The 2012 Nevada Senate election was held on November 6, 2012, to determine which party would control the Nevada Senate for the following two years in the 77th Nevada Legislature. Twelve out of the 21 seats in the Nevada Senate were up for election, including two special elections in District 9 and District 13 for the remaining two years of Republican Elizabeth Helgelien's and Democrat Sheila Leslie's terms following their resignations in 2012. The primary was held on June 12, 2012. Prior to the election, 11 seats were held by Democrats and 10 seats were held by Republicans. The general election saw neither party gain nor lose any seats, thereby meaning that Democrats retained their majority in the State Senate.[1][2]