2012Final results
2012 election for Texas's 6th District
U.S. House · Texas
Joe Barton (R) won with 58.0% of the vote, defeating Kenneth Sanders (D) by 18.8 points.
Joe BartonRepublican · winner
58.0%145,019
Kenneth SandersDemocrat
39.2%98,053
Hugh ChauvinLibertarian
1.9%4,847
Brandon ParmerGreen
0.8%2,017
249,936 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.
Kenneth SandersJoe Barton
$145.1K
Raised by the campaign
$1.5M
$135.5K
Spent by the campaign
$2.2M
$455
Cash on hand
$905.9K
Other candidates' campaigns: Hugh Chauvin $2.3K.
Campaign money: FEC, through Nov 26, 2012; FEC, through Dec 31, 2012.
Source: FEC campaign filingsUpdated Dec 31, 2012
The candidates
Joe Barton (R)Kenneth Sanders (D)
Also on the ballot: Hugh Chauvin (Libertarian), 1.9%; Brandon Parmer (Green), 0.8%