by Tanya Metaksa 
On Oct. 29, 2012 David Kopel, the research director of the Denver, CO, Independence Institute, an adjunct professor of constitutional law at Denver University, Sturm College of Law and a respected scholar on firearms litigation, published an article on National Review Online reviewing the 2012 political races and how they relate to gun rights. I have taken the liberty of using his article as a jumping off point for this review of the US Senate and House election results as they impact our Second Amendment rights. This review will include all Senate races but not all the Congressional District contests. The House of Representatives has a historical 90+% reelection rate for incumbents, thus the incumbents who have retained their seats may not be shown. Only those incumbents who have lost or those districts where the pro-gun balance was altered or was under attack will be covered. In the next issue of TheGunMag, we will review the election results for governors and state Legislatures.
In the Congress a few seats changed hands but overall this very costly election changed little. In the Senate, Harry Reid will remain Majority Leader as the Democrats increased their majority. Of the 33 contested Senate seats 14 are solid pro-gun votes. On Election Day five seats switched, resulting in one PICKUP.
Although the House of Representative remains in Republican hands, gunowners lost seats.
The 2012 election in the House of Representative was the first time candidates ran in newly created Congressional districts mandated by the 2010 census. As a result some incumbents were redistricted and ran in newly created districts or districts that did not reflect the old district. In cases where this is occurring, we have tried to inform the readers. If there is a [CD#] after a candidate’s name it signifies that this is the district served in the 2011-2012 Session. In the parentheses after a candidate’s name will be their political affiliation, D or R, followed by the grade given them by the NRA Political Victory Fund for 2012 or “NRA” signifying that they were endorsed by the NRA. If neither a PICKUP nor a LOSS is listed after the information, then the seat has retained its current Second Amendment status.
Alaska–
CD: Incumbent and NRA Board member Rep. Don Young won reelection for his 21st term.
Arizona–
Senate: Open seat with Sen.Jon Kyl retiring. Rep Jeff Flake (R,NRA) beat Richard Carmon (D,?).
AZ-CD 1: Open seat. Rep. Paul Gosar redistricted to CD 4. Jonathan Paton (R,A) loses to Ann Kirkpatrick (D,A) LOSS AZ-CD 2: Rep. Gabby Giffords’ seat has Ron Barber, her staffer, (D,?) losing to Martha McSally (R. NRA) PICKUP AZ-CD 4: Rep. Paul Gosar [CD1] (R, NRA wins over Johnnie Robinson (D, AQ) AZ-CD 9: New reapportioned seat Vernon Parker (D,NRA) loses to Krystem Sinema (D,F) LOSS California-Senate: Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D, F) has won reelection CA-CD 7: Rep. Dan Lungren (R,C) loses to Ami Bera (D,?) LOSS CA-CD 10: First-termer Jeff Denham (R,A) beats Jose Hernandez (D,?) CA-CD 21: New District. David Valadao (R, NRA) defeats John Hernandez (D,?) PICKUP CA-CD 24: Rep. Lois Capps trumps Abel Maldonado (R,C) CA-CD 26: Open seat. Rep. David Drier (R,A) retiring. Tony Strickland (R,NRA) loses to Julia Brownley (D,F) LOSS CA-CD 36: Rep Mary Bono Mack (R, NRA) is beaten by Raul Ruiz (D,?) LOSS CA-CD 41: New seat. Redistricted. Mark Takano (D,?) defeats John Tavaglion (R,NRA) LOSS CA-CD 47: Open seat. Rep. Elton Gallegly (R,NRA) retires. Gary DeLong (NRA) loses to Alan Lowenthal (D,F) LOSS CA-CD 52: Scott Peres (D,?) beats Rep Brian Bilbray (R,NRA) LOSS
Colorado–
CD 6: Rep. Mike Coffman (R,A) defeats Joe Miklosi (D,F) CO-CD 7: Rep. Ed Perlmutter (D,F) beats Joe Coors (R,NRA)
Connecticut–
Senate: Open seat. Anti-gun Sen. Joe Lieberman retiring.
Rep Chris Murphy (D-F) defeats Linda Murphy (R, AQ) CT-CD 5: Open seat. Rep. Chris Murphy runs for Senate. Andrew Roraback (R,C) is defeated by Elizabeth Esty (D,?).
Delaware–
Senate: Sen. Tom Carper (D,F) beats Kevin Wade (R,AQ)
Florida-Senate: Sen. Bill Nelson (D, F) defeats Rep Connie Mack IV (R, NRA).
FL-CD 2: First term Rep. Steve Southerland (R, NRA) defeats Al Lawson (D,C+) FL-CD 6: Open seat. Pro-gun Rep. Cliff Stearns retires. Ron DeSantis (R,NRA) defeats Heather Beaven (D,?) FL-CD 9: New seat. Former Rep. Alan Grayson (D,C+) beats Todd Long (R,NRA) FL-CD 10: Rep. Daniel Webster (R,NRA) wins over Val B. Demings (D,F) FL-CD 18: Rep. Allen B. West (R,NRA) loses to Patrick Murphy (D,?) LOSS FL-CD 19: Reapportioned seat. Trey Radel (R,NRA) beats Jim Roach (D,?) PICKUP FL-CD 22: Adam Hasner (R,NRA) is beaten by Lois Frankel (D,F) FL-CD 26: Rep. David Rivera (R,NRA) is beaten by Joe Garcia (D,?) LOSS Georgia-CD 12: Rep. John Barrow (D,NRA) beats Lee Anderson (R,A)
Hawaii–
Senate. Open seat-Sen. Akaka (D-F) retires. Linda Lingle (R, NRA) defeated by Mazio Hirono (D,F).
Illinois–
CD 8: Rep. Joe Walsh (R, NRA) defeated by Tammy Duckworth (D,F) LOSS IL-CD 11: Former Rep. Bill Foster (D,B+) defeats Rep Judy Biggert (R, NRA) IL-CD 12: Open seat. Rep. Jerry Costello (R,NRA) retires. Bill Enyart (D,AQ) defeats Jason Plummer (R,AQ) IL-CD 13: Open seat. Rep. Judy Biggert (R,NRA) redistricted to another CD. Rodney Davis (R,NRA) beats David Gill (D,B-) IL-CD 17: Rep. Bobby Schilling (R,NRA) beaten by Cheri Bustos (D,B+)
Indiana–
Senate: Sen. Lugar was beaten by Richard Murdock in the GOP primary with great gunowner support. Richard Murdock (R,A) was defeated by Joe Donnelly (D,A).
PICKUP IN-CD 2: Open seat. Rep. Joe Donnelly runs for Senate. Jackie Walorski (R, NRA) beats Brendan Mullen (D,AQ).PICKUP IN-CD 8: Rep. Bucshon (R,NRA) defeats Dave Crooks (D,A) Iowa-CD 1: Rep. Bruce Braley (D,F) defeats Ben Lange (R,NRA) IA-CD 2: Rep. Dave Loebsack (D,F) defeats John Archer (R,NRA) IA-CD 3: Open seat. Redistricted. Rep. Tom Latham (R,A) loses to Rep Leonard Boswell (D,A) IA-CD 5: Rep. Steve King (R,NRA) defeats Christie Vilsack (D,?)
Kentucky–
CD 4: Open seat. Rep.Geoff Davis (R,A) resigned. Thomas Massie (R,NRA) trounces Bill Adkins (D,AQ) KY-CD 6: Rep. Ben Chandler (D,NRA) loses to Andy Barr (R,AQ)
Massachusetts–
Senate: Sen. Scott Brown (R,C) beaten by Elizabeth Warren (D,F). LOSS
Maine–
Senate: Angus King (I,?) defeats Cynthia Dill (D,F) and Charlie Summers (R,NRA)
ME-CD 1: Rep. Jon Courtney (R,NRA) was defeated by Chellie Pingree (D,F) LOSS MD-Senate. Sen. Cardin (D,F) was reelected. MD-CD 6: Rep .Roscoe Bartlett (R,A) was defeated by John Delaney (D,?) in severely redistricted district. LOSS
Michigan–
Senate: Sen. Debbie Stabenow beats Rep. Hoekstra (R,NRA)
MI-CD 1: Rep. Dan Benishek (R,NRA) defeats Gary McDowell (D,A) MI-CD 3: Rep. Justin Amash (R,B-) defeats Steve Pestka (D,A-) MI-CD 11: Open seat.-Rep. Thad McCotter resigned. Kerry Bentivolio (R,AQ) beats Syed Taj (D,?) Minnesota-Senate: Sen. Klobuchar (DFL,F) trumps Kurt Bills (R,A) MN-CD 6: Redistricted. Rep. Michele Bachmann (R,NRA) beats Jim Graves (DFL,?). This was the most expensive House race in the country. The candidates raised $22.7 million. MN-CD 8: Rep. Chip Cravaack (R,NRA) is defeated by Mike Obermueller (DFL,F). LOSS
Missouri–
Senate: Sen. Claire McCaskill (D,F) easily wins re-election.
Mississippi–
Senate: Sen. Roger Wicker (R,NRA) has retained his seat.
Montana–
Senate: Sen. Jon Tester (D,A-) wins over Rep. Denny Rehberg (R,A+)
MT-CD 1: Open seat. Rep. Denny Rehberg (R,A+) runs for Senate. Steve Daines (R,NRA) defeats Kim Gillan (D,C)
Nebraska–
Senate: Deb Fischer (R,NRA) beats Bob Kerrey (D,F)
Nevada–
Senate: Sen. Dean Heller (R,NRA) beats Rep. Shelley Berkley (D,F)
NV-CD 1: Open seat. Rep. Shelley Berkley runs for Senate. Dina Titus (D,B-) defeats Chris Edwards (R,AQ) PICKUP
NV-CD 4: New seat. Redistricted. Steven Horsford (D,C) beats Danny Tarkanian (R,C+)
New Hampshire–
CD 1: Carol Shea- Porter (D,F) defeats Rep. Frank Guinta (R,NRA). LOSS
NH-CD 2: Ann McLane Kuster (D,?) beats Rep. Charlie Bass (R,NRA). LOSS
New Jersey–
Senate: Sen. Bob Menedez (D,F) wins over Joe Kyrillos (R,C)
NJ-CD 3: Rep. Jon Runyan (R,NRA) beats Shelley Adler (D,?)
New Mexico–
Senate: Open seat. Sen. Jeff Bingaman (D,D) retires. Martin Heinrich (D,B) defeats Heather Wilson (R,NRA) PICKUP
New York–
Senate: Sen. Kristin Gillibrand (D,F) crushes Wendy Long (R,NRA)
NY-CD 1: Rep. Tim Bishop (D,F) defeats Randy Altschuler (R,NRA) NY-CD 11: Rep. Michael Grimm (R,B+) beats Mark Murphy (D,?) NY-CD 18: Rep. Nan Hayworth (R,NRA) is defeated by Sean Patrick Maloney (D,?). Maloney is a former staffer for Bill Clinton. LOSS NY-CD 19: Rep. Chris Gibson (R,NRA) beats Julian Schriebman (D,?) NY-CD 21: Rep. Bill Owens (D,NRA) wins over Matt Doheny (R,AQ) NY-CD 24: Rep. Ann Marie Buerkle (R,NRA) is beaten by Dan Maffei (D,F). LOSS NY-CD 25: Rep. Louise Slaughter (D,F) beats Maggie Brooks (R,NRA) NY-CD 27: Rep. Kathy Hochul (D,NRA) is beaten by Chris Collins (R, AQ)
North Carolina–
CD 7: Rep. Mike McIntyre (D,NRA) narrowly beats David Rouzer (R,A) NC-CD 8: Rep. Larry Kissell (D,NRA) is beaten by Richard Hudson (R, AQ) NC-CD 11: Open seat. Rep. Heath Schuler (D,NRA) retires. Mike Meadows (R,AQ) beats Hayden Rogers (D,A)
North Dakota–
Senate: Open seat. Sen. Kent Conrad (D,D+) retires. Heidi Heitkamp (D,AQ) narrowly beats Rick Berg (R,NRA).
PICKUP ND-CD: Kevin Cramer (R,AQ) defeats Pam Gulleson (D,NRA) Ohio-Senate: Sen. Sherrod Brown (D,F) defeats Josh Mandel (R,NRA) OH-CD 2: Open seat. Rep. Schmidt (R,NRA 2010) lost primary. Ben Wenstrup (R,NRA) defeats William Smith (D,?) OH-CD 16; Redistricted. Rep. Jim Renacci (R,NRA) beats Rep Betty Sutton (D,F)
Oklahoma–
CD 1: Open seat. Rep. Sullivan (R,A) lost primary. Jim Bridnestine (R,AQ) beats John Olson (D,AQ) OK-CD 2: Open seat. Rep. Boren (D,A) retires. Markwayne Mullin (R,AQ) defeats Rob Wallace (D,AQ)
Pennsylvania–
Senate: Sen. Bob Casey (D,B+) beats Tom Smith (R,A)
PA-CD 4: Redistricted. Scott Perry (R,NRA) beats Harry Parkinson (D,?) PA-CD 12: Rep. Mark Critz (D,NRA) beaten by Keith Rothfus (R,AQ)
Rhode Island–
Senate: Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D,F) defeats Barry Hinckley (R,AQ) RI-CD 1: Rep. David Cicilline (D,F) defeats Brendan Doherty (R,B)
South Carolina–
CD 1. New District. Tom Rice (R,NRA) defeats Gloria Tinubu (D,?). PICKUP
Tennessee–
Senate: Sen. Bob Corker (R,NRA) defeats Mark Clayton (D,?)
Texas–
Senate: Open Seat. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison retires. Ted Cruz (R,NRA) beats Paul Sadler (D,C-)
TX-CD 14: Open Seat. Rep. Ron Paul (R,NRA) retires. Randy Weber (R,A) defeats former Rep. Nick Lamson (D,A) TX-CD 16: Open Seat. Silvestre Reyes (D,NRA) retires. Beto O’Rourke (D,?) beats Barbara Carrasco (R,?). LOSS TX-CD 20: Open Seat. Charlie Gonzalez (D,F) retires. Juan Castro (D,C) defeats David Rosa (R,AQ) TX-CD 25: New seat. Redistricted.Kenny Marchant (R,NRA) beats Tim Rusk (D,F). PICKUP TX-CD 33: New seat. Redistricted.Mark Veasey (D,B) defeats Chuck Bradley (R,AQ). PICKUP TX-CD 34: New seat. Redistricted.Filemon Vela (D,B) beats Chuck Bradley (R,AQ). PICKUP TX-CD 36: Steve Stockman (R,NRA) beats Max Martin (D,C)
Utah-Senate: Sen. Orrin Hatch (R,NRA) wallops Scott Howell (D,D)
UT-CD 2: Chris Steward (R,NRA) trumps Jay Steegmiller (D,?)
Virginia–
Senate: Open seat. Sen. Jim Webb (D,A) retires. Tim Kaine (D,F) defeats George Allen (R,NRA). LOSS
Vermont–
Senate: Sen. Bernie Sanders (I,D-) defeats John McGovern (R,A)
VT-CD: Rep. Peter Welch (D,C) retains his seat over Mark Donka (R,AQ)
Washington–
Senate: Maria Cantwell (D,F) wins over Michael Baumgartner (R,A)
WA-CD 1: Open seat. Jay Inslee (D,F) retires. Suzan DelBene (D.?) trumps John Koster (R,NRA)
Wisconsin–
Senate: Tammy Baldwin (D,F) defeats Tommy Thompson (R,NRA)
WI-CD 1: Paul Ryan (R,NRA) trumps Rob Zerban (D,AQ) WI-CD 2: Open seat. Rep. Tammy Baldwin (D,F) runs for Senate. Mark Pocan (D,F) beats Chad Lee (R,AQ)
West Virginia–
Senate: Sen. Joe Manchin (D,NRA) beats John Raese (R,AQ)
Wyoming–
Senate: Sen. John Barrasso (R,NRA) trumps Tim Chestnut (D,F)
