The 2012 United States Senate election in Florida will be held on November 6, 2012 alongside a presidential election, other elections to the United States Congress

United States Congress

The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....

, as well as various state and local elections. Incumbent Democratic

Democratic Party (United States)

The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...

 U.S. Senator Bill Nelson

Bill Nelson

Clarence William "Bill" Nelson is the senior United States Senator from the state of Florida and a member of the Democratic Party. He is a former U.S. Representative and former Treasurer and Insurance Commissioner of Florida...

 is running for re-election to a third term.

Declared

• Bill Fisher Jr., environmental consultant
• Adam Hasner
  Adam Hasner
  Adam Hasner , served as a State Representative for District 87 in the Florida House of Representatives until 2010. District 87 includes the coastal communities in the southern portion of Palm Beach County and the northern part of Broward County, including Boca Raton, Delray Beach, Deerfield Beach...
  
  , former Florida House of Representatives
  Florida House of Representatives
  The Florida House of Representatives is the lower house of the Florida Legislature, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Florida. The House is composed of 120 members representing an equal number of districts, with each district having an average population of 156,677.The House convenes at...
  
   majority leader
• George LeMieux
  George LeMieux
  George Stephen LeMieux is a former United States Senator from Florida. He was Chairman of the Florida-based law firm of Gunster Yoakley & Stewart, P.A. and served as Chief of Staff to Governor Charlie Crist, was former Deputy Florida Attorney General, and is credited with spearheading Crist's...
  
  , former U.S senator
• Connie Mack IV
  Connie Mack IV
  Cornelius Harvey McGillicuddy IV popularly known as Connie Mack IV is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2005. He is a member of the Republican Party. The district includes Fort Myers and Naples....
  
  , U.S. representative
• Mike McCalister, university professor and 2010 Republican primary candidate
  Florida gubernatorial election, 2010
  The 2010 Florida gubernatorial election took place on November 2, 2010. Incumbent Governor Charlie Crist chose not to run for a second term and instead ran for the Senate seat vacated by Mel Martinez. This resulted in an open race for Governor of Florida...
  
  
• Ron McNeil, businessman
• Craig Miller, former CEO
  Chief executive officer
  A chief executive officer , managing director , Executive Director for non-profit organizations, or chief executive is the highest-ranking corporate officer or administrator in charge of total management of an organization...
  
   of Ruth's Chris Steak House
  Ruth's Chris Steak House
  Ruth's Chris Steak House is a chain of more than 121 steakhouses across the United States and in several international locations. The restaurant is regarded as an upscale fine dining establishment, marking a gradual elevation in its status since its founding in the 1960s...
  
   and unsuccessful 2010 candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives
• Ron Rushing, businessman
• Marielena Stuart, conservative activist and journalist

Potential

• Rick Baker
  Rick Baker (mayor)
  Rick Baker is the former mayor of St. Petersburg, Florida. Elected in 2001, he was reelected in November 2005 with more than 70% of the votes cast.-Background:...
  
  , former mayor of St. Petersburg
  St. Petersburg, Florida
  St. Petersburg is a city in Pinellas County, Florida, United States. It is known as a vacation destination for both American and foreign tourists. As of 2008, the population estimate by the U.S. Census Bureau is 245,314, making St...
  
  
• Jennifer Carroll
  Jennifer Carroll
  Jennifer Carroll is a Trinidadian-born American politician who is the 18th and current Lieutenant Governor of the U.S. state of Florida. The first African American and the first woman elected to the position, she assumed the office on January 4, 2011...
  
  , lieutenant governor
• Tom Lee, former president of the Florida Senate
  Florida Senate
  The Florida Senate is the upper house of the Florida Legislature, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Florida. The Senate is composed of 40 members representing an equal number of districts, with each district having an average population of 470,032....
  
  
• Will McBride, attorney
• Chris Ruddy, founder and CEO of Newsmax
• Daniel Webster
  Daniel Webster (Florida politician)
  Daniel A. "Dan" Webster is the Republican U.S. Representative for central , serving since January 3, 2011. He defeated the incumbent Democrat, Alan Grayson, by an 18 percent margin in the November 2010 election. Previously, Webster served 28 years in the Florida state legislature...
  
  , U.S. representative

Declined

• Allan Bense
  Allan Bense
  Allan G. Bense is a businessman from Panama City, Florida. He is a partner in several companies with interests in road building, mechanical contracting, insurance, general contracting, golf courses, and farming....
  
  , former Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives
  Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives
  The Speaker is the presiding member of the Florida House of Representatives...
  
  
• Vern Buchanan
  Vern Buchanan
  Vernon G. "Vern" Buchanan is the Congressman for , serving since 2007. He is a member of the Republican Party.-Early life and education:...
  
  , U.S. representative
• Jeb Bush
  Jeb Bush
  John Ellis "Jeb" Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd Governor of Florida from 1999 to 2007. He is a prominent member of the Bush family: the second son of former President George H. W. Bush and former First Lady Barbara Bush; the younger brother of former President George W...
  
  , former Florida governor
• Alexander George
  Alexander George
  Alexander George may refer to:*Alex George, Australian botanist*Alexander L. George , American political scientist*Alexander George , American philosopher*Alex George , Scottish Grand Prix motorcycle racer...
  
  , businessman, political activist, minister
• Mike Haridopolos
  Mike Haridopolos
  Mike Haridopolos is a Republican Party politician from the U.S. state of Florida. He is president of the Florida Senate, a body in which he represents the 26th District. He was a candidate for the United States Senate in the 2012 election until he withdrew on July 18, 2011. His district of almost...
  
  , President of the Florida Senate
• Nick Loeb, businessman
• Tom Rooney
  Tom Rooney (politician)
  Thomas J. "Tom" Rooney is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2009. He is a member of the Republican Party.-Early life:...
  
  , U.S. representative
• Allen West, U.S. representative

Polling

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Adam Hasner	George LeMieux	Connie Mack IV	Mike McCalister	Craig Miller	Other/ Undecided
Public Policy Polling	November 28-30, 2011	470	± 4.5%	3%	12%	40%	4%	3%	38%
Quinnipiac	October 31-November 7, 2011	513	± 4.3%	2%	9%	32%	6%	2%	45%
Public Policy Polling	September 22-25, 2011	472	± 4.5%	9%	13%	—	17%	3%	58%
Quinnipiac	September 14-19, 2011	374	± 5.1%	5%	17%	—	5%	11%	58%
Quinnipiac	July 27-August 2, 2011	510	± 4.3%	6%	12%	—	15% | align=center| 8%	53%

Endorsements

Endorsements for Adam Hasner

Endorsements for Connie Mack

Endorsements for George LeMieux

Polling

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Bill Nelson (D)	Adam Hasner (R)	Other	Undecided
Rasmussen Reports	November 17, 2011	500	± 4.5%	40%	31%	9%	19%
Public Policy Polling	September 22-25, 2011	476	± 4.5%	49%	35%	—	16%
Mason-Dixon	August 18-22, 2011	625	± 4.0%	45%	34%	—	21%
Public Policy Polling	June 16-19, 2011	848	± 3.4%	47%	35%	—	19%
Quinnipiac	May 17-23, 2011	1,196	± 2.8%	48%	23%	3%	24%
Public Policy Polling	March 24-27, 2011	500	± 4.4%	48%	32%	—	20%
Mason-Dixon	February 9-10, 2011	625	± 4.0%	46%	24%	—	30%
Public Policy Polling	December 17-20, 2010	1,034	± 3.0%	46%	30%	—	25%

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Bill Nelson (D)	George LeMieux (R)	Other	Undecided
Rasmussen Reports	November 17, 2011	500	± 4.5%	39%	33%	10%	18%
Public Policy Polling	September 22-25, 2011	476	± 4.5%	49%	35%	—	15%
Mason-Dixon	August 18-22, 2011	625	± 4.0%	49%	34%	—	17%
Public Policy Polling	June 16-19, 2011	848	± 3.4%	46%	35%	—	19%
Quinnipiac	May 17-23, 2011	1,196	± 2.8%	47%	27%	2%	22%
Public Policy Polling	March 24-27, 2011	500	± 4.4%	48%	33%	—	19%
Mason-Dixon	February 9-10, 2011	625	± 4.0%	49%	35%	—	16%
Public Policy Polling	December 17–20, 2010	1,034	± 3.0%	47%	36%	—	17%
Public Policy Polling	July 16–18, 2010	900	± 3.26%	49%	28%	—	23%

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Bill Nelson (D)	Connie Mack IV (R)	Other	Undecided
Rasmussen Reports	November 17, 2011	500	± 4.5%	39%	43%	5%	13%
Quinnipiac	October 31-November 7, 2011	1,185	± 2.9%	42%	40%	1%	16%
Public Policy Polling	March 24-27, 2011	500	± 4.4%	47%	34%	—	18%
Mason-Dixon	February 9-10, 2011	625	± 4.0%	45%	40%	—	15%
Public Policy Polling	December 17-20, 2010	1,034	± 3.0%	44%	36%	—	20%
Public Policy Polling	October 9–10, 2010	448	± 4.6%	42%	33%	—	25%

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Bill Nelson (D)	Mike McCalister (R)	Other	Undecided
Public Policy Polling	September 22-25, 2011	476	± 4.5%	47%	34%	—	19%

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Bill Nelson (D)	Craig Miller (R)	Other	Undecided
Public Policy Polling	September 22-25, 2011	476	± 4.5%	49%	32%	—	19%

{| class="navbox collapsible collapsed" style="text-align:left; border:0; margin-top:0.2em;"
|-
! style="background:#cff; font-weight:normal;"|
Hypothetical polling
|-
| style="border:solid 1px silver; padding:8px; background:white;"|

{| class="wikitable"
|- valign= bottom
! style="width:91px;"| Poll source
! style="width:140px;"| Date(s)
administered
! class=small | Sample
size
! Margin of
error
! style="width:100px;"| Bill
Nelson (D)
! style="width:103px;"| Vern
Buchanan (R)
! Other
! Undecided
|-
| Mason-Dixon
| align=center| August 18-22, 2011
| align=center| 625
| align=center| ± 4.0%
| align=center| 45%
| align=center| 35%
| align=center| —
| align=center| 20%
|}

{| class="wikitable"
|- valign= bottom
! Poll source
! style="width:140px;"| Date(s)
administered
! class=small | Sample
size
! Margin of
error
! style="width:100px;"| Bill
Nelson (D)
! style="width:103px;"| Jeb
Bush (R)
! Other
! Undecided
|-
| Mason-Dixon
| align=center| February 9-10, 2011
| align=center| 625
| align=center| ± 4.0%
| align=center| 41%
| align=center| 49%
| align=center| —
| align=center| 10%
|-
| Public Policy Polling
| align=center| December 17–20, 2010
| align=center| 1,034
| align=center| ± 3.0%
| align=center| 44%
| align=center| 49%
| align=center| —
| align=center| 7%
|-
| Public Policy Polling
| align=center| July 16–18, 2010
| align=center| 900
| align=center| ± 3.26%
| align=center| 46%
| align=center| 44%
| align=center| —
| align=center| 9%
|}

{| class="wikitable"
|- valign= bottom
! Poll source
! style="width:140px;"| Date(s)
administered
! class=small | Sample
size
! Margin of
error
! style="width:100px;"| Bill
Nelson (D)
! style="width:103px;"| Mike
Haridopolos (R)
! Other
! Undecided
|-
| Public Policy Polling
| align=center| June 16-19, 2011
| align=center| 848
| align=center| ± 3.4%
| align=center| 47%
| align=center| 35%
| align=center| —
| align=center| 18%
|-
| Quinnipiac
| align=center| May 17-23, 2011
| align=center| 1,196
| align=center| ± 2.8%
| align=center| 47%
| align=center| 26%
| align=center| 2%
| align=center| 22%
|-
| Public Policy Polling
| align=center| March 24-27, 2011
| align=center| 500
| align=center| ± 4.4%
| align=center| 50%
| align=center| 34%
| align=center| —
| align=center| 17%
|-
| Mason-Dixon
| align=center| February 9-10, 2011
| align=center| 625
| align=center| ± 4.0%
| align=center| 48%
| align=center| 27%
| align=center| —
| align=center| 25%
|-
| Public Policy Polling
| align=center| December 17-20, 2010
| align=center| 1,034
| align=center| ± 3.0%
| align=center| 44%
| align=center| 32%
| align=center| —
| align=center| 24%
|}

{| class="wikitable"
|- valign= bottom
! Poll source
! style="width:140px;"| Date(s)
administered
! class=small | Sample
size
! Margin of
error
! style="width:100px;"| Bill
Nelson (D)
! style="width:100px;"| Rush
Limbaugh (R)
! Other
! Undecided
|-
| Public Policy Polling
| align=center| October 9–10, 2010
| align=center| 448
| align=center| ± 4.6%
| align=center| 50%
| align=center| 36%
| align=center| —
| align=center| 14%
|}

{| class="wikitable"
|- valign= bottom
! Poll source
! style="width:140px;"| Date(s)
administered
! class=small | Sample
size
! Margin of
error
! style="width:100px;"| Bill
Nelson (D)
! style="width:103px;"| Joe
Scarborough (R)
! Other
! Undecided
|-
| Public Policy Polling
| align=center| March 24-27, 2011
| align=center| 500
| align=center| ± 4.4%
| align=center| 45%
| align=center| 32%
| align=center| —
| align=center| 22%
|}

{| class="wikitable"
|- valign= bottom
! Poll source
! style="width:140px;"| Date(s)
administered
! class=small | Sample
size
! Margin of
error
! style="width:100px;"| Bill
Nelson (D)
! style="width:103px;"| Jimmy
Wales (R)
! Other
! Undecided
|-
| Public Policy Polling
| align=center| March 24-27, 2011
| align=center| 500
| align=center| ± 4.4%
| align=center| 47%
| align=center| 28%
| align=center| —
| align=center| 25%
|}

{| class="wikitable"
|- valign= bottom
! style="width:92px;"| Poll source
! style="width:140px;"| Date(s)
administered
! class=small | Sample
size
! Margin of
error
! style="width:100px;"| Bill
Nelson (D)
! style="width:103px;"| Allen
West (R)
! Other
! Undecided
|-
| Mason-Dixon
| align=center| August 18-22, 2011
| align=center| 625
| align=center| ± 4.0%
| align=center| 44%
| align=center| 38%
| align=center| —
| align=center| 18%
|}

See also

• United States Senate elections, 2012
  United States Senate elections, 2012
  Elections to the United States Senate are to be held on November 6, 2012, with 33 of the 100 seats in the Senate being contested in regular elections whose winners will serve six-year terms from January 3, 2013 until January 3, 2019. Additionally, special elections may be held to fill vacancies...
  
  
• United States House of Representatives elections in Florida, 2012
  United States House of Representatives elections in Florida, 2012
  The 2012 United States House of Representatives elections in Florida will be held on Tuesday, November 6, 2012 to elect the twenty nine Congressional representatives from the state, one from each of the state's twenty nine Congressional districts, a two seat increase due to the 2010 United States...
  
  

External links

• Florida Secretary of State - Division of Elections
• U.S. Congress candidates for Florida at Project Vote Smart
  Project Vote Smart
  Project Vote Smart is a non-profit, non-partisan research organization that collects and distributes information on candidates for public office in the United States...
  
  

Official campaign websites

• Bill Fisher Jr. for U.S. Senate
• Adam Hasner for Senate
• George LeMieux for Senate
• Connie Mack for U.S. Senate
• Mike McCalister for U.S. Senate
• Ron McNeil for U.S. Senate
• Craig Miller for U.S. Senate
• Bill Nelson for U.S. Senate
• Ron Rushing for U.S. Senate
• Marielena Stuart for U.S. Senate