2012 Oakland County Executive election

The 2012 Oakland County Executive election was held on November 6, 2012. Incumbent County Executive L. Brooks Patterson ran for re-election to a sixth term. He was challenged by businessman Kevin Howley, the Democratic nominee. Patterson defeated Howley by a wide margin, winning 57 percent of the vote.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Kevin Howley, Huntington Woods venture capitalist^[1]

Results

Democratic primary results^[2]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Kevin Howley	75,765	100.00%
Total votes			75,765	100.00%

Republican primary

Candidates

L. Brooks Patterson, incumbent County Executive
E. Wadsworth Sherrod III, West Bloomfield resident^[3]

Results

Republican primary results^[2]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	L. Brooks Patterson (inc.)	105,884	90.23%
	Republican	E. Wadsworth Sherrod III	11,325	9.65%
	Republican	Write-ins	146	0.12%
Total votes			117,355	100.00%

General election

Results

2012 Oakland County Executive election^[4]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	L. Brooks Patterson (inc.)	352,293	56.71%
	Democratic	Kevin Howley	267,069	42.99%
	Write-in		1,825	0.29%
Total votes			621,187	100.00%
	Republican hold

References

^ Gray, Kathleen (September 27, 2012). "Democrats challenge injured Patterson". Detroit Free Press. Detroit, Michigan. p. 4A. Retrieved June 29, 2025.
^ ^a ^b "August 7, 2012 Primary Election". Oakland County Clerk. September 8, 2012. Retrieved June 29, 2025.
^ Gray, Kathleen (April 10, 2012). "Candidates lined up for Oakland County offices". Detroit Free Press. Detroit, Michigan. p. 4A. Retrieved June 29, 2025.
^ "November 6, 2012 General Election". Oakland County Clerk. January 11, 2013. Retrieved June 29, 2025.

[1] Gray, Kathleen (September 27, 2012). "Democrats challenge injured Patterson". Detroit Free Press. Detroit, Michigan. p. 4A. Retrieved June 29, 2025.

[primary_results-2] "August 7, 2012 Primary Election". Oakland County Clerk. September 8, 2012. Retrieved June 29, 2025.

[3] Gray, Kathleen (April 10, 2012). "Candidates lined up for Oakland County offices". Detroit Free Press. Detroit, Michigan. p. 4A. Retrieved June 29, 2025.

[4] "November 6, 2012 General Election". Oakland County Clerk. January 11, 2013. Retrieved June 29, 2025.

[1]

[2]

[3]

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