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.

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Gubernatorial Links



Alabama 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2002, 2006. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican

	Republican	Governor Bob Riley • Re-elected Tuesday 7 November 2006 • First elected: 2002 • Chair up for election: Tuesday 7 November 2006 • The current Governor is unaffected by the State's term limit. • Renominated - 6 June 2006 Primary
	Polls: Leans Republican - Republican Governor Bob Riley

Arizona 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2002, 2006. Term Limit: The Governor can not serve for more than 8 years
Partisan Composition: 1 Democratic

	Democratic	Governor Janet Napolitano • Re-elected Tuesday 7 November 2006 • First elected: 2002 • Chair up for election: Tuesday 7 November 2006 • The current Governor is unaffected by the State's term limit. • Renominated - 12 September 2006 Primary
	Polls: Democratic Governor Janet Napolitano

California 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2002, 2006. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican

	Republican	Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger • Re-elected Tuesday 7 November 2006 • First elected: 2003 • Chair up for election: Tuesday 7 November 2006 • The current Governor is unaffected by the State's term limit. • Renominated - 6 June 2006 Primary
	Polls: Leans Republican - Republican Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger

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

	Republican	Governor M. Jodi Rell • Re-elected Tuesday 7 November 2006 • succeeded to the Governorship, 1 July 2004, upon the resignation of Governor John Rowland who had announced said resignation on 21 June 2004. • Chair up for election: Tuesday 7 November 2006 • Renominated - 20 May 2006 Convention
	Polls: Republican Governor M. Jodi Rell

Georgia 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2002, 2006. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican

	Republican	Governor Sonny Perdue • Re-elected Tuesday 7 November 2006 • First elected: 2002 • Chair up for election: Tuesday 7 November 2006 • The current Governor is unaffected by the State's term limit. • Renominated - 18 July 2006 Primary
	Polls: Leans Republican - Republican Governor Sonny Perdue

Hawaii 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2002, 2006. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican

	Republican	Governor Linda Lingle • Re-elected Tuesday 7 November 2006 • First elected: 2002 • Chair up for election: Tuesday 7 November 2006 • The current Governor is unaffected by the State's term limit. • Renominated - 23 September 2006 Primary
	Polls: Republican Governor Linda Lingle

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

	Democratic	Governor Rod R. Blagojevich • Re-elected Tuesday 7 November 2006 • First elected: 2002 • Chair up for election: Tuesday 7 November 2006 • Renominated - 21 March 2006 Primary
	Polls: Leans Democratic - Democratic Governor Rod R. Blagojevich

Kansas 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2002, 2006. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms
Partisan Composition: 1 Democratic

	Democratic	Governor Kathleen Sebelius • Re-elected Tuesday 7 November 2006 • First elected: 2002 • Chair up for election: Tuesday 7 November 2006 • The current Governor is unaffected by the State's term limit. • Renominated - 1 August 2006 Primary
	Polls: Democratic Governor Kathleen Sebelius

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

	Democratic	Governor John Elias Baldacci • Re-elected Tuesday 7 November 2006 • First elected: 2002 • Chair up for election: Tuesday 7 November 2006 • The current Governor is unaffected by the State's term limit. • Renominated - 13 June 2006 Primary
	Polls: Leans Democratic - Democratic Governor John Elias Baldacci

Maryland 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2002, 2006. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican

	Republican	Governor Robert L. "Bob" Ehrlich, Jr. • First elected: 2002 • Chair up for election: Tuesday 7 November 2006 • The current Governor is unaffected by the State's term limit. • Renominated - 12 September 2006 Primary
	Polls: Toss-up - WATCH - Republican Governor Robert L. "Bob" Ehrlich, Jr. vs. Democratic Martin O'Malley

Michigan 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2002, 2006. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms
Partisan Composition: 1 Democratic

	Democratic	Governor Jennifer M. Granholm • Re-elected Tuesday 7 November 2006 • First elected: 2002 • Chair up for election: Tuesday 7 November 2006 • The current Governor is unaffected by the State's term limit. • Renominated - 8 August 2006 Primary
	Polls: Toss-up - Democratic Governor Jennifer M. Granholm vs. Republican Dick DeVos

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

	Republican	Governor Tim Pawlenty • Re-elected Tuesday 7 November 2006 • First elected: 2002 • Chair up for election: Tuesday 7 November 2006 • Renominated - 12 September 2006 Primary
	Polls: Toss-up - Republican Governor Tim Pawlenty vs. Democratic-Farmer Labor Attorney General Mike Hatch

Nebraska 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2002, 2006. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican

	Republican	Governor Dave Heineman • Re-elected Tuesday 7 November 2006 • Succeeded to the Governor's Chair upon the 20 January 2005 resignation of Governor Mike Johanns. • Chair up for election: Tuesday 7 November 2006 • The current Governor is unaffected by the State's term limit. • Renominated - 9 May 2006 Primary
	Polls: Republican Governor Dave Heineman

New Hampshire 2 year term, Election Cycle: 2004, 2006. Term Limit: None. GOVERNOR is the only Statewide elected officer
Partisan Composition: 1 Democratic

	Democratic	Governor John Lynch • Re-elected Tuesday 7 November 2006 • First elected: 2004 • Chair up for election: Tuesday 7 November 2006 • Renominated - 12 September 2006 Primary
	Polls: Democratic Governor John Lynch

New Mexico 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2002, 2006. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms
Partisan Composition: 1 Democratic

	Democratic	Governor William B. "Bill" Richardson • Re-elected Tuesday 7 November 2006 • First elected: 2002 • Chair up for election: Tuesday 7 November 2006 • The current Governor is unaffected by the State's term limit. • Renominated - 6 June 2006 Primary
	Polls: Democratic Governor William B. "Bill" Richardson

Oklahoma 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2002, 2006. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms
Partisan Composition: 1 Democratic

	Democratic	Governor Brad Henry • Re-elected Tuesday 7 November 2006 • First elected: 2002 • Chair up for election: Tuesday 7 November 2006 • The current Governor is unaffected by the State's term limit. • Renominated - 25 July 2006 Primary
	Polls: Leans Democratic - Democratic Governor Brad Henry

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

	Democratic	Governor Theodore R. "Ted" Kulongoski • Re-elected Tuesday 7 November 2006 • First elected: 2002 • Chair up for election: Tuesday 7 November 2006 • The current Governor is unaffected by the State's term limit. • Renominated - 16 May 2006 Primary
	Polls: Leans Democratic - Democratic Governor Theodore R. "Ted" Kulongoski

Pennsylvania 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2002, 2006. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms
Partisan Composition: 1 Democratic

	Democratic	Governor Edward G. "Ed" Rendell • Re-elected Tuesday 7 November 2006 • First elected: 2002 • Chair up for election: Tuesday 7 November 2006 • The current Governor is unaffected by the State's term limit. • Renominated - 16 May 2006 Primary
	Polls: Leans Democratic - Democratic Governor Edward G. "Ed" Rendell

Rhode Island 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2002, 2006. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican

	Republican	Governor Donald L. Carcieri • Re-elected Tuesday 7 November 2006 • First elected: 2002 • Chair up for election: Tuesday 7 November 2006 • The current Governor is unaffected by the State's term limit. • Renominated - 12 September 2006 Primary
	Polls: Leans Republican - WATCH - Republican Governor Donald L. Carcieri vs. Democratic Lieutenant Governor Charles J. "Charlie" Fogarty

South Carolina 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2002, 2006. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican

	Republican	Governor Marshall C. "Mark" Sanford, Jr. • Re-elected Tuesday 7 November 2006 • First elected: 2002 • Chair up for election: Tuesday 7 November 2006 • The current Governor is unaffected by the State's term limit. • Renominated - 13 June 2006 Primary
	Polls: Leans Republican - Republican Governor Marshall C. "Mark" Sanford, Jr.

South Dakota 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2002, 2006. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican

	Republican	Governor Mike Rounds • Re-elected Tuesday 7 November 2006 • First elected: 2002 • Chair up for election: Tuesday 7 November 2006 • The current Governor is unaffected by the State's term limit. • Renominated - 6 June 2006 Primary
	Polls: Republican Governor Mike Rounds

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

	Democratic	Governor Phil Bredesen • Re-elected Tuesday 7 November 2006 • First elected: 2002 • Chair up for election: Tuesday 7 November 2006 • The current Governor is unaffected by the State's term limit. • Renominated - 3 August 2006 Primary
	Polls: Democratic Governor Phil Bredesen

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

	Republican	Governor Rick Perry • Re-elected Tuesday 7 November 2006 • Lt. Gov. Rick Perry became Governor 21 December 2000 when George W. Bush resigned to take the office of President of the United States. First elected to a full term: 2002 • Chair up for election: Tuesday 7 November 2006 • Renominated - 7 March 2006 Primary
	Polls: Republican Governor Rick Perry

Vermont 2 year term, Election Cycle: 2004, 2006. Term Limit: None
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican

	Republican	Governor James H. "Jim" Douglas • Re-elected Tuesday 7 November 2006 • First elected: 2002; re-elected: 2004. • Chair up for election: Tuesday 7 November 2006 • Renominated - 12 September 2006 Primary
	Polls: Leans Republican - Republican Governor James H. "Jim" Douglas

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

	Democratic	Governor Jim Doyle • Re-elected Tuesday 7 November 2006 • First elected: 2002 • Chair up for election: Tuesday 7 November 2006 • Renominated - 12 September 2006 Primary
	Polls: Leans Democratic - WATCH - Almost a toss up. Democratic Governor Jim Doyle vs. Republican Congressman Mark Green

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

	Democratic	Governor Dave Freudenthal • Re-elected Tuesday 7 November 2006 • First elected: 2002 • Chair up for election: Tuesday 7 November 2006 • The current Governor is unaffected by the State's term limit. • Renominated - 22 August 2006 Primary
	Polls: Democratic Governor Dave Freudenthal

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.