| Election Name: | 2006 United States Senate election in Nevada |
| Country: | Nevada |
| Type: | presidential |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 2000 United States Senate election in Nevada |
| Previous Year: | 2000 |
| Next Election: | 2012 United States Senate election in Nevada |
| Next Year: | 2012 |
| Election Date: | November 7, 2006 |
| Image1: | File:Sen John Ensign official(2).jpg |
| Nominee1: | John Ensign |
| Party1: | Republican Party (United States) |
| Popular Vote1: | 322,501 |
| Percentage1: | 55.36% |
| Nominee2: | Jack Carter |
| Party2: | Democratic Party (United States) |
| Popular Vote2: | 238,796 |
| Percentage2: | 40.99% |
| Map Size: | 250px |
| U.S. Senator | |
| Before Election: | John Ensign |
| Before Party: | Republican Party (United States) |
| After Election: | John Ensign |
| After Party: | Republican Party (United States) |
The 2006 United States Senate election in Nevada was held on November 7, 2006. Incumbent Republican John Ensign defeated Democratic nominee Jack Carter to win re-election to a second term. This election was the only Senate election in Nevada where the incumbent Republican Senator was re-elected or won re-election since 1980 and the only Senate election in Nevada for this seat where the incumbent Republican Senator was re-elected or won re-election since 1952.
Popular Las Vegas mayor Oscar Goodman had said in January 2006 that he would probably run,[1] but decisively ruled out a run in late April.[2] Going into the 2006 cycle, many top Nevada Democrats such as State Assembly speaker Richard Perkins indicated that the party would put more efforts into the gubernatorial election than into defeating Ensign.
Carter's advantages included his formidable speaking abilities and kinship with a former U.S. president. On the other hand, Ensign was also considered to be an effective speaker and as of the first quarter of 2006, held an approximately 5–1 advantage over Carter in cash-on-hand.
| Source | Ranking | As of | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| align=left | The Cook Political Report[3] | November 6, 2006 | ||
| align=left | Sabato's Crystal Ball[4] | November 6, 2006 | ||
| align=left | Rothenberg Political Report[5] | November 6, 2006 | ||
| align=left | Real Clear Politics[6] | November 6, 2006 |
| Source | Date | Ensign (R) | Carter (D) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zogby/WSJ[7] | March 31, 2006 | 52% | 38% | ||
| Las Vegas Review-Journal/Mason-Dixon[8] | April 3–5, 2006 | 60% | 27% | ||
| Reno Gazette-Journal/News 4[9] | May 12–15, 2006 | 52% | 32% | ||
| Zogby/WSJ[10] | June 21, 2006 | 51% | 36% | ||
| Zogby/WSJ | July 24, 2006 | 50% | 35% | ||
| Rasmussen[11] | July 31, 2006 | 46% | 39% | ||
| Las Vegas Review-Journal/Mason-Dixon[12] | August 12, 2006 | 54% | 33% | ||
| Zogby/WSJ[13] | August 28, 2006 | 48% | 45% | ||
| Zogby/WSJ | September 11, 2006 | 52% | 40% | ||
| Reno Gazette-Journal/Research 2000[14] | September 15, 2006 | 56% | 35% | ||
| Rasmussen[15] | September 22, 2006 | 50% | 41% | ||
| Las Vegas Review-Journal/Mason-Dixon[16] | September 26, 2006 | 58% | 35% | ||
| Zogby/WSJ | September 28, 2006 | 49% | 42% | ||
| Rasmussen[17] | October 17, 2006 | 50% | 42% | ||
| Zogby/WSJ[18] | October 19, 2006 | 52% | 43% | ||
| Reno Gazette-Journal/Research 2000[19] | October 29, 2006 | 55% | 41% |
Ensign won a majority of the votes in every county in the state, with his lowest percentage at 53%.[20]