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2006 Florida gubernatorial election

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For related races, see 2006 United States gubernatorial elections.

2006 Florida gubernatorial election
← 2002 November 7, 2006 2010 →
Turnout46.8%Decrease8.5[1]
 
Nominee Charlie Crist Jim Davis
Party Republican Democratic
Running mate Jeff Kottkamp Daryl Jones
Popular vote 2,519,845 2,178,289
Percentage 52.20% 45.10%
Crist:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%
Davis:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%
Governor before election

Jeb Bush
Republican

Elected Governor

Charlie Crist
Republican

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The 2006 Florida gubernatorial election took place on November 7, 2006. Incumbent Republican Governor Jeb Bush was term-limited, and could not run for reelection to a third consecutive term. The election was won by then-Republican Charlie Crist, the state's Attorney General. The election was notable in that for the first time, the state elected a Republican governor in three consecutive elections.

Turnout for the 2006 election was down 8.5% from 2002 and down 2.7% from 1998.[2] With Republicans holding the seat, the state's governorship avoided being part of the wave in which Democrats netted a gain of six governorships across the nation.[3] This remains the last time that Charlie Crist won a statewide election in Florida as well as the last election that he ran as a Republican. This was the last time until 2022 that anyone was elected governor with a majority of the vote. As of 2024, this is the last time Florida simultaneously elected a United States Senate candidate and a gubernatorial candidate of different political parties.

Democratic primary

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Campaign

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Jim Davis won the Democratic primary on September 5. Davis was the Congressman from Florida's 11th congressional district and served in the Florida House of Representatives, where he also served as the Majority Leader. On September 13, Davis selected former state senator and 2002 gubernatorial candidate Daryl Jones of Miami as his running mate.

The Democratic primary turned heated as it approached primary day. Rod Smith attacked Jim Davis for a 1990 legislative vote denying restitution for two black men wrongfully imprisoned for murder.[4] Davis countered that Smith was a "pawn" of the sugar industry, and that "big business" and special interests were funding many of Smith's attack ads.[4]

Candidates

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Declared

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Withdrew

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Declined

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Endorsements

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Jim Davis

U.S. senators

U.S. representatives

Statewide officials

Mayors and other municipal leaders

  • Frank Bruno, Volusia County Council Chairman[12]
  • Steve Feren, Mayor of Sunrise[9]
  • Ilene Lieberman, Broward County Commissioner[9]
  • Scott Maddox, former mayor of Tallahassee[6]
  • Carl Persis, Volusia County Councilman[12]
  • Diana Wasserman-Rubin, Broward County Commissioner[9]

Other individuals

Newspapers

Organizations

Rod Smith

Statewide officials

State legislators

Mayors and other municipal leaders

  • Sharon Bock, Palm Beach Clerk of Court and Comptroller[17]
  • Howard Finkelstein, Broward County Public Defender[18]
  • Howard Forman, Broward County Clerk of the Court[18]
  • Addie Greene, Palm Beach County Commissioner[17]
  • Ron Greenstein, state representative[18]
  • Carey Haughwout, Palm Beach County Public Defender[17]
  • Barry Krischer, Palm Beach County State Attorney[17]
  • Ed Oppel, Port of Palm Beach Commissioner[17]
  • Ari Porth, state representative
  • Tom Rossin, former state senator and 2002 Democratic nominee for lieutenant governor[17]
  • Tim M. Ryan, state representative[18]
  • Mike Satz, Broward County State Attorney
  • David Turner, Gilchrist County Sheriff
  • Lois Wexler, Broward County Commissioner[18]

Other individuals

Newspapers

County results
Democratic primary results[19]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Jim Davis 405,879 47.32%
Democratic Rod Smith 353,161 41.17%
Democratic Carol Castagnero 45,161 5.267%
Democratic Glenn Burkett 32,984 3.85%
Democratic John M. Crotty 20,629 2.40%
Total votes 857,814 100.00%

Republican primary

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Charlie Crist, the Republican candidate, won the primary on September 5 with 64% of the vote.[20] Crist was Florida's Attorney General at the time. Previously he was elected State Education Commissioner, and has served in the Florida Senate. He faced Bob Graham for his seat in the United States Senate in 1998. On September 13, 2006, Crist announced that State Representative Jeff Kottkamp of Cape Coral would be his running mate.

The GOP primary did not end up being very competitive. Crist touted experience in statewide offices, and a strong fundraising capability. He portrayed himself as relatively moderate on social issues, which created some misgivings among conservative Republicans in the state, but not nearly enough to sway the vote to Tom Gallagher.[4]

Candidates

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Declared

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Declined

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Endorsements

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Charlie Crist

U.S. senators

State legislators

Mayors and other municipal leaders

  • Bill Balkwill, Sarasota County Sheriff[29]
  • Kevin Beary, Orange County Sheriff[12]
  • Susan Benton, Highlands County Sheriff[29]
  • Rick Beseler, Clay County Sheriff[29]
  • Jim Coats, Pinellas County Sheriff[29]
  • Robert Crowder, Martin County Sheriff[28]
  • Chris Daniels, Lake County Sheriff[12]
  • John Davenport, Charlotte County Sheriff[29]
  • Don Eslinger, Seminole County Sheriff[12]
  • Bill Farmer, Sumter County Sheriff[29]
  • Donald Fleming, Flagler County Sheriff[29]
  • Heather Fiorentino, Pasco County Superintendent of Schools[26]
  • David Gee, Hillsborough County Sheriff[29]
  • Wendell Hall, Santa Rosa County Sheriff[29]
  • Ben Johnson, Volusia County Sheriff[12]
  • Grady Judd, Polk County Sheriff[29]
  • Ronnie Lee, Hendry County Sheriff[29]
  • Jack Mariano, Pasco County Commissioner[26]
  • Paul May, Okeechobee County Sheriff[29]
  • Ron McNesby, Escambia County Sheriff[29]
  • Charlie Morris, Okaloosa County Sheriff[29]
  • Rich Nugent, Hernando County Sheriff[29]
  • Steve Oelrich, Alachua County Sheriff[29]
  • Jed Pittman, Pasco County Clerk of the Court[26]
  • Rick Roth, Monroe County Sheriff[29]
  • John Rutherford, Duval County Sheriff[29]
  • Mike Scott, Lee County Sheriff[29]
  • Tommy Seagraves, Nassau County Sheriff[29]
  • David Shoar, St. Johns County Sheriff[29]
  • Steve Simon, Pasco County Commissioner[26]
  • Doug Smith, Martin County Commissioner[28]
  • Charlie Wells, Manatee County Sheriff[29]
  • Mike Wells, Pasco County Property Appraiser[26]
  • Bob White, Pasco County Sheriff[29]

Newspapers

Organizations

Tom Gallagher

U.S. representatives

Statewide officials

State legislators

Mayors and other municipal leaders

  • Dottie Berger MacKinnon, former Hillsborough County Commissioner[31]
  • Jack Parker, Brevard County Sheriff[12]
  • Roy Raymond, Indian River County Sheriff[12]

Other individuals

County results
Republican primary results[36]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Charlie Crist 630,816 63.98%
Republican Tom Gallagher 330,165 33.49%
Republican Vernon Palmer 13,547 1.37%
Republican Michael W. St. Jean 11,458 1.16%
Total votes 985,986 100.00%

General election

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Candidates

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Predictions

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Source Ranking As of
The Cook Political Report[37] Lean R November 6, 2006
Sabato's Crystal Ball[38] Lean R November 6, 2006
Rothenberg Political Report[39] Likely R November 2, 2006
Real Clear Politics[40] Lean R November 6, 2006

Opinion polling

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Polling for the 2006 Florida Gubernatorial Election
Source Date Crist (R) Davis (D)
Survey USA[41] November 6, 2006 49% 47%
Strategic Vision[42] November 6, 2006 51% 44%
Orlando Sentinel[43] November 3, 2006 50% 43%
Mason-Dixon[44] November 3, 2006 50% 43%
Strategic Vision[45] November 2, 2006 50% 44%
Zogby/WSJ[46] October 31, 2006 49.9% 45.1%
St. Petersburg Times[47] October 28, 2006 48% 42%
Rasmussen[48] October 26, 2006 52% 41%
Strategic Vision[49] October 25, 2006 51% 42%
Quinnipiac[50] October 23, 2006 46% 44%
Zogby/WSJ[46] October 19, 2006 50.2% 41%
Rasmussen[48] October 18, 2006 46% 41%
Rasmussen[51] October 2, 2006 54% 38%
Strategic Vision[52] September 28, 2006 50% 40%
Zogby/WSJ[46] September 25, 2006 50.1% 36.6%
Rasmussen[53] September 19, 2006 45% 40%
Zogby/WSJ[46] September 11, 2006 50.6% 36.4%
Rasmussen[54] September 5, 2006 45% 41%
Strategic Vision[55] August 30, 2006 49% 41%
Zogby/WSJ[46] August 28, 2006 52.4% 38.5%
Rasmussen[56] August 1, 2006 47% 42%
Quinnipiac[57] July 26, 2006 44% 38%
Strategic Vision[58] July 26, 2006 49% 39%
Mason-Dixon[59] July 24, 2006 48% 32%
Zogby/WSJ[46] July 24, 2006 42.8% 39.0%
Quinnipiac[60] June 29, 2006 41% 39%
Rasmussen[61] June 29, 2006 49% 35%
Strategic Vision[62] June 28, 2006 49% 41%
Zogby/WSJ[46] June 21, 2006 42.5% 39.8%
Strategic Vision[63] May 25, 2006 48% 40%
Quinnipiac[64] May 24, 2006 37% 40%
Rasmussen[65] May 22, 2006 44% 39%
Rasmussen[66] April 21, 2006 44% 33%
Quinnipiac[67] April 19, 2006 37% 39%
Quinnipiac[68] February 22, 2006 40% 36%
Rasmussen[69] January 6, 2006 36% 35%
Rasmussen[70] November 16, 2005 38% 41%
Quinnipiac[71] November 15, 2005 39% 40%

Results

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Charlie Crist won by over 7 points, winning all Republican-leaning areas of Florida, as well as the notable "swing" region along the I-4 corridor (Daytona Beach, Orlando, Tampa/St. Petersburg). Davis performed well in the Democrat-leaning south Florida, Gainesville, and Tallahassee areas. Crist under-performed compared to his predecessor Jeb Bush, but still outpaced Davis, despite the low turnout. Reform Party candidate Max Linn received nearly 2% of the vote, but his sizeable haul of over 92,500 votes was still not enough to sway the election. Crist also won 18% of the African-American electorate, which outpaced previous Republicans' efforts in attracting this voting bloc in statewide elections.

Also on the ballot the same day was a constitutional amendment to raise the requirement for all future ballot initiatives to a supermajority (60%). Previously, constitutional amendments put on the ballot required only a simple majority (50% +1) to be approved, and led to some controversial amendments being put on the ballot. Support and opposition for the amendment fell loosely along party lines with Democrats generally opposing its passage. Both Crist and Davis publicly opposed the measure,[72] but it was passed anyway by the voters with a 55% margin - a higher margin than either candidate received.

2006 Florida gubernatorial election[73]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Charlie Crist/Jeff Kottkamp 2,519,845 52.20% −3.81%
Democratic Jim Davis/Daryl Jones 2,178,289 45.10% +1.94%
Reform Max Linn 92,595 1.90% +1.90%
Independent John Wayne Smith 15,987 0.30%
Independent Richard Paul Dembinsky 11,921 0.20%
Independent Karl C.C. Behm 10,487 0.20%
Write-ins 147 0.00% 0
Majority 341,556 7.10% −5.75%
Turnout 4,829,271
Republican hold Swing

Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican

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Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic

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See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ Two-party results

References

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  1. ^ "November 7, 2006 General Election". Florida Department of State. Retrieved May 15, 2022.
  2. ^ "Florida Department of State – Division of Elections (Election Results)". Archived from the original on February 18, 2015. Retrieved October 24, 2014.
  3. ^ Clark, Amy (November 8, 2006). "Democrats Retake Majority Of Governorships". CBS News. Retrieved October 23, 2014.
  4. ^ a b c Goodnough, Abby (September 6, 2006). "In Days Before Primary, Hackles Start Rising in Race for Florida Governor". The New York Times. Retrieved October 23, 2014.
  5. ^ a b Bousquet, Steve (March 5, 2005). "Castor won't run for governor". St. Petersburg Times. Retrieved June 30, 2016.
  6. ^ a b Garcia, Jason (October 8, 2005). "Maddox Drops Out Of Governor's Race". Sun-Sentinel. Archived from the original on August 23, 2016. Retrieved June 30, 2016.
  7. ^ Hooper, Ernest (August 29, 2006). "'Slime' attacks outrage Cleland". St. Petersburg Times. Retrieved June 30, 2016.
  8. ^ Smith, Adam C. (June 2, 2005). "Donors' early take on Jim Davis: If Bob Graham likes him, so do I". St. Petersburg Times. Retrieved June 30, 2016.
  9. ^ a b c d e f Smith, Adam C. (October 19, 2005). "Dueling Endorsements". St. Petersburg Times. Archived from the original on March 26, 2017. Retrieved June 30, 2016.
  10. ^ Smith, Adam C. (November 28, 2005). "Pete Peterson Backs Davis". St. Petersburg Times. Archived from the original on March 26, 2017. Retrieved June 30, 2016.
  11. ^ Smith, Adam C. (November 22, 2005). "MacKay Endorses Davis". St. Petersburg Times. Archived from the original on March 26, 2017. Retrieved June 30, 2016.
  12. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Sheriff endorses Crist for Governor". Orlando Sentinel. April 10, 2006. Archived from the original on August 17, 2016. Retrieved June 30, 2016.
  13. ^ a b Dunkelberger, Lloyd (August 18, 2006). "Governor Primary Splits Chiles Family". The Ledger. Retrieved June 30, 2016.
  14. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Smith, Adam C. (August 21, 2006). "Papers pick Crist, Smith for primary". St. Petersburg Times. Retrieved June 30, 2016.
  15. ^ a b Dunkelberger, Lloyd (July 8, 2006). "Sierra Club is for Davis and Crist". The Gainesville Sun. Archived from the original on August 6, 2016. Retrieved June 30, 2016.
  16. ^ a b Smith, Adam C. (October 17, 2005). "Butterworth Boosts Rod Smith". St. Petersburg Times. Archived from the original on March 26, 2017. Retrieved June 30, 2016.
  17. ^ a b c d e f g h i Smith, Adam C. (August 16, 2005). "Palm Beachers for Smith". St. Petersburg Times. Archived from the original on August 17, 2016. Retrieved June 30, 2016.
  18. ^ a b c d e f g h i Smith, Adam C. (September 7, 2005). "Broward Democrats Back Smith". St. Petersburg Times. Archived from the original on March 26, 2017. Retrieved June 30, 2016.
  19. ^ "September 5, 2006 Primary Election, Democratic Primary, Governor". Florida Department of State Division of Elections. Retrieved June 30, 2016.
  20. ^ "News From The Associated Press". hosted.ap.org. Archived from the original on June 5, 2011.
  21. ^ Kennedy, John; Garcia, Jason (May 14, 2006). "Toni Jennings makes it clear--no plans to seek another office". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved June 30, 2016.
  22. ^ Smith, Adam C. (July 30, 2006). "Joke about Crist's tan, you may get burned". St. Petersburg Times. Retrieved June 30, 2016.
  23. ^ Bousquet, Steve (June 10, 2006). "Martinez calls Crist 'perfect' for Governor". St. Petersburg Times. Retrieved June 30, 2016.
  24. ^ Farrington, Brendan (January 31, 2008). "Gov. Crist could benefit from McCain win". USA Today. Retrieved June 30, 2016.
  25. ^ a b Follick, Joe (July 16, 2006). "3 polls put Crist far ahead of Gallagher". The Gainesville Sun. Archived from the original on August 6, 2016. Retrieved June 30, 2016.
  26. ^ a b c d e f Smith, Adam C. (January 30, 2006). "Crist's Pasco Team". St. Petersburg Times. Archived from the original on March 26, 2017. Retrieved June 30, 2016.
  27. ^ a b "Jeb's frustration simmered in 2000". St. Petersburg Times. July 16, 2006. Retrieved June 30, 2016.
  28. ^ a b c Andreassi, George (August 28, 2006). "Treasure Coast Opens Wallet For Gop Candidates". Sun-Sentinel. Archived from the original on August 23, 2016. Retrieved June 30, 2016.
  29. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w Smith, Adam C. (March 21, 2006). "Sheriffs For Crist". St. Petersburg Times. Archived from the original on March 26, 2017. Retrieved June 30, 2016.
  30. ^ a b "Gallagher: Crist can have the newspaper endorsements". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. August 14, 2006. Archived from the original on August 19, 2016. Retrieved June 30, 2016.
  31. ^ a b c d e "Gallagher taps heavyweights". St. Petersburg Times. September 18, 2005. Archived from the original on August 16, 2016. Retrieved June 30, 2016.
  32. ^ "NRA once in love with Charlie Crist has a change of heart". Crowley Political Report. October 31, 2014. Archived from the original on November 7, 2014. The National Rifle Association of America (NRA-PVF) and Unified Sportsmen of Florida are pleased to inform you that both organizations have endorsed you for Governor of Florida in the 2006 Republican Primary.
  33. ^ Silva, Cristina (July 14, 2010). "Crist stands firm on gun rights". PolitiFact. Archived from the original on August 24, 2010. Retrieved June 30, 2016.
  34. ^ a b c "Six-member team to lead Gallagher's campaign". St. Petersburg Times. June 14, 2005. Retrieved June 30, 2016.
  35. ^ Smith, Adam (August 14, 2006). "Dobson Endorses Gallagher". St. Petersburg Times. Archived from the original on August 16, 2016. Retrieved June 30, 2016.
  36. ^ "September 5, 2006 Primary Election, Republican Primary, Governor". Florida Department of State Division of Elections. Retrieved June 30, 2016.
  37. ^ "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.
  38. ^ "Election Eve 2006: THE FINAL PREDICTIONS". Sabato's Crystal Ball. November 6, 2006. Retrieved June 25, 2021.
  39. ^ "2006 Gubernatorial Ratings". Senate Ratings. The Rothenberg Political Report. Retrieved June 25, 2021.
  40. ^ "Election 2006". Real Clear Politics. Retrieved June 25, 2021.
  41. ^ Survey USA
  42. ^ Strategic Vision
  43. ^ Orlando Sentinel
  44. ^ Mason-Dixon [permanent dead link‍]
  45. ^ Strategic Vision
  46. ^ a b c d e f g Zogby/WSJ
  47. ^ St. Petersburg Times
  48. ^ a b Rasmussen
  49. ^ Strategic Vision
  50. ^ Quinnipiac
  51. ^ Rasmussen Archived 2008-10-12 at the Wayback Machine
  52. ^ Strategic Vision
  53. ^ Rasmussen
  54. ^ Rasmussen
  55. ^ Strategic Vision
  56. ^ Rasmussen Archived 2006-08-03 at the Wayback Machine
  57. ^ Quinnipiac
  58. ^ Strategic Vision
  59. ^ Mason-Dixon
  60. ^ Quinnipiac
  61. ^ Rasmussen
  62. ^ Strategic Vision
  63. ^ Strategic Vision
  64. ^ Quinnipiac
  65. ^ Rasmussen
  66. ^ Rasmussen
  67. ^ Quinnipiac
  68. ^ Quinnipiac
  69. ^ Rasmussen
  70. ^ Rasmussen Archived 2005-11-25 at the Wayback Machine
  71. ^ Quinnipiac
  72. ^ "Solidarity" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on March 26, 2017. Retrieved November 7, 2016.
  73. ^ "November 7, 2006 General Election, Governor and Lieutenant Governor". Florida Department of State Division of Elections. Retrieved June 30, 2016.
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Official campaign websites (Archived)

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