2006 Wisconsin gubernatorial election explained

Election Name:	2006 Wisconsin gubernatorial election
Country:	Wisconsin
Type:	presidential
Ongoing:	no
Previous Election:	2002 Wisconsin gubernatorial election
Previous Year:	2002
Next Election:	2010 Wisconsin gubernatorial election
Next Year:	2010
Election Date:	November 7, 2006
Image1:	Jim Doyle (3347470710) (1).jpg
Nominee1:	Jim Doyle
Party1:	Democratic Party (United States)
Popular Vote1:	1,139,115
Percentage1:	52.70%
Nominee2:	Mark Green
Party2:	Republican Party (United States)
Popular Vote2:	979,427
Percentage2:	45.31%
Map Size:	250px
Governor
Before Election:	Jim Doyle
Before Party:	Democratic Party (United States)
After Election:	Jim Doyle
After Party:	Democratic Party (United States)
Running Mate1:	Barbara Lawton
Running Mate2:	Jean Hundertmark

The 2006 Wisconsin gubernatorial election was held on November 7, 2006. Incumbent Democratic Governor Jim Doyle ran for re-election to a second term in office. Doyle was unopposed in the Democratic primary, and he faced U.S. Representative Mark Green, who was unopposed in the Republican primary, in the general election. The campaign between Doyle and Green was competitive and hotly contested, but Doyle, whose approval ratings hovered around 50%, had the upper hand.^[1] In the end, Doyle defeated Green by a fairly comfortable margin, improving on his 2002 victory in the process.

This was the only Wisconsin gubernatorial election won by a Democrat with an outright majority of the vote between 1982 and 2022, and remains the largest winning margin garnered by a Democrat since 1982. This election was the first time since 1974 that an incumbent Democratic Governor was re-elected or won re-election.

Democratic primary

Governor

Candidates

• Jim Doyle, incumbent Governor of Wisconsin

Results

Lieutenant governor

Candidates

• Barbara Lawton, incumbent lieutenant governor

Results

Republican primary

Governor

Candidates

• Mark Green, U.S. Representative from the 8th district

Withdrew

• Scott Walker, Milwaukee County Executive and former State Representative^[2]

Results

Lieutenant governor

Candidates

• Jean Hundertmark, member of Wisconsin State Assembly
• Nick Voegeli

Results

Green primary

Governor

Candidates

• Nelson Eisman

Results

Lieutenant governor

Candidates

• Leon Todd

Results

General election

Predictions

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 2, 2006
align=left	Real Clear Politics^[6]		November 6, 2006

Polling

Source	Date	Jim Doyle (D)	Mark Green (R)
align=left	WISC-TV^[7]	November 2, 2006		50%	44%
align=left	Strategic Vision^[8]	October 31, 2006		47%	45%
align=left	Zogby/WSJ^[9]	October 31, 2006	46.7%		47.2%
align=left	Badger Poll^[10]	October 30, 2006		50%	36%
align=left	Rasmussen^[11]	October 29, 2006		48%	44%
align=left	Wisconsin Public Radio^[12]	October 18, 2006		51%	38%
align=left	Strategic Vision^[13]	October 11, 2006		46%	43%
align=left	Rasmussen^[14]	September 25, 2006		47%	44%
align=left	Strategic Vision^[15]	September 20, 2006		46%	42%
align=left	Zogby/WSJ	September 11, 2006		49.4%	45.7%
align=left	Zogby/WSJ	August 28, 2006		49.7%	43.1%
align=left	Rasmussen^[16]	August 20, 2006		49%	41%
align=left	Strategic Vision^[17]	August 18, 2006		45%	44%
align=left	Research 2000^[18]	August 17, 2006		48%	38%
align=left	Zogby/WSJ	July 24, 2006		49.2%	44.7%
align=left	Rasmussen^[19]	July 20, 2006		47%	41%
align=left	Strategic Vision^[20]	July 20, 2006		43%	42%
align=left	University of Wisconsin^[21]	July 2, 2006		49%	36%
align=left	WPRI^[22]	June 23, 2006		49%	37%
align=left	Zogby/WSJ	June 21, 2006		46.9%	45.1%
align=left	Strategic Vision^[23]	June 8, 2006	45%		46%
align=left	Strategic Vision^[24]	May 3, 2006		45%	43%
align=left	Rasmussen^[25]	April 28, 2006		47%	43%
align=left	Strategic Vision^[26]	April 13, 2006	43%	43%
align=left	WPR/St. Norbert College Survey^[27]	March 29 – April 7, 2006		43%	35%
align=left	Rasmussen^[28]	March 29, 2006		45%	40%
align=left	Strategic Vision^[29]	March 8, 2006	44%	44%
align=left	Rasmussen^[30]	February 7, 2006		48%	41%
align=left	Strategic Vision^[31]	February 1, 2006		44%	43%
align=left	Strategic Vision^[32]	December 22, 2005		45%	43%
align=left	Rasmussen^[33]	December 12, 2005		45%	39%
align=left	Strategic Vision^[34]	November 16, 2005		47%	44%
align=left	Strategic Vision^[35]	October 21, 2005		47%	43%

Results by county

Doyle became only the third Democrat to carry Door County; the only two previous gubernatorial elections in which it had voted Democratic were 1859 and 1904. Door County would not vote Democratic again until 2022. Doyle was also the first Democrat since Albert G. Schmedeman in 1932 to win Monroe County.

As of 2024, this is the last gubernatorial election in which the Democratic candidate carried the counties of Adams, Barron, Buffalo, Burnett, Chippewa, Clark, Dunn, Forest, Iron, Jackson, Lafayette, Lincoln, Marathon, Monroe, Oneida, Outagamie, Pepin, Pierce, Polk, Price, Rusk, Sawyer, St. Croix, Washburn, Winnebago, and Wood.

County	Jim Doyle Democratic		Mark Green Republican		Nelson Eisman Green		Scattering Write-in		Margin		Total votes cast
		%		%		%		%		%
	Adams		4,416		55.91%		3,324		42.08%		150		1.90%		9		0.11%		1,092		13.82%		7,899
	Ashland		4,118		65.80%		1,902		30.39%		232		3.71%		6		0.10%		2,216		35.41%		6,258
	Barron		8,136		49.81%		7,920		48.49%		271		1.66%		6		0.04%		216		1.32%		16,333
	Bayfield		4,653		64.15%		2,468		34.03%		129		1.78%		3		0.04%		2,185		30.13%		7,253
	Brown		45,046		48.11%		46,989		50.18%		1,517		1.62%		83		0.09%		-1,943		-2.08%		93,635
	Buffalo		3,078		57.40%		2,196		40.95%		83		1.55%		5		0.09%		882		16.45%		5,362
	Burnett		3,225		52.15%		2,900		46.90%		59		0.95%		0		0.00%		325		5.26%		6,184
	Calumet		9,059		46.74%		9,995		51.57%		320		1.65%		8		0.04%		-936		-4.83%		19,382
	Chippewa		11,467		52.56%		9,839		45.10%		502		2.30%		10		0.05%		1,628		7.46%		21,818
	Clark		5,758		51.23%		5,152		45.84%		326		2.90%		4		0.04%		606		5.39%		11,240
	Columbia		11,662		52.62%		9,936		44.83%		521		2.35%		45		0.20%		1,726		7.79%		22,164
	Crawford		3,751		59.25%		2,439		38.52%		128		2.02%		13		0.21%		1,312		20.72%		6,331
	Dane		149,661		69.95%		58,302		27.25%		5,645		2.64%		332		0.16%		91,359		42.70%		213,940
	Dodge		13,137		42.31%		17,302		55.72%		581		1.87%		29		0.09%		-4,165		-13.41%		31,049
	Door		7,592		52.75%		6,479		45.01%		319		2.22%		3		0.02%		1,113		7.73%		14,393
	Douglas		10,670		65.52%		5,233		32.14%		376		2.31%		5		0.03%		5,437		33.39%		16,284
	Dunn		8,070		55.24%		6,208		42.50%		318		2.18%		12		0.08%		1,862		12.75%		14,608
	Eau Claire		22,240		57.16%		15,733		40.43%		889		2.28%		49		0.13%		6,507		16.72%		38,911
	Florence		865		44.07%		1,079		54.97%		19		0.97%		0		0.00%		-214		-10.90%		1,963
	Fond du Lac		16,073		42.05%		21,515		56.28%		615		1.61%		23		0.06%		-5,442		-14.24%		38,226
	Forest		1,853		51.27%		1,712		47.37%		48		1.33%		1		0.03%		141		3.90%		3,614
	Grant		9,242		54.52%		7,427		43.81%		283		1.67%		0		0.00%		1,815		10.71%		16,952
	Green		7,769		58.67%		5,149		38.89%		304		2.30%		19		0.14%		2,620		19.79%		13,241
	Green Lake		3,122		39.09%		4,714		59.03%		144		1.80%		6		0.08%		-1,592		-19.93%		7,986
	Iowa		5,630		62.23%		3,267		36.11%		145		1.60%		5		0.06%		2,363		26.12%		9,047
	Iron		1,560		56.07%		1,189		42.74%		30		1.08%		3		0.11%		371		13.34%		2,782
	Jackson		3,858		55.61%		2,931		42.25%		146		2.10%		3		0.04%		927		13.36%		6,938
	Jefferson		14,247		46.01%		16,038		51.79%		640		2.07%		40		0.13%		-1,791		-5.78%		30,965
	Juneau		3,969		47.88%		4,101		49.48%		181		2.18%		38		0.46%		-132		-1.59%		8,289
	Kenosha		28,338		55.49%		21,737		42.56%		938		1.84%		58		0.11%		6,601		12.93%		51,071
	Kewaunee		4,354		48.14%		4,479		49.52%		211		2.33%		1		0.01%		-125		-1.38%		9,045
	La Crosse		24,663		57.34%		17,235		40.07%		1,002		2.33%		110		0.26%		7,428		17.27%		43,010
	Lafayette		3,344		57.20%		2,405		41.14%		91		1.56%		6		0.10%		939		16.06%		5,846
	Langlade		4,184		48.70%		4,276		49.77%		126		1.47%		5		0.06%		-92		-1.07%		8,591
	Lincoln		6,019		54.31%		4,713		42.52%		339		3.06%		12		0.11%		1,306		11.78%		11,083
	Manitowoc		15,736		48.47%		16,154		49.76%		535		1.65%		38		0.12%		-418		-1.29%		32,463
	Marathon		25,836		52.56%		22,186		45.14%		1,121		2.28%		9		0.02%		3,650		7.43%		49,152
	Marinette		8,408		49.35%		8,455		49.63%		166		0.97%		8		0.05%		-47		-0.28%		17,037
	Marquette		2,879		47.13%		3,095		50.67%		123		2.01%		11		0.18%		-216		-3.54%		6,108
	Menominee		886		82.57%		180		16.78%		7		0.65%		0		0.00%		706		65.80%		1,073
	Milwaukee		199,536		61.57%		118,949		36.70%		5,019		1.55%		564		0.17%		80,587		24.87%		324,068
	Monroe		6,556		48.76%		6,517		48.47%		323		2.40%		50		0.37%		39		0.29%		13,446
	Oconto		6,639		46.17%		7,497		52.14%		238		1.66%		4		0.03%		-858		-5.97%		14,378
	Oneida		8,372		51.67%		7,425		45.82%		389		2.40%		17		0.10%		947		5.84%		16,203
	Outagamie		34,901		50.05%		33,511		48.05%		1,284		1.84%		41		0.06%		1,390		1.99%		69,737
	Ozaukee		15,229		36.90%		25,460		61.69%		542		1.31%		43		0.10%		-10,231		-24.79%		41,274
	Pepin		1,627		55.70%		1,256		43.00%		38		1.30%		0		0.00%		371		12.70%		2,921
	Pierce		7,829		55.30%		6,034		42.62%		284		2.01%		10		0.07%		1,795		12.68%		14,157
	Polk		8,128		52.34%		7,103		45.74%		291		1.87%		7		0.05%		1,025		6.60%		15,529
	Portage		17,754		61.55%		10,206		35.38%		858		2.97%		27		0.09%		7,548		26.17%		28,845
	Price		3,581		55.85%		2,737		42.69%		91		1.42%		3		0.05%		844		13.16%		6,412
	Racine		34,968		49.00%		35,286		49.44%		1,055		1.48%		59		0.08%		-318		-0.45%		71,368
	Richland		3,489		54.41%		2,814		43.88%		100		1.56%		10		0.16%		675		10.53%		6,413
	Rock		33,774		61.26%		20,156		36.56%		1,115		2.02%		84		0.15%		13,618		24.70%		55,129
	Rusk		2,968		51.68%		2,622		45.66%		144		2.51%		9		0.16%		346		6.02%		5,743
	Sauk		12,232		55.76%		9,148		41.70%		517		2.36%		41		0.19%		3,084		14.06%		21,938
	Sawyer		3,218		51.22%		2,965		47.19%		100		1.59%		0		0.00%		253		4.03%		6,283
	Shawano		7,236		46.16%		8,227		52.48%		208		1.33%		6		0.04%		-991		-6.32%		15,677
	Sheboygan		21,388		45.13%		25,257		53.29%		714		1.51%		38		0.08%		-3,869		-8.16%		47,397
	St. Croix		13,392		49.79%		13,117		48.77%		378		1.41%		9		0.03%		275		1.02%		26,896
	Taylor		3,506		48.31%		3,551		48.93%		199		2.74%		2		0.03%		-45		-0.62%		7,258
	Trempealeau		5,557		58.57%		3,725		39.26%		198		2.09%		8		0.08%		1,832		19.31%		9,488
	Vernon		6,034		57.34%		4,240		40.29%		234		2.22%		15		0.14%		1,794		17.05%		10,523
	Vilas		4,799		45.15%		5,623		52.90%		202		1.90%		6		0.06%		-824		-7.75%		10,630
	Walworth		14,154		41.98%		18,781		55.71%		729		2.16%		50		0.15%		-4,627		-13.72%		33,714
	Washburn		3,323		50.73%		3,135		47.86%		87		1.33%		6		0.09%		188		2.87%		6,551
	Washington		17,219		32.29%		35,262		66.13%		803		1.51%		41		0.08%		-18,043		-33.84%		53,325
	Waukesha		61,402		34.86%		112,243		63.73%		2,320		1.32%		149		0.08%		-50,841		-28.87%		176,114
	Waupaca		8,767		45.24%		10,296		53.13%		307		1.58%		10		0.05%		-1,529		-7.89%		19,380
	Waushara		4,155		46.55%		4,590		51.42%		170		1.90%		11		0.12%		-435		-4.87%		8,926
	Winnebago		32,765		50.49%		30,629		47.20%		1,413		2.18%		85		0.13%		2,136		3.29%		64,892
	Wood		16,043		54.27%		12,711		43.00%		779		2.64%		26		0.09%		3,332		11.27%		29,559
Total	1,139,115	52.70%	979,427	45.31%	40,709	1.88%	2,449	0.11%	159,688	7.39%	2,161,700

Counties that flipped Republican to Democratic

• Burnett (largest village: Grantsburg)
• Clark (largest city: Neillsville)
• Chippewa (largest city: Chippewa Falls)
• Door (largest city: Sturgeon Bay)
• Outagamie (largest city: Appleton)
• Sawyer (largest city: Hayward)
• St. Croix (Largest city: Hudson)
• Winnebago (largest city: Oshkosh)

Counties that flipped from Libertarian to Democratic

• Monroe (largest city: Sparta)

Counties that flipped from Libertarian to Republican

• Juneau (largest city: Mauston)

Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican

• Langlade (largest city: Antigo)
• Manitowoc (largest city: Manitowoc)
• Marquette (largest city: Montello)
• Racine (largest city: Racine)
• Taylor (Largest city: Medford)

See also

• U.S. gubernatorial elections, 2006

External links

• Mark Green for Governor (R)
• Jim Doyle Re-Election Site (D)
• Eisman for Wisconsin (G)

Notes and References

1. Web site: SurveyUSA America's Neighborhood Pollster.
2. News: Schultze. Steve. Walker gov announcement expected April 28. 27 April 2015. Milwaukee, Wisconsin Journal Sentinel. April 20, 2009.
3. Web site: 2006 Governor Race Ratings for November 6, 2006. The Cook Political Report. October 1, 2006. June 5, 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20080605094803/https://cookpolitical.com/races/report_pdfs/2006_gov_ratings_nov6.pdf. dead.
4. Web site: Election Eve 2006: THE FINAL PREDICTIONS . Sabato's Crystal Ball . June 25, 2021.
5. Web site: 2006 Gubernatorial Ratings . Senate Ratings . The Rothenberg Political Report . June 25, 2021.
6. Web site: Election 2006 . Real Clear Politics . June 25, 2021.
7. https://web.archive.org/web/20061120085252/http://www.wispolitics.com/1006/061102WISCgov.pdf WISC-TV
8. https://web.archive.org/web/20070704072730/http://strategicvision.biz/political/wisconsin_poll_103106.htm Strategic Vision
9. https://online.wsj.com/public/resources/documents/info-flash06.html?project=elections06-ft&h=495&w=778&hasAd=1&mod=blogs Zogby/WSJ
10. http://www.uwsc.wisc.edu/BP23PressRelease1_WIraces.pdf Badger Poll
11. https://web.archive.org/web/20070311151250/http://www.rasmussenreports.com/2006/State%20Polls/October%202006/wisconsinGovernor.htm Rasmussen
12. https://web.archive.org/web/20061110035735/http://wpr.org/announce/survey0610/state-issues.htm Wisconsin Public Radio
13. https://web.archive.org/web/20061027190852/http://www.strategicvision.biz/political/wisconsin_poll_101106.htm Strategic Vision
14. https://web.archive.org/web/20061008165415/http://www.rasmussenreports.com/2006/State%20Polls/September%202006/WisconsinGovernor.htm Rasmussen
15. https://web.archive.org/web/20060923001241/http://strategicvision.biz/political/wisconsin_poll_092006.htm Strategic Vision
16. https://web.archive.org/web/20060827193429/http://www.rasmussenreports.com/2006/State%20Polls/August%202006/wisconsinGovernor.htm Rasmussen
17. https://web.archive.org/web/20060922070652/http://strategicvision.biz/political/wisconsin_poll_081806.htm Strategic Vision
18. http://www.jsonline.com/watch/?watch=22&date=8/17/2006&id=10147 Research 2000
19. https://web.archive.org/web/20060922111849/http://rasmussenreports.com/2006/State%20Polls/July%202006/wiGovSenate.htm Rasmussen
20. https://web.archive.org/web/20060721210801/http://strategicvision.biz/political/wisconsin_poll_072006.htm Strategic Vision
21. http://www.madison.com/tct/news/stories/index.php?ntid=90682 University of Wisconsin
22. http://www.wpri.org/Reports/Volume19/Vol19no6Rel1Web.pdf WPRI
23. https://web.archive.org/web/20060608223529/http://strategicvision.biz/political/wisconsin_poll_060806.htm Strategic Vision
24. https://web.archive.org/web/20061230081016/http://www.strategicvision.biz/political/wisconsin_poll_050306.htm Strategic Vision
25. https://web.archive.org/web/20060515154907/http://www.rasmussenreports.com/2006/State%20Polls/April%202006/Wisconsin%20Governor%20April.htm Rasmussen
26. https://web.archive.org/web/20060418232518/http://www.strategicvision.biz/political/wisconsin_poll_041206.htm Strategic Vision
27. https://web.archive.org/web/20070929123551/http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=415151 WPR/St. Norbert College Survey
28. http://www.rasmussenreports.com/2006/State%20Polls/March%202006/Wisconsin%20Governor%20March.htm Rasmussen
29. https://web.archive.org/web/20060316111632/http://strategicvision.biz/political/wisconsin_poll_030806.htm Strategic Vision
30. https://web.archive.org/web/20060221083512/http://www.rasmussenreports.com/2006/State%20Polls/January%202006/Wisconsin%20Governor%20January.htm Rasmussen
31. https://web.archive.org/web/20060212211235/http://www.strategicvision.biz/political/wisconsin_poll_020106.htm Strategic Vision
32. https://web.archive.org/web/20051229021328/http://www.strategicvision.biz/political/wisconsin_poll_1222.htm Strategic Vision
33. http://www.rasmussenreports.com/2005/Wisconsin%20Governor.htm Rasmussen
34. https://web.archive.org/web/20060425084639/http://www.strategicvision.biz/political/wisconsin_poll_1116.htm Strategic Vision
35. https://web.archive.org/web/20051219042426/http://www.strategicvision.biz/political/wisconsin_poll_1021.htm Strategic Vision