The 2012 Missouri gubernatorial election was held on November 6, 2012, to elect the Governor of Missouri. Incumbent Democratic Governor Jay Nixon won re-election against the Republican nominee, businessman Dave Spence, despite incumbent President Barack Obama losing Missouri on the same day to Republican nominee Mitt Romney. , this was the last time a Democrat won the governorship of Missouri.
Democratic primary
Candidates
William Campbell
Jay Nixon, incumbent governor
Clay Thunderhawk
Results
The Democratic primary was held on August 8, 2012.
Republican primary
Candidates
Bill Randles, businessman and corporate defense lawyer
Fred Sauer, investment executive and anti-abortion activist
Dave Spence, businessman
John Weiler
Polling
Results
Libertarian primary
Candidates
Jim Higgins, former officer of the Libertarian Party of Missouri
Denied ballot access
Leonard Steinman
Results
General election
Debates
Complete video of debate, C-SPAN, September 21, 2012
Predictions
Polling
Republican primary
General election
Results
Nixon won by a comfortable 12.3% margin, though this was somewhat closer than his 2008 victory. Even with President Barack Obama losing the state by a nine-point margin, Nixon and Senator Claire McCaskill both won reelection easily. Like his Senatorial colleague, Nixon was able to get a huge number of votes from rural areas. Both Nixon and McCaskill were declared the winners of their respective races even before the known Democratic strongholds of St. Louis and Kansas City came in.
Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic
Audrain (Largest city: Mexico) Clark (Largest city: Kahoka) Knox (Largest city: Edina) Lewis (Largest city: Canton) Monroe (Largest city: Monroe City)
Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican
Caldwell (Largest city: Hamilton) Daviess (Largest city: Gallatin) Gentry (Largest city: Albany) Crawford (Largest city: Cuba) Oregon (Largest city: Thayer) Vernon (Largest city: Nevada) Lincoln (Largest city: Troy) St. Clair (Largest city: Appleton City) Livingston (Largest city: Chillicothe) Andrew (Largest city: Savannah) Atchison (Largest city: Tarkio) Benton (Largest city: Warsaw) Camden (Largest city: Osage Beach) Carter (Largest city: Van Buren) Cass (Largest city: Harrisonville) Dallas (Largest city: Buffalo) Dent (Largest city: Salem) Douglas (Largest city: Ava) Howell (Largest city: West Plains) Laclede (Largest city: Lebanon) Maries (Largest city: Belle) Morgan (Largest city: Versailles) Ozark (Largest city: Gainesville) Pulaski (Largest city: Fort Leonard Wood) Polk (Largest city: Bolivar) Phelps (Largest city: Rolla) Ripley (Largest city: Doniphan) Texas (Largest city: Licking) Wright (Largest city: Mountain Grove) Webster (Largest city: Marshfield)
By congressional district
Nixon won 5 of 8 congressional districts.
See also
2012 United States gubernatorial elections
2012 United States Senate election in Missouri
2012 United States House of Representatives elections in Missouri
2012 United States presidential election in Missouri
2012 Missouri lieutenant gubernatorial election
2012 Missouri Attorney General election
2012 Missouri State Treasurer election
2012 Missouri Secretary of State election
Political party strength in Missouri
References
External links
Elections from the Missouri Secretary of State
Campaign sites (Archived) Jay Nixon for Governor Dave Spence for Governor Jim Higgins for Governor