2006 United States Senate election in Minnesota

2006 United States Senate election in Minnesota
	Klobuchar: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% >90%; Kennedy: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% >90%; Tie: 40–50% 50% No votes
U.S. senator before election; Mark Dayton; Democratic (DFL)	Elected U.S. Senator ; Amy Klobuchar; Democratic (DFL)

The 2006 United States Senate election in Minnesota took place on November 7, 2006. Incumbent Senator Mark Dayton announced in February 2005 that he would retire instead of seeking a second term. Fellow Democrat Amy Klobuchar won the open seat by 20.2 percentage points. Primary elections took place on September 12, 2006.

DFL primary

Candidates

Amy Klobuchar, Hennepin County Attorney
Darryl Stanton, businessman

Withdrew

Patty Wetterling, children's safety advocate and candidate for U.S. House in 2004

Campaign

Klobuchar gained the early endorsement of the majority of DFL state legislators in Minnesota. A poll taken of DFL state delegates showed Klobuchar beating her then closest opponent, Patty Wetterling, 66% to 15%. As of June 30, 2005, Klobuchar had more cash on hand than any other candidate, nearly $1,100,000.

Klobuchar was endorsed by EMILY's List on September 29, 2005. On January 20, 2006, Wetterling dropped out of the race and endorsed Klobuchar.^[1]

Former Senate candidate and prominent lawyer Mike Ciresi, who was widely seen as the only other serious potential DFL candidate, indicated on February 7, 2006, that he would not enter the race. That removal of her most significant potential competitor for the DFL nomination was viewed as an important boost for Klobuchar.^[2]

The only other serious candidate for the DFL endorsement was veterinarian Ford Bell. Bell, a staunch liberal, ran on a platform of implementing single-payer healthcare and immediate withdrawal from Iraq.^[3] Klobuchar won the official DFL endorsement on June 9, 2006.^[4] Bell dropped out of the race on July 10, citing inability to compete financially, and also endorsed Klobuchar.^[3]

Results

Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party primary results^[5]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic (DFL)	Amy Klobuchar	294,671	92.51
	Democratic (DFL)	Darryl Stanton	23,872	7.49
Total votes			318,543	100.00

Republican primary

Candidates

Mark Kennedy, U.S. Representative from Minnesota's 6th congressional district
Harold Shudlick, military veteran
John Ulrich, military veteran

Campaign

Kennedy had faced potential challenges from former U.S. Senator Rod Grams, as well as U.S. Representative Gil Gutknecht, but both men were persuaded by national GOP leaders to run for the House instead. (Grams lost to Representative Jim Oberstar, while Gutknecht lost his reelection bid to Tim Walz.)

Results

Republican primary results^[6]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Mark Kennedy	147,091	90.21
	Republican	John Uldrich	10,025	6.15
	Republican	Harold Shudlick	5,941	3.64
Total votes			163,057	100.00

Independence primary

Candidates

Miles W. Collins
Robert Fitzgerald, public-access television executive
Stephen Williams, salesman

Results

Independence primary results^[5]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Independence	Robert Fitzgerald	5,520	51.61
	Independence	Miles W. Collins	2,600	24.31
	Independence	Stephen Williams	2,575	24.08
Total votes			10,695	100.00

General election

Candidates

Major

Robert Fitzgerald (IPM), public-access television cable TV show director
Mark Kennedy (R), U.S. Congressman
Amy Klobuchar (D), Hennepin County Attorney

Minor

Michael Cavlan (G), nurse and independent journalist
Peter Idusogie (I), businessman (write-in)
Ben Powers (C), quality control technician

Campaign

Klobuchar with Barack Obama and Tim Walz

Major party candidates: Kennedy, Klobuchar, and Fitzgerald

Kennedy's routine support of President George W. Bush in House votes appeared to be a central issue for Democrats in the campaign. In June 2006, allegations were made that many references to and photos of Bush had been removed from Kennedy's official U.S. House website. In rebuttal, Republicans said that there were 72 references to Bush on the website and that the changes noted by critics had been made some time ago, as part of the normal updating process.^[7] Ben Powers was the only ballot-qualified candidate not invited to appear on Minnesota Public Television's Almanac program, despite Powers's offer to fill the space left unfilled by Klobuchar's decision not to appear with Kennedy and Fitzgerald on the program. Green candidate Michael Cavlan appeared on the program twice during the campaign as a special guest.

Debates

Complete video of debate, September 19, 2006
Complete video of debate, October 15, 2006
Complete video of debate, October 29, 2006

Predictions

Source	Ranking	As of
The Cook Political Report^[8]	Likely D	November 6, 2006
Sabato's Crystal Ball^[9]	Likely D	November 6, 2006
Rothenberg Political Report^[10]	Safe D	November 6, 2006
Real Clear Politics^[11]	Lean D	November 6, 2006

Polling

After the release of the Star Tribune poll^[12] on September 17, 2006, showing Klobuchar ahead by 24%, Kennedy's campaign issued a statement^[13] from Joe Pally, the campaign's communications director. He claimed that the margin was exaggerated because of bias by the Star Tribune and that the poll was "clearly more about discouraging Kennedy supporters than on reflecting the true status of one of the most closely contested Senate races in the country."^[14] This press release came in the wake of news that the Republican party was scaling back funding for Kennedy's election campaign to shore up campaigns in states seen as winnable. Kennedy's campaign frequently accused the Star Tribune of bias in favor of Klobuchar, whose father was an editorial columnist and sportswriter for the paper until his retirement. A subsequent poll by Rasmussen Reports showed a similar lead for Klobuchar, and the St. Paul Pioneer Press also showed Klobuchar with a 15% lead in September. Klobuchar won the November 7 election by more than 20 percentage points.

Source	Date	Klobuchar (DFL)	Kennedy (R)	Fitzgerald (IPM)
Rasmussen^[15]	December 23, 2005	48%	41%
Rasmussen^[16]	January 28, 2006	43%	42%
Rasmussen^[17]	February 28, 2006	45%	42%
Zogby/WSJ^[18]	March 31, 2006	49%	41%
Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Poll^[19]	May 9, 2006	50%	42%
Rasmussen^[20]	May 10, 2006	45%	43%
Zogby/WSJ^[18]	June 21, 2006	49%	41%
Rasmussen^[21]	June 30, 2006	47%	44%
Minneapolis-St. Paul Star Tribune Minnesota Poll^[22]	July 16, 2006	50%	31%
Zogby/WSJ^[18]	July 24, 2006	49%	43%
Bennett, Petts, and Blumenthal (D)^[23]	July 24, 2006	48%	30%
SurveyUSA^[24]	July 24, 2006	47%	42%	8%
Rasmussen^[25]	August 7, 2006	50%	38%	5%
Zogby/WSJ^[26]	August 28, 2006	50%	42%
Rasmussen^[27]	August 28, 2006	47%	40%	8%
Gallup^[28]	September 5, 2006	50%	40%
Zogby/WSJ^[26]	September 11, 2006	49%	40%
Minneapolis-St. Paul Star Tribune Minnesota Poll^[29]	September 17, 2006	56%	32%	3%
University of Minnesota Humphrey Institute^[30]	September 21, 2006	52%	36%	7%
Minnesota Public Radio/Pioneer Press/Mason-Dixon^[31]	September 25, 2006	52%	37%	1%
SurveyUSA^[32]	September 28, 2006	51%	43%	2%
Rasmussen^[33]	October 4, 2006	53%	36%	6%
Minneapolis-St. Paul Star Tribune Minnesota Poll^[34]	October 15, 2006	55%	34%	3%
Zogby/WSJ^[35]	October 19, 2006	50%	43%
SurveyUSA^[36]	October 24, 2006	55%	39%	3%
Rasmussen^[37]	October 25, 2006	54%	39%
University of Minnesota Humphrey Institute^[38]	November 1, 2006	55%	33%	3%
Minneapolis-St. Paul Star Tribune Minnesota Poll^[39]	November 4, 2006	54%	34%	4%
SurveyUSA^[40]	November 6, 2006	56%	40%	2%

Endorsements

Amy Klobuchar (DFL)

Individuals

Wesley Clark, general, 2004 Democratic presidential candidate^[41]

Organizations

National Women's Political Caucus^[42]

Results

The race was, as expected, not close, with Klobuchar winning decisively. She did well in major cities, such as Minneapolis and St. Paul, while Kennedy did well only in smaller, less populated counties. The turnout was high, although not unusual for Minnesota, one of the highest voter turnout states. Official turnout came in at 70.64%.

General election results
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic (DFL)	Amy Klobuchar	1,278,849	58.06%	+9.23%
	Republican	Mark Kennedy	835,653	37.94%	−5.35%
	Independence	Robert Fitzgerald	71,194	3.23%	−2.58%
	Green	Michael Cavlan	10,714	0.49%	n/a
	Constitution	Ben Powers	5,408	0.25%	+0.15%
	Write-ins		954
Majority			443,196	20.2%
Turnout			2,202,772	70.64%
	Democratic (DFL) hold		Swing

Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic

Morrison (largest city: Little Falls)
Todd (largest city: Long Prairie)
Faribault (largest city: Blue Earth)
Nobles (largest city: Worthington)
Martin (largest city: Fairmont)
Cottonwood (largest city: Windom)
Dodge (largest city: Kasson)
Murray (largest city: Slayton)
Brown (largest city: New Ulm)
McLeod (largest city: Hutchinson)
Meeker (largest city: Litchfield)
Sibley (largest city: Gaylord)
Benton (largest city: Sauk Rapids)
Isanti (largest city: Cambridge)
Chisago (largest city: North Branch)
Mille Lacs (largest city: Princeton)
Kanabec (largest city: Mora)
Lake of the Woods (largest city: Baudette)
Roseau (largest city: Roseau)
Clearwater (largest city: Bagley)
Becker (largest city: Detroit Lakes)
Douglas (largest city: Alexandria)
Cass (largest city: Lake Shore)
Crow Wing (largest city: Brainerd)
Hubbard (largest city: Park Rapids)
Stearns (largest city: St. Cloud)
Wilkin, (largest city: Breckenridge)
Houston (largest city: La Crescent)
Anoka (largest city: Blaine)
Dakota (largest city: Hastings)
Scott (largest city: Shakopee)
Washington (largest city: Stillwater)
Carver (largest city: Chaska)
Wabasha (largest city: Lake City)
Goodhue (largest city: Red Wing)
Le Sueur (largest city: Le Sueur)
Waseca (largest city: Waseca)
Steele (largest city: Owatonna)
Olmsted (largest city: Rochester)

By congressional district

Klobuchar won all 8 congressional districts, including three that elected Republicans.^[43]

District	Klobuchar	Kennedy	Representative
1st	55%	40%	Gil Gutknecht (109th Congress)
1st	55%	40%	Tim Walz (110th Congress)
2nd	55%	42%	John Kline
3rd	55%	42%	Jim Ramstad
4th	64%	32%	Betty McCollum
5th	73%	22%	Martin Olav Sabo (109th Congress)
5th	73%	22%	Keith Ellison (110th Congress)
6th	50%	47%	Mark Kennedy (109th Congress)
6th	50%	47%	Michele Bachmann (110th Congress)
7th	53%	43%	Collin Peterson
8th	60%	36%	Jim Oberstar

References

^ "The latest from the StarTribune". Star Tribune. Archived from the original on October 22, 2007.
^ "The Fix -- Chris Cillizza's Politics Blog on washingtonpost.com". blog.washingtonpost.com. Archived from the original on February 24, 2006. Retrieved January 11, 2022.
^ ^a ^b Scheck, Tom (July 11, 2006). "Ford Bell drops out of U.S. Senate race". MPR News. Retrieved April 30, 2021.
^ Zdechlik, Mark; Bakst, Brian (June 9, 2006). "Klobuchar wins DFL Senate endorsement". MPR News. Associated Press. Retrieved April 30, 2021.
^ ^a ^b "electionresults.sos.state.mn.us". Archived from the original on October 16, 2020. Retrieved May 21, 2011.
^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on January 12, 2011. Retrieved May 21, 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
^ The latest from the StarTribune^{[permanent dead link]}
^ "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.
^ Minnesota Poll
^ Mark Kennedy for US Senate
^ "Mark Kennedy for Senate". Archived from the original on October 4, 2006.
^ Rasmussen Archived January 6, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
^ Rasmussen
^ Rasmussen
^ ^a ^b ^c Zogby/WSJ
^ Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Poll
^ Rasmussen
^ Rasmussen
^ Minneapolis-St. Paul Star Tribune Minnesota Poll ^{[permanent dead link]}
^ Bennett, Petts, and Blumenthal (D)
^ SurveyUSA
^ Rasmussen Archived August 30, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
^ ^a ^b Zogby/WSJ
^ Rasmussen
^ Gallup
^ Minneapolis-St. Paul Star Tribune Minnesota Poll
^ University of Minnesota Humphrey Institute
^ Minnesota Public Radio/Pioneer Press/Mason-Dixon
^ SurveyUSA
^ Rasmussen
^ Minneapolis-St. Paul Star Tribune Minnesota Poll
^ Zogby/WSJ
^ SurveyUSA
^ Rasmussen
^ University of Minnesota Humphrey Institute
^ Minneapolis-St. Paul Star Tribune Minnesota Poll ^{[permanent dead link]}
^ SurveyUSA
^ "Amy Klobuchar (Senate -MN) | WesPAC". November 4, 2006. Archived from the original on November 4, 2006. Retrieved April 8, 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
^ "Endorsements". Archived from the original on October 6, 2006.
^ https://x.com/JMilesColeman/status/1146892410649305096

External links

Klobuchar's campaign website
Kennedy's campaign website Archived April 21, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
Fitzgerald's campaign website
Powers' campaign website Archived September 2, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
Pro-Kennedy weblog covering the MN Senate Race
DFL website covering the MN Senate race Archived June 27, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
Full list of U.S. Senate candidates in Minnesota - from E-Democracy.Org
Election results
Debate, October 15

[1] "The latest from the StarTribune". Star Tribune. Archived from the original on October 22, 2007.

[2] "The Fix -- Chris Cillizza's Politics Blog on washingtonpost.com". blog.washingtonpost.com. Archived from the original on February 24, 2006. Retrieved January 11, 2022.

[MPR-3] Scheck, Tom (July 11, 2006). "Ford Bell drops out of U.S. Senate race". MPR News. Retrieved April 30, 2021.

[4] Zdechlik, Mark; Bakst, Brian (June 9, 2006). "Klobuchar wins DFL Senate endorsement". MPR News. Associated Press. Retrieved April 30, 2021.

[state.mn.us-5] "electionresults.sos.state.mn.us". Archived from the original on October 16, 2020. Retrieved May 21, 2011.

[6] "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on January 12, 2011. Retrieved May 21, 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)

[7] The latest from the StarTribune^{[permanent dead link]}

[8] "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.

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

[10] "2006 Senate Ratings". Senate Ratings. The Rothenberg Political Report. Retrieved June 25, 2021.

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

[12] Minnesota Poll

[13] Mark Kennedy for US Senate

[14] "Mark Kennedy for Senate". Archived from the original on October 4, 2006.

[15] Rasmussen Archived January 6, 2006, at the Wayback Machine

[16] Rasmussen

[17] Rasmussen

[Zogby/WSJ-18] Zogby/WSJ

[19] Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Poll

[20] Rasmussen

[21] Rasmussen

[22] Minneapolis-St. Paul Star Tribune Minnesota Poll ^{[permanent dead link]}

[23] Bennett, Petts, and Blumenthal (D)

[24] SurveyUSA

[25] Rasmussen Archived August 30, 2006, at the Wayback Machine

[online.wsj.com-26] Zogby/WSJ

[27] Rasmussen

[28] Gallup

[29] Minneapolis-St. Paul Star Tribune Minnesota Poll

[30] University of Minnesota Humphrey Institute

[31] Minnesota Public Radio/Pioneer Press/Mason-Dixon

[32] SurveyUSA

[33] Rasmussen

[34] Minneapolis-St. Paul Star Tribune Minnesota Poll

[35] Zogby/WSJ

[36] SurveyUSA

[37] Rasmussen

[38] University of Minnesota Humphrey Institute

[39] Minneapolis-St. Paul Star Tribune Minnesota Poll ^{[permanent dead link]}

[40] SurveyUSA

[41] "Amy Klobuchar (Senate -MN) | WesPAC". November 4, 2006. Archived from the original on November 4, 2006. Retrieved April 8, 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)

[42] "Endorsements". Archived from the original on October 6, 2006.

[43] ttps://x.com/JMilesColeman/status/1146892410649305096

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DFL primary

Candidates

Withdrew

Campaign

Results

Republican primary

Candidates

Campaign

Results

Independence primary

Candidates

Results

General election

Candidates

Major

Minor

Campaign

Debates

Predictions

Polling

Endorsements

Results

Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic

By congressional district

See also

References

External links