The 2012 United States Senate election in Florida was held on November 6, 2012, alongside a presidential election, other elections to the House and Senate, as well as various state and local elections. The primary election was held August 14, 2012. Incumbent Senator Bill Nelson won reelection to a third term, defeating Republican U.S. Representative Connie Mack IV (whose father, Connie Mack III, was Nelson's direct predecessor in that Senate seat) by 13%, winning 55% to 42%. Nelson defeated Mack by over 1 million votes.
Until Donald Trump won 4.6 million votes in the 2016 presidential election and Marco Rubio won 4.8 million votes in the 2016 Senate election, Nelson recorded the most votes in Florida history. As of 2024, this was the last time that a Democrat won a U.S. Senate election in Florida. This is also the last time a Democrat carried the following counties in a statewide election: Brevard, Flagler, Franklin, Hamilton, Hendry, Hernando, Liberty, Madison, Manatee, Marion, Okeechobee, Pasco, Polk, Sarasota, and Volusia.
Democratic primary
Candidates
- Glenn Burkett
- Bill Nelson, incumbent U.S. senator
Republican primary
Candidates
Qualified
- Connie Mack IV, U.S. representative from Fort Myers
- Mike McCalister, university professor and candidate for Florida governor in 2010
- Marielena Stuart, conservative activist and journalist
- Dave Weldon, former U.S. representative from Indialantic
Withdrew
- Alexander George, businessman, political activist and minister
- Mike Haridopolos, president of the Florida Senate
- Adam Hasner, former Florida House of Representatives majority leader (running for U.S. House of Representatives)
- George LeMieux, former U.S. senator
- Ron Rushing, businessman (running for state senate)
Declined
- Jeff Atwater, chief financial officer of Florida
- Allan Bense, former Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives
- Vern Buchanan, U.S. representative
- Jeb Bush, former Florida governor
- Dean Cannon, Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives
- Nicholas M. Loeb, businessman
- Will McBride, attorney and candidate for the U.S. Senate in 2006
- Tom Rooney, U.S. representative
- Chris Ruddy, founder and CEO of Newsmax
- Allen West, U.S. representative
Endorsements
Connie Mack IV
Individuals
- Pam Bondi, attorney general of Florida
- Jeb Bush, former governor of Florida, brother of President George W. Bush and son of President George H. W. Bush (R-FL)
- Luis Fortuno, governor of Puerto Rico
- Sean Hannity, author and talk show host
- Mike Haridopolos, state senator and Senate president (R-FL)
- Mike Lee, U.S. senator (R-UT)
- Connie Mack III, former U.S. senator (R-FL) and Mack's father
- Mary Bono Mack, U.S. congresswoman (R-CA) and Mack's wife
- Jeff Miller, U.S. representative
- Rand Paul, U.S. senator (R-KY)
- Ron Paul, U.S. congressman and 2012 presidential candidate
- Adam Putnam, Florida Commissioner of Agriculture and former congressman
- Mitt Romney, presumptive nominee of the Republican Party for president of the United States in the 2012 election; former governor of Massachusetts.
- Tom Rooney, U.S. representative
Organizations
General election
Early in the race, Nelson appeared to be vulnerable, with some earlier polls showing Mack leading. However, in the last few weeks, with new polls conducted, it appeared as though Nelson was headed for a victory. The last poll placed him five percentage points ahead of Mack; Nelson would win easily by 13 percentage points. Nelson performed well in Southeast Florida (the Miami area), Tampa, Gainesville, typically Democratic areas. Nelson, however, managed to win in areas that typically lean Republican. He won in Duval County, home of Jacksonville, and Volusia County, home of Daytona Beach. Nelson's ability to outperform President Obama led to him winning the election easily. Obama would still win Florida, but by just about 74,000 votes, and less than a percentage point. Nelson began his third term in the Senate on January 3, 2013.
Candidates
- Chris Borgia (Independent), Iraq War veteran
- Bill Gaylor (Independent), owner, Bill and Sheila Gaylor Insurance
- Connie Mack IV (Republican), U.S. congressman
- Bill Nelson (Democratic), incumbent U.S. senator
Debates
Only one debate was held, hosted by Leadership Florida/Florida Press Association occurred on October 17 at the Nova Southeastern University campus in Davie.
- Complete video of debate, October 17, 2012 - C-SPAN
Fundraising
Independent expenditures
In early October 2012, Crossroads GPS announced it would launch a $16 million advertising buy in national races, of which four were this election, and three were other Senate elections. In Florida, the money was to be spent by its affiliate, American Crossroads.
Results
Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican
- Calhoun (largest city: Blountstown)
- Citrus (largest city: Homosassa Springs)
- Dixie (largest city: Cross City)
- Gilchrist (largest city: Trenton)
- Glades (largest city: Moore Haven)
- Gulf (largest city: Port St. Joe)
- Levy (largest city: Williston)
- Putnam (largest city: Palatka)
- Sumter (largest city: The Villages)
- Taylor (largest city: Perry)
- Wakulla (largest city: Sopchoppy)
- Jackson (largest city: Marianna)
- Bradford (largest city: Starke)
- Charlotte (largest city: Charlotte)
- Columbia (largest city: Lake City)
- DeSoto (largest city: Arcadia)
- Escambia (largest city: Pensacola)
- Hardee (largest city: Wachula)
- Highlands (largest city: Sebring)
- Indian River (largest city: Sebastian)
- Lafayette (largest city: Mayo)
- Lake (largest city: Clermont)
- Lee (largest city: Cape Coral)
- Suwannee (largest city: Live Oak)
- Union (largest city: Lake Butler)
- Washington (largest city: Chipley)
By congressional district
Nelson won 20 of 27 congressional districts, including ten that elected Republicans.