Pennsylvania gubernatorial election, 2006
Encyclopedia
The Pennsylvania gubernatorial election of 2006 was held on November 7, 2006, and included the races for the Governor of Pennsylvania and Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania
.
Incumbent Governor Ed Rendell
, a Democrat
, ran for re-election. Though some had speculated that Rendell would choose another running mate, Pennsylvania's first female Lieutenant Governor, Catherine Baker Knoll
was also running for re-election.
, Pat Toomey
, Mark Schweiker, Melissa Hart, Rick Santorum
, Bruce Castor would consider pursuing the GOP nomination.
Four candidates where campaigning for governor, but only two went on to appear on the ballot in November. Rendell and Swann both were unopposed for their respective major party nominations. Constitution candidate Hagan Smith was unable to secure the necessary signatures to appear on the ballot. On August 11, Green Party candidate Marakay Rogers withdrew her nominating papers, following a challenge by Pennsylvania Democrats, who alleged more than 69,000 signatures on the petitions were fake names, unregistered voters or illegible.
The challenge followed Republican Senator Rick Santorum
's drive to collect signatures to put Green candidate Carl Romanelli on the ballot.
Rogers continued to campaign, hopeful that a federal appeals court would rule favorably in a lawsuit seeking to overturn the state's signature requirement for third party candidates.
Not running:
of Pennsylvania. Rendell's approval rating as of May 2006 was 62%.
Challenging Rendell was former Pittsburgh Steelers
Hall of Famer
, Lynn Swann
(R). His running mate was businessman Jim Matthews, Montgomery County
Commisoner and the brother of MSNBC's Chris Matthews
.
In the 2000 Presidential election
, then Vice President
Al Gore
won the state 51%-47% over then Texas
Governor
George W. Bush
. In 2004, Senator John Kerry
carried the state 51%-49% over incumbent President Bush
.
Although the state has voted Democratic for 8 of the past 12 presidential elections, its Congressional delegation has been majority Republican for years. The counties of Philadelphia
and Allegheny
are the Democratic strongholds (Philadelphia: 75% Democrat, Allegheny: 60% Democrat), while the central part of the state is where the Republican Party fares best. The statewide party registration is:
In July 2005, a Zogby Poll showed Rendell with only a 47% to 41% lead over Lynn Swann. Some speculated that controversy over Act 72, proposed Medicaid cuts, and possibly even a legislative pay increase
that was signed into law had reduced the Governor’s popularity. Also, when compared to other polls, the six percent lead was an outlier. Rendell has led in other recent polls by significantly higher margins.
Following that poll, Rendell’s supporters pointed out that he has raised more money than his opponents, which they felt would help him spread his message. They also pointed out that no Pennsylvania governor had lost re-election since the 1950s, [until the PA Constitutional Convention of 1968, PA governors were limited to one consecutive term—therefore a correct statement would be "no PA governor has lost a bid for re-election since 1970"] and that, as a sitting governor, Rendell had all of the traditional advantages of an incumbent.
Swann hoped to perform strongly in the conservative "T" section of the state (the central and northern regions) and in his native western Pennsylvania
area. On 7 February 2006 Swann served as master of ceremonies for the Pittsburgh Steelers's
Super Bowl XL
victory parade before 250,000 people. Swann
canvassed for votes among tailgating
voters in Philadelphia before the Steelers
game against the Eagles
.
At the time, Rendell had relatively low approval ratings outside of his native Southeastern Pennsylvania. Polls in early February showed Swann and Rendell in a statistical tie.
However, Swann's momentum did not survive an effective barrage of advertising from Rendell
in early spring and had trouble keeping up with Rendell's effective fundraising. Swann's focus on "reforming" Harrisburg never caught traction, possibly as a result of his vocal support for Chip Brightbill and Robert Jubelirer
, two legislative leaders who were defeated in the May 2006 primary election.
Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania
The Lieutenant Governor is a constitutional officer of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The Lieutenant Governor is elected every four years along with the Governor. Jim Cawley of Bucks County is the incumbent Lieutenant Governor...
.
Incumbent Governor Ed Rendell
Ed Rendell
Edward Gene "Ed" Rendell is an American politician who served as the 45th Governor of Pennsylvania. Rendell, a member of the Democratic Party, was elected Governor of Pennsylvania in 2002, and his term of office began January 21, 2003...
, a Democrat
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...
, ran for re-election. Though some had speculated that Rendell would choose another running mate, Pennsylvania's first female Lieutenant Governor, Catherine Baker Knoll
Catherine Baker Knoll
Catherine Baker Knoll was an American politician and member of the Democratic Party. She was the 30th Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania, serving under Governor Ed Rendell from 2003 to 2008.-Background:...
was also running for re-election.
Candidates
Shortly after the 2002 Gubernatorial election, political observers speculated that Jeff Piccola, Jane EarllJane Earll
Jane M. Earll is a Republican member of the Pennsylvania State Senate who has represented the 49th District since 1997. Earll's term expires in 2012. She is the chair of the Senate Community, Economic & Recreational Committee...
, Pat Toomey
Pat Toomey
Patrick Joseph "Pat" Toomey, Sr. is the junior United States Senator for Pennsylvania and a member of the Republican Party. Previously, Toomey served as a U.S. Representative for three terms, but did not seek a fourth in compliance with a pledge he had made while running for office in 1998...
, Mark Schweiker, Melissa Hart, Rick Santorum
Rick Santorum
Richard John "Rick" Santorum is a lawyer and a former United States Senator from the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Santorum was the chairman of the Senate Republican Conference -making him the third-ranking Senate Republican from 2001 until his leave in 2007. Santorum is considered both a social...
, Bruce Castor would consider pursuing the GOP nomination.
Four candidates where campaigning for governor, but only two went on to appear on the ballot in November. Rendell and Swann both were unopposed for their respective major party nominations. Constitution candidate Hagan Smith was unable to secure the necessary signatures to appear on the ballot. On August 11, Green Party candidate Marakay Rogers withdrew her nominating papers, following a challenge by Pennsylvania Democrats, who alleged more than 69,000 signatures on the petitions were fake names, unregistered voters or illegible.
The challenge followed Republican Senator Rick Santorum
Rick Santorum
Richard John "Rick" Santorum is a lawyer and a former United States Senator from the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Santorum was the chairman of the Senate Republican Conference -making him the third-ranking Senate Republican from 2001 until his leave in 2007. Santorum is considered both a social...
's drive to collect signatures to put Green candidate Carl Romanelli on the ballot.
Rogers continued to campaign, hopeful that a federal appeals court would rule favorably in a lawsuit seeking to overturn the state's signature requirement for third party candidates.
- Democrat: Ed RendellEd RendellEdward Gene "Ed" Rendell is an American politician who served as the 45th Governor of Pennsylvania. Rendell, a member of the Democratic Party, was elected Governor of Pennsylvania in 2002, and his term of office began January 21, 2003...
-- incumbent Governor of Pennsylvania. Previously, he was the Chairman of the Democratic National CommitteeDemocratic National CommitteeThe 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...
and Mayor of Philadelphia.
- Republican: Lynn SwannLynn Swann-Collegiate:Swann attended the University of Southern California, where he was an All-American on the Trojans football team. He played under legendary coach John McKay, including the 1972 undefeated and national championship season. McKay said of Swann, "He has speed, soft hands, and grace." He...
-- a retired Pittsburgh SteelersPittsburgh SteelersThe Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
football Hall of FamerPro Football Hall of FameThe Pro Football Hall of Fame is the hall of fame of professional football in the United States with an emphasis on the National Football League . It opened in Canton, Ohio, on September 7, 1963, with 17 charter inductees...
, and former chairman of the President's Council on Physical Fitness and SportsPresident's Council on Physical Fitness and SportsThe President's Council on Fitness, Sports, and Nutrition , is an American government organization that aims to "promote, encourage and motivate Americans of all ages to become physically active and participate in sport"...
- Green Party: Marakay Rogers (Green Party), an attorney, liberal activist, and 2004 Green Party State Attorney GeneralAttorney GeneralIn most common law jurisdictions, the attorney general, or attorney-general, is the main legal advisor to the government, and in some jurisdictions he or she may also have executive responsibility for law enforcement or responsibility for public prosecutions.The term is used to refer to any person...
nominee.
- Constitution Party: Hagan Smith (Constitution Party), a building contractor, conservative activist and chair of the Butler CountyButler County, Pennsylvania-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 174,083 people, 65,862 households, and 46,827 families residing in the county. The population density was 221 people per square mile . There were 69,868 housing units at an average density of 89 per square mile...
Constitution Party.
Not running:
- Jim Panyard—the former president of the Pennsylvania Manufacturer's Association withdrew from the race in February 2006. His official statement cited poor fundraising and the lack of significant media attention among his reasons.
- Jeff Piccola -- the Majority Whip of the Pennsylvania State SenatePennsylvania State SenateThe Pennsylvania State Senate has been meeting since 1791. It is the upper house of the Pennsylvania General Assembly, the Pennsylvania state legislature. The State Senate meets in the State Capitol building in Harrisburg. Senators are elected for four year terms, staggered every two years such...
. Piccola officially entered the race in 2005 but withdrew in January 2006. Early polling of showed that his chances of winning the State Committee endorsement were slim.
- William Scranton III -- a former Lieutenant Governor and the 1986 GOP nominee. He is also the son of former governor William ScrantonWilliam ScrantonWilliam Warren Scranton is a former U.S. Republican Party politician. Scranton served as the 38th Governor of Pennsylvania from 1963 to 1967. From 1976 to 1977, he served as United States Ambassador to the United Nations.-Early life:...
. On 25 January 2006 Scranton fired his campaign manager Jim Seif when he referred to Swann as "the rich white guy in this campaign" on a Pennsylvania Cable NetworkPennsylvania Cable NetworkPCN is a Government-access television cable television network dedicated to 24-hour coverage of government and public affairs in the commonwealth...
call-in show. Seif was attempting to portray Swann as the favorite of the GOP political establishment. Scranton withdrew from the race on February 7, 2006, stating that he had found that Lynn Swann was receiving "near unanimous backing of the state and national parties."
- Russ DiamondRuss DiamondRussell H. "Russ" Diamond is an entrepreneur, political activist, and politician from the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. He attempted to secure ballot access as an Independent candidate for Governor of Pennsylvania in 2006. He is currently running for Pennsylvania Lieutenant Governor as a...
(Independent), one of three people declared "people of the year" by the Philadelphia Inquirer, for his work in exposing the clandestine pay raise the General Assembly voted themselves at 2am just before adjournment in July 2005. His running mate would have been Tom LingenfelterTom LingenfelterTom Lingenfelter is a teacher, historian, intelligence agent, businessman, and political activist from the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. He is a perennial candidate for public office and was an Independent candidate for Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania in 2006....
, a former GOP state committeeman, conservative activist, and frequent candidate. Diamond ended his campaign due to an inability to meet the petition requirements to get on the ballot as an independent.
- Michael Morrill—he is a political activist and was the Green PartyGreen Party (United States)The Green Party of the United States is a nationally recognized political party which officially formed in 1991. It is a voluntary association of state green parties. Prior to national formation, many state affiliates had already formed and were recognized by other state parties...
's nominee for governor in 2002. Had he run as a Democrat, Morrill likely would have attempted to court support from the progressive wing of the Democratic Party by attacking what he perceives as flaws in Governor Rendell's record on labor unions, civil liberties, and poverty alleviation. Morrill announced on February 13, 2006, that he would not run, citing the "toll" his 2002 race took on him and his family.
Analysis
Rendell and Knoll had the advantage of incumbency, important in the swing stateSwing state
In United States presidential politics, a swing state is a state in which no single candidate or party has overwhelming support in securing that state's electoral college votes...
of Pennsylvania. Rendell's approval rating as of May 2006 was 62%.
Challenging Rendell was former Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
Hall of Famer
Pro Football Hall of Fame
The Pro Football Hall of Fame is the hall of fame of professional football in the United States with an emphasis on the National Football League . It opened in Canton, Ohio, on September 7, 1963, with 17 charter inductees...
, Lynn Swann
Lynn Swann
-Collegiate:Swann attended the University of Southern California, where he was an All-American on the Trojans football team. He played under legendary coach John McKay, including the 1972 undefeated and national championship season. McKay said of Swann, "He has speed, soft hands, and grace." He...
(R). His running mate was businessman Jim Matthews, Montgomery County
Montgomery County, Pennsylvania
Montgomery County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania, in the United States. As of 2010, the population was 799,874, making it the third most populous county in Pennsylvania . The county seat is Norristown.The county was created on September 10, 1784, out of land originally part...
Commisoner and the brother of MSNBC's Chris Matthews
Chris Matthews
Christopher John "Chris" Matthews is an American news anchor and political commentator, known for his nightly hour-long talk show, Hardball with Chris Matthews, which is televised on the American cable television channel MSNBC...
.
In the 2000 Presidential election
United States presidential election, 2000
The United States presidential election of 2000 was a contest between Republican candidate George W. Bush, then-governor of Texas and son of former president George H. W. Bush , and Democratic candidate Al Gore, then-Vice President....
, then Vice President
Vice President of the United States
The Vice President of the United States is the holder of a public office created by the United States Constitution. The Vice President, together with the President of the United States, is indirectly elected by the people, through the Electoral College, to a four-year term...
Al Gore
Al Gore
Albert Arnold "Al" Gore, Jr. served as the 45th Vice President of the United States , under President Bill Clinton. He was the Democratic Party's nominee for President in the 2000 U.S. presidential election....
won the state 51%-47% over then Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
Governor
Governor of Texas
The governor of Texas is the head of the executive branch of Texas's government and the commander-in-chief of the state's military forces. The governor has the power to either approve or veto bills passed by the Texas Legislature, and to convene the legislature...
George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
. In 2004, Senator John Kerry
John Kerry
John Forbes Kerry is the senior United States Senator from Massachusetts, the 10th most senior U.S. Senator and chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He was the presidential nominee of the Democratic Party in the 2004 presidential election, but lost to former President George W...
carried the state 51%-49% over incumbent President Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
.
Although the state has voted Democratic for 8 of the past 12 presidential elections, its Congressional delegation has been majority Republican for years. The counties of Philadelphia
Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania
-History:Tribes of Lenape were the first known occupants in the area which became Philadelphia County. The first European settlers were Swedes and Finns who arrived in 1638. The Netherlands seized the area in 1655, but permanently lost control to England in 1674...
and Allegheny
Allegheny County, Pennsylvania
Allegheny County is a county in the southwestern part of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 census, the population was 1,223,348; making it the second most populous county in Pennsylvania, following Philadelphia County. The county seat is Pittsburgh...
are the Democratic strongholds (Philadelphia: 75% Democrat, Allegheny: 60% Democrat), while the central part of the state is where the Republican Party fares best. The statewide party registration is:
| Party | Count | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Democratic | 3,841,429 | 47.6% |
| Republican | 3,292,656 | 40.8% |
| Other | 939,252 | 11.6% |
2005 Pennsylvania General Assembly pay raise controversy
In the early morning hours of July 7, 2005, the Pennsylvania General Assembly passed pay increases for state lawmakers, judges, and top executive-branch officials. The vote took place at 2 a.m. without public review or commentary and Governor Ed Rendell signed the bill into law...
that was signed into law had reduced the Governor’s popularity. Also, when compared to other polls, the six percent lead was an outlier. Rendell has led in other recent polls by significantly higher margins.
Following that poll, Rendell’s supporters pointed out that he has raised more money than his opponents, which they felt would help him spread his message. They also pointed out that no Pennsylvania governor had lost re-election since the 1950s, [until the PA Constitutional Convention of 1968, PA governors were limited to one consecutive term—therefore a correct statement would be "no PA governor has lost a bid for re-election since 1970"] and that, as a sitting governor, Rendell had all of the traditional advantages of an incumbent.
Swann hoped to perform strongly in the conservative "T" section of the state (the central and northern regions) and in his native western Pennsylvania
Western Pennsylvania
Western Pennsylvania consists of the western third of the state of Pennsylvania in the United States. Pittsburgh is the largest city in the region, with a metropolitan area population of about 2.4 million people, and serves as its economic and cultural center. Erie, Altoona, and Johnstown are its...
area. On 7 February 2006 Swann served as master of ceremonies for the Pittsburgh Steelers's
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
Super Bowl XL
Super Bowl XL
Super Bowl XL was an American football game pitting the American Football Conference champion Pittsburgh Steelers against the National Football Conference champion Seattle Seahawks to decide the National Football League champion for the 2005 season...
victory parade before 250,000 people. Swann
Lynn Swann
-Collegiate:Swann attended the University of Southern California, where he was an All-American on the Trojans football team. He played under legendary coach John McKay, including the 1972 undefeated and national championship season. McKay said of Swann, "He has speed, soft hands, and grace." He...
canvassed for votes among tailgating
Tailgate party
In the United States, a tailgate party is a social event held on and around the open tailgate of a vehicle. Tailgating often involves consuming alcoholic beverages and grilling food. Tailgate parties usually occur in the parking lots at stadiums and arenas, before and occasionally after games and...
voters in Philadelphia before the Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
game against the Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
.
At the time, Rendell had relatively low approval ratings outside of his native Southeastern Pennsylvania. Polls in early February showed Swann and Rendell in a statistical tie.
However, Swann's momentum did not survive an effective barrage of advertising from Rendell
Ed Rendell
Edward Gene "Ed" Rendell is an American politician who served as the 45th Governor of Pennsylvania. Rendell, a member of the Democratic Party, was elected Governor of Pennsylvania in 2002, and his term of office began January 21, 2003...
in early spring and had trouble keeping up with Rendell's effective fundraising. Swann's focus on "reforming" Harrisburg never caught traction, possibly as a result of his vocal support for Chip Brightbill and Robert Jubelirer
Robert Jubelirer
Robert C. Jubelirer is a Republican Pennsylvania political leader. He served as a member of the Pennsylvania State Senate from 1975 to 2006, and simultaneously served as the President pro tempore of the Pennsylvania State Senate and Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania between 2001 and...
, two legislative leaders who were defeated in the May 2006 primary election.
Polling
| Source | Date | Rendell (D) | Swann (R) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Temple/Inquirer Poll | September 24, 2006 | 60% | 33% |
| Rasmussen | September 22, 2006 | 56% | 36% |
| Zogby/WSJ | September 11, 2006 | 51.6% | 42.1% |
| Zogby/WSJ | August 28, 2006 | 48.4% | 43.5% |
| Rasmussen | August 25, 2006 | 50% | 38% |
| Strategic Vision | August 17, 2006 | 51% | 41% |
| Quinnipiac | August 16, 2006 | 57% | 38% |
| Rasmussen | July 26, 2006 | 50% | 40% |
| Zogby/WSJ | July 24, 2006 | 47.5% | 41.1% |
| Strategic Vision | July 20, 2006 | 49% | 36% |
| Rasmussen | June 26, 2006 | 50% | 36% |
| Quinnipiac | June 22, 2006 | 55% | 31% |
| Zogby/WSJ | June 21, 2006 | 47.7% | 43.4% |
| Strategic Vision | June 15, 2006 | 49% | 38% |
| Rasmussen | May 25, 2006 | 52% | 34% |
| Quinnipiac | May 12, 2006 | 55% | 33% |
| Strategic Vision | May 10, 2006 | 49% | 41% |
| Keystone Poll | May 3, 2006 | 49% | 35% |
| Rasmussen | April 29, 2006 | 41% | 44% |
| IssuesPA/Pew Poll | April 17–26, 2006 | 30% | 29% |
| Muhlenberg | April 17–24, 2006 | 45% | 39% |
| Strategic Vision | April 13, 2006 | 44% | 42% |
| Quinnipiac | April 5, 2006 | 47% | 37% |
| IssuesPA/Pew Poll | March 30, 2006 | 29% | 35% |
| Rasmussen | March 28, 2006 | 44% | 41% |
| Strategic Vision | March 15, 2006 | 44% | 44% |
| Muhlenberg | March 4, 2006 | 46% | 43% |
| Rasmussen | Feb 21, 2006 | 46% | 43% |
| Quinnipiac | Feb 15, 2006 | 48% | 36% |
| Keystone Poll | Feb 9, 2006 | 45% | 42% |
| Strategic Vision | Jan 25, 2006 | 44% | 46% |
| Rasmussen | Jan 19, 2006 | 43% | 45% |
| Strategic Vision | Dec 21, 2005 | 45% | 41% |
| Quinnipiac | Dec 13, 2005 | 48% | 35% |
| Strategic Vision | Nov 16, 2005 | 45% | 42% |
| Rasmussen | Nov 7, 2005 | 50% | 36% |
| Strategic Vision | Oct 19, 2005 | 46% | 41% |
| Keystone Poll | September, 2005 | 53% | 33% |
| Strategic Vision | Sept 12, 2005 | 48% | 43% |
| Strategic Vision | Aug 2, 2005 | 47% | 41% |
| Rasmussen | July 20, 2005 | 47% | 41% |
| Keystone Poll | June, 2005 | 42% | 32% |
| Keystone Poll | March, 2005 | 59% | 29% |
Results
See also
- Pennsylvania United States Senate election, 2006Pennsylvania United States Senate election, 2006The 2006 United States Senate election in Pennsylvania was held on November 7, 2006. Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Rick Santorum ran for re-election to a third term, but was defeated by Bob Casey, Jr. Casey was elected to serve between January 3, 2007 and January 3, 2013. Santorum trailed Casey...
- 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....
- 2005 Pennsylvania General Assembly pay raise controversy2005 Pennsylvania General Assembly pay raise controversyIn the early morning hours of July 7, 2005, the Pennsylvania General Assembly passed pay increases for state lawmakers, judges, and top executive-branch officials. The vote took place at 2 a.m. without public review or commentary and Governor Ed Rendell signed the bill into law...