of candidates I have run against," adding that "I do not believe that Linda McMahon has spent the time, the energy to determine what [being] a senator really means." He also said that during the last debate he had with McMahon, "I thought she was embarrassingly clueless" and that "I think she is a terrible candidate and I think she would make a terrible senator." Although he said he would not support Chris Murphy, he expected him to win the Democratic nomination and the general election. [55]

In September 2012, the records of the McMahons' 1976 bankruptcy and specifics of nearly $1 million unpaid debts from the proceeding were published. [56] In days the candidate and her husband announced the "intention to reimburse all private individual creditors that can be located". [57]

Debates

Fundraising

Candidate (party)ReceiptsDisbursementsCash on handDebt
Chris Murphy (D)$10,543,456$10,436,219$107,239$189,925
Linda McMahon (R)$50,956,502$50,262,442$351,464$1,250,000
Source: Federal Election Commission [58] [59]

Top contributors

Chris MurphyContributionLinda McMahonContribution
Moveon.org $112,864 Morgan Stanley $31,050
Yale University $69,101Linda McMahon for Senate$26,174
League of Conservation Voters $47,388 General Electric $24,250
Koskoff, Koskoff & Bieder$44,916Ott International$15,000
Travelers Companies $41,000 Thor Industries $12,500
Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company $40,650 JPMorgan Chase & Co. $11,231
Sullivan & Cromwell $36,500Ceci Brothers Inc.$10,000
Comcast Corporation $36,000Invemed Associates$10,000
Shipman & Goodwin$35,511Midstream Partners$10,000
Northeast Utilities $34,789 Tudor Investment Corporation $10,000
Source: OpenSecrets [60]

Top industries

Chris MurphyContributionLinda McMahonContribution
Retired$1,041,795 Financial Institutions $121,717
Lawyers/Law Firms $861,258Retired$81,949
Financial Institutions$580,370Misc Business$55,302
Real Estate $319,466 Manufacturing & Distributing$46,500
Leadership PACs $302,500Misc Finance$38,050
Insurance Industry $302,025Business Services$28,932
Health Professionals$285,150Real Estate$27,000
Democratic/Liberal$267,018Republican/Conservative$25,630
Universities $232,951Candidate Committees$24,874
Business Services$228,550Lawyers/Law Firms$24,372
Source: OpenSecrets [61]

Predictions

SourceRankingAs of
The Cook Political Report [62] TossupNovember 1, 2012
Sabato's Crystal Ball [63] Lean D (flip)November 5, 2012
Rothenberg Political Report [64] Lean D (flip)November 2, 2012
Real Clear Politics [65] Lean D (flip)November 5, 2012

Polling

Poll sourceDate(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin of
error
Chris
Murphy (D)
Linda
McMahon (R)
OtherUndecided
Public Policy Polling March 17–20, 2011822±3.4%54%38%9%
Quinnipiac September 8–13, 20111,230±2.8%49%38%11%
Public Policy Polling September 22–25, 2011592±4.0%50%43%6%
Quinnipiac Archived March 22, 2012, at the Wayback Machine March 14–19, 20121,622±2.4%52%37%9%
Quinnipiac Archived September 27, 2012, at the Wayback Machine May 29 – June 3, 20121,408±2.6%46%43%9%
Public Policy Polling July 26–29, 2012771±3.5%50%42%8%
Rasmussen Reports August 21, 2012500±4.5%46%49%5%
Public Policy Polling August 22–23, 2012881±3.3%48%44%8%
Quinnipiac Archived September 27, 2012, at the Wayback Machine August 22–26, 20121,472±2.6%46%49%4%
Univ. of Connecticut/Hartford Courant September 11–16, 2012517±4.0%37%33%1%28%
Public Policy Polling September 24–26, 2012801±3.5%48%42%10%
Quinnipiac University Poll [ permanent dead link ]September 28 – October 2, 20121,696±2.5%47%48%5%
Rasmussen Reports October 7, 2012500±4.5%51%46%2%1%
Siena Research Institute October 4–14, 2012552±4.2%46%44%8%
Univ. of Connecticut/Hartford Courant October 11–16, 2012574±4%44%38%17%
Public Policy Polling/LCV October 15–16, 20121,015±3.1%48%44%8%
Mason-Dixon October 15–17, 2012625±4%44%44%12%
SurveyUSA October 19–21, 2012575±4.2%47%43%3%4%
Rasmussen Reports October 21, 2012500±4.5%48%47%2%3%
Quinnipiac October 19–22, 20121,412±2.6%49%43%1%7%
Rasmussen Reports October 28, 2012500±4.5%51%45%1%3%
Public Policy Polling November 1–2, 20121,220±2.8%52%43%4%
Hypothetical polling
With Mark Boughton
Poll sourceDate(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin of
error
Susan
Bysiewicz (D)
Mark
Boughton (R)
Undecided
Public Policy Polling March 17–20, 2011822±3.4%44%34%22%
Poll sourceDate(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin of
error
Chris
Murphy (D)
Mark
Boughton (R)
Undecided
Public Policy Polling March 17–20, 2011822±3.4%52%29%19%
With Susan Bysiewicz
Poll sourceDate(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin of
error
Susan
Bysiewicz (D)
Linda
McMahon (R)
Undecided
Public Policy Polling March 17–20, 2011822±3.4%50%39%12%
Quinnipiac September 8–13, 20111,230±2.8%46%38%12%
Public Policy Polling September 22–25, 2011592±4.0%47%46%7%
Quinnipiac Archived March 22, 2012, at the Wayback Machine March 14–19, 20121,622±2.4%49%39%9%
Quinnipiac Archived September 27, 2012, at the Wayback Machine May 29 – June 3, 20121,408±2.6%42%46%9%
Public Policy Polling July 26–29, 2012771±3.5%45%42%13%
With Michael Fedele
Poll sourceDate(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin of
error
Susan
Bysiewicz (D)
Michael
Fedele (R)
Undecided
Public Policy Polling March 17–20, 2011822±3.4%45%35%20%
Poll sourceDate(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin of
error
Chris
Murphy (D)
Michael
Fedele (R)
Undecided
Public Policy Polling March 17–20, 2011822±3.4%51%29%20%
With Scott Frantz
Poll sourceDate(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin of
error
Susan
Bysiewicz (D)
Scott
Frantz (R)
Undecided
Public Policy Polling March 17–20, 2011822±3.4%45%30%24%
Poll sourceDate(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin of
error
Chris
Murphy (D)
Scott
Frantz (R)
Undecided
Public Policy Polling March 17–20, 2011822±3.4%51%27%22%
With Joe Lieberman
Poll sourceDate(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin of
error
Joe
Lieberman (I)
Chris
Murphy (D)
Peter
Schiff (R)
Undecided
Public Policy Polling September 30 – October 2, 2010810±3.4%19%39%25%17%
Poll sourceDate(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin of
error
Joe
Lieberman (I)
Chris
Murphy (D)
Jodi
Rell (R)
Undecided
Research 2000 January 11–13, 2010600±4.0%23%25%47%2%
810±3.4%33%47%20%
Public Policy Polling September 30 – October 2, 2010810±3.4%17%37%29%17%
Poll sourceDate(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin of
error
Joe
Lieberman (I)
Ned
Lamont (D)
Jodi
Rell (R)
Undecided
Research 2000 March 23–25, 2008600±4.0%25%30%42%2%
Research 2000 September 8–10, 2009600±4.0%26%26%46%2%
Poll sourceDate(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin of
error
Joe
Lieberman (I)
Ned
Lamont (D)
Alan
Schlesinger (R)
Undecided
Research 2000 March 31 – April 2, 2008600±4.0%37%51%7%5%
Research 2000 June 30 – July 2, 2008600±4.0%36%51%7%6%
Research 2000 November 11–13, 2008600±4.0%34%59%3%2%
With Chris Shays
Poll sourceDate(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin of
error
Susan
Bysiewicz (D)
Chris
Shays (R)
Undecided
Quinnipiac September 8–13, 20111,230±2.8%40%42%16%
Public Policy Polling September 22–25, 2011592±4.0%37%48%16%
Quinnipiac Archived March 22, 2012, at the Wayback Machine March 14–19, 20121,622±2.4%42%43%13%
Quinnipiac Archived September 27, 2012, at the Wayback Machine May 29 – June 3, 20121,408±2.6%40%44%11%
Public Policy Polling July 26–29, 2012771±3.5%40%43%17%
Poll sourceDate(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin of
error
Chris
Murphy (D)
Chris
Shays (R)
Undecided
Quinnipiac September 8–13, 20111,230±2.8%43%37%17%
Public Policy Polling September 22–25, 2011592±4.0%43%39%18%
Quinnipiac Archived March 22, 2012, at the Wayback Machine March 14–19, 20121,622±2.4%41%40%17%
Quinnipiac Archived September 27, 2012, at the Wayback Machine May 29 – June 3, 20121,408±2.6%45%37%15%
Public Policy Polling July 26–29, 2012771±3.5%47%38%15%
With Rob Simmons
Poll sourceDate(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin of
error
Susan
Bysiewicz (D)
Rob
Simmons (R)
Undecided
Public Policy Polling March 17–20, 2011822±3.4%42%39%19%
Public Policy Polling September 22–25, 2011592±4.0%41%42%17%
Poll sourceDate(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin of
error
Chris
Murphy (D)
Rob
Simmons (R)
Undecided
Public Policy Polling March 17–20, 2011822±3.4%49%34%18%
Public Policy Polling September 22–25, 2011592±4.0%45%36%20%
Poll sourceDate(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin of
error
William
Tong (D)
Rob
Simmons (R)
Undecided
Public Policy Polling September 22–25, 2011592±4.0%32%39%29%
With William Tong
Poll sourceDate(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin of
error
William
Tong (D)
Linda
McMahon (R)
Undecided
Public Policy Polling September 22–25, 2011592±4.0%38%45%17%
Quinnipiac Archived March 22, 2012, at the Wayback Machine March 14–19, 20121,622±2.4%39%43%9%
Poll sourceDate(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin of
error
William
Tong (D)
Chris
Shays (R)
Undecided
Public Policy Polling September 22–25, 2011592±4.0%27%46%27%
Quinnipiac Archived March 22, 2012, at the Wayback Machine March 14–19, 20121,622±2.4%25%50%21%

Results

United States Senate election in Connecticut, 2012 [66]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Democratic Chris Murphy792,98352.45%+12.72%
Working Families Chris Murphy35,7782.37%N/A
Total Chris Murphy 828,761 54.82% +15.09%
Republican Linda McMahon604,56939.99%+30.37%
Independent Party Linda McMahon46,5203.08%N/A
Total Linda McMahon 651,08943.07%+33.45%
Libertarian Paul Passarelli25,0451.66%N/A
Write-in 6,8690.45%+0.45%
Total votes1,511,764 100.00% N/A
Democratic gain from Independent Democrat

Counties that flipped from Independent to Democratic

Counties that flipped from Independent to Republican

Results by congressional district

Murphy won all 5 congressional districts. [67]

DistrictMurphyMcMahonRepresentative
1st 59.81%38.61% John B. Larson
2nd 52.74%44.92% Joe Courtney
3rd 59.66%38.65% Rosa DeLauro
4th 53.5%44.525% Jim Himes
5th 50.72%47.79% Elizabeth Esty

See also

Related Research Articles

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

Christopher Hunter Shays is an American politician. He previously served in the United States House of Representatives as representative of the 4th District of Connecticut. He is a member of the Republican Party.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lowell Weicker</span> American politician (1931–2023)

Lowell Palmer Weicker Jr. was an American politician who served as a U.S. Representative, U.S. Senator, and the 85th Governor of Connecticut.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Linda McMahon</span> American political & business executive (born 1948)

Linda Marie McMahon is an American political executive, business executive, and retired performer. She served as the 25th administrator of the Small Business Administration from 2017 to 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Susan Bysiewicz</span> 109th Lieutenant Governor of Connecticut

Susan Bysiewicz is an American politician and attorney who is the 109th lieutenant governor of Connecticut, serving since January 9, 2019. She previously served as the 72nd secretary of the state of Connecticut from 1999 to 2011. She was briefly a candidate for governor of Connecticut in 2010, before dropping out to run for Connecticut Attorney General. She was disqualified from running for the office by the Connecticut Supreme Court and announced in 2011 that she was running for the United States Senate in the 2012 election to replace the retiring Joe Lieberman. She lost the Democratic primary to U.S. Representative Chris Murphy, who went on to win the general election.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2006 United States Senate election in Connecticut</span>

The 2006 United States Senate election in Connecticut was held November 7, 2006. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Joe Lieberman won his fourth and final term in the Senate, under the Connecticut for Lieberman party banner.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chris Murphy</span> American politician

Christopher Scott Murphy is an American lawyer, author, and politician serving as the junior United States senator from Connecticut since 2013. A member of the Democratic Party, he previously served in the United States House of Representatives, representing Connecticut's 5th congressional district from 2007 to 2013. Before being elected to Congress, Murphy was a member of both chambers of the Connecticut General Assembly, serving two terms each in the Connecticut House of Representatives (1999–2003) and the Connecticut Senate (2003–2007).

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

The 2012 United States Senate elections were held on November 6, 2012, with 33 of the 100 seats in the Senate, all Class 1 seats, being contested in regular elections whose winners would serve six-year terms beginning January 3, 2013, with the 113th Congress. Democrats had 21 seats up for election, plus 1 Independent and 1 Independent Democrat, while the Republicans had only 10 seats up for election. The presidential election, elections to the House of Representatives, elections for governors in 14 states and territories, and many state and local elections were also held on the same day.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Connecticut Republican Party</span> Connecticut affiliate of the Republican Party

The Connecticut Republican Party is the Connecticut affiliate of the national Republican Party.

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

The 2008 congressional elections in Connecticut were held on November 4, 2008, to determine who would represent the state of Connecticut in the United States House of Representatives, coinciding with the presidential election. Representatives are elected for two-year terms; those elected will serve in the 111th Congress from January 3, 2009, until January 3, 2011. The Primary election was held on August 12.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2010 United States Senate election in Connecticut</span> Federal election results list

The 2010 United States Senate election in Connecticut was a midterm election which took place on November 2, 2010 to decide a Class III Senator from the State of Connecticut to join the 112th United States Congress. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Chris Dodd suffered from dropping approval ratings in the past few years due to major controversies, leading him to announce in January 2010 that he would retire, instead of seeking a sixth term. As Dodd was a Democrat, Richard Blumenthal, incumbent State Attorney General, announced on the same day that he would run for Dodd's seat. The Connecticut Democratic Party nominated Blumenthal on May 21. Businesswoman Linda McMahon won the state party's nominating convention and the August 10 Republican primary to become the Republican candidate. This was the first open Senate seat in Connecticut since 1980 where Dodd was first elected. Blumenthal was the only non-incumbent Democrat to win a non-special election in 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2010 Connecticut gubernatorial election</span>

The 2010 Connecticut gubernatorial election took place on November 2, 2010, to elect the 88th Governor of Connecticut. Incumbent Republican Governor Jodi Rell had announced in a press conference in Hartford on November 9, 2009, that she would not seek re-election in 2010. The sites Cook Political Report and CQ Politics both rated the election as a toss-up. This was the first open seat gubernatorial election in the state since 1994. As of 2022, this is the last time the Governor’s office in Connecticut changed partisan control.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2010 Connecticut Attorney General election</span>

The 2010 Connecticut attorney general election was held on Tuesday, November 2, 2010, to elect the 24th attorney general of the state of Connecticut. Five-term incumbent attorney general Richard Blumenthal declined to seek re-election in 2010, instead opting to run for Connecticut's open U.S. Senate seat held by the retiring Christopher Dodd. Blumenthal's decision not to seek a sixth term set-up the first open race for attorney general in the state since Blumenthal's election in 1990.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Linda McMahon 2010 United States Senate campaign</span>

Linda McMahon, formerly CEO of World Wrestling Entertainment, ran for U.S. Senator from Connecticut from September 16, 2009, to November 4, 2010. On May 21, 2010, she won a majority of support from the Connecticut Republican Party. She ran as a Republican, promising lower taxes, fiscal conservatism, and job creation. McMahon spent $50 million of her own money on the campaign, allowing her to refuse campaign donations from special interest groups. She gained name recognition and popularity over her Republican opponents, including Rob Simmons, the prior frontrunner.

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

Elections for state and federal offices for the 2010 election cycle in Connecticut, US, were held on Tuesday, November 2, 2010. Any necessary primary elections for the Republican and Democratic parties were held on Tuesday, August 10, 2010.

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

The 2012 U.S. House of Representatives elections in Connecticut were held on Tuesday, November 6, 2012, to elect the five congressional representatives from the state, one from each of the state's five congressional districts. The elections coincided with the elections of other federal and state offices, including a quadrennial presidential election, a U.S. Senate election, and state legislature races.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2014 Connecticut gubernatorial election</span>

The 2014 Connecticut gubernatorial election took place on November 4, 2014, to elect the governor and lieutenant governor of Connecticut, concurrently with elections to the United States Senate in other states and elections to the United States House of Representatives and various state and local elections.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2018 Connecticut gubernatorial election</span>

The 2018 Connecticut gubernatorial election took place on November 6, 2018, to elect the next governor and lieutenant governor of Connecticut, concurrently with the election of Connecticut's Class I U.S. Senate seat, as well as other elections to the United States Senate in other states, elections to the United States House of Representatives, and various state and local elections. This race's Democratic margin of victory was the closest to the national average of 3.1 points.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2022 United States Senate election in Connecticut</span>

The 2022 United States Senate election in Connecticut was held on November 8, 2022, to elect a member of the United States Senate to represent the State of Connecticut.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2022 Connecticut gubernatorial election</span> Election for Governor of Connecticut

The 2022 Connecticut gubernatorial election took place on November 8, 2022, to elect the governor of Connecticut. Incumbent Democratic Governor Ned Lamont ran for re-election to a second term in office. The race simultaneously took place with the election to the state's Class III Senate seat. This election featured a rematch of the previous 2018 gubernatorial election, pitting Lamont against Republican Bob Stefanowski, who he previously defeated by 3.2% of the vote. This time Lamont won re-election by a wider margin, becoming the first Democrat to win a gubernatorial election by more than 5 points in the state since 1986. This is the first time since 1994 that Tolland County voted Democratic in a gubernatorial election.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2022 Connecticut Secretary of the State election</span>

The 2022 Connecticut Secretary of the State election took place on November 8, 2022, to elect the next Secretary of the State of Connecticut. Incumbent Democrat Denise Merrill planned to retire at the end of her elected term, but resigned June 30 to care for her ailing husband. Governor Lamont appointed former associate attorney general Mark Kohler to the position. Kohler was sworn in July 11. He was not a candidate for the office in the November election.

References

  1. Dr. Michael McDonald (February 9, 2013). "2012 General Election Turnout Rates". George Mason University. Archived from the original on April 24, 2013. Retrieved April 3, 2013.
  2. "Candidate Committees, Exploratory Committees, and Durational Political Committees Organized for the November 6, 2012 Election" (PDF). State of Connecticut, State Elections Enforcement Commission. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 17, 2012. Retrieved August 13, 2011.
  3. 1 2 "'To everything there is a season:' Lieberman announces plan to end Senate run". Connecticut Post . January 19, 2011. Retrieved January 19, 2011.
  4. Geiger, Kim (November 6, 2012). "Democrat Murphy beats GOP's McMahon in Connecticut Senate race". Los Angeles Times.
  5. Sargent, Greg (December 17, 2007). "FLASHBACK: Lieberman Said He Wanted To Help Elect "Democratic President In 2008"". Talking Points Memo . Archived from the original on July 18, 2011. Retrieved December 18, 2010.
  6. Peoples, Steve (November 15, 2010). "Lieberman's 2012 Race Calculus Is Big Mystery". Roll Call . Archived from the original on November 19, 2010. Retrieved November 30, 2010.
  7. Ball, Molly (November 23, 2010). "Joe Lieberman left with limited 2012 options". Politico . Retrieved November 30, 2010.
  8. Wilson, Reid (February 3, 2009). "Connecticut attorney general eyes Lieberman challenge". The Hill . Retrieved December 18, 2010.
  9. "Richard Blumenthal announces candidacy for U.S. Senate". NECN . January 6, 2010. Retrieved January 18, 2011.
  10. J. Taylor Rushing (March 13, 2009). "Lieberman open to reunion with Democratic Party". The Hill . Retrieved December 18, 2010.
  11. Bash, Dana (December 16, 2010). "Lieberman won't rule out run as Republican in 2012". CNN. Retrieved November 18, 2010.
  12. O'Brien, Michael (January 17, 2011). "Lieberman says he would likely pursue reelection as an Independent". The Hill . Retrieved December 18, 2010.
  13. Pazniokas, Mark (January 18, 2011). "Bysiewicz to declare for U.S. Senate". The Connecticut Mirror . Archived from the original on July 25, 2011. Retrieved January 18, 2011.
  14. Jacobs, Jeremy P.; Taylor, Jessica (January 20, 2011). "Chris Murphy To Run For Senate". National Journal . Archived from the original on January 23, 2011. Retrieved January 20, 2011.
  15. Vigdor, Neil (August 16, 2011). "McMahon close to launching another Senate bid". The Westport News. Retrieved February 4, 2012.
  16. 1 2 3 4 Vigdor, Neil (January 25, 2012). "Shays officially announces Senate bid". The News-Times . Retrieved February 4, 2012.
  17. Green, Rick (May 24, 2012). "Endorsement Over A Cold One". Archived from the original on January 21, 2013. Retrieved May 24, 2012.
  18. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Pazniokas, Mark (May 1, 2012). "Tong drops, joins Malloy in endorsing Murphy" . Retrieved May 2, 2012.
  19. Jacqueline Rabe Thomas (February 23, 2012). "Senate Democratic candidates play nice at first debate". CTMirror.org. Retrieved May 4, 2012.
  20. Phaneuf, Kieth M. (April 5, 2012). "Live Senate debate ends with personal attack on Murphy". CTMirror.org. Archived from the original on April 13, 2012. Retrieved May 4, 2012.
  21. Crowley, Liz (April 10, 2012). "UConn hosts Senate debate". The Daily Campus. Archived from the original on April 14, 2012. Retrieved May 4, 2012.
  22. Pazniokas, Mark (April 15, 2012). "Senate debate covers pot, guns and price of milk". CTMirror.org. Retrieved April 23, 2012.
  23. Altimari, Daniela (May 12, 2012). "Murphy Wins Democratic Endorsement For U.S. Senate". The Hartford Courant . Archived from the original on June 11, 2013. Retrieved May 14, 2012.
  24. "Partner - YouTube". YouTube .
  25. "President Clinton Fires up Team Murphy - YouTube". YouTube .
  26. Lockhart, Brian (May 24, 2012). "Oakes endorses Murphy over a beer, Star Trek novel" . Retrieved May 24, 2012.
  27. Terkel, Amanda (August 9, 2012). "NARAL Endorses Chris Murphy In Connecticut Senate Race, Breaking With EMILY's List". Huffington Post. Retrieved August 9, 2012.
  28. 1 2 "AFL-CIO backs Murphy; Shays backs XL Keystone Pipeline | CT Senate 2012". Archived from the original on December 28, 2013. Retrieved July 26, 2012.
  29. "List".
  30. "Brian Hill for Senate, again | The Connecticut Mirror". Archived from the original on July 22, 2011. Retrieved June 11, 2011.
  31. Reilly, Genevieve (November 23, 2011). "Fairfield lawyer to seek U.S. Senate seat". Connecticut Post . Retrieved December 3, 2011.
  32. "McMahon Jumps In for Second Senate Bid". Roll Call. September 19, 2011.
  33. Vigdor, Neil (August 22, 2011). "Hearst exclusive: Former U.S. Rep. Chris Shays to enter 2012 Senate race". greenwichtime.com. Archived from the original on October 18, 2012. Retrieved April 6, 2014.
  34. "Ex-Rep. Shays Makes Senate Bid Official". Roll Call. August 22, 2011.
  35. Pazniokas, Mark (April 19, 2012). "GOP Senate debate relies on familiar songbook". CTMirror.org. Retrieved April 23, 2012.
  36. Pazniokas, Mark (April 22, 2012). "A GOP debate focuses on electability, jobs and jabs". CTMirror.org. Archived from the original on April 25, 2012. Retrieved April 23, 2012.
  37. Keating, Christopher; Altimari, Daniela (May 19, 2012). "McMahon Beats Shays 730-389 At GOP Convention; Primary Fight Looms". The Hartford Courant . Archived from the original on July 22, 2012. Retrieved May 19, 2012.
  38. "Republican candidate Brian K. Hill suspends U.S. Senate campaign". New Haven Register . June 8, 2012. Archived from the original on December 27, 2012. Retrieved June 15, 2012.
  39. 1 2 "Account Closed - Piryx". secure.piryx.com.
  40. Toeplitz, Shira (August 26, 2011). "Linda McMahon's 2010 Foe Tells Her He's in Christopher Shays' Corner". Roll Call . Retrieved November 21, 2011.
  41. Christopher Shays
  42. /www.shaysforussenate.com/home/
  43. 1 2 Pazniokas, Mark (March 29, 2012). "'Electability' the new buzzword in U.S. Senate race". CT Mirror.
  44. Dixon, Ken (May 19, 2012). "Shays looks forward to the primary". Connecticut Post.
  45. "Norwich Bulletin Editorial Board Endorses Chris Shays for U.S. Senate Republican Candidate | Ameriborn News". Archived from the original on August 30, 2012. Retrieved July 26, 2012.
  46. "Conservation group endorses Chris Shays and Chris Murphy | CT Senate 2012". Archived from the original on August 6, 2012. Retrieved July 26, 2012.
  47. Langlois, Mark (December 12, 2011). "Boughton Endorses McMahon for Senate". Danbury Patch . Retrieved February 4, 2012.
  48. "GOProud Announces U.S. House Endorsements - GOProud, Inc". October 25, 2012. Archived from the original on October 25, 2012.
  49. 1 2 3 "Archived copy". Archived from the original on October 19, 2014. Retrieved April 16, 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  50. Pazniokas, Mark. "Bysiewicz declares for US Senate". CT Mirror. Archived from the original on July 25, 2011. Retrieved September 8, 2011.
  51. 1 2 "2012 Connecticut Senate Race To Replace Joe Lieberman Gears Up". Huffington Post. June 19, 2011.
  52. Oakes, Connecticut for Matthew. "Connecticut Resident Matthew John Oakes Enters U.S. Senate Race". PRLog.
  53. Vigdor, Neil (August 22, 2011). "Hearst exclusive: Former U.S. Rep. Chris Shays entering 2012 Senate race". Greenwich Time . Retrieved February 4, 2012.
  54. "Shays Cites Reasons for Optimism in Race Against McMahon – Hotline On Call". Archived from the original on October 18, 2012. Retrieved November 21, 2015.
  55. O'Leary, Mary E. (July 21, 2012). "Chris Shays says he won't support Linda McMahon if she wins primary". New Haven Register. Archived from the original on July 22, 2012. Retrieved July 24, 2012.
  56. Reindl, JC, "Records: McMahons owed nearly $1 million in 1976 bankruptcy", The Day , September 18/19, 2012. Retrieved December 26, 2016.
  57. Altimari, Daniela, "McMahon To Repay Creditors From 1970s Bankruptcy" Archived December 31, 2017, at the Wayback Machine , Hartford Courant , September 20, 2012. Retrieved December 26, 2016.
  58. Federal Election Commission. "2012 House and Senate Campaign Finance for Connecticut MURPHY, CHRISTOPHER S". fec.gov. Archived from the original on September 26, 2012. Retrieved August 27, 2012.
  59. Federal Election Commission. "2012 House and Senate Campaign Finance for Connecticut MCMAHON, LINDA". fec.gov. Archived from the original on September 26, 2012. Retrieved August 27, 2012.
  60. "Top Contributors 2012 Race: Connecticut Senate". OpenSecrets.
  61. "Top Industries 2012 Race: Connecticut Senate". OpenSecrets.
  62. "2012 Senate Race Ratings for November 1, 2012". The Cook Political Report. Retrieved October 9, 2018.
  63. "2012 Senate". Sabato's Crystal Ball. Retrieved October 9, 2018.
  64. "2012 Senate Ratings". Senate Ratings. The Rothenberg Political Report. Retrieved October 9, 2018.
  65. "2012 Elections Map - Battle for the Senate 2012". Real Clear Politics. Retrieved October 9, 2018.
  66. "11/06/2012-General Election Results Presidential Electors For" (PDF). portal.ct.gov.
  67. "Daily Kos Elections' statewide election results by congressional and legislative districts". Daily Kos. Retrieved August 11, 2020.
Official campaign websites (Archived)