Wikipedia

2012 Democratic Party presidential candidates

During the 2012 presidential primaries, 51 individuals sought the nomination of the Democratic Party. Incumbent President Barack Obama won the nomination unanimously at the 2012 Democratic National Convention and was re-elected as president in the general election by defeating Republican nominee Mitt Romney. As expected for the incumbent president, Obama won every primary election, but faced more difficulty than projected. Fifteen additional candidates appeared on primary ballots, and of these, four appeared on more than one ballot. Four qualified for convention delegates including: attorney John Wolfe, Jr., prison inmate Keith Russell Judd, perennial candidate Jim Rogers, and anti-abortion activist Randall Terry. Each of these had their delegates stripped prior to the convention due to technicalities.

2012 Democratic Party presidential primaries
← 2008 Democratic primaries
January 3 to June 5, 2012		 2016 →
 
Candidate Barack Obama John Wolfe, Jr.
Party Democratic Democratic
Home state Illinois Tennessee
States carried 50+DC 0
Popular vote 7,376,659 116,639
Percentage 90.24% 1.43%
President before election

Barack Obama

 Democratic nominee

Barack Obama

Thirty-four additional candidates filed with the Federal Election Commission (FEC) to run for president, but either withdrew from the race before the primaries or did not appear on any primary ballots.

Candidates

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The following individuals formally announced their campaigns for the Democratic Party presidential nomination in 2012 and/or filed as a candidate for such with the Federal Election Commission (FEC).

Incumbent

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Candidate Background Campaign notes Ballot access & vote total
 

President Barack Obama
(Website)
(FEC filing)

Main article: Barack Obama 2012 presidential campaign
  • Formally announced his re-election bid via his website on April 4, 2011.[1]
  • Surpassed the required 2778 delegates to secure the Democratic Party presidential nomination with victories in the Maryland and District of Columbia primaries.[2]
  • Unanimously received the party's nomination at the 2012 Democratic National Convention,[3] with all challengers having been stripped of any delegates earned.[4]
  • Vice President Joe Biden was selected as his running mate.
  • Won re-election over former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney in the general election.[5]
  
Appeared on all primary ballots
7,376,659 (90.24 percent overall)[6]

Challengers

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On multiple primary ballots

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The following candidates appeared on more than one primary ballot.

Candidate Background Campaign notes Ballot access & vote total
 

John Wolfe Jr.
(Website)
(FEC filing)
(Wikinews)

  • Declared his candidacy in late 2011.[7]
  • Participated in the lesser-known candidates forum.[8]
  • Paid at least $1,000 for ballot access.[7][9][10]
  • Won 12 percent of the vote in Louisiana, and qualified for three delegates,[11] which the Louisiana Democratic Party stripped due to his lack of a delegate slate.[12]
  • Had the strongest showing for an Obama challenger with 42 percent of the vote in Arkansas,[6][13] qualifying for 19 delegates,[14] which the Arkansas Democratic Party stripped due to his lack of a delegate slate.
  • Unsuccessfully sued the Democratic Party to regain the stripped delegates.
  
NH, MO, LA, AR, TX
116,639 (1.43 percent overall)[6]
 

Darcy Richardson
(Website)
(FEC filing)
(Wikinews)

  • Announced his candidacy October 26, 2011.[15]
  • Paid $8,125 for ballot access.[16]
  • Had his strongest showing in the Oklahoma primary, where he won 6.36 percent of the total.
  • Suspended his campaign in April 2012 prior to the Texas primary.[17]
  
NH,[18] MO, OK, LA, TX
41,730 (0.51 percent overall)[6]

Bob Ely
(Website)
(FEC filing)
(Wikinews)

  • Born 1958
  • Entrepreneur from Illinois
  • Interim CEO of PayDQ Services, 2001
  • Owner of The Canton Press-News Journal, 2010–present
  • Created his campaign website and filed with FEC on November 28, 2011.[19]
  • Paid at least $4,500 for ballot access.[20]
  • Had his strongest showing in Louisiana, where he won 6.57 percent of the vote.[21]
  
NH, LA, OK, TX
29,947 (0.37 percent overall)[6]
 

Randall Terry
(Website)
(FEC filing)

  • Announced his candidacy in January 2011.[23][24]
  • Paid at least $3,500 for ballot access.[25][26]
  • Participated in the lesser-known candidates forum.[8]
  • Unsuccessfully attempted to run a campaign advertisement depicting photos of aborted fetuses during Super Bowl XLVI.[23]
  • Had his strongest showing in Oklahoma, where he received 18 percent of the vote, and qualified for seven delegates,[27] which the Oklahoma Democratic Party stripped due to his lack of a delegate slate.[28]
  • Continued his campaign as an Independent and appeared on the general election ballots in Kentucky, Nebraska, and West Virginia, receiving 13,112 votes.[29]
  
NH, MO, OK
22,734 (0.28 percent overall)[6]

On one primary ballot

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The following candidates appeared on only one primary ballot.

Candidate Background Campaign notes Ballot access & vote total

Keith Russell Judd
(FEC filing)

  • Born 1958
  • Prison inmate serving a 210-month sentence at the Beaumont Federal Correctional Institution in Texas.[30][31]
  • Democratic Party and Green Party presidential candidate, 2008[32]
  • Paid $2,500 to appear on the West Virginia ballot.[33]
  • Won 41 percent of the vote in West Virginia for second place,[6][34][35][36] qualifying him for several delegates, which the West Virginia Democratic Party stripped due to his lack of a delegate slate.[37]
  • Filed with the FEC to run as an Independent candidate on October 10, 2012.[38]
  
WV
73,138 (0.89 percent overall)[6]

Jim Rogers
(FEC filing)

  • Born 1935
  • Perennial political candidate from Oklahoma[39][40]
  • Democratic Party presidential candidate, 2008
  • U.S. Senate nominee for the Democratic Party in Oklahoma, 2010
  • Filed with the FEC to run for president on December 12, 2011.[41]
  • Paid $2,500 to appear on the Oklahoma ballot.[42]
  • Finished third with 13.79 percent in Oklahoma,[6][27] qualifying him for three delegates, which the Oklahoma Democratic Party stripped due to his lack of a delegate slate.[28]
  
OK
15,535 (0.19 percent overall)[6]
 

Ed Cowan
(Website)

  • Paid $1,000 to appear on the New Hampshire ballot.[7]
  • Participated in the lesser-known candidates forum[8]
  • Finished second among ballot candidates in New Hampshire with 1.56 percent.[44]
  
NH
945 (0.01 percent overall)[6]
 

Vermin Supreme
(Website)

  • Born 1961
  • Performance artist and perennial candidate from Massachusetts[45][46]
  • Democratic Party presidential candidate, 2004
  • Republican Party presidential candidate, 2008[32]
  • Ran as a satirical candidate.
  • Paid $1,000 to appear on the New Hampshire ballot.[7]
  • Glitter bombed Randall Terry during the lesser-known candidates forum.[47]
  • Finished third among ballot candidates in New Hampshire with 1.37 percent
  
NH
833 (0.01 percent overall)[6]
 

John D. Haywood
(FEC filing), (Website)

  • Filed with the FEC to run for president on October 27, 2011.[49]
  • Paid $1,000 to appear on the New Hampshire ballot.[7]
  • Participated in the lesser-known candidates forum[8]
  • Finished fifth among ballot candidates in New Hampshire with 0.7 percent.[44]
  
NH
423 (0.01 percent overall)[6]

Craig Tax Freeze Freis

  • Paid $1,000 to appear on the New Hampshire ballot.[7]
  • Successfully lobbied the New Hampshire Ballot Law Commission to have his legal middle name of "Tax Freeze" listed on the ballot.[51]
  • Finished sixth among ballot candidates in New Hampshire with 0.66 percent.[44]
  
NH
400 (0.00 percent overall)[6]

Cornelius O'Connor

  • From Florida
  • Republican Party presidential candidate, 2008[32]
  • Paid $1,000 to appear on the New Hampshire ballot.[7]
  • Finished eighth among ballot candidates in New Hampshire with 0.44 percent.[44]
  
NH
266 (0.00 percent overall)[6]
 

Ed O'Donnell

  • Paid $1,000 to appear on the New Hampshire ballot.[7]
  • Participated in the lesser-known candidates forum.[8]
  • Finished eleventh among ballot candidates in New Hampshire with 0.37 percent.[44]
  
NH
222 (0.00 percent overall)[6]
 

Bob Greene
(FEC filing), (Website)

  • Filed with the FEC to run for president on December 13, 2011[53]
  • Paid $1,000 to appear on the New Hampshire ballot.[7]
  • Participated in the lesser-known candidates forum.[8]
  • Finished twelfth among ballot candidates in New Hampshire with 0.35 percent.[44]
  
NH
213 (0.00 percent overall)[6]

Robert B. Jordan
(FEC filing), (Website)

  • From California
  • Filed with the FEC to run for president on August 22, 2011.[54]
  • Paid $1,000 to appear on the New Hampshire ballot.[7]
  • Finished thirteenth among ballot candidates in New Hampshire with 0.26 percent.[44]
  
NH
155 (0.00 percent overall)[6]
 


Aldous Tyler
(FEC filing), (Website)

  • Radio host from Wisconsin[55]
  • Host of the WSUM radio show TMI with Aldous Tyler, 2010–present
  • Filed with the FEC to run for president on September 20, 2011.[56]
  • Paid $1,000 to appear on the New Hampshire ballot.[7]
  • Endorsed Darcy Richardson before the New Hampshire primary.[57]
  • Finished fourteenth among ballot candidates in New Hampshire with 0.17 percent.[44]
  
NH
106 (0.00 percent overall)[6]

FEC-filed candidates

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The following presidential candidates filed with the FEC, but either did not appear on any primary ballots or withdrew before the primary elections.

Candidate Background Campaign notes
 

Jeff Boss
(Website Archived 2015-04-02 at the Wayback Machine)
(FEC filing)

  • Born 1963[58]
  • Conspiracy theorist from New Jersey
  • "Vote Here" presidential nominee, 2008
  • Declared his candidacy with the FEC in July 2009.[59]
  • Based his campaign on the claim that he witnessed the National Security Agency (NSA) orchestrate the September 11 attacks.[60]
  • Amended his FEC filing in March 2012 to change his party affiliation to Independent.[61]
  • Appeared on the general ballot in New Jersey as the "NSA did 9/11" candidate and received 1,024 votes.[62]
 

Harry Braun
(Website)
(FEC Filing)

  • Born 1948
  • Energy consultant[63] from Arizona
  • Democratic Party presidential candidate, 2004
  • Declared his candidacy with the FEC in August 2011.[64]
  • Based his candidacy on environmental protection and his proposed Democracy Amendment, requiring a majority vote of the electorate for all government action[65]
  • Used his soapbox at the Iowa State Fair to connect environmental concerns with the Down syndrome diagnosis of Sarah Palin's son Trig, prompting a rebuke from the Iowa Democratic Party spokesman[66]
  • Withdrew from the Democratic race in November 2011, claiming the party was ignoring him,[65] and amended the party affiliation on his FEC filing to Independent[67]
 

Warren Mosler
(Website)
(FEC filing)

  • Declared his candidacy with the FEC in February 2009.[68]
  • Ran as a Tea Party Democrat[69]
  • Withdrew his candidacy in April 2010[70] to run for U.S. Senate in Connecticut.[69]

Speculated

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The following individuals were the object of presidential speculation in past media reports, but did not signal an interest in running.

Declined to run

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The following individuals speculated to run for the Democratic Party's 2012 presidential nomination, announced they would not run.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Condon, Stephanie (April 4, 2011). "Obama launches 2012 campaign with web video". CBS News. Archived from the original on May 25, 2012. Retrieved June 24, 2013.
  2. ^ "Obama clinches Democratic nomination". cnn.com. April 3, 2012. Archived from the original on April 4, 2012. Retrieved April 3, 2012.
  3. ^ Becker, Bernie; Jonathan Easley (September 6, 2012). "Democrats officially nominate Obama". The Hill. Archived from the original on June 29, 2013. Retrieved June 24, 2013.
  4. ^ Tau, Byron (September 3, 2012). "Convention vote expected to be unanimous for Obama". Politico. Retrieved June 24, 2013.
  5. ^ Barabak, Mark Z. (November 7, 2012). "Obama wins a second term". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 7, 2012.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s "Democratic Convention 2012". The Green Papers. Retrieved June 24, 2013.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Carroll, Chris (December 20, 2011). "Chattanooga man John Wolfe running for president in New Hampshire". Chattanooga Times Free Press. Retrieved March 29, 2012.
  8. ^ a b c d e f "Lesser known candidates forum". Wikinews. January 1, 2012. Retrieved May 24, 2012.
  9. ^ "Elections: 2012 Presidential Preference Primary in Missouri (Candidate Filing Information)". Missouri Secretary of State. Retrieved June 30, 2013.
  10. ^ "Texas Democratic Presidential Primary Ballot Has Three Candidates So Far". Ballot Access News. December 15, 2011. Retrieved June 30, 2013.
  11. ^ Tilove, Jonathan (March 27, 2012). "Democratic challenger to Barack Obama picks off delegates in Louisiana". The Times-Picayune. Archived from the original on March 28, 2012. Retrieved March 29, 2012.
  12. ^ Tilove, Jonathan (April 23, 2012). "President Obama will clinch renomination Tuesday, but it may not be unanimous". The Times-Picayune. Archived from the original on April 26, 2012. Retrieved May 23, 2012.
  13. ^ "Election Map 2012: Live Voting Results". Politico. Retrieved May 23, 2012.
  14. ^ "Arkansas Democratic Delegation 2012". The Green Papers. Retrieved May 23, 2012.
  15. ^ Richardson, Darcy (October 26, 2011). "'Why I'm Running for President'". Battleground Blog. Retrieved May 23, 2012.
  16. ^ "Darcy Richardson For President Committee FEC filing" (PDF). FEC. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 3, 2016. Retrieved June 30, 2013.
  17. ^ "Darcy Richardson suspends Democratic Party presidential campaign". Wikinews. April 28, 2012. Retrieved May 23, 2012.
  18. ^ Memoli, Michael A. (October 28, 2011). "Even Democratic ballot will be crowded in New Hampshire primary". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 4, 2011.
  19. ^ "Bob Ely FEC filing". FEC. Archived from the original on January 31, 2016. Retrieved June 30, 2013.
  20. ^ "Bob Ely For President Committee FEC filing" (PDF). FEC. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 3, 2016. Retrieved June 30, 2013.
  21. ^ "Louisiana Democratic Delegation 2012". The Green Papers. Retrieved May 24, 2012.
  22. ^ "Operation Rescue" (PDF). Montana Human Rights Network. Retrieved May 23, 2012.
  23. ^ a b Dwyer, Devin (January 18, 2011). "Anti-Abortion Activist Randall Terry Eyes Presidency, Graphic TV Ad During Super Bowl". ABC News. Retrieved June 27, 2013.
  24. ^ "Pro-Life Activist Randall Terry Looks to Defeat Barack Obama in 2012 Dem Primaries". Sunshine State News.. Retrieved March 6, 2011.
  25. ^ "Randall Terry For President Campaign Committee FEC filing" (PDF). FEC. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 3, 2016. Retrieved June 30, 2013.
  26. ^ "Randall Terry for President Campaign Committee FEC filing" (PDF). FEC. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 4, 2016. Retrieved June 30, 2013.
  27. ^ a b Dinan, Stephen (March 7, 2012). "Obama renomination won't be unanimous". The Washington Times. Retrieved March 7, 2012.
  28. ^ a b "On the campaign trail, March 2012". Wikinews. April 4, 2012. Retrieved May 23, 2012.
  29. ^ "Official 2012 Presidential General Election Results" (PDF). FEC. January 17, 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 31, 2014. Retrieved June 24, 2013.
  30. ^ "Keith Russell Judd: Would-be Presidential candidate sits in a Beaumont prison". Beaumont Enterprise. July 6, 2011. Archived from the original on March 3, 2012. Retrieved April 6, 2012.
  31. ^ Asbury, Kyla (July 6, 2011). "Texas prisoner says he should be on 2012 ballot". West Virginia Record. Retrieved April 6, 2012.
  32. ^ a b c "2008 Presidential Hopefuls Grouped By Party". The Green Papers. Retrieved June 28, 2013.
  33. ^ Porterfield, Mannix (March 27, 2012). "Texas convict on W.Va. ballot for president". The Register-Herald. Retrieved April 6, 2012.
  34. ^ "Hail to the chief! Beaumont "resident" on the ballot in West Virginia". Beaumont Enterprise. March 27, 2012. Archived from the original on May 12, 2012. Retrieved April 6, 2012.
  35. ^ Weigel, David (May 8, 2012). "Meet Keith Judd, the Superhero Inmate Winning Delegates Against Barack Obama". Slate. Retrieved May 9, 2012.
  36. ^ Little, M. (May 9, 2012). "Texas inmate wins 41% of vote vs. Obama in West Virginia primary". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved May 9, 2012.
  37. ^ Tilove, Jonathan (May 11, 2012). "Keith Judd joins presidential candidates losing delegates they 'won'". The Times-Picayune. Archived from the original on May 22, 2012. Retrieved May 24, 2012.
  38. ^ "Keith Judd FEC filing". FEC. Retrieved June 30, 2013.[permanent dead link‍]
  39. ^ McNutt, Michael (December 7, 2011). "Oklahoman among hopefuls to run against President Obama". The Oklahoman. Retrieved February 15, 2012.
  40. ^ "Election 2012". Tulsa World. Retrieved February 15, 2012.
  41. ^ "Jim Rogers FEC filing". FEC. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved June 30, 2013.
  42. ^ McNutt, Michael (December 9, 2011). "Oklahoma elections: Fifth Democrat added to state's presidential primary". The Oklahoman. Retrieved June 30, 2013.
  43. ^ "Ed Cowan Biography". Project Vote Smart. Retrieved June 25, 2013.
  44. ^ a b c d e f g h "New Hampshire Democratic Delegation". The Green Papers. Retrieved May 24, 2012.
  45. ^ "The long, long New Hampshire ballot". Politico.
  46. ^ "Filing period to get on NH primary ballot ends". The Boston Globe. October 28, 2011.
  47. ^ Ríos, Simón (December 20, 2011). "Lesser-known candidates bring colorful campaigns to St. Anselm". New Hampshire Union Leader. Archived from the original on March 8, 2012. Retrieved December 20, 2011.
  48. ^ "John Haywood Biography". Project Vote Smart. Retrieved June 25, 2013.
  49. ^ "John Haywood FEC filing" (PDF). FEC. Retrieved March 21, 2020.
  50. ^ "Craig Freis Biography". Project Vote Smart. Retrieved June 25, 2013.
  51. ^ "Complaint of Craig Tax Freeze Freis, Candidate for the 2012 Presidential Primary" (PDF). The State of New Hampshire Ballot Law Commission. November 30, 2011. Retrieved June 24, 2013.
  52. ^ "Edward Thomas O'Donnell, Jr. Political Summary". Project Vote Smart. Retrieved June 26, 2013.
  53. ^ "Bob Greene FEC filing" (PDF). FEC. Retrieved March 21, 2020.
  54. ^ "Robert Jordan FEC filing" (PDF). FEC. Retrieved March 21, 2020.
  55. ^ "Aldous Tyler Biography". Project Vote Smart. Retrieved June 28, 2013.
  56. ^ "Aldous Tyler FEC filing" (PDF). FEC. Retrieved March 21, 2020.
  57. ^ Cassidy, Austin (January 5, 2012). "Obama Campaign Appears to Have Forgotten About New Hampshire Primary". Uncovered Politics. Retrieved June 29, 2013.
  58. ^ "Jefe Boss Political Summary". Project Vote Smart. Retrieved June 28, 2013.
  59. ^ "Jeff Boss FEC filing" (PDF). FEC. July 1, 2009. Retrieved March 21, 2020.
  60. ^ Morin, Ric. "The Frenzied Conspiracy Theories of Jeff Boss". Vice. Retrieved June 23, 2013.
  61. ^ "Jeff Boss FEC filing" (PDF). FEC. March 28, 2012. Retrieved March 21, 2020.
  62. ^ "Official 2012 Presidential General Election Results" (PDF). FEC. January 17, 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 31, 2014. Retrieved June 23, 2013.
  63. ^ Andrew Heintzman, ed. (2009-02-15). Food and Fuel: Solutions for the Future. ISBN 978-0887848261. Retrieved 2015-11-12.
  64. ^ "Harry Braun FEC filing" (PDF). FEC. August 12, 2011. Retrieved March 22, 2020.
  65. ^ a b Melissa Dawkins (November 28, 2011). "Former Democratic presidential challenger says party unwelcoming". The Daily Iowan. Retrieved March 22, 2020.
  66. ^ Jason Clayworth (Aug 19, 2011). "Candidate highlights Trig Palin's Down syndrome at soapbox". The Des Moines Register. Retrieved March 22, 2020.
  67. ^ "Harry Braun FEC filing" (PDF). FEC. November 3, 2011. Retrieved March 22, 2020.
  68. ^ "Warren Mosler FEC filing" (PDF). FEC. Retrieved March 21, 2020.
  69. ^ a b Altimari, Daniela (February 25, 2010). "Another hat in the ring? Financial analyst Warren Mosler considers U.S. Senate run". Courant. Archived from the original on 25 May 2012. Retrieved 28 May 2011.
  70. ^ "Warren Bruce Mosler Termination Report". Federal Election Commission. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 28 May 2011.
  71. ^ Derby, Kevin (February 23, 2011). "Presidential Derby". Sunshine State News. Retrieved June 27, 2013.
  72. ^ Besser, James (December 29, 2010). "Department of Silliness: Alan Grayson for president?". The Jewish Week. Archived from the original on July 17, 2011. Retrieved June 27, 2013.
  73. ^ Pinsky, Mark (December 28, 2010). "An Anti-War Challenge to Obama in 2012: The Case for Alan Grayson". Politics Daily. Retrieved June 27, 2013.
  74. ^ Condon, Stephanie (November 5, 2010). "Hillary Clinton Rules Out 2012, 2016 Presidential Runs". CBS News. Retrieved June 27, 2013.
  75. ^ Wallsten, Peter (November 4, 2010). "Howard Dean Rules Out 2012 Bid". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved June 27, 2013.
  76. ^ O'Brien, Michael (December 3, 2010). "Feingold 'is not running for president in 2012'". The Hill. Retrieved June 27, 2013.
  77. ^ Stephanopoulos, George (August 10, 2010). "Rep. Kucinich Won't Challenge Obama in Primary". ABC News. Retrieved June 27, 2013.
  78. ^ Epstein, Jennifer (April 27, 2011). "Ralph Nader: Pressure Obama with primary". Politico. Retrieved October 31, 2011.
  79. ^ Nichols, John (December 29, 2010). "That 'Sanders for President' Talk is Real Enough, But Bernie's Not Going There". The Nation. Retrieved June 27, 2013.
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