2012 United States Senate election in Tennessee: Difference between revisions

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			{{Short description\|none}} <!-- "none" is preferred when the title is already sufficiently detailed; see ] -->
	{{Infobox Election

	\| election_name = United States Senate election in Tennessee, 2012
			{{Main\|2012 United States Senate elections}}
	\| country = Tennessee

	\| type = presidential
			{{distinguish\|2012 Tennessee Senate election}}
	\| ongoing =
			{{Use mdy dates\|date=May 2020}}
	\| previous_election = United States Senate election in Tennessee, 2006
			{{use American English\|date=November 2020}}
	\| previous_year = 2006
			{{Use mdy dates\|date=December 2017}}
	\| next_election = United States Senate election in Tennessee, 2018
			{{Infobox election
	\| next_year = 2018
			\| election_name = 2012 United States Senate election in Tennessee
	\| election_date = November 6, 2012
			\| country = Tennessee
	\| image1 = ]
			\| type = presidential
	\| nominee1 = ]
			\| ongoing = no
	\| party1 = Republican Party (United States)
			\| previous_election = 2006 United States Senate election in Tennessee
	\| popular_vote1 =
			\| previous_year = 2006
	\| percentage1 =
			\| next_election = 2018 United States Senate election in Tennessee
	\| image2 = ]
			\| next_year = 2018
	\| nominee2 = ]
			\| election_date = November 6, 2012
	\| party2 = Democratic Party (United States)
			\| image_size = x150px
	\| popular_vote2 =
			\| turnout = 61.86% {{increase}}<ref>{{Cite news \|date=November 6, 2012 \|title=Tennessee Voter Turnout in 2012 \|work=Tennessee Secretary of State \|url=https://sos.tn.gov/elections/statistics \|access-date=February 28, 2023}}</ref> 11.89 ]
	\| percentage2 =
			\| image1 = File:Bob Corker official Senate photo (cropped).jpg
	\| map_image =
			\| nominee1 = ''']'''
	\| map_size = 300px
			\| party1 = Republican Party (United States)
	\| map_caption = County results
			\| popular_vote1 = '''1,506,443'''
	\| title = U.S. Senator
			\| percentage1 = '''64.89%'''
	\| before_election = ]
			\| image2 = File:3x4.svg
	\| before_party = Republican Party (United States)
			\| nominee2 = Mark Clayton
	\| after_election = TBD
			\| party2 = Democratic Party (United States)
	\| after_party =
			\| popular_vote2 = 705,882
			\| percentage2 = 30.41%
			\| map_image = {{switcher \|]\|County results
			\|]\|Congressional district results
			\|] \|State Senate district results
			\|] \|State House district results \|default=1}}
			\| map_size =
			\| map_caption = '''Corker''': {{legend0\|#ffb2b2\|40–50%}} {{legend0\|#e27f7f\|50–60%}} {{legend0\|#d75d5d\|60–70%}} {{legend0\|#d72f30\|70–80%}} {{legend0\|#c21b18\|80–90%}}<br />'''Clayton''': {{legend0\|#7996e2\|50–60%}} {{legend0\|#6674de\|60–70%}}
			\| title = U.S. Senator
			\| before_election = ]
			\| before_party = Republican Party (United States)
			\| after_election = ]
			\| after_party = Republican Party (United States)
	}}		}}
	{{ElectionsTN}}		{{ElectionsTN}}
	The '''2012 United States Senate election in Tennessee''' ~~will take~~ place on November 6, 2012 ~~concurrently~~ ~~with~~ the ] ~~as well as other~~ elections to the ~~] and~~ ] and various state and local elections. Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator ] is ~~running~~ ~~for~~ ~~re-election~~ to a ~~second~~ ~~term~~.		The '''2012 United States Senate election in Tennessee''' took place on November 6, 2012, as part of the general election including the ], elections to the ] and various state and local elections. Incumbent ] U.S. Senator ] won a second term in a landslide, carrying all but two counties in the state.

			Corker narrowly flipped reliably Democratic ], home to ], which had not voted Republican on the presidential level since ]. He faced Democratic nominee Mark E. Clayton<ref>"2012's worst candidate? With Mark Clayton, Tennessee Democrats hit bottom." by David A. Fahrenthold, ''Washington Post'', October 22, 2012, , ""If there are people who don't believe that there's a campaign here, then guess what? They can come to Tennessee, if they're a voter, and they can see Mark E. Clayton, and next to Mark E. Clayton there's going to be a 'D,' " he said on the phone. "Like it or not, Mark Clayton is the Democratic nominee in Tennessee.""</ref> as well as several third-party candidates and several independents in this election.
	==Background==
	] mayor ] was elected with 50.71% of the vote in 2006 against U.S. representative ]

			Corker easily won the Republican primary with 85% of the vote, and anti-] activist and ] Clayton won the Democratic nomination with 30% of the vote, despite raising no money and having a website that was four years out of date.<ref>{{cite news\|url=https://www.motherjones.com/mojo/2012/08/mark-clayton-tennessee-democrats-senate\|title=Dems Nominate Anti-Gay Conspiracy Theorist for Senate\|last=Murphy\|first=Tim\|date=August 3, 2012\|work=Mother Jones\|access-date=August 21, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news \|last=Fahrenthold \|first=David A. \|date=2023-05-19 \|title=2012’s worst candidate? With Mark Clayton, Tennessee Democrats hit bottom. \|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/decision2012/2012s-worst-candidate-with-mark-clayton-tennessee-democrats-hit-bottom/2012/10/22/77da926e-1b8a-11e2-a146-ccabc9c85c53_story.html \|access-date=2024-06-11 \|work=Washington Post \|language=en-US \|issn=0190-8286}}</ref><ref>{{Cite AV media \|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b3IhPZypFB8 \|title=Democractic Primary Winner for Senate in Tennessee Mark Clayton Responds to Attacks \|date=2012-08-05 \|last=Kenny's Sideshow \|access-date=2024-06-11 \|via=YouTube}}</ref>
	==Republican primary==

	===Candidates===
			The next day ] disavowed Clayton over his active role in the ], which they described as a "known hate group". They blamed his victory among candidates for whom the TNDP provided little forums to become known on the fact that his name appeared first on the ballot, and said they would do nothing to help his campaign, urging Democrats to vote for "the write-in candidate of their choice" in November.<ref name="tennessean">{{cite web\|url= http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120803/NEWS02/308030124/Senate-nominee-M?nclick_check=1\|title=Tennessee Democratic Party disavows Senate nominee\|date=August 3, 2012\|access-date=August 4, 2012\|work=]\|first=Michael\|last=Cass}}</ref> One of the Democratic candidates, Larry Crim, filed a petition seeking to offer the voters a new primary in which to select a Democratic nominee among the remaining candidates the party had affirmed as bona fide and as a preliminary motion sought a temporary restraining order against certification of the results, but after a judge denied the temporary order Crim withdrew his petition.<ref>{{cite news\|url=http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120817/NEWS02/308170061/Mark-Clayton-victory-Democratic-primary-upheld-by-Nashville-judge\|title=Mark Clayton victory in Democratic primary upheld by Nashville judge\|last=Sisk\|first=Chas\|date=August 17, 2012\|work=The Tennessean\|access-date=August 21, 2012}}</ref>
	====Declared<ref name=TNSOS>{{cite web\|url=http://www.tn.gov/sos/election/2012%20US%20SENATE%20Candidates.pdf/\|title=2012 U.S. Senate Candidates\|date=2012\| accessdate=July 4, 2012\|work=tn.gov/sos/election}}</ref>====

			== Background ==
			The incumbent in the race, former ] mayor ], was elected in 2006 with 50.7% of the vote in a win against U.S. representative ]

			== Republican primary ==

			=== Candidates ===

			==== Declared ====
	* Fred R. Anderson		* Fred R. Anderson
	* Mark Twain Clemens, unemployed		* Mark Twain Clemens, unemployed
	* ], incumbent U.S. Senator		* ], incumbent U.S. Senator
	* James Durkan, businessman		* James Durkan, businessman
	* Brenda Lenard, ~~Tea Party Activist~~ & ~~Doctoral~~ ~~Student~~		* Brenda Lenard, businesswoman & doctoral student
	* Zach Poskevich, technology consultant		* Zach Poskevich, technology consultant

			==== Publicly Speculated, but Declined ====
	===Polling===
			* ], country music entertainer
	<!-- = = = don't edit next six lines for Navbox below = = = -->

	{\| class="navbox collapsible collapsed" style="text-align:left; border:0; margin-top:0.2em;"
			=== Polling ===
	\|-
			<!-- = = = don't edit the line below = = = -->
	! style="background:#cff; font-weight:normal;"\|
			{{hidden begin\|titlestyle=background:#cff\|title=Hypothetical polling\|contentstyle=border:solid 1px silver; padding:8px; background:white;}}
	'''Hypothetical polling'''
			<!-- = = = don't edit the line above = = = -->
	\|-
			{\| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
	\| style="border:solid 1px silver; padding:8px; background:white;"\|
	<!-- = = = don't edit above six lines = = = -->
	{\| class="wikitable"
	\|- valign= bottom		\|- valign= bottom
	! Poll source		! Poll source
	! ~~style="width:130px;"~~\| Date(s)<br />administered		! {{Small\|Date(s)<br />administered}}
	! ~~class=small~~ \| Sample<br />size		! {{Small\|Sample<br />size}}
	! ~~<small>~~Margin of~~</small>~~<br />error		! {{Small\|Margin of<br />error}}
	! style="width:100px;"\| Bob<br />Corker		! style="width:100px;"\| Bob<br />Corker
	! style="width:100px;"\| More~~<br~~ />conservative<br />challenger		! style="width:100px;"\| {{nowrap\|More conservative}}<br />challenger
	! Other		! Other
	! Undecided		! Undecided
	\|-		\|-
	\|		\| align=left \|]<ref name="Public Policy Polling"></ref>
	~~\| align=center~~\| February ~~9-13~~, 2011		\| February 9–13, 2011
	~~\| align=center~~\| 400		\| 400
	~~\| align=center~~\| ± 4.9%		\| ±4.9%
	~~\| align=center~~\| 38%		\| 38%
	\| {{party shading/Republican}} ~~align=center~~\| '''43%'''		\| {{party shading/Republican}} \| '''43%'''
	~~\| align=center~~\| —		\| —
	~~\| align=center~~\| 19%		\| 19%

	\|}		\|}
	{\| class="wikitable"		{\| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
	\|- valign= bottom		\|- valign= bottom
	! Poll source		! Poll source
	! ~~style="width:130px;"~~\| Date(s)<br />administered		! {{Small\|Date(s)<br />administered}}
	! ~~class=small~~ \| Sample<br />size		! {{Small\|Sample<br />size}}
	! ~~<small>~~Margin of~~</small>~~<br />error		! {{Small\|Margin of<br />error}}
	! style="width:100px;"\| Bob<br />Corker		! style="width:100px;"\| Bob<br />Corker
	! style="width:100px;"\| Marsha<br />Blackburn		! style="width:100px;"\| Marsha<br />Blackburn
Line 84:		Line 104:
	! Undecided		! Undecided
	\|-		\|-
			\| align=left \|]<ref name="Public Policy Polling"/>
	\|
	~~\| align=center~~\| February ~~9-13~~, 2011		\| February 9–13, 2011
	~~\| align=center~~\| 400		\| 400
	~~\| align=center~~\| ± 4.9%		\| ±4.9%
	\| {{party shading/Republican}} ~~align=center~~\| '''50%'''		\| {{party shading/Republican}} \| '''50%'''
	~~\| align=center~~\| 30%		\| 30%
	~~\| align=center~~\| —		\| —
	~~\| align=center~~\| 20%		\| 20%

	\|}		\|}

	{\| class="wikitable"		{\| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
	\|- valign= bottom		\|- valign= bottom
	! Poll source		! Poll source
	! ~~style="width:130px;"~~\| Date(s)<br />administered		! {{Small\|Date(s)<br />administered}}
	! ~~class=small~~ \| Sample<br />size		! {{Small\|Sample<br />size}}
	! ~~<small>~~Margin of~~</small>~~<br />error		! {{Small\|Margin of<br />error}}
	! style="width:100px;"\| Bob<br />Corker		! style="width:100px;"\| Bob<br />Corker
	! style="width:100px;"\| Hank<br />Williams, Jr.		! style="width:100px;"\| Hank<br />Williams, Jr.
Line 105:		Line 126:
	! Undecided		! Undecided
	\|-		\|-
			\| align=left \|]<ref name="Public Policy Polling"/>
	\|
	~~\| align=center~~\| February ~~9-13~~, 2011		\| February 9–13, 2011
	~~\| align=center~~\| 400		\| 400
	~~\| align=center~~\| ± 4.9%		\| ±4.9%
	\| {{party shading/Republican}} ~~align=center~~\| '''66%'''		\| {{party shading/Republican}} \| '''66%'''
	~~\| align=center~~\| 13%		\| 13%
	~~\| align=center~~\| —		\| —
	~~\| align=center~~\| 21%		\| 21%

	\|}		\|}
	{{~~election box~~ end}}		{{hidden end}}

	===Results===		=== Results ===
			{{Election box begin no change\|title=Tennessee Republican primary<ref name=TN_primary>{{Cite web \|url=http://elections.tn.gov/results.php?ByOffice=United%20States%20Senate \|title=Tennessee Secretary of State Unofficial Election Results \|access-date=August 2, 2012 \|work=Secretary of State of Tennessee}}</ref>}}
	{{Election box begin no change
			{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change\|candidate=Bob Corker (Incumbent)\|party=Republican Party (US)\|votes=389,483\|percentage=85.25%}}
	\| title = Republican primary results<ref name=TN_primary>{{cite web\|url=http://elections.tn.gov/results.php?ByOffice=United%20States%20Senate\|title=Tennessee Secretary of State Unofficial Election Results\|accessdate=August 2, 2012\|work=Secretary of State of Tennessee}}</ref>
			{{Election box candidate with party link no change\|candidate=Zach Poskevich\|party=Republican Party (US)\|votes=28,299\|percentage=6.19%}}
	}}
	{{Election box candidate with party link no change		{{Election box candidate with party link no change\|candidate=Fred Anderson\|party=Republican Party (US)\|votes=15,942\|percentage=3.49%}}
			{{Election box candidate with party link no change\|candidate=Mark Twain Clemens\|party=Republican Party (US)\|votes=11,788\|percentage=2.58%}}
	\| candidate = '''Bob Corker (Incumbent)'''
			{{Election box candidate with party link no change\|candidate=Brenda Lenard\|party=Republican Party (US)\|votes=11,378\|percentage=2.49%}}
	\| party = Republican Party (United States)
			{{Election box total no change\|votes=456,890\|percentage=100.00%}}
	\| votes = '''389,483'''
			{{End}}
	\| percentage = '''85.1'''

	}}
			== Democratic primary ==
	{{Election box candidate with party link no change

	\| candidate = Zach Poskevich
			=== Candidates ===
	\| party = Republican Party (United States)
	\| votes = 28,299
	\| percentage = 6.2
	}}
	{{Election box candidate with party link no change
	\| candidate = Fred Anderson
	\| party = Republican Party (United States)
	\| votes = 15,942
	\| percentage = 3.6
	}}
	{{Election box candidate with party link no change
	\| candidate = Mark Twain Clemens
	\| party = Republican Party (United States)
	\| votes = 11,788
	\| percentage = 2.6
	}}
	{{Election box candidate with party link no change
	\| candidate = Brenda Lenard
	\| party = Republican Party (United States)
	\| votes = 11,378
	\| percentage = 2.5
	}}
	{{Election box total no change
	\| votes = 456,890
	\| percentage = 100
	}}
	{{Election box end}}

			==== Declared ====
	==Democratic primary==
			* Mark E. Clayton, Vice President of the nonprofit organization ] and candidate for the U.S. Senate in ]
	===Candidates===
			* Larry Crim, nonprofit executive
	====Declared<ref name=TNSOS/>====
	* Mark Clayton, Vice President of ] (non-partisan/non-profit), 2008 Democratic candidate for US Senate
	* Larry Crim
	* Gary Gene Davis		* Gary Gene Davis
	* ]		* Dave Hancock
	* ], actress		* ], actress
	* Thomas K. Owens		* Thomas K. Owens
	* ]		* Benjamin Roberts

	===~~=Declined=~~===		=== Results ===
			[[File:Tennessee Democratic U.S. Senate primary results by county, 2012.svg\|thumb\|300px\|Results by county:
	* ], former Tennessee governor and former ] mayor<ref name=knox>{{cite web\|url=http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2011/may/01/few-competitors-ready-to-take-bob-corker-in-2012/?print=1\|title=Few competitors ready to take on Bob Corker in 2012\|date=May 1, 2011\|accessdate=August 9, 2011\|work=]\|first=Michael\|last=Collins}}</ref><ref>{{cite web\|first=Mike \|last=Morrow \|url=http://www.tnreport.com/2011/06/bredesen-busy-traveling-lecturing-promoting-health-policy-book/ \|title=Bredesen Busy Traveling, Lecturing, Promoting Health Policy Book \|publisher=Tennessee Report \|date=June 6, 2011 \|accessdate=January 11, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web\|last=Sabato \|first=Larry J. \|last2=Kondik \|first2=Kyle \|url=http://www.centerforpolitics.org/crystalball/articles/ljs2011062301/ \|title=Democrats Blue As Senate Acquires A Reddish Tinge \|publisher=Sabato's Crystal Ball \|date=June 23, 2011 \|accessdate=January 11, 2012}}</ref>
			{{collapsible list
	* ], U.S. representative<ref>{{cite web\|last=McMillin \|first=Zack \|url=http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2011/may/31/memphis-school-board-member-tomeka-hart-run-congre/ \|title=Memphis school board member Tomeka Hart to run for Congress in 2012 \|publisher=The Commercial Appeal \|date=May 31, 2011 \|accessdate=January 11, 2012}}</ref>
			\| title = {{legend\|#7996e2\|Clayton}}
	* ], state senator<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.jacksonsun.com/article/20120126/NEWS01/201260330/Herron-won-t-run-re-election-Congress\|title=Herron won't run for re-election or Congress\|date=January 25, 2012\|accessdate=February 9, 2012\|work=]\|first=Lauren\|last=Foreman}}</ref>
			\|{{legend\|#dfeeff\|20–30%}}

			\|{{legend\|#bdd3ff\|30–40%}}
	===Results===
			\|{{legend\|#a5b0ff\|40–50%}}
			\|{{legend\|#7996e2\|50–60%}}
			}}
			{{collapsible list
			\| title = {{legend\|#5fd35f\|Davis}}
			\|{{legend\|#c0f0c0\|20–30%}}
			\|{{legend\|#aae5aa\|30–40%}}
			\|{{legend\|#87de87\|40–50%}}
			}}
			{{collapsible list
			\| title = {{legend\|#c88fe4\|Overall}}
			\|{{legend\|#f8effe\|20–30%}}
			\|{{legend\|#f2dffc\|30–40%}}
			\|{{legend\|#dcb7ef\|40–50%}}
			\|{{legend\|#b368d9\|60–70%}}
			}}
			{{collapsible list
			\| title = {{legend\|#ff9a50\|Hancock}}
			\|{{legend\|#ffcca9\|30–40%}}
			}}
			]]
	{{Election box begin no change		{{Election box begin no change
	\| title = Democratic primary results<ref name=TN_primary/>		\| title = Democratic primary results<ref name=TN_primary/>
	}}		}}
	{{Election box candidate with party link no change		{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
	\| candidate = ~~'''~~Mark Clayton~~'''~~		\| candidate = Mark E. Clayton
	\| party = Democratic Party (United States)		\| party = Democratic Party (United States)
	\| votes = ~~'''~~48,~~050'''~~		\| votes = 48,126
	\| percentage = ~~'''30~~.~~0'''~~		\| percentage = 29.99%
	}}		}}
	{{Election box candidate with party link no change		{{Election box candidate with party link no change
	\| candidate = Gary Gene Davis		\| candidate = Gary Gene Davis
	\| party = Democratic Party (United States)		\| party = Democratic Party (United States)
	\| votes = 24,~~696~~		\| votes = 24,789
	\| percentage = 15.4		\| percentage = 15.45%
	}}		}}
	{{Election box candidate with party link no change		{{Election box candidate with party link no change
	\| candidate = Park Overall		\| candidate = Park Overall
	\| party = Democratic Party (United States)		\| party = Democratic Party (United States)
	\| votes = 24,~~188~~		\| votes = 24,263
	\| percentage = 15.1		\| percentage = 15.12%
	}}		}}
	{{Election box candidate with party link no change		{{Election box candidate with party link no change
	\| candidate = Larry Crim		\| candidate = Larry Crim
	\| party = Democratic Party (United States)		\| party = Democratic Party (United States)
	\| votes = 17,~~581~~		\| votes = 17,383
	\| percentage = 11.0		\| percentage = 10.83%
	}}		}}
	{{Election box candidate with party link no change		{{Election box candidate with party link no change
	\| candidate = ~~Dave~~ ~~Hancock~~		\| candidate = Benjamin Roberts
	\| party = Democratic Party (United States)		\| party = Democratic Party (United States)
	\| votes = 16,~~125~~		\| votes = 16,369
	\| percentage = 10.2		\| percentage = 10.20%
	}}		}}
	{{Election box candidate with party link no change		{{Election box candidate with party link no change
	\| candidate = ~~Benjamin~~ ~~Roberts~~		\| candidate = David Hancock
	\| party = Democratic Party (United States)		\| party = Democratic Party (United States)
	\| votes = 16,~~339~~		\| votes = 16,167
	\| percentage = 10.0		\| percentage = 10.08
	}}		}}
	{{Election box candidate with party link no change		{{Election box candidate with party link no change
	\| candidate = Thomas Owens		\| candidate = Thomas Owens
	\| party = Democratic Party (United States)		\| party = Democratic Party (United States)
	\| votes = 13,~~352~~		\| votes = 13,366
	\| percentage = 8.3		\| percentage = 8.33
	}}		}}
	{{Election box total no change		{{Election box total no change
	\| votes = 160,~~331~~		\| votes = 160,463
	\| percentage = 100		\| percentage = 100.00
	}}		}}
	{{Election box end}}		{{Election box end}}

	==General election==		== General election ==

	===Candidates<ref name=TNSOS/>===
			=== Candidates ===
	* ] (Republican), incumbent U.S. Senator		* ] (Republican), incumbent U.S. Senator
			* Mark E. Clayton (Democratic)<ref>{{Cite web\|url=https://www.claytonforus.com/\|title=clayton forus' – Products I Tried To Satisfy Myself\|accessdate=December 30, 2022}}</ref>
	* Mark Clayton (Democratic), 2008 Democratic U.S. Senate Candidate
	* Shaun Crowell (])		* Shaun Crowell (])
	* Martin Pleasant (])<ref>http://greenpartyoftennessee.org/candidates/</ref><ref>http://www.ballot-access.org/2012/02/03/tennessee-ballot-access-law-for-new-and-minor-parties-struck-down/</ref>		* Martin Pleasant (])<ref>{{Cite web\|url=http://greenpartyoftennessee.org/candidates/\|title = Candidates GPTN}}</ref><ref name=ballot>{{cite web\|url=http://www.ballot-access.org/2012/02/03/tennessee-ballot-access-law-for-new-and-minor-parties-struck-down/\|title=Tennessee Ballot Access Law for New and Minor Parties Struck Down\|date=February 3, 2012\|access-date=August 4, 2012\|work=]\|first=Richard\|last=Winger}}</ref>
	* Kermit Steck (])<ref>http://constitutionpartyoftennessee.com/candidates/current-candidates/~~</ref><ref>http~~://~~www~~.~~ballot-access~~.org/~~2012~~/02/03/~~tennessee~~-~~ballot~~-~~access-law-for~~-~~new-and-minor-parties-struck-down/~~</ref>		* Kermit Steck (])<ref name="ballot"/><ref>{{Cite web \|url=http://constitutionpartyoftennessee.com/candidates/current-candidates/ \|title = Current Candidates « The Constitution Party of Tennessee \|access-date=August 4, 2012 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121021140136/http://constitutionpartyoftennessee.com/candidates/current-candidates/ \|archive-date=October 21, 2012 \|url-status=dead }}</ref>
	* David Gatchell (~~Independent~~)		* David Gatchell (independent)
	* James Higdon (~~Independent~~)		* James Higdon (independent)
	* Michel Joseph Long (~~Independent~~)		* Michel Joseph Long (independent)
	* Troy Stephen Scoggin (~~Independent~~)		* Troy Stephen Scoggin (independent)
			* Jacob Maurer (Write-In)<ref>{{Cite web \|url=http://www.jacobmaurertn.com/ \|title = Jacob Maurer - US Senate Candidate - Home \|access-date=September 27, 2012 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130606022206/http://jacobmaurertn.com/ \|archive-date=June 6, 2013 \|url-status=dead }}</ref>

	===~~Polling~~===		=== Predictions ===
			{\| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
	<!-- = = = don't edit next six lines for Navbox below = = = -->
	{\| class="navbox collapsible collapsed" style="text-align:left; border:0; margin-top:0.2em;"
	\|-		\|-
			! Source
	! style="background:#cff; font-weight:normal;"\|
			! Ranking
	'''Hypothetical polling'''
			! As of
	\|-		\|-
			\| align=left \| ]<ref>{{cite web \| title=2012 Senate Race Ratings for November 1, 2012 \| url=https://www.cookpolitical.com/ratings/senate-race-ratings/139117 \| website=The Cook Political Report \| access-date=September 20, 2018 \| archive-date=August 29, 2018 \| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180829035855/https://www.cookpolitical.com/ratings/senate-race-ratings/139117 \| url-status=dead }}</ref>
	\| style="border:solid 1px silver; padding:8px; background:white;"\|
			\| {{USRaceRating\|Solid\|R}}
	<!-- = = = don't edit above six lines = = = -->
			\| November 1, 2012
	{\| class="wikitable"
			\|-
			\| align=left \| ]<ref>{{cite web \| title=2012 Senate \| url=http://www.centerforpolitics.org/crystalball/2012-senate/ \| website=Sabato's Crystal Ball \| access-date=September 20, 2018}}</ref>
			\| {{USRaceRating\|Safe\|R}}
			\| November 5, 2012
			\|-
			\| align=left \| ]<ref>{{cite web \| title=2012 Senate Ratings \| url=http://www.insideelections.com/ratings/senate/2012-senate-ratings-november-2-2012 \| work=Senate Ratings \| publisher=The Rothenberg Political Report \| access-date=September 20, 2018}}</ref>
			\| {{USRaceRating\|Safe\|R}}
			\| November 2, 2012
			\|-
			\| align=left \| ]<ref>{{cite web \| title=2012 Elections Map - Battle for the Senate 2012 \| url=https://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2012/senate/2012_elections_senate_map.html\| publisher=Real Clear Politics \| access-date=September 20, 2018}}</ref>
			\| {{USRaceRating\|Safe\|R}}
			\| November 5, 2012
			\|}

			=== Polling ===
			{\| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
	\|- valign= bottom		\|- valign= bottom
	! Poll source		! Poll source
	! ~~style="width:130px;"~~\| Date(s)<br />administered		! {{Small\|Date(s)<br />administered}}
	! ~~class=small~~ \| Sample<br />size		! {{Small\|Sample<br />size}}
	! ~~<small>~~Margin of~~</small>~~<br />error		! {{Small\|Margin of<br />error}}
			! style="width:100px;"\| Bob<br />Corker (R)
			! style="width:100px;"\| Mark<br />Clayton (D)
			! Other
			! Undecided
			\|-
			\| align=left \|]<ref></ref>
			\| October 16–21, 2011
			\| 609
			\| ±4%
			\| {{party shading/Republican}} \| '''59%'''
			\| 21%
			\| 4%
			\| 15%

			\|}

			<!-- = = = don't edit the line below = = = -->
			{{hidden begin\|titlestyle=background:#cff\|title=Hypothetical polling\|contentstyle=border:solid 1px silver; padding:8px; background:white;}}
			<!-- = = = don't edit the line above = = = -->
			{\| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
			\|- valign= bottom
			! Poll source
			! {{Small\|Date(s)<br />administered}}
			! {{Small\|Sample<br />size}}
			! {{Small\|Margin of<br />error}}
	! style="width:100px;"\| Bob<br />Corker (R)		! style="width:100px;"\| Bob<br />Corker (R)
	! style="width:100px;"\| Phil<br />Bredesen (D)		! style="width:100px;"\| Phil<br />Bredesen (D)
Line 256:		Line 314:
	! Undecided		! Undecided
	\|-		\|-
	\|		\| align=left \|]<ref name="web.archive.org"></ref>
	~~\| align=center~~\| February ~~9-13~~, 2011		\| February 9–13, 2011
	~~\| align=center~~\| 500		\| 500
	~~\| align=center~~\| ± 4.4%		\| ±4.4%
	~~\| align=center~~\| 41%		\| 41%
	\| {{party shading/Democratic}} ~~align=center~~\| '''46%'''		\| {{party shading/Democratic}} \| '''46%'''
	~~\| align=center~~\| —		\| —
	~~\| align=center~~\| 12%		\| 12%

	\|}		\|}
	{\| class="wikitable"		{\| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
	\|- valign= bottom		\|- valign= bottom
	! Poll source		! Poll source
	! ~~style="width:130px;"~~\| Date(s)<br />administered		! {{Small\|Date(s)<br />administered}}
	! ~~class=small~~ \| Sample<br />size		! {{Small\|Sample<br />size}}
	! ~~<small>~~Margin of~~</small>~~<br />error		! {{Small\|Margin of<br />error}}
	! style="width:100px;"\| Bob<br />Corker (R)		! style="width:100px;"\| Bob<br />Corker (R)
	! style="width:100px;"\| Jim<br />Cooper (D)		! style="width:100px;"\| Jim<br />Cooper (D)
Line 276:		Line 335:
	! Undecided		! Undecided
	\|-		\|-
			\| align=left \|]<ref name="web.archive.org"/>
	\|
	~~\| align=center~~\| February ~~9-13~~, 2011		\| February 9–13, 2011
	~~\| align=center~~\| 500		\| 500
	~~\| align=center~~\| ± 4.4%		\| ±4.4%
	\| {{party shading/Republican}} ~~align=center~~\| '''50%'''		\| {{party shading/Republican}} \| '''50%'''
	~~\| align=center~~\| 32%		\| 32%
	~~\| align=center~~\| —		\| —
	~~\| align=center~~\| 22%		\| 22%

	\|}		\|}

	{\| class="wikitable"		{\| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
	\|- valign= bottom		\|- valign= bottom
	! Poll source		! Poll source
	! ~~style="width:130px;"~~\| Date(s)<br />administered		! {{Small\|Date(s)<br />administered}}
	! ~~class=small~~ \| Sample<br />size		! {{Small\|Sample<br />size}}
	! ~~<small>~~Margin of~~</small>~~<br />error		! {{Small\|Margin of<br />error}}
	! style="width:100px;"\| Bob<br />Corker (R)		! style="width:100px;"\| Bob<br />Corker (R)
	! style="width:100px;"\| Harold<br />Ford, Jr. (D)		! style="width:100px;"\| Harold<br />Ford, Jr. (D)
Line 297:		Line 357:
	! Undecided		! Undecided
	\|-		\|-
			\| align=left \|]<ref name="web.archive.org"/>
	\|
	~~\| align=center~~\| February ~~9-13~~, 2011		\| February 9–13, 2011
	~~\| align=center~~\| 500		\| 500
	~~\| align=center~~\| ± 4.4%		\| ±4.4%
	\| {{party shading/Republican}} ~~align=center~~\| '''55%'''		\| {{party shading/Republican}} \| '''55%'''
	~~\| align=center~~\| 32%		\| 32%
	~~\| align=center~~\| —		\| —
	~~\| align=center~~\| 14%		\| 14%

	\|}		\|}

	{\| class="wikitable"		{\| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
	\|- valign= bottom		\|- valign= bottom
	! Poll source		! Poll source
	! ~~style="width:130px;"~~\| Date(s)<br />administered		! {{Small\|Date(s)<br />administered}}
	! ~~class=small~~ \| Sample<br />size		! {{Small\|Sample<br />size}}
	! ~~<small>~~Margin of~~</small>~~<br />error		! {{Small\|Margin of<br />error}}
	! style="width:100px;"\| Bob<br />Corker (R)		! style="width:100px;"\| Bob<br />Corker (R)
	! style="width:100px;"\| Bart<br /> Gordon (D)		! style="width:100px;"\| Bart<br />Gordon (D)
	! Other		! Other
	! Undecided		! Undecided
	\|-		\|-
			\| align=left \|]<ref name="web.archive.org"/>
	\|
	~~\| align=center~~\| February ~~9-13~~, 2011		\| February 9–13, 2011
	~~\| align=center~~\| 500		\| 500
	~~\| align=center~~\| ± 4.4%		\| ±4.4%
	\| {{party shading/Republican}} ~~align=center~~\| '''52%'''		\| {{party shading/Republican}} \| '''52%'''
	~~\| align=center~~\| 29%		\| 29%
	~~\| align=center~~\| —		\| —
	~~\| align=center~~\| 19%		\| 19%

	\|}		\|}

	{\| class="wikitable"		{\| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
	\|- valign= bottom		\|- valign= bottom
	! Poll source		! Poll source
	! ~~style="width:130px;"~~\| Date(s)<br />administered		! {{Small\|Date(s)<br />administered}}
	! ~~class=small~~ \| Sample<br />size		! {{Small\|Sample<br />size}}
	! ~~<small>~~Margin of~~</small>~~<br />error		! {{Small\|Margin of<br />error}}
	! style="width:100px;"\| Bob<br />Corker (R)		! style="width:100px;"\| Bob<br />Corker (R)
	! style="width:100px;"\| Al<br /> Gore (D)		! style="width:100px;"\| Al<br />Gore (D)
	! Other		! Other
	! Undecided		! Undecided
	\|-		\|-
			\| align=left \|]<ref name="web.archive.org"/>
	\|
	~~\| align=center~~\| February ~~9-13~~, 2011		\| February 9–13, 2011
	~~\| align=center~~\| 500		\| 500
	~~\| align=center~~\| ± 4.4%		\| ±4.4%
	\| {{party shading/Republican}} ~~align=center~~\| '''53%'''		\| {{party shading/Republican}} \| '''53%'''
	~~\| align=center~~\| 38%		\| 38%
	~~\| align=center~~\| —		\| —
	~~\| align=center~~\| 9%		\| 9%

	\|}		\|}

	{\| class="wikitable"		{\| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
	\|- valign= bottom		\|- valign= bottom
	! Poll source		! Poll source
	! ~~style="width:130px;"~~\| Date(s)<br />administered		! {{Small\|Date(s)<br />administered}}
	! ~~class=small~~ \| Sample<br />size		! {{Small\|Sample<br />size}}
	! ~~<small>~~Margin of~~</small>~~<br />error		! {{Small\|Margin of<br />error}}
	! style="width:100px;"\| Bob<br />Corker (R)		! style="width:100px;"\| Bob<br />Corker (R)
	! style="width:100px;"\| Tim<br />McGraw (D)		! style="width:100px;"\| Tim<br />McGraw (D)
Line 360:		Line 423:
	! Undecided		! Undecided
	\|-		\|-
			\| align=left \|]<ref name="web.archive.org"/>
	\|
	~~\| align=center~~\| February ~~9-13~~, 2011		\| February 9–13, 2011
	~~\| align=center~~\| 500		\| 500
	~~\| align=center~~\| ± 4.4%		\| ±4.4%
	\| {{party shading/Republican}} ~~align=center~~\| '''50%'''		\| {{party shading/Republican}} \| '''50%'''
	~~\| align=center~~\| 28%		\| 28%
	~~\| align=center~~\| —		\| —
	~~\| align=center~~\| 22%		\| 22%

	\|}		\|}
			{{hidden end}}

			=== Results ===
			Despite the TN Democratic Party encouraging write-in voting, the general election only saw 0.05% cast write-in votes. Clayton significantly underperformed compared to ], ]. Clayton got about 9% and 254,827 votes fewer than Obama.
			{{Election box begin
			\| title = United States Senate election in Tennessee, 2012<ref></ref>
			}}
			{{Election box winning candidate with party link
			\| candidate = ] (incumbent)
			\| party = Republican Party (United States)
			\| votes = 1,506,443
			\| percentage = 64.89%
			\| change = +14.18%
			}}
			{{Election box candidate with party link\|candidate=Mark Clayton\|party=Democratic Party (United States)\|votes=705,882\|percentage=30.41%\|change=-17.59%}}
			{{Election box candidate with party link\|candidate=Martin Pleasant\|party=Green Party (United States)\|votes=38,472\|percentage=1.66%\|change=+1.52%}}
			{{Election box candidate with party link\|candidate=Shaun Crowell\|party=Independent (United States)\|votes=20,936\|percentage=0.90%\|change=N/A}}
			{{Election box candidate with party link\|candidate=Kermit Steck\|party=Constitution Party (United States)\|votes=18,620\|percentage=0.80%\|change=N/A}}
			{{Election box candidate with party link\|candidate=James Higdon\|party=Independent (United States)\|votes=8,085\|percentage=0.35%\|change=N/A}}
			{{Election box candidate with party link\|candidate=Michael Joseph Long\|party=Independent (United States)\|votes=8,080\|percentage=0.35%\|change=N/A}}
			{{Election box candidate with party link\|candidate=Troy Stephen Scoggin\|party=Independent (United States)\|votes=7,148\|percentage=0.31%\|change=N/A}}
			{{Election box candidate with party link\|candidate=David Gatchell\|party=Independent (United States)\|votes=6,523\|percentage=0.28%\|change=N/A}}
			{{Election box candidate with party link\|candidate=Write-ins\|party=n/a\|votes=1,288\|percentage=0.05%\|change=N/A}}
			{{Election box total
			\| votes = 2,321,477
			\| percentage = 100.00%
			\| change = N/A
			}}
			{{Election box hold with party link no swing
			\| winner = Republican Party (United States)
			}}
	{{Election box end}}		{{Election box end}}

			====Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican====
	==See also==
			* ] (Largest city: ])
	*]
			* ] (Largest city: ])
	*]
			* ] (Largest city: ])
			* ] (Largest city: ])
			* ] (Largest city: ])
			* ] (Largest city: ])
			* ] (Largest city: ])
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			* ] (Largest city: ])
			* ] (Largest city: ])
			* ] (Largest city: ])
			* ] (Largest city: ])
			* ] (Largest city: ])
			* ] (largest municipality: ])
			* ] (largest municipality: ])
			* ] (largest municipality: ])
			* ] (largest municipality: ])
			* ] (largest municipality: ])
			* ] (largest municipality: ])
			* ] (largest municipality: ])
			* ] (largest municipality: ])
			* ] (largest municipality: ])
			* ] (largest municipality: ])
			* ] (largest municipality: ])
			* ] (largest municipality: ])
			* ] (largest city: ])
			* ] (largest town: ])
			* ] (largest city: ])
			* ] (Largest city: ])
			* ] (Largest city: ])
			* ] (Largest city: ])
			* ] (largest city: ])

			==== By congressional district ====
	==References==
			Corker carried 8 of the 9 congressional districts, including one that elected a Democrat.<ref>{{Cite web \|title=Detailed CD Results \|url=https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/u/0/d/1TJwB49wBV8seKLD81fKOlqEJIb4koUzsLa-2OxRkzkw/htmlview#gid=1756473184}}</ref><ref>{{cite web \|url=https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2012/11/19/1163009/-Daily-Kos-Elections-presidential-results-by-congressional-district-for-the-2012-2008-elections \|title=Daily Kos Elections' presidential results by congressional district for 2020, 2016, and 2012 \|first=David \|last=Nir \|date=November 19, 2020 \|website=]}}</ref>

			{\| class="wikitable"
			! District
			! Corker
			! Clayton
			! Representative
			\|- align="center"
			! rowspan="2" {{party shading/Republican}} \|{{ushr\|Tennessee\|1\|1st}}
			\| rowspan="2" \|'''76.58%'''
			\| rowspan="2" \|19.24%
			\|- align="center"
			\| {{party shading/Republican}} \|]
			\|- align="center"
			! {{party shading/Republican}} \|{{ushr\|Tennessee\|2\|2nd}}
			\| '''72.75%'''
			\| 21.24%
			\| {{party shading/Republican}} \|]
			\|- align="center"
			! {{party shading/Republican}} \|{{ushr\|Tennessee\|3\|3rd}}
			\| '''70.60%'''
			\| 25.60%
			\| {{party shading/Republican}} \|]
			\|- align="center"
			! {{party shading/Republican}} \|{{ushr\|Tennessee\|4\|4th}}
			\| '''69.30%'''
			\| 26.31%
			\| {{party shading/Republican}} \|]
			\|- align="center"
			! {{party shading/Republican}} \|{{ushr\|Tennessee\|5\|5th}}
			\| '''50.21%'''
			\| 43.32%
			\| {{party shading/Democratic}} \|]
			\|- align="center"
			! {{party shading/Republican}} \|{{ushr\|Tennessee\|6\|6th}}
			\| '''73.32%'''
			\| 22.04%
			\| {{party shading/Republican}} \|]
			\|- align="center"
			! {{party shading/Republican}} \|{{ushr\|Tennessee\|7\|7th}}
			\| '''69.62%'''
			\| 25.75%
			\| {{party shading/Republican}} \|]
			\|- align="center"
			! {{party shading/Republican}} \|{{ushr\|Tennessee\|8\|8th}}
			\| '''70.26%'''
			\| 26.40%
			\| {{party shading/Republican}} \|]
			\|- align="center"
			! {{party shading/Democratic}} \|{{ushr\|Tennessee\|9\|9th}}
			\| 28.56%
			\| '''67.00%'''
			\| {{party shading/Democratic}} \|]
			\|}

			== See also ==
			* ]
			* ]
			* ]

			== References ==
	{{reflist}}		{{reflist}}

	==External links==		== External links ==
	*		* Board
	* at ]		* at ]
			* at ]
	;Official campaign websites
			* {{Webarchive\|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130217163851/http://senate.ontheissues.org/Senate/Senate.htm#TN \|date=February 17, 2013 }} at ]
	*
	*
	*

			'''Official campaign websites'''
	{{United States elections, 2012}}
			*
			*
			*
			*
			*
			*
			*

	{{~~DEFAULTSORT:~~United States ~~Senate Election In Tennessee, 2012~~}}		{{2012 United States elections}}
	]
	]
	]

			]
	{{US-election-stub}}
			]
			]

Latest revision as of 01:30, 3 January 2025

Main article: 2012 United States Senate elections Not to be confused with 2012 Tennessee Senate election.

2012 United States Senate election in Tennessee

← 2006

November 6, 2012

2018 →

Turnout

61.86%

11.89 pp


Nominee	Bob Corker	Mark Clayton
Party	Republican	Democratic
Popular vote	1,506,443	705,882
Percentage	64.89%	30.41%

County results

Congressional district results

State Senate district results

State House district resultsCorker: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90%
Clayton: 50–60% 60–70%

U.S. senator before election

Bob Corker
Republican

Elected U.S. Senator

Bob Corker
Republican

Elections in Tennessee

Federal government

U.S. President
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Presidential primaries
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U.S. House
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Special elections
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State government

State elections
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Gubernatorial elections
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State Senate elections
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House of Representatives elections
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Ballot measures

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Nashville measures
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Local elections

Hamilton County mayoral elections
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2014 2018 2022
Nashville Mayoral elections
2007 2011 2015 2018 (sp) 2019 2023

Government

The 2012 United States Senate election in Tennessee took place on November 6, 2012, as part of the general election including the 2012 U.S. presidential election, elections to the House of Representatives and various state and local elections. Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Bob Corker won a second term in a landslide, carrying all but two counties in the state.

Corker narrowly flipped reliably Democratic Davidson County, home to Nashville, which had not voted Republican on the presidential level since 1988. He faced Democratic nominee Mark E. Clayton as well as several third-party candidates and several independents in this election.

Corker easily won the Republican primary with 85% of the vote, and anti-LGBT activist and conspiracy theorist Clayton won the Democratic nomination with 30% of the vote, despite raising no money and having a website that was four years out of date.

The next day Tennessee's Democratic Party disavowed Clayton over his active role in the Public Advocate of the United States, which they described as a "known hate group". They blamed his victory among candidates for whom the TNDP provided little forums to become known on the fact that his name appeared first on the ballot, and said they would do nothing to help his campaign, urging Democrats to vote for "the write-in candidate of their choice" in November. One of the Democratic candidates, Larry Crim, filed a petition seeking to offer the voters a new primary in which to select a Democratic nominee among the remaining candidates the party had affirmed as bona fide and as a preliminary motion sought a temporary restraining order against certification of the results, but after a judge denied the temporary order Crim withdrew his petition.

Background

The incumbent in the race, former Chattanooga mayor Bob Corker, was elected in 2006 with 50.7% of the vote in a win against U.S. representative Harold Ford, Jr.

Republican primary

Candidates

Declared

Fred R. Anderson
Mark Twain Clemens, unemployed
Bob Corker, incumbent U.S. Senator
James Durkan, businessman
Brenda Lenard, businesswoman & doctoral student
Zach Poskevich, technology consultant

Publicly Speculated, but Declined

Hank Williams, Jr., country music entertainer

Polling

Hypothetical polling

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Bob Corker	More conservative challenger	Other	Undecided
Public Policy Polling	February 9–13, 2011	400	±4.9%	38%	43%	—	19%

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Bob Corker	Marsha Blackburn	Other	Undecided
Public Policy Polling	February 9–13, 2011	400	±4.9%	50%	30%	—	20%

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Bob Corker	Hank Williams, Jr.	Other	Undecided
Public Policy Polling	February 9–13, 2011	400	±4.9%	66%	13%	—	21%

Results

Tennessee Republican primary
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Bob Corker (Incumbent)	389,483	85.25%
	Republican	Zach Poskevich	28,299	6.19%
	Republican	Fred Anderson	15,942	3.49%
	Republican	Mark Twain Clemens	11,788	2.58%
	Republican	Brenda Lenard	11,378	2.49%
Total votes			456,890	100.00%

Democratic primary

Candidates

Declared

Mark E. Clayton, Vice President of the nonprofit organization Public Advocate of the United States and candidate for the U.S. Senate in 2008
Larry Crim, nonprofit executive
Gary Gene Davis
Dave Hancock
Park Overall, actress
Thomas K. Owens
Benjamin Roberts

Results

Democratic primary results
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Mark E. Clayton	48,126	29.99%
	Democratic	Gary Gene Davis	24,789	15.45%
	Democratic	Park Overall	24,263	15.12%
	Democratic	Larry Crim	17,383	10.83%
	Democratic	Benjamin Roberts	16,369	10.20%
	Democratic	David Hancock	16,167	10.08
	Democratic	Thomas Owens	13,366	8.33
Total votes			160,463	100.00

General election

Candidates

Bob Corker (Republican), incumbent U.S. Senator
Mark E. Clayton (Democratic)
Shaun Crowell (Libertarian)
Martin Pleasant (Green)
Kermit Steck (Constitution)
David Gatchell (independent)
James Higdon (independent)
Michel Joseph Long (independent)
Troy Stephen Scoggin (independent)
Jacob Maurer (Write-In)

Predictions

Source	Ranking	As of
The Cook Political Report	Solid R	November 1, 2012
Sabato's Crystal Ball	Safe R	November 5, 2012
Rothenberg Political Report	Safe R	November 2, 2012
Real Clear Politics	Safe R	November 5, 2012

Polling

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Bob Corker (R)	Mark Clayton (D)	Other	Undecided
Issues and Answers Network Inc.	October 16–21, 2011	609	±4%	59%	21%	4%	15%

Hypothetical polling

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Bob Corker (R)	Phil Bredesen (D)	Other	Undecided
Public Policy Polling	February 9–13, 2011	500	±4.4%	41%	46%	—	12%

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Bob Corker (R)	Jim Cooper (D)	Other	Undecided
Public Policy Polling	February 9–13, 2011	500	±4.4%	50%	32%	—	22%

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Bob Corker (R)	Harold Ford, Jr. (D)	Other	Undecided
Public Policy Polling	February 9–13, 2011	500	±4.4%	55%	32%	—	14%

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Bob Corker (R)	Bart Gordon (D)	Other	Undecided
Public Policy Polling	February 9–13, 2011	500	±4.4%	52%	29%	—	19%

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Bob Corker (R)	Al Gore (D)	Other	Undecided
Public Policy Polling	February 9–13, 2011	500	±4.4%	53%	38%	—	9%

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Bob Corker (R)	Tim McGraw (D)	Other	Undecided
Public Policy Polling	February 9–13, 2011	500	±4.4%	50%	28%	—	22%

Results

Despite the TN Democratic Party encouraging write-in voting, the general election only saw 0.05% cast write-in votes. Clayton significantly underperformed compared to Barack Obama, running for re-election to the presidency on the same day. Clayton got about 9% and 254,827 votes fewer than Obama.

United States Senate election in Tennessee, 2012
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Bob Corker (incumbent)	1,506,443	64.89%	+14.18%
	Democratic	Mark Clayton	705,882	30.41%	−17.59%
	Green	Martin Pleasant	38,472	1.66%	+1.52%
	Independent	Shaun Crowell	20,936	0.90%	N/A
	Constitution	Kermit Steck	18,620	0.80%	N/A
	Independent	James Higdon	8,085	0.35%	N/A
	Independent	Michael Joseph Long	8,080	0.35%	N/A
	Independent	Troy Stephen Scoggin	7,148	0.31%	N/A
	Independent	David Gatchell	6,523	0.28%	N/A
	n/a	Write-ins	1,288	0.05%	N/A
Total votes			2,321,477	100.00%	N/A
	Republican hold

Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican

Cannon (Largest city: Woodbury)
Crockett (Largest city: Bells)
DeKalb (Largest city: Smithville)
Dickson (Largest city: Dickson)
Franklin (Largest city: Winchester)
Giles (Largest city: Pulaski)
Henry (Largest city: Paris)
Hickman (Largest city: Centerville)
Lewis (Largest city: Hohenwald)
Marion (Largest city: Jasper)
Marshall (Largest city: Lewisburg)
Warren (Largest city: McMinnville)
White (Largest city: Sparta)
Benton (largest municipality: Camden)
Clay (largest municipality: Celina)
Grundy (largest municipality: Altamont)
Humphreys (largest municipality: Waverly)
Lake (largest municipality: Tiptonville)
Lauderdale (largest municipality: Ripley)
Overton (largest municipality: Livingston)
Perry (largest municipality: Linden)
Smith (largest municipality: Carthage)
Stewart (largest municipality: Dover)
Trousdale (largest municipality: Hartsville)
Van Buren (largest municipality: Spencer)
Houston (largest city: Erin)
Jackson (largest town: Gainesboro)
Hardeman (largest city: Bolivar)
Macon (Largest city: Lafayette)
Montgomery (Largest city: Clarksville)
Sequatchie (Largest city: Dunlap)
Davidson (largest city: Nashville)

By congressional district

Corker carried 8 of the 9 congressional districts, including one that elected a Democrat.

District	Corker	Clayton	Representative
1st	76.58%	19.24%
1st	76.58%	19.24%	Phil Roe
2nd	72.75%	21.24%	John J. Duncan, Jr.
3rd	70.60%	25.60%	Chuck Fleischmann
4th	69.30%	26.31%	Scott DesJarlais
5th	50.21%	43.32%	Jim Cooper
6th	73.32%	22.04%	Diane Black
7th	69.62%	25.75%	Marsha Blackburn
8th	70.26%	26.40%	Stephen Fincher
9th	28.56%	67.00%	Steve Cohen

References

"Tennessee Voter Turnout in 2012". Tennessee Secretary of State. November 6, 2012. Retrieved February 28, 2023.
"2012's worst candidate? With Mark Clayton, Tennessee Democrats hit bottom." by David A. Fahrenthold, Washington Post, October 22, 2012, Retrieved 2012-10-23, ""If there are people who don't believe that there's a campaign here, then guess what? They can come to Tennessee, if they're a voter, and they can see Mark E. Clayton, and next to Mark E. Clayton there's going to be a 'D,' " he said on the phone. "Like it or not, Mark Clayton is the Democratic nominee in Tennessee.""
Murphy, Tim (August 3, 2012). "Dems Nominate Anti-Gay Conspiracy Theorist for Senate". Mother Jones. Retrieved August 21, 2012.
Fahrenthold, David A. (May 19, 2023). "2012's worst candidate? With Mark Clayton, Tennessee Democrats hit bottom". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved June 11, 2024.
Kenny's Sideshow (August 5, 2012). Democractic Primary Winner for Senate in Tennessee Mark Clayton Responds to Attacks. Retrieved June 11, 2024 – via YouTube.
Cass, Michael (August 3, 2012). "Tennessee Democratic Party disavows Senate nominee". The Tennessean. Retrieved August 4, 2012.
Sisk, Chas (August 17, 2012). "Mark Clayton victory in Democratic primary upheld by Nashville judge". The Tennessean. Retrieved August 21, 2012.
^ Public Policy Polling
^ "Tennessee Secretary of State Unofficial Election Results". Secretary of State of Tennessee. Retrieved August 2, 2012.
"clayton forus' – Products I Tried To Satisfy Myself". Retrieved December 30, 2022.
"Candidates GPTN".
^ Winger, Richard (February 3, 2012). "Tennessee Ballot Access Law for New and Minor Parties Struck Down". Ballot Access News. Retrieved August 4, 2012.
"Current Candidates « The Constitution Party of Tennessee". Archived from the original on October 21, 2012. Retrieved August 4, 2012.
"Jacob Maurer - US Senate Candidate - Home". Archived from the original on June 6, 2013. Retrieved September 27, 2012.
"2012 Senate Race Ratings for November 1, 2012". The Cook Political Report. Archived from the original on August 29, 2018. Retrieved September 20, 2018.
"2012 Senate". Sabato's Crystal Ball. Retrieved September 20, 2018.
"2012 Senate Ratings". Senate Ratings. The Rothenberg Political Report. Retrieved September 20, 2018.
"2012 Elections Map - Battle for the Senate 2012". Real Clear Politics. Retrieved September 20, 2018.
Issues and Answers Network Inc.
^ Public Policy Polling
State of Tennessee. November 6, 2012. General Election
"Detailed CD Results".
Nir, David (November 19, 2020). "Daily Kos Elections' presidential results by congressional district for 2020, 2016, and 2012". Daily Kos.

External links

Tennessee Department of Elections Board
Campaign contributions at OpenSecrets.org
Outside spending at Sunlight Foundation
Candidate issue positions Archived February 17, 2013, at the Wayback Machine at On the Issues

Official campaign websites

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Categories:

Latest revision as of 01:30, 3 January 2025

Background

Republican primary

Candidates

Declared

Publicly Speculated, but Declined

Polling

Results

Democratic primary

Candidates

Declared

Results

General election

Candidates

Predictions

Polling

Results

Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican

By congressional district

See also

References

External links