2006 Governor's Chairs by State

The Green Papers: 2006 Midterm Election

2006 Governor's Chairs
by State

36 Governor's Chairs up for election in 2006

36 Elected

14 Governor's Chairs not up for election in 2006

9 Open Governor's Chairs (voluntary retirement, seeking other political office, term limits)

26 Incumbents renominated by same party

1 Incumbent lost primary - no longer a candidate for this office

1 Republican

213 Candidates seeking a Governor's Chair (Candidates may run under the banner of multiple parties. Hence, the number of parties may be greater than the number of candidates.)

This is a list of the current Governors' chairs, the incumbents occupying them, and the candidacy status of said incumbents. Chairs up for election in the year 2006 are marked as such.

Friday May 26, 2006: The United States Senate confirmed Governor Dirk Kempthorne of Idaho as Secretary of the Interior by a vote of 85 yeas, 8 nays and 7 not voting. Governor Kempthorne was first elected Governor of Idaho in 1998 and re-elected in 2002. He served in U.S. Senate (elected: 1992) and was nominated by President George W. Bush to be the Secretary of the Interior on 16 March 2006. Upon the confirmation of Governor Kempthorne, Lieutenant Governor James E. "Jim" Risch (Republican) ascended to the position of Governor of Idaho. Mr. Risch was was first elected as Lieutenant Governor in 2002 and was renominated for Lieutenant Governor in the 23 May 2006 Republican Primary.

Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming

Gubernatorial Links



Alabama 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2002, 2006. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican
	Republican	718,327	57.45%	Governor Bob Riley
Total		1,250,401	100.00%

Alaska 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2002, 2006. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican
		Open Chair (no incumbent)

	Republican	99,619	48.58%	Sarah H. Palin • for Lt. Governor: Sean R. Parnell
Total		205,042	100.00%

Arizona 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2002, 2006. Term Limit: The Governor can not serve for more than 8 years
Partisan Composition: 1 Democratic
	Republican	405,456	35.06%	Len Munsil
Total		1,156,609	100.00%

Arkansas 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2002, 2006. Term Limit: No one can serve more than 2 4-year terms in a lifetime
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican
		Open Chair (no incumbent)
	Republican	309,886	40.78%	Asa Hutchinson
Total		759,918	100.00%

California 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2002, 2006. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican
	Republican	4,850,157	55.88%	Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger • For Lieutenant Governor Tom McClintock

	Write-in; (Republican)	219	0.00%	Robert C. Newman, II
Total		8,679,416	100.00%

Colorado 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2002, 2006. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican
		Open Chair (no incumbent)

	Republican	566,303	40.89%	Congressman Robert Louis "Bob" Beauprez • for Lt. Governor: Janet Rowland. Mr. Beauprez, Congressman Congressional District 7, received his party's nomination for Governor on 21 May 2006.

	Write-in; (Republican)			Charles Walter "Chuck" Sylvester, Jr. • for Lt. Governor: Ronita Marlene "Roni" Sylvester
Total		1,384,905	100.00%

Connecticut 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2002, 2006. Term Limit: None
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican

	Republican	709,987	63.23%	Governor M. Jodi Rell • for Lt. Governor Michael Fedele
Total		1,122,887	100.00%

Florida 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2002, 2006. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican
		Open Chair (no incumbent)
	Republican	2,519,845	52.18%	Attorney General Charlie Crist • for Lt. Governor: Jeffrey D. "Jeff" Kottkamp
Total		4,829,270	100.00%

Georgia 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2002, 2006. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican
	Republican	1,229,724	57.94%	Governor Sonny Perdue
Total		2,122,258	100.00%

Hawaii 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2002, 2006. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican
	Republican	215,279	62.53%	Governor Linda Lingle • for Lt. Governor: Lieutenant Governor James R. "Duke" Aiona, Jr.
Total		344,269	100.00%

Idaho 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2002, 2006. Term Limit: None
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican
		Open Chair (no incumbent)
	Republican	237,437	52.67%	Congressman C.L. "Butch" Otter • Congressman CD 1
Total		450,832	100.00%

Illinois 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2002, 2006. Term Limit: None
Partisan Composition: 1 Democratic
	Republican	1,368,682	39.25%	Treasurer Judy Baar Topinka • for Lt. Governor Joe Birkett
Total		3,486,671	100.00%

Iowa 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2002, 2006. Term Limit: None
Partisan Composition: 1 Democratic
		Open Chair (no incumbent)
	Republican	465,451	44.49%	Congressman Jim Nussle • for Lieutenant Governor Bob Vander Plaats Mr. Nussle is the current Congressman from Congressional District 1.
Total		1,046,140	100.00%

Kansas 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2002, 2006. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms
Partisan Composition: 1 Democratic
	Republican	336,583	40.51%	Jim Barnett • State Senator. For Lt. Governor: state Senator Susan Wagle
Total		830,849	100.00%

Maine 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2002, 2006. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms. GOVERNOR is the only Statewide elected officer
Partisan Composition: 1 Democratic
	Republican	164,861	30.27%	Chandler E. Woodcock • State Senator
Total		544,573	100.00%

Maryland 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2002, 2006. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican
	Republican	757,099	45.85%	Governor Robert L. "Bob" Ehrlich, Jr. • for Lt. Governor: Kristen Cox
Total		1,651,259	100.00%

Massachusetts 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2002, 2006. Term Limit: None
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican
		Open Chair (no incumbent)
	Republican	779,807	35.33%	Lieutenant Governor Kerry Healey • for Lieutenant Governor Reed Hillman
Total		2,206,916	100.00%

Michigan 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2002, 2006. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms
Partisan Composition: 1 Democratic
	Republican	1,606,058	42.30%	Dick DeVos • for Lt. Governor: Ruth Johnson
Total		3,796,449	100.00%

Minnesota 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2002, 2006. Term Limit: None
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican
	Republican	1,030,236	46.72%	Governor Tim Pawlenty • For Lieutenant Governor Carol Molnau
Total		2,204,956	100.00%

Nebraska 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2002, 2006. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican
	Republican	434,802	73.44%	Governor Dave Heineman • for Lt. Governor: Lieutenant Governor Rick Sheehy
Total		592,060	100.00%

Nevada 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2002, 2006. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican
		Open Chair (no incumbent)
	Republican	277,855	47.90%	Congressman James Arthur "Jim" Gibbons • Congressman Congressional District 2
Total		580,091	100.00%

New Hampshire 2 year term, Election Cycle: 2004, 2006. Term Limit: None. GOVERNOR is the only Statewide elected officer
Partisan Composition: 1 Democratic
	Republican	104,288	25.81%	James B. "Jim" Coburn
Total		404,003	100.00%

New Mexico 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2002, 2006. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms
Partisan Composition: 1 Democratic
	Republican	170,352	31.30%	John Dendahl • For Lt. Governor: Sue Wilson Beffort. Former state Republican party chairman John Dendahl was nominated by unanimous voice vote on 17 June 2006 by the Republican State Central Committee. On 21 June 2006 J.R. Damron, who ran unopposed in the 6 June primary, withdrew from the gubernatorial race minutes before Dendahl was nominated.
Total		544,278	100.00%

New York 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2002, 2006. Term Limit: None
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican
		Open Chair (no incumbent)
	Republican; Conservative	1,274,335	27.11%	John J. Faso • for Lt. Governor C. Scott Vanderhoef. Received the Republican Party endorsement with 59.5% of the weighted Republican Convention vote.
Total		4,701,065	100.00%

Ohio 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2002, 2006. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican
		Open Chair (no incumbent)
	Republican	1,406,792	36.82%	Secretary of State J. Kenneth "Ken" Blackwell • For Lt. Governor: Thomas A. "Tom" Raga
Total		3,820,795	100.00%

Oklahoma 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2002, 2006. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms
Partisan Composition: 1 Democratic
	Republican	310,333	33.50%	Congressman Ernest Istook • Congressman Congressional District 5
Total		926,306	100.00%

Oregon 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2002, 2006. Term Limit: No more than 2 4-year terms in any 3-term period
Partisan Composition: 1 Democratic
	Republican; (Right to Life)	551,048	42.94%	Ron Saxton
Total		1,283,262	100.00%

Pennsylvania 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2002, 2006. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms
Partisan Composition: 1 Democratic
	Republican	1,622,135	39.60%	Lynn C. Swann • for Lt Governor Jim Matthews
Total		4,096,077	100.00%

Rhode Island 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2002, 2006. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican
	Republican	197,013	51.02%	Governor Donald L. Carcieri
Total		386,112	100.00%

South Carolina 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2002, 2006. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican
	Republican	601,871	55.12%	Governor Marshall C. "Mark" Sanford, Jr.
Total		1,091,963	100.00%

South Dakota 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2002, 2006. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican
	Republican	206,996	61.69%	Governor Mike Rounds • for Lt. Governor: Lieutenant Governor Dennis M. Daugaard
Total		335,527	100.00%

Tennessee 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2002, 2006. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms. GOVERNOR is the only Statewide elected officer
Partisan Composition: 1 Democratic
	Republican	540,441	29.75%	Jim Bryson • State Senator

	Independent; (Republican)	11,355	0.63%	Carl "Two Feathers" Whitaker
Total		1,816,648	100.00%

Texas 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2002, 2006. Term Limit: None
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican

	Republican	1,714,618	39.02%	Governor Rick Perry
Total		4,393,877	100.00%

Vermont 2 year term, Election Cycle: 2004, 2006. Term Limit: None
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican
	Republican	148,014	56.38%	Governor James H. "Jim" Douglas
Total		262,524	100.00%

Wisconsin 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2002, 2006. Term Limit: None
Partisan Composition: 1 Democratic
	Republican	976,275	45.33%	Congressman Mark Green • Congressman Congressional District 8. for Lt. Governor: Jean Hundertmark
Total		2,153,859	100.00%

Wyoming 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2002, 2006. Term Limit: No more than 2 4-year terms in any 4-term period. The Wyoming Supreme Court determined on 4 May 2004 that term limits require an amendment to the state constitution rather than, as they were, imposed by a 1992 ballot initiative. At the time, the ruling was not applied to statewide offices. Reference: CATHCART v. MEYER, 2004 WY 49, 88 P.3d 1050, Case Number: 04-32, 04-33, 04-34, Decided: 05/04/2004
Partisan Composition: 1 Democratic
	Republican	58,100	29.97%	Raymond B. "Ray" Hunkins
Total		193,892	100.00%

Political Parties Parties appear in parenthesis and italics when a candidate receives the endorsement of a given Party and/or official sources indicate a candidate's association with a particular Party but only where the Party in question does not appear on the actual ballot as such.

Major Parties
	• Democratic
	• Democratic-Farmer Labor
	• Republican
Major Third Parties
	• Green
	• Green-Rainbow
	• Libertarian
	• Pacific Green
	• Reform
Other Third Parties
	• Alaskan Independence
	• American
	• American Constitution
	• American Independent
	• Concerned Citizens
	• Conservative
	• Constitution
	• Independence
	• Independent American
	• Liberty Union
	• Marijuana
	• Nebraska
	• Peace And Freedom
	• Populist
	• Quit Raising Taxes
	• Rent is too High
	• Right to Life
	• Socialist Party USA
	• Socialist Workers Party
	• U.S. Taxpayers
	• Veterans Party of America
	• Working Families
Independents
	• By Petition
	• Independent
	• No Party Affiliation
	• Unaffiliated
	• Unenrolled
Write-in/Scattered/otherwise not readily classifiable
	• None of these candidates
	• Scattering
	• Write-in

Notes

Candidates for office appear on this page in italics where 'The Green Papers' does not yet have independent confirmation from an election authority that this candidate is actually on the ballot.