2012 United States House of Representatives elections in North Carolina

The 2012 United States House of Representatives elections in North Carolina were held on Tuesday, November 6, 2012, to elect the 13 U.S. representatives from the state of North Carolina. The elections coincided with the U.S. presidential election, N.C. gubernatorial election, statewide judicial elections, Council of State elections, and various local elections. Primary elections were held on May 8, 2012; for races in which no candidate received 40 percent of the vote in the primary, runoff elections (officially known as "second" primaries) were held on July 17.

North Carolina was one of five states in which the party that won the state's popular vote did not win a majority of seats in 2012, along with Arizona, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin.

Overview

Statewide

By district

Results of the 2012 United States House of Representatives elections in North Carolina by district:

Redistricting

A redistricting map, drawn to reflect changes observed in the 2010 United States census, was passed into law in July 2011. The map must receive approval from either the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia or the U.S. Department of Justice before it can be enforced (under the 1965 Voting Rights Act). The North Carolina chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People challenged the map on the grounds that it reduces the influence of African American voters.

District 1

Incumbent Democrat G. K. Butterfield, who had represented the district since 2004, ran for re-election. The 1st district, which is majority-minority and already strongly favored Democrats, favored them even more so after redistricting. The redrawn district had a PVI of D+17, whereas the old 1st had a PVI of D+9.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

• G. K. Butterfield, incumbent U.S. representative

Eliminated in primary

• Daniel-Lynn Whittacre, high school teacher, HHS federal agent

Primary results

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Pete DiLauro, former law enforcement officer

General election

Endorsements

Labor unions

• AFL-CIO
• International Brotherhood of Boilermakers
• National Association of Letter Carriers
• National Education Association
• North Carolina Association of Educators
• United Steelworkers

Organizations

• Humane Society of the United States
• Sierra Club

Newspapers

• Indy Week

Predictions

Results

District 2

Incumbent Republican Renee Ellmers, who had represented the district since 2011, ran for re-election. The 2nd district was made more favorable to Republicans in redistricting, with The Hill ranking Ellmers at second in its list of house members most helped by redistricting. The redrawn district had a PVI of R+11, whereas the old 2nd had a PVI of R+2.

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Renee Ellmers, incumbent U.S. representative

Eliminated in primary

• Sonya Holmes
• Clement F. Munno
• Richard Speer, contract farmer

Primary results

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Steve Wilkins, retired U.S. Army officer and businessman

Eliminated in primary

• Toni Morris, professional counselor

Withdrawn

• Jim Bibbs

Declined

• Bob Etheridge, former U.S. representative (ran for governor)

Primary results

Libertarian primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Brian Irving, retired U.S. Air Force officer

General election

Endorsements

Organizations

• Campaign for Working Families
• GOProud
• Maggie's List
• National Right to Life Committee
• NRA Political Victory Fund
• Susan B. Anthony List
• United States Chamber of Commerce

Labor unions

• AFL-CIO
• United Steelworkers

Newspapers

• Indy Week

Newspapers

• Raleigh News & Observer

Predictions

Results

District 3

Incumbent Republican Walter B. Jones Jr., who had represented the district since 1995, ran for re-election. The 3rd district was made slightly more favorable to Democrats in redistricting, but continued to strongly favor Republicans. The redrawn district had a PVI of R+10, whereas the old 3rd had a PVI of R+16.

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Walter B. Jones Jr., incumbent U.S. representative

Eliminated in primary

• Frank Palombo, former New Bern police chief

Primary results

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Erik Anderson, former U.S. Marine

General election

Endorsements

Labor unions

• National Association of Letter Carriers

Organizations

• Humane Society of the United States
• National Right to Life Committee
• NRA Political Victory Fund
• United States Chamber of Commerce

Predictions

Results

District 4

Democrat David Price, who had represented North Carolina's 4th congressional district since 1997 and previously served from 1987 until 1995, ran for re-election. Brad Miller, who had represented the 13th district since 2003, considered challenging Price in the 4th district primary after having his home drawn into it, but announced in January 2012 that he would not seek either seat and would instead retire.

Democratic primary

Price was unopposed in the Democratic primary.

Candidates

Nominee

• David Price, incumbent U.S. representative

Declined

• Brad Miller, incumbent U.S. representative for North Carolina's 13th congressional district

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Tim D'Annunzio, businessman and candidate for North Carolina's 8th congressional district in 2010.

Eliminated in primary

• Jim Allen, electrical contractor
• George Hutchins, former US Marine, veteran of the first Gulf War and candidate for this district in 2010

Withdrawn

• Doug Yopp, director of the Friends of the Library at NC State

Primary results

General election

Endorsements

Labor unions

• AFL-CIO
• National Association of Letter Carriers
• National Education Association
• North Carolina Association of Educators
• United Steelworkers

Organizations

• Human Rights Campaign
• Humane Society of the United States
• Planned Parenthood Action Fund
• Sierra Club

Newspapers

• Indy Week
• Raleigh News & Observer

Predictions

Results

District 5

Republican Virginia Foxx, who had represented North Carolina's 5th congressional district since 2005, ran for re-election. The 5th district was made slightly more favorable to Democrats in redistricting, but continued to strongly favor Republicans.

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Virginia Foxx, incumbent U.S. representative

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Elisabeth Motsinger, Winston-Salem/Forsyth County School Board member

Eliminated in primary

• Bruce Peller, dentist

Withdrawn

• Treva Johnson, Wilkes County Democratic chairwoman[better source needed]

Primary results

General election

Endorsements

Organizations

• Campaign for Working Families
• Maggie's List
• National Right to Life Committee
• NRA Political Victory Fund
• Susan B. Anthony List
• United States Chamber of Commerce

Labor unions

• AFL-CIO
• National Education Association

Predictions

Results

District 6

Republican Howard Coble, who had represented North Carolina's 6th congressional district since 1985, ran for re-election. The 6th district was expected to continue to strongly favor Republicans.

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Howard Coble, incumbent U.S. representative

Eliminated in primary

• Bill Flynn, former radio personality
• Billy Yow, Guilford County commissioner

Primary results

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Tony Foriest, former state senator from the 24th district

General election

Endorsements

Organizations

• National Right to Life Committee
• NRA Political Victory Fund
• United States Chamber of Commerce

Newspapers

• Greensboro News and Record

Newspapers

• Indy Week

Predictions

Results

District 7

The home of Democrat Mike McIntyre, who had represented North Carolina's 7th congressional district since 1997, was drawn into the 8th district in redistricting. McIntyre, who had briefly considered running for governor following Bev Perdue's announcement that she would not seek re-election, decided to seek re-election in the newly redrawn 7th district. The district was made more favorable to Republicans in redistricting: 58% of its residents voted for Republican nominee John McCain in the 2008 presidential election.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Mike McIntyre, incumbent U.S. representative

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

• David Rouzer, state senator from the 12th district

Eliminated in primary

• Randy Crow, business executive
• Ilario Pantano, retired U.S. Marine and nominee for this district in 2010

Withdrawn

• Timothy Alan Wilkes

Primary results

General election

Campaign

McIntyre was heavily targeted by Republicans, especially after the GOP-controlled North Carolina General Assembly had redrawn congressional boundaries to put his home in Robeson County into the 8th district, something that McIntyre accused the GOP of doing “solely for the reason of giving my opponent a seat in Congress”.

Nearly $9 million was spent by both parties, with McIntyre airing ads stating he was a "strong conservative and Christian who walks his faith every day" and Rouzer trying to tie McIntyre to his votes for Nancy Pelosi and for the stimulus.

Endorsements

Labor unions

• AFL-CIO
• International Brotherhood of Boilermakers
• National Association of Letter Carriers
• National Education Association
• North Carolina Association of Educators
• United Steelworkers

Organizations

• Blue Dog Coalition
• Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee "Frontline" Program
• National Federation of Independent Business
• National Right to Life Committee
• NRA Political Victory Fund
• United States Chamber of Commerce

Newspapers

• The Robesonian
• Star-News
• Tabor-Loris Tribune
• Wilmington Journal
• Wilmington Morning Star

U.S. senators

• Lauch Faircloth, former U.S. senator (1993–1999)

U.S. representatives

• Renee Ellmers, U.S. representative from North Carolina's 2nd congressional district (2011–present)
• Patrick McHenry, U.S. representative from North Carolina's 10th congressional district (2005–present)

Statewide officials

• Steve Troxler, North Carolina Commissioner of Agriculture (2005–present)

State legislators

• Phil Berger, president pro tempore of the North Carolina Senate (2011–present)
• Thom Goolsby, state senator from the 9th district (2011–present)
• W. Brent Jackson, state senator from the 10th district (2011–present)
• Bill Rabon, state senator from the 8th district (2011–present)
• Thom Tillis, Speaker of the North Carolina House of Representatives (2011–present)

Organizations

• National Republican Congressional Committee "Young Guns" Program
• Tea Party Express

Local officials

• Pat McCrory, mayor of Charlotte (1995–2009) and nominee for Governor in 2008 & 2012.

Individuals

• Dorothy Helms, widow of U.S. Senator Jesse Helms

McIntyre was the lone Democratic federal candidate endorsed by National Right to Life Committee in this election cycle.

Polling

Predictions

Results

The election outcome left McIntyre the winner by 655 votes. A recount requested by Rouzer began on November 26, 2012; two days later, Rouzer conceded the race to McIntyre. This was the closest House race in 2012.

District 8

Democrat Larry Kissell, who had represented North Carolina's 8th congressional district since 2009, ran for re-election. The home of Kissell's fellow Democrat Mike McIntyre, who had represented the 7th district since 1997, was drawn into the 8th district in redistricting, but McIntyre sought re-election in the 7th district. The 8th district was made more favorable to Republicans in redistricting: only 42% of its residents voted for Democratic nominee Barack Obama in the 2008 presidential election.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Larry Kissell, incumbent U.S. representative

Eliminated in primary

• Marcus Williams, attorney and candidate for U.S. Senate in 2008

Primary results

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Richard Hudson, former U.S. Representative Robin Hayes' district director

Eliminated in primary

• Scott Keadle, former Iredell County commissioner
• Vernon Robinson, former Winston-Salem city council member and nominee for the 13th district in 2006
• Fred Steen, state representative
• John Whitley, neurosurgeon

Withdrawn

• Daniel Barry, insurance executive

Declined

• Justin Burr, state representative
• Jerry Dockham, state representative
• Pat Molamphy, businessman
• Harold Johnson, sportscaster and candidate for this district in 2010

Endorsements

Organizations

• Club for Growth

Primary results

Runoff results

General election

Endorsements

Labor unions

• AFL-CIO
• International Association of Fire Fighters
• International Brotherhood of Boilermakers
• National Association of Letter Carriers
• National Education Association
• North Carolina Association of Educators
• United Steelworkers

Organizations

• Alliance for Retired Americans
• Blue Dog Coalition
• Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee "Frontline" Program
• NRA Political Victory Fund

U.S. senators

• Lauch Faircloth, former U.S. senator (1993–1999)
• Rick Santorum, former U.S. senator from Pennsylvania (1993–2007) and candidate for president in 2012

U.S. representatives

• Mike Conaway, U.S. representative from Texas's 11th congressional district (2005–present)
• Virginia Foxx, U.S. representative from North Carolina's 5th congressional district (2005–present)
• Paul Ryan, U.S. representative from Wisconsin's 1st congressional district (1999–present)

Statewide officials

• Mike Huckabee, former governor of Arkansas (1996–2007) and candidate for president in 2008
• James G. Martin, former governor of North Carolina (1985–1993)

State legislators

• Fred Steen, state representative (2004–present)

Organizations

• Campaign for Working Families
• Gun Owners of America
• Huck PAC
• National Association of Realtors
• National Federation of Independent Business
• National Republican Congressional Committee "Young Guns" Program
• National Right to Life Committee
• Tea Party Express
• United States Chamber of Commerce

Newspapers

• The Charlotte Observer

Local officials

• Pat McCrory, mayor of Charlotte (1995–2009) and nominee for governor in 2008 & 2012

Individuals

• Dorothy Helms, widow of U.S. Senator Jesse Helms

Polling

Debates

• , September 24, 2012

Predictions

Result

District 9

Republican Sue Myrick, who had represented North Carolina's 9th congressional district since 1995, did not seek another term. Curtis Campbell ran as the Libertarian nominee.

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Robert Pittenger, former state senator from the 39th district and nominee for lieutenant governor in 2008

Eliminated in primary

• Dan Barry, mayor pro tem of Weddington
• Andy Dulin, member of Charlotte City Council
• Jon Gauthier, financial adviser
• Ric Killian, former state representative
• Ken Leonwyzk, lawyer and ordained minister
• Richard Lynch, business owner
• Edwin Peacock, member of Charlotte City Council
• Jim Pendergraph, Mecklenburg County commissioner
• Michael Steinberg, businessman

Withdrawn

• Michael Schaffer, real estate broker (endorsed Barry)

Declined

• Sue Myrick, incumbent U.S. representative
• Bob Rucho, state senator from the 39th district

In the Republican primary, Pittenger and Pendergraph qualified for the runoff election, earning 33% and 25% of the vote, respectively. On July 17, Pittenger won the primary runoff.

Primary results

Runoff results

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Jennifer Roberts, Mecklenburg County commissioner

Declined

• Patrick Cannon, mayor pro tem of Charlotte

General election

Endorsements

Statewide officials

• Mike Huckabee, former governor of Arkansas (1996–2007) and candidate for President in 2008

Organizations

• Eagle Forum
• FreedomWorks
• Huck PAC
• National Federation of Independent Business
• National Right to Life Committee
• NRA Political Victory Fund
• United States Chamber of Commerce

Labor unions

• AFL-CIO

Organizations

• Sierra Club

Newspapers

• The Charlotte Observer

Local officials

• Lynda Paxton, Republican mayor of Stallings

Individuals

• Hugh McColl, former chairman and CEO of Bank of America

Predictions

Results

District 10

Republican Patrick McHenry, who had represented North Carolina's 10th congressional district since 2005, ran for re-election. Though the 10th district was made more favorable to Democrats in redistricting, it was expected to continue to strongly favor Republicans.

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Patrick McHenry, incumbent U.S. representative

Eliminated in primary

• Ken Fortenberry, newspaper publisher
• Don Peterson

Primary results

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Patsy Keever, state representative

Eliminated in primary

• Terry Bellamy, mayor of Asheville
• Timothy Murphy

Withdrawn

• Heath Wynn, adjunct professor at Catawba Valley Community College

Primary results

General election

Endorsements

Organizations

• Campaign for Working Families
• National Right to Life Committee
• NRA Political Victory Fund
• United States Chamber of Commerce

Labor unions

• AFL-CIO
• National Education Association

Organizations

• Democracy for America
• National Organization for Women
• Planned Parenthood Action Fund
• Sierra Club

Predictions

Results

District 11

Democrat Heath Shuler, who had represented North Carolina's 11th congressional district since 2007, chose not to run for re-election. The 11th district was made more favorable to Republicans in redistricting: more than three-quarters of voters in Asheville were removed from the district, while Avery, Burke, Caldwell and Mitchell counties, all of which favor Republicans, were added to it.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Hayden Rogers, Rep. Shuler's former chief of staff

Eliminated in primary

• Cecil Bothwell, Asheville city council-member
• Tom Hill, retired defense industry worker

Declined

• Heath Shuler, incumbent U.S. representative

Primary results

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Mark Meadows, real estate investor

Eliminated in primary

• Spence Campbell, retired U.S. Army colonel and nominee for this district in 2008
• Susan Harris, accountant
• Jeff Hunt, Henderson, Polk and Transylvania counties district attorney
• Vance Patterson, business owner and Tea Party member
• Chris Petrella, economic development consultant
• Kenny West, Clay County Republican Party chairman
• Ethan Wingfield, businessman

Withdrawn

• Dan Eichenbaum, ophthalmologist

Declined

• Jeff Miller, businessman and nominee for this district in 2010

Primary results

Runoff results

General election

Endorsements

U.S. representatives

• Heath Shuler, U.S. representative from North Carolina's 11th congressional district (2007–present)

Labor unions

• AFL-CIO
• National Association of Letter Carriers
• National Education Association
• North Carolina Association of Educators
• United Steelworkers

Organizations

• Blue Dog Coalition
• Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee "Red to Blue" Program
• Sierra Club

U.S. representatives

• Patrick McHenry, U.S. representative from North Carolina's 10th congressional district (2005–present)

State legislators

• Phillip Frye, state representative (2003–present)
• Jim Jacumin, state senator from the 44th district (2005–2011)

Organizations

• Campaign for Working Families
• Eagle Forum
• Family Research Council
• National Federation of Independent Business
• National Republican Congressional Committee "Young Guns" Program
• National Right to Life Committee
• Tea Party Express

Predictions

Results

District 12

Democrat Mel Watt, who had represented North Carolina's 12th congressional district since 1993, ran for re-election. The 12th district was made more favorable to Democrats in redistricting.

Watt faced Republican Jack Brosch and Libertarian Lon Cecil in the general election in November.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Mel Watt, incumbent U.S. representative

Eliminated in primary

• Matt Newton, attorney and former Occupy movement protester

Declined

• Melvin Alston, Guilford County commissioner

Primary results

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Jack Brosch, business owner

General election

Endorsements

Labor unions

• AFL-CIO
• National Association of Letter Carriers
• National Education Association
• North Carolina Association of Educators
• United Steelworkers

Organizations

• Human Rights Campaign
• J Street
• Planned Parenthood Action Fund
• Sierra Club

Newspapers

• The Charlotte Observer
• Greensboro News and Record

Predictions

Results

District 13

Democrat Brad Miller, who had represented North Carolina's 13th congressional district since 2003, did not seek re-election. The 13th district was made more favorable to Republicans in redistricting.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Charles Malone, state employee and nominee for state senate's 15th district in 2010.

Eliminated in primary

• Bernard Holliday, Baptist minister

Declined

• Brad Miller, incumbent U.S. representative

Primary results

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

• George Holding, former U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina

Eliminated in primary

• Paul Coble, Wake County commissioner
• Bill Randall, U.S. Navy retiree and nominee for this district in 2010

Declined

• Phil Berger Jr., Rockingham County district attorney
• B.J. Lawson, entrepreneur, chief software architect and nominee for the 4th district in 2008 and 2010
• Vernon Robinson, former Winston-Salem city council member and nominee for this district in 2006 (running in the 8th district)
• Nathan Tabor, candidate for the 5th district in 2004

Primary results

General election

Endorsements

Labor unions

• AFL-CIO

Newspapers

• Indy Week

Statewide officials

• I. Beverly Lake Jr., chief justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court (2001–2006) and nominee for governor in 1980

State legislators

• N. Leo Daughtry, state representative (1993–2017) and candidate for governor in 2000

Organizations

• NRA Political Victory Fund
• United States Chamber of Commerce

Newspapers

• Raleigh News & Observer

Predictions

Results

See also

• Gerrymandering

External links

• at Ballotpedia
• at OurCampaigns.com
• from OpenSecrets
• at the Sunlight Foundation