2006 Wyoming gubernatorial election

Summary

The 2006 Wyoming gubernatorial election took place on November 7, 2006. Incumbent Democratic Governor Dave Freudenthal won re-election in a landslide over Republican Ray Hunkins, becoming the first Democrat since 1910 to win every county in the state. To date this was the last time a Democrat was elected to statewide office in Wyoming, the last time a Democrat carried every county in the state, the last gubernatorial election in which a Democrat received more than 30% of the vote, the last statewide election in which a Democrat received more than 45% of the vote, and the last statewide election in which a Democrat won any county besides Teton, Albany, Laramie, or Sweetwater. As of 2024, Ray Hunkins is the last Republican gubernatorial nominee who was never elected Governor of Wyoming. This is the last time that Wyoming voted for and elected a Senate candidate and a gubernatorial candidate of different political parties.

2006 Wyoming gubernatorial election

← 2002 November 7, 2006 2010 →
 
Nominee Dave Freudenthal Ray Hunkins
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 135,516 58,100
Percentage 69.99% 30.01%

County results
Freudenthal:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%

Governor before election

Dave Freudenthal
Democratic

Elected Governor

Dave Freudenthal
Democratic

Democratic primary edit

Candidates edit

Results edit

Democratic primary results[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Dave Freudenthal (incumbent) 26,550 89.66
Democratic Al Hamburg 3,062 10.34
Total votes 29,612 100.00

Republican primary edit

Candidates edit

  • Ray Hunkins, attorney and rancher
  • John H. Self

Results edit

Republican primary results[2]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Ray Hunkins 51,803 74.64
Republican John H. Self 17,598 25.36
Total votes 69,401 100.00

General election edit

 
Governor Freudenthal casts his ballot

Predictions edit

Source Ranking As of
The Cook Political Report[3] Solid D November 6, 2006
Sabato's Crystal Ball[4] Safe D November 6, 2006
Rothenberg Political Report[5] Safe D November 2, 2006
Real Clear Politics[6] Safe D November 6, 2006

Polling edit

Source Date Dave
Freudenthal (D)
Ray
Hunkins (R)
Rasmussen July 20, 2006 58% 29%
Rasmussen May 8, 2006 52% 29%

Results edit

Wyoming gubernatorial election, 2006[7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Dave Freudenthal (incumbent) 135,516 69.99% +20.03%
Republican Ray Hunkins 58,100 30.01% -17.91%
Total votes 193,616 100.00%
Democratic hold

Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic edit

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Democratic Statewide Candidates Official Summary - Wyoming Primary Election - August 22, 2006" (PDF). Wyoming Secretary of State.
  2. ^ "Republican Statewide Candidates Official Summary - Wyoming Primary Election - August 22, 2006" (PDF). Wyoming Secretary of State.
  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. ^ "Statewide Candidates Official Summary - Wyoming General Election - November 7, 2006" (PDF). Wyoming Secretary of State.
Official campaign websites
  • Dave Freudenthal (D) for Governor
  • Ray Hunkins (R) for Governor