By Jennifer Springer
Dover, Delaware: Three state executive positions were up for election this year in the state of Delaware. All three incumbents-Gov. Jack Markell, Lt. Gov. Matthew Denn and Insurance Commissioner Karen Weldin Stewart-ran for re-election, and all won in the general election on November 6, 2012.
Here are the candidates who won election.[2]
Official Results
Governor
- See also: Delaware gubernatorial election, 2012
| Governor of Delaware General Election, 2012 |
| Party |
Candidate |
Vote % |
Votes |
| |
Democratic |
 Jack Markell Incumbent |
69.3% |
275,993 |
| |
Republican |
Jeff Cragg |
28.6% |
113,793 |
| |
Libertarian |
Jesse McVay |
0.9% |
3,668 |
| |
Green |
Mark Joseph Perri |
1.1% |
4,575 |
| Total Votes |
398,029 |
| Election results via Delaware Board of Elections |
Lieutenant Governor
- See also: Delaware lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2012
| Lieutenant Governor of Delaware General Election, 2012 |
| Party |
Candidate |
Vote % |
Votes |
| |
Democratic |
Matthew Denn Incumbent |
61.6% |
238,959 |
| |
Republican |
Sher Valenzuela |
37.1% |
143,978 |
| |
Libertarian |
Margie Waite-McKeown |
1.3% |
5,206 |
| Total Votes |
388,143 |
| Election results via Delaware State Board of Elections |
Insurance Commissioner
- See also: Delaware down ballot state executive elections, 2012
| Delaware Insurance Commissioner General Election, 2012 |
| Party |
Candidate |
Vote % |
Votes |
| |
Democratic |
Karen Weldin Stewart Incumbent |
61.1% |
233,354 |
| |
Republican |
Benjamin Mobley |
36.8% |
140,669 |
| |
Libertarian |
David R. Eisenhour |
2.1% |
7,838 |
| Total Votes |
381,861 |
| Election results via Delaware State Board of Elections |
National picture
States with 2012 executive elections
There were 94 total seats up for election across 22 states this year, including 11 Governors, 9 Lt. Governors, 10 Attorneys General, 7 Secretaries of State and 57 down ballot seats.
- Before the election, 51 of these offices were held by Democrats, 38 were held by Republicans, and the remaining 4 positions were held by non partisan or Independent officers . After the election, Democrats hold 49 (net loss of 2 seats), Republicans 42 (net gain of 4 seats), and Independents/non partisans only 1 (loss of 3).
- Of the 69 incumbents who ran for election in 2012, 7 were defeated-6 Democrat and 1 Republican. Democratic Montana Superintendent of Public Instruction Denise Juneau narrowly escaped that fate, having had to wait for her challenger to cancel a self-financed recount on December 11, 2012 before being named the official winner.[3]
- Out of 25 total open seats, 13 were won by Democrats, 11 went to Republican, and 1 went to an Independent (nonpartisan) candidate. In all, there are 34 new state executives as a result of the election.
- From the gubernatorial perspective, after the November 2012 election, there are 30 Republican and 19 Democratic governors.[4] If the GOP had taken five governor seats from Democrats on November 6, that would have given the party 34 -- the most for Republicans since 1922. As of December 2012, the number of Democratic governors in the country is at its lowest since 2001.
| 2012 State Executive Election Partisan Breakdown
|
| Party
|
Before 2012 Election
|
After 2012 Election
|
Net Change
|
| Democratic
|
51
|
50
|
-1
|
| Republican
|
38
|
43
|
+5
|
| Independent (Nonpartisan)
|
4
|
1
|
-3
|
| TOTALS
|
931 vacant
|
94
|
|
| 2012 State Executive Election Analysis
|
| Party
|
Open Seat Winners
|
Defeated Incumbents
|
New State Executives
|
| Democratic
|
13
|
6
|
15
|
| Republican
|
11
|
1
|
18
|
| Independent (Nonpartisan)
|
1
|
0
|
1
|
| TOTALS
|
25
|
7
|
34
|
See also
Jack Markell
Jeff Cragg
Jesse McVay
Mark Joseph Perri
