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2026-02-18T11:12:48Z

Article written and Venn diagram created.

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== Comparison Article ==
The 2012 Missouri gubernatorial election was contested by incumbent Democrat Jay Nixon and Republican challenger Dave Spence. Nixon, who had served as Governor since 2009, ran for re-election on a platform of fiscal management and middle-of-the-road bipartisanship. Spence, a St. Louis businessman with no prior experience in elected office, campaigned as an outsider capable of applying private-sector principles to state government.<ref>Zeleny, Jeff. "In Missouri, a Governor’s Race Focused on Jobs." The New York Times. October 24, 2012.</ref>

== Comparison of backgrounds and platforms ==

Nixon entered the race with a long career in Missouri politics. He served in the Missouri Senate before winning four terms as the state's Attorney General. During his first term as Governor, Nixon focused on maintaining the state's AAA bond rating and vetoing tax increases during the Great Recession.<ref>Young, Virginia. "Nixon highlights fiscal record in re-election bid." St. Louis Post-Dispatch. September 15, 2012.</ref>

Dave Spence grew up in the St. Louis area and graduated from the University of Missouri. In 1985, he purchased Alpha Packaging, a small plastics company, and expanded it into a multi-million dollar international corporation. Spence argued that Missouri’s regulatory environment hindered job growth and that his experience in manufacturing made him better suited to lead the state's economic recovery.<ref>Hancock, Jason. "Dave Spence: From plastics to politics." The Kansas City Star. August 11, 2012.</ref>

=== Comparison table ===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Category !! Jay Nixon !! Dave Spence
|-
| Political Party || Democratic || Republican
|-
| Previous Office || Governor, Attorney General || None (Private sector CEO)
|-
| Education || University of Missouri (JD) || University of Missouri (BS)
|-
| Right-to-Work Stance || Opposed || Supported
|-
| Medicaid Expansion || Supported || Opposed
|-
| Tax Policy || Focused on targeted credits || Broad regulatory and tax cuts
|-
| 2012 Election Result || 54.8% (Winner) || 42.5%
|}

[[File:Venn_diagram_Differences_between_Dave_Spence_versus_Jay_Nixon_comparison.png|thumb|center|800px|alt=Venn diagram for Differences between Dave Spence and Jay Nixon|Venn diagram comparing Differences between Dave Spence and Jay Nixon]]

== Key policy differences ==

The candidates differed on labor laws and healthcare. Spence supported "right-to-work" legislation, which would prohibit unions from requiring employees to pay dues as a condition of employment. He argued this would make Missouri more competitive with neighboring states. Nixon consistently vetoed right-to-work bills during his tenure, citing the potential for lower wages and reduced worker protections.<ref>Suneson, Grant. "Labor unions and the 2012 Missouri election." Missouri News Network. October 2, 2012.</ref>

Regarding the Affordable Care Act, Nixon advocated for the expansion of Medicaid in Missouri to provide coverage to more low-income residents. Spence opposed the expansion, expressing concern over the long-term costs to the state budget and preference for private-sector healthcare solutions. On education, both candidates claimed they would prioritize funding for the K-12 foundation formula, though they differed on the implementation of charter school expansions.<ref>Crisp, Elizabeth. "Health care remains a wedge issue in governor's race." St. Louis Post-Dispatch. September 22, 2012.</ref>

== 2012 election outcome ==

Campaign spending in the race was high, with Spence utilizing significant personal wealth to fund his advertisements. Nixon benefited from high name recognition and support from organized labor. On November 6, 2012, Nixon won re-election by a margin of approximately 12 percentage points. He carried major metropolitan areas and several suburban counties, while Spence found strongest support in rural Missouri.<ref>Missouri Secretary of State. "Official Election Returns: State of Missouri General Election." November 6, 2012.</ref>

== References ==
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[[Category:Comparisons]]

Differences between Dave Spence and Jay Nixon - Revision history

Dwg: Article written and Venn diagram created.