2006 Minnesota gubernatorial election

none January 2025 October 2021 2006 Minnesota gubernatorial election Minnesota 1983 presidential no 2002 Minnesota gubernatorial election 2002 2010 Minnesota gubernatorial election 2010 November 7, 2006 File:Tim Pawlenty CPAC 2011.JPG Tim Pawlenty Carol Molnau Republican Party (United States) 1,028,568 46.69% File:MikeHatchMinnesota2006-08-21 crop.jpg x150px Mike Hatch Judi Dutcher Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party 1,007,460 45.73% 3x4.svg Peter Hutchinson Maureen Reed Independence Party of Minnesota 141,735 6.43% 280px County results 280px Precinct results 1 270px Pawlenty: #FFB2B2 40–50% #E27F7F 50–60% #d75d5d 60–70% #D72F30 70–80% #C21B18 80–90% #A80000 >90%Hatch: #A5B0FF 40–50% #7996e2 50–60% #6674de 60–70% #584cde 70–80% #3933e5 80–90% #0D0596 >90%Tie: #d2b1d9 40–50% #ae8bb1 50% #808080 No votes Governor Tim Pawlenty Republican Party of Minnesota Tim Pawlenty Republican Party of Minnesota The 2006 Minnesota gubernatorial election took place on November 7, 2006. Incumbent Tim Pawlenty was endorsed by the state Republican convention on June 2, 2006, while the state Democratic–Farmer–Labor convention endorsed Mike Hatch on June 10, 2006. The party primaries took place on September 12, 2006, with Hatch defeating DFL challengers Becky Lourey and Ole Savior, and incumbent Pawlenty defeating Sue Jeffers. In the November 7 general election, Pawlenty received a plurality of the votes, defeating Hatch by a margin of 0.96%. As a result, this was the closest race of the 2006 gubernatorial election cycle. As of , this is the last time a Republican won a statewide race in Minnesota. Republican primary Candidates Sue Jeffers, Minneapolis bar owner and noted opponent of smoking bans and non-public use of eminent domain. A self-described Libertarian Republican, Jeffers was also endorsed by the Libertarian Party (which later withdrew its endorsement, as Minnesota law does not allow fusion candidates) and the Minnesota and national chapters of the Republican Liberty Caucus. Though included in neither the statewide caucus straw poll nor the party endorsement process, Jeffers challenged Governor Pawlenty for the Republican nomination in the September primary. Her running mate was Ruth Hendrycks. Tim Pawlenty, incumbent 39th governor of Minnesota since 2003, former majority leader of the Minnesota House of Representatives (1999–2003), former state representative from legislative district 38B (1993–2003), former Eagan city councilor (1989–93), former member of the Eagan Planning Commission, attorney, and businessman. Pawlenty was endorsed by the state Republican party after winning the first ballot, unopposed. His running mate was incumbent 46th Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota (since 2003) Carol Molnau. Results Republican gubernatorial primary election, 2006 Tim Pawlenty (incumbent) Republican Party of Minnesota 147,622 88.87 Sue Jeffers Republican Party of Minnesota 18,490 11.13 166,112 100.00 Democratic–Farmer–Labor primary Candidates Declared Mike Hatch, 28th Minnesota attorney general since 1999, former Minnesota commissioner of commerce (1983–89), and former state party chair of the Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party (1980–83). Hatch received the strongest support of all candidates in the statewide caucus straw poll, and continued to hold his lead into the party convention, in which he received the endorsement after seven ballots. Hatch's running mate was 18th Minnesota State Auditor (since 1995) Judi Dutcher. Becky Lourey, state senator from senate district 8 since 1997, former state representative from legislative districts 8B (1993–97) and 14B (1991–93), businesswoman, activist, and homemaker. Lourey lost the DFL endorsement race to Mike Hatch, but continued to seek the DFL nomination in the primary election. Her running mate was businessman, former NFL defensive back (1976–79), and former Minneapolis Planning Commission member (1992–2001) Tim Baylor. Ole Savior, artist and perennial candidate. At the DFL state convention, Savior was eliminated on the first ballot for the party endorsement, after winning just one vote out of 1,500, but he continued to seek the nomination in the primary. Savior's running mate was Dan Fischer. Withdrawn Kelly Doran, real estate developer. Doran withdrew his candidacy on March 24, 2006. Steve Kelley, state senator from senate district 44 since 1997, former state representative from legislative district 44A (1993–97), and attorney. Kelley withdrew his candidacy on June 10, 2006, after failing to defeat Hatch in the endorsement fight, throwing his support behind Hatch's campaign. Bud Philbrook, former state representative from legislative district 48B (1975–77), non-profit executive director, and attorney. Philbrook withdrew his candidacy on October 24, 2005. Results Democratic–Farmer–Labor gubernatorial primary election, 2006http://electionresults.sos.state.mn.us/Results/Governor/56?officeInElectionId=132 MN Election Results electionresults.sos.state.mn.us April 6, 2018 Mike Hatch Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party 231,643 73.20 Becky Lourey Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party 77,430 24.47 Ole Savior Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party 7,397 2.34 316,470 100.00 Independence primary Candidates Pam Ellison, 2000 congressional candidate, former gubernatorial aide, and consultant. Ellison's running mate was Kari Johnson. Peter Hutchinson, former Minnesota commissioner of finance (1989–91), former superintendent of Minneapolis Public Schools (1993–97), and consultant. Hutchinson won the Independence Party straw poll in March, and was endorsed at the June 24 convention. Hutchinson's running mate was physician and former University of Minnesota Board of Regents member (1997–2005) and chair (2001–03) Maureen Reed. Results Independence gubernatorial primary election, 2006 Peter Hutchinson Independence Party of Minnesota 7,725 66.09 Pam Ellison Independence Party of Minnesota 3,964 33.91 11,689 100.00 Other candidates Nominated by petition Walt E. Brown (Independent; used the ballot designation "Quit Raising Taxes"). Brown's running mate was Wesley C. Nelson. Leslie Davis (American). Davis's running mate was Gregory K. Soderberg. Ken Pentel (Green). Pentel's running mate was Danene Provencher. Former candidates Jonathon "The Impaler" Sharkey (VWP), self-proclaimed vampire. Sharkey's campaign was jeopardized on January 30, 2006, when he was arrested in Princeton, Minnesota on felony charges stemming from allegations of stalking and flight, in Indiana.http://wcco.com/topstories/local_story_031105113.html wcco.com - 'Impaler' Claims He Did Nothing Wrong June 18, 2006 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20060716080857/http://wcco.com/topstories/local_story_031105113.html July 16, 2006 Sharkey's campaign website was taken down. It was discovered that the stalking charge had been dismissed on September 29, 2003,Scanned copy of Prosecutor's Motion to Dismiss https://web.archive.org/web/20090324192213/http://www.theimpalerforpresident2008.us/images/Dismissal_of_Charges.JPG March 24, 2009 when Sharkey pleaded guilty to two counts of invasion of privacy and was ordered to submit to mental health treatment.http://www.in.gov/judiciary/opinions/pdf/12110605jts.pdf Sharkey v. Indiana, Ind. App. (2006) in.gov April 6, 2018 At his trial on July 18, 2006, he was found not guilty of the felony escape charge. Nevertheless, Sharkey's arrest and jailing effectively terminated his campaign. General election On November 7, 2006, Tim Pawlenty narrowly won the general election, 46.7% to 45.7%, in a four-way race among himself, DFL candidate Mike Hatch, Independence Party candidate Peter Hutchinson, and Green Party candidate Ken Pentel. After Pawlenty opted out of spending limits, Hatch followed suit. Outspending Hatch by $1 million, Pawlenty's campaign set a new spending record for a Minnesota gubernatorial campaign. The race was also affected by negative advertising by 527 groups, as well as issue-oriented groups opposing liberal causes in the state. A major issue in the campaign that was considered to have hurt the DFL nominees was lieutenant gubernatorial candidate Judi Dutcher's response to a question about E-85. When asked about the impact of the gasoline alternative on the economies of rural Minnesota by then KSAX-TV anchor Corey Poppe, Dutcher was unable to comment, asking Poppe to define E-85.http://www.startribune.com/587/story/784334.html https://web.archive.org/web/20061114135949/http://www.startribune.com/587/story/784334.html dead November 14, 2006 GOP jumps on Dutcher's E85 misstep November 14, 2006 April 6, 2018 In the subsequent questioning about her response, gubernatorial candidate Mike Hatch reportedly called a Forum Communications reporter "a Republican whore" and promptly hung up the phone.http://www.duluthnewstribune.com/articles/index.cfm?id=27509&freebie_check&CFID=4612252&CFTOKEN=43846502&jsessionid=8830d400afe52687c441February 2018 InternetArchiveBot yes http://www.startribune.com/blogs/kersten/?p=37February 2018 InternetArchiveBot yes Hatch claimed he had said "hack", not "whore", but the incident, occurring only three days before the last poll listed in this article, is believed to have swung the race. It put Hatch on the defensive in the campaign's last week. Additionally, Pawlenty made illegal immigration an issue, running ads accusing Hatch of trying to give illegal immigrants college tuition. Hatch responded with an ad saying that illegal immigration laws had not been enforced under Pawlenty's tenure. Pawlenty also ran ads accusing Hatch of being responsible for raising health care costs, a claim Hatch disputed. Pawlenty campaigned on a record of leading the state through hard times, balancing record budget deficits without raising major state tax rates or diminishing the state's "nation-leading" status on most socioeconomic indicators. Pawlenty won by piling up large margins in suburban counties as well as in central and southern Minnesota regions anchored by St. Cloud and Rochester. In his victory speech, noting that he would have to deal with a DFL House and Senate, Pawlenty said it was "a time tonight to be humble and time to be grateful." He promised that "the next four years are going to be different than the last four years" and that he would build "a common agenda" with DFLers who swept legislative and constitutional offices. Hatch ran ahead in Minneapolis, St. Paul and their inner-ring suburbs, and won by large margins around Duluth and the Iron Range. In his concession speech, Hatch advocated that legislators get back to "sitting down and getting to know each other in private" to establish common ground for bipartisan legislation, and called for an end to partisan rancor. Had the Hatch/Dutcher ticket been successful, he stated that this would have been one of his administration's first goals.http://www.startribune.com/10134/story/786531.html Hatch concedes to Pawlenty November 8, 2006 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20070926222607/http://www.startribune.com/10134/story/786531.html September 26, 2007 Predictions Source Ranking As of The Cook Political Report2006 Governor Race Ratings for November 6, 2006 https://cookpolitical.com/races/report_pdfs/2006_gov_ratings_nov6.pdf 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 Tossup November 6, 2006 Sabato's Crystal BallElection Eve 2006: THE FINAL PREDICTIONS https://centerforpolitics.org/crystalball/articles/ljs2006110601/ Sabato's Crystal Ball June 25, 2021 Tilt D flip November 6, 2006 Rothenberg Political Report2006 Gubernatorial Ratings https://www.insideelections.com/ratings/governor/2006-gubernatorial-ratings Senate Ratings The Rothenberg Political Report June 25, 2021 Tossup November 2, 2006 Real Clear PoliticsElection 2006 https://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/writeup/election_2006-21.html Real Clear Politics June 25, 2021 Tossup November 6, 2006 Polling Two-way Source Date MikeHatch (DFL) TimPawlenty (R) UndecidedUniversity of MinnesotaUniversity of Minnesota October 28, 200645% 39% 7%Mason-DixonMason-Dixon October 27, 2006 44% 43% 7%St. Cloud State UniversitySt. Cloud State University October 27, 2006 46% 36% 7%RasmussenRasmussen October 25, 2006 45% 44% 2%Zogby/WSJZogby/WSJ October 19, 2006 45% 45% Rasmussen October 4, 2006 50% 46% 2%Zogby/WSJ September 11, 2006 42% 41% GallupGallup September 5, 2006 44% 43%Zogby/WSJ July 24, 2006 43% 43%Star Tribune Minnesota PollStar Tribune Minnesota Poll July 15, 2006 41% 43%RasmussenRasmussen June 30, 2006 47% 42%Zogby/WSJ June 21, 2006 40% 45%RasmussenRasmussen May 10, 2006 49% 39%RasmussenRasmussen February 28, 2006 45% 40%RasmussenRasmussen January 29, 2006 44% 47% Three-way Source Date MikeHatch (DFL) TimPawlenty (R) PeterHutchinson (IP) Undecided Star Tribune Minnesota PollSeptember 2018 InternetArchiveBot yes November 4, 200645% 40% 7% 7%Star Tribune Minnesota PollStar Tribune Minnesota Poll October 14, 2006 46% 37% 7% 6%Survey USASurvey USA September 28, 2006 44% 45% 6% 3%Pioneer Press/MPR PollPioneer Press/MPR Poll September 22, 2006 39% 42% 5% 11%The Humphrey InstituteThe Humphrey Institute September 21, 2006 44% 42% 6% 5% Star Tribune Minnesota PollFebruary 2018 InternetArchiveBot yes September 16, 2006 42% 42% 7% 5% RasmussenFebruary 2018 InternetArchiveBot yes September 1, 2006 39% 45% 7%Zogby/WSJ August 28, 2006 43% 41% 5–9%RasmussenRasmussen August 7, 2006 36% 46% 6%Survey USASurvey USA July 24, 2006 36% 50% 8% Debate and forum + 2006 Minnesota gubernatorial election debate & candidate forum No. Number Date Host Moderator Link Republican DFL IndependenceKey:black #90ff90  P  Participant  black #FFFFDD  A  Absent  black #ff9090  N  Not invited  black #CCFFCC  I  Invited #f0e68c W Withdrawn Tim Pawlenty Mike Hatch Peter Hutchinson1 Oct. 29, 2006 KSTP-TVLeague of Women Voters Minnesota Education Fund Tom HauserC-SPAN P P P2 Nov. 3, 2006 AlmanacWCCO (AM) Eric EskolaCathy Wurzer C-SPAN P P P Results thumb|right|280px|County results for the Independence Party: Hutchinson #ffb580 <4%% #ff9a50 4-5% #ff8450 5-6% #ff7350 6-7% #d76143 7-8% #ae4e36 8%< Minnesota gubernatorial election, 2006http://electionresults.sos.state.mn.us/Results/Governor/55?officeInElectionId=1706 MN Election Results electionresults.sos.state.mn.us April 6, 2018 Republican Party of Minnesota Tim Pawlenty (incumbent) 1,028,568 46.69 Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party Mike Hatch 1,007,460 45.73 Independence Party of Minnesota Peter Hutchinson 141,735 6.43 Green Party of Minnesota Ken Pentel 10,800 0.49 Independent Walt E. Brown 9,649 0.44 American Party (1969) Leslie Davis 3,776 0.17 949 0.04 2,202,937 100.00 Republican Party of Minnesota Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic Blue Earth (largest city: Mankato) Grant (largest city: Elbow Lake) Aitkin (largest city: Aitkin) Pine (largest city: Pine City) Rice (largest city: Faribault) Winona (largest city: Winona) Counties that flipped from Independence to Republican Dodge (largest city: Kasson) Faribault (largest city: Blue Earth) Waseca (largest city: Waseca) Olmsted (largest city: Rochester) Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican Yellow Medicine (largest city: Granite Falls) Lake of the Woods (largest city: Baudette) Counties that flipped from Independence to Democratic Fillmore (largest city: Spring Valley) Freeborn (largest city: Albert Lea) Mower (largest city: Austin) right 280px Swing by county"margin" Compares Republican minus Democratic margin in 2002. Legend #00a1c8 Democratic — +>15% #00bdec Democratic — +12.5-15% #09ceff Democratic — +10-12.5% #4bdbff Democratic — +7.5-10% #77e3ff Democratic — +5-7.5% #AAEEFF Democratic — +2.5-5% #D5F6FF Democratic — +0-2.5% #FFD5D5 Republican — +0-2.5% #FFAAAA Republican — +2.5-5% #FF8080 Republican — +5-7.5% #FF5555 Republican — +7.5-10% #FF2A2A Republican — +10-12.5% #FF0000 Republican — +12.5-15% #D40000 Republican — +>15% 280px Trend by county Legend #00a1c8 Democratic — +>15% #00bdec Democratic — +12.5-15% #4bdbff Democratic — +7.5-10% #77e3ff Democratic — +5-7.5% #AAEEFF Democratic — +2.5-5% #D5F6FF Democratic — +0-2.5% #FFD5D5 Republican — +0-2.5% #FFAAAA Republican — +2.5-5% #FF8080 Republican — +5-7.5% #FF5555 Republican — +7.5-10% #FF2A2A Republican — +10-12.5% #FF0000 Republican — +12.5-15% #D40000 Republican — +>15% 280px County flips Legend Democratic #92c5de Hold #0671b0 Flip Republican #f48882 Hold #ca0120 Flip See also 2006 United States gubernatorial elections List of Minnesota gubernatorial elections Notes External links Campaign Websites (Archived) Kelly Doran for Governor Mike Hatch for Governor Pam Ellison for Governor Peter Hutchinson for Governor Sue Jeffers for Governor Steve Kelley for Governor Becky Lourey for Governor Tim Pawlenty for Governor Jonathon "The Impaler" Sharkey for Governor Other Minnesota Governor Candidates DirectoryAugust 2026 InternetArchiveBot and E-Debate- from E-Democracy.Org Gubernatorial 2006 Minnesota