2012 United States Senate election in Utah

The 2012 United States Senate election in Utah took place on November 6, 2012, concurrently with the 2012 U.S. presidential election as well as other elections to the United States Senate and House of Representatives and as various state and local elections. Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Orrin Hatch won re-election to a seventh term against the Democratic candidate, former state Senator and IBM executive Scott Howell, in a rematch of the 2000 Senate election. This would be the last time Hatch was elected to the Senate before his retirement in 2018.

Background
Orrin Hatch won re-election to a sixth term after winning 62.5% of the vote against Pete Ashdown in the 2006 U.S. senatorial election in Utah. Tea Party activists targeted Hatch for a primary challenge, similar to the victory of Mike Lee over Bob Bennett in the 2010 election.

Candidates

 * Declared
 * Tim Aalders, radio talk show host and former business manager
 * Dale Ash, retired sales manager
 * Arlan Brunson, small business owner
 * David Chiu
 * Kevin Fisk, small business owner
 * Jeremy Friedbaum, small business owner and candidate for the U.S. Senate in 2010
 * Orrin Hatch, incumbent U.S. Senator
 * Chris Herrod, State Representative
 * William "Dub" Lawrence
 * Dan Liljenquist, former State Senator


 * Declined
 * Jason Chaffetz, U.S. Representative
 * Jon Huntsman, Jr., former Ambassador to China, former Governor of Utah, former Ambassador to Singapore and candidate for President in 2012
 * David Kirkham, co-founder of the Utah tea party
 * Morgan Philpot, former state representative and 2010 congressional candidate
 * Mark Shurtleff, Utah Attorney General

Campaign
In 2006, incumbent Orrin Hatch won re-election to a sixth term. In 2008, Chaffetz defeated the incumbent Republican U.S. Representative, Chris Cannon, in the 2008 primary for Utah's 3rd congressional district. In 2010, Mike Lee defeated Bob Bennett in the 2010 Utah Senate election. In March 2011, just-elected U.S. Senator Mike Lee said he will not endorse Hatch in the primary. In May 2011, Chaffetz told several Utah political insiders that he plans to run. He said he won't make an official decision until after Labor Day of 2011.

In June 2011, prominent conservative radio talk show host Mark Levin endorsed Hatch. The fiscally conservative 501(c)4 organization Club for Growth encouraged Chaffetz to run. The group cited Hatch's support for the Troubled Asset Relief Program, State Children's Health Insurance Program, No Child Left Behind Act, Bridge to Nowhere, and other votes among the reasons why they opposed his re-election. In an interview with Politico, Chaffetz stated, "After 34 years of service, I think most Utahans want a change. They want to thank him for his service, but it's time to move on. And for me personally, I think he's been on the wrong side of a host of major issues." The congressman cited Hatch's vote in favor of Equal Opportunity to Serve Act and the Health Equity and Access Reform Today Act of 1993. However, Chaffetz ultimately decided against a run.

Polling
In a January 2012 UtahPolicy.com poll of 1,291 Salt Lake County Republican caucus participants, 42% went for Hatch, 23% Liljenquist, 5% Herrod, and 30% were undecided. In a January 28, 2012 straw poll of 194 votes at the Box Elder County Republican Party Lincoln Day Dinner, 42% went for Liljenquist, 41% for Hatch, and 17% for Herrod.

Candidates

 * Orrin Hatch, incumbent U.S. Senator
 * Dan Liljenquist, former state senator

Campaign
After the convention, Hatch had $3 million more than Liljenquist.

Results
[[File:Utah U.S. Senate Republican primary, 2012.svg|thumb|Results by county: Map legend

{{legend|#800000|Hatch—>90%}}

{{legend|#aa0000|Hatch—80–90%}}

{{legend|#d40000|Hatch—70–80%}}

{{legend|#cc2f4a|Hatch—60–70%}}

{{legend|#e27f90|Hatch—50–60%}} ]]

Candidates

 * Declared
 * Pete Ashdown, businessman and nominee for the U.S. Senate in 2006
 * Scott Howell, former state senator and nominee for the U.S. Senate in 2000

Results
Howell defeated Ashdown 63%-37% to win and avoid a primary.

Candidates

 * Orrin Hatch (Republican), incumbent U.S. Senator
 * Scott Howell (Democratic), former state senator and nominee for the U.S. Senate in 2000
 * Shaun McCausland (Constitution)
 * Daniel Geery (Justice)
 * Bill Barron (Independent)

Debates

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

Polling

 * with Dan Liljenquist


 * with Jason Chaffetz


 * with Orrin Hatch


 * Republican primary

By congressional district
Hatch won all 4 congressional districts, including one that elected a Democrat.