The 2012 United States Senate election in Arizona was held on November 6, 2012, alongside a presidential election, other elections to the United States Senate in other states, as well as elections to the United States House of Representatives and various state and local elections.
Incumbent Senator Jon Kyl, a Republican and the Senate minority whip, decided to retire instead of seeking a fourth term. U.S. Representative Jeff Flake won the open seat.
As of 2026, this was the last time that a Republican won Arizona's Class 1 Senate seat.
Republican primary
The filing deadline for Republican candidates was June 1, 2012, and the primary election took place on August 28, 2012.
Candidates
Declared
- Wil Cardon, CEO of a real estate investment firm
- Jeff Flake, U.S. representative from the 6th district
- Bryan Hackbarth, former mayor of Youngtown
- Clair Van Steenwyk, conservative radio host
Withdrew
Declined
- Joe Arpaio, Maricopa County sheriff (running for re-election as sheriff)
- Jan Brewer, Arizona governor
- Trent Franks, U.S. representative
- J. D. Hayworth, former U.S. representative
- Jon Kyl, incumbent U.S. senator
- Sarah Palin, former governor of Alaska (2006–2009) and nominee for vice president of the United States in 2008
- Ben Quayle, U.S. representative
- David Schweikert, U.S. representative
- John Shadegg, former U.S. representative
- Fife Symington III, former Arizona governor
Endorsements
Jeff Flake
- Former Governor Sarah Palin (R-AK)
- Governor Bobby Jindal (R-LA)
- Senator Jim DeMint (R-SC) & Senate Conservatives Fund
- Senator Mike Lee (R-UT)
- Senator Rand Paul (R-KY)
- Senator Pat Toomey (R-PA)
- Senator John McCain (R-AZ)
- Senator Jon Kyl (R-AZ)
- Congressman Paul Ryan (R-WI)
- Congressman Ron Paul (R-TX)
- Arizona Association of Realtors
- Arizona Farm Bureau
- Arizona Home Builders
- Arizona Right to Life
- Arizona Sportsmen for Wildlife
- Citizens Against Government Waste
- Club for Growth
- FreedomWorks
- GING PAC
- GOProud
- NRA Political Victory Fund
- National Taxpayers Union
Wil Cardon
- Rick Santorum, former U.S. senator (R-PA)
- Congressman Trent Franks (R-AZ)
- State Senator Don Shooter (R-AZ)
- State Senator Steve Smith (R-AZ)
- State Senator Al Melvin (R-AZ)
- State Senator Judy Burges (R-AZ)
- State Representative Steve Montenegro (R-AZ)
- State Representative John Fillmore (R-AZ)
- Mayor Scott Smith of Mesa
- Mayor Elaine Scruggs of Glendale
- Americans for Legal Immigration
Democratic primary
Former Surgeon General Richard Carmona was the only candidate for the Democratic nomination, receiving all 289,881 votes cast in the primary election.
Candidates
Declared
- Richard Carmona, former surgeon general of the United States
Withdrew
- Don Bivens, former chairman of the Arizona Democratic Party
- David Ruben, physician
Declined
- Dennis Burke, United States attorney
- Gabby Giffords, former U.S. representative
- Phil Gordon, mayor of Phoenix
- Mark Kelly, astronaut and husband of Gabrielle Giffords (later elected to Arizona's Class 3 Senate seat in 2020).
- Janet Napolitano, U.S. secretary of Homeland Security and former Arizona governor
- Ed Pastor, U.S. representative
- Jim Pederson, former Arizona Democratic Party chairman and 2006 Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate
- Warren Stewart, civil rights leader
General election
Candidates
- Richard Carmona (Democratic), former U.S. surgeon general
- Jeff Flake (Republican), U.S. representative
- Michael F. Meyer (independent)
- Marc J. Victor (Libertarian), attorney
Debates
There were three debates before the election. The first was in Phoenix on October 10, 2012, the second in Tucson on October 15 and the last was in Yuma on October 25.
External links
- Complete video of debate, October 10, 2012 – C-SPAN
- Complete video of debate, October 15, 2012 – C-SPAN
- Complete video of debate, October 25, 2012 – C-SPAN
Results
By congressional district
Despite losing, Carmona carried five of nine congressional districts.