2012 United States Senate election in Massachusetts

2012 United States Senate election in Massachusetts
File:Massachusetts Republican Presidential Primary Election Results by County, 2 · CC BY 4.0 · source
Election name	2012 United States Senate election in Massachusetts
Country	United States
State	Massachusetts
Type	presidential
Previous election	2006 United States Senate election in Massachusetts
Next election	2018 United States Senate election in Massachusetts

2012 United States Senate election in Massachusetts was a highly contested election that took place on November 6, 2012, in conjunction with the 2012 United States presidential election and other elections. The election was held to fill the seat of Scott Brown, the incumbent Republican Senator who was first elected in a special election to fill the seat of the late Ted Kennedy. The election featured a highly competitive campaign between Brown and his Democratic challenger, Elizabeth Warren, a professor at Harvard Law School and a former Special Advisor to the President in the Barack Obama administration. The election was also notable for the involvement of various PACs, including the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee and the National Republican Senatorial Committee.

Election Background

The 2012 United States Senate election in Massachusetts was one of the most closely watched elections in the country, with significant implications for the Senate and the Barack Obama administration. The election was also influenced by the 2012 United States House of Representatives elections in Massachusetts, which featured several competitive races, including the election in Massachusetts's 6th congressional district. The Massachusetts Democratic Party and the Massachusetts Republican Party both played important roles in the election, with the Democratic National Committee and the Republican National Committee also providing support to their respective candidates. The election was also covered extensively by the media, including The New York Times, The Boston Globe, and WBUR.

Candidates

The election featured several candidates, including Scott Brown, the incumbent Republican Senator, and Elizabeth Warren, a professor at Harvard Law School and a former Special Advisor to the President in the Barack Obama administration. Other candidates included Jack E. Robinson, a Republican challenger to Brown, and Marisa DeFranco, a Democratic challenger to Warren. The Libertarian Party also fielded a candidate, Daniel Fishman, while the Green Party nominated Laura Wells. The Constitution Party and the Reform Party also had candidates on the ballot.

Campaign

The campaign between Brown and Warren was highly competitive, with both candidates raising significant amounts of money and receiving support from various PACs and special interest groups. The NRA and the NEA both endorsed Brown, while the AFL-CIO and the SEIU endorsed Warren. The League of Conservation Voters and the Human Rights Campaign also endorsed Warren, while the United States Chamber of Commerce endorsed Brown. The campaign also featured several debates, including a debate at the University of Massachusetts Lowell and a debate at WGBH.

Polling

The election was closely watched by pollsters, with several organizations, including Quinnipiac University, Rasmussen Reports, and Public Policy Polling, releasing polls on the race. The polls showed a highly competitive election, with both Brown and Warren leading at various points. The RealClearPolitics average of polls showed Warren leading by a small margin, while the HuffPost Pollster average showed Brown leading. The Gallup organization also released polls on the election, which showed a tight race.

Results

On election day, Warren defeated Brown by a margin of 53.7% to 46.2%, winning the election by over 230,000 votes. The election was also notable for the high turnout, with over 3 million voters casting ballots. The results were certified by the Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth, William F. Galvin, and Warren was sworn in as the new Senator from Massachusetts on January 3, 2013. The election was also seen as a significant victory for the Democratic Party, which gained two seats in the Senate.

Aftermath

The election had significant implications for the Senate and the Barack Obama administration. Warren's victory was seen as a major victory for the Democratic Party, which gained control of the Senate for the 113th Congress. The election also had implications for the Supreme Court, with Warren's victory potentially influencing the confirmation process for future Supreme Court nominees. The election was also covered extensively by the media, including The New York Times, The Washington Post, and Politico. The Federal Election Commission also released a report on the election, which showed that the candidates and PACs spent over $70 million on the election. Category:United States Senate elections in Massachusetts