2012 Utah gubernatorial election

2012 Utah gubernatorial election

November 6, 2012 (2012-11-06)
 
Nominee Gary Herbert Peter Cooke
Party Republican Democratic
Running mate Greg Bell Vincent Rampton
Popular vote 624,678 253,514
Percentage 68.41% 27.58%

Herbert:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%

Governor before election

Gary Herbert
Republican

Elected Governor

Gary Herbert
Republican

The 2012 Utah gubernatorial election was held on November 6, 2012. Incumbent Republican Governor Gary Herbert won reelection to a full term.[1]

Republican nomination

Candidates

Defeated at convention

[3]

Declined

Polling

Poll source Date(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin of
error
Gary
Herbert
David
Kirkham
Morgan
Philpot
Ken
Sumison
Other/
Undecided
Mason-Dixon[10] April 9–11, 2012 422 ± 4.9% 69% 2% 13% 1% 15%

Convention results

Republican convention, 1st round results[11]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Gary Herbert 2,253 57.67%
Republican Morgan Philpot 905 23.16%
Republican David Kirkham 358 9.16%
Republican Ken Sumsion 254 6.50%
Republican William Skokos 128 3.28%
Republican Lane Ronnow 9 0.23%
Total votes 3,907 100.00%
Republican convention, 2nd round results[11]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Gary Herbert 2,464 63.26%
Republican Morgan Philpot 1,431 36.74%
Total votes 3,895 100.00%

Democratic nomination

Candidate

Declined

General election

Candidates

  • Gary Herbert (Republican), incumbent governor
  • Running mate: Greg Bell, incumbent lieutenant governor
  • Peter Cooke (Democratic), businessman and retired major general in the United States Army Reserve
  • Running mate: Vincent Rampton, attorney and son of former Governor Cal Rampton[14]
  • Kirk D Pearson (Constitution)[15]
  • Running mate: Tim Aalders
  • Ken Larsen (Libertarian), medical researcher [16]
  • Running mate: Robert Latham, attorney [17]

Debates

Predictions

Source Ranking As of
The Cook Political Report[18] Solid R November 1, 2012
Sabato's Crystal Ball[19] Safe R November 5, 2012
Rothenberg Political Report[20] Safe R November 2, 2012
Real Clear Politics[21] Safe R November 5, 2012

Polling

Poll source Date(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin of
error
Gary
Herbert (R)
Peter
Cooke (D)
Other/
Undecided
Deseret News/KSL[22] October 26–November 1, 2012 870 ± 43.4% 69% 24% 5%
Key Research[23] October 9–13, 2012 500 ± 4.4% 65% 19% 15%
Utah State University[24] October 8–13, 2012 n/a ± 7.6% 76% 17% 7%
Mason-Dixon[10] April 9–11, 2012 625 ± 4% 65% 27% 8%

Results

2012 Utah gubernatorial election[25]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Gary Herbert (incumbent) 688,592 68.41% +4.35%
Democratic Peter Cooke 277,622 27.58% −4.32%
Libertarian Ken Larsen 22,611 2.25% +0.25%
Constitution Kirk D. Pearson 17,696 1.76%
Write-in Dennis C. Owen 2 0.00%
Write-in David J. Cannon 1 0.00%
Total votes 1,006,524 100.00%
Majority 410,970 40.83%
Republican hold Swing 8.67%

Results by county

County[25] Gary Herbert
Republican
Peter Cooke
Demcoratic
Ken Larsen
Libertarian
Kirk D. Pearson
Constitution
Margin Total votes cast
# % # % # % # % # %
Beaver 2,040 80.89% 390 15.46% 39 1.55% 53 2.10% 1,650 65.42% 2,522
Box Elder 15,802 82.02% 2,767 14.36% 307 1.59% 389 2.02% 13,035 67.66% 19,265
Cache 32,173 77.11% 7,595 18.20% 984 2.36% 969 2.32% 24,578 58.91% 41,721
Carbon 4,787 63.44% 2,494 33.05% 151 2.00% 114 1.51% 2,293 30.39% 7,546
Daggett 390 76.62% 96 18.86% 15 2.95% 8 1.57% 294 57.76% 509
Davis 89,002 74.21% 26,794 22.34% 2,232 1.86% 1,909 1.59% 62,208 51.87% 119,939[a]
Duchesne 5,388 85.27% 688 10.89% 84 1.33% 159 2.52% 4,700 74.38% 6,319
Emery 3,532 79.62% 728 16.41% 105 2.37% 71 1.60% 2,804 63.21% 4,436
Garfield 1,753 81.61% 333 15.50% 27 1.26% 35 1.63% 1,420 66.11% 2,148
Grand 1,968 50.96% 1,689 43.73% 149 3.86% 56 1.45% 279 7.22% 3,862
Iron 13,094 79.34% 2,464 14.93% 443 2.68% 503 3.05% 10,630 64.41% 16,504
Juab 3,182 80.82% 588 14.94% 78 1.98% 89 2.26% 2,594 65.89% 3,937
Kane 2,455 74.24% 708 21.41% 78 2.36% 66 2.00% 1,747 52.83% 3,307
Millard 4,049 80.69% 704 14.03% 88 1.75% 177 3.53% 3,345 66.66% 5,018
Morgan 3,697 81.15% 699 15.34% 57 1.25% 103 2.26% 2,998 65.80% 4,556
Piute 658 86.01% 82 10.72% 14 1.83% 11 1.44% 576 75.29% 765
Rich 841 85.21% 122 12.36% 12 1.22% 12 1.22% 719 72.85% 987
Salt Lake 209,310 55.36% 154,361 40.82% 9,472 2.51% 4,963 1.31% 54,949 14.53% 378,107[b]
San Juan 3,095 59.01% 1,941 37.01% 105 2.00% 104 1.98% 1,154 22.00% 5,245
Sanpete 7,676 80.91% 1,384 14.59% 152 1.60% 275 2.90% 6,292 66.32% 9,487
Sevier 6,632 82.86% 1,044 13.04% 147 1.84% 181 2.26% 5,588 69.82% 8,004
Summit 8,541 49.67% 8,045 46.79% 438 2.55% 171 0.99% 496 2.88% 17,195
Tooele 13,072 68.53% 4,969 26.05% 430 2.25% 605 3.17% 8,103 42.48% 19,076
Uintah 9,950 86.77% 1,103 9.62% 187 1.63% 227 1.98% 8,847 77.15% 11,467
Utah 144,942 82.77% 22,630 12.92% 3,739 2.14% 3,812 2.18% 122,312 69.84% 175,123
Wasatch 6,824 71.79% 2,344 24.66% 184 1.94% 153 1.61% 4,480 47.13% 9,505
Washington 41,915 78.44% 9,244 17.30% 1,156 2.16% 1,120 2.10% 32,671 61.14% 53,435
Wayne 1,050 79.67% 239 18.13% 14 1.06% 15 1.14% 811 61.53% 1,318
Weber 50,774 67.50% 21,377 28.42% 1,724 2.29% 1,346 1.79% 29,397 39.08% 75,221
Total 688,592 68.41% 277,622 27.58% 22,611 2.25% 17,696 1.76% 410,970 40.83% 1,006,524

Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican

Results by congressional district

Herbert won all four congressional districts, including one that elected a Democrat.[26]

District Herbert Cooke Representative
1st 72.67% 23.35% Rob Bishop
2nd 63.67% 32.21% Chris Stewart
3rd 73.79% 22.32% Jason Chaffetz
4th 63.21% 32.75% Jim Matheson

Notes

  1. ^ Includes 2 write-in votes for Dennis C. Owen
  2. ^ Includes 1 write-in vote for David J. Cannon

References

  1. ^ "Gov. Herbert wins first full term in office | Local News | heraldextra.com". www.heraldextra.com. Archived from the original on November 27, 2020. Retrieved November 6, 2020.
  2. ^ a b Gehrke, Robert (December 19, 2011). "Retired general poised to take on Herbert in gubernatorial race". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved December 20, 2011.
  3. ^ a b c d Gehrke, Robert; Canham, Matt (April 21, 2012). "Herbert wins nod, Philpot feels betrayed". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved May 10, 2012.
  4. ^ Meyers, Donald W. (January 18, 2012). "Utah tea party founder Kirkham takes on Herbert". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved January 19, 2012.
  5. ^ Hesterman, Billy (November 30, 2011). "Philpot to challenge Herbert in 2012". Daily Herald. Archived from the original on January 3, 2012. Retrieved November 30, 2011.
  6. ^ Davidson, Lee (November 11, 2011). "Utah governor faces challenge from inside the GOP". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved May 10, 2012.
  7. ^ Roche, Lisa Riley (November 10, 2011). "GOP lawmaker to run against Gov. Herbert". Deseret News. Retrieved May 10, 2012.
  8. ^ Romboy, Dennis (November 14, 2011). "Sandstrom announces bid for Utah's new congressional district seat". Deseret News. Archived from the original on November 15, 2011. Retrieved November 14, 2011.
  9. ^ Roche, Lisa Riley (June 9, 2011). "Two Utah political heavyweights eyeing key races". Deseret News. Archived from the original on June 13, 2011. Retrieved June 10, 2011.
  10. ^ a b Mason-Dixon
  11. ^ a b "Election Results: Utah Governor's Race". Utah Republican Party. April 21, 2012. Retrieved May 10, 2012.
  12. ^ Isenstadt, Alex (December 15, 2011). "Matheson to run for reelection". Politico. Retrieved May 10, 2012.
  13. ^ Toeplitz, Shira (December 15, 2011). "Matheson to Run in New Utah District". Roll Call. Retrieved May 10, 2012.
  14. ^ Gehrke, Robert (April 19, 2012). "Rampton named as Peter Cooke's running mate". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved May 10, 2012.
  15. ^ "2012 Candidate Filings - Lieutenant Governor's Office: Elections". Elections.utah.gov. April 26, 2012. Retrieved February 5, 2013.
  16. ^ Ken Larsen Free Speech Message. "Ken Larsen". Vote Utah. Archived from the original on November 13, 2012. Retrieved February 5, 2013.
  17. ^ "Why Choose Rob? « J. Robert Latham | Attorney at Law". Jrobertlatham.pro. January 2011. Retrieved February 5, 2013.
  18. ^ "2012 Governor Race Ratings for November 1, 2012". The Cook Political Report. Retrieved November 30, 2018.
  19. ^ "PROJECTION: OBAMA WILL LIKELY WIN SECOND TERM". Sabato's Crystal Ball. Archived from the original on December 1, 2018. Retrieved November 30, 2018.
  20. ^ "2012 Gubernatorial Ratings". Gubernatorial Ratings. The Rothenberg Political Report. Retrieved November 30, 2018.
  21. ^ "2012 Elections Map - 2012 Governor Races". Real Clear Politics. Retrieved November 30, 2018.
  22. ^ Deseret News/KSL
  23. ^ Key Research
  24. ^ Utah State University
  25. ^ a b "2012 General Election Canvass". Retrieved January 1, 2026.
  26. ^ "Utah 2012 gov-by-cd".

Official campaign sites (Archived)