2006 Georgia gubernatorial election

none related races 2006 United States gubernatorial elections January 2025 September 2023 2006 Georgia gubernatorial election Georgia (U.S. state) presidential no 2002 Georgia gubernatorial election 2002 2010 Georgia gubernatorial election 2010 November 7, 2006 File:Sonny Perdue at rally.jpg 150x150px Sonny Perdue Republican Party (United States) 1,229,724 57.95% File:Marktaylorpic (cropped).jpg Mark Taylor Democratic Party (United States) 811,049 38.22% 250px County results 250px Precinct results 1 240px Perdue: #ffb2b2 40–50% #e27f7f 50–60% #d75d5d 60–70% #d72f30 70–80% #c21b18 80–90% #a80000 >90%Taylor: #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 data Governor Sonny Perdue Republican Party (United States) Sonny Perdue Republican Party (United States) The 2006 Georgia gubernatorial election was held on November 7, 2006. Georgia incumbent Republican governor Sonny Perdue ran for re-election to a second and final term as governor. Governor Perdue was renominated by the Republican Party, defeating a minor opponent in the process, while Lieutenant Governor Mark Taylor narrowly emerged victorious from a competitive Democratic primary. In the general election, though Taylor ran a spirited campaign, Perdue was aided by the increasing tendency of the state to vote for Republicans and by his popularity with the public; polling showed his approval ratings above sixty percent. In the end, Perdue was overwhelmingly re-elected as governor, defeating Taylor in a landslide, becoming the first Republican governor of Georgia to ever be reelected. 2024, this is the last time that Muscogee, Warren, Rockdale, Chatham, and Bibb counties voted for the Republican candidate for governor and the last time that Marion, Telfair, and Wheeler counties voted for the Democratic candidate.January 2025 Exit polls showed that Perdue won white voters (68% to 27%) while Taylor won black voters (81% to 17%). As of 2025, Perdue's 17% of the African American vote is the highest showing of any Republican seeking statewide office in Georgia.January 2025 Democratic primary Candidates Bill Bolton Cathy Cox, Secretary of State of Georgia Mac McCarley Mark Taylor, Lieutenant Governor of Georgia Results thumb|right|180px|2006 Georgia Democratic gubernatorial primary. Dark blue indicates Taylor, while light blue indicates Cox. Democratic primary resultsGeorgia Election Results Official Results of the July 18, 2006 Primary Election http://sos.georgia.gov/elections/election_results/2006_0718/summary.htm sos.georgia.gov https://web.archive.org/web/20080206211010/http://sos.georgia.gov/elections/election_results/2006_0718/summary.htm 6 February 2008 dead Mark Taylor Democratic Party (United States) 249,188 52.1% Cathy Cox Democratic Party (United States) 211,978 44.3% Bill Bolton Democratic Party (United States) 10,552 1.7% Mac McCarley Democratic Party (United States) 10,399 0.6% 482,117 100 Republican primary Candidates Ray McBerry, businessman Sonny Perdue, incumbent governor of Georgia Results Republican primary results Sonny Perdue (incumbent) Republican Party (United States) 370,756 88.4% Ray McBerry Republican Party (United States) 48,498 12.6% 419,254 100 General election Fundraising Perdue had more financial resources on hand than Taylor. As of the March 31 filing, Perdue reported that he had over $8.2 million on hand,Campaign Reports Search Georgia Government Campaign Finance Commission of Georgia https://media.ethics.ga.gov/search/Campaign/Campaign_Name.aspx?NameID=293&FilerID=C2006000088&Type=candidate 2024-10-18 media.ethics.ga.gov while Taylor had $4.2 million in reserve.Campaign Reports Search Georgia Government Campaign Finance Commission of Georgia https://media.ethics.ga.gov/search/Campaign/Campaign_ReportOptions.aspx?NameID=291&FilerID=C2006000087&CDRID=4217 2024-10-18 media.ethics.ga.gov Perdue had the added advantage of facing a weak opponent in Ray McBerry in the primary election, while Cox and Taylor engaged in a bitter struggle for the Democratic nomination. Garrett Hayes, the Libertarian candidate, reported less than $1,000 on hand,Campaign Reports Search Georgia Government Campaign Finance Commission of Georgia https://media.ethics.ga.gov/search/Campaign/Campaign_Name.aspx?NameID=295&FilerID=C2006000089&Type=candidate 2024-10-18 media.ethics.ga.gov though the October 31 Zogby poll showed him attracting a surprising 9.1 percent of polled voters.Doherty Brian 2006-11-08 And the Georgia Gubernatorial Race and the Libertarian Party? https://reason.com/2006/11/07/and-the-georgia-gubernatorial/ 2024-10-18 Reason.com en-US Advertisements A minor controversy developed during the primary campaign over an ad created by Georgians for Truth, a group founded by several prominent Democratic fundraisers. The ad criticized Perdue for allegedly failing to pay his taxes for several years before becoming governor, allegations that had been made in the 2002 campaign as well. Cox and Taylor, for reasons that are not clear, requested that the group not run the ad, prompting the Georgia Democratic Party chairman, Bobby Kahn, to strongly rebuke the group's members.Staff Writer Flagger runs in GOP primary against Perdue https://www.savannahnow.com/story/news/2006/04/19/flagger-runs-in-gop-primary/13753070007/ 2024-10-18 Savannah Morning News en-US 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 Lean R 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 Safe R 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 Safe R November 2, 2006 Real Clear PoliticsElection 2006 https://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/writeup/election_2006-21.html Real Clear Politics June 25, 2021 Likely R November 6, 2006 Campaign issues Education The HOPE Scholarship program and its stability and continued solvency are recurring issues in Georgia politics. Citing budget constraints, Perdue signed Republican-sponsored legislation that significantly cut the benefits conferred by the program. Cox and Taylor both severely criticized the governor for these actions, and both pointed to the fact that Perdue voted against the legislation creating the program as a state senator in 1993. Perdue backed an amendment to the state constitution that would have shifted the allocation of the lottery funds that support the program, but the legislation was defeated.Larrabee Brandon Restrictions up fees for HOPE scholars https://www.savannahnow.com/story/news/2006/08/16/restrictions-fees-hope-scholars/13829762007/ 2024-10-18 Savannah Morning News en-US On April 19, 2006, Cox charged that Taylor had not sponsored the HOPE scholarship legislation in 1993, as he claimed. Taylor apparently sponsored a companion bill that did not pass, although he supported the bill that did pass. The incident portended a strongly negative campaign for the Democratic nomination. College tuition may also be an issue. During Perdue's first term, Georgia's universities substantially increased tuition fees. School funding: Perdue successfully backed legislation that requires Georgia schools to spend at least 65% of their budgets "in the classroom". Democrats charged that some school programs, such as music classes, do not fit the definition of "in the classroom." Health care PeachCare, a state program providing medical care for needy children and families, emerged as a point of contention between Perdue and his challengers. Perdue approved a cut in the program during his administration. Taylor, a strong supporter of the program, was particularly vocal in attacking Perdue and advocating significant expansion of the program.Jones Walter C. Perdue, Taylor see health care differently https://www.savannahnow.com/story/news/2006/09/18/perdue-taylor-see-health-care-differently/13826599007/ 2024-10-18 Savannah Morning News en-US Perdue made Medicaid reform a priority during his first term. Democrats were critical of the reform proposal that Perdue presented to federal officials. Immigration The problem presented by illegal immigrants emerged during Georgia's 2006 legislative session as an issue likely to have a large impact on the gubernatorial campaign. Perdue signed legislation restricting the ability of illegal immigrants to access state resources, including health care and public education.Staff Writer Perdue signs controversial bill https://www.augustachronicle.com/story/news/2006/04/18/met-77913-shtml/14770221007/ 2024-10-18 The Augusta Chronicle en-US Voting Voter identification legislation signed by Perdue requiring photo identification for voting while expanding absentee voting opportunities had a substantial impact on the campaign. Democrats strongly denounced the legislation as discriminatory against the poor and elderly, while Republicans attempted to alleviate such concerns by providing access to photo identification for those not possessing it.Gross Doug Governor signs voter ID measure https://www.augustachronicle.com/story/news/2006/01/27/met-49863-shtml/14777315007/ 2024-10-18 The Augusta Chronicle en-US Paper ballots were a major concern of Taylor supporters, who felt that Cox made a mistake when she brought electronic voting to Georgia as secretary of state. Polling Source Date Taylor (D) Perdue (R) Hayes (L)Strategic VisionStrategic Vision Nov. 1, 2006 36% 52% 5%Strategic VisionStrategic Vision Oct. 25, 2006 32% 51% 9%Strategic VisionStrategic Vision September 27, 2006 39% 51% 4%Zogby/WSJhttps://www.wsj.com/public/resources/documents/info-flash06.html?project=elections06-ft&h=495&w=778&hasAd=1&mod=blogs Zogby/WSJ March 13, 2017 May 25, 2017 https://web.archive.org/web/20170525040305/https://www.wsj.com/public/resources/documents/info-flash06.html?project=elections06-ft&h=495&w=778&hasAd=1&mod=blogs dead September 11, 2006 34.9% 47.4% 8.1%Zogby/WSJ August 28, 2006 40.7% 51.3%Strategic VisionStrategic Vision August 23, 2006 41% 54%Rasmussenhttp://www.rasmussenreports.com/2006/State%20Polls/July%202006/GeorgiaGovernor.htm Rasmussen August 4, 2006 October 19, 2006 https://web.archive.org/web/20061019220528/http://www.rasmussenreports.com/2006/State%20Polls/July%202006/GeorgiaGovernor.htm dead August 4, 2006 39% 53%Zogby/WSJ July 24, 2006 39.3% 52.1%Strategic VisionStrategic Vision June 28, 2006 44% 50%Zogby/WSJ June 21, 2006 40% 48.6%Strategic VisionStrategic Vision May 10, 2006 39% 51%RasmussenRasmussen May 6, 2006 36% 51%Rasmussenhttp://www.rasmussenreports.com/2006/State%20Polls/March%202006/Georgia%20Governor%20March.htm Rasmussen March 26, 2006 June 14, 2006 https://web.archive.org/web/20060614172153/http://www.rasmussenreports.com/2006/State%20Polls/March%202006/Georgia%20Governor%20March.htm dead March 26, 2006 41% 51%Strategic VisionStrategic Vision March 8, 2006 33% 57%RasmussenRasmussen Feb 16, 2006 33% 53%Strategic VisionStrategic Vision Jan 25, 2006 36% 57%Strategic VisionStrategic Vision Dec 7, 2005 38% 55%Strategic VisionStrategic Vision Oct 26, 2005 37% 55%Strategic VisionStrategic Vision Aug 4, 2005 40% 52%Strategic VisionStrategic Vision May 13, 2005 42% 50%Strategic VisionStrategic Vision Feb 11, 2005 44% 50% Results Georgia gubernatorial election, 2006Georgia Election Results Official Results of the Tuesday, November 07, 2006 General Election http://sos.georgia.gov/elections/election_results/2006_1107/swall.htm sos.georgia.gov https://web.archive.org/web/20080127135920/http://sos.georgia.gov/elections/election_results/2006_1107/swall.htm 27 January 2008 dead Republican Party (United States) Sonny Perdue (incumbent) 1,229,724 57.95% +6.53% Democratic Party (United States) Mark Taylor 811,049 38.22% -8.03% Libertarian Party (United States) Garrett Michael Hayes 81,412 3.83% +1.50% 418,675 19.73% +14.56% 2,122,185 Republican Party (United States) Democratic Party (United States) Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican Early (largest city: Blakely) McIntosh (largest municipality: Darien) Lowndes (largest city: Valdosta) Burke (largest municipality: Waynesboro) Chatham (largest city: Savannah) Washington (largest municipality: Sandersville) Sumter (largest city: Americus) Jefferson (largest city: Louisville) Muscogee (largest city: Columbus) Meriwether (largest municipality: Manchester) Telfair (largest municipality: McRae-Helena) Bibb (largest city: Macon) Wheeler (largest city: Alamo) Wilkes (largest city: Washington) Grady (largest city: Cairo) Thomas (largest town: Thomasville) Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic Dooly (largest city: Vienna) (previously tied) See also U.S. gubernatorial elections, 2006 Governors of Georgia References External links Official campaign websites (archived) Perdue re-election site Cox for Governor Taylor for Governor Hayes for Governor Bolton for Governor Dashler for Governor Gubernatorial 2006 Category:2006 United States gubernatorial elections Category:November 2006 in the United States Category:July 2006 in the United States