2012 United States Senate election in New York

The 2012 United States Senate election in New York took place on November 6, 2012, concurrently with the U.S. presidential election as well as other elections to the United States Senate and House of Representatives as well as various state and local elections.

Governor David Paterson appointed then-U.S. Representative Kirsten Gillibrand to serve as U.S. Senator from New York until the 2010 special election, succeeding former U.S. Senator Hillary Clinton, who resigned to serve as U.S. Secretary of State in the Obama administration. Gillibrand won the special election in 2010 with 62.95% of the vote over former U.S. Representative Joseph DioGuardi.

Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand won re-election to her first full term. She was opposed in the general election by Wendy Long (who ran on the Republican and Conservative Party tickets) and by three minor party candidates. Gillibrand was re-elected with 72% of the vote. She carried 60 out of 62 counties statewide, losing only Wyoming and Alleghany counties.

Candidates

 * Kirsten Gillibrand, incumbent U.S. Senator

Gillibrand was endorsed by the Independence Party of New York and the Working Families Party and appeared on the ballot lines of both of those parties in the general election.

Declared

 * Wendy E. Long, attorney
 * George Maragos, Nassau County Comptroller
 * Bob Turner, U.S. Representative, New York's 9th congressional district

The 2012 New York State Republican Convention took place on March 16, 2012. Candidates Wendy Long, George Maragos, and Congressman Bob Turner each reached the threshold of 25% of the weighted vote necessary to qualify for the June 26 primary ballot; however, none of the candidates achieved a majority. Long prevailed by a sizeable margin in the June 26 Republican primary, receiving 50.9% of the vote; Turner received 35.6% and Maragos 13.5%.

Long was designated as the nominee for the Conservative Party of New York State, and appeared on its ballot line in the general election as well as the Republican Party line.

Withdrew

 * Joe Carvin, Rye Town Supervisor, withdrew on March 16, 2012 to run for the House of Representatives against Nita Lowey.

Endorsements
Source: Update for US Senate Election NY 2012:  http://www.elections.ny.gov/NYSBOE/elections/2012/General/USSenator_07292013.pdf

Results
[[File:New York U.S. Senate Republican primary, 2012.svg|thumb|Results by county: Long

{{legend|#aa0000|Long—80–90%}}

{{legend|#d40000|Long—70–80%}}

{{legend|#cc2f4a|Long—60–70%}}

{{legend|#e27f90|Long—50–60%}}

{{legend|#f2b3be|Long—40–50%}} Turner

{{legend|#ffb380|Turner—40–50%}}

{{legend|#ff9955|Turner—50–60%}}

{{legend|#ff7f2a|Turner—60–70%}}

{{legend|#ff6600|Turner—70–80%}} Maragos

{{legend|#decd87|Maragos—40–50%}} ]]

Candidates

 * Colia Clark (Green), civil rights activist and candidate for the U.S. Senate in 2010
 * Chris Edes (Libertarian)
 * Kirsten Gillibrand (Democratic, Working Families, Independence), incumbent U.S. Senator
 * Wendy Long (Republican, Conservative), attorney
 * John Mangelli (Common Sense Party)

Debates

 * Complete video of debate, October 17, 2012 - C-SPAN

Polling

 * with George Maragos


 * with Bob Turner


 * with Marc Cenedella


 * with Harry Wilson

Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic

 * Genesee (largest municipality: Batavia)
 * Putnam (largest municipality: Lake Carmel)
 * Tioga (largest municipality: Waverly)
 * Orleans (largest municipality: Albion)
 * Wayne (largest municipality: Newark)

By congressional district
Gillibrand won all 27 congressional districts, including six held by Republicans. She won all but two with over 60% of the vote, with the 27th being her weakest with only 55% of the vote.