2006 Connecticut gubernatorial election

Summary

The 2006 Connecticut gubernatorial election occurred on November 7, 2006. Incumbent Republican Jodi Rell became governor when John G. Rowland resigned on corruption charges in 2004. Rell had an approval rating of 70% as of October 19, 2006,[1] and polls showed her leading the Democratic nominee, New Haven mayor John DeStefano by a near 30-point margin. As expected, she won the election to a full term in a landslide. DeStefano defeated Stamford Mayor Dannel Malloy in the Connecticut Democratic gubernatorial primary on August 8. As of 2024, this was the last time a Republican was elected Governor of Connecticut, and the last time any gubernatorial candidate won every county in the state.

2006 Connecticut gubernatorial election

← 2002 November 7, 2006 2010 →
 
Nominee Jodi Rell John DeStefano Jr.
Party Republican Democratic
Running mate Michael Fedele Mary Glassman
Popular vote 710,048 398,220
Percentage 63.2% 35.5%

Rell:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%
DeStefano:      50–60%      60–70%

Governor before election

Jodi Rell
Republican

Elected Governor

Jodi Rell
Republican

Republican primary edit

Candidates edit

Results edit

Governor Rell was unopposed for renomination.

Democratic primary edit

Candidates edit

Declared edit

  • Running mate: Mary Glassman, Simsbury First Selectman

Declined edit

Results edit

Convention edit

2006 gubernatorial election, Connecticut
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Dannel Malloy 799 50.13
Democratic John DeStefano Jr. 795 49.87

Primary edit

 
Democratic primary results by county
  DeStefano
  •   50-60%
  Malloy
  •   50-60%
  •   60–70%
2006 gubernatorial election, Connecticut
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic John DeStefano Jr. 135,431 50.78
Democratic Dannel Malloy 131,258 49.22

Independents and third parties edit

Green Party edit

  • Cliff Thornton, retired businessman; drug policy reform advocate; U.S. Army veteran[2]

Concerned Citizens Party edit

  • Joseph A. Zdonczyk, retired businessman; U.S. Army veteran; Concerned Citizens Party founder[3]

Independent edit

  • John M. Joy (write-in candidate)[4]

Campaign edit

Predictions edit

Source Ranking As of
The Cook Political Report[5] Solid R November 6, 2006
Sabato's Crystal Ball[6] Safe R November 6, 2006
Rothenberg Political Report[7] Safe R November 2, 2006
Real Clear Politics[8] Safe R November 6, 2006

Polling edit

Source Date John
DeStefano (D)
Jodi
Rell (R)
Rasmussen Archived 2008-10-12 at the Wayback Machine October 3, 2006 33% 58%
Quinnipiac August 17, 2006 32% 64%
Rasmussen August 14, 2006 35% 57%
Rasmussen Archived 2006-10-07 at the Wayback Machine July 23, 2006 32% 54%
Quinnipiac July 20, 2006 25% 62%
Rasmussen June 19, 2006 31% 59%
Quinnipiac June 8, 2006 24% 64%
Quinnipiac May 2, 2006 20% 66%
Quinnipiac February 16, 2006 16% 70%
Quinnipiac January 12, 2006 21% 64%
Quinnipiac July 27, 2005 22% 61%
Quinnipiac April 6, 2005 19% 66%
Quinnipiac November 23, 2004 22% 59%

Results edit

The following are the results of the 2006 election:[9]

Rell won every county and all but seven towns. Notably, DeStefano won the capital city of Hartford, the largest city of Bridgeport, and his hometown of New Haven.

[9]
2006 Connecticut gubernatorial election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Jodi Rell (incumbent) 710,048 63.2 +7.1
Democratic John DeStefano Jr. 398,220 35.5 -8.4
Green Cliff Thornton 9,584 0.9 n/a
Concerned Citizens Joseph A. Zdonczyk 5,560 0.5 n/a
Write-in 54 0.0 n/a
Total votes 1,123,212 100.0 n/a
Republican hold

Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican edit

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Approval Ratings for All 50 Governors". SurveyUSA. October 19, 2006. Retrieved November 5, 2006.
  2. ^ "Clifford W. Thornton, Jr". League of Women Voters of Connecticut. Archived from the original on October 25, 2006. Retrieved October 30, 2006.
  3. ^ "Joseph A. Zdonczyk". League of Women Voters of Connecticut. Archived from the original on October 25, 2006. Retrieved October 30, 2006.
  4. ^ "Registered Write-In Candidates". State of Connecticut Secretary of State. Archived from the original on July 21, 2011. Retrieved October 30, 2006.
  5. ^ "2006 Governor Race Ratings for November 6, 2006" (PDF). The Cook Political Report. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 5, 2008. Retrieved October 1, 2006.
  6. ^ "Election Eve 2006: THE FINAL PREDICTIONS". Sabato's Crystal Ball. Retrieved June 25, 2021.
  7. ^ "2006 Gubernatorial Ratings". Senate Ratings. The Rothenberg Political Report. Retrieved June 25, 2021.
  8. ^ "Election 2006". Real Clear Politics. Retrieved June 25, 2021.
  9. ^ a b "Vote for Governor and Lieutenant Governor 2006". STATE OF CONNECTICUT. Archived from the original on November 6, 2008. Retrieved July 6, 2021.

External links edit

  • State of Connecticut Secretary of State: 2006 Primary and Election Information
  • State of Connecticut Secretary of State: Statement of Vote
  • Bysiewicz for Governor
  • DeStefano for Governor
  • Malloy for Governor
  • Miner for Governor
  • Rell for Governor
  • Thornton for Governor