2006 Rhode Island gubernatorial election

Summary

The 2006 Rhode Island gubernatorial election took place on November 7, 2006. Incumbent Republican Donald Carcieri very narrowly defeated Democratic Lieutenant Governor Charles J. Fogarty in one of the closest gubernatorial elections in Rhode Island history. With a margin of 2%, this election was also the second-closest race of the 2006 gubernatorial election cycle, behind only the election in Minnesota.

2006 Rhode Island gubernatorial election

← 2002 November 7, 2006 2010 →
 
Nominee Donald Carcieri Charles Fogarty
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 197,306 189,503
Percentage 51.0% 49.0%

Carcieri:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%
Fogarty:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%

Governor before election

Donald Carcieri
Republican

Elected Governor

Donald Carcieri
Republican

As of 2024, this was the last time a Republican was elected Governor of Rhode Island and the last time a Republican won any statewide office in Rhode Island. This is also the last time the Republican candidate won the counties of Bristol and Washington. This is the last time that a gubernatorial nominee and a lieutenant gubernatorial nominee of different political parties were elected governor and lieutenant governor of Rhode Island.

Republican primary edit

Candidates edit

Results edit

Republican Party primary results[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Donald Carcieri (incumbent) 51,650 100.00
Total votes 51,650 100.00

Democratic primary edit

Candidates edit

Results edit

Democratic Party primary results[2]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Charles J. Fogarty 69,595 100.00
Total votes 69,595 100.00

General election edit

Predictions edit

Source Ranking As of
The Cook Political Report[3] Tossup November 6, 2006
Sabato's Crystal Ball[4] Lean R November 6, 2006
Rothenberg Political Report[5] Lean R November 2, 2006
Real Clear Politics[6] Likely R November 6, 2006

Polling edit

Source Date Donald
Carcieri (R)
Charles J.
Fogarty (D)
Rasmussen October 24, 2006 51% 44%
Rasmussen Archived 2008-10-12 at the Wayback Machine October 8, 2006 47% 44%
Rasmussen September 5, 2006 41% 46%
Rasmussen August 9, 2006 43% 43%
Rasmussen July 18, 2006 42% 43%
Brown University June 26, 2006 44% 39%
Rhode Island College Archived 2006-07-03 at the Wayback Machine June 21, 2006 44% 39%
Rasmussen June 12, 2006 40% 41%
Rasmussen May 4, 2006 41% 42%
Brown University February 8, 2006 46% 35%
Brown University September 13, 2005 42% 31%

Results edit

The 2006 gubernatorial election was one of the closest in the history of Rhode Island. Carcieri won all but one county. However, the one county that went for Fogarty was Providence County, home to Providence, Rhode Island, which is heavily populated and known for favoring Democrats. The race at one point was only at a margin of 4,000 votes. Finally at 3:48 A.M. on November 8, Carcieri was declared the winner by the Associated Press. Fogarty conceded early the next morning.
Rhode Island gubernatorial election, 2006[7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Donald Carcieri (incumbent) 197,306 51.01% -3.75%
Democratic Charles J. Fogarty 189,503 48.99% +3.75%
Majority 7,803 2.02% -7.50%
Turnout 386,809
Republican hold Swing

Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Federal and Statewide Races Summary". Rhode Island Board of Elections. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 28, 2011. Retrieved June 28, 2018.
  2. ^ "Federal and Statewide Races Summary". Rhode Island Board of Elections. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 28, 2011. Retrieved June 28, 2018.
  3. ^ "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.
  4. ^ "Election Eve 2006: THE FINAL PREDICTIONS". Sabato's Crystal Ball. Retrieved June 25, 2021.
  5. ^ "2006 Gubernatorial Ratings". Senate Ratings. The Rothenberg Political Report. Retrieved June 25, 2021.
  6. ^ "Election 2006". Real Clear Politics. Retrieved June 25, 2021.
  7. ^ "Federal and Statewide Races Summary". Rhode Island Board of Elections. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 20, 2018. Retrieved June 28, 2018.

External links edit

Official campaign websites (Archived)
  • Don Carcieri
  • Charles Fogarty