The 2012 United States House of Representatives elections in Florida were held on Tuesday, November 6, 2012, to elect the twenty-seven congressional representatives from the state, one from each of the state's twenty-seven 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 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.[1] 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.[2]
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,[3] by the full House of Representatives on February 3,[4] 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.[5]
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.
United States House of Representatives elections in Florida, 2012
Florida's new 1st district voting age population is 77.6% White (single race), 12.9% Blacks (includes multirace), 4.3% Hispanic (excludes Hispanic Blacks), 0.3% Hispanic Blacks (includes multirace), and 5% other races [6]Republican incumbent Jeff Miller, who had represented Florida's 1st congressional district since 2001, ran for re-election and secured the Republican nomination unopposed.
Florida's new 2nd district voting age population is 68.5% non-Hispanic Whites (single race), 23.5% non-Hispanic Blacks (includes multirace), 4.4% Hispanic (excludes Hispanic Blacks), 0.3% Hispanic Blacks (includes multirace), and 3.3% other races (non-Hispanic).[6]Republican incumbent Steve Southerland was first elected to represent Florida's 2nd congressional district in 2010 and secured the Republican nomination unopposed.[7]
Florida's new 3rd district voting age population is 75.8% non-Hispanic Whites (single race), 12.9% non-Hispanic Blacks (includes multirace), 6.7% Hispanic (excludes Hispanic Blacks), 0.3% Hispanic Blacks (includes multirace), and 4.3% other races (non-Hispanic).[6] 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.
Florida's new 4th district voting age population is 74.9% non-Hispanic Whites (single race), 12.5% non-Hispanic Blacks (includes multirace), 6.3% Hispanic (excludes Hispanic Blacks), 0.4% Hispanic Blacks (includes multirace), and 5.9% other races (non-Hispanic).[6] Republican incumbent Ander Crenshaw, who had represented the 4th District since 2001, ran for re-election.[31]
Florida's new 5th district voting age population is 49% non-Hispanic Blacks (includes multirace), 36.2% non-Hispanic Whites (single race), 10% Hispanic (excludes Hispanic Blacks), 1.1% Hispanic Blacks (includes multirace), and 3.7% other races (non-Hispanic).[6] It is the successor to the former 3rd district, which has been represented by Democrat Corrine Brown since 1993.[32]
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 is 82.8% non-Hispanic Whites (single race), 8.8% non-Hispanic Blacks (includes multirace), 5.4% Hispanic (excludes Hispanic Blacks), 0.3% Hispanic Blacks (includes multirace), and 2.7% other races (non-Hispanic).[6]
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 district voting age population is 70.2% non-Hispanic Whites (single race), 8.1% non-Hispanic blacks (includes multirace), 8.1 percent Hispanic (excludes Hispanic Blacks), 0.9 percent Hispanic Blacks (includes multirace) and 4.7% other races (non-Hispanic).[6]
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
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 Whites (single race), 8.7% non-Hispanic Blacks (includes multirace), 7.3% Hispanic (excludes Hispanic Blacks), 0.4% Hispanic Blacks (includes multirace), and 3.2% other races (non-Hispanic).[6]
The new 9th district, an open seat located south of Orlando, is expected to favor Democrats.[45] It contains all of Osceola County, part of Orange County (including the Orlando International Airport), and part of Polk County. The district's inhabitants voted overwhelmingly for President Barack Obama, preferring him to John McCain 60-39%. In addition, the district will contain a plurality of whites, at 43%, followed by Hispanics and blacks, who will make up 41% and 12% of the population, respectively.[46][47][48] The new 9th district voting age population is 42.9% non-Hispanic Whites (single race), 39.1% Hispanic (excludes Hispanic Blacks), 10.1% non-Hispanic Blacks (includes multirace), 2.3% Hispanic Blacks (includes multirace), and 5.6% other races (non-Hispanic).[6]
In redistricting, the 8th district was renumbered as the 10th district. Republican Daniel Webster, who had represented the 8th district since January 2011, sort re-election.[45]
The new 10th district voting age population is 69.9% non-Hispanic Whites (single race), 13.5% Hispanic (excludes Hispanic Blacks), 10.4% non-Hispanic Blacks (includes multirace), 0.7% Hispanic Blacks (includes multirace), and 5.4% other races (non-Hispanic).[6]
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.[61] The new 11th district voting age population is 83.1% non-Hispanic Whites (single race), 7.3% non-Hispanic Blacks (includes multirace), 7% Hispanic (excludes Hispanic Blacks), 0.4% Hispanic Blacks (includes multirace), and 2.2% other races (non-Hispanic).[6]
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.[62] The new 12th district voting age population is 82.6% non-Hispanic Whites (single race), 9.6% Hispanic (excludes Hispanic Blacks), 4% non-Hispanic Blacks (includes multirace), 0.4% Hispanic Blacks (includes multirace), and 3.5% other races (non-Hispanic).[6]
Jonathan Snow, photo specialist and former teacher[44]
Independents
John Russell, an acute carenurse practitioner, had announced prior to redistricting that he would run as an independent in the 11th District.[63] However, after he was drawn into the 12th, he opted to seek election there.[44]
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 is 83.5% non-Hispanic Whites (single race), 7% Hispanic (excludes Hispanic Blacks), 5% non-Hispanic Blacks (includes multirace), 0.3% Hispanic Blacks (includes multirace), and 4.2% other races (non-Hispanic).[6]
In redistricting, the 11th District was renumbered as the 14th District. Democrat Kathy Castor, who has represented the 11th since 2007, ran for re-election here.[44] Florida's new 14th district voting age population is 46.5% non-Hispanic Whites (single race), 24% non-Hispanic Blacks (includes multirace), 24% Hispanic (excludes Hispanic Blacks), 1.6% Hispanic Blacks (includes multirace), and 3.8% other races (non-Hispanic).[6]
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.[73] The new 15th district voting age population is 68.6% non-Hispanic Whites (single race), 14.2% Hispanic (excludes Hispanic Blacks), 12% non-Hispanic Blacks (includes multirace), 0.7% Hispanic Blacks (includes multirace), and 4.5% other races (non-Hispanic).[6]
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.[74][75] The new 16th district voting age population is 83.5% non-Hispanic Whites (single race), 8.5% Hispanic (excludes Hispanic Blacks), 5.6% non-Hispanic Blacks (includes multirace), 0.3% Hispanic Blacks (includes multirace), and 2.2% other races (non-Hispanic).[6]
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, is expected to favor Republicans.[45][81] Republican Tom Rooney, who had represented the 16th district since 2009, ran for re-election in the new 17th district.[82] The new 17th district voting age population is 75.4% non-Hispanic Whites (single race), 13.9% Hispanic (excludes Hispanic Blacks), 7.9% non-Hispanic Blacks (includes multirace), 0.4% Hispanic Blacks (includes multirace), and 2.3% other races (non-Hispanic).[6]
William Bronson, retired Delta Air Lines pilot (formerly an unsuccessful Republican candidate in Massachusetts and Georgia)
Minor parties
26-year-old Tom Baumann from Miami (who ran unsuccessful campaigns in Minnesota and in the Borough of Manhattan) 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.[81][84][85]
Allen West, who was first elected to represent Florida's 22nd congressional district in 2010, ran for re-election in the new 18th district.[86] The new 18th district voting age population is 74.7% non-Hispanic Whites (single race), 11.6% Hispanic (excludes Hispanic Blacks), 10.6% non-Hispanic Blacks (includes multirace), 0.4% Hispanic Blacks (includes multirace), and 2.7% other races (non-Hispanic).[6]
Patrick Murphy, an environmental services executive, had planned to seek the Democratic nomination in the 22nd district,[88] but announced in February 2012 that he would continue to challenge West in the 18th district.[89]
Marilyn Davis Holloman qualified to run as a write-in.[90] Everett Wilkinson, the chair of the South Florida Tea Party and registered to vote with no party affiliation, decided not to run.[91]
In redistricting, the 14th district was renumbered as the 19th district.[45]Connie Mack IV, who had represented the 14th district since 2005, will run for the U.S. Senate rather than for re-election.[102] The new 19th district voting age population is 77.1% non-Hispanic Whites (single race), 14.4% Hispanic (excludes Hispanic Blacks), 6% non-Hispanic Blacks (includes multirace), 0.5% Hispanic Blacks (includes multirace), and 2.1% other races (non-Hispanic).[6]
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 is 49.2% non-Hispanic Whites (single race), 35.5% Hispanic (excludes Hispanic Blacks), 9.8% non-Hispanic Blacks (includes multirace), 1.2% Hispanic Blacks (includes multirace), and 4.3% other races (non-Hispanic).[6]
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[115] The new 21st district voting age population is 66.6% non-Hispanic Whites (single race), 17.6% Hispanic (excludes Hispanic Blacks), 10.6% non-Hispanic Blacks (includes multirace), 0.6% Hispanic Blacks (includes multirace), and 4.5% other races (non-Hispanic).[6]
Republican Allen West, who was first elected to represent Florida's 22nd congressional district in 2010, sought re-election in the new 18th district.[86] The new 22nd district voting age population is 69.4% non-Hispanic Whites (single race), 17.2% Hispanic (excludes Hispanic Blacks), 9.8% non-Hispanic Blacks (includes multirace), 0.6% Hispanic Blacks (includes multirace), and 3.1% other races (non-Hispanic).[6]
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 is 48.9% non-Hispanic Blacks (includes multirace), 29.5% non-Hispanic Whites (single race), 17.4% Hispanic (excludes Hispanic Blacks), 1.2% Hispanic Blacks (includes multirace), and 3.1% other races (non-Hispanic).[6]
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 Blacks (includes multirace), 29.9% Hispanic (excludes Hispanic Blacks), 12.6% non-Hispanic Whites (single race), 3.2% Hispanic Blacks (includes multirace), and 2.5% other races (non-Hispanic).[6]
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.[45] The new 25th district voting age population is 68.9% Hispanic (excludes Hispanic Blacks), 21.2% non-Hispanic Whites (single race), 6% non-Hispanic Blacks (includes multirace), 1.7% Hispanic Blacks (includes multirace), and 2.1% other races (non-Hispanic).[6]
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.[45] The new 26th district voting age population is 67.4% Hispanic (excludes Hispanic Blacks), 20.2% non-Hispanic Whites (single race), 8.6% non-Hispanic Blacks (includes multirace), 1.5% Hispanic Blacks (includes multirace), and 2.4% other races (non-Hispanic).[6]
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.
In redistricting, the old 18th District was renumbered as the 27th District. Republican Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, who had represented the 18th since 1989, will run for re-election. The new 27th district voting age population is 72.8% Hispanic (excludes Hispanic Blacks), 17.5% non-Hispanic Whites (single race), 5.5% non-Hispanic Blacks (includes multirace), 2.2% Hispanic Blacks (includes multirace), and 2% other races (non-Hispanic).[6]
^Senate Committee on Reapportionment (February 16, 2012). "Enacted Congressional Districts"(PDF). Plan H000C9047. State of Florida. Retrieved August 9, 2012.
^Division of Elections. "Candidate Tracking System". Candidates and Races. State of Florida. Archived from the original on August 31, 2010. Retrieved August 9, 2012.
^ abAttinger, Phil (September 30, 2012). "Incumbent Challenged In Sprawling District". The Ledger. Archived from the original on July 31, 2013. Retrieved October 1, 2012. When voters get their ballots for the Nov. 6 election, the U.S. Congressional District 17 will be one of the few in which there will be a three-way race.
^Bennett, George (August 1, 2012). "Rooney courts new faces in newly drawn district". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. Archived from the original on August 4, 2016. Retrieved August 11, 2012. ...Rooney says he often feels like a political rookie these days as he pursues a third term by introducing himself to new voters in freshly drawn congressional District 17.
^Kindle, Lois (October 17, 2012). "U.S. Rep. Tom Rooney faces challenge from Democrat Will Bronson in District 17 House race". Tampa Bay Online. Tampa Media Group. Retrieved October 17, 2012. After the district lines were redrawn based on the 2010 Census, Rooney found himself running for a different seat in newly created District 17. Mostly rural and sprawling, the district spans 10 counties, including southern Hillsborough, parts of Manatee and Polk, Lee, Glades and Okeechobee.