2012 United States Senate election in Virginia
election
The 2012 United States Senate election in Virginia took place on November 6, 2012, concurrently with the 2012 U.S. presidential election, 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. This was the first open election for this seat since 1988.
Democratic Party
Nominee
Tim Kaine, former governor of Virginia and former Democratic National Committee chairman
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.
Candidates
Nominee
George Allen, former U.S. senator and former governor of Virginia
Eliminated in primary
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Withdrawn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.
Polling
Endorsements
Results
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.
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