“This is the issue of this election: whether we believe in our capacity for self-government or whether we abandon the American revolution and confess that a little intellectual elite in a far-distant capitol can plan our lives for us better than we can plan them ourselves.”
- Ronald Reagan “A Time for Choosing – 1964“
Mitt Romney wins the Florida Primary. Newt Gingrich will come in second, Santorum third, Paul fourth
The 2012 Republican primary will decide the nominee who will then run against expected Democrat nominee President Barack Obama in the 2012 presidential election. This page looks at the GOP candidates in 2012 and includes information about the republican primaries.
2012 Republican Candidates
41%
Barack Obama approval in New Hampshire
Candidates have begun announcing the creation of 2012 Presidential “exploratory” committees. These committees are formed to “test the waters” or give a candidate the ability to raise money and begin acting like a candidate without actually announcing a full candidacy or having to divulge fully where their funding comes from.
Candidates
Suspended or Dropped Out
List of candidates who officially ran in the Republican primary race and then either dropped out or suspended their candidacy. Includes dates of their campaigns creation along with when they dropped out.
Texas Governor Rick Perry
Perry announced his candidacy on August 13th 2011. He ended his bid two days before the South Carolina Primary on January 19th 2012.
Former Ambassador to China Jon Huntsman Jr.
Huntsman formally announced his candidacy on June 21st 2011. He ended his bid not long after the Iowa Caucus on January 16th 2012.
Michele Bachmann
Bachmann formally announced her candidacy on June 27th 2011. She ended her bid after the Iowa Caucus on January 4th 2012.
Cain formally announced his candidacy on May 21st 2011. He suspended his campaign amid accusations of sexual harassment and a long-term extramarital affair on December 3rd 2011.
Rumored But Not Running
Current Indiana Representative Mike Pence
Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour
Former Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty
New Jersey Governor Chris Christie
Detailed pages are being created for all of 2012 Republican candidates and more information will follow.
Debates
See the 2012 Republican Primary Debate section for the latest information.
Polling
See the 2012 Republican Primary polling section for the latest information.
Resources
Politico 2012 Candidate Tracker
A wonderful resource to keep tabs on all of the 2012 Republican candidates. The campaign tracker shows you where they are and what they are doing.
Iowa Straw Poll
The Iowa Straw Poll was held on August 11 2011. Congresswoman Michele Bachmann won the poll.
Social Media
Check out the 2012 republican social media page to find all of the candidates Twitter, Facebook and YouTube pages.
Primary & Caucus Dates
January 3rd 2012
After declaring Mitt Romney the winner of the Iowa Caucus the Iowa GOP reversed course and announced because of irregularities no winner could be declared. However they placed Rick Santorum as the new vote leader in terms of certified votes giving him the win in the eyes of the campaigns and the media.
Mitt Romney Wins Iowa Caucus, Santorum comes in Second, Ron Paul Third
January 10, 2012
Mitt Romney won the New Hampshire Primary, Ron Paul came in second, Jon Huntsman third
January 21, 2012
Newt Gingrich won the South Carolina (primary), Mitt Romney came in second, Rick Santorum third.
January 31, 2012
Florida (primary) – Mitt Romney won, Newt Gingrich came in second, Santorum third, Ron Paul fourth
February 4, 2012
Nevada (caucus)
February 4–11, 2012
Maine (caucus)
February 7, 2012 -
Colorado (caucus)
Minnesota (caucus)
Missouri (primary)
February 28, 2012
Arizona (primary)
Michigan (primary)
March 3, 2012
Washington (caucus)
March 6, 2012 (Super Tuesday)
Alaska (caucus)
Georgia (primary)
Idaho (caucus)
Massachusetts (primary)
North Dakota (caucus)
Ohio (primary)
Oklahoma (primary)
Tennessee (primary)
Texas (primary)
Vermont (primary)
Virginia (primary)
March 6-10, 2012
Wyoming (caucus)
March 10, 2012
Kansas (caucus)
U.S. Virgin Islands (caucus)
March 13, 2012
Alabama (primary)
Hawaii (caucus)
Mississippi (primary)
March 17, 2012
Missouri (GOP caucus) – Will select delegates
March 20, 2012
Illinois (primary)
March 24, 2012
Louisiana (primary)
April 3, 2012
District of Columbia (primary)
Maryland (primary)
Wisconsin (primary)
April 24, 2012
Connecticut (primary)
Delaware (primary)
New York (primary)
Pennsylvania (primary)
Rhode Island (primary)
May 8, 2012
Indiana (primary)
North Carolina (primary)
West Virginia (primary)
May 15, 2012
Nebraska (primary)
Oregon (primary)
May 22, 2012
Arkansas (primary)
Kentucky (primary)
June 5, 2012
California (primary)
Montana (primary)
New Jersey (primary)
New Mexico (primary)
South Dakota (primary)
June 26, 2012
Utah (primary)
Convention
The election will culminate in the 2012 Republican National Convention in Tampa, Florida.
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