2012 New Castle County Executive election

The 2012 New Castle County Executive election was held on November 6, 2012. Incumbent County Executive Paul Clark, who ascended to the role following former County Executive Chris Coons' election to the U.S. Senate in 2010,^[1] ran for election to a full term. However, he was defeated in the Democratic primary by former County Executive Thomas P. Gordon, 46–33 percent. In the general election, Gordon faced medical billing salesman Mark Blake, the Republican nominee. Gordon defeated Blake in a landslide, winning 64 percent of the vote.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Thomas P. Gordon, former County Executive^[2]
Paul G. Clark, incumbent County Executive^[3]
Jonathan W. Husband, county government employee^[4]
William F. Shahan, Jr., county government employee^[5]

Results

Democratic primary results^[6]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Thomas P. Gordon	16,314	45.82%
	Democratic	Paul G. Clark	11,733	32.95%
	Democratic	Jonathan W. Husband	3,841	10.79%
	Democratic	William F. Shahan, Jr.	3,717	10.44%
Total votes			35,605	100.00%

General election

Candidates

Thomas P. Gordon, former County Executive (Democratic)^[2]
Mark Blake, medical billing salesman, former President of the Greater Hockessin Area Development Association (Republican)^[7]

Results

2012 New Castle County Executive election^[8]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Thomas P. Gordon	148,971	63.94%
	Republican	Mark Blake	84,014	36.06%
Total votes			232,985	100.00%
	Democratic hold

References

^ Livengood, Chad (November 4, 2010). "Clark set to step into Coons' role". The News Journal. Wilmington, Delaware. p. B1. Retrieved July 7, 2025.
^ ^a ^b Taylor, Adam (April 26, 2012). "Gordon weighing new run at old office". The News Journal. Wilmington, Delaware. p. A1. Retrieved July 7, 2025.
^ Taylor, Adam (January 30, 2012). "Clark's campaign chest boosted by developers, top NCCo staff". The News Journal. Wilmington, Delaware. p. B1. Retrieved July 7, 2025.
^ Taylor, Adam (July 27, 2012). "Assistant straddles thin line for Clark". The News Journal. Wilmington, Delaware. p. A1, A2. Retrieved July 7, 2025.
^ Taylor, Adam (January 14, 2012). "NCCo executive remains without primary challenger". The News Journal. Wilmington, Delaware. p. A1, A2. Retrieved July 7, 2025.
^ "2012 State Primary Election". Delaware Department of Elections. September 13, 2012. Retrieved July 7, 2025.
^ "Veteran pols, newcomers mark '12 races". The News Journal. Wilmington, Delaware. November 4, 2012. p. A13. Retrieved July 7, 2025.
^ "2012 General Election". Delaware Department of Elections. November 14, 2012. Retrieved July 7, 2025.

[1] Livengood, Chad (November 4, 2010). "Clark set to step into Coons' role". The News Journal. Wilmington, Delaware. p. B1. Retrieved July 7, 2025.

[gordon_weighing-2] Taylor, Adam (April 26, 2012). "Gordon weighing new run at old office". The News Journal. Wilmington, Delaware. p. A1. Retrieved July 7, 2025.

[3] Taylor, Adam (January 30, 2012). "Clark's campaign chest boosted by developers, top NCCo staff". The News Journal. Wilmington, Delaware. p. B1. Retrieved July 7, 2025.

[4] Taylor, Adam (July 27, 2012). "Assistant straddles thin line for Clark". The News Journal. Wilmington, Delaware. p. A1, A2. Retrieved July 7, 2025.

[5] Taylor, Adam (January 14, 2012). "NCCo executive remains without primary challenger". The News Journal. Wilmington, Delaware. p. A1, A2. Retrieved July 7, 2025.

[6] "2012 State Primary Election". Delaware Department of Elections. September 13, 2012. Retrieved July 7, 2025.

[7] "Veteran pols, newcomers mark '12 races". The News Journal. Wilmington, Delaware. November 4, 2012. p. A13. Retrieved July 7, 2025.

[8] "2012 General Election". Delaware Department of Elections. November 14, 2012. Retrieved July 7, 2025.

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See also: Political party strength in Delaware