2006 Michigan gubernatorial election

Template:Future election The Michigan gubernatorial election of 2006 is one of the 36 U.S. gubernatorial elections scheduled for November 7, 2006. Whoever is elected will take office on January 1, 2007, and will serve until January 1, 2011.

Incumbent Governor Jennifer Granholm has been widely seen as a rising star in the Democratic Party. However, due in large part to a weak economy and high unemployment, her popularity has plummetted since she took office in 2003.

No high-profile Republican candidate had entered the race until former Alticor President Dick DeVos, a billionaire son of Amway co-founder Richard DeVos, declared his candidacy on June 2, 2005.

Experts believe a Granholm-DeVos race would be worth watching. DeVos, a billionaire, is the husband of former state Republican chair Betsy DeVos. The DeVoses were listed among the biggest contributors to Republicans in 2004. Republicans are expected to make an issue of the economy, as well as Granholm's views on such social issues as abortion. Granholm is expected to insist that her policies have saved thousands of jobs, while attacking DeVos's partisanship, wealth, and tenure at Alticor.

Democrats

Announced

• Jennifer Granholm, Incumbent Governor (Campaign website)

Republicans

Announced

• Dick DeVos, former Alticor President (Campaign website)

Potential

• David Brandon - Domino's Pizza CEO & University of Michigan Regent

Polling

Source	Date	DeVos (R)	Granholm (D)
Rasmussen	Feb 14, 2006	43%	44%
EPIC-MRA	Feb 12, 2006	36%	53%
Strategic Vision	Feb 3, 2006	34%	48%
Rasmussen	Jan 20, 2006	38%	49%
Strategic Vision	Dec 22, 2005	35%	46%
Rasmussen	Dec 2, 2005	36%	48%
EPIC-MRA	Nov 29, 2005	35%	58%
Strategic Vision	Nov 21, 2005	33%	44%
EPIC-MRA	Oct 25, 2005	30%	53%
Strategic Vision	Oct 25, 2005	35%	46%
Strategic Vision	Sept 29, 2005	33%	47%

See also

• U.S. gubernatorial elections, 2006