# 2012 United States House of Representatives elections in Utah

Elections in Utah :
Federal government
Presidential elections
1896
1900
1904
1908
1912
1916
1920
1924
1928
1932
1936
1940
1944
1948
1952
1956
1960
1964
1968
1972
1976
1980
1984
1988
1992
1996
2000
2004
2008
2012
2016
2020
2024
Presidential primaries
Democratic
2000
2004
2008
2016
2020
2024
Republican
2008
2012
2016
2020
2024
U.S. Senate elections
1896
1897
1899
1901 sp
1903
1905
1908
1909
1911
1914
1916
1920
1922
1926
1928
1932
1934
1938
1940
1944
1946
1950
1952
1956
1958
1962
1964
1968
1970
1974
1976
1980
1982
1986
1988
1992
1994
1998
2000
2004
2006
2010
2012
2016
2018
2022
2024
2028
U.S. House of Representatives elections
1895
1896
1898
1900
AL sp
1902
1904
1906
1908
1910
1912
1914
1916
1918
1920
1922
1924
1926
1928
1930
2nd sp
1932
1934
1936
1938
1940
1942
1944
1946
1948
1950
1952
1954
1956
1958
1960
1962
1964
1966
1968
1970
1972
1974
1976
1978
1980
1982
1984
1986
1988
1990
1992
1994
1996
1998
2000
2002
2004
2006
2008
2010
2012
2014
2016
2017
3rd sp
2018
2020
2022
2023
2nd sp
2024 :
State government
General elections
2014
2016
2018
2020
2022
2024
Gubernatorial elections
1895
1900
1904
1908
1912
1916
1920
1924
1928
1932
1936
1940
1944
1948
1952
1956
1960
1964
1968
1972
1976
1980
1984
1988
1992
1996
2000
2004
2008
2010 sp
2012
2016
2020
2024
Attorney General elections
1996
2020
2024
Auditor elections
2024
State Senate elections
2016
2018
2020
2022
2024
House of Representatives elections
2016
2018
2020
2022
2024 :
Ballot measures
2004
Amendment 3
2018
Proposition 4
2020
Amendment A :
Salt Lake City
Mayoral elections
1999
2003
2007
2011
2015
2019
2023 :
Salt Lake County
Mayoral elections
2000
2004
2008
2012
2016
2020
2024 :
vte :
The 2012 United States House of Representatives elections in Utah were held on Tuesday, November 6, 2012, and elected the four U.S. representatives from the state of Utah, an increase of one seat in reapportionment following the 2010 United States census. The elections coincided with the elections of other federal and state offices, including a quadrennial federal presidential election, a concurrent quadrennial statewide gubernatorial election, all other simultaneous quadrennial statewide executive official election, and an election to the U.S. Senate. Primary elections were held on June 26, 2012.

## Overview

United States House of Representatives elections in Utah, 2012 :
| Party | Party | Votes | Percentage | Seats Before | Seats After | +/– |
| | Republican | 647,873 | 64.86% | 2 | 3 | +1 |
| | Democratic | 324,309 | 32.47% | 1 | 1 | - |
| | Constitution | 14,481 | 1.45% | 0 | 0 | - |
| | Libertarian | 6,439 | 0.64% | 0 | 0 | - |
| | Independent | 5,795 | 0.58% | 0 | 0 | - |
| Totals | Totals | 998,897 | 100.00% | 3 | 4 | +1 |

## Redistricting

In Utah, the redistricting process was controlled by members of the Republican Party, who formed a majority on the State Legislature's redistricting committee. The plan passed October 2011 divides Salt Lake County among three districts, which Republicans argued would require Utah's U.S. Representatives focus on both urban and rural issues. Jim Dabakis, the chair of the Utah Democratic Party, argued that the map constituted a gerrymander designed to benefit the Republican Party.

## District 1

Republican incumbent Rob Bishop, who has represented Utah's 1st congressional district since 2003, ran for re-election, having decided against running for governor.

### Republican primary
#### Candidates
##### Nominee

* Rob Bishop, incumbent U.S. Representative

##### Eliminated in primary

* Leonard "Joe" Fabiano, business entrepreneur and candidate for senate in 2010
* Jacqueline Smith, homemaker and Tea Party activist

##### Withdrawn

* Michael Miller, Iraq War veteran

#### Results

Rob Bishop became the official Republican candidate April 21, 2012 at the State Republican Convention.
Republican convention, 1st round results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Rob Bishop | 786 | 81.1 |
| | Republican | Jacqueline Smith | 158 | 16.3 |
| | Republican | Leonard Fabiano | 25 | 2.6 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 969 | 100.0 |

### Democratic primary
#### Candidates
##### Nominee

* Donna McAleer, management consultant and West Point graduate

##### Eliminated in primary

* Ryan Combe, small business owner

#### Results

Democratic primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Donna McAleer | 3,881 | 66.6 |
| | Democratic | Ryan Combe | 1,944 | 33.4 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 5,825 | 100.0 |

### Constitution primary
#### Candidates
##### Nominee

* Sherry Phipps

### General election
#### Polling

| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Rob Bishop (R) | Donna McAleer (D) | Sherry Phipps (C) | Undecided |
| Dan Jones & Associates | October 26–November 1, 2012 | 194 (RV) | ±7.0% | 70% | 15% | 2% | 10% |
| Key Research/Brigham Young University | October 9–13, 2012 | 407 (LV) | ±7.0% | 62% | 20% | – | 18% |

#### Results

Utah's 1st congressional district, 2012 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Rob Bishop (incumbent) | 175,487 | 71.5 |
| | Democratic | Donna M. McAleer | 60,611 | 24.7 |
| | Constitution | Sherry Phipps | 9,430 | 3.8 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 245,528 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

## District 2

Democratic incumbent Jim Matheson, who has represented Utah's 2nd congressional district since 2001, sought re-election in the new 4th district.

### Democratic primary
#### Candidates
##### Nominee

* Jay Seegmiller, former state representative

##### Eliminated in primary

* Dean Collinwood
* Mike Small

### Republican primary
#### Candidates
##### Nominee

* Chris Stewart, author, former U.S. Air Force pilot, and president of an energy consulting firm;

##### Eliminated in primary

* Jason Buck, former American football player at Brigham Young University and in the National Football League
* Dave Clark, former speaker of the Utah House of Representatives;
* Cherilyn Eagar, business owner and candidate for Senate in 2010;
* Robert Fuehr, former telecommunications executive and Harvard University MBA alumnus
* Milton Hanks
* Edward Mayerhofer
* Jeramey McElhaney, small business owner
* Howard Wallack
* Chuck Williams, former Assistant Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Installations and Environment and retired U.S. Air Force lieutenant colonel;
* John Willoughby, airline pilot,

##### Withdrawn

* Morgan Philpot, former state representative and nominee for this seat in 2010

##### Declined

* Dan Liljenquist, state senator

#### Results

Republican convention, 1st round results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Chris Stewart | 365 | 39.6 |
| | Republican | David Clark | 234 | 25.0 |
| | Republican | Milton Ray Hanks | 121 | 13.0 |
| | Republican | Howard Wallack | 51 | 5.5 |
| | Republican | Cherilyn Eagar | 48 | 5.2 |
| | Republican | Jason Buck | 42 | 4.5 |
| | Republican | Bob Fuehr | 24 | 2.6 |
| | Republican | Chuck Williams | 16 | 1.7 |
| | Republican | Jeramey McElhaney | 14 | 1.5 |
| | Republican | John W. Willoughby | 6 | 0.7 |
| | Republican | Edward Mayerhofer | 0 | 0.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 921 | 100.0 |
Republican convention, 2nd round results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Chris Stewart | 386 | 43.9 |
| | Republican | David Clark | 283 | 32.2 |
| | Republican | Milton Ray Hanks | 65 | 7.4 |
| | Republican | Jeramey McElhaney | 63 | 7.2 |
| | Republican | Jason Buck | 57 | 6.5 |
| | Republican | Bob Fuehr | 25 | 2.8 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 879 | 100.0 |
Republican convention, 3rd round results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Chris Stewart | 511 | 61.6 |
| | Republican | David Clark | 319 | 38.4 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 830 | 100.0 |

### Constitution primary
#### Candidates
##### Nominee

* Jonathan D. Garrard

### Independents

Independent candidate Charles Kimball also filed.

### General election
#### Endorsements

Organizations
* Sierra Club
Organizations
* National Republican Congressional Committee "Young Guns" Program

#### Polling

| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Jay Seegmiller (D) | Chris Stewart (R) | Other | Undecided |
| Dan Jones & Associates | October 26–November 1, 2012 | 229 (RV) | ±6.5% | 28% | 44% | 5% | 22% |
| Mason-Dixon/Salt Lake Tribune | October 29–31, 2012 | 625 (LV) | ±4.0% | 28% | 55% | 5% | 12% |
| Key Research/Brigham Young University | October 9–13, 2012 | 100 (LV) | ±10.0% | 20% | 46% | – | 34% |

#### Predictions

| Source | Ranking | As of |
| The Cook Political Report | Safe R (flip) | November 5, 2012 |
| Rothenberg | Safe R (flip) | November 2, 2012 |
| Roll Call | Safe R (flip) | November 4, 2012 |
| Sabato's Crystal Ball | Safe R (flip) | November 5, 2012 |
| NY Times | Safe R (flip) | November 4, 2012 |
| RCP | Safe R (flip) | November 4, 2012 |
| The Hill | Safe R (flip) | November 4, 2012 |

#### Results

Utah's 2nd congressional district, 2012 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Chris Stewart | 154,523 | 62.2 |
| | Democratic | Jay Seegmiller | 83,176 | 33.5 |
| | Constitution | Jonathan D. Garrard | 5,051 | 2.0 |
| | Independent | Joseph Andrade | 2,971 | 1.2 |
| | Independent | Charles E. Kimball | 2,824 | 1.1 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 248,545 | 100.0 |
| | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic |

## District 3

Jason Chaffetz, was seeking a third term in representing Utah's 3rd congressional district;

### Republican primary
#### Candidates
##### Nominee

* Jason Chaffetz, incumbent U.S. Representative

##### Eliminated in primary

* Brian Jenkins
* Lynn D. Wardle

##### Withdrawn

* Kurt Bradburn.
* Leonard "Joe" Fabiano, business entrepreneur and candidate for senate in 2010

#### Results

Republican convention, 1st round results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Jason Chaffetz | 710 | 75.0 |
| | Republican | Lynn D. Wardle | 208 | 22.0 |
| | Republican | Brian Jenkins | 29 | 3.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 947 | 100.0 |

### Democratic primary
#### Candidates
##### Nominee

* Soren Simonsen, Salt Lake City Council Chair

##### Eliminated in primary

* Richard Clark

### General election
#### Endorsements

Organizations
* Equality Utah

#### Polling

| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Jason Chaffetz (R) | Soren Simonsen (D) | Other | Undecided |
| Dan Jones & Associates | October 26–November 1, 2012 | 232 | ±6.4% | 68% | 18% | 3% | 10% |
| Key Research/Brigham Young University | October 9–13, 2012 | 100 (LV) | ±4.4% | 68% | 15% | — | 17% |

#### Results

Utah's 3rd congressional district, 2012 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Jason Chaffetz | 198,828 | 76.6 |
| | Democratic | Soren D. Simonsen | 60,719 | 23.4 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 259,547 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

## District 4

Democratic U.S. Representative Jim Matheson, who has represented Utah's 2nd congressional district since 2001 and had considered running for governor or for the U.S. Senate, sought re-election to the House in Utah's new 4th congressional district after his previous seat was split up by the redistricting.

### Democratic primary
#### Candidates
##### Nominee

* Jim Matheson, incumbent U.S. Representative for the 2nd district

### Republican primary
#### Candidates
##### Nominee

* Mia Love, Mayor of Saratoga Springs

##### Eliminated in primary

* Jay Cobb, attorney
* Kenneth Gray
* Stephen Sandstrom, state representative
* Carl Wimmer, state representative

##### Declined

* Jason Buck, former American football player at Brigham Young University and National Football League

#### Polling

| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Jay Cobb | Mia Love | Stephen Sandstrom | Carl Wimmer | Other | Undecided |
| Mason-Dixon | April 9–11, 2011 | 625 (LV) | ± 4.0% | — | 23% | 14% | 35% | 28% | — |
| Dan Jones & Associates | December 19–21, 2011 | 341 (RV) | ± 5.3% | 3% | 8% | 15% | 15% | 19% | 41% |

#### Results

In the Republican convention, held on April 21, 2012, Love received 70.4% of the vote (she needed more than 60% to avoid a primary).
Republican convention, 1st round results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Mia Love | 442 | 53.1 |
| | Republican | Carl Wimmer | 256 | 30.8 |
| | Republican | Steve Sandstrom | 81 | 9.7 |
| | Republican | Jay Cobb | 52 | 6.3 |
| | Republican | Kenneth Gray | 1 | 0.1 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 863 | 100.0 |
Republican convention, 2nd round results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Mia Love | 551 | 70.5 |
| | Republican | Carl Wimmer | 231 | 29.5 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 782 | 100.0 |

### Libertarian primary
#### Candidates
##### Nominee

* Jim Vein

##### Withdrawn

* Ken Larsen, medical researcher

### Justice primary
#### Candidates
##### Withdrawn

* Torin Nelson

#### Campaign

Despite beginning her campaign at a significant name recognition disadvantage to Matheson, Love was able to mount a strong challenge. This was in part fueled by a prime time speaking slot at the Republican National Convention where she impressed many with her backstory of a being the daughter of Haitian immigrants whose parents "Immigrated to the U.S. with $10 in their pocket" and her themes of self-reliance, small government and fiscal responsibility. However she was later hit by claims that she was technically an Anchor Baby, despite having seemingly backing the deportation of the US-born children of illegal immigrants.
Facing a district largely new to him, Matheson ran ads showcasing his independent credentials and airing clips of Love voicing support for cutting the Department of Education and privatizing Social Security. Despite the NRCC running ads trying to tie him to Nancy Pelosi and Barack Obama, Matheson's favorability rating remained at around 60% throughout the campaign.

#### Endorsements

Organizations
* Blue Dog Coalition
* Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee "Frontline" Program
Organizations
* Maggie's List
* National Republican Congressional Committee "Young Guns" Program
* Susan B. Anthony List

##### Polling

| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Jim Matheson (D) | Mia Love (R) | Jim Vein (L) | Undecided |
| Dan Jones & Associates | October 26–November 1, 2012 | 414 (RV) | ±4.8% | 43% | 48% | 3% | 6% |
| Mason-Dixon/Salt Lake Tribune | October 29–31, 2012 | 625 (LV) | ±4.0% | 40% | 52% | 2% | 6% |
| Key Research/Brigham Young University | October 9–13, 2012 | 407 (LV) | ±7.0% | 43% | 43% | — | 14% |
| Global Strategy (D) | October 9–10, 2012 | 407 (LV) | ±4.9% | 48% | 41% | — | 11% |
| Dan Jones & Associates | September 26–29, 2012 | 414 (RV) | ±5.0% | 43% | 49% | — | 8% |
| Public Opinion Strategies (R-Love)/NRCC) | September 10–11, 2012 | 400 (LV) | ±4.9% | 36% | 51% | — | 13% |
| Global Strategy (D) | July 26–29, 2012 | 400 (LV) | ±4.9% | 51% | 33% | — | 16% |
| Dan Jones & Associates | June 15–21, 2012 | 379 (RV) | ±5.1% | 53% | 38% | 1% | 8% |
| Mason-Dixon/Salt Lake Tribune | April 9–11, 2012 | 625 (LV) | ±4.0% | 45% | 42% | — | 13% |
| Dan Jones & Associates | December 19–21, 2011 | 341 (RV) | ±5.3% | 53% | 36% | 4% | 12% |
An early poll published by the Deseret News on Dec 25, 2011 showed Jim Matheson leading all potential opponents.

###### With Cobb

| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Jim Matheson (D) | Jay Cobb (R) | Undecided |
| Dan Jones & Associates | December 19–21, 2011 | 341 (RV) | ±5.3% | 54% | 35% | 11% |

###### With Sandstrom

| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Jim Matheson (D) | Stephen Sandstrom (R) | Undecided |
| Mason-Dixon | April 9–11, 2012 | 625 (LV) | ±4.0% | 45% | 42% | 13% |
| Dan Jones & Associates | December 19–21, 2011 | 341 (RV) | ±5.3% | 50% | 41% | 10% |

###### With Wimmer

| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Jim Matheson (D) | Carl Wimmer (R) | Undecided |
| Mason-Dixon | April 9–11, 2012 | 625 (LV) | ±4.0% | 46% | 45% | 9% |
| Dan Jones & Associates | December 19–21, 2011 | 341 (RV) | ±5.3% | 52% | 41% | 7% |

#### Predictions

| Source | Ranking | As of |
| The Cook Political Report | Lean R | November 5, 2012 |
| Rothenberg | Tilts R | November 2, 2012 |
| Roll Call | Lean R | November 4, 2012 |
| Sabato's Crystal Ball | Lean R | November 5, 2012 |
| NY Times | Tossup | November 4, 2012 |
| RCP | Tossup | November 4, 2012 |
| The Hill | Tossup | November 4, 2012 |

#### Results

Matheson narrowly defeated the Love in the general election by only 768 votes. If Love had won the seat, she would have become the first African-American Republican woman to sit in the House.
Utah's 4th congressional district, 2012 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Jim Matheson (incumbent) | 119,803 | 48.8 |
| | Republican | Mia Love | 119,035 | 48.5 |
| | Libertarian | Jim L. Vein | 6,439 | 2.6 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 245,277 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic win (new seat) | Democratic win (new seat) | Democratic win (new seat) | Democratic win (new seat) |