2006 Wisconsin gubernatorial election

2006 Wisconsin gubernatorial election
← 2002 November 7, 2006 2010 →
 
Nominee Jim Doyle Mark Green
Party Democratic Republican
Running mate Barbara Lawton Jean Hundertmark
Popular vote 1,139,115 979,427
Percentage 52.70% 45.31%
Doyle:      30–40%      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90%
Green:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90%
Tie:      40–50%      50%      No data
Governor before election

Jim Doyle
Democratic

Elected Governor

Jim Doyle
Democratic

Elections in Wisconsin
Federal government
Presidential elections
Presidential primaries
Democratic
2000
2004
2008
2016
2020
2024
Republican
2004
2008
2012
2016
2020
2024
U.S. Senate elections
Class 1
Class 3
U.S. House of Representatives elections
State government
General elections
Gubernatorial elections
Lieutenant Gubernatorial elections
Secretary of State elections
Attorney General elections
Treasurer elections
Superintendent elections
State Senate elections
State Assembly elections
Supreme Court elections
Ballot measures
2006
Referendum 1
Green Bay
Mayoral elections
Madison
Mayoral elections
Milwaukee
Mayoral elections
Kenosha
Mayoral elections

The 2006 Wisconsin gubernatorial election was held on November 7, 2006. Incumbent Democratic Governor Jim Doyle ran for re-election to a second term in office. Doyle was unopposed in the Democratic primary, and he faced U.S. Representative Mark Green, who was unopposed in the Republican primary, in the general election. The campaign between Doyle and Green was competitive and hotly contested, but Doyle, whose approval ratings hovered around 50%, had the upper hand.[1] In the end, Doyle defeated Green by a fairly comfortable margin, improving on his 2002 victory in the process.

This was the only Wisconsin gubernatorial election won by a Democrat with an outright majority of the vote between 1982 and 2022, and remains the largest winning margin garnered by a Democrat since 1982. This election was the first time since 1974 that an incumbent Democratic Governor was re-elected or won re-election.

Democratic primary

Governor

Candidates

Results

Democratic gubernatorial primary results[2]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Jim Doyle (incumbent) 318,523 99.30%
Democratic Scattering 2,259 0.70%
Total votes 320,782 100.00%

Lieutenant governor

Candidates

Results

Democratic lieutenant gubernatorial primary results[2]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Barbara Lawton (incumbent) 287,616 99.71%
Democratic Scattering 834 0.29%
Total votes 288,450 100.00%

Republican primary

Governor

Candidates

Withdrew

Results

Republican gubernatorial primary results[2]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Mark Green 233,216 99.66%
Republican Scattering 804 0.34%
Total votes 234,020 100.00%

Lieutenant governor

Candidates

Results

Republican lieutenant gubernatorial primary results[2]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Jean Hundertmark 119,283 56.02%
Republican Nick Voegeli 93,391 43.86%
Republican Scattering 243 0.11%
Total votes 212,917 100.00%

Green primary

Governor

Candidates

  • Nelson Eisman

Results

Green Party gubernatorial primary results[2]
Party Candidate Votes %
Green Nelson Eisman 1,707 98.33%
Green Scattering 29 1.67%
Total votes 1,736 100.00%

Lieutenant governor

Candidates

  • Leon Todd

Results

Green lieutenant gubernatorial primary results[2]
Party Candidate Votes %
Green Leon Todd 1,676 99.23%
Green Scattering 13 0.77%
Total votes 1,689 100.00%

General election

Predictions

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

Polling

Source Date Jim
Doyle (D) 		Mark
Green (R)
WISC-TV[8] November 2, 2006 50% 44%
Strategic Vision[9] October 31, 2006 47% 45%
Zogby/WSJ[10] October 31, 2006 46.7% 47.2%
Badger Poll[11] October 30, 2006 50% 36%
Rasmussen[12] October 29, 2006 48% 44%
Wisconsin Public Radio[13] October 18, 2006 51% 38%
Strategic Vision[14] October 11, 2006 46% 43%
Rasmussen[15] September 25, 2006 47% 44%
Strategic Vision[16] September 20, 2006 46% 42%
Zogby/WSJ September 11, 2006 49.4% 45.7%
Zogby/WSJ August 28, 2006 49.7% 43.1%
Rasmussen[17] August 20, 2006 49% 41%
Strategic Vision[18] August 18, 2006 45% 44%
Research 2000[19] August 17, 2006 48% 38%
Zogby/WSJ July 24, 2006 49.2% 44.7%
Rasmussen[20] July 20, 2006 47% 41%
Strategic Vision[21] July 20, 2006 43% 42%
University of Wisconsin[22] July 2, 2006 49% 36%
WPRI[23] June 23, 2006 49% 37%
Zogby/WSJ June 21, 2006 46.9% 45.1%
Strategic Vision[24] June 8, 2006 45% 46%
Strategic Vision[25] May 3, 2006 45% 43%
Rasmussen[26] April 28, 2006 47% 43%
Strategic Vision[27] April 13, 2006 43% 43%
WPR/St. Norbert College Survey[28] March 29 – April 7, 2006 43% 35%
Rasmussen[29] March 29, 2006 45% 40%
Strategic Vision[30] March 8, 2006 44% 44%
Rasmussen[31] February 7, 2006 48% 41%
Strategic Vision[32] February 1, 2006 44% 43%
Strategic Vision[33] December 22, 2005 45% 43%
Rasmussen[34] December 12, 2005 45% 39%
Strategic Vision[35] November 16, 2005 47% 44%
Strategic Vision[36] October 21, 2005 47% 43%

Results

2006 Wisconsin gubernatorial election[37]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Jim Doyle (incumbent) 1,139,115 52.70% +7.60%
Republican Mark Green 979,427 45.31% +3.92%
Green Nelson Eisman 40,709 1.88% −0.60%
Scattering 2,449 0.11%
Majority 159,688 7.39%
Total votes 2,161,700 100.00%
Democratic hold Swing +3.68%

Results by county

Doyle became only the third Democrat to carry Door County; the only two previous gubernatorial elections in which it had voted Democratic were 1859 and 1904. Door County would not vote Democratic again until 2022. Doyle was also the first Democrat since Albert G. Schmedeman in 1932 to win Monroe County.

As of 2024, this is the last gubernatorial election in which the Democratic candidate carried the counties of Adams, Barron, Buffalo, Burnett, Chippewa, Clark, Dunn, Forest, Iron, Jackson, Lafayette, Lincoln, Marathon, Monroe, Oneida, Outagamie, Pepin, Pierce, Polk, Price, Rusk, Sawyer, St. Croix, Washburn, Winnebago, and Wood.

County[37] Jim Doyle
Democratic 		Mark Green
Republican 		Nelson Eisman
Green 		Scattering
Write-in 		Margin Total votes cast
# % # % # % # % # %
Adams 4,416 55.91% 3,324 42.08% 150 1.90% 9 0.11% 1,092 13.82% 7,899
Ashland 4,118 65.80% 1,902 30.39% 232 3.71% 6 0.10% 2,216 35.41% 6,258
Barron 8,136 49.81% 7,920 48.49% 271 1.66% 6 0.04% 216 1.32% 16,333
Bayfield 4,653 64.15% 2,468 34.03% 129 1.78% 3 0.04% 2,185 30.13% 7,253
Brown 45,046 48.11% 46,989 50.18% 1,517 1.62% 83 0.09% -1,943 -2.08% 93,635
Buffalo 3,078 57.40% 2,196 40.95% 83 1.55% 5 0.09% 882 16.45% 5,362
Burnett 3,225 52.15% 2,900 46.90% 59 0.95% 0 0.00% 325 5.26% 6,184
Calumet 9,059 46.74% 9,995 51.57% 320 1.65% 8 0.04% -936 -4.83% 19,382
Chippewa 11,467 52.56% 9,839 45.10% 502 2.30% 10 0.05% 1,628 7.46% 21,818
Clark 5,758 51.23% 5,152 45.84% 326 2.90% 4 0.04% 606 5.39% 11,240
Columbia 11,662 52.62% 9,936 44.83% 521 2.35% 45 0.20% 1,726 7.79% 22,164
Crawford 3,751 59.25% 2,439 38.52% 128 2.02% 13 0.21% 1,312 20.72% 6,331
Dane 149,661 69.95% 58,302 27.25% 5,645 2.64% 332 0.16% 91,359 42.70% 213,940
Dodge 13,137 42.31% 17,302 55.72% 581 1.87% 29 0.09% -4,165 -13.41% 31,049
Door 7,592 52.75% 6,479 45.01% 319 2.22% 3 0.02% 1,113 7.73% 14,393
Douglas 10,670 65.52% 5,233 32.14% 376 2.31% 5 0.03% 5,437 33.39% 16,284
Dunn 8,070 55.24% 6,208 42.50% 318 2.18% 12 0.08% 1,862 12.75% 14,608
Eau Claire 22,240 57.16% 15,733 40.43% 889 2.28% 49 0.13% 6,507 16.72% 38,911
Florence 865 44.07% 1,079 54.97% 19 0.97% 0 0.00% -214 -10.90% 1,963
Fond du Lac 16,073 42.05% 21,515 56.28% 615 1.61% 23 0.06% -5,442 -14.24% 38,226
Forest 1,853 51.27% 1,712 47.37% 48 1.33% 1 0.03% 141 3.90% 3,614
Grant 9,242 54.52% 7,427 43.81% 283 1.67% 0 0.00% 1,815 10.71% 16,952
Green 7,769 58.67% 5,149 38.89% 304 2.30% 19 0.14% 2,620 19.79% 13,241
Green Lake 3,122 39.09% 4,714 59.03% 144 1.80% 6 0.08% -1,592 -19.93% 7,986
Iowa 5,630 62.23% 3,267 36.11% 145 1.60% 5 0.06% 2,363 26.12% 9,047
Iron 1,560 56.07% 1,189 42.74% 30 1.08% 3 0.11% 371 13.34% 2,782
Jackson 3,858 55.61% 2,931 42.25% 146 2.10% 3 0.04% 927 13.36% 6,938
Jefferson 14,247 46.01% 16,038 51.79% 640 2.07% 40 0.13% -1,791 -5.78% 30,965
Juneau 3,969 47.88% 4,101 49.48% 181 2.18% 38 0.46% -132 -1.59% 8,289
Kenosha 28,338 55.49% 21,737 42.56% 938 1.84% 58 0.11% 6,601 12.93% 51,071
Kewaunee 4,354 48.14% 4,479 49.52% 211 2.33% 1 0.01% -125 -1.38% 9,045
La Crosse 24,663 57.34% 17,235 40.07% 1,002 2.33% 110 0.26% 7,428 17.27% 43,010
Lafayette 3,344 57.20% 2,405 41.14% 91 1.56% 6 0.10% 939 16.06% 5,846
Langlade 4,184 48.70% 4,276 49.77% 126 1.47% 5 0.06% -92 -1.07% 8,591
Lincoln 6,019 54.31% 4,713 42.52% 339 3.06% 12 0.11% 1,306 11.78% 11,083
Manitowoc 15,736 48.47% 16,154 49.76% 535 1.65% 38 0.12% -418 -1.29% 32,463
Marathon 25,836 52.56% 22,186 45.14% 1,121 2.28% 9 0.02% 3,650 7.43% 49,152
Marinette 8,408 49.35% 8,455 49.63% 166 0.97% 8 0.05% -47 -0.28% 17,037
Marquette 2,879 47.13% 3,095 50.67% 123 2.01% 11 0.18% -216 -3.54% 6,108
Menominee 886 82.57% 180 16.78% 7 0.65% 0 0.00% 706 65.80% 1,073
Milwaukee 199,536 61.57% 118,949 36.70% 5,019 1.55% 564 0.17% 80,587 24.87% 324,068
Monroe 6,556 48.76% 6,517 48.47% 323 2.40% 50 0.37% 39 0.29% 13,446
Oconto 6,639 46.17% 7,497 52.14% 238 1.66% 4 0.03% -858 -5.97% 14,378
Oneida 8,372 51.67% 7,425 45.82% 389 2.40% 17 0.10% 947 5.84% 16,203
Outagamie 34,901 50.05% 33,511 48.05% 1,284 1.84% 41 0.06% 1,390 1.99% 69,737
Ozaukee 15,229 36.90% 25,460 61.69% 542 1.31% 43 0.10% -10,231 -24.79% 41,274
Pepin 1,627 55.70% 1,256 43.00% 38 1.30% 0 0.00% 371 12.70% 2,921
Pierce 7,829 55.30% 6,034 42.62% 284 2.01% 10 0.07% 1,795 12.68% 14,157
Polk 8,128 52.34% 7,103 45.74% 291 1.87% 7 0.05% 1,025 6.60% 15,529
Portage 17,754 61.55% 10,206 35.38% 858 2.97% 27 0.09% 7,548 26.17% 28,845
Price 3,581 55.85% 2,737 42.69% 91 1.42% 3 0.05% 844 13.16% 6,412
Racine 34,968 49.00% 35,286 49.44% 1,055 1.48% 59 0.08% -318 -0.45% 71,368
Richland 3,489 54.41% 2,814 43.88% 100 1.56% 10 0.16% 675 10.53% 6,413
Rock 33,774 61.26% 20,156 36.56% 1,115 2.02% 84 0.15% 13,618 24.70% 55,129
Rusk 2,968 51.68% 2,622 45.66% 144 2.51% 9 0.16% 346 6.02% 5,743
Sauk 12,232 55.76% 9,148 41.70% 517 2.36% 41 0.19% 3,084 14.06% 21,938
Sawyer 3,218 51.22% 2,965 47.19% 100 1.59% 0 0.00% 253 4.03% 6,283
Shawano 7,236 46.16% 8,227 52.48% 208 1.33% 6 0.04% -991 -6.32% 15,677
Sheboygan 21,388 45.13% 25,257 53.29% 714 1.51% 38 0.08% -3,869 -8.16% 47,397
St. Croix 13,392 49.79% 13,117 48.77% 378 1.41% 9 0.03% 275 1.02% 26,896
Taylor 3,506 48.31% 3,551 48.93% 199 2.74% 2 0.03% -45 -0.62% 7,258
Trempealeau 5,557 58.57% 3,725 39.26% 198 2.09% 8 0.08% 1,832 19.31% 9,488
Vernon 6,034 57.34% 4,240 40.29% 234 2.22% 15 0.14% 1,794 17.05% 10,523
Vilas 4,799 45.15% 5,623 52.90% 202 1.90% 6 0.06% -824 -7.75% 10,630
Walworth 14,154 41.98% 18,781 55.71% 729 2.16% 50 0.15% -4,627 -13.72% 33,714
Washburn 3,323 50.73% 3,135 47.86% 87 1.33% 6 0.09% 188 2.87% 6,551
Washington 17,219 32.29% 35,262 66.13% 803 1.51% 41 0.08% -18,043 -33.84% 53,325
Waukesha 61,402 34.86% 112,243 63.73% 2,320 1.32% 149 0.08% -50,841 -28.87% 176,114
Waupaca 8,767 45.24% 10,296 53.13% 307 1.58% 10 0.05% -1,529 -7.89% 19,380
Waushara 4,155 46.55% 4,590 51.42% 170 1.90% 11 0.12% -435 -4.87% 8,926
Winnebago 32,765 50.49% 30,629 47.20% 1,413 2.18% 85 0.13% 2,136 3.29% 64,892
Wood 16,043 54.27% 12,711 43.00% 779 2.64% 26 0.09% 3,332 11.27% 29,559
Total 1,139,115 52.70% 979,427 45.31% 40,709 1.88% 2,449 0.11% 159,688 7.39% 2,161,700

Counties that flipped Republican to Democratic

Counties that flipped from Libertarian to Democratic

Counties that flipped from Libertarian to Republican

Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican

See also

References

  1. ^ "SurveyUSA | America's Neighborhood Pollster".
  2. ^ a b c d e f "Results of Fall Primary Election - 09/12/2006". Wisconsin State Elections Board. Retrieved September 16, 2024.
  3. ^ Schultze, Steve (April 20, 2009). "Walker gov announcement expected April 28". Milwaukee, Wisconsin Journal Sentinel. Retrieved April 27, 2015.
  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. ^ WISC-TV
  9. ^ Strategic Vision
  10. ^ Zogby/WSJ
  11. ^ Badger Poll Archived November 26, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
  12. ^ Rasmussen
  13. ^ Wisconsin Public Radio
  14. ^ Strategic Vision
  15. ^ Rasmussen
  16. ^ Strategic Vision
  17. ^ Rasmussen
  18. ^ Strategic Vision
  19. ^ Research 2000
  20. ^ Rasmussen
  21. ^ Strategic Vision
  22. ^ University of Wisconsin Archived July 15, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
  23. ^ WPRI
  24. ^ Strategic Vision
  25. ^ Strategic Vision
  26. ^ Rasmussen
  27. ^ Strategic Vision
  28. ^ WPR/St. Norbert College Survey
  29. ^ Rasmussen Archived June 14, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
  30. ^ Strategic Vision
  31. ^ Rasmussen
  32. ^ Strategic Vision
  33. ^ Strategic Vision
  34. ^ Rasmussen Archived December 16, 2005, at the Wayback Machine
  35. ^ Strategic Vision
  36. ^ Strategic Vision
  37. ^ a b "Canvass Summary Fall General Election - 11/07/2006". Wisconsin State Elections Board. Retrieved September 16, 2024.