Arizona United States Senate election, 2006
Encyclopedia
The 2006 United States Senate election in Arizona was held on November 7, 2006. The primary elections were held on September 12. Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Jon Kyl
won re-election to a third term.
, was elected to the Senate in 1994 and was re-elected to a second term in 2000; prior to that he spent eight years in the US House of Representatives. Kyl's Democratic opponent for the general election is wealthy real-estate developer Jim Pederson
, who served as the Arizona Democratic Party Chairman from 2001 to 2005. During his tenure, Pederson spent millions of dollars of his own money to help Democrats modernize and to elect former Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano
. The deadline for signing petition signatures to appear on the September 12, 2006 primary ballot was June 14, 2006.
Not long after the 2004 election, Pederson's name began being mentioned as a potential Senate candidate for the 2006 race. On July 28, 2005, Pederson formally stepped down as Chair of the Arizona Democratic Party, further fueling those speculations. In early September 2005, an e-mail was sent from the Arizona Democratic Party's website, inviting people to an announcement by Pederson on September 7. In an anticlimactic move, an e-mail was sent out shortly after the first saying that the announcement would be postponed due to Hurricane Katrina
. It was requested that any money that would be donated to Pederson's campaign at the announcement be directed to relief efforts instead. Similarly, a meeting in Arizona of the Democratic National Committee
(DNC) was scheduled for around the same time. It was also postponed and the same request was made involving donations. On September 7, 2005, Pederson filed to run for US Senate. On September 14, 2005, Pederson formally announced his intention to run, in his hometown of Casa Grande, Arizona
.
Although Kyl started the campaign with a sizable lead in most polls, the gap quickly narrowed, especially after Pederson released his array of ads.
and a $2 million donation from Pederson.
Jon Kyl
Jon Llewellyn Kyl is the junior U.S. Senator from Arizona and the Senate Minority Whip, the second-highest position in the Republican Senate leadership. In 2010 he was recognized by Time magazine as one of the 100 most influential people in the world for his persuasive role in the Senate.The son...
won re-election to a third term.
Candidates
- Jim PedersonJim PedersonJames "Jim" Pederson , is an American businessman, co-founder of the commercial development firm The Pederson Group, and was the Chairman of the Arizona Democratic Party from 2001 to 2005...
, real estate developer and former Chairman of State Democratic Party (2001–2005)
Results
Results
Results
Candidates
- Jon KylJon KylJon Llewellyn Kyl is the junior U.S. Senator from Arizona and the Senate Minority Whip, the second-highest position in the Republican Senate leadership. In 2010 he was recognized by Time magazine as one of the 100 most influential people in the world for his persuasive role in the Senate.The son...
(R), incumbent U.S. Senator (1995-Current) - Richard MackRichard MackRichard Ivan Mack, popularly known as Sheriff Mack, is a former sheriff of Graham County, Arizona and Libertarian candidate for United States Senate election in Arizona, 2006. He is also a member of the Oath Keepers....
(L), former Graham County sheriff http://www.azlp.org/ - Jim PedersonJim PedersonJames "Jim" Pederson , is an American businessman, co-founder of the commercial development firm The Pederson Group, and was the Chairman of the Arizona Democratic Party from 2001 to 2005...
(D), real estate developer and former Chairman of State Democratic Party (2001–2005)
Campaign
The incumbent, Republican Jon KylJon Kyl
Jon Llewellyn Kyl is the junior U.S. Senator from Arizona and the Senate Minority Whip, the second-highest position in the Republican Senate leadership. In 2010 he was recognized by Time magazine as one of the 100 most influential people in the world for his persuasive role in the Senate.The son...
, was elected to the Senate in 1994 and was re-elected to a second term in 2000; prior to that he spent eight years in the US House of Representatives. Kyl's Democratic opponent for the general election is wealthy real-estate developer Jim Pederson
Jim Pederson
James "Jim" Pederson , is an American businessman, co-founder of the commercial development firm The Pederson Group, and was the Chairman of the Arizona Democratic Party from 2001 to 2005...
, who served as the Arizona Democratic Party Chairman from 2001 to 2005. During his tenure, Pederson spent millions of dollars of his own money to help Democrats modernize and to elect former Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano
Janet Napolitano
Janet Napolitano is the third and current United States Secretary of Homeland Security, serving in the administration of President Barack Obama. She is the fourth person to hold the position, which was created after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. A member of the Democratic Party, she was the 21st...
. The deadline for signing petition signatures to appear on the September 12, 2006 primary ballot was June 14, 2006.
Not long after the 2004 election, Pederson's name began being mentioned as a potential Senate candidate for the 2006 race. On July 28, 2005, Pederson formally stepped down as Chair of the Arizona Democratic Party, further fueling those speculations. In early September 2005, an e-mail was sent from the Arizona Democratic Party's website, inviting people to an announcement by Pederson on September 7. In an anticlimactic move, an e-mail was sent out shortly after the first saying that the announcement would be postponed due to Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was a powerful Atlantic hurricane. It is the costliest natural disaster, as well as one of the five deadliest hurricanes, in the history of the United States. Among recorded Atlantic hurricanes, it was the sixth strongest overall...
. It was requested that any money that would be donated to Pederson's campaign at the announcement be directed to relief efforts instead. Similarly, a meeting in Arizona of the Democratic National Committee
Democratic National Committee
The Democratic National Committee is the principal organization governing the United States Democratic Party on a day to day basis. While it is responsible for overseeing the process of writing a platform every four years, the DNC's central focus is on campaign and political activity in support...
(DNC) was scheduled for around the same time. It was also postponed and the same request was made involving donations. On September 7, 2005, Pederson filed to run for US Senate. On September 14, 2005, Pederson formally announced his intention to run, in his hometown of Casa Grande, Arizona
Casa Grande, Arizona
Casa Grande is a city in Pinal County, approximately halfway between Phoenix and Tucson in the U.S. state of Arizona. According to 2010 Census, the population of the city is 48,571...
.
Although Kyl started the campaign with a sizable lead in most polls, the gap quickly narrowed, especially after Pederson released his array of ads.
Fundraising
The race might be one of the most expensive in Arizona history. As of May 7, 2006, Kyl's campaign had raised over $9 million, primarily from private donations from Oil and Energy companies and large fundraising dinners. Pederson's campaign had raised over $5 million, primarily through a dinner event with former President ClintonBill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
and a $2 million donation from Pederson.
Polling
| Source | Date | Kyl (R) | Pederson (D) | Mack (L) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mason-Dixon/MSNBC-McClatchy | November 5, 2006 | 49% | 41% | 3% |
| SurveyUSA | November 3, 2006 | 53% | 40% | 4% |
| Zimmerman/Marketing Intelligence | October 25–30, 2006 | 46% | 41% | 4% |
| Arizona State University/KAET-TV | October 24, 2006 | 47% | 41% | 3% |
| Zogby/WSJ | October 19, 2006 | 50% | 44% | |
| Rasmussen | October 19, 2006 | 51% | 42% | |
| SurveyUSA | October 17, 2006 | 48% | 43% | 4% |
| Northern Arizona University | October 17, 2006 | 49% | 33% | 2% |
| Behavior Research Center | October 4, 2006 | 40% | 34% | |
| Zogby/WSJ | September 28, 2006 | 51% | 44% | |
| Arizona State University/KAET-TV | September 26, 2006 | 49% | 38% | 2% |
| SurveyUSA | September 19, 2006 | 48% | 43% | 2% |
| Rasmussen | September 18, 2006 | 50% | 39% | |
| Zogby/WSJ | September 11, 2006 | 50% | 44% | |
| Harstad Strategic Research (D) | September 7, 2006 | 47% | 41% | |
| Rasmussen | August 31, 2006 | 52% | 35% | |
| Arizona State University/KAET-TV | August 29, 2006 | 46% | 36% | |
| Zogby/WSJ | August 28, 2006 | 48% | 44% | |
| Rasmussen | August 2, 2006 | 53% | 34% | |
| Behavior Research Center | July 26, 2006 | 45% | 27% | |
| Zogby/WSJ | July 24, 2006 | 50% | 40% | |
| SurveyUSA | July 17, 2006 | 52% | 40% | |
| Zogby/WSJ | June 21, 2006 | 48% | 42% | |
| Arizona State University/KAET-TV | June 20, 2006 | 43% | 29% | |
| Rasmussen | June 11, 2006 | 52% | 35% | |
| Behavior Research Center | May 18, 2006 | 40% | 33% | |
| SurveyUSA | May 8, 2006 | 52% | 37% | |
| Rasmussen | April 30, 2006 | 51% | 35% | |
| Arizona State University/KAET-TV | April 20–23, 2006 | 42% | 31% | |
| Rasmussen | April 4, 2006 | 56% | 33% | |
| Zogby/WSJ | March 30, 2006 | 47% | 42% | |
| SurveyUSA | February 27, 2006 | 57% | 33% | |
| Behavior Research Center | January 22, 2006 | 55% | 26% | |
| Rasmussen | December 26, 2005 | 50% | 30% | |
| Arizona State University | October 28, 2005 | 50% | 28% | |