2012Final results
2012 election for Louisiana's 1st District
U.S. House · Louisiana
Steve Scalise (R) won with 66.6% of the vote, defeating M. V. "vinny" Mendoza (D) by 45.4 points.
Steve ScaliseRepublican · winner
66.6%193,496
M. V. "vinny" MendozaDemocrat
21.2%61,703
Gary KingRepublican
8.6%24,844
David "turk" TurknettIndependent
2.1%6,079
Arden WellsIndependent
1.5%4,288
290,410 votes
Source: MIT Election Data and Science LabUpdated Sep 30, 2026, 7:25 AM ET
The seat over time
D − R margin in this seat's races around 2012
Races before and after
Source: MIT Election Data and Science LabUpdated Sep 30, 2026, 7:25 AM ET
Money in this race
Each line compares the two campaigns on one scale.
No DemocratSteve Scalise
—
Raised by the campaign
$1.4M
—
Spent by the campaign
$1.2M
—
Cash on hand
$600.9K
Other candidates' campaigns: Gary King $17K.
Campaign money: FEC, through Dec 31, 2012.
Source: FEC campaign filingsUpdated Dec 31, 2012
The candidates
Steve Scalise (R)M. V. "vinny" Mendoza (D)Gary King (R)
Also on the ballot: David "turk" Turknett (Independent), 2.1%; Arden Wells (Independent), 1.5%