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2006 Florida gubernatorial election

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2006 Florida gubernatorial election

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FieldValue
election_name2006 Florida gubernatorial election
countryFlorida
typepresidential
ongoingno
previous_election2002 Florida gubernatorial election
previous_year2002
next_election2010 Florida gubernatorial election
next_year2010
election_dateNovember 7, 2006
image_sizex150px
image1Image:Charlie_Crist_official_portrait_crop.jpg
nominee1**Charlie Crist**
running_mate1**Jeff Kottkamp **
party1Republican Party of Florida
popular_vote1**2,519,845**
percentage1**52.20%**
image2Image:Jim Davis Congress.jpg
nominee2Jim Davis
running_mate2Daryl Jones
party2Florida Democratic Party
popular_vote22,178,289
percentage245.10%
map_image
map_caption**Crist**:
**Davis**:
titleGovernor
before_electionJeb Bush
before_partyRepublican Party (United States)
after_electionCharlie Crist
after_partyRepublican Party (United States)
turnout46.8%8.5

Davis:
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. 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. This remains the last time that Charlie Crist won a statewide election in Florida, as well as the last election in which he ran as a Republican. This was the last time until 2022 that anyone was elected governor with a majority of the vote. To date, this is the last time Florida simultaneously elected a United States Senate candidate and a gubernatorial candidate of different political parties.

Democratic primary

Campaign

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. 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.

Candidates

Declared

  • Glenn Burkett
  • Carol Castagnero, retired teacher
  • John M. Crotty
  • Jim Davis, U.S. representative from Tampa
  • Rod Smith, state senator from Gainesville

Withdrew

  • Bud Chiles, son of former governor Lawton Chiles
  • Scott Maddox, former mayor of Tallahassee and former chairman of the Florida Democratic Party

Declined

  • Betty Castor, former Education Commissioner of Florida, former president of the University of South Florida, 2004 Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate

Endorsements

U.S. senators

  • Max Cleland, former U.S. senator from Georgia
  • Bob Graham, former governor of Florida and former U.S. senator from Florida

U.S. representatives

  • Alcee Hastings, U.S. representative (FL-23)
  • Pete Peterson, former U.S. representative, former United States Ambassador to Vietnam
  • Debbie Wasserman Schultz, U.S. representative (FL-20)
  • Robert Wexler, U.S. representative (FL-19) Statewide officials
  • Buddy MacKay, former governor of Florida

Mayors and other municipal leaders

  • Frank Bruno, Volusia County Council chairman
  • Steve Feren, mayor of Sunrise
  • Ilene Lieberman, Broward County commissioner
  • Scott Maddox, former mayor of Tallahassee
  • Carl Persis, Volusia County councilman
  • Diana Wasserman-Rubin, Broward County commissioner

Individuals

  • Rhea Chiles, former First Lady of Florida

Newspapers

  • Bradenton Herald
  • Florida Times-Union
  • Orlando Sentinel
  • Tampa Tribune

Organizations

  • Sierra Club

Statewide officials

  • Bob Butterworth, former attorney general of Florida
  • Wayne Mixson, former governor of Florida

State legislators

  • Dave Aronberg, state senator
  • Skip Campbell, state senator
  • Steven Geller, state senator
  • Richard Machek, state representative
  • Matt Meadows, state representative
  • Nan Rich, state senator
  • Jack Seiler, state representative
  • Priscilla Taylor, state representative

Mayors and other municipal leaders

  • Sharon Bock, Palm Beach clerk of court and comptroller
  • Howard Finkelstein, Broward County public defender
  • Howard Forman, Broward County clerk of the court
  • Addie Greene, Palm Beach County commissioner
  • Ron Greenstein, state representative
  • Carey Haughwout, Palm Beach County public defender
  • Barry Krischer, Palm Beach County state attorney
  • Ed Oppel, Port of Palm Beach commissioner
  • Ari Porth, state representative
  • Tom Rossin, former state senator and 2002 Democratic nominee for lieutenant governor
  • Tim M. Ryan, state representative
  • Mike Satz, Broward County state attorney
  • David Turner, Gilchrist County sheriff
  • Lois Wexler, Broward County commissioner

Individuals

  • Bud Chiles, son of former governor Lawton Chiles

Newspapers

  • The Daytona Beach News-Journal
  • The Gainesville Sun
  • The Ledger
  • Naples Daily News
  • The Palm Beach Post
  • St. Petersburg Times
  • Sun-Sentinel
County results

Republican primary

Charlie Crist, the Republican candidate, won the primary on September 5 with 64% of the vote. 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.

Candidates

Declared

  • Charlie Crist, attorney general of Florida, and nominee for U.S. Senate in 1998
  • Tom Gallagher, chief financial officer of Florida, former State Treasurer-Insurance Commissioner, former Education Commissioner, and candidate for governor in 1986 and 1994
  • Vernon Palmer
  • Michael W. St. Jean, minister

Declined

  • Toni Jennings, lieutenant governor of Florida

Endorsements

U.S. senators

  • Connie Mack III, former U.S. senator from Florida
  • Mel Martinez, U.S. senator from Florida
  • John McCain, U.S. senator from Arizona

State legislators

  • Allan Bense, speaker of the Florida House of Representatives
  • Victor Crist, state senator
  • Mike Fasano, state senator
  • Jeff Kottkamp, state representative
  • Joe Negron, state representative

Mayors and other municipal leaders

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

Newspapers

  • The Daytona Beach News-Journal
  • Florida Times-Union
  • Orlando Sentinel
  • The Palm Beach Post
  • Sun-Sentinel
  • St. Petersburg Times
  • Tampa Tribune

Organizations

  • Florida Fraternal Order of Police
  • Florida Medical Political Action Committee
  • Florida Police Benevolent Association
  • NRA Political Victory Fund
  • Sierra Club

U.S. representatives

  • Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (FL-18)

Statewide officials

  • Bob Martinez, former governor of Florida
  • James C. Smith, former attorney general of Florida, Florida secretary of state, and 1994 Republican candidate for governor

State legislators

  • JD Alexander, state senator
  • Dick Kravitz, state representative
  • John E. Thrasher, former speaker of the Florida House of Representatives

Mayors and other municipal leaders

  • Dottie Berger MacKinnon, former Hillsborough County commissioner
  • Jack Parker, Brevard County sheriff
  • Roy Raymond, Indian River County sheriff

Individuals

  • James Dobson, founder of Focus on the Family
County results

General election

Candidates

  • Charlie Crist, Florida Attorney General (Republican nominee)
  • Jim Davis, United States Representative from Florida's 11th congressional district (Democratic nominee)
  • Max Linn, financial planner (Reform Party nominee)
  • John Wayne Smith, perennial candidate (no party affiliation)
  • Richard Paul Dembinsky, perennial candidate (no party affiliation)
  • Karl C.C. Behm, paintball facility owner (no party affiliation)

Predictions

SourceRankingAs of
The Cook Political ReportNovember 6, 2006
Sabato's Crystal BallNovember 6, 2006
Rothenberg Political ReportNovember 2, 2006
Real Clear PoliticsNovember 6, 2006

Opinion polling

Polling for the 2006 Florida gubernatorial election
SourceDateCrist (R)Davis (D)
Survey USANovember 6, 2006**49%**47%
Strategic VisionNovember 6, 2006**51%**44%
Orlando SentinelNovember 3, 2006**50%**43%
Mason-DixonNovember 3, 2006**50%**43%
Strategic VisionNovember 2, 2006**50%**44%
Zogby/WSJOctober 31, 2006**49.9%**45.1%
St. Petersburg TimesOctober 28, 2006**48%**42%
RasmussenOctober 26, 2006**52%**41%
Strategic VisionOctober 25, 2006**51%**42%
QuinnipiacOctober 23, 2006**46%**44%
Zogby/WSJOctober 19, 2006**50.2%**41%
RasmussenOctober 18, 2006**46%**41%
RasmussenOctober 2, 2006**54%**38%
Strategic VisionSeptember 28, 2006**50%**40%
Zogby/WSJSeptember 25, 2006**50.1%**36.6%
RasmussenSeptember 19, 2006**45%**40%
Zogby/WSJSeptember 11, 2006**50.6%**36.4%
RasmussenSeptember 5, 2006**45%**41%
Strategic VisionAugust 30, 2006**49%**41%
Zogby/WSJAugust 28, 2006**52.4%**38.5%
RasmussenAugust 1, 2006**47%**42%
QuinnipiacJuly 26, 2006**44%**38%
Strategic VisionJuly 26, 2006**49%**39%
Mason-DixonJuly 24, 2006**48%**32%
Zogby/WSJJuly 24, 2006**42.8%**39.0%
QuinnipiacJune 29, 2006**41%**39%
RasmussenJune 29, 2006**49%**35%
Strategic VisionJune 28, 2006**49%**41%
Zogby/WSJJune 21, 2006**42.5%**39.8%
Strategic VisionMay 25, 2006**48%**40%
QuinnipiacMay 24, 200637%**40%**
RasmussenMay 22, 2006**44%**39%
RasmussenApril 21, 2006**44%**33%
QuinnipiacApril 19, 200637%**39%**
QuinnipiacFebruary 22, 2006**40%**36%
RasmussenJanuary 6, 2006**36%**35%
RasmussenNovember 16, 200538%**41%**
QuinnipiacNovember 15, 200539%**40%**

Results

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, but it was passed anyway by the voters with a 55% margin - a higher margin than either candidate received.

Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican

  • Franklin (largest city: Eastpoint)
  • Liberty (largest city: Bristol)
  • Calhoun (largest city: Blountstown)
  • Hamilton (largest city: Jasper)
  • Wakulla (largest city: Sopchoppy)
  • Jackson (largest city: Marianna)

Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic

  • Miami-Dade (largest city: Miami)

Notes

References

References

  1. "November 7, 2006 General Election".
  2. "Florida Department of State – Division of Elections (Election Results)".
  3. Clark, Amy. (November 8, 2006). "Democrats Retake Majority Of Governorships". CBS News.
  4. Bousquet, Steve. (March 5, 2005). "Castor won't run for governor". [[Tampa Bay Times.
  5. Garcia, Jason. (October 8, 2005). "Maddox Drops Out Of Governor's Race". [[Sun-Sentinel]].
  6. Hooper, Ernest. (August 29, 2006). "'Slime' attacks outrage Cleland". [[Tampa Bay Times.
  7. Smith, Adam C.. (June 2, 2005). "Donors' early take on Jim Davis: If Bob Graham likes him, so do I". [[Tampa Bay Times.
  8. Smith, Adam C.. (October 19, 2005). "Dueling Endorsements". [[Tampa Bay Times.
  9. Smith, Adam C.. (November 28, 2005). "Pete Peterson Backs Davis". [[Tampa Bay Times.
  10. Smith, Adam C.. (November 22, 2005). "MacKay Endorses Davis". [[Tampa Bay Times.
  11. (April 10, 2006). "Sheriff endorses Crist for Governor". [[Orlando Sentinel]].
  12. Dunkelberger, Lloyd. (August 18, 2006). "Governor Primary Splits Chiles Family". [[The Ledger]].
  13. Smith, Adam C.. (August 21, 2006). "Papers pick Crist, Smith for primary". [[Tampa Bay Times.
  14. Dunkelberger, Lloyd. (July 8, 2006). "Sierra Club is for Davis and Crist". [[The Gainesville Sun]].
  15. Smith, Adam C.. (October 17, 2005). "Butterworth Boosts Rod Smith". [[Tampa Bay Times.
  16. Smith, Adam C.. (August 16, 2005). "Palm Beachers for Smith". [[Tampa Bay Times.
  17. Smith, Adam C.. (September 7, 2005). "Broward Democrats Back Smith". [[Tampa Bay Times.
  18. "September 5, 2006 Primary Election, Democratic Primary, Governor". Florida Department of State Division of Elections.
  19. "News From The Associated Press".
  20. Goodnough, Abby. (September 6, 2006). "In Days Before Primary, Hackles Start Rising in Race for Florida Governor". The New York Times.
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  22. (July 30, 2006). "Joke about Crist's tan, you may get burned". [[Tampa Bay Times.
  23. Bousquet, Steve. (June 10, 2006). "Martinez calls Crist 'perfect' for Governor". [[Tampa Bay Times.
  24. Farrington, Brendan. (January 31, 2008). "Gov. Crist could benefit from McCain win". [[USA Today]].
  25. Follick, Joe. (July 16, 2006). "3 polls put Crist far ahead of Gallagher". [[The Gainesville Sun]].
  26. Smith, Adam C.. (January 30, 2006). "Crist's Pasco Team". [[Tampa Bay Times.
  27. (July 16, 2006). "Jeb's frustration simmered in 2000". [[Tampa Bay Times.
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