2006 Tennessee gubernatorial election

The 2006 Tennessee gubernatorial election took place on November 7, 2006, to elect the governor of Tennessee. Incumbent Democratic Governor Phil Bredesen was re-elected to a second term with 68.6% of the vote, defeating his Republican challenger Jim Bryson. Improving on his performance from 2002, Bredesen also carried every county in the state.

2006 Tennessee gubernatorial election

November 7, 2006
Turnout49.97% Decrease[1] 0.43 pp
 
Nominee Phil Bredesen Jim Bryson
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 1,247,491 540,853
Percentage 68.6% 29.7%

Bredesen:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90%
Bryson:      50–60%      60–70%
Tie:      50%

Governor before election

Phil Bredesen
Democratic

Elected Governor

Phil Bredesen
Democratic

As of 2023, this was the last time a Democrat won a majority of counties in the state, the last time a Democrat won any statewide race in Tennessee, and the most recent statewide election in Tennessee in which 88 of the state's 95 counties, including Knox County and Hamilton County, went to the Democratic candidate. Only Davidson, Shelby, Haywood, Hardeman, Houston, Jackson, and Lake counties have voted for a Democratic candidate in a Presidential, Senate, or gubernatorial race since 2006. Eight years after this, Republican Governor Bill Haslam would win every county in the state when he won re-election. This marked a sharp political shift in Tennessee.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Results

Democratic Party primary results[2]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Phil Bredesen (incumbent) 393,004 88.50
Democratic John Jay Hooker 31,933 7.19
Democratic Tim Sevier 11,562 2.60
Democratic Walt Ward 7,555 1.70
Total votes 444,054 100.00

Republican primary

Candidates

  • Jim Bryson, State Senator
  • David M. Farmer
  • Joe Kirkpatrick
  • Mark Albertini
  • Wayne Thomas Bailey
  • Wayne Young
  • Timothy Thomas

Results

County results
Republican Primary results[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Jim Bryson 160,786 50.03
Republican David M. Farmer 50,900 15.84
Republican Joe Kirkpatrick 34,491 10.73
Republican Mark Albertini 29,184 9.08
Republican Wayne Thomas Bailey 24,273 7.55
Republican Wayne Young 11,997 3.73
Republican Timothy Thomas 9,747 3.03
Total votes 321,378 100.00

General election

Candidates

  • Phil Bredesen (D)
  • Jim Bryson (R)
  • Carl Two Feathers Whitaker (I)
  • George Banks (I)
  • Charles E. Smith (I)
  • Howard W. Switzer (I)
  • David Gatchell (I)
  • Marivuana Stout Leinoff (I)

Predictions

Source Ranking As of
The Cook Political Report[4] Solid D November 6, 2006
Sabato's Crystal Ball[5] Safe D November 6, 2006
Rothenberg Political Report[6] Safe D November 2, 2006
Real Clear Politics[7] Likely D November 6, 2006

Polling

Source Date Phil
Bredesen (D)
Jim
Bryson (R)
Survey USA October 25, 2006 66% 28%
Survey USA October 10, 2006 63% 32%
Accuratings Archived December 30, 2010, at the Wayback Machine October 24, 2006 67% 33%
The Commercial Appeal October 3, 2006 63% 22%
Rasmussen October 3, 2006 63% 28%
Rasmussen September 7, 2006 58% 31%
Zogby June 13, 2006 58% 22%

Results

2006 Tennessee gubernatorial election[8]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Phil Bredesen (incumbent) 1,247,491 68.60% +17.95%
Republican Jim Bryson 540,853 29.74% -17.85%
Independent Carl Two Feathers Whitaker 11,374 0.63% N/A
Independent George Banks 7,531 0.41% N/A
Independent Charles E. Smith 4,083 0.22% N/A
Independent Howard W. Switzer 2,711 0.15% N/A
Independent David Gatchell 2,385 0.13% N/A
Independent Marivuana Stout Leinoff 2,114 0.12% N/A
Write-in 7 0.00% N/A
Majority 706,638 38.86% +35.80%
Turnout 1,818,549
Democratic hold Swing

Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic

See also

References

  1. "Tennessee Voter Turnout in 2006". Tennessee Secretary of State. November 7, 2006. Retrieved February 28, 2023.
  2. "August 3, 2006, Democratic Primary: Governor" (PDF). Tennessee Secretary of State. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 17, 2012. Retrieved June 27, 2014.
  3. "August 3, 2006, Republican Primary: Governor" (PDF). Tennessee Secretary of State. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 13, 2015. Retrieved June 27, 2014.
  4. "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, 2006.
  5. "Election Eve 2006: THE FINAL PREDICTIONS". Sabato's Crystal Ball. Retrieved June 25, 2021.
  6. "2006 Gubernatorial Ratings". Senate Ratings. The Rothenberg Political Report. Retrieved June 25, 2021.
  7. "Election 2006". Real Clear Politics. Retrieved June 25, 2021.
  8. "November 7, 2006, General Election: Governor" (PDF). Tennessee Secretary of State. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 13, 2015. Retrieved June 27, 2014.
Official campaign websites (Archived)
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