2012 United States Senate election in Virginia

The 2012 United States Senate election in Virginia 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 various state and local elections. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Jim Webb retired instead of running for reelection to a second term, and former Democratic governor of Virginia Tim Kaine won the open seat over Republican former senator and governor George Allen. Kaine was unopposed for the Democratic nomination, and the Republicans nominated Allen through a primary on June 12, 2012. Allen had previously held this seat for one term before narrowly losing reelection to Webb in 2006.

Republican primary
In Virginia, parties have the option of whether to hold a primary or to nominate their candidate through a party convention. In November 2010, the Virginia GOP announced that it had chosen to hold a primary.

Declared

 * George Allen, former U.S. Senator and former Governor of Virginia
 * E. W. Jackson, minister and conservative activist
 * Bob Marshall, State Delegate and candidate in 2008
 * Jamie Radtke, conservative activist

Withdrawn

 * Tim Donner, founder of Horizons Television and LibertyNation.com
 * David McCormick, attorney

Declined

 * Liz Cheney, former Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs
 * Ken Cuccinelli, Virginia Attorney General
 * Tom Davis, former U.S. Representative
 * Corey Stewart, Prince William County Board of Supervisors Chairman

Debates
Three debates between Republican candidates were announced before the primary on June 12, 2012. The debates took place in Richmond, Northern Virginia, and Hampton Roads.

Hank the Cat
On February 27, 2012, a Maine Coon cat named Hank the Cat was announced to be running a write-in campaign as a joke candidate. Hank's campaign raised $16,000 for animal charities throughout the world.

Candidates
Only Allen and Kaine qualified for the ballot.
 * George Allen (Republican), former U.S. Senator and former Governor of Virginia
 * Tim Kaine (Democrat), former Governor of Virginia and former Democratic National Committee chairman

Debates
David Gregory moderated a debate between Kaine and Allen on September 20, 2012. Topics included partisan gridlock in Washington policy making, job creation, tax policy, and Middle East unrest.


 * External links
 * Complete video of debate, September 20, 2012 - C-SPAN
 * Complete video of debate, October 8, 2012 - C-SPAN
 * Complete video of debate, October 18, 2012 - C-SPAN

Campaign
Once incumbent U.S. Senator Jim Webb decided to retire, many Democratic candidates were speculated. These included U.S. Congressmen Rick Boucher, Gerry Connolly, Glenn Nye, Tom Perriello and Bobby Scott. However, they all declined and encouraged Kaine to run for the seat, believing he would be by far the most electable candidate. Courtney Lynch, former Marine Corps Officer and Fairfax business consultant and Julien Modica, former CEO of the Brain Trauma Recovery & Policy Institute, eventually withdrew from the election, allowing Kaine to be unopposed in the Democratic primary.

Independent expenditures
In early October 2012, Crossroads GPS announced it would launch a $16 million advertising buy in national races, of which four were this and three other Senate elections.

Polling

 * Democratic primary


 * General election


 * with Rick Boucher


 * with Tom Perriello


 * with Bobby Scott


 * with Jim Webb

Counties and independent cities that flipped from Democratic to Republican

 * Buchanan (largest city: Grundy)
 * Dickenson (largest borough: Clintwood)
 * Alleghany (largest borough: Clinfton Forge)
 * Russell (Largest city: Lebanon)
 * Norton (Independent city)

Counties and independent cities that flipped from Republican to Democratic

 * Buckingham (largest borough: Buckingham)
 * Chesapeake (independent city)
 * Essex (largest borough: Tappahannock)
 * Harrisonburg (independent city)
 * Henrico (largest borough: Richmond)
 * Hopewell (independent city)
 * Manassas (independent city)
 * Staunton (independent city)
 * Winchester (independent city)
 * Virginia Beach (Independent city)
 * Prince Edward (largest municipality: Farmville)
 * Danville (independent city)

By congressional district
Kaine won 6 of 11 congressional districts, including three held by Republicans.