2006 United States gubernatorial elections

Seats up for election:

  Republican incumbent

  Retiring Republican

  Democratic incumbent

  Retiring Democrat

  States without a seat up for reelection

The U.S. gubernatorial elections of 2006 will be held on Tuesday, November 7, 2006 in 36 states with 22 of the seats held by Republicans and 14 by Democrats.

The U.S. gubernatorial elections of 2006 will coincide with the mid-term elections of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives.

Major parties

There are currently 28 Republican governors and 22 Democratic governors. There are 22 races in states that are currently held by Republicans, and 14 in states currently held by Democrats.

Five governors whose terms expire after 2006 are not eligible for reelection due to term limits, all of them Republicans: Mike Huckabee (AR), Bill Owens (CO), Jeb Bush (FL), Kenny Guinn (NV), and Bob Taft (OH). Add Mitt Romney (MA) and George Pataki (NY), who are also not running for reelection, Jim Risch (R-ID), who is running for Lieutenant Governor, and Mike Johanns (R-NE), who has already left to become the new Secretary of Agriculture, to bring the total to nine.

Non-partisan election analyses

CQPolitics.com

CQPolitics.com, an independent, non-partisan election analysis newsletter, as of August 29, 2006, made the following analysis:

• 2 Democratic governorships and 2 Republican governorships are Safe and therefore not considered competitive.
• 8 Republican governorships are considered Republican Favored; and 3 Democratic governorships are Democratic Favored, meaning that while these races are not competitive at the moment, they could likely become competitive.
• 2 Republican governorships are considered Leans Republican and 7 Democratic seats are Leans Democratic, as they are politically competitive, yet one party has a distinct advantage.
• 1 Republican governorship is considered Democratic Favored (New York).
• 2 Republican governorships are considered Leans Democratic (Arkansas and Ohio).
• 7 Republican and 2 Democratic seats are rated as No Clear Favorite -- they are Iowa, Michigan, California, Colorado, Florida, Mass., Maryland, Minnesota, and Nevada.

• A complete chart of all races categorized appears here.

Political pundits Fred Barnes and Mort Kondracke of the Beltway Boys have noted that it is likely the Democrats will pick up a net of between 3-4 governor's seats.

Election summaries

In 2006, nine governorships will be open due to either retirement or term limits.

Retiring Democratic governors

Tom Vilsack (Iowa)

Main article: Iowa gubernatorial election, 2006

Congressman Jim Nussle is the Republican nominee, while Democrats have nominated Secretary of State Chet Culver, a progressive whose father was a U.S. Senator. A current Rasmussen Reports poll has Culver leading Nussle 42% to 40% [1] while the more recent Zogby/WSJ poll has Nussle leading Culver 45.6% to 43.2%.

Retiring Republican governors

Frank Murkowski (Alaska)

Main article: Alaska gubernatorial election, 2006

Murkowski was one of the least popular governors when he announced that he would run again, to the mortification of his fellow Republicans. An August 8 poll by Rasmussen Reports showed that going into the primary election his approval rating was at 27%, while his disapproval rating stood at 72%. On the Republican side, former Wasilla Mayor Sarah Palin and former state Railroad Commissioner John Binkley were running against Murkowski in the Republican primary. Former governor Tony Knowles was the Democratic front runner heading into the primary and caught a break when state Representative Ethan Burkowitz dropped out of the race to be his running mate for Lieutenant Governor. In the primary held on August 22, Sarah Palin won the Republican nomination for governor with 51.1% of the vote, Binkley received 29.6% and Murkowski received just 18.9% of the vote. The Democratic primary was won by Tony Knowles with 68.6% of the vote, with his nearest competitor being Eric Croft with 23.1%. Because of Palin's larger-than-expected victory and Knowles losing a U.S. Senate race he was expected to win in 2004, Republicans are more confident about holding the Governorship, although the race is still competitive.

Currently, Palin has 52% and Knowles 38% according to Rasmussen Reports [2].

Mike Huckabee (Arkansas)

Main article: Arkansas gubernatorial election, 2006

With Huckabee term-limited and possibly running for president in 2008, the race for Governor has no incumbent. Republican ex-Congressman Asa Hutchinson and Democratic state Attorney General Mike Beebe are in a competitive race to succeed him. According to a September 6th Rasmussen Reports poll, Beebe leads with 49% compared to Hutchinson's 38% [3].

Bill Owens (Colorado)

Main article: Colorado gubernatorial election, 2006

Owens's retirement has revealed divisions among the state's Republicans. Congressman Bob Beauprez and former University of Denver President Marc Holtzman are in an increasingly nasty primary. Beauprez became the nominee when Holtzman didn't submit enough valid signatures to qualify for the ballot, but the negative attacks they exchanged haven't helped Beauprez. Democrats are running former Denver District Attorney Bill Ritter, who can't easily be portrayed as a liberal. Ritter was helped when a group of Larimer County Republicans endorsed him, including a former Congressman. During the period of January through August, Ritter has raised almost twice as much as Beauprez. [4] The latest Survey USA poll shows the moderate Democrat ahead of the former congressman 50% to 40% [5], and the latest Zogby/WSJ poll shows Ritter leading Beauprez 47.5% to 38.9% [6].

Jeb Bush (Florida)

Main article: Florida gubernatorial election, 2006

The contest to succeed term-limited Governor Jeb Bush on the Republican side, was won by state Attorney General Charlie Crist by 64%. The runner-up was state Chief Financial Officer Tom Gallagher having 34%. Among Democrats, Congressman Jim Davis of Tampa won 47% of his primary against state Senator Rod Smith of Alachua, who had a close 41% in a near all night count with the last two reports coming from Broward and Palm Beach Counties.

There is one third party candidate on the November 7th ballot, Max Linn of the Reform Party. There are three write-in candidates, Atlee Yarrow, Piotr Blass, C.C. Reed, who have also qualified for the ballot.

Several NPA candidates will also be listed: Karl Behm, Richard Paul Dembinsky and John Wayne Smith.

Jim Risch (Idaho)

Main article: Idaho gubernatorial election, 2006

Jim Risch has only been governor since May 26, but his tenure will be a short one. Risch, who had been the state's lieutenant governor, succeeded to the office when his predecessor, Dirk Kempthorne, resigned to become United States Secretary of the Interior. Before Kempthorne's appointment, Risch, a former Ada County District Attorney and state Senator, had already committed to a reelection campaign for Lieutenant Governor, which means the seat remains open.

That being said, Republican Congressman Butch Otter, a former Lieutenant Governor himself, is the strong favorite to succeed Risch. On May 23 he defeated health care administrator Dan Adamson and two other candidates in the Republican primary with 70 percent of the vote. In the general election he will face Democratic newspaper publisher Jerry Brady, who was also the Democratic nominee in 2002. Although Brady won in Ada County in 2002, he was decisively defeated by Kempthorne statewide. Most expect a similar race against Otter.

Mitt Romney (Massachusetts)

Main article: Massachusetts gubernatorial election, 2006

With the approval ratings of Governor Mitt Romney down and President George W. Bush's sagging poll numbers, the Massachusetts executive was expected to be a prime pick-up opportunity for Democrats. On September 19, 2006, Deval Patrick won the gubernatorial Democratic primary with 50% of the vote [7] against Thomas Reilly and Chris Gabrieli. He will face the Republican nominee, Lieutenant Governor Kerry Healey. Healey is the kind of liberal Republican the state has elected Governor in the past five elections, but she has yet to make much of an impression. Complicating matters for both parties are the campaigns of Green-Rainbow Party candidate Grace Ross and independent candidate Christy Mihos, a former Republican and member of the state Turnpike Authority Board.

A SurveyUSA poll released right after the primary shows Patrick leading by a landslide against Healey 64% to 25% and Mihos with 5% [8].

Kenny Guinn (Nevada)

Main article: Nevada gubernatorial election, 2006

The retirement of moderate Republican Kenny Guinn created competitive primaries in both parties. The Democratic nominee is State Senate Minority Leader Dina Titus and the Republicans nominee is Congressman Jim Gibbons. Gibbons has a strong base in northern Nevada due to his Congressional experience and Titus has a strong base in southern Nevada due to her legislative and educational career. CQPolitics rates this as No Clear Favorite. In July a poll by the Wall Street Journal and Zogby Interactive had Gibbons in the lead 45 percent to 40; but in late August put Titus ahead 47 to 44. [9]

George Pataki (New York)

Main article: New York gubernatorial election, 2006

So far, this race is the most likely to change hands and Democrats are very confident of victory. State Attorney General Eliot Spitzer garners overwhelming support in the general election, as high as 70% in a few polls. He defeated Nassau County Executive Tom Suozzi in the September 12 primary. The Republican nominee is former Assemblyman John Faso. Political observers have debated how much Republican candidates in downballot races will be affected.

Bob Taft (Ohio)

Main article: Ohio gubernatorial election, 2006

Reviled as both corrupt and inept, Governor Bob Taft is perhaps the most unpopular Governor in the history of Ohio. Polls show his approval rating in the vicinity of 10% to 25%, and his unpopularity cuts across every statistical category. Democrats are gleeful, as this is saddling Republican candidates in every race. In the race to succeed Taft, polls show Congressman Ted Strickland leading Secretary of State Ken Blackwell with Libertarian Bill Peirce and Green Bob Fitrakis falling under the media's radar. Blackwell is not a close ally of disgraced Governor Taft, even distancing himself from him during the primary, but Taft's unpopularity is still damaging him and other Republican candidates. Also helping Strickland is the fact that Blackwell had to survive a nasty primary against state Attorney General Jim Petro. Blackwell is African-American, and has won some African-American Democratic voters in his previous elections as state Treasurer and Secretary of State, and his ability to do so again will be a factor this year. However, those voters are in a more anti-Republican mood than in previous election cycles, and Strickland supporters remain optimistic. According to a September 19th Quinnipiac poll, Strickland leads Blackwell 55% to 34%. [10]

Notable Democratic incumbents

Janet Napolitano (Arizona)

Main article: Arizona gubernatorial election, 2006

Governor Janet Napolitano is generally popular and a formidable candidate – but not politically secure. Her general election opponent, Len Munsil, bested Don Goldwater (nephew of the late Presidential candidate Barry Goldwater) in the September 12 primary. The latest Rasmussen Reports poll shows Napolitano with 52% and Munsil at 33% [11].

Rod Blagojevich (Illinois)

Main article: Illinois gubernatorial election, 2006

Rod Blagojevich has proven to be an incredible fundraiser, and governs a relatively strong blue state. But recent opinion polling has shown that his approval rating sits at a rather dismal 44% [12]. Blagojevich initially had the advantage in the general election, leading his Republican challenger, state Treasurer Judy Baar Topinka by eight percentage points in polls, although not reaching the fifty percent "safe zone" for incumbents. In March, Topinka won the GOP primary by 38% to 32% over dairy magnate Jim Oberweis. Meanwhile, a former Chicago Alderman named Edwin Eisendrath won a surprising 30% in the Democratic primary. A September 7th Rasmussen Reports poll shows Blagojevich at 48% and Topinka at 36% [13]. United States Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald is currently looking into the hiring practices of Governor Blagojevich. [14]

Kathleen Sebelius (Kansas)

Main article: Kansas gubernatorial election, 2006

Sebelius, although popular in Kansas, can be considered somewhat vulnerable because she leads a state that went to George Bush 62% to 37% in 2004 and has a five out of six Republican congressional delegation. Also, Sebelius was embarrassed when her campaign was fined for violating state campaign finance laws. Her Republican opponent is state Senator Jim Barnett, a physician from Emporia who won a low-key primary with 36%. In contrast to many Republican primaries in Kansas, this one produced no hard feelings or anger between moderate and conservative factions. Nevertheless, Barnett is not well-known, and a September 1 poll by Rasmussen Reports gives Sebelius a 48% to 37% lead [15]. It's believed that if Sebelius wins by a wide margin, she is a likely candidate for the U.S. Senate or perhaps national office in the future.

John Baldacci (Maine)

Main article: Maine gubernatorial election, 2006

In February 2006, Baldacci was given a mere 41% approval rating by the voters of Maine in one poll[16]. Baldacci however has been handed a huge boost thanks to the GOP unexpectedly choosing conservative state Senator Chandler Woodcock over the more moderate state Senator Peter Mills and former Congressman Dave Emery. Democrats claim to be glad that Woodcock is the GOP nominee. A September 18th Rasmussen Reports poll has Baldacci with 44% and Woodcock at 39% [17].

Jennifer Granholm (Michigan)

Main article: Michigan gubernatorial election, 2006

Michigan, like many other midwestern states, has been unable to take advantage of reported national economic and job growth. A string of plant and factory closings by big name companies such as General Motors in Granholm's state have led to growing disapproval of her among voters. Opposing her is wealthy Republican businessman Dick DeVos. An August 31st poll by Rasmussen Reports shows DeVos ahead of Granholm 48% to 46% [18]. An August 22nd SurveyUSA poll has both tied at 47% [19].

John Lynch (New Hampshire)

Main article: New Hampshire gubernatorial election, 2006

First-term Governor John Lynch is easily one of the most popular governors in the nation, with approval ratings as high as 73%. The Republican nominee will be Jim Coburn, a single term state Representative. A May UNH poll showed Lynch polling far ahead of Coburn, who is not very well known throughout the state.

Ted Kulongoski (Oregon)

Main article: Oregon gubernatorial election, 2006

Democratic Governor Ted Kulongoski was elected in 2002 barely defeating former State Represenative Kevin Mannix. He had been polling in the 32-40% range earlier this year, however he has improved in recent opinon polling with a 44% job approval rating. [20] Kulongoski won the state's May three-candidate primary with 54%, but faces a tough general election against Republican and former Portland Public School Board member Ron Saxton. The Democrats have held the governor's mansion since 1987.

Ed Rendell (Pennsylvania)

Main article: Pennsylvania gubernatorial election, 2006

Going into 2006, Rendell's approval rating stuck at a not-so-special even 50 percent. Republicans have found a strong candidate in Lynn Swann, a former Pittsburgh Steeler, and former Lieutenant Governor Bill Scranton recently became the last contender to drop out of the Republican nomination race, eliminating the need for a costly primary. In recent years, Pennsylvania has become a hotly contested swing state, and in 2004, the state went to Democrat John Kerry by a thin 51% to 49% margin. This had been reflected in early polling showing the two in a dead heat, with only single digit percentages undecided. Both candidates have made avoidable errors. Rendell angered many when he signed a bill approving a 54 percent pay raise for state legislators (since withdrawn), while Swann has made misstatements on a few issues, including the Roe vs. Wade ruling. But Rendell appears to be recovering and is pulling away in the polls.

Jim Doyle (Wisconsin)

Main article: Wisconsin gubernatorial election, 2006

In 2002, Doyle was elected with only 45 percent of the vote because of an unusually strong challenge from the Libertarian party. Although his early 2006 approval rating was a mildly unfavorable 45 percent, he led both Republican challengers, Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker and Congressman Mark Green by six to nine points in polls; he has not been able to poll greater than fifty percent. Green got a big break when Walker dropped out of the race. And more recent polls show that Green has pulled even. Wisconsin is a swing state in the strongest sense, with George W. Bush losing the state by some 5,700 votes in 2000 and around 12,400 votes in 2004, although they haven't voted for a Republican for president since 1984, and they haven't had a Republican senator since 1993.

Dave Freudenthal (Wyoming)

Main article: Wyoming gubernatorial election, 2006

In 2002, Democrat Dave Freudenthal was elected by a very narrow margin in a major upset. He won in part because of the unpopularity of the term limited incumbent Republican governor, Jim Geringer. Now running for a second term, Freudenthal is a solid favorite. The Republican nominee is attorney Ray Hunkins, who ran in 2002 and narrowly lost the Republican primary. Freudenthal boasts very high approval ratings, but he still is not a sure bet in this strongly Republican state. A July 2006 poll shows Freudenthal leading Hunkins 58% to 29% [21]. But Freudenthal was recently embarrassed by press reports that he steered state contracts to a pair of law firms affiliated with his wife and brother [22].

Notable Republican incumbents

Bob Riley (Alabama)

Main article: Alabama gubernatorial election, 2006

In 2002, Riley beat the incumbent governor Don Siegelman by a bare margin of only 3,000 votes. After the election, he upset much of his base by pushing a state referendum to rewrite the tax code, which was soundly defeated at the ballot box. However, he recovered when his response to Hurricane Katrina (which affected the Mobile area) drew widespread approval. His approval rating currently hovers at 52 percent. Polls show Riley ahead of Lieutenant Governor Lucy Baxley, his Democratic opponent, 55% to 35%. [23]

Arnold Schwarzenegger (California)

Main article: California gubernatorial election, 2006

The movie-star turned "governator" has in recent months fallen from grace in the eyes of Californians. Schwarzenegger won a special recall election held in 2003 to replace governor Gray Davis and ran as a reformer. In November 2005, voters soundly defeated all four of Schwarzenegger's proposed government reforms. His moderate positions on abortion and stem cell research have alienated conservatives and his veto of California's gay marriage bill alienated liberals. However, in recent months he has recovered some of his early popularity. His Democratic opponent is state Treasurer Phil Angelides, who edged state Controller Steve Westly after a nasty, hugely expensive primary. Schwarzenegger remains politically vulnerable, but Angelides hasn't generated much enthusiasm. The latest poll by Rasmussen shows Schwarzenegger leading Angelides 47% to 39% [24].

Sonny Perdue (Georgia)

Main article: Georgia gubernatorial election, 2006

Popular GOP Governor Sonny Perdue has lost some ground in recent months. He still leads his Democratic opponent, Lieutenant Governor Mark Taylor, but the margin has slipped. However, he is helped by a generally good local economy and the fact that President George W. Bush is more popular in Georgia than elsewhere. Currently, Perdue has 53% and Taylor has 39%. [25]

Robert Ehrlich (Maryland)

Main article: Maryland gubernatorial election, 2006

Bob Ehrlich's approval rating is 48%, which suggests a close election. Martin O'Malley, Mayor of Baltimore City, who was expected to run for governor this year almost as soon as the 2002 election was over, was initially expected to be a shoo-in for the Democratic nomination, but he was challenged by Montgomery County Executive Doug Duncan, who then unexpectedly dropped out of the race, citing a recent diagnosis of clinical depression, saving Democrats from a costly and potentially divisive primary.

As of September 13th, O’Malley is still ahead of Ehrlich, with the current race at 49% to 42% [26].

Tim Pawlenty (Minnesota)

Main article: Minnesota gubernatorial election, 2006

Pawlenty's approval rating is currently 56% [27]. In 2002, Pawlenty won the governor's mansion with only 44% of the vote, facing a strong challenge from DFL Party candidate Roger Moe and Independence Party candidate Tim Penny, a former DFLer himself. Pawlenty has been criticized by some Minnesotans for budget cuts to programs such as MinnesotaCare to balance the budget. Pawlenty faces another strong challenge this year in DFLer Mike Hatch, who fended off a primary challenge from State Senator Becky Lourey. Pawlenty currently holds a slim lead according to the latest poll, with 42% of the vote to 39% for Hatch and 5% for Independence Party candidate Peter Hutchinson[28].

Dave Heineman (Nebraska)

Main article: Nebraska gubernatorial election, 2006

When Congressman Tom Osborne, the legendary former football coach and a beloved figure among sports fan regardless of political affiliation, announced he would run for Governor, everyone assumed he would win overwhelmingly. Then-Governor Mike Johanns was term-limited, and no one of any stature would even consider a run. But when President George W. Bush appointed Johanns as U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, Lieutenant Governor Dave Heineman ascended to the Governorship. To the surprise of many, Heineman decided to seek a full term. He initially trailed by a nearly three-to-one margin, and Republicans tried to get him to seek another office, but he refused. Helped by his veto of granting in-state tuition rates for illegal aliens and other issues, he rallied conservatives and came out of nowhere to upset Osborne by 50% to 44%. In the general election, he faces publishing executive David Hahn. Democrats hope that Hahn can pick up some disgruntled Osborne supporters, but the GOP primary never got bitter and Osborne has willingly endorsed Heineman.

Donald Carcieri (Rhode Island)

Main article: Rhode Island gubernatorial election, 2006

Recent polls have shown Carcieri running even with his Democratic challenger, Lieutenant Governor Charles J. Fogarty [29], and Carcieri is a Republican governor in one of the most liberal states in the country. Also, even though quite high considering the political leanings of his state, Carcieri's approval rating is not great- 52%. Voters in Rhode Island are highly displeased with the policies of President George W. Bush and the direction of the country, and while they don't blame Carcieri, many are willing to take it out on him. A September 13th Rasmussen Reports poll has Carcieri ahead by 2 points with 47% and Fogarty with 45% [30].

Mark Sanford (South Carolina)

Main article: South Carolina gubernatorial election, 2006

At the moment, Sanford does not seem particularly vulnerable, leading all of his potential opponents by double digits in polls. His approval rating is 50%, and he is a Republican in a state that went to Bush in 2004 by a seventeen percent margin. On the other hand, he's managed to get less than positive press by bringing live pigs into the South Carolina House of Representatives, where one promptlydefecated on the floor. Following this and numerious budget vetoes TIME listed him as one of the worst governors in the country. Polls have shown the race becoming more competitive, with Sanford's lead over his challenger, state Senator Tommy Moore, slowly shrinking. In the GOP primary, physician Oscar Lovelace won 35% of the vote against Sanford, while Moore won a surprising 64% against Florence Mayor Frank Willis in the Democratic primary. A August 24th Rasmussen Reports gives Sanford a 51% to 38% lead [31].

Rick Perry (Texas)

Main article: Texas gubernatorial election, 2006

Before January, this race would not have been considered competitive; Texas is a solidly Republican state. But challenges from two popular independents, coupled with Perry's mediocre 43% approval, have made the race interesting. Populist state Comptroller Carole Keeton Strayhorn has decided to defect from the GOP and run against Perry, her bitter political foe, as an independent. Six weeks after the announcement of her candidacy, she moved to within single digits of Perry in polls. In addition to Perry and Strayhorn, former Congressman Chris Bell will run as the Democratic candidate, as will country singer and Texas icon Kinky Friedman as another independent. This sets up a peculiar four-way race (technically, a five-way race including the Libertarian candidate) in which only a plurality is needed to win. Three and especially four-way races tend to be very unpredictable, but pundits generally agree that no matter what the circumstances, Democrats probably do not benefit from a vote split. Perry remains the favorite, but his uninspiring approval ratings and the complicated political currents makes the race unpredictable.

Polling has consistently put Perry at the front of the four-way race, but with only 30-40% of the vote. Bell, Strayhorn and Friedman have polled about evenly as well, exchanging positions in polls and consistently around 20%.

List of elections

This is a complete list of states with a gubernatorial election in 2006. Key: (D/DFL) Democratic/Democratic-Farmer-Labor, (R) Republican, (AIP) American Independent, (Con) Conservative (NY), (C) Constitution, (G) Green, (GRP) Green-Rainbow, (IPM) Independence Party of Minnesota, (L) Libertarian, (PF) Peace and Freedom, (Ne) Nebraska Party, (Pop) Populist Party of Maryland, (Ref) Reform, (S) Socialist, (V) Veterans, (I) Independent

State ↑	Incumbent	Party	Status	Competing candidates	Market Predicted Outcome [32]	Approval
Alabama	Bob Riley	Republican	Running for 2nd term	Lucy Baxley (D) Loretta Nall (L)	Republican FAVORED (91%)	62%
Alaska	Frank Murkowski	Republican	Lost in primary	Sarah Palin (R) Tony Knowles (D)	LEANS Republican (60%)	19%
Arizona	Janet Napolitano	Democratic	Running for 2nd term	Len Munsil (R) Barry Hess (L)	Democrat FAVORED (94%)	59%
Arkansas	Mike Huckabee	Republican	Not eligible for 3rd term	Asa Hutchinson (R) Mike Beebe (D)	Democrat FAVORED (90%)	57%
California	Arnold Schwarzenegger	Republican	Running for 1st full term	Phil Angelides (D) Peter Camejo (G) Edward C. Noonan (AIP) Art Olivier (L) Aaron Proctor (Write-In)	Republican FAVORED (80%)	44%
Colorado	Bill Owens	Republican	Not eligible for 3rd term	Bob Beauprez (R) Bill Ritter (D)	Democrat FAVORED (81%)	53%
Connecticut	Jodi Rell	Republican	Running for 1st full term	John DeStefano, Jr. (D)	Republican FAVORED (92%)	70%
Florida	Jeb Bush	Republican	Not eligible for 3rd term	Charlie Crist (R) Jim Davis (D) Jack Gargan (Ref) Atlee Yarrow (S) John Wayne Smith (L)	Republican FAVORED (86%)	54%
Georgia	Sonny Perdue	Republican	Running for 2nd term	Mark Taylor (D)	Republican FAVORED (89%)	63%
Hawaii	Linda Lingle	Republican	Running for 2nd term	Randy Iwase (D)	Republican FAVORED (90%)	66%
Idaho	Jim Risch	Republican	Running for Lieutenant Governor	C.L. "Butch" Otter (R) Jerry Brady (D) Marvin Richardson (C) Ted Dunlap (L)	Republican SAFE (96%)	53%
Illinois	Rod Blagojevich	Democratic	Running for 2nd term	Judy Baar Topinka (R) Rich Whitney (G)	Democrat FAVORED (89%)	44%
Iowa	Tom Vilsack	Democratic	Retiring	Chet Culver (D) Jim Nussle (R) Wendy Barth (G)	Toss Up (55% Democrat to hold)	52%
Kansas	Kathleen Sebelius	Democratic	Running for 2nd term	Jim Barnett (R)	Democrat FAVORED (90%)	63%
Maine	John Baldacci	Democratic	Running for 2nd term	Chandler Woodcock (R) Pat LaMarche (G) Barbara Merrill (I) Philip Morris Napier (I)	Democrat FAVORED (70%)	45%
Maryland	Robert Ehrlich	Republican	Running for 2nd term	Martin J. O'Malley (D) Ed Boyd (G) Christopher Driscoll (Pop)	Democrat FAVORED (80%)	52%
Massachusetts	Mitt Romney	Republican	Retiring	Kerry Healey (R) Christy Mihos (I) Deval Patrick (D) Grace Ross (GRP)	Democrat FAVORED (90%)	48%
Michigan	Jennifer M. Granholm	Democratic	Running for 2nd term	Dick DeVos (R)	Toss Up (55% Democrat to hold)	43%
Minnesota	Tim Pawlenty	Republican	Running for 2nd term	Mike Hatch (DFL) Peter Hutchinson (IPM)	Republican FAVORED (80%)	56%
Nebraska	Dave Heineman	Republican	Running for 1st full term	David Hahn (D) Barry Richards (Ne)	Republican FAVORED (93%)	65%
Nevada	Kenny Guinn	Republican	Not eligible for 3rd term	Jim Gibbons (R) Dina Titus (D)	Republican FAVORED (70%)	53%
New Hampshire	John Lynch	Democratic	Running for 2nd term	Jim Coburn (R)	Democrat SAFE (95%)	72%
New Mexico	Bill Richardson	Democratic	Running for 2nd term	John Dendahl (R)	Democrat SAFE (98%)	65%
New York	George Pataki	Republican	Retiring	Eliot Spitzer (D) John Faso (R/Con) Malachy McCourt (G)	Democrat SAFE (96%)	42%
Ohio	Bob Taft	Republican	Not eligible for 3rd term	Kenneth Blackwell (R) Ted Strickland (D) Bill Peirce (L)	Democrat FAVORED (90%)	17%
Oklahoma	Brad Henry	Democratic	Running for 2nd term	Ernest Istook (R)	Democrat FAVORED (90%)	69%
Oregon	Ted Kulongoski	Democratic	Running for 2nd term	Ron Saxton (R)	Democrat FAVORED (82%)	44%
Pennsylvania	Ed Rendell	Democratic	Running for 2nd term	Lynn Swann (R)	Democrat FAVORED (89%)	58%
Rhode Island	Donald Carcieri	Republican	Running for 2nd term	Charles J. Fogarty (D)	Tossup (50% Republican to hold)	52%
South Carolina	Mark Sanford	Republican	Running for 2nd term	Tommy Moore (D)	Republican FAVORED (91%)	51%
South Dakota	Mike Rounds	Republican	Running for 2nd term	Jack Billion (D) Steven J. Willis (C)	Republican FAVORED (92%)	62%
Tennessee	Phil Bredesen	Democratic	Running for 2nd term	Jim Bryson (R)	Democrat FAVORED (92%)	57%
Texas	Rick Perry	Republican	Running for 2nd full term	Chris Bell (D) Carole Keeton Strayhorn (I) Kinky Friedman (I) James Werner (L)	Republican FAVORED (92%)	43%
Vermont	Jim Douglas	Republican	Running for 3rd term	Scudder Parker (D)	Republican FAVORED (91%)	60%
Wisconsin	Jim Doyle	Democratic	Running for 2nd term	Mark Green (R)	Democrat FAVORED (70%)	48%
Wyoming	Dave Freudenthal	Democratic	Running for 2nd term	Ray Hunkins (R)	Democrat FAVORED (91%)	66%

See also

• United States Senate elections, 2006
• United States House elections, 2006
• Better World Links on the U.S. Midterm Elections 2006 > 1500 links
• Major Problems At Polls Feared, Dan Balz and Zachary A. Goldfarb, The Washington Post, Sep 17, 2006