2006 Idaho gubernatorial election

The 2006 Idaho gubernatorial election was held on November 7, 2006. Incumbent Governor Jim Risch succeeded Dirk Kempthorne, who resigned May 26 to become Secretary of the Interior. Risch served as governor until the end of the term, but had committed to a reelection campaign for Lieutenant Governor before Kempthorne's appointment and subsequent resignation.

2006 Idaho gubernatorial election

← 2002 November 7, 2006 2010 →
 
Nominee Butch Otter Jerry Brady
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 237,437 198,845
Percentage 52.7% 44.1%

Otter:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90%
Brady:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90%
Tie:      50%      No Votes

Governor before election

Jim Risch
Republican

Elected Governor

Butch Otter
Republican

This was the last time that a Democrat won over 40% of the vote in Idaho.

Republican primary

edit

Candidates

edit

Declined

edit

Results

edit
 
County results
Republican primary results[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Butch Otter 96,045 70.02
Republican Dan Adamson 29,093 21.21
Republican Jack Alan Johnson 7,652 5.58
Republican Walter Bayes 4,385 3.20
Total votes 137,175 100.00

Democratic primary

edit

Candidates

edit
  • Jerry Brady, newspaper publisher and 2002 Democratic nominee for governor
  • Lee Chaney, laborer
 
County results
Democratic Primary results[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Jerry Brady 25,261 82.98
Democratic Lee Chaney 5,182 17.02
Total votes 30,443 100.00

General Election

edit

Candidates

edit

Controversy

edit

A candidate legally named Marvin Pro-Life Richardson filed suit to force the state to print his full legal on the ballots, as filed in campaign paperwork. The Secretary of State stated that ballots themselves are supposed to be neutral, not political billboards, and declined the request.[3] In September 2006 he changed his legal name to simply "Pro-Life" in an attempt to force the issue. However, the ballots went to the printer naming "Marvin Richardson" as the Constitution Party candidate. The party later disavowed his candidacy resulting in a candidate without a name, and without a party, appearing on the ballot.[4]

Predictions

edit
Source Ranking As of
The Cook Political Report[5] Tossup November 6, 2006
Sabato's Crystal Ball[6] Tilt R November 6, 2006
Rothenberg Political Report[7] Lean R November 2, 2006
Real Clear Politics[8] Tossup November 6, 2006

Results

edit
 
 
Idaho gubernatorial election, 2006[9]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Butch Otter 237,437 52.67% −3.61%
Democratic Jerry Brady 198,845 44.11% +2.38%
Constitution Marvin Richardson 7,309 1.62%
Libertarian Ted Dunlap 7,241 1.61% −0.38%
Majority 38,592 8.56% −5.99%
Turnout 450,832
Republican hold Swing

Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ a b "2006 Primary Results statewide". Archived from the original on April 19, 2015. Retrieved April 17, 2017.
  2. ^ Butts, Mike (April 6, 2006). "No 'Pro-Life' allowed on ballot". Idaho Press-Tribune. Archived from the original on September 19, 2008. Retrieved January 13, 2006.
  3. ^ No ‘Pro-Life’ allowed on ballot Archived 2008-09-19 at the Wayback Machine, retrieved 12oct2006
  4. ^ ‘Pro-Life’ Failed to receive the Idaho CP Certification For Candidacy, retrieved 12oct2006
  5. ^ "2006 Governor Race Ratings for November 6, 2006" (PDF). The Cook Political Report. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 5, 2008. Retrieved October 1, 2021.
  6. ^ "Election Eve 2006: THE FINAL PREDICTIONS". Sabato's Crystal Ball. Retrieved June 25, 2021.
  7. ^ "2006 Gubernatorial Ratings". Senate Ratings. The Rothenberg Political Report. Retrieved June 25, 2021.
  8. ^ "Election 2006". Real Clear Politics. Retrieved June 25, 2021.
  9. ^ "2006 General Results statewide". Archived from the original on February 6, 2008.
edit