| Election Name: | 2006 Iowa gubernatorial election |
| Country: | Iowa |
| Flag Image: | Flag of Iowa (xrmap collection).svg |
| Type: | presidential |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 2002 Iowa gubernatorial election |
| Previous Year: | 2002 |
| Next Election: | 2010 Iowa gubernatorial election |
| Next Year: | 2010 |
| Election Date: | November 7, 2006 |
| Image1: | File:Gov Chet Culver.jpg |
| Nominee1: | Chet Culver |
| Running Mate1: | Patty Judge |
| Party1: | Democratic Party (United States) |
| Popular Vote1: | 569,021 |
| Percentage1: | 54.0% |
| Nominee2: | Jim Nussle |
| Running Mate2: | Bob Vander Plaats |
| Party2: | Republican Party (United States) |
| Popular Vote2: | 467,425 |
| Percentage2: | 44.4% |
| Map Size: | 240px |
| Governor | |
| Before Election: | Tom Vilsack |
| Before Party: | Democratic Party (United States) |
| After Election: | Chet Culver |
| After Party: | Democratic Party (United States) |
The 2006 Iowa gubernatorial election took place November 7, 2006. The incumbent governor, Tom Vilsack, a Democrat, had served two terms and decided not to seek a third term. In the election, Chet Culver defeated Jim Nussle to win the governorship, by a margin of 54%-44%.[1]
, this was the last time a Democrat won the governorship of Iowa. This election marks the first time Democrats won three consecutive gubernatorial elections in the state since 1966, and the only time Democrats have ever done so for four-year terms.
Withdrew
The Democratic nominee, Iowa Secretary of State Chet Culver, selected Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Patty Judge as his running mate. Judge had previously run for the Democratic nomination for Governor before dropping out to run for Lieutenant Governor. The Republican nominee, U.S. Congressman Jim Nussle, selected Sioux City businessman Bob Vander Plaats as his running mate. Vander Plaats, like Judge, had previously run for his party's nomination before dropping out to run for Lieutenant Governor.
| 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 |
| width=150px | Source | width=150px | Date | width=100px | Chet Culver (D) | width=100px | Jim Nussle (R) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Des Moines Register | November 3, 2006 | align=center | 52% | 43% | |||
| Rasmussen | October 27, 2006 | align=center | 49% | 45% | |||
| Research 2000 | October 17, 2006 | align=center | 49% | 44% | |||
| Des Moines Register | October 14, 2006 | align=center | 46% | 39% | |||
| Rasmussen | October 5, 2006 | 42% | 42% | ||||
| Des Moines Register | September 17, 2006 | 44% | 44% | ||||
| Research 2000 | September 14, 2006 | align=center | 48% | 43% | |||
| Zogby/WSJ | September 11, 2006 | 43% | align=center | 46% | |||
| Rasmussen | September 1, 2006 | align=center | 42% | 40% | |||
| Zogby/WSJ | August 28, 2006 | align=center | 48% | 45% | |||
| Rasmussen | August 3, 2006 | align=center | 41% | 38% | |||
| Zogby/WSJ | July 24, 2006 | 45% | align=center | 47% | |||
| Zogby/WSJ | June 21, 2006 | 46% | align=center | 47% | |||
| Research 2000 | May 22–24, 2006 | align=center | 49% | 41% | |||
| Rasmussen | May 2, 2006 | align=center | 46% | 40% | |||
| Rasmussen | April 5, 2006 | align=center | 40% | 38% | |||
| Rasmussen | February 15, 2006 | align=center | 41% | 40% | |||
| Rasmussen | January 12, 2006 | 40% | 40% | ||||
| Rasmussen | November 28, 2005 | align=center | 41% | 38% | |||