2012 United States House of Representatives elections in Kentucky

The 2012 United States House of Representatives elections in Kentucky were held on Tuesday, November 6, 2012, to elect the six U.S. representatives from the state of Kentucky, one from each of the state's six congressional districts. The elections will coincide with the elections of other federal and state offices, including a quadrennial presidential election. Primary elections were held on May 22, 2012.

Redistricting
Redistricting legislation was passed by both houses of the Kentucky General Assembly and signed into law by Governor Steve Beshear on February 10, 2012.

District 1
Republican Ed Whitfield, who had represented the 1st district since 1995, ran for re-election. In redistricting, the 1st district was made slightly more competitive, but continues to strongly favor Republicans.

Nominee

 * Ed Whitfield, incumbent U.S. Representative

Nominee

 * Charles Kendall Hatchett, real estate broker and nominee for this seat in 2010

Eliminated in primary

 * James Buckmaster

Declined

 * Brent Yonts, state representative

District 2
Republican Brett Guthrie, who had represented the 2nd district since 2009, ran for re-election. In redistricting, the 2nd district was made slightly more favourable to Republicans.

Nominee

 * Brett Guthrie, incumbent U.S. Representative

Nominee

 * David Lynn Williams, perennial candidate

Declined

 * Elaine Walker, former Secretary of State of Kentucky

Libertarian primary
Craig Astor ran as a Libertarian:

District 3
Democrat John Yarmuth, who had represented the 3rd district since 2007, ran for re-election. The 3rd district was made more favorable to Democrats in redistricting.

Nominee

 * John Yarmuth, incumbent U.S. Representative

Eliminated in primary

 * Burrel Charles Farnsley, perennial candidate

Nominee

 * Brooks Wicker, financial advisor and candidate for this seat in 2010

District 4
Republican Geoff Davis, who had represented 4th district from 2005 to 2012, resigned due to family health issues. In redistricting, the 4th district was made more favorable to Republicans.

Nominee

 * Thomas Massie, Lewis County judge-executive

Eliminated in primary

 * Walter Christian Schumm, building contractor
 * Marcus Carey, lawyer
 * Gary Moore, Boone County judge-executive
 * Brian Oerther, teacher
 * Alecia Webb-Edgington, state representative
 * Tom Wurtz, business consultant

Declined

 * Hunter Bates, former chief of staff to Senator Mitch McConnell
 * Kenny Brown, Boone County Clerk
 * Ben Dusing, lawyer and former assistant U.S. Attorney
 * Trey Grayson, former Secretary of State of Kentucky;
 * Adam Koenig, state representative
 * K. Lance Lucas, lawyer and son of former Democratic U.S. Representative Ken Lucas
 * Rick Robinson, aide to former senator Jim Bunning
 * Kevin Sell, businessman
 * Katie Stine, President Pro Tempore of the Kentucky Senate
 * Damon Thayer, state senator

Primary results
[[File:2012 Kentucky's 4th congressional district Republican primary election results map by county.svg|thumb|300px|County results Map legend

{{legend|#E27F7F|Massie—50–60%}}

{{legend|#FFB2B2|Massie—40–50%}}

{{legend|#FFC8CD|Massie—30–40%}}

{{legend|#FFB580|Webb-Edgington—40–50%}} ]]

Nominee

 * Bill Adkins, lawyer and chair of the Grant County Democratic Party

Eliminated in primary

 * Greg Frank, military veteran

Declined

 * Kenny French, former Gallatin County Judge-Executive
 * Patrick Hughes, attorney
 * Linda Klembara, president of the Kentucky Women's Network
 * Darrell Link, Grant County Judge-Executive
 * Ken Rechtin, Campbell County Commissioner
 * Nathan Smith, vice chairman of the Kentucky Democratic Party
 * Diane Whalen, Mayor of Florence

District 5
Republican Hal Rogers, who had represented the 5th district since 1981, ran for re-election. The 5th district was made slightly more competitive in redistricting.

Nominee

 * Hal Rogers, incumbent U.S. Representative

Nominee

 * Kenneth Stepp, lawyer

Eliminated in primary

 * Michael Ackerman

District 6
Democrat Ben Chandler, who had represented the 6th district since 2004, ran for re-election. In redistricting, the 6th district was modified with the effect that, had the 2008 presidential election been held under the new boundaries, Democratic nominee Barack Obama would have received a share of the vote 1.5 percentage points greater than that which he achieved under the former boundaries.

Nominee

 * Ben Chandler, incumbent U.S. Representative

Nominee

 * Andy Barr, attorney and nominee for this seat in 2010

Eliminated in primary

 * Patrick J. Kelly II
 * Curtis Kenimer

General election
Randolph S. Vance ran as a write-in candidate.