2012 Missouri gubernatorial election


The 2012 Missouri gubernatorial election was held on November 6, 2012, to elect the Governor of Missouri. Incumbent Democratic Governor Jay Nixon won re-election against the Republican nominee, businessman Dave Spence, despite incumbent President Barack Obama losing Missouri on the same day to Republican nominee Mitt Romney., this is the last time a Democrat won the governorship of Missouri and the last time that a governor and lieutenant governor of different political parties were simultaneously elected in Missouri. Primary elections took place on August 5, 2012.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

Eliminated in primary

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

Eliminated in primary

Libertarian primary

Candidates

Denied ballot access

General election

Debates

Polling

Republican primary
Poll sourceDate
administered		Sample
size		Margin of
error		Peter
Kinder		Bill
Randles		Undecided
Public Policy PollingSeptember 9–12, 2011400± 4.9%34%14%53%

Poll sourceDate
administered		Sample
size		Margin of
error		Peter
Kinder		Someone
else		Undecided
Public Policy PollingSeptember 9–12, 2011400± 4.9%22%35%43%

General election

Poll sourceDate administeredSample
size		Margin of
error		Jay
Nixon 		Bill
Randles 		OtherUndecided
Mason-DixonJuly 23–25, 2012625± 4.0%50%35%—15%
Public Policy PollingMay 24–27, 2012602± 4.0%46%32%—22%
Public Policy PollingJanuary 27–29, 2012582± 4.1%47%29%—24%
Public Policy PollingSeptember 9–12, 2011632± 3.9%45%24%—30%

Poll sourceDate administeredSample
size		Margin of
error		Jay
Nixon 		Matt
Blunt 		OtherUndecided
Public Policy PollingSeptember 9–12, 2011632± 3.9%50%37%—13%
Public Policy PollingApril 28-May 1, 2011555± 3.9%48%38%—13%

Poll sourceDate administeredSample
size		Margin of
error		Jay
Nixon 		John
Danforth 		OtherUndecided
Public Policy PollingSeptember 9–12, 2011632± 3.9%39%45%—17%

Poll sourceDate administeredSample
size		Margin of
error		Jay
Nixon 		Kenny
Hulshof 		OtherUndecided
Public Policy PollingApril 28-May 1, 2011555± 3.9%51%34%—15%

Poll sourceDate administeredSample
size		Margin of
error		Jay
Nixon 		Peter
Kinder 		OtherUndecided
Public Policy PollingSeptember 9–12, 2011632± 3.9%50%31%—18%
Public Policy PollingApril 28-May 1, 2011555± 3.9%48%34%—18%
Public Policy PollingMarch 3–6, 2011612± 4.0%45%38%—17%
Public Policy PollingNov. 29-December 1, 2010515± 4.3%47%39%—14%

Poll sourceDate administeredSample
size		Margin of
error		Jay
Nixon 		Sarah
Steelman 		OtherUndecided
Public Policy PollingNov. 29-December 1, 2010515± 4.3%46%35%—19%

Results

Nixon won by a comfortable 12.3% margin, though this was somewhat closer than his 2008 Missouri [gubernatorial election|2008 victory]. Even with President Barack Obama losing the state by a nine-point margin, Nixon and Senator Claire McCaskill both won reelection easily. Like his Senatorial colleague, Nixon was able to get a huge number of votes from rural areas. Both Nixon and McCaskill were declared the winners of their respective races even before the known Democratic strongholds of St. Louis and Kansas City came in.

Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic

Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican

By congressional district

Nixon won five of eight congressional districts, including three that elected Republicans.
DistrictNixonSpenceRepresentative
1st81.38%13.21%Lacy Clay
2nd50.67%47.37%Todd Akin
2nd50.67%47.37%Ann Wagner
3rd48.20%49.08%Russ Carnahan
3rd48.20%49.08%Blaine Luetkemeyer
4th49.16%47.46%Vicky Hartzler
5th66.00%31.20%Emanuel Cleaver
6th50.09%46.96%Sam Graves
7th43.75%53.39%Billy Long
8th48.27%49.06%Jo Ann Emerson