# 2012 United States House of Representatives elections in Kentucky

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The 2012 United States House of Representatives elections in Kentucky were held on Tuesday, November 6, 2012, to elect the six U.S. representatives from the state of Kentucky, one from each of the state's six congressional districts. The elections coincided with the elections of other federal and state offices, including a quadrennial presidential election. Primary elections were held on May 22, 2012.

## Overview

United States House of Representatives elections in Kentucky, 2012 :
| Party | Party | Votes | Percentage | Seats | +/– |
| | Republican | 1,027,582 | 58.87% | 5 | +1 |
| | Democratic | 684,744 | 39.23% | 1 | -1 |
| | Libertarian | 4,914 | 0.28% | 0 | — |
| | Others | 28,137 | 1.61% | 0 | — |
| Totals | Totals | 1,745,377 | 100.00% | 6 | — |

## Redistricting

Redistricting legislation was passed by both houses of the Kentucky General Assembly and signed into law by Governor Steve Beshear on February 10, 2012.

## District 1

Republican Ed Whitfield, who had represented the 1st district since 1995, ran for re-election. In redistricting, the 1st district was made slightly more competitive, but continues to strongly favor Republicans.

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

* Ed Whitfield, incumbent U.S. Representative

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

* Charles Kendall Hatchett, real estate broker and nominee for this seat in 2010

##### Eliminated in primary

* James Buckmaster

##### Declined

* Brent Yonts, state representative

#### Primary results

Democratic primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Charles Kendall Hatchett | 19,127 | 59.1 |
| | Democratic | James Buckmaster | 13,239 | 40.9 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 32,366 | 100.0 |

### General election
#### Results

Kentucky's 1st congressional district, 2012 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Ed Whitfield (incumbent) | 199,956 | 69.6 |
| | Democratic | Charles Kendall Hatchett | 87,199 | 30.4 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 287,155 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

## District 2

Republican Brett Guthrie, who had represented the 2nd district since 2009, ran for re-election. In redistricting, the 2nd district was made slightly more favourable to Republicans.

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

* Brett Guthrie, incumbent U.S. Representative

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

* David Lynn Williams, perennial candidate

##### Declined

* Elaine Walker, former Secretary of State of Kentucky

### Libertarian primary

Craig Astor ran as a Libertarian:

### General election
#### Results

Kentucky's 2nd congressional district, 2012 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Brett Guthrie (incumbent) | 181,508 | 64.3 |
| | Democratic | David Lynn Williams | 89,541 | 31.7 |
| | Independent | Andrew R. Beacham | 6,304 | 2.2 |
| | Libertarian | Craig R. Astor | 4,914 | 1.8 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 282,267 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

## District 3

Democrat John Yarmuth, who had represented the 3rd district since 2007, ran for re-election. The 3rd district was made more favorable to Democrats in redistricting.

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

* John Yarmuth, incumbent U.S. Representative

##### Eliminated in primary

* Burrel Charles Farnsley, perennial candidate

#### Primary results

Democratic primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | John Yarmuth (incumbent) | 43,635 | 86.7 |
| | Democratic | Burrel Charles Farnsley | 6,716 | 13.3 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 50,351 | 100.0 |

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

* Brooks Wicker, financial advisor and candidate for this seat in 2010

### General election
#### Results

Kentucky's 3rd congressional district, 2012 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | John Yarmuth (incumbent) | 206,385 | 64.0 |
| | Republican | Brooks Wicker | 111,452 | 34.5 |
| | Independent | Robert L. DeVore, Jr. | 4,819 | 1.5 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 322,656 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

## District 4

Republican Geoff Davis, who had represented 4th district from 2005 to 2012, resigned due to family health issues. In redistricting, the 4th district was made more favorable to Republicans.

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

* Thomas Massie, Lewis County judge-executive

##### Eliminated in primary

* Walter Christian Schumm, building contractor
* Marcus Carey, lawyer
* Gary Moore, Boone County judge-executive
* Brian Oerther, teacher
* Alecia Webb-Edgington, state representative
* Tom Wurtz, business consultant

##### Declined

* Hunter Bates, former chief of staff to Senator Mitch McConnell
* Kenny Brown, Boone County Clerk
* Ben Dusing, lawyer and former assistant U.S. Attorney
* Trey Grayson, former Secretary of State of Kentucky;
* Adam Koenig, state representative
* K. Lance Lucas, lawyer and son of former Democratic U.S. Representative Ken Lucas
* Rick Robinson, aide to former senator Jim Bunning
* Kevin Sell, businessman
* Katie Stine, President Pro Tempore of the Kentucky Senate
* Damon Thayer, state senator

#### Primary results

Republican primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Thomas Massie | 19,689 | 44.8 |
| | Republican | Alecia Webb-Edgington | 12,557 | 28.6 |
| | Republican | Gary Moore | 6,521 | 14.8 |
| | Republican | Walter Christian Schumm | 3,514 | 8.0 |
| | Republican | Marc Carey | 783 | 1.8 |
| | Republican | Tom Wurtz | 598 | 1.4 |
| | Republican | Brian D. Oerther | 257 | 0.6 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 43,919 | 100.0 |

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

* Bill Adkins, lawyer and chair of the Grant County Democratic Party

##### Eliminated in primary

* Greg Frank, military veteran

##### Declined

* Kenny French, former Gallatin County Judge-Executive
* Patrick Hughes, attorney
* Linda Klembara, president of the Kentucky Women's Network
* Darrell Link, Grant County Judge-Executive
* Ken Rechtin, Campbell County Commissioner
* Nathan Smith, vice chairman of the Kentucky Democratic Party
* Diane Whalen, Mayor of Florence

#### Primary results

Democratic primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Bill Adkins | 17,209 | 68.6 |
| | Democratic | Greg Frank | 7,869 | 31.4 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 25,078 | 100.0 |

### Special election
#### Results

Kentucky's 4th congressional district special election, 2012 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Thomas Massie | 174,092 | 59.9 |
| | Democratic | Bill Adkins | 106,598 | 36.7 |
| | Independent | David Lewis | 9,987 | 3.4 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 290,677 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### General election
#### Results

Kentucky's 4th congressional district regular election, 2012 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Thomas Massie | 186,036 | 62.1 |
| | Democratic | Bill Adkins | 104,734 | 35.0 |
| | Independent | David Lewis | 8,674 | 2.9 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 299,444 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

## District 5

Republican Hal Rogers, who had represented the 5th district since 1981, ran for re-election. The 5th district was made slightly more competitive in redistricting.

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

* Hal Rogers, incumbent U.S. Representative

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

* Kenneth Stepp, lawyer

##### Eliminated in primary

* Michael Ackerman

#### Primary results

Democratic primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Kenneth S. Stepp | 12,275 | 52.7 |
| | Democratic | Michael Ackerman | 11,016 | 47.3 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 23,291 | 100.0 |

### General election
#### Results

Kentucky's 5th congressional district, 2012 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Hal Rogers (incumbent) | 195,408 | 77.9 |
| | Democratic | Kenneth S. Stepp | 55,447 | 22.1 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 250,855 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

## District 6

Democrat Ben Chandler, who had represented the 6th district since 2004, ran for re-election. In redistricting, the 6th district was modified with the effect that, had the 2008 presidential election been held under the new boundaries, Democratic nominee Barack Obama would have received a share of the vote 1.5 percentage points greater than that which he achieved under the former boundaries.

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

* Ben Chandler, incumbent U.S. Representative

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

* Andy Barr, attorney and nominee for this seat in 2010

##### Eliminated in primary

* Patrick J. Kelly II
* Curtis Kenimer

#### Primary results

Republican primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Andy Barr | 20,104 | 82.8 |
| | Republican | Patrick J. Kelly, II | 2,823 | 11.6 |
| | Republican | Curtis Kenimer | 1,354 | 5.6 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 24,281 | 100.0 |

### General election

Randolph S. Vance ran as a write-in candidate.

#### Endorsements

Organizations
* Blue Dog Coalition
* Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee "Frontline" Program
Organizations
* National Republican Congressional Committee "Young Guns" Program

#### Polling

| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Ben Chandler (D) | Andy Barr (R) | Randolph Vance (I) | Undecided |
| Public Opinion Strategies (R-Barr) | September 30–October 1, 2012 | 400 | ± % | 49% | 46% | — | 5% |
| Mellman (D-Chandler) | September 10–13, 2012 | 400 | ± 4.9% | 51% | 37% | 3% | 9% |
| Public Opinion Strategies (R-Barr) | June 24–26, 2012 | 400 | ± 4.9% | 47% | 42% | — | 13% |
| Mellman (D-Chandler) | March 26–28, 2012 | 400 | ± 4.9% | 54% | 30% | — | 16% |
| Public Opinion Strategies (R-Barr) | February 20–21, 2012 | 400 | ± 4.9% | 49% | 42% | — | 9% |

#### Predictions

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

#### Results

Kentucky's 6th congressional district, 2012 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Andy Barr | 153,222 | 50.6 |
| | Democratic | Ben Chandler (incumbent) | 141,438 | 46.7 |
| | Independent | Randolph Vance | 8,340 | 2.7 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 303,000 | 100.0 |
| | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic |