Tennessee gubernatorial election, 2006
Encyclopedia
The Tennessee gubernatorial election of 2006 was held on November 7, 2006. The incumbent, Democrat
Phil Bredesen
, defeated Republican
state Senator Jim Bryson
to serve another term as Governor.
s on August 3, 2006.
Democratic Governor Bredesen easily defeated the opposition, gaining 88.6% of ballots cast. Perennial candidate John Jay Hooker (also running for the Senate
nomination) gained 7.2%, Tim Sevier received 2.6% of the vote, and Walt "Combat" Ward received 1.7% of the votes cast.
The Republican primaries were only slightly more competitive. Frontrunner Jim Bryson, who filed papers to enter the race at the last minute, gained an even 50.0% of the vote. Other contenders were David M. Farmer with 15.8%; Joe Kirkpatrick at 10.7%; Mark Albertini at 9.2%; Wayne Bailey at 7.5%; Wayne Young with 3.7%; and Timothy Thomas at 3.0% of the ballots cast.
.http://www.commercialappeal.com/mca/politics/article/0,1426,MCA_1496_5040706,00.html A second debate was held in Memphis
on October 8, and a third on October 14 in Nashville
.
Pre-election polls indicated that Bredesen would easily win reelection: an October 3 poll showed Bredesen held a 63% to 22% lead over Bryson.http://www.commercialappeal.com/mca/politics/article/0,1426,MCA_1496_5033596,00.html
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...
Phil Bredesen
Phil Bredesen
Philip Norman "Phil" Bredesen Jr. was the 48th Governor of Tennessee, serving from 2003 to 2011. A member of the Democratic Party, he was first elected Governor in 2002, and was re-elected in 2006. He previously served as the fourth mayor of Nashville and Davidson County from 1991 to...
, defeated 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...
state Senator Jim Bryson
Jim Bryson (politician)
Jim Bryson is a Tennessee politician, a former Republican member of the State Senate representing the 23rd District, which encompasses Williamson County and part of Davidson County, and the 2006 Republican nominee for Governor of Tennessee...
to serve another term as Governor.
Defeated in primary
- John Jay HookerJohn Jay HookerJohn Jay Hooker, Jr. is a Nashville, Tennessee attorney, entrepreneur, perennial candidate and political gadfly.- Early life :John Jay Hooker was born to relative wealth and privilege in one of the Nashville area's more prominent families...
- perennial candidatePerennial candidateA perennial candidate is one who frequently runs for public office with a record of success that is infrequent, if existent at all. Perennial candidates are often either members of minority political parties or have political opinions that are not mainstream. They may run without any serious hope... - Tim Sevier
- Walt "Combat" Ward - State probation officer
Defeated in primary
- Mark Albertini
- Wayne Bailey
- David M. Farmer
- Joe Kirkpatrick
- Timothy Thomas
- Wayne Young
Primaries
Both parties held their primary electionPrimary election
A primary election is an election in which party members or voters select candidates for a subsequent election. Primary elections are one means by which a political party nominates candidates for the next general election....
s on August 3, 2006.
Democratic Governor Bredesen easily defeated the opposition, gaining 88.6% of ballots cast. Perennial candidate John Jay Hooker (also running for the 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...
nomination) gained 7.2%, Tim Sevier received 2.6% of the vote, and Walt "Combat" Ward received 1.7% of the votes cast.
The Republican primaries were only slightly more competitive. Frontrunner Jim Bryson, who filed papers to enter the race at the last minute, gained an even 50.0% of the vote. Other contenders were David M. Farmer with 15.8%; Joe Kirkpatrick at 10.7%; Mark Albertini at 9.2%; Wayne Bailey at 7.5%; Wayne Young with 3.7%; and Timothy Thomas at 3.0% of the ballots cast.
General election
Bryson and Bredesen took part in the first of three planned debates on October 3 in KnoxvilleKnoxville, Tennessee
Founded in 1786, Knoxville is the third-largest city in the U.S. state of Tennessee, U.S.A., behind Memphis and Nashville, and is the county seat of Knox County. It is the largest city in East Tennessee, and the second-largest city in the Appalachia region...
.http://www.commercialappeal.com/mca/politics/article/0,1426,MCA_1496_5040706,00.html A second debate was held in Memphis
Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis is a city in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Tennessee, and the county seat of Shelby County. The city is located on the 4th Chickasaw Bluff, south of the confluence of the Wolf and Mississippi rivers....
on October 8, and a third on October 14 in Nashville
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
.
Pre-election polls indicated that Bredesen would easily win reelection: an October 3 poll showed Bredesen held a 63% to 22% lead over Bryson.http://www.commercialappeal.com/mca/politics/article/0,1426,MCA_1496_5033596,00.html
Results
Polling
| Source | Date | Bredesen (D) | Bryson (R) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Survey USA | October 25, 2006 | 66% | 28% |
| Survey USA | October 10, 2006 | 63% | 32% |
| Accuratings | October 24, 2006 | 67% | 33% |
| The Commercial Appeal | October 3, 2006 | 63% | 22% |
| Rasmussen | October 3, 2006 | 63% | 28% |
| Rasmussen | September 7, 2006 | 58% | 31% |
| Zogby | June 13, 2006 | 58% | 22% |