2012 United States presidential election in Colorado
← 2008 November 6, 2012 2016 →
Turnout71.17% Decrease [1]
 
Nominee Barack Obama Mitt Romney
Party Democratic Republican
Home state Illinois Massachusetts
Running mate Joe Biden Paul Ryan
Electoral vote 9 0
Popular vote 1,323,102 1,185,243
Percentage 51.45% 46.09%
County Results
President before election

Barack Obama
Democratic

Elected President

Barack Obama
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The 2012 United States presidential election in Colorado took place on November 6, 2012, as part of the 2012 United States presidential election in which all 50 states plus the District of Columbia participated. Colorado voters chose nine electors to represent them in the Electoral College via a popular vote pitting incumbent Democratic President Barack Obama and his running mate, Vice President Joe Biden, against Republican challenger and former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney and his running mate, Congressman Paul Ryan. Obama and Biden carried Colorado with 51.45% of the popular vote to Romney's and Ryan's 46.09%, thus winning the state's nine electoral votes by a 5.36% margin.[2]

As in 2008, the key to Obama's victory was Democratic dominance in the Denver area, sweeping not just the city but also the heavily populated suburban counties around Denver, particularly Adams, Arapahoe, and Jefferson counties; as well as winning Larimer County, home to Fort Collins. Obama also took nearly 70% of the vote in Boulder County, home to Boulder; and won Chaffee County, which he had lost to McCain in 2008. Romney's most populated county wins were in El Paso County, where Colorado Springs is located; and Weld County, a suburb of Denver and home to Greeley.

This election solidified Colorado's transformation from a historically Republican-leaning state into a Democratic-leaning swing state. Obama's 2012 victory in the state, on the heels of his 2008 victory, marked the first time that the Democrats had carried Colorado in two consecutive elections since the landslide re-election of Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1936, the first time that the state had voted Democratic in a close election since 1948, and the first time since 1964 that a sitting Democratic president carried Colorado.

Colorado served as the tipping-point state for Obama's overall victory in the presidential election; that is, the first state to give a candidate their 270th electoral vote when all states are arranged by their margins of victory. Colorado was also the tipping-point state for Obama's 2008 victory. This marks the second time in history that a president was elected and re-elected by winning the same tipping-point state, after Richard Nixon was carried to victory by Ohio twice in 1968 and 1972.

As of the 2020 presidential election, this is the last election in which rural Conejos County, Huerfano County, and Las Animas County have voted for the Democratic candidate.

Caucuses

Democratic caucuses

Incumbent President Barack Obama ran unopposed in the Colorado Democratic caucuses.

Republican caucuses

2012 Colorado Republican caucuses
← 2008 February 7, 2012 (2012-02-07) 2016 →
 
Candidate Rick Santorum Mitt Romney
Home state Pennsylvania Massachusetts
Delegate count 6 14
Popular vote 26,614 23,012
Percentage 40.3% 34.9%
 
Candidate Newt Gingrich Ron Paul
Home state Georgia Texas
Delegate count 0 4
Popular vote 8,445 7,759
Percentage 12.8% 11.8%
Colorado results by county
  Rick Santorum
  Mitt Romney
  Newt Gingrich
  Tie

2012 U.S. presidential election
Democratic Party
Republican Party
Minor parties
Related races
← 2008 2012 2016 →

The Republican caucuses were held on "Republican Party Precinct Caucus Day" (February 7, 2012).[3] Caucus locations opened on 9 PM, February 7, 2012,[4] with 36 delegates at stake; 33 of which are tied to the caucuses while 3 are unpledged RNC delegates.[5] The event occurred alongside the Minnesota Republican caucuses as well the Missouri Republican primary. The race was widely expected to be won by Mitt Romney even on the day of the caucus, but a strong surge by Rick Santorum across all three races that day carried him to a close victory.

Colorado Republican caucus, February 7, 2012[6]
Candidate Votes Percentage Projected delegate count Convention Results [7][8]
MSNBC
[9] 		GP
[10]
Rick Santorum 26,614 40.31% 6 6 6
Mitt Romney 23,012 34.85% 13 14 13
Newt Gingrich 8,445 12.79% 0 0 0
Ron Paul 7,759 11.75% 3 0 0
Rick Perry 52 0.08% 0 0 0
Jon Huntsman 46 0.07% 0 0 0
Michele Bachmann 28 0.04% 0 0 0
Others 71 0.11% 0 0 0
Unprojected delegates: 14 0 0
Unpledged delegates: 0 16 17
Totals: 66,027 100.00% 36 36 36
Key: Withdrew
prior to contest

Conventions

There is no formal system of allocating delegates to candidates in any step of the election process. At each meeting the participants decides what the best course of action is.
None of the 36 delegates are legally bound to vote for a candidate.[citation needed]

Convention Results[7][11]
Candidate 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th State Party leaders Total
Uncommitted 2 2 2 2 0 1 1 4 3 17
Mitt Romney 0 0 1 0 1 2 1 8 0 13
Rick Santorum 1 1 0 1 2 0 1 0 0 6
Total 21 12 3 36

General election

Ballot access

On the campaign trail, President Obama watches as graduates toss their hats during the United States Air Force Academy commencement ceremony at Falcon Stadium, USAF Academy in Colorado Springs, May 23, 2012.

Polling

See also: Statewide opinion polling for the 2012 United States presidential election § Colorado

Incumbent Barack Obama started off with a wide lead in polls ranging from 1 to 13 points, which continued throughout the early summer of 2012. On August 6, Romney won his first poll, 50% to 45%. Throughout the rest of the summer, and September, with the exception of a few points, Obama won almost every poll but narrowly. In October, Romney gained momentum and the race throughout October was essentially tied, with neither candidate taking a significant lead. The last week before the election, Obama gained momentum and won each of the 4 pre-election polls. The average of the last 3 pre-election polls showed Obama leading Romney 49.7% to 46.3%.[12] The final pre-election poll showed Obama leading Romney 52% to 46%, which was accurate compared to the results. Washington Post rated this race "Toss-Up."[13] [14]

Results

2012 United States presidential election in Colorado
Party Candidate Running mate Votes Percentage Electoral votes
Democratic Barack Obama (incumbent) Joe Biden (incumbent) 1,323,102 51.45% 9
Republican Mitt Romney Paul Ryan 1,185,243 46.09% 0
Libertarian Gary Johnson Jim Gray 35,545 1.38% 0
Green Jill Stein Cheri Honkala 7,508 0.29% 0
Constitution Virgil Goode Jim Clymer 6,234 0.24% 0
Peace & Freedom Roseanne Barr Cindy Sheehan 5,059 0.20% 0
Unaffiliated Jill Ann Reed Tom Cary 2,589 0.10% 0
Justice Rocky Anderson Luis J. Rodriguez 1,260 0.05% 0
Others Others 1,028 0.04% 0
America's Party Thomas Hoefling Jonathan D. Ellis 679 0.03% 0
Socialism and Liberation Gloria La Riva Filberto Ramirez Jr. 317 0.01% 0
Socialist Stewart Alexander Alex Mendoza 308 0.01% 0
American Third Position Merlin Miller Harry Bertram 266 0.01% 0
Socialist Workers James Harris Alyson Kennedy 192 0.01% 0
Socialist Equality Jerry White Phyllis Scherrer 189 0.01% 0
Totals 2,569,518 100.00% 9

By county

County Barack Obama
Democratic 		Mitt Romney
Republican 		Various candidates
Other parties 		Margin Total votes cast
# % # % # % # %
Adams 100,649 56.90% 70,972 40.12% 5,272 2.98% 29,677 16.78% 176,893
Alamosa 3,811 56.75% 2,705 40.28% 199 2.97% 1,106 16.47% 6,715
Arapahoe 153,905 53.90% 125,588 43.99% 6,023 2.11% 28,317 9.91% 285,516
Archuleta 2,679 39.78% 3,872 57.50% 183 2.72% -1,193 -17.72% 6,734
Baca 467 22.17% 1,559 74.03% 80 3.80% -1,092 -51.86% 2,106
Bent 815 41.97% 1,075 55.36% 52 2.67% -260 -13.39% 1,942
Boulder 125,091 69.69% 49,981 27.84% 4,427 2.47% 75,110 41.85% 179,499
Broomfield 16,966 51.62% 15,008 45.67% 891 2.71% 1,958 5.95% 32,865
Chaffee 5,086 48.61% 5,070 48.46% 306 2.93% 16 0.15% 10,462
Cheyenne 172 15.74% 889 81.34% 32 2.92% -717 -65.60% 1,093
Clear Creek 3,119 54.31% 2,430 42.31% 194 3.38% 689 12.00% 5,743
Conejos 2,213 53.96% 1,835 44.75% 53 1.29% 378 9.21% 4,101
Costilla 1,340 72.95% 446 24.28% 51 2.77% 894 48.67% 1,837
Crowley 535 35.62% 924 61.52% 43 2.86% -389 -25.90% 1,502
Custer 868 31.97% 1,788 65.86% 59 2.17% -920 -33.89% 2,715
Delta 4,622 29.02% 10,915 68.54% 388 2.44% -6,293 -39.52% 15,925
Denver 222,018 73.41% 73,111 24.18% 7,289 2.41% 148,907 49.23% 302,418
Dolores 334 26.83% 859 69.00% 52 4.17% -525 -42.17% 1,245
Douglas 61,094 36.35% 104,397 62.11% 2,593 1.54% -43,303 -25.76% 168,084
Eagle 12,792 56.43% 9,411 41.52% 465 2.05% 3,381 14.91% 22,668
El Paso 111,819 38.54% 170,952 58.91% 7,404 2.55% -59,133 -20.37% 290,175
Elbert 3,603 25.41% 10,266 72.41% 309 2.18% -6,663 -47.00% 14,178
Fremont 6,704 32.84% 13,174 64.53% 538 2.63% -6,470 -31.69% 20,416
Garfield 11,305 46.32% 12,535 51.36% 568 2.32% -1,230 -5.04% 24,408
Gilpin 1,892 56.68% 1,346 40.32% 100 3.00% 546 16.36% 3,338
Grand 3,684 45.00% 4,253 51.95% 250 3.05% -569 -6.95% 8,187
Gunnison 5,044 58.20% 3,341 38.55% 282 3.25% 1,703 19.65% 8,667
Hinsdale 229 38.17% 353 58.83% 18 3.00% -124 -20.66% 600
Huerfano 1,953 52.46% 1,646 44.21% 124 3.33% 307 8.25% 3,723
Jackson 216 25.47% 600 70.75% 32 3.78% -384 -45.28% 848
Jefferson 159,296 51.21% 144,197 46.36% 7,559 2.43% 15,099 4.85% 311,052
Kiowa 118 14.37% 677 82.46% 26 3.17% -559 -68.09% 821
Kit Carson 838 22.64% 2,785 75.23% 79 2.13% -1,947 -52.59% 3,702
La Plata 15,489 52.85% 12,794 43.65% 1,025 3.50% 2,695 9.20% 29,308
Lake 1,839 60.49% 1,098 36.12% 103 3.39% 741 24.37% 3,040
Larimer 92,747 51.47% 82,376 45.72% 5,057 2.81% 10,371 5.75% 180,180
Las Animas 3,445 50.20% 3,263 47.55% 154 2.25% 182 2.65% 6,862
Lincoln 552 24.14% 1,687 73.76% 48 2.10% -1,135 -49.62% 2,287
Logan 2,712 29.72% 6,179 67.72% 233 2.56% -3,467 -38.00% 9,124
Mesa 23,846 32.69% 47,472 65.08% 1,629 2.23% -23,626 -32.39% 72,947
Mineral 291 44.77% 344 52.92% 15 2.31% -53 -8.15% 650
Moffat 1,330 21.56% 4,695 76.12% 143 2.32% -3,365 -54.56% 6,168
Montezuma 4,542 36.87% 7,401 60.08% 375 3.05% -2,859 -23.21% 12,318
Montrose 6,138 30.49% 13,552 67.32% 440 2.19% -7,414 -36.83% 20,130
Morgan 3,912 36.30% 6,602 61.26% 263 2.44% -2,690 -24.96% 10,777
Otero 3,647 44.52% 4,382 53.49% 163 1.99% -735 -8.97% 8,192
Ouray 1,646 51.41% 1,481 46.25% 75 2.34% 165 5.16% 3,202
Park 3,862 41.23% 5,236 55.90% 268 2.87% -1,374 -14.67% 9,366
Phillips 588 25.96% 1,637 72.27% 40 1.77% -1,049 -46.31% 2,265
Pitkin 6,849 67.98% 3,024 30.01% 202 2.01% 3,825 37.97% 10,075
Prowers 1,519 31.24% 3,230 66.42% 114 2.34% -1,711 -35.18% 4,863
Pueblo 42,551 55.68% 31,894 41.74% 1,974 2.58% 10,657 13.94% 76,419
Rio Blanco 568 16.86% 2,724 80.85% 77 2.29% -2,156 -63.99% 3,369
Rio Grande 2,478 44.79% 2,918 52.74% 137 2.47% -440 -7.95% 5,533
Routt 7,547 56.67% 5,469 41.07% 301 2.26% 2,078 15.60% 13,317
Saguache 1,865 63.61% 964 32.88% 103 3.51% 901 30.73% 2,932
San Juan 266 52.57% 212 41.90% 28 5.53% 54 10.67% 506
San Miguel 2,992 70.30% 1,154 27.11% 110 2.59% 1,838 43.19% 4,256
Sedgwick 419 31.32% 881 65.84% 38 2.84% -462 -34.52% 1,338
Summit 9,347 61.04% 5,571 36.38% 394 2.58% 3,776 24.66% 15,312
Teller 4,333 32.16% 8,702 64.59% 438 3.25% -4,369 -32.43% 13,473
Washington 468 18.06% 2,076 80.12% 47 1.82% -1,608 -62.06% 2,591
Weld 49,050 42.18% 63,775 54.84% 3,466 2.98% -14,725 -12.66% 116,291
Yuma 987 21.56% 3,490 76.25% 100 2.19% -2,503 -54.69% 4,577
Total 1,323,102 51.45% 1,185,243 46.09% 63,501 2.47% 137,859 5.36% 2,571,846
County Flips:

Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic

By congressional district

Obama won 4 of 7 congressional districts including one held by a Republican.[15]

District Romney Obama Representative
1st 28.83% 69% Diana DeGette
2nd 39.51% 57.92% Jared Polis
3rd 51.8% 45.77% Scott Tipton
4th 58.5% 39.22% Cory Gardner
5th 59.12% 38.3% Doug Lamborn
6th 46.5% 51.56% Mike Coffman
7th 41.26% 56.09% Ed Perlmutter

See also

References

  1. ^ "Election Results 2012" (PDF). sos.state.co.us. Retrieved July 14, 2020.
  2. ^ "2012 General Election". Colorado Department of State. Retrieved November 22, 2012.
  3. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on November 10, 2011. Retrieved August 16, 2011.((cite web)): CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  4. ^ "Colorado GOP moves up 2012 caucuses to Feb. 7". Denver Post. Associated Press. September 24, 2011. Retrieved October 3, 2011.
  5. ^ "Republican Delegate Allocation". The Green Papers. Retrieved December 3, 2011.
  6. ^ "2012 Colorado GOP Presidential Caucus Results". Colorado Republican Party. Archived from the original on February 10, 2012. Retrieved February 9, 2012.
  7. ^ a b "National Delegate Results". cologop.org. Colorado Republican Party. Retrieved April 23, 2012.
  8. ^ The Republic,CO GOP Assembly Archived 2012-04-18 at the Wayback Machine (April 22, 2012)
  9. ^ "Republican Caucuses " (May 7, 2012). MSNBC.
  10. ^ "Republican Caucus"
  11. ^ Bartels, Lynn (April 14, 2012). "Colorado Republicans split delegate votes between Romney, unified Paul and Santorum supporters". denverpost.com. Denver Post. Retrieved April 23, 2012.
  12. ^ "2012 - Colorado: Romney vs. Obama | RealClearPolitics".
  13. ^ "Pundit accountability: The official 2012 election prediction thread - The Washington Post". The Washington Post.
  14. ^ "2012 - Colorado: Romney vs. Obama | RealClearPolitics".
  15. ^ "Daily Kos Elections' statewide election results by congressional and legislative districts".

External links

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