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United States Senate elections in Connecticut, 2012

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Flag of Connecticut.png Connecticut's 2012 elections:    •   U.S. Senate  •   U.S. House  •   State Senate  •   State House  


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2012 U.S. Senate Elections in Connecticut
November 6 Election Winner:
Chris Murphy Democratic Party (United States)
Incumbent prior to election:
Joe Lieberman Independent
Joe Lieberman.jpg
Cook Political Report Race Rating
     Tossup (Prior to election)
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Contents

Voters in Connecticut elected one member to the U.S. Senate in the November 6, 2012 elections.

Chris Murphy won on November 6, 2012.[1]

Candidate Filing Deadline Primary Election General Election
June 12, 2012
August 14, 2012
November 6, 2012

Primary: Connecticut was of 19 states to use an open primary system. However, there was a three month waiting period if voters switched parties.[2]

Voter registration: Voters could register in person to vote in the primary up until noon the day before the primary.[2] (Information about registering to vote)

See also: Connecticut elections, 2012

Incumbent: The election filled the Class 1 Senate seat, which was previously held by Joe Lieberman (I). First elected in 1988, Lieberman did not run for re-election in 2012.

Candidates

Note: Election results were added on election night as races were called. Vote totals will be added when official election results are certified. For more information about Ballotpedia's election coverage plan, click here. If you find any errors in this list, please email: Geoff Pallay.

General election candidates

Democratic Party (United States) Working Families Party Chris Murphy Green check mark.jpg
Republican Party Independent Linda McMahon
Libertarian Party Paul Passarelli


Democratic Party (United States) Democratic Primary

Republican Party Republican primary

Working Families Party Working Families Party

Libertarian Party Libertarian Party

Independent Independent candidate

Election Results

General Election

U.S. Senate, Connecticut, General Election, 2012
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Democratic Green check mark.jpgChristopher Murphy 55.2% 830,221
     Republican Linda McMahon 43.1% 647,776
     Libertarian Paul Passarelli 1.7% 25,059
     N/A Write-ins 0% 112
Total Votes 1,503,168
Source: Connecticut Secretary of State "Election Results fro United States Senator"

Race background

Hedge fund controversy

On July 19, 2012 Susan Bysiewicz began airing an ad that took aim at her rival for the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate, Christopher S. Murphy.[10] The problem was, Susan Bysiewicz made an error and was actually attacking Murphy based on information about former Congressman Scott Murphy (D-NY).[10]

The ad accused Christopher S. Murphy of taking “more hedge fund money than any Democrat in Congress.”[10] In 2010, the top Democratic recipient of hedge fund contributions was Scott Murphy (D-NY), but not Christopher S. Murphy (D-CT) as the ad falsely claimed.[10]

Race rating

Cook Political Report

Each month the Cook Political Report released race ratings for President, U.S. Senate, U.S. House (competitive only) and Governors. There were seven possible designations: [11]

     Solid Democratic
     Likely Democratic
     Lean Democratic

     Tossup

     Lean Republican
     Likely Republican
     Solid Republican

Cook Political Report Race Rating -- Connecticut Senate
Month Rating
November 1, 2012[12]     
October 4, 2012[13]     
September 13, 2012[14]     
August 21, 2012[15]     
July 12, 2012[16]     
May 31, 2012[17]     
May 10, 2012[18]     
March 22, 2012[19]     
March 1, 2012[20]     
January 26, 2012[21]     
December 22, 2011[22]     
December 1, 2011[23]     

Polls

Christopher Murphy V. Linda McMahon

Christopher Murphy v. Linda McMahon
Response Public Policy Polling
(July 26-29, 2012)		Rasmussen Reports
(August 21, 2012)		Quinnipiac University
(August 22-26, 2012)		Rasmussen Reports
(October 9, 2012)		Siena Research Institute
(October 17, 2012)		RealClearPolitics
(October 15-17, 2012)		Qunnipiac University
(October 24, 2012)		Rasmussen Reports
(October 29, 2012)		Average
Christopher S. Murphy 50%46%49%51%46%44%49%51% 48.25%
Linda McMahon 42%49%46%46%44%44%43%45% 44.875%
Undecided/Other candidate 8%6%4%3%8%12%8%4% 6.625%
Number polled 7715001,472500552625500 615
Margin of error +/-3.5+/-4.5%+/-2.6%+/-4.5%+/-4.2%+/-4%+/-4.5% 3.48%
Note: The polls above may not reflect all polls that have been conducted in this race. Those displayed are a random sampling chosen by Ballotpedia staff. If you would like to nominate another poll for inclusion in the table, send an email to editor@ballotpedia.org

Democratic Primary

Connecticut's Democratic Senate Primary Candidates
Response Quinnipiac University Poll
(May 29-June 3, 2012)		Public Policy Polling
(July 26-29, 2012)		Average
Christopher S. Murphy 50%49% 49.5%
Susan Bysiewicz 20%32% 26%
Number polled 1,408771 1,089.5
Margin of error +/-2.6+/-4.9% 3.75%
Note: The polls above may not reflect all polls that have been conducted in this race. Those displayed are a random sampling chosen by Ballotpedia staff. If you would like to nominate another poll for inclusion in the table, send an email to editor@ballotpedia.org

Republican Primary

Connecticut's Republican Senate Primary Candidates
Response Quinnipiac University Poll
(May 29-June 3, 2012)		Public Policy Polling
(July 26-29, 2012)		Average
Linda McMahon 59%68% 63.5%
Chris Shays 30%20% 25%
Number polled 1,408771 1,089.5
Margin of error +/-2.6+/-4.9% 3.75%
Note: The polls above may not reflect all polls that have been conducted in this race. Those displayed are a random sampling chosen by Ballotpedia staff. If you would like to nominate another poll for inclusion in the table, send an email to editor@ballotpedia.org

Campaign donors

As of June 30, McMahon had contributed $13.1 million of her own money on the race and raised another $1 million from individual donors, allowing her to close the polling gap between her and her opponent.[24]

Murphy on the other hand, had raised $5.6 million by the end of June. The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee had spent over $900,000 to support Murphy and attack McMahon.[24]

McMahon had spent more than $100 million of her own money in trying to win a Senate seat in 2010 and 2012. That sum was the most anyone has ever spent of their own funds in trying to win a federal race. The previous leader was Ross Perot, who spent $72 million of his money in the 1992 and 1996 presidential elections.[25]

Linda McMahon

Linda McMahon (2012)[26] Campaign Finance Reports
ReportDate FiledBeginning BalanceTotal Contributions
for Reporting Period		ExpendituresCash on Hand
April Quarterly[27]April 14, 2012$2,271,124.63$139,368.84$(1,545,506.52)$75,306.95
Pre-Convention[28]May 3, 2012$75,306.95$479,152.71$(511,490.17)$42,969.49
July Quarterly[29]July 14, 2012$42,969.49$6,110,023.27$(4,689,923.52)$1,463,069.24
Pre-Primary[30]July 30, 2012$1,463,069.24$4,301,478.78$(3,326,787.71)$2,437,760.31
Running totals
$11,030,023.6$(10,073,707.92)

As of July 16, 2012, McMahon reported making $5.9 million in loans to her campaign since late April and received $115,500 in new donations during the second quarter cycle.[31]

Christopher S. Murphy

Christopher S. Murphy (2012) [32] Campaign Finance Reports
ReportDate FiledBeginning BalanceTotal Contributions
for Reporting Period		ExpendituresCash on Hand
April Quarterly[33]April 13, 2012$2,486,080.24$855,486.06$(274,049.48)$2,967,516.82
Pre-Convention [34]April 30, 2012$2,967,516.82$130,037.78$(94,974.14)$3,002,580.46
July Quarterly[35]July 14, 2012$3,002,580.45$1,078,302.67$(946,794.18)$3,134,088.94
Pre-Primary[36]August 2, 2012$3,134,088.94$180,617.37$(786,673.18)$2,528,033.13
Running totals
$2,244,443.88$(2,102,490.98)

In a July 10, 2012 press release from his campaign, Murphy's campaign for U.S. Senate raised more than $1.2 million in the 2nd fundraising quarter of 2012, bringing the campaign's fundraising total to over $5.45 million since the beginning of the year.[37] The campaign also reported over $3.1 million cash on hand and over 1,700 new contributors from just the 2nd quarter.[37]

Election history

2010

On November 2, 2010, Richard Blumenthal won election to the United States Senate. He defeated Linda E. McMahon (R), Warren B. Mosler (I), John Mertens (I), Brian K. Hill (I), Jeff Russel (I), Rodd Vachon (I), Jay J. Giles (I), John Traceski (I), Matthew Coleman( (I), Working Families (I) and Dave Olszta (I) in the general election.[38]

United States Senate, Connecticut General Election, 2010
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Democratic Green check mark.jpgRichard Blumenthal Incumbent 52.5% 605,204
     Republican Linda E. McMahon 43.2% 498,341
     Independent Working Families 2.7% 30,836
     Independent Warren B. Mosler 1% 11,275
     Ct. for Lieberman John Mertens 0.6% 6,735
     Independent Brian K. Hill 0% 559
     Independent Jeff Russell 0% 45
     Independent Todd Vachon 0% 45
     Independent Carl E. Vassar 0% 31
     Independent Jay J. Giles 0% 17
     Independent John Traceski 0% 15
     Independent Matthew Coleman 0% 7
     Independent Dave Olszta 0% 5
Total Votes 1,153,115

2006

On November 7, 2006, Joe Lieberman won re-election to the United States Senate. He defeated Ned Lamont (D), Alan Schlesinger (R), Ralph A. Ferrucci (G), Timothy A. Knibbs (I), and Carl E. Vassar (I)in the general election.[39]

United States Senate, Connecticut General Election, 2006
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Ct. for Lieberman Green check mark.jpgJoe Lieberman Incumbent 49.7% 564,095
     Democratic Ned Lamont 39.7% 450,844
     Republican Alan Schlesinger 9.6% 109,198
     Green Ralph A. Ferrucci 0.5% 5,922
     Independent Timothy A. Knibbs 0.4% 4,638
     Independent Carl E. Vassar 0% 80
Total Votes 1,134,777

See also

External links

References

  1. ↑ ABC News "2012 General Election Results"
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Connecticut Secretary of State Elections Division "Registration Deadlines" Accessed April 17, 2012
  3. ↑ Roll Call "EMILY's list backs Susan Bysiewicz," Accessed January 4, 2012
  4. ↑ Huffington post "Rep. Chris Murphy announces Connecticut Senate candidacy," Accessed January 4, 2012
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 AP Results "U.S. Senate Elections Results" Accessed August 14, 2012
  6. ↑ Danbury Patch "Boughton endorses McMahon for Senate," Accessed January 4, 2012
  7. ↑ Governing "Ex-Wrestling Exec Running for Connecticut Senate Seat" Accessed March 12, 2012
  8. ↑ Connecticut Post "Poll: Chris Murphy leads Chris Shays in Connecticut Senate race," Accessed January 4, 2012
  9. ↑ Connecticut Secretary of State Candidate List Accessed September 5, 2012
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 Chris Murphy for U.S. Senate "Another Bysiewicz Disaster: Attack Ad Hits Wrong Murphy" Accessed July 20, 2012
  11. ↑ Cook Political Report "Our Accuracy," Accessed December 12, 2011
  12. ↑ Cook Political Report "2012 SENATE RACE RATINGS," November 1, 2012
  13. ↑ Cook Political Report "2012 SENATE RACE RATINGS," October 4, 2012
  14. ↑ Cook Political Report "2012 SENATE RACE RATINGS," September 13, 2012
  15. ↑ Cook Political Report "2012 SENATE RACE RATINGS," August 21, 2012
  16. ↑ Cook Political Report "2012 SENATE RACE RATINGS," July 12, 2012
  17. ↑ Cook Political Report "2012 SENATE RACE RATINGS," May 31, 2012
  18. ↑ Cook Political Report "2012 SENATE RACE RATINGS," May 10, 2012
  19. ↑ Cook Political Report "2012 SENATE RACE RATINGS," March 22, 2012
  20. ↑ Cook Political Report "2012 SENATE RACE RATINGS," March 1, 2012
  21. ↑ Cook Political Report "2012 SENATE RACE RATINGS," January 26, 2012
  22. ↑ Cook Political Report "2012 SENATE RACE RATINGS," December 22, 2011
  23. ↑ Cook Political Report "2012 SENATE RACE RATINGS," December 1, 2011
  24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 OpenSecrets, "Hot Race for Connecticut Senate Seat: Chris Murphy vs. Linda McMahon," October 3, 2012
  25. ↑ New York Times "Personal Cost for 2 Senate Bids: $100 Million," November 2, 2012
  26. ↑ FEC Reports "Linda McMahon Summary Reports" Accessed July 18, 2012
  27. ↑ FEC Reports "April Quarterly" Accessed July 18, 2012
  28. ↑ FEC Reports "Pre-Convention" Accessed July 18, 2012
  29. ↑ FEC Reports "July Quarterly" Accessed August 23, 2012
  30. ↑ FEC Reports "Pre-Primary" Accessed August 23, 2012
  31. ↑ The Day Connecticut.com "Courtney, McMahon pad leads in campaign fundraising" Accessed July 18, 2012
  32. ↑ FEC Reports "Chris Murphy Summary Reports" Accessed July 11, 2012
  33. ↑ FEC Reports "April Quarterly" Accessed July 11, 2012
  34. ↑ FEC Reports "Pre-Convention" Accessed July 11, 2012
  35. ↑ FEC Reports "July Quarterly" Accessed August 23, 2012
  36. ↑ FEC Reports "Pre-Primary" Accessed August 23, 2012
  37. ↑ 37.0 37.1 Christopher Murphy for Senate "Post-Convention Momentum Swells for Murphy, $1.2 Million Raised for 2nd Quarter" Accessed July 11, 2012
  38. ↑ U.S. Congress House Clerk "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 2, 2010"
  39. ↑ U.S. Congress House Clerk "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 7, 2006"
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