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United States Senate elections in Washington, 2012
 Washington's 2012 elections: • U.S. Senate • U.S. House • Governor • Lt. Gov • Attorney General • Secretary of State • Other executive offices • State Senate • State House • Ballot measures |
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Maria Cantwell  |
Maria Cantwell |
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Solid D (Prior to election) |
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Incumbent Maria Cantwell (D) won re-election on November 6, 2012.[1]
| Candidate Filing Deadline | Primary Election | General Election |
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Primary: Washington has a top-two primary system, in which the top two vote-getters, regardless of party, go on to the general election.[2]
Voter registration: Voters must register to vote in the primary by July 9, or July 30 in-person for first-time voters.[3] For the general election, voter registration deadlines are October 9, and October 28 for first-time voters.[3]
- See also: Washington elections, 2012
Incumbent: The election will fill the Class 1 Senate seat, which is currently held by Maria Cantwell (D). First elected in 2000, Cantwell is running 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
August 7, 2012 primary results
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Election results
General election
| U.S. Senate, Washington, General Election, 2012 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic |  Maria Cantwell Incumbent |
60.5% | 1,855,493 | |
| Republican | Michael Baumgartner | 39.5% | 1,213,924 | |
| Total Votes | 3,069,417 | |||
| Source: Washington Secretary of State "Official Election Results, 2012 General Election" | ||||
Race background
Washington's top-two primary system means that all candidates are included on one ballot. The top two vote-getters, regardless of party, continue to the general election.
Incumbent Maria Cantwell has a $4.5 million advantage over any of her challengers.[5]
According to the Washington Republican Party Chairman Kirby Wilbur, state Senator Michael Baumgartner and political newcomer Art Coday are the top Republican hopes. He said Cantwell has "a record that she has to answer for... This is an election really about Maria Cantwell."[5]
Baumgartner considers his an "underdog campaign."[6] He said Cantwell "bought her way into office 12 years ago.... At the end of the day campaigns aren't about dollars, they're about who has better solutions."[5]
Race rating
Cook Political Report
Each month the Cook Political Report releases race ratings for President, U.S. Senate, U.S. House (competitive only) and Governors. There are seven possible designations: [7]
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Solid Democratic
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Tossup |
Lean Republican
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| Cook Political Report Race Rating -- Washington Senate | |
|---|---|
| Month | Rating |
| October 4, 2012[8] | |
| September 13, 2012[9] | |
| August 21, 2012[10] | |
| July 12, 2012[11] | |
| May 31, 2012[12] | |
| May 10, 2012[13] | |
| March 22, 2012[14] | |
| March 1, 2012[15] | |
| January 26, 2012[16] | |
| December 22, 2011[17] | |
| December 1, 2011[18] | |
Polls
Maria Cantwell vs. Michael Baumgartner
| Maria Cantwell vs. Michael Baumgartner | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Response | Rasmussen Reports (October 14,2012) | Average | ||||||||||||
| Maria Cantwell | 52% | 52% | ||||||||||||
| Michael Baumgartner | 37% | 37% | ||||||||||||
| Another Candidate | 1% | 1% | ||||||||||||
| Not sure | 9% | 9% | ||||||||||||
| Number polled | 500 | 500 | ||||||||||||
| Margin of error | +/-4.5 | 4.5% | ||||||||||||
| 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 | ||||||||||||||
Election history
2010
On November 2, 2010, Patty Murray won re-election to the U.S. Senate, defeating Dino Rossi (R).[19]
| U.S. Senate, Washington, 2010 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic | Patty Murray Incumbent |
52.4% | 1,314,930 | |
| Republican | Dino Rossi | 47.6% | 1,196,164 | |
| Total Votes | 2,511,094 | |||
2006
On November 7, 2006, Maria Cantwell (D) won re-election to the U.S. Senate, defeating Mike McGavick (R), Robin Adair (I), Bruce Gurthrie (L), and Aaron Dixon (Green).[20]
| U.S. Senate, Washington, 2006 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic | Maria Cantwell Incumbent |
56.9% | 1,184,659 | |
| Republican | Mike McGavick | 39.9% | 832,106 | |
| Independent | Robin Adair | 0.8% | 16,384 | |
| Libertarian | Bruce Guthrie | 1.4% | 29,331 | |
| Green | Aaron Dixon | 1% | 21,254 | |
| Total Votes | 2,083,734 | |||
See also
- United States House of Representatives elections in Washington, 2012
- United States Senate elections, 2012
References
- ↑ ABC News "2012 General Election Results"
- ↑ Washington Secretary of State "Top 2 Primary: FAQ," Accessed May 17, 2012
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 Washington Secretary of State "Dates and Deadlines," Accessed May 25, 2012
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Huffington Post "Maria Cantwell's Marital Status Used By GOP Opponent In Political Attack," Accessed January 6, 2012
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Seattle Times "Senate race Cantwell's to lose — unless Obama support craters," July 10, 2012
- ↑ The Republic "Republican US Senate challenger Michael Baumgartner is a man in a hurry," July 14, 2012
- ↑ Cook Political Report "Our Accuracy," Accessed December 12, 2011
- ↑ Cook Political Report "2012 SENATE RACE RATINGS," October 4, 2012
- ↑ Cook Political Report "2012 SENATE RACE RATINGS," September 13, 2012
- ↑ Cook Political Report "2012 SENATE RACE RATINGS," August 21, 2012
- ↑ Cook Political Report "2012 SENATE RACE RATINGS," July 12, 2012
- ↑ Cook Political Report "2012 SENATE RACE RATINGS," May 31, 2012
- ↑ Cook Political Report "2012 SENATE RACE RATINGS," May 10, 2012
- ↑ Cook Political Report "2012 SENATE RACE RATINGS," March 22, 2012
- ↑ Cook Political Report "2012 SENATE RACE RATINGS," March 1, 2012
- ↑ Cook Political Report "2012 SENATE RACE RATINGS," January 26, 2012
- ↑ Cook Political Report "2012 SENATE RACE RATINGS," December 27, 2011
- ↑ Cook Political Report "2012 SENATE RACE RATINGS," December 1, 2011
- ↑ U.S. Congress House Clerk "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 2, 2010"
- ↑ U.S. Congress House Clerk "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 7, 2006"
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