2012 Missouri lieutenant gubernatorial election

The 2012 Missouri lieutenant gubernatorial election was held on November 6, 2012. Incumbent Republican Peter Kinder faced Democratic nominee and former state auditor Susan Montee, Libertarian Matthew Copple, and the Constitution Party nominee, former state representative Cynthia Davis.

Background
Incumbent lieutenant governor Peter Kinder won the 2008 Missouri lieutenant gubernatorial election with 49.9% of the vote against Democratic candidate Sam Page. Kinder had been considered the front-runner in the 2012 Republican Gubernatorial primary, however after various controversies emerged, he decided to run for re-election. His decision was also influenced by St. Louis businessman and multimillionaire Dave Spence unexpectedly declaring to run for governor and pledging to put much of his own money into the race.

Timeline

 * March 27, 2012 – Filing deadline for Democrats, Republicans and Libertarians
 * August 7, 2012 – Primary (gubernatorial and other statewide office) elections
 * August 21, 2012 – Filing deadline for other third parties and Independents
 * November 6, 2012 – General election.

Declared

 * Michael E. Carter, former Municipal Judge, Corporate Attorney and Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor in 2008
 * Peter Kinder, incumbent lieutenant governor
 * Brad Lager, state senator
 * Charles W. Kullmann, retired college teacher

Declined

 * Ed Martin, attorney
 * Chris McKee, developer
 * Luann Ridgeway, state senator
 * Steven Tilley, Speaker of the Missouri House of Representatives

Declared

 * Judy Baker, former state representative and former regional director of the United States Department of Health and Human Services
 * Sara Lampe, state representative
 * Susan Montee, former State Auditor of Missouri and former Chairwoman of the Missouri Democratic Party
 * Becky Plattner, Missouri Conservation Commission chairwoman, former Presiding Commissioner of Saline County and candidate for lieutenant governor in 2008

Declined

 * Mike Sanders, County Executive of Jackson County
 * Wes Shoemyer, former state senator

Candidate

 * Matthew Copple

Candidate

 * Cynthia Davis, former state representative

General election
Kinder defeated all other candidates to become the first Missouri Lieutenant Governor to be elected to a third term since Frank Gaines Harris, who served from January 1933 to December 1944. Kinder received 49.4 percent of the vote while Susan Montee received 45.4 percent. Libertarian Matthew Copple and Constitution Party candidate Cynthia L. Davis garnered 2.8 and 2.4 percent, respectively.

By congressional district
Kinder won 6 of 8 congressional districts.