2006 United States Senate election in North Dakota

2006 United States Senate election in North Dakota
	County results; Conrad: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90%
U.S. senator before election; Kent Conrad; Democratic–NPL	Elected U.S. Senator ; Kent Conrad; Democratic–NPL

The 2006 United States Senate election in North Dakota was held November 7, 2006. Incumbent Democratic-NPL U.S. Senator Kent Conrad won re-election to a fourth term. As of 2024^[update], this is the last time where either party won every county for the Class 1 Senate seat in North Dakota.

Major candidates

Democratic-NPL

Kent Conrad, incumbent U.S. Senator

Republican

Dwight Grotberg

Campaign

Popular Republican governor John Hoeven was heavily recruited by prominent national Republicans, including Karl Rove and Dick Cheney to run against Conrad. SurveyUSA polls showed that both Conrad and Hoeven had among the highest approval ratings of any Senators and governors in the nation. A poll conducted by PMR (8/26-9/3 MoE 3.9) for The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead had as result for a hypothetical matchup: Hoeven-35%, Conrad-27%, Uncommitted-38%. This poll showed voter conflict between two very popular politicians in a small state where party loyalty is often trumped by personality. In late September 2005, Hoeven formally declined.^[1] Hoeven ran for the Senate in 2010 and was elected by a landslide, in that year's Republican midterm wave.

Debates

Complete video of debate, October 17, 2006

Predictions

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

Polling

Source	Date	Kent Conrad (D-NPL)	Dwight Grotberg (R)
Rasmussen^[6]	January 30, 2006	59%	31%

Results

General election results
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic–NPL	Kent Conrad (incumbent)	150,146	68.83%	+7.46%
	Republican	Dwight Grotberg	64,417	29.53%	−9.10%
	Independent	Roland Riemers	2,194	1.01%	n/a
	Independent	James Germalic	1,395	0.64%	n/a
Majority			85,729	39.30%	+16.56%
Turnout			218,154	44.5%
	Democratic–NPL hold		Swing	+8.3

Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic

Billings (largest city: Medora)
McIntosh (largest city: Wishek)
Sheridan (largest city: McClusky)

References

^ Wetzel, Dave (September 30, 2005). "North Dakota governor not running for U.S. Senate". Grand Forks Herald. Associated Press. Archived from the original on December 11, 2005. Retrieved January 25, 2016.
^ "2006 Senate Race Ratings for November 6, 2006" (PDF). The Cook Political Report. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 5, 2008. Retrieved September 30, 2021.
^ "Election Eve 2006: THE FINAL PREDICTIONS". Sabato's Crystal Ball. November 6, 2006. Retrieved June 25, 2021.
^ "2006 Senate Ratings". Senate Ratings. The Rothenberg Political Report. Retrieved June 25, 2021.
^ "Election 2006". Real Clear Politics. Retrieved June 25, 2021.
^ Rasmussen

External links

Official campaign websites (Archived)

[1] Wetzel, Dave (September 30, 2005). "North Dakota governor not running for U.S. Senate". Grand Forks Herald. Associated Press. Archived from the original on December 11, 2005. Retrieved January 25, 2016.

[2] "2006 Senate Race Ratings for November 6, 2006" (PDF). The Cook Political Report. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 5, 2008. Retrieved September 30, 2021.

[3] "Election Eve 2006: THE FINAL PREDICTIONS". Sabato's Crystal Ball. November 6, 2006. Retrieved June 25, 2021.

[4] "2006 Senate Ratings". Senate Ratings. The Rothenberg Political Report. Retrieved June 25, 2021.

[5] "Election 2006". Real Clear Politics. Retrieved June 25, 2021.

[6] Rasmussen

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See also: Political party strength in North Dakota