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2006 United States Senate election in Florida

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2006 United States Senate election in Florida

← 2000 November 7, 2006 2012 →
 
Nominee Bill Nelson Katherine Harris
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 2,890,548 1,826,127
Percentage 60.30% 38.10%

County results
Nelson:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%
Harris:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%

U.S. senator before election

Bill Nelson
Democratic

Elected U.S. Senator

Bill Nelson
Democratic

The 2006 United States Senate election in Florida was held November 7, 2006. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Bill Nelson won re-election to a second term.

Background

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During the Terri Schiavo case in March 2005, a talking points memo on the controversy was written by Brian Darling, the legal counsel to Republican Senator Mel Martínez of Florida.[1] The memo suggested the Schiavo case offered "a great political issue" that would appeal to the party's base (core supporters) and could be used against Senator Bill Nelson, a Democrat from Florida who was up for reelection in 2006, because he had refused to co-sponsor the bill which came to be known as the Palm Sunday Compromise.[2] Bill Nelson was nevertheless reelected as Senator on November 7, 2006, with 60% of the vote.

Republican primary

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Candidates

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Endorsements

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Polling

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Poll Source Date LeRoy
Collins Jr.
Katherine
Harris
Will
McBride
Peter
Monroe
Strategic Vision[9] July 26, 2006 9% 45% 22% 7%
Mason-Dixon[10] July 26, 2006 8% 36% 11% 2%
Quinnipiac[11] July 27, 2006 6% 40% 21% 3%
Scroth Eldon & Associates[12] August 11, 2006 9% 28% 11% 5%
SurveyUSA[13] August 24, 2006 20% 43% 15% 7%
Strategic Vision[14] August 30, 2006 19% 38% 21% 5%
Quinnipiac[15] August 31, 2006 11% 38% 22% 3%
SurveyUSA[16] August 31, 2006 12% 45% 22% 5%
Mason-Dixon[17] September 2, 2006 17% 38% 21% 2%
Primary Results September 5, 2006 15% 49% 30% 5%
Republican Primary results by county
  Harris
  •   30–40%
  •   40–50%
  •   50–60%
  •   60–70%
  •   70–80%
  McBride
  •   30–40%

Results

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Republican primary results[18]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Katherine Harris 474,871 49.4
Republican Will McBride 287,741 30.0
Republican LeRoy Collins Jr. 146,712 15.3
Republican Peter Monroe 51,330 5.3
Total votes 960,654 100.0

General election

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Candidates

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  • Floyd Ray Frazier (Independent)
  • Katherine Harris, former Florida Secretary of State and former U.S. Representative (Republican)
  • Brian Moore, retired health care executive and former congressional candidate (Independent)
  • Bill Nelson, incumbent U.S. Senator (Democratic)
  • Belinda Noah (Independent)
  • Roy Tanner (Independent)

Campaign

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The organization Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW), which monitors political corruption, complained to the Federal Elections Commission (FEC) in October 2006 that the Bacardi beverage company had illegally used corporate resources in support of a fundraising event for Nelson in 2005. CREW had previously filed a similar complaint concerning a Bacardi fundraising event for Republican Senator Mel Martinez, an event that raised as much as $60,000 for Martinez's campaign. The amended complaint alleged that, on both occasions, Bacardi violated the Federal Election Campaign Act and FEC regulations by soliciting contributions from a list of the corporation's vendors.[19]

Endorsements

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In a rare move, all twenty-two of Florida's daily newspapers supported Nelson, while none supported Harris in the general election.[20]

Debates

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Predictions

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Source Ranking As of
The Cook Political Report[36] Solid D November 6, 2006
Sabato's Crystal Ball[37] Safe D November 6, 2006
Rothenberg Political Report[38] Safe D November 6, 2006
Real Clear Politics[39] Safe D November 6, 2006

Polling

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Graphical summary

Poll Source Date Bill
Nelson (D)
Katherine
Harris (R)
Strategic Vision (R)[40] July 20, 2005 48% 40%
Strategic Vision (R)[41] August 21, 2005 47% 38%
Quinnipiac[42] August 31, 2005 57% 33%
Strategic Vision (R)[43] September 22, 2005 48% 36%
Rasmussen[44] November 14, 2005 53% 36%
Quinnipiac[45] November 15, 2005 55% 31%
Strategic Vision (R)[46] November 30, 2005 48% 32%
Rasmussen[47] January 5, 2006 54% 31%
Rasmussen[48] February 14, 2006 49% 40%
Strategic Vision (R)[49] February 22, 2006 49% 34%
Quinnipiac[50] February 24, 2006 53% 31%
University of North Florida[51] March 15, 2006 48% 28%
Mason-Dixon[52] March 29, 2006 51% 35%
Strategic Vision (R)[53] March 30, 2006 56% 28%
Zogby/WSJ[54] March 31, 2006 50% 37%
Rasmussen[55] April 14, 2006 57% 27%
Quinnipiac[56] April 20, 2006 56% 27%
Strategic Vision (R)[57] April 26, 2006 56% 24%
Rasmussen[58] May 22, 2006 60% 33%
Strategic Vision (R)[59] May 25, 2006 56% 26%
Quinnipiac[60] May 25, 2006 58% 25%
Zogby/WSJ[61] June 21, 2006 51% 33%
Strategic Vision (R)[62] June 28, 2006 61% 26%
Quinnipiac[63] June 30, 2006 59% 26%
Zogby/WSJ[61] July 24, 2006 55% 34%
Strategic Vision (R)[64] July 26, 2006 60% 22%
Mason-Dixon[10] July 26, 2006 57% 29%
Quinnipiac[65] July 27, 2006 61% 24%
Rasmussen[66] July 28, 2006 61% 33%
St. Petersburg Times[67] August 11, 2006 60% 25%
Zogby/WSJ[68] August 28, 2006 52% 32%
Strategic Vision (R)[69] August 30, 2006 63% 20%
Rasmussen[70] September 5, 2006 57% 34%
Zogby/WSJ[68] September 11, 2006 51% 33%
SurveyUSA[71] September 14, 2006 53% 38%
Mason-Dixon[72] September 20–22, 2006 53% 35%
Strategic Vision (R)[73] September 27, 2006 59% 31%
Rasmussen[74] September 27, 2006 56% 33%
Rasmussen[75] October 4, 2006 54% 37%
SurveyUSA[76] October 10, 2006 55% 37%
Quinnipiac[77] October 11, 2006 61% 33%
Mason-Dixon[78] October 16–17, 2006 57% 31%
Strategic Vision (R)[79] October 25, 2006 58% 35%
Quinnipiac[80] October 25, 2006 64% 29%
St. Petersburg Times[81] October 28, 2006 56% 30%
Strategic Vision (R)[82] November 2, 2006 59% 33%
Mason-Dixon[83] November 3, 2006 58% 34%
SurveyUSA[84] November 5, 2006 59% 36%

Results

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As expected, Nelson was easily reelected. He won with 60.3% of the vote winning by 1,064,421 votes or 22.2%, and carried 57 of Florida's 67 counties. Nelson was projected the winner right when the polls closed at 7 P.M. EST.

General election results
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Bill Nelson (incumbent) 2,890,548 60.30% +9.26%
Republican Katherine Harris 1,826,127 38.10% −8.09%
Independent Belinda Noah 24,880 0.52% n/a
Independent Brian Moore 19,695 0.41% n/a
Independent Floyd Ray Frazier 16,628 0.35% n/a
Independent Roy Tanner 15,562 0.32% n/a
Write-in 94 0.00% n/a
Majority 1,064,421 22.21% +17.36%
Turnout 4,793,534
Democratic hold Swing

Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Senator's office produced Schiavo memo". Associated Press. April 6, 2005 – via NBC News.
  2. ^ "The Seattle Times: Nation & World: GOP memo says issue offers political rewards". The Washington Post. April 4, 2005. Archived from the original on January 27, 2007 – via The Seattle Times.
  3. ^ "Orlando Sentinel - Central Florida Political Pulse: Florida Senate race archives". blogs.orlandosentinel.com. Archived from the original on March 24, 2006.
  4. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved August 30, 2006.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  5. ^ U.S. SENATE: It's a toss up | Jacksonville.com
  6. ^ a b c d e f http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/content/nation/epaper/2006/08/25/a9a_endorse_0825.html [dead link]
  7. ^ 404 | MiamiHerald.com[dead link]
  8. ^ Topic Galleries - OrlandoSentinel.com[permanent dead link]
  9. ^ Strategic Vision
  10. ^ a b Mason-Dixon
  11. ^ Quinnipiac
  12. ^ Scroth Eldon & Associates
  13. ^ SurveyUSA
  14. ^ Strategic Vision
  15. ^ Quinnipiac
  16. ^ SurveyUSA
  17. ^ Mason-Dixon [permanent dead link]
  18. ^ "Official Results September 5, 2006 Republican Primary Election". Florida Department of State. September 5, 2006. Retrieved December 1, 2017.
  19. ^ "CREW FILES AMENDED FEC COMPLAINT AGAINST BACARDI USA AND MARTINEZ FOR SENATE". Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington. Archived from the original on August 8, 2018. Retrieved August 7, 2018.
  20. ^ Harris, Nelson tout testimonials
  21. ^ a b c d "Bill Nelson For Senate". Archived from the original on December 13, 2006. Retrieved July 13, 2008.
  22. ^ "Bill Nelson For Senate". Archived from the original on October 18, 2006. Retrieved October 16, 2006.
  23. ^ U.S. SENATE: Nelson the best choice | Jacksonville.com
  24. ^ The News Press Endorsement Recap
  25. ^ "Bill Nelson For Senate". Archived from the original on October 18, 2006. Retrieved October 16, 2006.
  26. ^ "Bill Nelson For Senate". Archived from the original on October 18, 2006. Retrieved October 20, 2006.
  27. ^ "Bill Nelson For Senate". Archived from the original on November 1, 2006. Retrieved November 1, 2006.
  28. ^ "Bill Nelson For Senate". Archived from the original on October 11, 2006. Retrieved October 11, 2006.
  29. ^ "Bill Nelson For Senate". Archived from the original on November 1, 2006. Retrieved November 1, 2006.
  30. ^ Nelson for U.S. Senate
  31. ^ "Bill Nelson For Senate". Archived from the original on October 18, 2006. Retrieved October 16, 2006.
  32. ^ "Bill Nelson For Senate". Archived from the original on October 18, 2006. Retrieved October 16, 2006.
  33. ^ "Bill Nelson For Senate". Archived from the original on October 18, 2006. Retrieved October 20, 2006.
  34. ^ Tallahassee Democrat - www.tallahassee.com - Tallahassee, FL
  35. ^ "Bill Nelson For Senate". Archived from the original on October 18, 2006. Retrieved October 16, 2006.
  36. ^ "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.
  37. ^ "Election Eve 2006: THE FINAL PREDICTIONS". Sabato's Crystal Ball. November 6, 2006. Retrieved June 25, 2021.
  38. ^ "2006 Senate Ratings". Senate Ratings. The Rothenberg Political Report. Retrieved June 25, 2021.
  39. ^ "Election 2006". Real Clear Politics. Retrieved June 25, 2021.
  40. ^ Strategic Vision (R)
  41. ^ Strategic Vision (R)
  42. ^ Quinnipiac
  43. ^ Strategic Vision (R)
  44. ^ Rasmussen Archived November 24, 2005, at the Wayback Machine
  45. ^ Quinnipiac
  46. ^ Strategic Vision (R)
  47. ^ Rasmussen
  48. ^ Rasmussen
  49. ^ Strategic Vision (R)
  50. ^ Quinnipiac
  51. ^ University of North Florida
  52. ^ Mason-Dixon [permanent dead link]
  53. ^ Strategic Vision (R)
  54. ^ Zogby/WSJ
  55. ^ Rasmussen
  56. ^ Quinnipiac
  57. ^ Strategic Vision (R)
  58. ^ Rasmussen
  59. ^ Strategic Vision (R)
  60. ^ Quinnipiac
  61. ^ a b Zogby/WSJ
  62. ^ Strategic Vision (R)
  63. ^ Quinnipiac
  64. ^ Strategic Vision (R)
  65. ^ Quinnipiac
  66. ^ Rasmussen Archived September 22, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
  67. ^ St. Petersburg Times
  68. ^ a b Zogby/WSJ
  69. ^ Strategic Vision (R)
  70. ^ Rasmussen
  71. ^ SurveyUSA
  72. ^ Mason-Dixon
  73. ^ Strategic Vision (R)
  74. ^ Rasmussen
  75. ^ Rasmussen
  76. ^ SurveyUSA
  77. ^ Quinnipiac
  78. ^ Mason-Dixon
  79. ^ Strategic Vision (R)
  80. ^ Quinnipiac
  81. ^ St. Petersburg Times
  82. ^ Strategic Vision (R)
  83. ^ Mason-Dixon
  84. ^ SurveyUSA
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Debates

Campaign Websites (Archived)