# 2012 United States Senate election in Virginia

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vte :
* This article is part of a series about Tim Kaine
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vte :
The 2012 United States Senate election in Virginia took place on November 6, 2012, concurrently with the 2012 U.S. presidential election as well as other elections to the United States Senate and House of Representatives and various state and local elections. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Jim Webb retired instead of running for reelection to a second term, and former Democratic governor of Virginia Tim Kaine won the open seat over Republican former senator and governor George Allen. Kaine was unopposed for the Democratic nomination, and the Republicans nominated Allen through a primary on June 12, 2012. Allen had previously held this seat for one term before narrowly losing reelection to Webb in 2006.

## Republican primary

In Virginia, parties have the option of whether to hold a primary or to nominate their candidate through a party convention. In November 2010, the Virginia GOP announced that it had chosen to hold a primary.

### Candidates
#### Declared

* George Allen, former U.S. Senator and former Governor of Virginia
* E. W. Jackson, minister and conservative activist
* Bob Marshall, State Delegate and candidate in 2008
* Jamie Radtke, conservative activist

#### Withdrawn

* Tim Donner, founder of Horizons Television and LibertyNation.com
* David McCormick, attorney

#### Declined

* Liz Cheney, former Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs
* Ken Cuccinelli, Virginia Attorney General
* Tom Davis, former U.S. Representative
* Corey Stewart, Prince William County Board of Supervisors Chairman

### Debates

Three debates between Republican candidates were announced before the primary on June 12, 2012. The debates took place in Richmond, Northern Virginia, and Hampton Roads.

### Polling

| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | George Allen | Other candidates | Undecided |
| Public Policy Polling | February 24–27, 2011 | 400 | ±4.9% | 52% | 25% | 23% |
| Public Policy Polling | July 21–24, 2011 | 400 | ±4.9% | 58% | 23% | 19% |
| Public Policy Polling | December 11–13, 2011 | 350 | ±5.2% | 53% | 25% | 22% |
| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | George Allen | E. W. Jackson | Bob Marshall | David McCormick | Jamie Radtke | Undecided |
| Public Policy Polling | July 21–24, 2011 | 400 | ±4.9% | 68% | 2% | 2% | 0% | 6% | 22% |
| Public Policy Polling | December 11–13, 2011 | 350 | ±5.2% | 67% | 2% | 3% | 2% | 5% | 21% |
| Public Policy Polling | April 26–29, 2012 | 400 | ±4.9% | 66% | 2% | 8% | — | 3% | 20% |
| Washington Post | April 28 – May 2, 2012 | 1,101 | ±3.5% | 62% | 3% | 12% | — | 5% | 18% |

### Endorsements

* Bill Bolling, Lt. Governor of Virginia and President of the Virginia State Senate
* Ron Johnson, U.S. Senator from Wisconsin
* Bob McDonnell, governor of Virginia.
* Marco Rubio, U.S. Senator from Florida
* Corey Stewart, Prince William County Board of Supervisors Chairman
* Bob Arment, Louisa County Republican Party Chairman
* Steve Arrington, Bedford County Supervisor
* James Fisher, Fauquier County Commonwealth’s Attorney
* Jeff Frederick, former Virginia House of Delegates member
* Joe Glover, Family Policy Network president
* Jack Reid, former Virginia House of Delegates member
* Eva Scott, Former Virginia state senator
* John Sharp, Bedford County Supervisor
* Richard Viguerie, conservative activist

### Results

Republican primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | George Allen | 167,607 | 65.5 |
| | Republican | Jamie Radtke | 59,005 | 23.0 |
| | Republican | Bob Marshall | 17,302 | 6.8 |
| | Republican | E. W. Jackson | 12,083 | 4.7 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 255,997 | 100 |

## Hank the Cat

On February 27, 2012, a Maine Coon cat named Hank the Cat was announced to be running a write-in campaign as a joke candidate. Hank's campaign raised $16,000 for animal charities throughout the world.

## General election
### Candidates

* George Allen (Republican), former U.S. Senator and former Governor of Virginia
* Tim Kaine (Democratic), former Governor of Virginia and former Democratic National Committee chairman
Only Allen and Kaine qualified for the ballot.

### Debates

David Gregory moderated a debate between Kaine and Allen on September 20, 2012. Topics included partisan gridlock in Washington policy making, job creation, tax policy, and Middle East unrest.
External links
* Complete video of debate, September 20, 2012 - C-SPAN
* Complete video of debate, October 8, 2012 - C-SPAN
* Complete video of debate, October 18, 2012 - C-SPAN

### Campaign

Once incumbent U.S. Senator Jim Webb decided to retire, many Democratic candidates were speculated. These included U.S. Congressmen Rick Boucher, Gerry Connolly, Glenn Nye, Tom Perriello and Bobby Scott. However, they all declined and encouraged Kaine to run for the seat, believing he would be by far the most electable candidate. Courtney Lynch, former Marine Corps Officer and Fairfax business consultant and Julien Modica, former CEO of the Brain Trauma Recovery & Policy Institute, eventually withdrew from the election, allowing Kaine to be unopposed in the Democratic primary.

### Fundraising

| Candidate (party) | Receipts | Disbursements | Cash on hand | Debt |
| Tim Kaine (D) | $10,390,929 | $7,666,452 | $2,724,476 | $0 |
| George Allen (R) | $8,015,948 | $4,678,004 | $3,337,942 | $0 |
| Kevin Chisholm (I) | $24,165 | $24,162 | $0 | $0 |
| Terrence Modglin (I) | $5,655 | $5,389 | $266 | $0 |
| Source: Federal Election Commission |||||

#### Top contributors

| Tim Kaine | Contribution | George Allen | Contribution | Kevin Chisholm | Contribution |
| League of Conservation Voters | $76,568 | McGuireWoods LLP | $76,950 | Valu Net | $2,475 |
| Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld | $51,650 | Altria Group | $64,749 | Geolq Inc | $1,500 |
| University of Virginia | $42,075 | Alpha Natural Resources | $38,000 |
| McGuireWoods LLP | $38,550 | Elliott Management Corporation | $35,913 |
| Covington & Burling | $36,700 | Koch Industries | $35,000 |
| DLA Piper | $31,750 | Lorillard Tobacco Company | $34,715 |
| Bain Capital | $30,000 | Alliance Resource Partners | $33,500 |
| Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom | $28,250 | Dominion Resources | $31,800 |
| Patton Boggs LLP | $26,750 | Norfolk Southern | $31,550 |
| Norfolk Southern | $26,000 | Boeing | $23,750 |

#### Top industries

| Tim Kaine | Contribution | George Allen | Contribution | Kevin Chisholm | Contribution | Terrence Modglin | Contribution |
| Lawyers/Law Firms | $1,297,792 | Retired | $709,693 | Misc Energy | $250 | Lawyers/Law Firms | $200 |
| Retired | $762,722 | Real Estate | $384,038 |
| Financial Institutions | $477,700 | Lawyers/Law Firms | $348,459 |
| Business Services | $373,900 | Financial Institutions | $299,115 |
| Real Estate | $372,829 | Leadership PACs | $277,000 |
| Lobbyists | $287,545 | Lobbyists | $275,600 |
| Education | $282,475 | Mining | $197,206 |
| Misc Finance | $218,600 | Oil & Gas | $196,400 |
| Leadership PACs | $201,500 | Insurance | $159,065 |
| Entertainment industry | $156,279 | Misc Finance | $157,963 |

#### Independent expenditures

In early October 2012, Crossroads GPS announced it would launch a $16 million advertising buy in national races, of which four were this and three other Senate elections.

### Predictions

| Source | Ranking | As of |
| The Cook Political Report | Tossup | November 1, 2012 |
| Sabato's Crystal Ball | Lean D | November 5, 2012 |
| Rothenberg Political Report | Tossup | November 2, 2012 |
| Real Clear Politics | Tossup | November 5, 2012 |

### Polling

| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Tim Kaine (D) | George Allen (R) | Other | Undecided |
| Public Policy Polling | November 10–13, 2010 | 551 | ±4.2% | 50% | 44% | — | 6% |
| Public Policy Polling | February 24–27, 2011 | 524 | ±3.5% | 47% | 47% | — | 6% |
| Washington Post | April 28 – May 4, 2011 | 1,040 | ±3.5% | 46% | 46% | — | 6% |
| Public Policy Polling | May 5–8, 2011 | 547 | ±4.2% | 46% | 44% | — | 10% |
| Quinnipiac | June 21–27, 2011 | 1,434 | ±2.6% | 43% | 42% | 2% | 11% |
| Public Policy Polling | July 21–24, 2011 | 500 | ±4.4% | 46% | 43% | — | 11% |
| Quinnipiac | September 7–12, 2011 | 1,368 | ±4.0% | 44% | 45% | 1% | 9% |
| Rasmussen Reports | September 28, 2011 | 500 | ±4.5% | 46% | 45% | 3% | 7% |
| CNU/Times-Dispatch | October 3–8, 2011 | 1,027 | ±3.1% | 44% | 42% | 3% | 12% |
| Quinnipiac | October 3–9, 2011 | 1,459 | ±2.6% | 45% | 44% | 1% | 9% |
| Public Policy Polling | December 10–12, 2011 | 600 | ±4.0% | 47% | 42% | — | 11% |
| Quinnipiac | December 13–19, 2011 | 1,135 | ±2.9% | 42% | 44% | 1% | 12% |
| Mason-Dixon | January 16–18, 2012 | 625 | ±3.9% | 46% | 46% | — | 8% |
| Quinnipiac | February 1–6, 2012 | 1,544 | ±2.5% | 45% | 44% | 1% | 9% |
| CNU/Times-Dispatch | February 4–13, 2012 | 1,018 | ±3.1% | 40% | 42% | 2% | 16% |
| Rasmussen Reports | February 21, 2012 | 500 | ±4.5% | 46% | 46% | 3% | 5% |
| Roanoke College | February 13–26, 2012 | 607 | ±4.0% | 37% | 45% | — | 19% |
| NBC News/Marist | February 29 – March 2, 2012 | 2,518 | ±2% | 48% | 39% | — | 14% |
| Quinnipiac | March 13–18, 2012 | 1,034 | ±3.1% | 47% | 44% | 1% | 8% |
| Rasmussen Reports | March 20, 2012 | 500 | ±4.5% | 44% | 46% | 3% | 7% |
| Roanoke College | March 26 – April 5, 2012 | 537 | ±4.2% | 39% | 46% | — | 15% |
| Rasmussen Reports | April 23, 2012 | 500 | ±4.5% | 45% | 46% | 4% | 5% |
| Public Policy Polling | April 26–29, 2012 | 680 | ±3.8% | 46% | 45% | — | 9% |
| Washington Post | April 28 – May 2, 2012 | 964 | ±4% | 46% | 46% | — | 8% |
| Marist | May 17–20, 2012 | 1,076 | ±3% | 49% | 43% | — | 9% |
| Rasmussen Reports | June 3, 2012 | 500 | ±4.5% | 46% | 44% | 3% | 6% |
| Quinnipiac | May 30 – June 4, 2012 | 1,282 | ±2.7% | 44% | 43% | 2% | 10% |
| We Ask America | June 25, 2012 | 1,106 | ±2.95% | 35% | 44% | — | 21% |
| Public Policy Polling | July 5–8, 2012 | 647 | ±3.9% | 46% | 44% | — | 11% |
| Quinnipiac | July 10–16, 2012 | 1,673 | ±2.4% | 44% | 46% | 1% | 10% |
| Rasmussen Reports | July 16–17, 2012 | 500 | ±4.5% | 46% | 45% | 5% | 5% |
| Quinnipiac | July 31 – August 6, 2012 | 1,412 | ±2.6% | 48% | 46% | — | 6% |
| Rasmussen Reports | August 7, 2012 | 500 | ±4.5% | 46% | 46% | 2% | 6% |
| Public Policy Polling | August 16–19, 2012 | 855 | ±3.4% | 46% | 46% | — | 9% |
| Rasmussen Reports | August 23, 2012 | 500 | ±4.5% | 45% | 45% | 2% | 8% |
| Gravis Marketing | September 8–9, 2012 | 2,238 | ±2.2% | 43% | 48% | — | 10% |
| NBC/WSJ/Marist Poll | September 9–11, 2012 | 996 | ±3.1% | 46% | 46% | — | 8% |
| Rasmussen Reports | September 13, 2012 | 500 | ±4.5% | 47% | 45% | 2% | 6% |
| Washington Post | September 12–16, 2012 | 847 | ±4% | 51% | 43% | 3% | 4% |
| Public Policy Polling | September 13–16, 2012 | 1,021 | ±3.1% | 47% | 46% | — | 7% |
| CBS/NYT/Quinnipiac | September 11–17, 2012 | 1,485 | ±2.5% | 51% | 44% | — | 5% |
| FOX NEWS Poll | September 16–18, 2012 | 1,006 | ±3% | 47% | 43% | 1% | 9% |
| Gravis Marketing | September 17, 2012 | 2,238 | ±2.2% | 43% | 48% | — | 9% |
| Huffpost Politics | September 20, 2012 | 1,000 | ±3% | 46% | 45% | — | 9% |
| Suffolk University | September 24–26, 2012 | 600 | ±4% | 44% | 44% | — | 12% |
| NBC/WSJ/Marist Poll | September 30 – October 1, 2012 | 969 | ±3.1% | 49% | 44% | 1% | 7% |
| Rasmussen Reports | October 4, 2012 | 500 | ±4.5% | 52% | 45% | — | 3% |
| Public Policy Polling | October 4–7, 2012 | 725 | ±3.6% | 51% | 44% | — | 5% |
| CBS/NYT/Quinnipiac | October 4–9, 2012 | 1,288 | ±2.7% | 51% | 44% | — | 5% |
| We Ask America | October 7–9, 2012 | 1,296 | ±2.9% | 41% | 46% | — | 13% |
| NBC/WSJ/Marist Poll | October 7–9, 2012 | 981 | ±3.1% | 47% | 46% | — | 7% |
| Rasmussen Reports | October 11, 2012 | 750 | ±4.0% | 48% | 47% | 1% | 4% |
| Old Dominion University | September 19 – October 17, 2012 | 465 | ±3.4% | 50% | 43% | — | 6% |
| Rasmussen Reports | October 18, 2012 | 500 | ±4.0% | 49% | 48% | 3% | — |
| Rasmussen Reports | October 24, 2012 | 750 | ±4.0% | 49% | 48% | 3% | — |
| Washington Post | October 22–26, 2012 | 1,228 | ±3.5% | 51% | 44% | — | 5% |
| Roanoke College | October 23–26, 2012 | 638 | ±4.0% | 42% | 47% | — | 10% |
| Gravis Marketing | October 26, 2012 | 645 | ±3.9% | 46% | 48% | — | 5% |
| CBS/NYT/Quinnipiac | October 23–28, 2012 | 1,074 | ±3% | 50% | 46% | — | 4% |
| Reuters/Ipsos | October 29–31, 2012 | 703 | ±4.2% | 47% | 45% | 1% | 7% |
| Reuters/Ipsos | October 29–31, 2012 | 855 | ±3.8% | 50% | 38% | 1% | 11% |
| WeAskAmerica | October 30 – November 1, 2012 | 1,069 | ±3% | 50% | 50% | — | — |
| NBC/WSJ/Marist | November 1–2, 2012 | 1,165 | ±2.9% | 49% | 46% | — | 4% |
| Public Policy Polling | November 3–4, 2012 | 975 | ±3.1% | 52% | 46% | — | 2% |
| Rasmussen Reports | November 4, 2012 | 750 | ±4% | 49% | 47% | 1% | 4% |
Democratic primary
| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Rick Boucher | Tim Kaine | Tom Perriello | Gerry Connolly | Glenn Nye | Bobby Scott | Doug Wilder | Other/ Undecided |
| Public Policy Polling | February 24–27, 2011 | 400 | ±4.9% | 9% | 53% | 9% | 3% | 1% | 9% | 8% | 9% |
| Public Policy Polling | February 24–27, 2011 | 400 | ±4.9% | 11% | 65% | 15% | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | 9% |
General election
| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Tim Kaine (D) | Bob Marshall (R) | Other | Undecided |
| Public Policy Polling | February 24–27, 2011 | 524 | ±3.5% | 49% | 35% | — | 16% |
| CNU/Times-Dispatch | February 4–13, 2012 | 1,018 | ±3.1% | 39% | 28% | 4% | 29% |
| Public Policy Polling | April 26–29, 2012 | 680 | ±3.8% | 49% | 36% | — | 15% |
| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Tim Kaine (D) | Jamie Radtke (R) | Other | Undecided |
| Public Policy Polling | February 24–27, 2011 | 524 | ±3.5% | 49% | 33% | — | 17% |
| Washington Post | April 28 – May 4, 2011 | 1,040 | ±3.5% | 57% | 31% | 1% | 9% |
| Public Policy Polling | May 5–8, 2011 | 547 | ±4.2% | 49% | 33% | — | 18% |
| Public Policy Polling | July 21–24, 2011 | 500 | ±4.4% | 47% | 31% | — | 22% |
| CNU/Times-Dispatch | October 3–8, 2011 | 1,027 | ±3.1% | 46% | 32% | 3% | 19% |
| Public Policy Polling | December 10–12, 2011 | 600 | ±4.0% | 49% | 33% | — | 19% |
| CNU/Times-Dispatch | February 4–13, 2012 | 1,018 | ±3.1% | 40% | 26% | 3% | 31% |
| Public Policy Polling | April 26–29, 2012 | 680 | ±3.8% | 50% | 35% | — | 15% |
with Rick Boucher
| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Rick Boucher (D) | George Allen (R) | Other | Undecided |
| Public Policy Polling | February 24–27, 2011 | 524 | ±3.5 | 42% | 47% | — | 11% |
| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Rick Boucher (D) | Bob Marshall (R) | Other | Undecided |
| Public Policy Polling | February 24–27, 2011 | 524 | ±3.5% | 40% | 32% | — | 28% |
| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Rick Boucher (D) | Jamie Radtke (R) | Other | Undecided |
| Public Policy Polling | February 24–27, 2011 | 524 | ±3.5% | 40% | 29% | — | 31% |
with Tom Perriello
| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Tom Perriello (D) | George Allen (R) | Other | Undecided |
| Public Policy Polling | November 10–13, 2010 | 551 | ±4.2% | 42% | 47% | — | 11% |
| Public Policy Polling | February 24–27, 2011 | 524 | ±3.5% | 41% | 48% | — | 11% |
| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Tom Perriello (D) | Bob Marshall (R) | Other | Undecided |
| Public Policy Polling | February 24–27, 2011 | 524 | ±3.5% | 39% | 35% | — | 26% |
| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Tom Periello (D) | Jamie Radtke (R) | Other | Undecided |
| Public Policy Polling | February 24–27, 2011 | 524 | ±3.5% | 40% | 32% | — | 28% |
with Bobby Scott
| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Bobby Scott (D) | George Allen (R) | Other | Undecided |
| Public Policy Polling | May 5–8, 2011 | 547 | ±4.2% | 39% | 44% | — | 17% |
| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Bobby Scott (D) | Jamie Radtke (R) | Other | Undecided |
| Public Policy Polling | May 5–8, 2011 | 547 | ±4.2% | 39% | 34% | — | 27% |
with Jim Webb
| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Jim Webb (D) | George Allen (R) | Other | Undecided |
| Public Policy Polling | July 31 – August 3, 2009 | 579 | — | 43% | 44% | — | 13% |
| Public Policy Polling | November 10–13, 2010 | 551 | ±4.2% | 49% | 45% | — | 6% |
| Clarus Research Group | December 7–9, 2010 | 600 | ±4.0% | 41% | 40% | — | 19% |
| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Jim Webb (D) | Bill Bolling (R) | Other | Undecided |
| Public Policy Polling | November 10–13, 2010 | 551 | ±4.2% | 48% | 39% | — | 12% |
| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Jim Webb (D) | Bob McDonnell (R) | Other | Undecided |
| Clarus Research Group | December 7–9, 2010 | 600 | ±4.0% | 39% | 42% | — | 19% |

### Results

United States Senate election in Virginia, 2012 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | Tim Kaine | 2,010,067 | 52.83% | +3.24% |
| | Republican | George Allen | 1,785,542 | 46.92% | −2.28% |
| | Write-in | Write-in | 9,410 | 0.25% | +0.15% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 3,805,019 | 100.00% | N/A |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

#### Counties and independent cities that flipped from Democratic to Republican

* Buchanan (largest city: Grundy)
* Dickenson (largest borough: Clintwood)
* Alleghany (largest borough: Clinfton Forge)
* Russell (Largest city: Lebanon)
* Norton (Independent city)

#### Counties and independent cities that flipped from Republican to Democratic

* Buckingham (largest borough: Buckingham)
* Chesapeake (independent city)
* Essex (largest borough: Tappahannock)
* Harrisonburg (independent city)
* Henrico (largest borough: Richmond)
* Hopewell (independent city)
* Manassas (independent city)
* Staunton (independent city)
* Winchester (independent city)
* Virginia Beach (Independent city)
* Prince Edward (largest municipality: Farmville)
* Danville (independent city)

#### By congressional district

Kaine won 6 of 11 congressional districts, including three held by Republicans.
| District | Allen | Kaine | Representative |
| 1st | 52.75% | 47.25% | Rob Wittman |
| 2nd | 47.94% | 52.06% | Scott Rigell |
| 3rd | 20.65% | 79.35% | Robert C. Scott |
| 4th | 49.92% | 50.08% | Randy Forbes |
| 5th | 52.96% | 47.04% | Robert Hurt |
| 6th | 59.04% | 40.96% | Bob Goodlatte |
| 7th | 55.17% | 44.83% | Eric Cantor |
| 8th | 30.54% | 69.46% | Jim Moran |
| 9th | 61.86% | 38.14% | Morgan Griffith |
| 10th | 49.55% | 50.45% | Frank Wolf |
| 11th | 36.24% | 63.76% | Gerry Connolly |