2012 Utah gubernatorial election explained

Election Name:	2012 Utah gubernatorial election
Country:	Utah
Flag Year:	2011
Type:	presidential
Ongoing:	no
Previous Election:	2010 Utah gubernatorial special election
Previous Year:	2010 (special)
Next Election:	2016 Utah gubernatorial election
Next Year:	2016
Image1:	File:2013-05-23 Gary R Herbert.JPG
Nominee1:	Gary Herbert
Running Mate1:	Greg Bell
Party1:	Republican Party (United States)
Popular Vote1:	624,678
Percentage1:	68.41%
Nominee2:	Peter Cooke
Running Mate2:	Vincent Rampton
Party2:	Democratic Party (United States)
Popular Vote2:	253,514
Percentage2:	27.58%
Map Size:	230px
Governor
Before Election:	Gary Herbert
Before Party:	Republican Party (United States)
After Election:	Gary Herbert
After Party:	Republican Party (United States)

The 2012 Utah gubernatorial election was held on November 6, 2012. It was won by Republican incumbent Governor Gary Herbert.^[1]

Republican nomination

Candidates

Gary Herbert, incumbent governor^[2] ^[3]

Defeated at convention

David Kirkham, businessman and co-founder of the Utah tea party^[4]
Morgan Philpot, former state representative and nominee for the U.S. House of Representatives in 2010^[5]
Lane Ronnow^[3]
William Skokos, energy entrepreneur and CEO of Standard American Oil Company^[3]
Ken Sumsion, state representative^[6] ^[7]

^[3]

Declined

Stephen Sandstrom, state representative^[8]
Mark Shurtleff, state attorney general^[9]

Convention results

Democratic nomination

Candidate

Peter Cooke, businessman and retired major general in the United States Army Reserve^[2]

Declined

Jim Matheson, U.S. representative^[10] ^[11]

General election

Candidates

Gary Herbert (Republican), incumbent governor

Running mate: Greg Bell, incumbent lieutenant governor
Peter Cooke (Democratic), businessman and retired major general in the United States Army Reserve

Running mate: Vincent Rampton, attorney and son of former Governor Cal Rampton^[12]
Kirk D Pearson (Constitution)^[13]

Running mate: Tim Aalders
Ken Larsen (Libertarian), medical researcher ^[14]

Running mate: Robert Latham, attorney ^[15]

Debates

Complete video of debate, October 11, 2012 - C-SPAN

Predictions

Source	Ranking
align=left	The Cook Political Report^[16]	November 1, 2012
align=left	Sabato's Crystal Ball^[17]	November 5, 2012
align=left	Rothenberg Political Report^[18]	November 2, 2012
align=left	Real Clear Politics^[19]	November 5, 2012

Polling

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Gary Herbert (R)	Peter Cooke (D)	Other/ Undecided
Deseret News/KSL	October 26–November 1, 2012	870	± 43.4%	align=center	69%	24%	5%
Key Research	October 9–13, 2012	500	± 4.4%	align=center	65%	19%	15%
Utah State University	October 8–13, 2012	n/a	± 7.6%	align=center	76%	17%	7%
Mason-Dixon	April 9–11, 2012	625	± 4%	align=center	65%	27%	8%

Results

Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican

Summit (largest municipality: Park City)

By congressional district

Herbert won all 4 congressional districts, including one that elected a Democrat.^[20]

Cooke	Representative
72.67%	23.35%	Rob Bishop
63.67%	32.21%	Chris Stewart
73.79%	22.32%
63.21%	32.75%	Jim Matheson

External links

Utah Government Services – Elections

Official campaign sites (Archived)

Notes and References

Web site: Gov. Herbert wins first full term in office | Local News | heraldextra.com. www.heraldextra.com.
Web site: Retired general poised to take on Herbert in gubernatorial race. December 19, 2011. December 20, 2011. The Salt Lake Tribune. Robert. Gehrke.
Web site: Herbert wins nod, Philpot feels betrayed. April 21, 2012. May 10, 2012. The Salt Lake Tribune. Robert. Gehrke. Matt. Canham.
Web site: Utah tea party founder Kirkham takes on Herbert. January 18, 2012. January 19, 2012. The Salt Lake Tribune. Donald W.. Meyers.
Web site: Philpot to challenge Herbert in 2012. November 30, 2011. November 30, 2011. Daily Herald. Billy. Hesterman. January 3, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120103083216/http://www.heraldextra.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/elections/philpot-to-challenge-herbert-in/article_cfacf96e-9f5c-5a46-8d24-34c8f8c1aa01.html. dead.
Web site: Utah governor faces challenge from inside the GOP. November 11, 2011. May 10, 2012. The Salt Lake Tribune. Lee. Davidson.
Web site: GOP lawmaker to run against Gov. Herbert. November 10, 2011. May 10, 2012. Deseret News. Lisa Riley. Roche.
Web site: Sandstrom announces bid for Utah's new congressional district seat. November 14, 2011. November 14, 2011. Deseret News. Dennis. Romboy.
Web site: Two Utah political heavyweights eyeing key races. June 9, 2011. June 10, 2011. Deseret News. Lisa Riley. Roche.
Web site: Matheson to run for reelection. December 15, 2011. May 10, 2012. Politico. Alex. Isenstadt.
Web site: Matheson to Run in New Utah District. December 15, 2011. May 10, 2012. Roll Call. Shira. Toeplitz.
Web site: Rampton named as Peter Cooke's running mate. April 19, 2012. May 10, 2012. The Salt Lake Tribune. Robert. Gehrke.
Web site: 2012 Candidate Filings - Lieutenant Governor's Office: Elections . Elections.utah.gov . 2012-04-26 . 2013-02-05.
Web site: Ken Larsen Free Speech Message . Ken Larsen . Vote Utah . 2013-02-05 . https://web.archive.org/web/20121113211546/http://www.voteutah.org/candidates/governor/ken-larsen . 2012-11-13 . dead .
Web site: Why Choose Rob? « J. Robert Latham | Attorney at Law . January 2011 . Jrobertlatham.pro . 2013-02-05.
Web site: 2012 Governor Race Ratings for November 1, 2012 . The Cook Political Report . November 30, 2018.
Web site: PROJECTION: OBAMA WILL LIKELY WIN SECOND TERM . Sabato's Crystal Ball . November 30, 2018 . December 1, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181201094552/http://crystalball.centerforpolitics.org/crystalball/articles/projection-obama-will-likely-win-second-term/ . dead .
Web site: 2012 Gubernatorial Ratings . Gubernatorial Ratings . The Rothenberg Political Report . November 30, 2018.
Web site: 2012 Elections Map - 2012 Governor Races . Real Clear Politics . November 30, 2018.
Web site: Utah 2012 gov-by-cd .