457,656 446,080 Start date November 6, 2012 | 45.9% 44.7% | |
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Turnout 57.1% (voting eligible) Winner Dean Heller | ||
The 2012 United States Senate election in Nevada was held on Tuesday, November 6, 2012, alongside 33 other elections to the United States Senate in other states, as well as elections to the United States House of Representatives, and the 2012 United States presidential election. The primary election was held June 12, 2012. Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Dean Heller, who was recently appointed to this seat left vacant by resigning U.S. Senator John Ensign, was narrowly elected to his first full term over Congresswoman Shelley Berkley.
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Background
Ensign was reelected to the United States Senate in 2006 against Jack Carter, son of former president Jimmy Carter, by a margin of 55–41%. Ensign's reelection campaign was expected to be complicated after it was revealed in 2009 that he had been involved in an extramarital affair with the wife of one of his campaign staffers, allegedly made payments to the woman's family and arranged work for her husband to cover himself.
Ensign faced an investigation from the Senate Ethics Committee and his poll numbers declined significantly. There was speculation that Ensign might resign before the election, but he denied these charges and initially stated he would run. However, he changed his mind and on March 7, 2011, Ensign announced that he would not seek reelection. On April 22, Ensign announced that he was resigning effective May 3.
Candidates
Declined
Candidates
Withdrew
Candidates
Debates
The first Berkley and Heller debate was on September 27, 2012. They met again in Las Vegas on October 11 and on Jon Ralston’s “Face to Face” program on October 15.