The 2012 United States House of Representatives elections in Utah were held on Tuesday, November 6, 2012, and elected the four U.S. representatives from the state of Utah, an increase of one seat in reapportionment following the 2010 United States census. The elections coincided with the elections of other federal and state offices, including a quadrennial federal presidential election, a concurrent quadrennial statewide gubernatorial election, , and an election to the U.S. Senate. Primary elections were held on June 26, 2012.
In Utah, the redistricting process was controlled by members of the Republican Party, who formed a majority on the State Legislature's redistricting committee. The plan, passed in October 2011, divided Salt Lake County among three districts, which Republicans argued would require Utah's U.S. representatives to focus on both urban and rural issues. Jim Dabakis, the chair of the Utah Democratic Party, argued that the map constituted a gerrymander designed to benefit the Republican Party.
Republican incumbent Rob Bishop, who had represented Utah's 1st congressional district since 2003, ran for re-election, having decided against running for governor.
Rob Bishop became the official Republican candidate on April 21, 2012 at the State Republican Convention.
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Democratic incumbent Jim Matheson, who had represented Utah's 2nd congressional district since 2001, sought re-election in the new 4th district.
Independent candidate Charles Kimball also filed.
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Jason Chaffetz was seeking a third term in representing Utah's 3rd congressional district.
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Democratic U.S. Representative Jim Matheson, who had represented Utah's 2nd congressional district since 2001 and had considered running for governor or for the U.S. Senate, sought re-election to the House in Utah's new 4th congressional district after his previous seat was split up by the redistricting.
In the Republican convention, held on April 21, 2012, Love received 70.4% of the vote (she needed more than 60% to avoid a primary).
Despite beginning her campaign at a significant name-recognition disadvantage to Matheson, Love was able to mount a strong challenge. This was in part fueled by a prime-time speaking slot at the Republican National Convention, where she impressed many with her backstory of a being the daughter of Haitian immigrants whose parents "Immigrated to the U.S. with $10 in their pocket" and her themes of self-reliance, small government and fiscal responsibility. However, she was later hit by claims that she was technically an "anchor baby", despite having seemingly backing the deportation of the US-born children of illegal immigrants.
Facing a district largely new to him, Matheson ran ads showcasing his independent credentials and airing clips of Love voicing support for cutting the Department of Education and privatizing Social Security. Despite the NRCC running ads trying to tie him to Nancy Pelosi and Barack Obama, Matheson's favorability rating remained at around 60% throughout the campaign.
An early poll published by the Deseret News on Dec 25, 2011 showed Jim Matheson leading all potential opponents.
Matheson narrowly defeated Love in the general election by only 768 votes. If Love had won the seat, she would have become the first African-American Republican woman to sit in the House.
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