2012 United States Gubernatorial Elections

Of the eight Democratic and four Republican seats contested, only that of North Carolina changed party hands, giving the Republicans a net gain of one governorship. These elections (except for Wisconsin) coincided with the presidential election on November 6, 2012. As of 2024, this marked the last time in which a Democrat won the governorship in Missouri and the last time in which a Republican won the governorship in North Carolina.

2012 United States gubernatorial elections

← 2011 November 6, 2012 June 5 (Wisconsin recall) 2013 →
14 governorships 12 states; 2 territories
Majority party Minority party   Party Republican Democratic Seats before 29 20 Seats after 30 19 Seat change 1 1 Popular vote 8,305,687 7,992,567 Percentage 49.7% 47.9% Seats up 4 8 Seats won 5 7
Map of the results      Democratic hold      Republican gain      Republican hold      Popular Democratic gain      Nonpartisan politician      No election

States

Territories

States where the margin of victory was under 1%:

1. Puerto Rico, 0.60%

States where the margin of victory was under 5%:

1. Montana, 1.56%
2. Indiana, 2.93%
3. Washington, 3.07%
4. West Virginia, 4.84%

States where the margin of victory was under 10%:

1. American Samoa, 5.88%
2. Wisconsin, 6.80%

Red denotes states won by Republicans. Blue denotes states won by Democrats. Grey denotes states won by Independents.

2012 Delaware gubernatorial election

← 2008 November 6, 2012 2016 →

Nominee Jack Markell Jeff Cragg Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 275,993 113,793 Percentage 69.3% 28.6%

County results

Governor before election Jack Markell Democratic Elected Governor Jack Markell Democratic

Governor Jack Markell successfully ran for re-election. His Republican challenger was Jeff Cragg.

2012 Indiana gubernatorial election

← 2008 November 6, 2012 (2012-11-06) 2016 →

Nominee Mike Pence John R. Gregg Party Republican Democratic Running mate Sue Ellspermann Vi Simpson Popular vote 1,275,424 1,200,016 Percentage 49.5% 46.6%

County results

Governor before election Mitch Daniels Republican Elected Governor Mike Pence Republican

Governor Mitch Daniels was term-limited in 2012.

Mike Pence, a six-term Republican in the U.S. House of Representatives, 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, was regarded as the favorite for election. 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.

Former state House Speaker John R. Gregg was unopposed for the Democratic Party's nomination.

Former Survivor contestant and founder of the Rupert's Kids charity Rupert Boneham ran as the Libertarian Party candidate.

Pence narrowly defeated Gregg with 49.9% of the vote to Gregg's 46.56%. Boneham received 3.95% of the vote.

2012 Missouri gubernatorial election

← 2008 November 6, 2012 (2012-11-06) 2016 →

Nominee Jay Nixon Dave Spence Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 1,494,056 1,160,265 Percentage 54.8% 42.5%

County results

Governor before election Jay Nixon Democratic Elected Governor Jay Nixon Democratic

Governor Jay Nixon sought re-election.

Dave Spence, a businessman from St. Louis, won the Republican nomination over attorney Bill Randles in the August 7, 2012 primary.

Jim Higgins was the Libertarian candidate.

Nixon won the general election over Spence and Higgins.

The Lieutenant Governor is elected separately.

As of 2024, this is the last time a Democrat won the governorship of Missouri to date. This is also the last time that a gubernatorial nominee and a lieutenant gubernatorial nominee of different opposite political parties were elected governor and lieutenant governor in Missouri to date as well.

2012 Montana gubernatorial election

← 2008 November 6, 2012 (2012-11-06) 2016 →

Nominee Steve Bullock Rick Hill Party Democratic Republican Running mate John Walsh Jon Sonju Popular vote 236,450 228,879 Percentage 48.9% 47.3%

County results

Governor before election Brian Schweitzer Democratic Elected Governor Steve Bullock Democratic

Governor Brian Schweitzer was term-limited in 2012.

The declared Democratic primary candidates were state Senator Larry Jent and state Attorney General Steve Bullock.

The declared Republican primary candidates included Chouteau County commissioner Jim O'Hara, former state Senators Corey Stapleton and Ken Miller, terrorism and national security analyst Neil Livingstone, former Congressman Rick Hill, and Truck driver Keith Winkler.

Steve Bullock and Rick Hill won their respective primaries. Bullock defeated Hill and Libertarian Ron Vandevender in the general election.

2012 New Hampshire gubernatorial election

← 2010 November 6, 2012 (2012-11-06) 2014 →

Nominee Maggie Hassan Ovide Lamontagne Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 378,934 294,024 Percentage 54.6% 42.5%

County results

Governor before election John Lynch Democratic Elected Governor Maggie Hassan Democratic

Governor John Lynch retired rather than running for re-election.

Maggie Hassan, former Majority Leader of the New Hampshire State Senate, defeated former state senator Jackie Cilley and firefighter Bill Kennedy to become the Democratic nominee. Former Chairman of the New Hampshire Board of Education Ovide Lamontagne, who narrowly lost the Republican primary for Senate in 2010, defeated conservative activist and former state representative Kevin Smith and Bill Tarr to win the Republican nomination. Hassan won the general election.

New Hampshire does not have a position of Lieutenant Governor.

2012 North Carolina gubernatorial election

← 2008 November 6, 2012 (2012-11-06) 2016 →

Nominee Pat McCrory Walter Dalton Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 2,440,707 1,931,580 Percentage 54.6% 43.2%

County results

Governor before election Bev Perdue Democratic Elected Governor Pat McCrory Republican

Governor Beverly Perdue retired rather than run for re-election.

Walter Dalton and Pat McCrory won their respective primaries, and McCrory won the general election.

The Lieutenant Governor of North Carolina was elected separately.^{[citation needed]}

2012 North Dakota gubernatorial election

← 2008 November 6, 2012 (2012-11-06) 2016 →

Nominee Jack Dalrymple Ryan Taylor Party Republican Democratic–NPL Running mate Drew Wrigley Ellen Chaffee Popular vote 200,525 109,048 Percentage 63.1% 34.3%

County results

Governor before election Jack Dalrymple Republican Elected Governor Jack Dalrymple Republican

Governor Jack Dalrymple succeeded John Hoeven after the latter was elected Senator and ran for a full term in 2012. Drew Wrigley was his running mate. Dalrymple defeated architect Paul Sorum for the nomination.

State Senate Minority leader Ryan Taylor was the Democratic nominee. Ellen Chaffee was his running mate. Dalrymple won the general election.

2012 Utah gubernatorial election

← 2010 (special) November 6, 2012 (2012-11-06) 2016 →

Nominee Gary Herbert Peter Cooke Party Republican Democratic Running mate Greg Bell Vincent Rampton Popular vote 624,678 253,514 Percentage 68.4% 27.7%

County results

Governor before election Gary Herbert Republican Elected Governor Gary Herbert Republican

Governor Gary Herbert, who won the 2010 gubernatorial special election to finish his predecessor's unfinished term, ran for a full four-year term in 2012.

Democrat Peter Cooke, a businessman and retired major general, opposed him. The Libertarian candidate was medical researcher Ken Larson, and the Constitution party candidate was Kirk D. Pearson. Herbert won the general election.

2012 Vermont gubernatorial election

← 2010 November 6, 2012 (2012-11-06) 2014 →

Nominee Peter Shumlin Randy Brock Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 170,749 110,940 Percentage 57.8% 37.6%

County results

Governor before election Peter Shumlin Democratic Elected Governor Peter Shumlin Democratic

Governor Peter Shumlin, the victor of the Vermont gubernatorial election of 2010, ran for re-election in 2012. His Republican challenger was state Senator Randy Brock. Shumlin won the general election.

The Lieutenant Governor was elected separately.

2012 Washington gubernatorial election

← 2008 November 6, 2012 (2012-11-06) 2016 →

Nominee Jay Inslee Rob McKenna Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 1,582,802 1,488,245 Percentage 51.4% 48.3%

County results

Governor before election Christine Gregoire Democratic Elected Governor Jay Inslee Democratic

Governor Christine Gregoire retired rather than run for re-election.

U.S. Representative Jay Inslee was the Democratic nominee.

State Attorney General Rob McKenna was the Republican nominee. U.S. Representative Dave Reichert decided against a bid, and threw his support to McKenna. Inslee won the general election.

The Lieutenant Governor will be elected separately.

2012 West Virginia gubernatorial election

← 2011 (special) November 6, 2012 (2012-11-06) 2016 →

Nominee Earl Ray Tomblin Bill Maloney Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 335,468 303,291 Percentage 50.5% 45.6%

County results

Governor before election Earl Ray Tomblin Democratic Elected Governor Earl Ray Tomblin Democratic

The Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia ruled on January 18, 2011 that the state must hold a special gubernatorial election in 2011 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 won the election. Tomblin was eligible to run for a full term in 2012.

Tomblin's 2011 Republican opponent, businessman Bill Maloney, was the Republican nominee. Tomblin won the election.

David Moran was the Libertarian candidate.

The Lieutenant Governor is elected by the State Senate.

Wisconsin gubernatorial recall election

← 2010 June 5, 2012 2014 →

Nominee Scott Walker Tom Barrett Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 1,335,585 1,164,480 Percentage 53.1% 46.3%

County results

Governor before election Scott Walker Republican Elected Governor Scott Walker Republican

Governor Scott Walker (R) survived a recall election on June 5. Walker's disapproval ratings varied between 50–51% while his approval ratings varied between 47–49% in 2011. Walker led against challenger Tom Barrett (D) in polls since March, including two post-primary polls which showed Walker with a five to twelve point lead. Walker defeated Barrett by seven percentage points, becoming the first governor in U.S. history to survive a recall election.

American Samoa

2012 American Samoa gubernatorial election

← 2008 November 20, 2012 (2012-11-20) 2016 →

Nominee Lolo Matalasi Moliga Faoa Aitofele Sunia Party Nonpartisan Nonpartisan Running mate Lemanu Peleti Mauga Taufete'e John Faumuina, Jr. Popular vote 6,645 5,908 Percentage 52.9% 47.1%

Governor before election Togiola Tulafono Nonpartisan Elected Governor Lolo Letalu Matalasi Moliga Nonpartisan

Governor Togiola Tulafono, who had served as Governor since 2003, was ineligible to run for re-election due to term limits.

Six candidates vied to succeed outgoing Governor Tulafono – former President of American Samoa Community College, Salu Hunkin-Finau; businessman Timothy Jones; former Attorney General Afoa Moega Lutu; former President of the Development Bank of American Samoa, Lolo Letalu Matalasi Moliga; Lieutenant Governor Faoa Aitofele Sunia; and former High Court of American Samoa justice Save Liuato Tuitele. Moliga won the general election.

Puerto Rico

2012 Puerto Rico gubernatorial election

← 2008 November 6, 2012 2016 →

Nominee Alejandro García Padilla Luis Fortuño Party Popular Democratic New Progressive Alliance Democratic Republican Popular vote 896,060 884,775 Percentage 47.7% 47.1%

Municipality results

Governor before election Luis Fortuño New Progressive Elected Governor Alejandro Garcia Padilla Popular Democratic

Governor Luis Fortuño (PNP/R) ran for re-election.

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

Senator Alejandro García Padilla (PPD) was the net biggest challenger out of six challengers, and won the general election.

Puerto Rico does not have a position of Lieutenant Governor.

• 2012 United States elections
  • 2012 United States presidential election
  • 2012 United States Senate elections
  • 2012 United States House of Representatives elections