2012 United States House of Representatives elections in Florida


The 2012 United States House of Representatives elections in Florida were held on Tuesday, November 6, 2012, to elect the 27 congressional representatives from the state, one from each of the state's 27 congressional districts, a two-seat increase due to the 2010 United States census. The elections coincided with the elections of other federal and state offices, including a quadrennial presidential election and a U.S. Senate election. The primary elections were held on August 14, 2012.

Redistricting

In November 2010, Florida voters passed two amendments to the Florida Constitution which would require congressional and state legislative districts to be compact and follow geographical boundaries, thereby preventing gerrymandering. Shortly after the amendments were passed, U.S. Representatives Corrine Brown and Mario Diaz-Balart filed a lawsuit asking that the amendment concerning congressional districts be declared invalid. Brown and Diaz-Balart alleged that the power to change rules for congressional redistricting lies exclusively with the state legislature, and as such cannot be changed through a referendum; however, in January 2012 a three-judge panel of the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected their arguments.
Redistricting legislation which would create one new district each in North Florida and Central Florida was passed by a committee of the Florida House of Representatives on January 27, by the full House of Representatives on February 3, and by the Florida Senate on February 9. Shortly after, the Florida Democratic Party announced it would file a lawsuit, alleging that the map violated the Fair Districts provision, which requires that maps do not intentionally favor parties or incumbents. Separately, a coalition of groups including Common Cause, the League of Women Voters and the National Council of La Raza announced it would file its own challenge on the legislation's being signed into law.

Overview

The table below shows the total number and percentage of votes, as well as the number of seats gained and lost by each political party in the election for the United States House of Representatives in Florida. All vote totals come from the Florida Secretary of State's website along with the individual counties' election department websites.

District 1

Florida's new 1st district voting age population was 77.6% White, 12.9% Black, 4.3% Hispanic, 0.3% Hispanic Black, and 5% other races.
Republican incumbent Jeff Miller, who had represented Florida's 1st congressional district since 2001, ran for re-election and secured the Republican nomination unopposed.

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

Libertarian primary

Candidates

Nominee

Independents

William Cleave Drummond, II ran for election as a write-in candidate.

District 2

Florida's new 2nd district voting age population was 68.5% non-Hispanic White, 23.5% non-Hispanic Black, 4.4% Hispanic, 0.3% Hispanic Black, and 3.3% other races. Republican incumbent Steve Southerland was first elected to represent Florida's 2nd congressional district in 2010 and secured the Republican nomination unopposed.

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

Democratic primary

Former Republican state senator Nancy Argenziano was barred from running as a Democrat by state law, and tried to run on the Independent Party of Florida line, but ultimately withdrew.

Candidates

Nominee

General election

Results

Southerland defeated Lawson for re-election to a second term, 53% to 47%, on November 6, 2012.

District 3

Florida's new 3rd district voting age population was 75.8% non-Hispanic White, 12.9% non-Hispanic Black, 6.7% Hispanic, 0.3% Hispanic Black, and 4.3% other races. Republican Cliff Stearns, who had represented the 6th district since 1989, had his home in Ocala drawn into the neighboring 11th district. However, he opted to seek reelection in the 3rd, which contained more than two-thirds of his former territory.

Republican primary

Stearns was upset in the primary by Ted Yoho, a large-animal veterinarian from Gainesville.

Candidates

Nominee

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee
  • J.R. Gaillot, policy consultant

District 4

Florida's new 4th district voting age population was 74.9% non-Hispanic White, 12.5% non-Hispanic Black, 6.3% Hispanic, 0.4% Hispanic Black, and 5.9% other races. Republican incumbent Ander Crenshaw, who had represented the 4th district since 2001, ran for re-election.

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee
  • Ander Crenshaw, incumbent U.S. representative
    Eliminated in primary
  • Bob Black
  • Deborah Pueschel

Democratic primary

Candidates

Withdrawn
  • Gary Koniz

District 5

Florida's new 5th district voting age population was 49% non-Hispanic Black, 36.2% non-Hispanic White, 10% Hispanic, 1.1% Hispanic Black, and 3.7% other races. It is the successor to the former 3rd district, which had been represented by Democrat Corrine Brown since 1993.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee
  • LeAnne Kolb
    Withdrawn
  • Mike Yost, nominee for this seat in 2010

Libertarian primary

Gerald Nyren announced plans to run as a Libertarian Party candidate.

District 6

In redistricting, most of the old 7th district was renumbered as the new 6th district. John Mica, who had represented the 7th district since 1993, had his home drawn into the neighboring 7th district, and opted to seek re-election there.
Florida's new 6th district voting age population was 82.8% non-Hispanic White, 8.8% non-Hispanic Black, 5.4% Hispanic, 0.3% Hispanic Black, and 2.7% other races.

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee
  • Heather Beaven, former Navy cryptologist and nominee for the 7th district in 2010
    Eliminated in primary
  • Vipin Verma, attorney

District 7

The new 7th district is the successor to the old 24th district, represented by Republican Sandy Adams since 2011. John Mica, who had represented the old 7th district since 1993, had his home drawn into the new 7th. The new 7th district voting age population was 70.2% non-Hispanic White, 8.1% non-Hispanic Black, 8.1 percent Hispanic, 0.9 percent Hispanic Black and 4.7% other races.

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee
  • John Mica, incumbent U.S. representative from the 6th district
    Eliminated in primary
  • Sandy Adams, incumbent U.S. representative from the 24th district

Primary results

Mica defeated Adams in the Republican primary with 61 percent of the vote.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

District 8

The new 8th district was the successor to the 15th district, represented by Republican Bill Posey since 2009. The voting age population was 80.4% non-Hispanic White, 8.7% non-Hispanic Black, 7.3% Hispanic, 0.4% Hispanic Black, and 3.2% other races.

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee
  • Shannon Roberts, former NASA & federal official and Cape Canaveral City Council member

District 9

The new 9th district, an open seat located south of Orlando, was expected to favor Democrats. It contains all of Osceola County, part of Orange County, and part of Polk County. The district's inhabitants voted overwhelmingly for President Barack Obama, preferring him to John McCain 60-39%. The new 9th district voting age population was 42.9% non-Hispanic White, 39.1% Hispanic, 10.1% non-Hispanic Black, 2.3% Hispanic Black, and 5.6% other races.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee
  • Todd Long, attorney, conservative radio show host and candidate for the 8th district in 2008 & 2010
    Eliminated in primary
  • Julius Melendez
  • Mark Oxner, businessman
  • John Quinones

District 10

In redistricting, the 8th district was renumbered as the 10th district. Republican Daniel Webster, who had represented the 8th district since January 2011, sought re-election.
The new 10th district voting age population was 69.9% non-Hispanic White, 13.5% Hispanic, 10.4% non-Hispanic Black, 0.7% Hispanic Black, and 5.4% other races.

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

District 11

In redistricting, most of the old 5th district became the 11th district. Rich Nugent, who had represented the 5th since 2011, ran for re-election in the 11th. The new 11th district voting age population was 83.1% non-Hispanic White, 7.3% non-Hispanic Black, 7% Hispanic, 0.4% Hispanic Black, and 2.2% other races.

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee
  • David Werder

District 12

In redistricting, most of the old 9th district became the 12th district. Republican Gus Bilirakis, who had represented the 9th district since 2007, ran for re-election in the 12th. The new 12th district voting age population was 82.6% non-Hispanic White, 9.6% Hispanic, 4% non-Hispanic Blacs, 0.4% Hispanic Black, and 3.5% other races.

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee
  • Jonathan Snow, photo specialist and former teacher

Independents

John Russell, an acute care nurse practitioner, had announced prior to redistricting that he would run as an independent in the 11th district. However, after he was drawn into the 12th, he opted to seek election there.

District 13

In redistricting, most of the old 10th district became the 13th district. Bill Young, who had represented the 10th and its predecessors since 1971, ran for re-election. The new 13th district voting age population was 83.5% non-Hispanic White, 7% Hispanic, 5% non-Hispanic Black, 0.3% Hispanic Black, and 4.2% other races.

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee
  • Bill Young, incumbent U.S. representative
    Eliminated in primary
  • Darren Ayres
  • Madeline Vance

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

Independent

Declined

District 14

In redistricting, the 11th district was renumbered as the 14th district. Democrat Kathy Castor, who had represented the 11th since 2007, ran for re-election here. Florida's new 14th district voting age population was 46.5% non-Hispanic White, 24% non-Hispanic Black, 24% Hispanic, 1.6% Hispanic Black, and 3.8% other races.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

District 15

In redistricting, the 12th district was renumbered as the 15th district. Dennis Ross, who had represented the 12th district since 2011, ran for re-election. The new 15th district voting age population was 68.6% non-Hispanic White, 14.2% Hispanic, 12% non-Hispanic Black, 0.7% Hispanic Black, and 4.5% other races.

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

General election

No other party put up a candidate.

District 16

In redistricting, the Florida's 13th congressional district was renumbered as the 16th district. Republican Vern Buchanan, who had represented the 13th since 2007, ran for re-election in the 16th after deciding against running for the U.S. Senate. The new 16th district voting age population was 83.5% non-Hispanic White, 8.5% Hispanic, 5.6% non-Hispanic Black, 0.3% Hispanic Black, and 2.2% other races.

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

Democratic primary

Prior to redistricting, former state representative Keith Fitzgerald had announced he would seek the Democratic nomination to challenge Buchanan.

Candidates

Nominee

District 17

The new 17th district, an open seat for a large district comprising parts of 10 South and Central Florida counties as well as parts of the Everglades watershed, was expected to favor Republicans. Republican Tom Rooney, who had represented the 16th district since 2009, ran for re-election in the new 17th district. The new 17th district voting age population was 75.4% non-Hispanic White, 13.9% Hispanic, 7.9% non-Hispanic Black, 0.4% Hispanic Black, and 2.3% other races.

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

Minor parties

26-year-old Tom Baumann from Miami ran as a write-in candidate for the Socialist Workers Party.

General election

Campaign

As of the September FEC financial reporting deadline, Rooney had collected $930,248 in campaign contributions and had $564,716 on hand; the FEC had no reports on Bronson or Baumann.

District 18

Allen West, who was first elected to represent Florida's 22nd congressional district in 2010, ran for re-election in the new 18th district. The new 18th district voting age population was 74.7% non-Hispanic White, 11.6% Hispanic, 10.6% non-Hispanic Black, 0.4% Hispanic Black, and 2.7% other races.

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

Democratic primary

Patrick Murphy, an environmental services executive, had planned to seek the Democratic nomination in the 22nd district, but announced in February 2012 that he would continue to challenge West in the 18th district.

Candidates

Nominee
  • Patrick Murphy, environmental services executive
    Eliminated in primary
  • Jerry Buechler
  • Jim Horn

Independents

Marilyn Davis Holloman qualified to run as a write-in. Everett Wilkinson, the chair of the South Florida Tea Party and registered to vote with no party affiliation, decided not to run.

General election

Debates

  • , October 19, 2012

District 19

In redistricting, the 14th district was renumbered as the 19th district. Connie Mack IV, who had represented the 14th district since 2005, ran for the U.S. Senate rather than for re-election. The new 19th district voting age population was 77.1% non-Hispanic White, 14.4% Hispanic, 6% non-Hispanic Black, 0.5% Hispanic Black, and 2.1% other races.

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee
  • James Roach, retired GM research engineer, decorated Vietnam combat veteran and nominee for the 14th district in 2010

Independents

Brandon Smith was on the general election ballot as an independent candidate.

District 20

In redistricting, the 23rd district was renumbered as the 20th district. Democrat Alcee Hastings, who had represented the 23rd since 1993, ran for reelection—in effect, trading district numbers with fellow Democrat Debbie Wasserman Schultz. The new 20th district voting age population was 49.2% non-Hispanic White, 35.5% Hispanic, 9.8% non-Hispanic Black, 1.2% Hispanic Black, and 4.3% other races.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

Republican primary

Candidates

Withdrawn

Independents

District 21

In redistricting, most of the old 19th district became the 21st district. Ted Deutch, who had represented the 19th district since April 2010, ran for re-election The new 21st district voting age population was 66.6% non-Hispanic White, 17.6% Hispanic, 10.6% non-Hispanic Black, 0.6% Hispanic Black, and 4.5% other races.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

Independents

Cesar Augusto Henao Cañas was an independent candidate.

District 22

Republican Allen West, who was first elected to represent Florida's 22nd congressional district in 2010, sought re-election in the new 18th district. The new 22nd district voting age population was 69.4% non-Hispanic White, 17.2% Hispanic, 9.8% non-Hispanic Black, 0.6% Hispanic Black, and 3.1% other races.

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

District 23

In redistricting, the 20th district was renumbered as the 23rd district. DNC Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz, who had represented the 20th since 2005, ran for re-election. The new 23rd district voting age population was 48.9% non-Hispanic Black, 29.5% non-Hispanic White, 17.4% Hispanic, 1.2% Hispanic Black, and 3.1% other races.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee
  • Karen Harrington, businesswoman and nominee for this seat in 2010
    Eliminated in primary
  • Gineen Bresso
  • Ozzie deFaria, businessman
  • Juan Eliel Garcia
  • Joseph Kaufman, Americans Against Hate founder

District 24

In redistricting, most of the old 17th district was renumbered as the 24th district. Democrat Frederica Wilson, who had represented the 17th since 2011, sought reelection. The new 24th district voting age population was 51.7% non-Hispanic Black, 29.9% Hispanic, 12.6% non-Hispanic White, 3.2% Hispanic Black, and 2.5% other races.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

General election

Wilson was unopposed in the general election.

District 25

In redistricting, the 21st district was renumbered as the 25th district. Republican Mario Diaz-Balart, who had represented the 21st district since 2011, ran for re-election. The new 25th district voting age population was 68.9% Hispanic, 21.2% non-Hispanic White, 6% non-Hispanic Black, 1.7% Hispanic Black, and 2.1% other races.

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

District 26

In redistricting, the old 25th district was renumbered as the 26th district. Republican David Rivera, who had represented the 25th since 2011, ran for reelection. The new 26th district voting age population was 67.4% Hispanic, 20.2% non-Hispanic White, 8.6% non-Hispanic Black, 1.5% Hispanic Black, and 2.4% other races.

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

General election

Campaign

Due to redistricting and constitutional amendments passed in 2010 restricting gerrymandering, the race was considered a toss-up. While the old 25th leaned Republican, the new district was split narrowly in half between Republicans and Democrats.

District 27

In redistricting, the old 18th district was renumbered as the 27th district. Republican Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, who had represented the 18th since 1989, ran for re-election. The new 27th district voting age population was 72.8% Hispanic, 17.5% non-Hispanic White, 5.5% non-Hispanic Black, 2.2% Hispanic Black, and 2% other races.

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee
  • Manny Yevancey
    Withdrawn
  • Patrick Post