Rhode Island United States Senate election, 2006
Encyclopedia
The 2006 United States Senate election in Rhode Island was held on November 7, 2006. The election was won by Sheldon Whitehouse
whose term in the United States Senate
will run from January 3, 2007, to January 3, 2013. Republican
Lincoln Chafee
was seeking re-election to the seat he had held since 1999, when he was appointed to fill the vacancy created by the death of his father John Chafee
. Lincoln Chaffee won election to the seat in 2000.
, as well as by former candidate Matt Brown
. Sheeler, a former U.S. Marine
, a business owner, and an adjunct professor of business, ran on a more progressive
platform. Ultimately, however, Whitehouse would trounce his competition in the primary on September 12, winning his party's support by a large margin.
was one of the most liberal member of the Republican Party in the Senate by 2006, and was challenged for the Republican nomination by Laffey who had criticized Chafee for his liberal voting record in the Senate. In early 2006, the Club for Growth
, a pro-tax cut political action committee
, sent a series of mailings to Rhode Island Republicans attacking Chafee's positions and voting record.
The national GOP supported Chafee in the primary campaign, believing that he was the most likely candidate to hold the seat in the general election. Senator Mitch McConnell
of Kentucky
, John McCain
of Arizona
and Laura Bush
appeared at fundraisers for Chafee, while Senator Bill Frist's
PAC
donated to Chafee. The National Republican Senatorial Committee
also ran ads in the state supporting Chafee. Steve Laffey, however, picked up many endorsements from Republican town committees throughout Rhode Island, the national group Club for Growth
, and former candidate for the party's Presidential nomination Steve Forbes
. On July 10, 2006, the National Republican Senatorial Committee
filed a complaint with the Federal Election Commission
against Laffey, saying that he had included a political communication in tax bills mailed to residents of Cranston.
s believed that this was one of the most likely Senate seats to switch party control, due to the Democratic tilt of Rhode Island, as well as the fact that Chafee needed to expend part of his campaign fund to win the Republican
primary election. Chafee's approval ratings also took a beating from his primary battle with Laffey and may have hurt him in the general election. Another factor that hurt Chafee was the fact that Whitehouse, the Democratic nominee, had a huge head start on him, as he was able to campaign with little opposition for at least half the year and had not had to contend with a major opponent until the general election campaign. Rhode Islanders' historically large disapproval ratings for President Bush and the Republican Party as a whole was another major hurdle for Chafee.
, indicating his ideology is liberal
-leaning. On some fiscal issues they disagree such as on social security and free trade.
http://www.issues2000.org/Senate/Sheldon_Whitehouse.htm
After the election, when asked by a reporter if he thought his defeat would help the country by giving Democrats control of Congress, he replied, "to be honest, yes."
Sheldon Whitehouse
Sheldon Whitehouse is the junior U.S. Senator from Rhode Island, serving since 2007. He is a member of the Democratic Party...
whose term in the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
will run from January 3, 2007, to January 3, 2013. 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...
Lincoln Chafee
Lincoln Chafee
Lincoln Davenport Chafee is an American politician who has been the 74th Governor of Rhode Island since January 2011. Prior to his election as governor, Chafee served in the United States Senate as a Republican from 1999 until losing his Senate re-election bid in 2006 to Democrat Sheldon...
was seeking re-election to the seat he had held since 1999, when he was appointed to fill the vacancy created by the death of his father John Chafee
John Chafee
John Lester Hubbard Chafee was an American politician. He served as an officer in the United States Marine Corps, as the 66th Governor of Rhode Island, as the Secretary of the Navy, and as a United States Senator.-Early life and family:...
. Lincoln Chaffee won election to the seat in 2000.
Candidates
- Sheldon WhitehouseSheldon WhitehouseSheldon Whitehouse is the junior U.S. Senator from Rhode Island, serving since 2007. He is a member of the Democratic Party...
, former Attorney General of Rhode IslandAttorney General of Rhode IslandThe Attorney General of Rhode Island is the Government of the State of Rhode Island's chief legal advisor. The Attorney General is voted in every four years. The position also oversees the State of Rhode Island Department of Law...
and former U.S. Attorney for the District of Rhode IslandUnited States District Court for the District of Rhode IslandThe United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island is the Federal district court whose jurisdiction is the state of Rhode Island. The District Court was created in 1790 when Rhode Island ratified the Constitution... - Christopher F. Young, activist
- Carl SheelerCarl SheelerCarl Sheeler is a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, business owner, and former Democratic U.S. Senate candidate in Rhode Island.-Education and career:...
, MarineUnited States Marine CorpsThe United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
veteran
Campaign
Whitehouse was endorsed by U.S. Senator Jack Reed, U.S. Congressmen Jim Langevin and Patrick J. KennedyPatrick J. Kennedy
Patrick Joseph Kennedy II is the former U.S. Representative for , serving from 1995 until 2011. He is a member of the Democratic Party. The district includes all of Bristol County and Newport County, and parts of Providence County. Kennedy did not seek re-election in 2010.A member of the Kennedy...
, as well as by former candidate Matt Brown
Matt Brown (politician)
Matt Brown is Co-Founder, with Bruce G. Blair, of Global Zero a non-profit international initiative for the phased, verified elimination of all nuclear weapons worldwide...
. Sheeler, a former U.S. Marine
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
, a business owner, and an adjunct professor of business, ran on a more progressive
Progressivism
Progressivism is an umbrella term for a political ideology advocating or favoring social, political, and economic reform or changes. Progressivism is often viewed by some conservatives, constitutionalists, and libertarians to be in opposition to conservative or reactionary ideologies.The...
platform. Ultimately, however, Whitehouse would trounce his competition in the primary on September 12, winning his party's support by a large margin.
Results
Candidates
- Lincoln ChafeeLincoln ChafeeLincoln Davenport Chafee is an American politician who has been the 74th Governor of Rhode Island since January 2011. Prior to his election as governor, Chafee served in the United States Senate as a Republican from 1999 until losing his Senate re-election bid in 2006 to Democrat Sheldon...
, incumbent U.S. Senator - Steve LaffeySteve LaffeyStephen Laffey was the Republican mayor of Cranston, Rhode Island with his term ending in 2007.-Background:Laffey was born in 1962 in Warwick, Rhode Island, one of five children born to John and Mary Laffey. When he was four years old, his family moved to Cranston, where his father worked as a...
, Mayor of CranstonCranston, Rhode IslandCranston, once known as Pawtuxet, is a city in Providence County, Rhode Island, United States. With a population of 80,387 at the 2010 census, it is the third largest city in the state. The center of population of Rhode Island is located in Cranston...
Campaign
Incumbent Senator Lincoln ChafeeLincoln Chafee
Lincoln Davenport Chafee is an American politician who has been the 74th Governor of Rhode Island since January 2011. Prior to his election as governor, Chafee served in the United States Senate as a Republican from 1999 until losing his Senate re-election bid in 2006 to Democrat Sheldon...
was one of the most liberal member of the Republican Party in the Senate by 2006, and was challenged for the Republican nomination by Laffey who had criticized Chafee for his liberal voting record in the Senate. In early 2006, the Club for Growth
Club for Growth
The Club for Growth is a politically conservative 527 organization active in the United States of America, with an agenda focussed on taxation and other economic issues, and with an affiliated political action committee . The Club advocates lower taxes, limited government, less government spending,...
, a pro-tax cut political action committee
Political action committee
In the United States, a political action committee, or PAC, is the name commonly given to a private group, regardless of size, organized to elect political candidates or to advance the outcome of a political issue or legislation. Legally, what constitutes a "PAC" for purposes of regulation is a...
, sent a series of mailings to Rhode Island Republicans attacking Chafee's positions and voting record.
The national GOP supported Chafee in the primary campaign, believing that he was the most likely candidate to hold the seat in the general election. Senator Mitch McConnell
Mitch McConnell
Addison Mitchell "Mitch" McConnell, Jr. is the senior United States Senator from Kentucky and the Republican Minority Leader.- Early life, education, and military service :...
of Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
, John McCain
John McCain
John Sidney McCain III is the senior United States Senator from Arizona. He was the Republican nominee for president in the 2008 United States election....
of Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
and Laura Bush
Laura Bush
Laura Lane Welch Bush is the wife of the 43rd President of the United States, George W. Bush. She was the First Lady of the United States from January 20, 2001, to January 20, 2009. She has held a love of books and reading since childhood and her life and education have reflected that interest...
appeared at fundraisers for Chafee, while Senator Bill Frist's
Bill Frist
William Harrison "Bill" Frist, Sr. is an American physician, businessman, and politician. He began his career as an heir and major stockholder to the for-profit hospital chain of Hospital Corporation of America. Frist later served two terms as a Republican United States Senator representing...
PAC
Political action committee
In the United States, a political action committee, or PAC, is the name commonly given to a private group, regardless of size, organized to elect political candidates or to advance the outcome of a political issue or legislation. Legally, what constitutes a "PAC" for purposes of regulation is a...
donated to Chafee. The National Republican Senatorial Committee
National Republican Senatorial Committee
The National Republican Senatorial Committee is the Republican Hill committee for the United States Senate, working to elect Republicans to that body. The NRSC was founded in 1916 as the Republican Senatorial Campaign Committee...
also ran ads in the state supporting Chafee. Steve Laffey, however, picked up many endorsements from Republican town committees throughout Rhode Island, the national group Club for Growth
Club for Growth
The Club for Growth is a politically conservative 527 organization active in the United States of America, with an agenda focussed on taxation and other economic issues, and with an affiliated political action committee . The Club advocates lower taxes, limited government, less government spending,...
, and former candidate for the party's Presidential nomination Steve Forbes
Steve Forbes
Malcolm Stevenson "Steve" Forbes, Jr. is an American editor, publisher, and businessman. He is the editor-in-chief of business magazine Forbes as well as president and chief executive officer of its publisher, Forbes Inc. He was a Republican candidate in the U.S. Presidential primaries in 1996...
. On July 10, 2006, the National Republican Senatorial Committee
National Republican Senatorial Committee
The National Republican Senatorial Committee is the Republican Hill committee for the United States Senate, working to elect Republicans to that body. The NRSC was founded in 1916 as the Republican Senatorial Campaign Committee...
filed a complaint with the Federal Election Commission
Federal Election Commission
The Federal Election Commission is an independent regulatory agency that was founded in 1975 by the United States Congress to regulate the campaign finance legislation in the United States. It was created in a provision of the 1975 amendment to the Federal Election Campaign Act...
against Laffey, saying that he had included a political communication in tax bills mailed to residents of Cranston.
Polling
| Source | Date | Chafee | Laffey |
|---|---|---|---|
| RNSC/Public Opinion Strategies | August 30, 2006 | 53% | 39% |
| Rhode Island College | August 28-30, 2006 | 34% | 51% |
| Rhode Island College | June, 2006 | 39% | 38% |
| Club for Growth/National Research Inc. | June 2, 2006 | 45% | 44% |
| American Research Group | May 5, 2006 | 48% | 39% |
| Rhode Island College | April, 2006 | 56% | 28% |
Results
Candidates
- Lincoln ChafeeLincoln ChafeeLincoln Davenport Chafee is an American politician who has been the 74th Governor of Rhode Island since January 2011. Prior to his election as governor, Chafee served in the United States Senate as a Republican from 1999 until losing his Senate re-election bid in 2006 to Democrat Sheldon...
(R), incumbent U.S. Senator - Sheldon WhitehouseSheldon WhitehouseSheldon Whitehouse is the junior U.S. Senator from Rhode Island, serving since 2007. He is a member of the Democratic Party...
(D), State Attorney General
Campaign
DemocratDemocratic 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...
s believed that this was one of the most likely Senate seats to switch party control, due to the Democratic tilt of Rhode Island, as well as the fact that Chafee needed to expend part of his campaign fund to win 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...
primary election. Chafee's approval ratings also took a beating from his primary battle with Laffey and may have hurt him in the general election. Another factor that hurt Chafee was the fact that Whitehouse, the Democratic nominee, had a huge head start on him, as he was able to campaign with little opposition for at least half the year and had not had to contend with a major opponent until the general election campaign. Rhode Islanders' historically large disapproval ratings for President Bush and the Republican Party as a whole was another major hurdle for Chafee.
Issues
Whitehouse and Chafee very rarely disagree on political issues. Socially, they agree almost 100% of the time. Chafee is against the Bush tax cutsBush tax cuts
The Bush tax cuts refers to changes to the United States tax code passed during the presidency of George W. Bush and extended during the presidency of Barack Obama that generally lowered tax rates and revised the code specifying taxation in the United States...
, indicating his ideology is liberal
Liberalism
Liberalism is the belief in the importance of liberty and equal rights. Liberals espouse a wide array of views depending on their understanding of these principles, but generally, liberals support ideas such as constitutionalism, liberal democracy, free and fair elections, human rights,...
-leaning. On some fiscal issues they disagree such as on social security and free trade.
- Abortion
- Chafee - pro-choice
- Whitehouse - pro-choice
- Stem-Cell research
- Chafee - support
- Whitehouse - support
- Death penalty
- Chafee - strongly opposes
- Whitehouse - support in federal level, but not in state level
- Gay Marriage
- Chafee - supports
- Whitehouse - supports
- Privatizing Social Security
- Chafee - Partially Supports
- Whitehouse - Strongly Against
- Bush Tax Cuts
- Chafee - Strongly against
- Whitehouse - strongly against
- Vouchers
- Chafee - rated 55% by NEANational Education AssociationThe National Education Association is the largest professional organization and largest labor union in the United States, representing public school teachers and other support personnel, faculty and staffers at colleges and universities, retired educators, and college students preparing to become...
, representing a mixed record - Whitehouse - strongly against
- Chafee - rated 55% by NEA
- Federal Spending on Health Care
- Chafee - strongly supports
- Whitehouse - strongly supports
- PATRIOT Act
- Chafee - supports
- Whitehouse - against
- Free Trade
- Chafee - supports
- Whitehouse - against
http://www.issues2000.org/Senate/Sheldon_Whitehouse.htm
Polling
| Source | Date | Whitehouse (D) | Chafee (R) |
|---|---|---|---|
| USA Today/Gallup | November 5, 2006 | 48% | 45% |
| Mason-Dixon/MSNBC | November 5, 2006 | 45% | 46% |
| Reuters/Zogby | November 2, 2006 | 53% | 39% |
| Rhode Island College | October 27, 2006 | 51% | 43% |
| Mason-Dixon/MSNBC | October 24, 2006 | 48% | 43% |
| Rasmussen | October 19, 2006 | 50% | 42% |
| Fleming & Associates | October 19, 2006 | 46% | 42% |
| Rhode Island College | October 10, 2006 | 40% | 37% |
| Rasmussen | October 10, 2006 | 49% | 39% |
| USA Today/Gallup | October 6, 2006 | 50% | 39% |
| Reuters/Zogby | October 5, 2006 | 45% | 41% |
| Mason-Dixon/MSNBC | October 2, 2006 | 42% | 41% |
| American Research Group | September 19, 2006 | 45% | 40% |
| Brown University | September 16-18, 2006 | 40% | 39% |
| Rasmussen | September 17, 2006 | 51% | 43% |
| Rasmussen | September 3, 2006 | 44% | 42% |
| Fleming & Associates | August 24, 2006 | 42% | 43% |
| Rasmussen | August 9, 2006 | 44% | 38% |
| Rasmussen | July 18, 2006 | 46% | 41% |
| Brown University | June 26, 2006 | 38% | 37% |
| Rhode Island College | June 21, 2006 | 40% | 43% |
| Rasmussen | June 5, 2006 | 42% | 44% |
| Rasmussen | May 4, 2006 | 41% | 44% |
| Rhode Island College | April, 2006 | 32% | 51% |
| Rasmussen | February 11, 2006 | 38% | 50% |
| Brown University | February 8, 2006 | 34% | 40% |
| Brown University | Sept. 13, 2005 | 25% | 38% |
Results
Analysis
Whitehouse carried Providence County, which contains approximately 60% of the state's population, with 59% to Chafee's 41%. Chafee's strongest showing was in Washington County (South County), where he took 55% of the vote against Whitehouse's 45%. Chafee also took Kent County by a small margin, while Whitehouse was victorious by extremely slim margins in Bristol and Newport Counties.After the election, when asked by a reporter if he thought his defeat would help the country by giving Democrats control of Congress, he replied, "to be honest, yes."
External links
- Chris Young for Senate
- Lincoln Chafee for Senate
- Sheldon Whitehouse for Senate
- Steve Laffey for Senate
- Carl Sheeler for Senate
- Senator Chafee Earns Sierra Club Endorsement
- Chafee Klatch Green groups endorse Republican Lincoln Chafee; activists cry foul
- Fake Republican (Transterrestrial Musings, February 9, 2006)
- A Republican on the Edge (Washington Post, April 14, 2006)
- http://www.elections.state.ri.us/elections/results/2006/generalelection/