2012 United States House of Representatives elections in Missouri

The 2012 United States House of Representatives elections in Missouri were held specifically on Tuesday, November 6, 2012 and elected the eight U.S. representatives from the state of Missouri, a loss 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.

Redistricting
A new congressional map was passed by the Missouri General Assembly on April 27, 2011. The map was vetoed by Democratic Governor Jay Nixon on April 30, but Nixon's veto was overridden by the General Assembly on May 4, making the plan law. The map effectively eradicated the former 3rd district, which had been represented by Democrat Russ Carnahan since 2005, splitting it between the districts represented by Republicans Blaine Luetkemeyer and Todd Akin and Democrat William Lacy Clay, Jr. The bulk of the old 9th district became the new 3rd district.

District 1
Democrat William Lacy Clay, Jr., who has represented Missouri's 1st congressional district since 2001, will run for re-election.

Democratic primary
Fellow U.S. Representative Russ Carnahan, part of whose district was drawn into the 1st district, challenged Clay in the Democratic primary.

Nominee

 * William Lacy Clay, Jr., incumbent U.S. Representative

Eliminated in primary

 * Candice Britton
 * Russ Carnahan, incumbent U.S. Representative for the 3rd district

Declined

 * Francis Slay, Mayor of St. Louis

Nominee

 * Robyn Hamlin, insurance agent and nominee for this seat in 2010.

Eliminated in primary

 * Martin Baker, political organizer

Nominee

 * Robb Cunningham, candidate for this seat in 2010

District 2
Republican Todd Akin, who had represented Missouri's 2nd congressional district since 2001, chose to run for the U.S. Senate rather than seek re-election.

Nominee

 * Ann Wagner, former U.S. Ambassador to Luxembourg and former chair of the Missouri Republican Party

Eliminated in primary

 * James Baker, businessman
 * Randy Jotte, emergency room physician and former member of the Webster Groves City Council
 * John Morris

Withdrawn

 * Ed Martin, lawyer and nominee for the 3rd district in 2010 (running for state attorney general)

Declined

 * Todd Akin, incumbent U.S. Representative
 * Jane Cunningham, state senator
 * Joe Smith, former state representative

Nominee

 * Glenn Koenen, non-profit executive

Eliminated in primary

 * Harold Whitfield, attorney
 * George Weber, realtor
 * Marshall Works, insurance executive

Declined

 * Russ Carnahan, incumbent U.S. Representative for the 3rd district

Campaign
3rd District Congressman Russ Carnahan briefly mulled over a run in this district, though the district was more Republican than his previous district, and Carnahan did not live in the district. A poll commissioned by Carnahan showed Carnahan being competitive with Ann Wagner and Ed Martin. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee had preferred that Carnahan run in the district, and considered him a member of the Frontline program for vulnerable members. Ultimately, Carnahan would run unsuccessfully for the 1st district.

Primary results
Whitfield requested a recount, as the race was separated by less than 1%. By September 13, 2012 the recount was completed and Koenen was declared the winner.

Nominee

 * Bill Slantz, businessman

Nominee

 * Anatol Zorikova, business owner

District 3
Republican Blaine Luetkemeyer ran in the reconfigured 3rd district, which includes most of the 9th district he had represented since 2009.

Nominee

 * Blaine Luetkemeyer, incumbent U.S. Representative

Nominee

 * Eric Mayer, small business owner from Camdenton

Nominee

 * Steven Wilson, commercial artist

Declined

 * Cynthia Davis, former state representative

District 4
Republican Vicky Hartzler, who represented the 4th district since January 2011, sought re-election. In redistricting, all of Boone, Cooper, Howard, and Randolph counties, and parts of Audrain County, were added to the 4th district; while Cole, Lafayette, Ray, and Saline counties were removed from the district.

Nominee

 * Vicky Hartzler, incumbent U.S. Representative

Eliminated in primary

 * Bernie Mowinski, U.S. Air Force veteran

Nominee

 * Teresa Hensley, Cass County Prosecuting Attorney

Nominee

 * Thomas Holbrook

Eliminated in primary

 * Herschel Young, small business owner

Nominee

 * Greg Cowan, retired Navy lieutenant commander

District 5
Missouri's 5th Congressional district was perhaps the one most complicated by redistricting, and the legal challenges that have ensued. Democratic incumbent Emanuel Cleaver successfully won re-election.

Nominee

 * Emanuel Cleaver, incumbent U.S. Representative

Republican primary
Republican Jerry Nolte, who at first announced his intention to run in the 6th district decided to run in the 5th. Nolte's residence lies on the court-contested border of the two districts.

Nominee

 * Jacob Turk, Marine Corps veteran and nominee for this seat in 2006 and 2008 & 2010

Eliminated in primary

 * Jason Greene
 * Jerry Nolte, former state representative
 * Ron Paul Shawd

Nominee

 * Randall Langkraehr

District 6
Due to realignment following the 2010 U.S. census, the district spanned most of the northern portion of the state, from St. Joseph to Kirksville, and also included most of the state's portion of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area north of the Missouri River. Incumbent Sam Graves, who had represented the district since 2001, ran for reelection.

Nominee

 * Sam Graves, incumbent U.S. Representative

Eliminated in primary

 * Bob Gough, high school mathematics teacher
 * Christopher Ryan

Withdrawn

 * Jerry Nolte, former state representative

Nominee

 * Kyle Yarber, teacher

Eliminated in primary

 * Ronald Harris, truck driver, Air Force veteran and candidate for the 5th district in 2000
 * Bill Hedge, pastor of St. Francis Baptist Temple
 * Ted Rights, physician

Nominee

 * Russ Lee Monchil, Committeeman in Mirabile Township

District 7
Incumbent Republican Billy Long, who had represented the district since 2011, ran for re-election.

Nominee

 * Billy Long, incumbent U.S. Representative

Eliminated in primary

 * Mike Moon, membership coordinator
 * Tom Stilson, environmental geochemist

Nominee

 * Jim Evans, retired businessman, teacher, and U.S. Army veteran.

Nominee

 * Kevin Craig, editor of Vine & Fig Tree

District 8
Republican Jo Ann Emerson, who had represented Missouri's 8th congressional district since 1996, was challenged by Democratic nominee Jack Rushin and Libertarian nominee Rick Vandeven.

Nominee

 * Jo Ann Emerson, incumbent U.S. Representative

Eliminated in primary

 * Bob Parker, rancher and real estate agent

Nominee

 * Jack Rushin, chiropractor

Withdrawn

 * Todd Mahn, businessman

Nominee

 * Rick Vandeven