Oregon gubernatorial election, 2006
Encyclopedia
The 2006 gubernatorial election in the U.S. state
of Oregon
took place on November 7, 2006. Incumbent Democrat Ted Kulongoski
defeated Republican Ron Saxton
, winning his bid for a second term as Governor of Oregon
.
The race featured hotly-contested primary elections for both the Republican
and Democratic
parties, a strong but short-lived run by State Senator Ben Westlund
(as an independent), and controversy over the legitimacy of Constitution Party
candidate Mary Starrett
.
On the Democratic side, numerous challengers considered running to succeed one-term incumbent Ted Kulongoski. Former Governor John Kitzhaber
was discussed widely as a potential challenger, but ultimately declined to run. State Senator
Vicki Walker
, known for standing up to powerful utilities, also considered a run. Former Treasurer
and legislator
Jim Hill
and former state Senator and Lane County
Commissioner Pete Sorenson
ended up running against Kulongoski in the May primary election, which Kulongoski won.
A wide field of Republicans emerged to challenge Kulongoski. 2004 nominee, and party chairman Kevin Mannix
was an early favorite. It was widely believed that a highly conservative candidate like Mannix (who has based much of his career on strong advocacy of victims' rights and other conservative social issues) faced an uphill battle in a left-leaning state. State Senator Jason Atkinson
won strong support as a relative newcomer, but ultimately 2004 contender Ron Saxton
- who had been widely regarded in 2004 as the most moderate Republican contender - emerged with the nomination.
State Senator Ben Westlund
, formerly a Republican, dropped his party affiliation to run as an independent candidate. He built a strong campaign, likely gathering enough signatures to qualify for the General Election, but ultimately declined to do so (citing his desire not to run as a "spoiler
".)
Three minor parties - Constitution, Green, and Libertarian - also nominated candidates for the November election.
The Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde, who opposed a Columbia Gorge casino
, spent over $800,000 in the Democratic and Republican primary races, opposing Kulongoski and Mannix.
- Incumbent Governor
Republican Party:Ron Saxton
- Ex-Portland Public School
Board Member, Attorney, and 2002 Gubernatorial Candidate
Constitution Party:Mary Starrett
- Ex radio & talk show host.
Pacific Green Party:Joe Keating - Ex director of the Oregon Wildlife Federation, chair of the Oregon Sierra Club from 1999 to 2000
Libertarian Party:Richard Morley
won a three-candidate primary with 54%, and faced a tough general election against moderate former Portland
School Board member Ron Saxton
. As of September 21, 2006, Kulongoski's approval rating was 36% according to a poll done by SurveyUSA.
The plus side for Kulongoski is that former moderate Republican-turned-Independent candidate Ben Westlund
withdrew from the race for governor on August 10, 2006, explaining that he did not want to be a spoiler
; and that Constitution Party candidate Mary Starrett
was expected to take votes primarily away from Republican nominee Saxton. CQPolitics quoted Oregon State University political science professor Bill Lunch as explaining: "I think we’re ... likely to see 5-to-6 or 7-to-8 percent from Starrett. Even so, those numbers come right out of Saxton’s hide."
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
took place on November 7, 2006. Incumbent Democrat Ted Kulongoski
Ted Kulongoski
Theodore R. "Ted" Kulongoski is an American politician, who served as the 36th Governor of Oregon. A Democrat, he has served in both houses of the Oregon Legislative Assembly, as the state Insurance Commissioner, the Attorney General, and an Associate Justice on the Oregon Supreme Court.-Early...
defeated Republican Ron Saxton
Ron Saxton
Ronald L. Saxton is an American lawyer and Republican politician in Oregon. A native of Oregon, his first public office was with the Portland Public Schools Board...
, winning his bid for a second term as Governor of Oregon
Governor of Oregon
The Governor of Oregon is the top executive of the government of the U.S. state of Oregon. The title of governor was also applied to the office of Oregon's chief executive during the provisional and U.S. territorial governments....
.
The race featured hotly-contested primary elections for both the Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
and Democratic
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
parties, a strong but short-lived run by State Senator Ben Westlund
Ben Westlund
Ben Westlund was a politician in the U.S. state of Oregon. A Democrat, he was elected State Treasurer in 2008. Previously, Westlund served in both houses of the Oregon Legislative Assembly, as a Republican from 1996 to 2006, as an independent from 2006 to 2007, and then as a Democrat...
(as an independent), and controversy over the legitimacy of Constitution Party
Constitution Party of Oregon
The Constitution Party of Oregon is a political party organized as a minor party pursuant to state election law, and recognized by the State of Oregon as a state-wide nominating party....
candidate Mary Starrett
Mary Starrett
Mary Starrett is the National Political Communications Director of the Constitution Party. She worked as a local television news reporter and talk show host, and a radio commentator, but claims she was fired for articulating extremist views. In 2006, she became the nominee of the Constitution...
.
Primary elections
Both the Democratic and Republican primary elections were actively contested.On the Democratic side, numerous challengers considered running to succeed one-term incumbent Ted Kulongoski. Former Governor John Kitzhaber
John Kitzhaber
John Albert Kitzhaber is the 37th Governor of Oregon. He served as the 35th Governor of Oregon from 1995 to 2003 and became the first person to be elected to the office three times when he was re-elected to a non-consecutive third term in 2010...
was discussed widely as a potential challenger, but ultimately declined to run. State Senator
Oregon State Senate
The Oregon State Senate is the upper house of the state-wide legislature for the U.S. state of Oregon. Along with the lower chamber Oregon House of Representatives it makes up the Oregon Legislative Assembly. There are 30 members of the State Senate, representing 30 districts across the state,...
Vicki Walker
Vicki Walker
Vicki Lynn Walker is an American politician and administrator from Oregon. She is the Oregon State Director for Rural Development with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. A member of the Democratic Party, Walker previously served in both houses of the Oregon Legislature and briefly served as chair...
, known for standing up to powerful utilities, also considered a run. Former Treasurer
Oregon State Treasurer
The Oregon State Treasurer is a constitutional officer within the executive branch of the government of the U.S. state of Oregon, elected by statewide vote to serve a four year term. As chief financial officer for the state, the office holder heads the Oregon State Treasury, and with the Governor...
and legislator
Oregon Legislative Assembly
The Oregon Legislative Assembly is the state legislature for the U.S. state of Oregon. The Legislative Assembly is bicameral, consisting of an upper and lower house: the Senate, whose 30 members are elected to serve four-year terms; and the House of Representatives, with 60 members elected to...
Jim Hill
Jim Hill (Oregon politician)
Jim Hill is an attorney, financial consultant, and politician from the U.S. state of Oregon. He served two terms as Oregon State Treasurer from January 4, 1993 to January 1, 2001.-Education and personal:...
and former state Senator and Lane County
Lane County, Oregon
-National protected areas:*Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuge *Siuslaw National Forest *Umpqua National Forest *Willamette National Forest -Government:...
Commissioner Pete Sorenson
Pete Sorenson
Pete Sorenson is a County Commissioner in Lane County, Oregon. Born in Washoe County, Nevada, Pete is a lawyer and a progressive member of the Democratic Party....
ended up running against Kulongoski in the May primary election, which Kulongoski won.
A wide field of Republicans emerged to challenge Kulongoski. 2004 nominee, and party chairman Kevin Mannix
Kevin Mannix
Kevin Leese Mannix is a politician, business attorney, and former chairman of the Republican Party in the U.S. state of Oregon.Mannix has served in both houses of the Oregon Legislative Assembly, as a Democrat and, later, a Republican...
was an early favorite. It was widely believed that a highly conservative candidate like Mannix (who has based much of his career on strong advocacy of victims' rights and other conservative social issues) faced an uphill battle in a left-leaning state. State Senator Jason Atkinson
Jason Atkinson
Jason Atkinson is an American politician in the US state of Oregon. A native of California, the Republican grew up in the Southern Oregon city of Medford. He is a senator in the Oregon Legislative Assembly. He ran unsuccessfully for the Republican nomination for Governor of Oregon in 2006, but...
won strong support as a relative newcomer, but ultimately 2004 contender Ron Saxton
Ron Saxton
Ronald L. Saxton is an American lawyer and Republican politician in Oregon. A native of Oregon, his first public office was with the Portland Public Schools Board...
- who had been widely regarded in 2004 as the most moderate Republican contender - emerged with the nomination.
State Senator Ben Westlund
Ben Westlund
Ben Westlund was a politician in the U.S. state of Oregon. A Democrat, he was elected State Treasurer in 2008. Previously, Westlund served in both houses of the Oregon Legislative Assembly, as a Republican from 1996 to 2006, as an independent from 2006 to 2007, and then as a Democrat...
, formerly a Republican, dropped his party affiliation to run as an independent candidate. He built a strong campaign, likely gathering enough signatures to qualify for the General Election, but ultimately declined to do so (citing his desire not to run as a "spoiler
Spoiler effect
The spoiler effect describes the effect a minor party candidate with little chance of winning has in a close election, when that candidate's presence in the election draws votes from a major candidate similar to them, thereby causing a candidate dissimilar to them to win the election...
".)
Three minor parties - Constitution, Green, and Libertarian - also nominated candidates for the November election.
The Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde, who opposed a Columbia Gorge casino
Columbia Gorge casino
The Columbia Gorge casino is a casino proposed by the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, a group of Indian tribes in the U.S. state of Oregon. They have sought to build a casino in the Columbia River Gorge since at least 1999. Current plans call for a facility with 250 hotel rooms in the city...
, spent over $800,000 in the Democratic and Republican primary races, opposing Kulongoski and Mannix.
Democratic primary
| Poll Source | Date Administered | Ted Kulongoski | Jim Hill | Pete Sorenson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oregonian | May 16, 2006 | 54.37% | 29.37% | 16.27% |
Republican primary
| Poll Source | Date Administered | Ron Saxton | Kevin Mannix | Jason Atkinson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oregonian | May 16, 2006 | 42.17% | 30.05% | 22.56% |
General Election Candidates
Democratic Party:Ted KulongoskiTed Kulongoski
Theodore R. "Ted" Kulongoski is an American politician, who served as the 36th Governor of Oregon. A Democrat, he has served in both houses of the Oregon Legislative Assembly, as the state Insurance Commissioner, the Attorney General, and an Associate Justice on the Oregon Supreme Court.-Early...
- Incumbent Governor
Republican Party:Ron Saxton
Ron Saxton
Ronald L. Saxton is an American lawyer and Republican politician in Oregon. A native of Oregon, his first public office was with the Portland Public Schools Board...
- Ex-Portland Public School
Portland Public Schools, Oregon
Portland Public Schools is a public school district located in Portland, Oregon, United States. It is the largest school district in the state of Oregon, and in the Pacific Northwest. It is a Pre K-12 district with an enrollment of approximately 47,000 students...
Board Member, Attorney, and 2002 Gubernatorial Candidate
Constitution Party:Mary Starrett
Mary Starrett
Mary Starrett is the National Political Communications Director of the Constitution Party. She worked as a local television news reporter and talk show host, and a radio commentator, but claims she was fired for articulating extremist views. In 2006, she became the nominee of the Constitution...
- Ex radio & talk show host.
Pacific Green Party:Joe Keating - Ex director of the Oregon Wildlife Federation, chair of the Oregon Sierra Club from 1999 to 2000
Libertarian Party:Richard Morley
Election results
Outlook and opinion polling
Democratic Governor Ted KulongoskiTed Kulongoski
Theodore R. "Ted" Kulongoski is an American politician, who served as the 36th Governor of Oregon. A Democrat, he has served in both houses of the Oregon Legislative Assembly, as the state Insurance Commissioner, the Attorney General, and an Associate Justice on the Oregon Supreme Court.-Early...
won a three-candidate primary with 54%, and faced a tough general election against moderate former Portland
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
School Board member Ron Saxton
Ron Saxton
Ronald L. Saxton is an American lawyer and Republican politician in Oregon. A native of Oregon, his first public office was with the Portland Public Schools Board...
. As of September 21, 2006, Kulongoski's approval rating was 36% according to a poll done by SurveyUSA.
The plus side for Kulongoski is that former moderate Republican-turned-Independent candidate Ben Westlund
Ben Westlund
Ben Westlund was a politician in the U.S. state of Oregon. A Democrat, he was elected State Treasurer in 2008. Previously, Westlund served in both houses of the Oregon Legislative Assembly, as a Republican from 1996 to 2006, as an independent from 2006 to 2007, and then as a Democrat...
withdrew from the race for governor on August 10, 2006, explaining that he did not want to be a spoiler
Spoiler effect
The spoiler effect describes the effect a minor party candidate with little chance of winning has in a close election, when that candidate's presence in the election draws votes from a major candidate similar to them, thereby causing a candidate dissimilar to them to win the election...
; and that Constitution Party candidate Mary Starrett
Mary Starrett
Mary Starrett is the National Political Communications Director of the Constitution Party. She worked as a local television news reporter and talk show host, and a radio commentator, but claims she was fired for articulating extremist views. In 2006, she became the nominee of the Constitution...
was expected to take votes primarily away from Republican nominee Saxton. CQPolitics quoted Oregon State University political science professor Bill Lunch as explaining: "I think we’re ... likely to see 5-to-6 or 7-to-8 percent from Starrett. Even so, those numbers come right out of Saxton’s hide."
| Poll Source | Date Administered | Kulongoski (D) | Saxton (R) | Starrett (C) | Morley (L) | Keating (G) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KATU/Oregonian | October 31, 2006 | 45% | 38% | 6% | 1% | 1% |
| Rasmussen | October 31, 2006 | 51% | 44% | — | — | — |
| Riley Research | October 25, 2006 | 47% | 36% | 4% | 1% | 1% |
| Riley Research | October 3, 2006 | 37% | 39% | 2% | 1% | 1% |
| Rasmussen | October 1, 2006 | 47% | 42% | — | — | — |
| Rasmussen | September 25, 2006 | 47% | 38% | — | — | — |
| Zogby Interactive Poll | September 11, 2006 | 47.0% | 39.8% | 4.5% | 1.2% | — |
| Zogby Interactive Poll | August 28, 2006 | 49.9% | 43.5% | — | — | — |
| Rasmussen | August 22, 2006 | 49% | 35% | — | — | — |
| Rasmussen | August 3, 2006 | 45% | 35% | — | — | — |
| Zogby Interactive Poll | July 24, 2006 | 49.0% | 42.2% | — | — | — |
| Zogby Interactive Poll | June 21, 2006 | 47.6% | 40.1% | — | — | — |
| Rasmussen | May 23, 2006 | 43% | 41% | — | — | — |
| Zogby Interactive Poll | March 22-27, 2006 | 46% | 38.8% | — | — | — |
| Rasmussen | February 27, 2006 | 47% | 33% | — | — | — |
External links
- Oregon Secretary of State Elections Division
- Oregonian Voter Guide
- Joe Keating for Governor
- Ted Kulongoski for Governor
- Rox Saxton for Governor
- Mary Starrett for Governor
See also
- Oregon statewide elections, 2006Oregon statewide elections, 2006Oregon's 2006 statewide election included a May 16 primary election and a November 7 general election.Ten statewide ballot measures were on the November ballot....
- United States gubernatorial elections, 2006United States gubernatorial elections, 2006The U.S. 2006 gubernatorial elections were held on November 7, 2006 in 36 states, with 22 of the seats held by Republicans and 14 by Democrats....
- List of Oregon Governors