For related races, see 2012 United States gubernatorial elections.
Governor
presidential
Election name2012 Utah gubernatorial election
CountryUtah
Ongoingno
Previous election2010 Utah gubernatorial special election
Previous year2010 (special)
Next election2016 Utah gubernatorial election
Next year2016
Election dateNovember 6, 2012
Nominee 1Gary Herbert
Running mate 1Greg Bell
Party 1Republican Party (United States)
Popular vote 1624,678
Percentage 168.41%
Nominee 2Peter Cooke
Running mate 2Vincent Rampton
Party 2Democratic Party (United States)
Popular vote 2253,514
Percentage 227.58%
Before electionGary Herbert
Before partyRepublican Party (United States)
After electionGary Herbert
After partyRepublican Party (United States)

The 2012 Utah gubernatorial election was held on November 6, 2012. Incumbent Republican Governor Gary Herbert won reelection to a full term.[1]

Republican nomination

Candidates

Defeated at convention

[3]

Declined

Polling

Poll sourceDate(s)
administered		Sample
size		Margin of
error		Gary
Herbert		David
Kirkham		Morgan
Philpot		Ken
Sumison		Other/
Undecided
Mason-Dixon[10]April 9–11, 2012422± 4.9%69%2%13%1%15%

Democratic nomination

Candidate

Declined

General election

Candidates

  • Gary Herbert (Republican), incumbent governor
  • Running mate: Greg Bell, incumbent lieutenant governor
  • Peter Cooke (Democratic), businessman and retired major general in the United States Army Reserve
  • Running mate: Vincent Rampton, attorney and son of former Governor Cal Rampton[13]
  • Kirk D Pearson (Constitution)[14]
  • Running mate: Tim Aalders
  • Ken Larsen (Libertarian), medical researcher [15]
  • Running mate: Robert Latham, attorney [16]

Debates

Predictions

SourceRankingAs of
The Cook Political Report[17]November 1, 2012
Sabato's Crystal Ball[18]November 5, 2012
Rothenberg Political Report[19]November 2, 2012
Real Clear Politics[20]November 5, 2012

Polling

Poll sourceDate(s)
administered		Sample
size		Margin of
error		Gary
Herbert (R)		Peter
Cooke (D)		Other/
Undecided
Deseret News/KSL[21]October 26–November 1, 2012870± 43.4%69%24%5%
Key Research[22]October 9–13, 2012500± 4.4%65%19%15%
Utah State University[23]October 8–13, 2012n/a± 7.6%76%17%7%
Mason-Dixon[10]April 9–11, 2012625± 4%65%27%8%

Results

By county

County[24]Gary Herbert
Republican		Peter Cooke
Demcoratic		Ken Larsen
Libertarian		Kirk D. Pearson
Constitution		MarginTotal votes cast
%%%%%
Beaver2,04080.89%39015.46%391.55%532.10%1,65065.42%2,522
Box Elder15,80282.02%2,76714.36%3071.59%3892.02%13,03567.66%19,265
Cache32,17377.11%7,59518.20%9842.36%9692.32%24,57858.91%41,721
Carbon4,78763.44%2,49433.05%1512.00%1141.51%2,29330.39%7,546
Daggett39076.62%9618.86%152.95%81.57%29457.76%509
Davis89,00274.21%26,79422.34%2,2321.86%1,9091.59%62,20851.87%119,939[a]
Duchesne5,38885.27%68810.89%841.33%1592.52%4,70074.38%6,319
Emery3,53279.62%72816.41%1052.37%711.60%2,80463.21%4,436
Garfield1,75381.61%33315.50%271.26%351.63%1,42066.11%2,148
Grand1,96850.96%1,68943.73%1493.86%561.45%2797.22%3,862
Iron13,09479.34%2,46414.93%4432.68%5033.05%10,63064.41%16,504
Juab3,18280.82%58814.94%781.98%892.26%2,59465.89%3,937
Kane2,45574.24%70821.41%782.36%662.00%1,74752.83%3,307
Millard4,04980.69%70414.03%881.75%1773.53%3,34566.66%5,018
Morgan3,69781.15%69915.34%571.25%1032.26%2,99865.80%4,556
Piute65886.01%8210.72%141.83%111.44%57675.29%765
Rich84185.21%12212.36%121.22%121.22%71972.85%987
Salt Lake209,31055.36%154,36140.82%9,4722.51%4,9631.31%54,94914.53%378,107[b]
San Juan3,09559.01%1,94137.01%1052.00%1041.98%1,15422.00%5,245
Sanpete7,67680.91%1,38414.59%1521.60%2752.90%6,29266.32%9,487
Sevier6,63282.86%1,04413.04%1471.84%1812.26%5,58869.82%8,004
Summit8,54149.67%8,04546.79%4382.55%1710.99%4962.88%17,195
Tooele13,07268.53%4,96926.05%4302.25%6053.17%8,10342.48%19,076
Uintah9,95086.77%1,1039.62%1871.63%2271.98%8,84777.15%11,467
Utah144,94282.77%22,63012.92%3,7392.14%3,8122.18%122,31269.84%175,123
Wasatch6,82471.79%2,34424.66%1841.94%1531.61%4,48047.13%9,505
Washington41,91578.44%9,24417.30%1,1562.16%1,1202.10%32,67161.14%53,435
Wayne1,05079.67%23918.13%141.06%151.14%81161.53%1,318
Weber50,77467.50%21,37728.42%1,7242.29%1,3461.79%29,39739.08%75,221
Total688,59268.41%277,62227.58%22,6112.25%17,6961.76%410,97040.83%1,006,524

Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican

By congressional district

Herbert won all four congressional districts, including one that elected a Democrat.[25]

DistrictHerbertCookeRepresentative
72.67%23.35%Rob Bishop
63.67%32.21%Chris Stewart
73.79%22.32%Jason Chaffetz
63.21%32.75%Jim Matheson

Notes

  1. ^ Includes 2 write-in votes for Dennis C. Owen
  2. ^ Includes 1 write-in vote for David J. Cannon

References

  1. ^ "Gov. Herbert wins first full term in office | Local News | heraldextra.com". www.heraldextra.com. Archived from the original on November 27, 2020. Retrieved November 6, 2020.
  2. ^ Gehrke, Robert (December 19, 2011). "Retired general poised to take on Herbert in gubernatorial race". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved December 20, 2011.
  3. ^ Gehrke, Robert & Canham, Matt (April 21, 2012). "Herbert wins nod, Philpot feels betrayed". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved May 10, 2012.
  4. ^ Meyers, Donald W. (January 18, 2012). "Utah tea party founder Kirkham takes on Herbert". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved January 19, 2012.
  5. ^ Hesterman, Billy (November 30, 2011). "Philpot to challenge Herbert in 2012". Daily Herald. Archived from the original on January 3, 2012. Retrieved November 30, 2011.
  6. ^ Davidson, Lee (November 11, 2011). "Utah governor faces challenge from inside the GOP". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved May 10, 2012.
  7. ^ Roche, Lisa Riley (November 10, 2011). "GOP lawmaker to run against Gov. Herbert". Deseret News. Retrieved May 10, 2012.
  8. ^ Romboy, Dennis (November 14, 2011). "Sandstrom announces bid for Utah's new congressional district seat". Deseret News. Archived from the original on November 15, 2011. Retrieved November 14, 2011.
  9. ^ Roche, Lisa Riley (June 9, 2011). "Two Utah political heavyweights eyeing key races". Deseret News. Archived from the original on June 13, 2011. Retrieved June 10, 2011.
  10. ^ Mason-Dixon
  11. ^ Isenstadt, Alex (December 15, 2011). "Matheson to run for reelection". Politico. Retrieved May 10, 2012.
  12. ^ Toeplitz, Shira (December 15, 2011). "Matheson to Run in New Utah District". Roll Call. Retrieved May 10, 2012.
  13. ^ Gehrke, Robert (April 19, 2012). "Rampton named as Peter Cooke's running mate". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved May 10, 2012.
  14. ^ "2012 Candidate Filings - Lieutenant Governor's Office: Elections". Elections.utah.gov. 2012-04-26. Retrieved 2013-02-05.
  15. ^ Ken Larsen Free Speech Message. "Ken Larsen". Vote Utah. Archived from the original on 2012-11-13. Retrieved 2013-02-05.
  16. ^ "Why Choose Rob? « J. Robert Latham | Attorney at Law". Jrobertlatham.pro. January 2011. Retrieved 2013-02-05.
  17. ^ "2012 Governor Race Ratings for November 1, 2012". The Cook Political Report. Retrieved November 30, 2018.
  18. ^ "PROJECTION: OBAMA WILL LIKELY WIN SECOND TERM". Sabato's Crystal Ball. Archived from the original on December 1, 2018. Retrieved November 30, 2018.
  19. ^ "2012 Gubernatorial Ratings". Gubernatorial Ratings. The Rothenberg Political Report. Retrieved November 30, 2018.
  20. ^ "2012 Elections Map - 2012 Governor Races". Real Clear Politics. Retrieved November 30, 2018.
  21. ^ Deseret News/KSL
  22. ^ Key Research
  23. ^ Utah State University
  24. ^ "2012 General Election Canvass". Retrieved 1 January 2026.
  25. ^ "Utah 2012 gov-by-cd"

Official campaign sites (Archived)