2006 Oklahoma gubernatorial election explained

See also: 2006 United States gubernatorial elections.

Election Name:2006 Oklahoma gubernatorial election
Country:Oklahoma
Type:presidential
Ongoing:no
Previous Election:2002 Oklahoma gubernatorial election
Previous Year:2002
Next Election:2010 Oklahoma gubernatorial election
Next Year:2010
Election Date:November 7, 2006
Image1:File:BradhenryDEA.jpg
Nominee1:Brad Henry
Party1:Democratic Party (United States)
Popular Vote1:616,135
Percentage1:66.50%
Nominee2:Ernest Istook
Party2:Republican Party (United States)
Popular Vote2:310,327
Percentage2:33.50%
Map Size:300px
Governor
Before Election:Brad Henry
Before Party:Democratic Party (United States)
After Election:Brad Henry
After Party:Democratic Party (United States)

The 2006 Oklahoma gubernatorial election was held on November 7, 2006. Incumbent Democratic Governor Brad Henry won re-election to a second term in a landslide, defeating Republican U.S. Representative Ernest Istook. Henry took 66.5% of the vote to Istook's 33.5% and swept all but three counties in the state.[1]

, this remains the last time that a Democrat was elected Governor of Oklahoma, or along with the concurrent elections, won any statewide office. Republicans later swept all statewide executive offices on the 2010 ballot, as they did majorities in both state legislative chambers.

Background

Though Democrats had dominated state politics for most of Oklahoma's history, the Oklahoma Republican Party had recently gained control of the Oklahoma House of Representatives and held five of the state's six Congressional seats.[2] Henry's opponent, Republican Ernest Istook, was a member of the United States House of Representatives, representing Oklahoma's 5th congressional district.

As in many Southern states, Oklahoma has favored conservative Democrats to the more liberal members of the party. In his first term, Henry had supported some tax cuts and took centrist positions on many political hot button issues.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Results

Republican primary

Candidates

Campaign

Istook's strongest opponent in the primary was Bob Sullivan, who positioned himself as the only "non-career politician" in the race.[3] He ran ads featuring Gailard Sartain that attacked his opponents' "career politician" background. The Sartain ads were seen as over the top and may have hurt his chances. Sullivan said education was a top priority and had led an effort to place an initiative petition on the November 2006 ballot that would have required 65 percent of money earmarked for education be spent in the classroom.[4]

Results

General election

The incumbent Democratic Governor Brad Henry won the election with more than 66 percent of the vote, beating Republican U.S. Representative Ernest Istook.[1]

Predictions

SourceRankingAs of
align=left The Cook Political Report[5] November 6, 2006
align=left Sabato's Crystal Ball[6] November 6, 2006
align=left Rothenberg Political Report[7] November 2, 2006
align=left Real Clear Politics[8] November 6, 2006

Polling

width=150px Sourcewidth=150px Datewidth=100px Brad
Henry (D)
width=100px Ernest
Istook (R)
Survey USANovember 4, 2006 align=center65%29%
RasmussenSeptember 29, 2006 align=center59%34%
Survey USASeptember 26, 2006 align=center64%33%
RasmussenSeptember 6, 2006 align=center54%33%
Survey USAAugust 28, 2006 align=center60%34%
Sooner PollJuly 17, 2006 align=center57%29%
RasmussenMay 7, 2006 align=center50%39%

Results

Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic

See also

External links

Official campaign websites (Archived)

Notes and References

  1. http://www.ok.gov/elections/documents/06gov.pdf 2006 election results for governor
  2. Gaddie, Ronald Keith, "Oklahoma Republican Party," Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture (accessed May 28, 2010).
  3. [Robert J. Sullivan, Jr.]
  4. Allen, Cindy, "Governor, his challengers debate about leadership role," Enid News & Eagle, June 8, 2006 (accessed May 28, 2010).
  5. Web site: 2006 Governor Race Ratings for November 6, 2006. The Cook Political Report. October 1, 2006. June 5, 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20080605094803/https://cookpolitical.com/races/report_pdfs/2006_gov_ratings_nov6.pdf. dead.
  6. Web site: Election Eve 2006: THE FINAL PREDICTIONS . Sabato's Crystal Ball . June 25, 2021.
  7. Web site: 2006 Gubernatorial Ratings . Senate Ratings . The Rothenberg Political Report . June 25, 2021.
  8. Web site: Election 2006 . Real Clear Politics . June 25, 2021.