2006 Kansas gubernatorial election

Summary

The 2006 Kansas gubernatorial election took place on November 7, 2006. Incumbent Democratic Governor Kathleen Sebelius, who sported high approval ratings[1] ran for re-election to serve a second and final term. Governor Sebelius was unopposed for the Democratic nomination and she faced the Republican nominee, State Senator Jim Barnett, who emerged from a crowded primary. Sebelius soundly defeated Barnett and cruised to re-election, which was quite a considerable feat for a Democrat in staunchly conservative Kansas. This was Sebelius's second time winning a majority and was part of a trend from 1984 to 2010 where 7 of 8 Kansas gubernatorial elections were won with a majority rather than a simple plurality. No candidate received a majority of votes in 2014, 2018 or 2022.

2006 Kansas gubernatorial election

← 2002 November 7, 2006 2010 →
 
Nominee Kathleen Sebelius Jim Barnett
Party Democratic Republican
Running mate Mark Parkinson Susan Wagle
Popular vote 491,993 343,586
Percentage 57.9% 40.4%

County results
Sebelius:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%
Barnett:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%

Governor before election

Kathleen Sebelius
Democratic

Elected Governor

Kathleen Sebelius
Democratic

Democratic primary edit

Candidates edit

Results edit

Democratic primary results[2]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Kathleen Sebelius (incumbent) 76,046 100.00
Total votes 76,046 100.00

Republican primary edit

 
Primary results by county:
Barnett
  •   Barnett—71-80%
  •   Barnett—61-70%
  •   Barnett—51-60%
  •   Barnett—41-50%
  •   Barnett—31-40%
  •   Barnett—21-30%
Canfield
  •   Canfield—51-60%
  •   Canfield—41-50%
  •   Canfield—31-40%
  •   Canfield—21-30%
Jennison
  •   Jennison—81-90%
  •   Jennison—71-80%
  •   Jennison—61-70%
  •   Jennison—51-60%
  •   Jennison—41-50%
  •   Jennison—31-40%
  •   Jennison—21-30%
Crowell
  •   Crowell—31-40%
  Tie between Barnett and Canfield-31%

Candidates edit

  • Jim Barnett, State Senator
    • Running mate: Susan Wagle, state senator (2001–present) and former state representative (1991-2001)
  • Ken R. Canfield, author and founder of the National Center for Fathering
    • Running mate: Kathe Decker, state representative (1993–present)
  • Rex Crowell, former State Representative
    • Running mate: Brian Shepherd
  • Dennis Hawver, Libertarian nominee for Governor in 2002
    • Running mate: Bret D. Landrith, attorney
  • Robin Jennison, former Speaker of the Kansas House of Representatives
    • Running mate: Dennis Wilson, state senator (2005–present) and former state representative (1995-1999)
  • Timothy V. Pickell, attorney
    • Running mate: Jeffrey McCalmon
  • Richard "Rode" Rodewald, perennial candidate
    • Running mate: Helen Kanzig
Republican primary results[2]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Jim Barnett 70,299 36.18
Republican Ken R. Canfield 51,365 26.44
Republican Robin Jennison 42,678 21.97
Republican Timothy V. Pickell 10,473 5.39
Republican Rex Crowell 8,677 4.47
Republican Dennis Hawver 6,661 3.43
Republican Richard "Rode" Rodewald 4,142 2.13
Total votes 194,295 100.00

General election edit

Predictions edit

Source Ranking As of
The Cook Political Report[3] Solid D November 6, 2006
Sabato's Crystal Ball[4] Likely D November 6, 2006
Rothenberg Political Report[5] Safe D November 2, 2006
Real Clear Politics[6] Likely D November 6, 2006

Polling edit

Source Date Kathleen
Sebelius (D)
Jim
Barnett (R)
Survey USA November 5, 2006 57% 40%
Rasmussen October 27, 2006 56% 37%
Survey USA October 16, 2006 55% 42%
Survey USA September 14, 2006 58% 38%
Rasmussen September 1, 2006 48% 37%
Rasmussen Archived 2006-08-22 at the Wayback Machine July 31, 2006 51% 34%
Rasmussen June 19, 2006 49% 36%
Rasmussen May 3, 2006 49% 37%
Rasmussen Archived 2006-06-14 at the Wayback Machine April 15, 2006 50% 37%
Rasmussen February 13, 2006 45% 37%
Rasmussen January 25, 2006 46% 35%

Results edit

Kansas gubernatorial election, 2006[7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Kathleen Sebelius (incumbent) 491,993 57.90% +5.03%
Republican Jim Barnett 343,586 40.44% -4.66%
Libertarian Carl Kramer 8,896 1.05% +0.08%
Reform Richard Lee Ranzau 5,221 0.61% -0.45%
Write-in 4 0.00%
Majority 148,407 17.47% +9.68%
Turnout 849,700
Democratic hold Swing

Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic edit

Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican edit

See also edit

External links edit

Official campaign websites (Archived)
  • Kathleen Sebelius
  • Jim Barnett

References edit

  1. ^ "Approval Ratings For All 50 Governors". SurveyUSA/KWCH-TV/KCTV-TV. July 20, 2006. Retrieved November 28, 2007.
  2. ^ a b "2006 Primary Election Official Vote Totals" (PDF). Kansas Secretary of State.
  3. ^ "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.
  4. ^ "Election Eve 2006: THE FINAL PREDICTIONS". Sabato's Crystal Ball. Retrieved June 25, 2021.
  5. ^ "2006 Gubernatorial Ratings". Senate Ratings. The Rothenberg Political Report. Retrieved June 25, 2021.
  6. ^ "Election 2006". Real Clear Politics. Retrieved June 25, 2021.
  7. ^ "2006 General Election Official Vote Totals" (PDF). Kansas Secretary of State.