{{Short description|none}} <!-- "none" is preferred when the title is already sufficiently detailed; see WP:SDNONE --> {{Use American English|date=February 2026}} {{Use mdy dates|date=September 2023}} {{Infobox election | election_name = 2012 Oregon elections | country = Oregon | type = presidential | ongoing = no | previous_election = 2010 Oregon elections | previous_year = 2010 | next_election = 2014 Oregon elections | next_year = 2014 | election_date = November 6, 2012 | turnout = }} {{Elections in Oregon sidebar}} On November 6, 2012, the U.S. state of Oregon held '''statewide general elections''' for four statewide offices (secretary of state, attorney general, treasurer, and commissioner of labor), both houses of the Oregon Legislative Assembly, and several state ballot measures.
The primary elections were held on May 15, 2012. Both elections also included national races for President of the United States and five U.S. House Representatives. Numerous local jurisdictions — cities, counties, and regional government entities — held elections for various local offices and ballot measures on these days as well. {{Toclimit|limit=3}} {{clear}}
==Federal==
===President of the United States=== {{main|2012 United States presidential election in Oregon}} {{see also|2012 United States presidential election}}
Democratic incumbent Barack Obama defeated his Republican opponent Mitt Romney in the national presidential election. In Oregon, the voters also chose Obama, giving him all of Oregon's 7 electoral votes.<ref name=OregonLiveNov>{{Cite news | title = Hales wins mayor race; Obama wins presidency | url = http://gov.oregonlive.com/election/ | work = OregonLive | publisher = The Oregonian | date = November 7, 2012 | access-date = November 7, 2012}}</ref>
===United States House of Representatives=== {{main|2012 United States House of Representatives elections in Oregon}} {{see also|2012 United States House of Representatives elections}} All five of Oregon's seats in the United States House of Representatives were up for re-election in 2012. All five incumbents ran for and won re-election, including Democrat Suzanne Bonamici who won a special election in District 1 earlier in the year to replace Democrat David Wu.
==Statewide==
===Attorney General=== {{Infobox election | election_name = 2012 Oregon Attorney General election | percentage1 = '''56.17%''' | party1 = Democratic Party (United States) | title = Attorney General | before_election = Ellen Rosenblum | before_party = Democratic Party (United States) | after_election = Ellen Rosenblum | after_party = Democratic Party (United States) | popular_vote1 = '''917,627''' | nominee1 = '''Ellen Rosenblum''' | country = Oregon | type = presidential | previous_election = 2008 Oregon Attorney General election | previous_year = 2008 | election_date = November 6, 2012 | next_election = 2016 Oregon elections#Attorney General | next_year = 2016 | image2 = 3x4.svg | turnout = | image1 = Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum addresses attendees at the conference (15478927731) (cropped).jpg | image_size = 150x150px | nominee2 = James Buchal | party2 = Republican Party (United States) | popular_vote2 = 639,363 | percentage2 = 39.14% | ongoing = No | map_image = {{switcher |250px |County results |<!-- Please do not remove this map as it shows the correct congressional district results for this election in addition to the 2016 attorney general election -->250px |Congressional district results}} | map_caption = '''Rosenblum:''' {{legend0|#a5b0ff|40–50%}} {{legend0|#7996e2|50–60%}} {{legend0|#6674de|60–70%}} {{legend0|#584cde|70–80%}}<br />'''Buchal:''' {{legend0|#FFB2B2|40–50%}} {{legend0|#E27F7F|50–60%}} {{legend0|#d75d5d|60–70%}} }} Incumbent Oregon Attorney General John Kroger, first elected in 2008, announced in October 2011 that he would not seek a second term, citing undisclosed medical issues.<ref name=gustafson>{{cite news |url=http://www.oregonlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2011/10/john_kroger_cites_significant.html |title=John Kroger cites 'significant but not life threatening medical condition' for opting out of 2012 AG race |last=Har |first=Jamie |newspaper=The Oregonian |date=October 18, 2011 |access-date=May 17, 2012}}</ref> In April 2012, he announced would resign his office in June to become president of Reed College.<ref name=gustafson1>{{cite news |url=http://www.oregonlive.com/education/index.ssf/2012/04/reed_college_chooses_oregon_at.html |title=Reed College chooses Oregon Attorney General John Kroger as new president |last=Graves |first=Bill |newspaper=The Oregonian |date=April 24, 2012 |access-date=May 3, 2018}}</ref> On June 29, Democrat Ellen Rosenblum was sworn in as interim attorney general.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.oregonlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2012/06/oregon_gov_john_kitzhaber_name_2.html |title=Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber names Ellen Rosenblum as interim attorney general |date=June 6, 2012 |access-date=June 27, 2012 |work=The Oregonian |first=Michelle |last=Cole}}{{free access}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.oregonlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2012/06/ag_handoff_timber_payments_olc.html |title=AG handoff, timber payments, OLCC and tsunami debris is coming: Oregon Politics Roundup |date=June 29, 2012 |access-date=June 29, 2012 |last=Har |first=Janie |newspaper=The Oregonian }}</ref> Rosenblum, a former judge on the Oregon Court of Appeals, also defeated former U.S. Attorney Dwight Holton in the Democratic primary and will compete for a full term in November against Republican attorney James Buchal, who had a successful write-in campaign in the Republican primary.<ref name=writein>{{cite web |url=http://www.oregonlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2012/06/oregon_republicans_now_have_ca.html |title=Oregon Republicans now have candidates for attorney general and treasurer, courtesy of write-in votes |date=June 6, 2012 |access-date=June 29, 2012 |work=The Oregonian |first=Jeff |last=Mapes}}</ref>
====Democratic primary====
=====Candidates===== *Dwight Holton, former interim U.S. Attorney for Oregon<ref name=primag>{{cite web |url=https://secure.sos.state.or.us/orestar/cfFilings.do?cfSearchButtonName=&cfName=&cfyearActive=2012&cfElection=413&cfOffice=AG&cfOfficeGrp=&cfPartyAffiliation=&cfFilingFromDate=&cfFilingToDate=&cfWithDrawFromDate=&cfWithDrawToDate= |title=Candidate Filings, Attorney General |publisher=Oregon Secretary of State |access-date=May 17, 2012 }}</ref> *Ellen Rosenblum, former Oregon Court of Appeals judge<ref name=primag/>
=====Results===== {{Election box begin no change | title = Democratic Primary results<ref name=primagres>{{cite web|url=http://records.sos.state.or.us/ORSOSWebDrawer/RecordView/6873711|title=Official Results: May 15, 2012 Primary Election|publisher=Oregon Secretary of State|access-date=June 29, 2012}}</ref> }} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change | candidate = Ellen Rosenblum | party = Democratic Party (United States) | votes = 202,935 | percentage = 64.5 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change | candidate = Dwight Holton | party = Democratic Party (United States) | votes = 110,891 | percentage = 35.3 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change | party = Democratic Party (United States) | candidate = write-ins | votes = 657 | percentage = 0.2 }} {{Election box total no change | votes = 305,545 | percentage = 100 }} {{Election box end}}
====Republican primary====
=====Candidates===== No Republican filed to run in the primary, but a few weeks before the primary election, party officials sent postcards to Republicans urging them to write in Portland lawyer James Buchal. Buchal qualified for the general election with more than half the more than 25,000 write-in votes cast.<ref name=writein/>
=====Results===== {{Election box begin no change | title = Republican Primary results<ref name=primagres/> }} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change | candidate = James Buchal (write-in candidate) | party = Republican Party (United States) | votes = 12,816 | percentage = 50.4 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change | candidate = other write-ins | party = Republican Party (United States) | votes = 12,622 | percentage = 49.6 }} {{Election box total no change | votes = 25,438 | percentage = 100 }} {{Election box end}}
====General election====
=====Candidates===== * James Buchal (Republican), attorney<ref name=genag>{{cite web |url=https://secure.sos.state.or.us/orestar/cfFilings.do?cfSearchButtonName=&cfName=&cfyearActive=2012&cfElection=415&cfOffice=AG&cfOfficeGrp=&cfPartyAffiliation=&cfFilingFromDate=&cfFilingToDate=&cfWithDrawFromDate=&cfWithDrawToDate= |title=Candidate Filings, Attorney General |publisher=Oregon Secretary of State |access-date=June 29, 2012 }}</ref> * Chris Henry (Progressive), truck driver * James E. Leuenberger (Constitution, Libertarian), attorney * Ellen Rosenblum (Democrat), interim attorney general, former Oregon Court of Appeals judge<ref name=genag/>
=====Polling===== {| class="wikitable" |- valign= bottom ! Poll source ! style="width:150px;"| Date(s)<br />administered ! class=small | Sample<br />size ! <small>Margin of</small><br />error ! style="width:110px;"| Ellen<br />Rosenblum (D) ! style="width:110px;"| James<br />Buchal (R) ! Undecided |- |Public Policy Polling<ref name="Public Policy Polling">[http://www.publicpolicypolling.com/pdf/2011/PPP_Release_OR_0626122.pdf Public Policy Polling]</ref> | align=center| June 21–24, 2012 | align=center| 686 | align=center| ± 3.7% | {{party shading/Democratic}} align=center| '''46%''' | align=center| 33% | align=center| 20% |}
=====Results===== {{Election box begin no change | title = Official Results - November 2012 General Election<ref name=genres>{{cite web |url=http://records.sos.state.or.us/ORSOSWebDrawer/RecordView/6873690 |title=November 6, 2012, General Election Abstract of Votes |publisher=Oregon Elections Division |access-date=December 5, 2012}}</ref> }} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change | candidate = Ellen Rosenblum | party = Democratic Party (United States) | votes = 917,627 | percentage = 56.17 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change | candidate = James Buchal | party = Republican Party (United States) | votes = 639,363 | percentage = 39.14 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change | candidate = James E. Leuenberger | party = Constitution Party of Oregon | votes = 45,451 | percentage = 2.78 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change | candidate = Chris Henry | party = Oregon Progressive Party | votes = 28,187 | percentage = 1.73 }} {{Election box candidate no change | party = | candidate = write-ins | votes = 2,975 | percentage = 0.18 }} {{Election box total no change | votes = 1,633,603 | percentage = 100 }} {{Election box end}}
===Secretary of State=== {{See also|2012 Oregon Secretary of State election}}
Incumbent Oregon Secretary of State Kate Brown, first elected in 2008, is seeking a second term. She defeated perennial candidate Paul Damian Wells in the Democratic primary and faces Republican orthopedic surgeon Knute Buehler in the general election.<ref name="o_brown">{{cite web|url=http://www.oregonlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2012/05/kate_brown_knute_buehler_to_fa.html|title=Kate Brown, Knute Buehler to face off in November for Oregon secretary of state (2012 primary election)|date=May 15, 2012|access-date=June 27, 2012|work=The Oregonian|first=Jeff|last=Mapes}}</ref> Buehler was unopposed in the Republican primary and also won the Independent Party nomination.<ref name="ind" />
====Democratic primary====
=====Candidates===== *Kate Brown, incumbent<ref name=primsos>{{cite web |url=https://secure.sos.state.or.us/orestar/cfFilings.do?cfSearchButtonName=&cfName=&cfyearActive=2012&cfElection=413&cfOffice=SOS&cfOfficeGrp=&cfPartyAffiliation=&cfFilingFromDate=&cfFilingToDate=&cfWithDrawFromDate=&cfWithDrawToDate= |title=Candidate Filings, Secretary of State |publisher=Oregon Secretary of State |access-date=May 17, 2012 }}</ref> *Paul Damian Wells, machinist<ref name=primsos/>
=====Results===== {{Election box begin no change | title = Democratic Primary results<ref name=primsosres>{{cite web|url=http://records.sos.state.or.us/ORSOSWebDrawer/RecordView/6873711 |title=May 15, 2012 Primary Election: Secretary of State Official Election Results|publisher=Oregon Secretary of State|access-date=May 17, 2012}}</ref> }} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change | candidate = Kate Brown | party = Democratic Party (United States) | votes = 284,470 | percentage = 91.1 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change | candidate = Paul Damian Wells | party = Democratic Party (United States) | votes = 26,177 | percentage = 8.4 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change | candidate = write-ins | party = Democratic Party (United States) | votes = 1,510 | percentage = 0.5 }} {{Election box total no change | votes = 312,157 | percentage = 100 }} {{Election box end}}
====Republican primary====
=====Candidates===== *Knute Buehler, surgeon<ref name=primsos/>
=====Results===== {{Election box begin no change | title = Republican Primary results<ref name=primagres/> }} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change | party = Republican Party (United States) | candidate = Knute Buehler | votes = 199,179 | percentage = 97.76 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change | party = Republican Party (United States) | candidate = write-ins | votes = 4,558 | percentage = 2.24 }} {{Election box total no change | votes = 203,737 | percentage = 100 }} {{Election box end}}
====Independent Party of Oregon==== Oregon allows candidates to be cross-nominated by up to three political parties. The Independent Party of Oregon holds a month-long online primary to select which candidate receives their nomination. The party chose candidates in a number of legislative and local races but only one statewide race, secretary of state.<ref name=ind>{{cite news |url = http://www.oregonlive.com/mapes/index.ssf/2012/07/knute_buehler_wins_independent.html |title =Knute Buehler wins Independent Party nod, as do several Oregon House Democratic candidates |date= July 18, 2012 |access-date= July 18, 2012 |last=Mapes |newspaper=The Oregonian |first=Jeff Mapes, The Oregonian }}</ref>
=====Candidates===== *Kate Brown, incumbent *Knute Buehler, surgeon
=====Results===== {{Election box begin no change | title = Independent Party of Oregon primary results<ref name=iporesults>{{cite web|url=http://www.indparty.com/election/2012results.html|title=Primary election results|publisher=Independent Party of Oregon|access-date=July 18, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121002022808/http://www.indparty.com/election/2012results.html|archive-date=October 2, 2012|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref> }} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change | candidate = Knute Buehler | party = Republican Party (United States) | votes = 348 | percentage = 55.68 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change | candidate = Kate Brown | party = Democratic Party (United States) | votes = 277| percentage = 44.32 }} {{Election box total no change | votes = 625| percentage = 100 }} {{Election box end}}
====General election==== thumb|Results by county
=====Candidates===== *Kate Brown (Democrat, Working Families), incumbent<ref name=gensos>{{cite web |url=https://secure.sos.state.or.us/orestar/cfFilings.do?cfSearchButtonName=&cfName=&cfyearActive=2012&cfElection=415&cfOffice=SOS&cfOfficeGrp=&cfPartyAffiliation=&cfFilingFromDate=&cfFilingToDate=&cfWithDrawFromDate=&cfWithDrawToDate= |title=Candidate Filings, Secretary of State |publisher=Oregon Secretary of State |access-date=June 29, 2012 }}</ref> * Knute Buehler (Republican, Independent), orthopedic surgeon<ref name=gensos/> * Bruce Alexander Knight (Libertarian), store manager<ref name=gensos/> * Robert Wolfe (Progressive), wine salesman<ref name=gensos/> * Seth Woolley (Pacific Green), software engineer<ref name=gensos/>
=====Polling===== {| class="wikitable" |- valign= bottom ! Poll source ! style="width:150px;"| Date(s)<br />administered ! class=small | Sample<br />size ! <small>Margin of</small><br />error ! style="width:100px;"| Kate<br />Brown (D) ! style="width:100px;"| Knute<br />Buehler (R, I) ! Undecided |- |The Oregonian<ref name="The Oregonian">[http://media.oregonlive.com/politics_impact/other/Oregonian%20statewide%20poll.pdf The Oregonian]</ref> | align=center| October 25–28, 2012 | align=center| 405 | align=center| ± 5% | {{party shading/Democratic}} align=center| '''38%''' | align=center| 23% | align=center| 36% |- |DHM Research<ref name="DHM Research">[http://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/opb-news-static/surveys2012/102912_Statewide_Survey.pdf DHM Research]</ref> | align=center| October 18–20, 2012 | align=center| 500 | align=center| ± 2.6%–4.4% | {{party shading/Democratic}} align=center| '''43%''' | align=center| 37% | align=center| 15% |- |Public Policy Polling<ref name="Public Policy Polling"/> | align=center| June 21–24, 2012 | align=center| 686 | align=center| ± 3.7% | {{party shading/Democratic}} align=center| '''48%''' | align=center| 30% | align=center| 21% |}
=====Results=====
{{Election box begin no change | title = Oregon Secretary of State - General Election Results<ref name=genres>{{cite web |url=http://records.sos.state.or.us/ORSOSWebDrawer/RecordView/6873690 |title=November 6, 2012, General Election Abstract of Votes |publisher=Oregon Elections Division |access-date=December 5, 2012}}</ref> }} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change | candidate = Kate Brown | party = Democratic Party (United States) | votes = 863,656 | percentage = 51.28 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change | candidate = Knute Buehler | party = Republican Party (United States) | votes = 727,607 | percentage = 43.20 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change | candidate = Seth Woolley | party = Pacific Green Party | votes = 44,235 | percentage = 2.63 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change | candidate = Bruce Alexander Knight | party = Libertarian Party of Oregon | votes = 24,273 | percentage = 1.44 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change | candidate = Robert Wolfe | party = Oregon Progressive Party | votes = 21,783 | percentage = 1.29 }} {{Election box candidate no change | party = | candidate = write-ins | votes = 2,561 | percentage = 0.15 }} {{Election box total no change | votes = 1,684,115 | percentage = 100 }} {{Election box end}}
===State Treasurer=== Incumbent Oregon State Treasurer Ted Wheeler was appointed to the position in March 2010 following the death of Ben Westlund. Wheeler subsequently won a November 2010 special election to complete the remainder of Westlund's term. He is seeking re-election to a full term in 2012.<ref name=o_brown/> Tom Cox, a management consultant who ran for governor as the Libertarian nominee in 2002, won the Republican nomination as a write-in candidate.<ref name=writein/><ref name=o_brown/>
====Democratic primary====
=====Candidates===== *Ted Wheeler, incumbent<ref name=primtreas>{{cite web |url=https://secure.sos.state.or.us/orestar/cfFilings.do?cfSearchButtonName=&cfName=&cfyearActive=2012&cfElection=413&cfOffice=TR&cfOfficeGrp=&cfPartyAffiliation=&cfFilingFromDate=&cfFilingToDate=&cfWithDrawFromDate=&cfWithDrawToDate= |title=Candidate Filings, State Treasurer |publisher=Oregon Secretary of State |access-date=May 17, 2012 }}</ref>
=====Results===== {{Election box begin no change | title = Democratic Primary results<ref name=primtreasres>{{cite web|url=http://records.sos.state.or.us/ORSOSWebDrawer/RecordView/6873711 |title=May 15, 2012 Primary Election: State Treasurer Official Election Results|publisher=Oregon Secretary of State|access-date=June 29, 2012}}</ref> }} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change | candidate = Ted Wheeler | party = Democratic Party (United States) | votes = 272,278 | percentage = 99.50 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change | party = Democratic Party (United States) | candidate = write-ins | votes = 1,365 | percentage = 0.50 }} {{Election box total no change | votes = 273,643 | percentage = 100 }} {{Election box end}}
====Republican primary====
=====Candidates===== No Republican filed to run in the primary, but a few weeks before the primary election, party officials sent postcards to Republicans urging them to write in Tom Cox, who won 5% of the vote as the Libertarian candidate for governor in 2002. Cox won the majority of the more than 24,000 write-in votes to advance to the November general election.<ref name=writein/>
=====Results===== {{Election box begin no change | title = Republican Primary results<ref name=primtreasres/> }} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change | candidate = Tom Cox (write-in) | party = Republican Party (United States) | votes = 12,885 | percentage = 53.2 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change | candidate = other write-ins | party = Republican Party (United States) | votes = 11,337 | percentage = 46.8 }} {{Election box total no change | votes = 24,222 | percentage = 100 }} {{Election box end}}
====General election==== thumb|Results by county
=====Candidates===== * Tom Cox (Republican), management consultant<ref name=gentreas>{{cite web |url=https://secure.sos.state.or.us/orestar/cfFilings.do?cfSearchButtonName=&cfName=&cfyearActive=2012&cfElection=415&cfOffice=TR&cfOfficeGrp=&cfPartyAffiliation=&cfFilingFromDate=&cfFilingToDate=&cfWithDrawFromDate=&cfWithDrawToDate= |title=Candidate Filings, State Treasurer |publisher=Oregon Secretary of State |access-date=June 29, 2012 }}</ref> * John F. Mahler (Libertarian), retired plant engineer<ref name=gentreas/> * Michael Paul Marsh (Constitution), retired landscaper, custodian, and paralegal<ref name=gentreas/> * Ted Wheeler (Democrat, Working Families), incumbent<ref name=gentreas/> * Cameron Whitten (Progressive), student<ref name=gentreas/>
=====Polling===== {| class="wikitable" |- valign= bottom ! Poll source ! style="width:150px;"| Date(s)<br />administered ! class=small | Sample<br />size ! <small>Margin of</small><br />error ! style="width:100px;"| Ted<br />Wheeler (D) ! style="width:100px;"| Tom<br />Cox (R) ! Undecided |- |Public Policy Polling<ref name="Public Policy Polling"/> | align=center| June 21–24, 2012 | align=center| 686 | align=center| ± 3.7% | {{party shading/Democratic}} align=center| '''46%''' | align=center| 34% | align=center| 19% |}
=====Results===== {{Election box begin no change | title = Oregon State Treasurer - General Election Results<ref name=genres>{{cite web |url=http://records.sos.state.or.us/ORSOSWebDrawer/RecordView/6873690 |title=November 6, 2012, General Election Abstract of Votes |publisher=Oregon Elections Division |access-date=December 5, 2012}}</ref> }} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change | candidate = Ted Wheeler | party = Democratic Party (United States) | votes = 955,213 | percentage = 57.84 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change | candidate = Tom Cox | party = Republican Party (United States) | votes = 609,989 | percentage = 36.93 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change | candidate = Cameron Whitten | party = Oregon Progressive Party | votes = 38,762 | percentage = 2.36 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change | candidate = John Mahler | party = Libertarian Party of Oregon | votes = 30,002 | percentage = 1.83 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change | candidate = Michael Paul Marsh | party = Constitution Party of Oregon | votes = 15,415 | percentage = 0.94 }} {{Election box candidate no change | party = | candidate = write-ins | votes = 2,181 | percentage = 0.13 }} {{Election box total no change | votes = 1,643,350 | percentage = 100 }} {{Election box end}}
===Labor Commissioner=== {{main|2012 Oregon Commissioner of Labor election}} The Oregon Commissioner of Labor serves as the head of the state Bureau of Labor and Industries (BOLI), and is a nonpartisan position. Brad Avakian, a Democrat who has served as Commissioner since 2008, is running for re-election.<ref name=o_avakian>{{cite web|url=http://www.oregonlive.com/mapes/index.ssf/2012/02/after_bruising_congressional_l.html|title=After bruising congressional loss, Brad Avakian kicks off re-election race for labor commissioner|date=February 2, 2012|access-date=June 27, 2012|work=The Oregonian|first=Jeff|last=Mapes}}</ref> Republican state Senator Bruce Starr is challenging Avakian.<ref name=o_avakian/>
====General election==== thumb|Results by county
=====Candidates===== * Brad Avakian, incumbent<ref name=genlab>{{cite web |url=https://secure.sos.state.or.us/orestar/cfFilings.do?cfSearchButtonName=&cfName=&cfyearActive=2012&cfElection=415&cfOffice=BOLI&cfOfficeGrp=&cfPartyAffiliation=&cfFilingFromDate=&cfFilingToDate=&cfWithDrawFromDate=&cfWithDrawToDate= |title=Candidate Filings, State Treasurer |publisher=Oregon Secretary of State |access-date=June 29, 2012 }}</ref> * Bruce Starr, state senator<ref name=genlab/>
=====Polling===== {| class="wikitable" |- valign= bottom ! Poll source ! style="width:150px;"| Date(s)<br />administered ! class=small | Sample<br />size ! <small>Margin of</small><br />error ! style="width:100px;"| Brad<br />Avakian (D) ! style="width:100px;"| Bruce<br />Starr (R) ! Undecided |- |The Oregonian<ref name="The Oregonian"/> | align=center| October 25–28, 2012 | align=center| 405 | align=center| ± 5% | {{party shading/Democratic}} align=center| '''26%''' | align=center| 20% | {{party shading/Undecided}} align=center| '''53%''' |- |DHM Research<ref name="DHM Research"/> | align=center| October 18–20, 2012 | align=center| 500 | align=center| ± 2.6%–4.4% | {{party shading/Democratic}} align=center| '''22%''' | align=center| 19% | {{party shading/Undecided}} align=center| '''60%''' |- |Public Policy Polling<ref name="Public Policy Polling"/> | align=center| June 21–24, 2012 | align=center| 686 | align=center| ± 3.7% | align=center| 21% | {{party shading/Republican}} align=center| '''23%''' | {{party shading/Undecided}} align=center| '''56%''' |}
=====Results=====
{{Election box begin no change | title = Oregon Commissioner of Labor and Industries - General Election Results<ref name=genres>{{cite web |url=http://records.sos.state.or.us/ORSOSWebDrawer/RecordView/6873690 |title=November 6, 2012, General Election Abstract of Votes |publisher=Oregon Elections Division |access-date=December 5, 2012}}</ref> }} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change | candidate = Brad Avakian | party = Democratic Party (United States) | votes = 681,987 | percentage = 52.53 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change | candidate = Bruce Starr | party = Republican Party (United States) | votes = 606,735 | percentage = 46.73 }} {{Election box candidate no change | party = | candidate = write-ins | votes = 9,616 | percentage = 0.74 }} {{Election box total no change | votes = 1,298,338 | percentage = 100 }} {{Election box end}}
==Legislative== {{main|Oregon legislative elections, 2012}}
The Democrats had a 16–14 majority in the Oregon State Senate in the previous session. 16 of the 30 senate seats were up for election. In the Oregon House of Representatives, which was evenly split between Democrats and Republicans, all 60 seats were up for election. Democrats retained their 16–14 majority in the Senate, and took a 34–26 majority in the House.<ref name=legresults>{{cite web|title=2012 Election Results: Oregon Legislature|url=http://gov.oregonlive.com/election/2012/Legislature/|publisher=OregonLive.com|access-date=November 7, 2012}}</ref>
==Ballot measures== Nine measures appeared on the November ballot. Two were legislative referrals, four were initiated constitutional amendments, and three were initiated state statutes.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.oregon.gov/newsroom/Pages/NewsDetail.aspx?newsid=1739|title=2012 Measure Assignment|author=Elections Division|publisher=Oregon Secretary of State|date=2010-08-02|access-date=October 2, 2012}}</ref>
===Measure 77=== thumb|Results by county Referred by the legislature. Amends Constitution: Governor may declare "catastrophic disaster;" requires legislative session; authorizes suspending specified constitutional spending restrictions. {{referendum results | caption = Measure 77 | for = 957646 | against = 673468 | turnout = | source = Oregon State Elections Division<ref name=genres/> }}
===Measure 78=== thumb|Results by county Referred by the legislature. Amends Constitution: Changes constitutional language describing governmental system of separation of powers; makes grammatical and spelling changes. {{referendum results | caption = Measure 78 | for = 1165963 | against = 458509 | turnout = | source = Oregon State Elections Division<ref name=genres/> }}
===Measure 79=== thumb|Results by county Initiated constitutional amendment. Amends Constitution: Prohibits real estate transfer taxes, fees, other assessments, except those operative on December 31, 2009. {{referendum results | caption = Measure 79 | for = 976587 | against = 679710 | turnout = | source = Oregon State Elections Division<ref name=genres/> }}
===Measure 80=== {{Main|Oregon Ballot Measure 80}} thumb|Results by county Initiated statute. Allows personal marijuana, hemp cultivation/use without license; commission to regulate commercial marijuana cultivation/sale. {{referendum results | caption = Measure 80 | for = 810538 | against = 923071 | turnout = | source = Oregon State Elections Division<ref name=genres/> }}
===Measure 81=== thumb|Results by county Initiated statute. Prohibits commercial non-tribal fishing with gillnets in Oregon "inland waters," allows use of seine nets. {{referendum results | caption = Measure 82 | for = 567996 | against = 1072614 | turnout = | source = Oregon State Elections Division<ref name=genres/> }}
===Measure 82=== thumb|Results by county Initiated constitutional amendment. Amends Constitution: authorizes establishment of privately owned casinos; mandates percentage of revenues payable to dedicated state fund. {{referendum results | caption = Measure 82 | for = 485240 | against = 1226331 | turnout = | source = Oregon State Elections Division<ref name=genres/> }}
===Measure 83=== thumb|Results by county Initiated statute. Authorizes privately owned Wood Village Casino at the closed Multnomah Greyhound Park; mandates percentage of revenues payable to dedicated state fund. {{referendum results | caption = Measure 83 | for = 500123 | against = 1207508 | turnout = | source = Oregon State Elections Division<ref name=genres/> }}
===Measure 84=== thumb|Results by county Initiated statute. Phases out existing inheritance taxes on large estates, and all taxes on intra-family property transfers. {{referendum results | caption = Measure 84 | for = 776143 | against = 912541 | turnout = | source = Oregon State Elections Division<ref name=genres/> }}
===Measure 85=== thumb|Results by county Initiated constitutional amendment. Amends Constitution: allocates corporate income/excise tax "kicker" refund to additionally fund K–12 public education. {{referendum results | caption = Measure 85 | for = 1007122 | against = 672586 | turnout = | source = Oregon State Elections Division<ref name=genres/> }}
==See also== * Elections in Oregon
==References== {{reflist|2}}
==External links== *[https://sos.oregon.gov/voting-elections/Pages/default.aspx Elections Division] at the Oregon Secretary of State *[http://www.ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php/Oregon Oregon] at Ballotpedia *[https://web.archive.org/web/20121108010216/http://judgepedia.org/index.php/Oregon_judicial_elections,_2012 Oregon judicial elections, 2012] at Judgepedia *[http://www.followthemoney.org/database/state_overview.phtml?s=OR&y=2012 Oregon 2012] campaign finance data from OpenSecrets *[http://www.opensecrets.org/races/election.php?state=OR&cycle=2012 Oregon Congressional Races in 2012] campaign finance data from OpenSecrets *[http://reporting.sunlightfoundation.com/outside-spending/state/OR Outside spending] at the Sunlight Foundation
{{Oregon elections}} {{United States general elections, 2012}}
Category:2012 Oregon elections Oregon Category:Oregon elections by year