2012 Delaware Senate election

The 2012 Delaware Senate election was held on November 6, 2012 to elect all 21 members of the Delaware Senate. The election coincided with the elections for other offices, including the Presidency, U.S. Senate, U.S. House of Representatives, Governor, and state house. The primary election was held on September 11, 2012.[1]

2012 Delaware Senate election

← 2010 November 6, 2012 (2012-11-06) 2014 →

All 21 seats in the Delaware Senate
11 seats needed for a majority
  Majority party Minority party
 
Leader Tony DeLuca
(lost re-nomination)
Gary Simpson
Party Democratic Republican
Leader since January 8, 2009 January 8, 2009
Leader's seat 11thBrookside 18thMilford
Last election 14 7
Seats before 14 7
Seats after 13 8
Seat change Decrease1 Increase1
Popular vote 225,241 127,505
Percentage 62.50% 35.38%

Results:
     Democratic gain      Republican gain
     Democratic hold      Republican hold

President pro tempore before election

Tony DeLuca
Democratic

Elected President pro tempore

Patti Blevins
Democratic

Results summary

edit
District Incumbent Party Elected Senator Party
1 Harris McDowell III Dem Harris McDowell III Dem
2 Margaret Rose Henry Dem Margaret Rose Henry Dem
3 Robert Marshall Dem Robert Marshall Dem
4 Michael Katz Dem Gregory Lavelle Rep
Liane Sorenson[a] Rep
5 Catherine Cloutier Rep Catherine Cloutier Rep
6 New Seat Ernesto Lopez Rep
7 Patti Blevins Dem Patti Blevins Dem
8 David Sokola Dem David Sokola Dem
9 Karen Peterson Dem Karen Peterson Dem
10 Bethany Hall-Long Dem Bethany Hall-Long Dem
11 Tony DeLuca Dem Bryan Townsend Dem
12 Dorinda Connor Rep Nicole Poore Dem
13 David McBride Dem David McBride Dem
14 Bruce Ennis Dem Bruce Ennis Dem
15 David Lawson Rep David Lawson Rep
16 Colin Bonini Rep Colin Bonini Rep
17 Brian Bushweller Dem Brian Bushweller Dem
18 Gary Simpson Rep Gary Simpson Rep
19 Joseph Booth Rep Brian Pettyjohn Rep
20 George Bunting Dem Gerald Hocker Rep
21 Robert Venables Sr. Dem Robert Venables Sr. Dem
Party Candi-
dates
Votes Seats
No. % No. +/– %
Democratic 19 225,241 62.50% 13  1 61.90%
Republican 13 127,505 35.38% 8  1 38.10%
Independent 3 4,734 1.31% 0   0.00
Libertarian 6 2,887 0.80% 0   0.00
Total 41 360,367 100% 21   100
Popular vote
Democratic
62.50%
Republican
35.38%
Independent
1.31%
Libertarian
0.80%
Senate seats
Democratic
61.90%
Republican
38.10%

Detailed results

edit

[2][3]

District 1

edit

Incumbent Democrat Harris McDowell III has represented the 1st district since 1977.

Delaware Senate 1st district Democratic primary election, 2012
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Harris McDowell III (incumbent) 2,342 52.24%
Democratic David D. Brady 1,613 35.98%
Democratic James Martin 528 11.78%
Total votes 4,483 100%
Delaware Senate 1st district general election, 2012
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Harris McDowell III (incumbent) 15,155 85.31%
Independent Party Robert Clark 2,054 11.56%
Libertarian Bryan Lintz 555 3.12%
Total votes 17,764 100%
Democratic hold

District 2

edit

Incumbent Democrat Margaret Rose Henry has represented the 2nd district since 1994.

Delaware Senate 2nd district general election, 2012
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Margaret Rose Henry (incumbent) 15,197 100%
Total votes 15,197 100%
Democratic hold

District 3

edit

Incumbent Democrat Robert Marshall has represented the 3rd district since 1979.

Delaware Senate 3rd district Democratic primary election, 2012
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Robert Marshall (incumbent) 2,504 62.21%
Democratic Eric M. Anderson 912 22.66%
Democratic Timothy J. Meades Sr. 609 15.13%
Total votes 4,025 100%
Delaware Senate 3rd district general election, 2012
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Robert Marshall (incumbent) 12,322 100%
Total votes 12,322 100%
Democratic hold

District 4

edit

The new 4th district includes the homes of incumbent Democrat Michael Katz, who has represented the 4th district since 2009, and Republican Liane Sorenson, who has represented the 6th district since 1995. Sorenson didn't seek re-election. Katz lost re-election here to Republican Gregory Lavelle.

Delaware Senate 4th district general election, 2012
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Gregory Lavelle 11,970 50.79%
Democratic Michael Katz (incumbent) 11,188 47.47%
Libertarian Marcia Groff 410 1.74%
Total votes 23,568 100%
Republican gain from Democratic

District 5

edit

Incumbent Republican Catherine Cloutier has represented the 5th district since 2001.

Delaware Senate 5th district general election, 2012
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Catherine Cloutier (incumbent) 12,912 56.20%
Democratic Christopher R. Counihan 10,062 43.80%
Total votes 22,974 100%
Republican hold

District 6

edit

The new 6th district is based in the Cape Region in costal Sussex County, and includes Rehoboth Beach, Lewes, and Milton. The district has no incumbent. Republican Ernesto Lopez won the open seat.

Delaware Senate 6th district Democratic primary election, 2012
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Andrew W. Staton 2,088 58.05%
Democratic Robert G. Frederick 814 22.63%
Democratic Micheal C. Miller Sr. 695 19.32%
Total votes 3,597 100%
Delaware Senate 6th district Republican primary election, 2012
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Ernesto Lopez 2,163 54.87%
Republican Glen Urquhart 1,779 45.13%
Total votes 3,942 100%
Delaware Senate 6th district general election, 2012
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Ernesto Lopez 13,603 56.12%
Democratic Andrew W. Staton 10,352 42.70%
Libertarian Gwendolyn M. Jones 286 1.18%
Total votes 24,241 100%
Republican win (new seat)

District 7

edit

Incumbent Democrat Patti Blevins has represented the 7th district since 1991.

Delaware Senate 7th district general election, 2012
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Patti Blevins (incumbent) 13,756 92.35%
Libertarian James Christina 1,139 7.65%
Total votes 14,895 100%
Democratic hold

District 8

edit

Incumbent Democrat David Sokola has represented the 8th district since 1991.

Delaware Senate 8th district general election, 2012
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic David Sokola (incumbent) 10,099 60.71%
Republican William Stritzinger 6,535 39.29%
Total votes 16,634 100%
Democratic hold

District 9

edit

Incumbent Democrat Karen Peterson has represented the 9th district since 2003.

Delaware Senate 9th district general election, 2012
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Karen Peterson (incumbent) 13,941 100%
Total votes 13,941 100%
Democratic hold

District 10

edit

Incumbent Democrat Bethany Hall-Long has represented the 10th district since 2009.

Delaware Senate 10th district general election, 2012
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Bethany Hall-Long (incumbent) 16,498 100%
Total votes 16,498 100%
Democratic hold

District 11

edit

Incumbent Democrat President pro tempore Tony DeLuca has represented the 11th district since 1999. DeLuca lost re-nomination to fellow Democrat Bryan Townsend. Townsend won the general election.

Delaware Senate 11th district Democratic primary election, 2012
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Bryan Townsend 1,441 57.76%
Democratic Tony DeLuca (incumbent) 1,054 42.24%
Total votes 2,495 100%
Delaware Senate 11th district general election, 2012
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Bryan Townsend 12,860 78.37%
Republican Evan Queitsch 3,550 21.63%
Total votes 16,410 100%
Democratic hold

District 12

edit

Incumbent Republican Dorinda Connor has represented the 12th district since 1997. Connor lost re-election to Democrat Nicole Poore.

Delaware Senate 12th district general election, 2012
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Nicole Poore 12,875 60.29%
Republican Dorinda Connor (incumbent) 8,170 38.26%
Libertarian Brad Thomas 310 1.45%
Total votes 21,355 100%
Democratic gain from Republican

District 13

edit

Incumbent Democrat Majority Leader David McBride has represented the 13th district since 1979.

Delaware Senate 13th district general election, 2012
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic David McBride (incumbent) 14,444 100%
Total votes 14,444 100%
Democratic hold

District 14

edit

Incumbent Democrat Bruce Ennis has represented the 14th district since 2007.

Delaware Senate 14th district general election, 2012
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Bruce Ennis (incumbent) 12,031 61.12%
Republican Scott Unruh 7,652 38.88%
Total votes 19,683 100%
Democratic hold

District 15

edit

Incumbent Republican David Lawson has represented the 15th district since 2011.

Delaware Senate 15th district general election, 2012
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican David Lawson (incumbent) 9,547 50.58%
Democratic Kathleen Cooke 9,004 47.70%
Independent Party Catherine Samardza 324 1.72%
Total votes 18,875 100%
Republican hold

District 16

edit

Incumbent Republican Colin Bonini has represented the 16th district since 1995.

Delaware Senate 16th district general election, 2012
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Colin Bonini (incumbent) 9,372 79.91%
Independent Party Michael Tedesco 2,356 20.09%
Total votes 11,728 100%
Republican hold

District 17

edit

Incumbent Democrat Brian Bushweller has represented the 17th district since 2009.

Delaware Senate 17th district general election, 2012
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Brian Bushweller (incumbent) 13,161 100%
Total votes 13,161 100%
Democratic hold

District 18

edit

Incumbent Republican Minority Leader Gary Simpson has represented the 18th district since 1999.

Delaware Senate 18th district Republican primary election, 2012
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Gary Simpson (incumbent) 1,515 68.03%
Republican Matthew A. Opaliski 712 31.97%
Total votes 2,227 100%
Delaware Senate 18th district general election, 2012
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Gary Simpson (incumbent) 13,198 100%
Total votes 13,198 100%
Republican hold

District 19

edit

Incumbent Republican Joseph Booth has represented the 19th district since 2009. Booth lost re-nomination to fellow Republican Eric Bodenweiser. Bodenweiser later withdrew from the general election and was replaced on the ballot by Brian Pettyjohn. Pettyjohn won the general election.

Delaware Senate 19th district Republican primary election, 2012
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Eric Bodenweiser 1,736 52.75%
Republican Joseph Booth (incumbent) 1,555 47.25%
Total votes 3,291 100%
Delaware Senate 19th district general election, 2012
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Brian Pettyjohn[b] 9,817 59.78%
Democratic Jane E. Hovington 6,605 40.22%
Total votes 16,422 100%
Republican hold

District 20

edit

Incumbent Democrat George Bunting has represented the 20th district since 1997. Bunting retired and Republican Gerald Hocker won the open seat.

Delaware Senate 20th district general election, 2012
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Gerald Hocker 14,290 67.96%
Democratic Richard Eakle 6,736 32.04%
Total votes 21,026 100%
Republican gain from Democratic

District 21

edit

Incumbent Democrat Robert Venables Sr. has represented the 21st district since 1989.

Delaware Senate 21st district general election, 2012
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Robert Venables Sr. (incumbent) 8,955 55.86%
Republican Bryant Richardson 6,889 42.97%
Libertarian John F. Potter 187 1.17%
Total votes 16,031 100%
Democratic hold

References

edit
  1. ^ "Delaware Senate elections, 2012". Ballotpedia. Retrieved June 25, 2022.
  2. ^ "Primary Election (Official Results)". State of Delaware Department of Elections. September 13, 2012. Retrieved June 25, 2022.
  3. ^ "General Election (Official Results)". State of Delaware Department of Elections. November 14, 2012. Retrieved June 25, 2022.

Notes

edit
  1. ^ Redistricted from the 6th district.
  2. ^ Replacement for Eric Bodenweiser.