The 2012 United States House of Representatives elections in Washington were held on Tuesday, November 6, 2012, to elect the ten U.S. representatives from the state, one from each of the state's ten congressional districts, a gain of one seat following the 2010 United States census. The elections coincided with the elections of other federal and state offices, including a federal quadrennial presidential election, concurrent statewide gubernatorial election, quadrennial statewide lieutenant gubernatorial election, and an election to the U.S. Senate. The state certified the returns on December 6, 2012. Primary elections were held August 7, 2012.
Overview
Summary of votes cast in the general election
District 1
Democrat Jay Inslee, who represented the 1st district starting in 1999, resigned March 20, 2012, to focus on his run for governor of Washington.
Primary election
Democratic candidates
Advanced to general
- Suzan DelBene, former director at the Washington State Department of Revenue, general election candidate for the 8th district in 2010
Eliminated in primary
Withdrawn
Declined
Republican candidates
Advanced to general
Withdrawn
- Greg Anders, the executive director of the Bellingham Heritage Flight Museum
- James Watkins, unsuccessfully ran in the 1st district in 2010
Independent candidates
Eliminated in primary
- Larry Ishmael, former member of the Issaquah School Board and Republican general election candidate for this seat in 2006 & 2008, ran as an independent candidate
Results
Republican John Koster and Democrat Suzan DelBene received the most votes in the nonpartisan blanket primary on August 7 for both the brief period of office remaining in the old 1st district and the redistricted 1st district, and faced each other in two separate ballot positions, with different boundaries, in the special election on November 6.
Special election
On March 20, 2012, then representative Jay Inslee resigned his seat in the House of Representatives to run for governor. A special election was held at the same time as the general election for a representative to serve out the remainder of Inslee's term in the 112th Congress. The winner of the special glection, Suzan DelBene, assumed the seat on November 13, 2012.
Results
By county
General Election
Endorsements
Polling
Predictions
Results
DelBene won and was sworn in to serve the remainder of Inslee's term on November 13, 2012.
By county
District 2
Democrat Rick Larsen, who represented the 2nd district since 2001, ran for re-election.
In the December 2011 redistricting proposal, the 2nd district was made more favorable to Democrats.
Primary election
Democratic candidates
Advanced to general
Republican candidates
Advanced to general
- Dan Matthews, Air Force veteran and pilot
Eliminated in primary
- Eli Olson, electrical distribution company manager and political director for the Snohomish County Young Republicans
- John C. W. Shoop, United States Marine, combat veteran and survival instructor
Declined
Other parties' candidates
Eliminated in primary
- Mike Lapointe (99% Party)
Independent candidates
Eliminated in primary
Results
General election
Predictions
Results
By county
District 3
Republican Jaime Herrera Beutler, who represented the 3rd district since January 2011, ran for re-election.
Primary election
Republican candidates
Advanced to general
Democratic candidates
Advanced to general
Withdrawn
- Elizabeth Uelmen, middle school associate principal
Declined
Results
General election
Predictions
Results
By county
District 4
Republican Doc Hastings, who represented the 4th district since 1995, successfully ran for re-election.
Primary election
Republican candidates
Advanced to general
Eliminated in primary
Democratic candidates
Advanced to general
- Mary Baechler, businesswoman
Eliminated in primary
Withdrawn
- Jay Clough, radiological control technician and nominee for this seat in 2010
Results
General election
Predictions
Results
By county
District 5
Republican Cathy McMorris Rodgers, who represented the 5th district since 2005, ran successfully for re-election in 2012.
Primary election
Republican candidates
Advanced to general
Eliminated in primary
- Randall Yearout, crane operator
Democratic candidates
Advanced to general
- Rich Cowan, president and CEO of a film production company
Declined
Results
General election
Predictions
Results
By county
District 6
Democrat Norm Dicks, who represented the 6th district since 1977, decided to retire rather than seeking re-election.
Primary election
Democratic candidates
Advanced to general
Declined
- Steve Boyer, Kitsap County sheriff
- Josh Brown, Kitsap County Commissioner
- Norman D. Dicks, incumbent U.S. Representative
- James Hargrove, state Senator
- Mark Lindquist, Pierce County Prosecutor
- Pat McCarthy, Pierce County Executive
- Christine Rolfes, state senator
- Tim Sheldon, state senator and Mason County Commissioner
- Brian Sonntag, State Auditor
- Marilyn Strickland, Mayor of Tacoma
- Kevin Van De Wege, state representative
Republican candidates
Advanced to general
- Bill Driscoll, businessman
Eliminated in primary
- Stephan Brodhead, small business owner
- Doug Cloud, attorney and general election candidate for this seat in 2004 and 2006, 2008 & 2010
- David "Ike" Eichner, accountant
- Jesse Young, technology consultant and candidate for this seat in 2010
Withdrawn
- Bob Sauerwein, insurance agent
Declined
Results
General Election
Polling
Predictions
Results
By county
District 7
Democrat Jim McDermott, who represented the 7th district since 1989, ran for re-election.
Primary election
Democratic candidates
Advanced to general
Eliminated in primary
- Charles Allen, product manager at Amazon
- Andrew Hughes, tax attorney
- Don Rivers, human rights activist
Republican candidates
Advanced to general
Eliminated in primary
Results
General election
Predictions
Results
By county
District 8
Republican Dave Reichert, who represented the 8th district since 2005, ran for re-election.
Primary election
Republican candidates
Advanced to general
Eliminated in primary
- Ernest Huber, retired military commander
- Keith Swank, former police officer
Democratic candidates
Advanced to general
- Karen Porterfield, associate dean and public administration lecturer at Seattle University
Eliminated in primary
- Keith Arnold, accounting technician
Independent candidates
Withdrawn
- James Windle, associate dean and instructor at the Department of Defense's National Defense University
Results
General election
Predictions
Results
By county
District 9
Democrat Adam Smith, who represented the 9th district since 1997, was re-elected.
Primary election
Democratic candidates
Advanced to general
Eliminated in primary
Republican candidates
Advanced to general
- Jim Postma, businessman and candidate for this seat in 2008 and 2010
Eliminated in primary
- John Orlinski, social worker
Results
General election
Predictions
Results
By county
District 10
The newly created 10th district is centred on the state capital, Olympia, and includes portions of Thurston, Pierce, and Mason counties.
Primary election
Democratic candidates
Advanced to general
Eliminated in primary
- Jennifer Ferguson, nonprofit founder and small business owner
Republican candidates
Advanced to general
Eliminated in primary
Results
General election
Endorsements
Predictions
Results
Heck defeated Muri 58.6% to 41.4%.
By county
References
External links