2006 Idaho gubernatorial election explained

Election Name:	2006 Idaho gubernatorial election
Country:	Idaho
Type:	presidential
Ongoing:	no
Previous Election:	2002 Idaho gubernatorial election
Previous Year:	2002
Next Election:	2010 Idaho gubernatorial election
Next Year:	2010
Election Date:	November 7, 2006
Image1:	Image:Butchotter.jpg
Nominee1:	Butch Otter
Party1:	Republican Party (United States)
Popular Vote1:	237,437
Percentage1:	52.7%
Nominee2:	Jerry Brady
Party2:	Democratic Party (United States)
Popular Vote2:	198,845
Percentage2:	44.1%
Map Size:	250px
Governor
Before Election:	Jim Risch
Before Party:	Republican Party (United States)
After Election:	Butch Otter
After Party:	Republican Party (United States)

The 2006 Idaho gubernatorial election was held on November 7, 2006. Incumbent Governor Jim Risch succeeded Dirk Kempthorne, who resigned May 26 to become Secretary of the Interior. Risch served as governor until the end of the term, but had committed to a reelection campaign for Lieutenant Governor before Kempthorne's appointment and subsequent resignation.

This was the last time that a Democrat won over 40% of the vote in Idaho.

Republican primary

Candidates

• Dan Adamson, businessman and attorney
• Walter Bayes, perennial candidate
• Jack Alan Johnson
• C.L. "Butch" Otter, U.S. Representative and former Lieutenant Governor of Idaho

Declined

• Jim Risch, incumbent Governor of Idaho

Results

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Jerry Brady, newspaper publisher and 2002 Democratic nominee for governor
• Lee Chaney, laborer

General Election

Candidates

• Marvin Richardson (unendorsed Constitution) – organic strawberry farmer^[1] and sawmill owner
• Jerry Brady (Democratic), newspaper publisher and 2002 Democratic nominee for governor
• Ted Dunlap (Libertarian)
• Butch Otter (Republican), U.S. Congressman, former Lieutenant Governor of Idaho

Controversy

A candidate legally named Marvin Pro-Life Richardson filed suit to force the state to print his full legal on the ballots, as filed in campaign paperwork. The Secretary of State stated that ballots themselves are supposed to be neutral, not political billboards, and declined the request.^[2] In September 2006 he changed his legal name to simply "Pro-Life" in an attempt to force the issue. However, the ballots went to the printer naming "Marvin Richardson" as the Constitution Party candidate. The party later disavowed his candidacy resulting in a candidate without a name, and without a party, appearing on the ballot.^[3]

Predictions

Source	Ranking	As of
align=left	The Cook Political Report^[4]		November 6, 2006
align=left	Sabato's Crystal Ball^[5]		November 6, 2006
align=left	Rothenberg Political Report^[6]		November 2, 2006
align=left	Real Clear Politics^[7]		November 6, 2006

Results

Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic

• Teton (Largest city: Victor)
• Valley (Largest city: McCall)

External links

• Brady for Governor
• Otter for Governor
• Idaho Secretary of State – Elections

Notes and References

1. News: Butts . Mike . No 'Pro-Life' allowed on ballot . Idaho Press-Tribune . 2006-04-06 . 2006-01-13 . 2008-09-19 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080919040338/http://www.idahopress.com/articles/2006/04/06/news/news2.txt . dead .
2. http://www.idahopress.com/articles/2006/04/06/news/news2.txt No ‘Pro-Life’ allowed on ballot
3. http://novotewasted.com/candidates/prolife.html ‘Pro-Life’ Failed to receive the Idaho CP Certification For Candidacy
4. Web site: 2006 Governor Race Ratings for November 6, 2006. The Cook Political Report. October 1, 2021. June 5, 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20080605094803/https://cookpolitical.com/races/report_pdfs/2006_gov_ratings_nov6.pdf. dead.
5. Web site: Election Eve 2006: THE FINAL PREDICTIONS . Sabato's Crystal Ball . June 25, 2021.
6. Web site: 2006 Gubernatorial Ratings . Senate Ratings . The Rothenberg Political Report . June 25, 2021.
7. Web site: Election 2006 . Real Clear Politics . June 25, 2021.