2006 Wyoming gubernatorial election explained

See also: 2006 United States gubernatorial elections.

Election Name:	2006 Wyoming gubernatorial election
Country:	Wyoming
Type:	presidential
Ongoing:	Yes
Previous Election:	2002 Wyoming gubernatorial election
Previous Year:	2002
Election Date:	November 7, 2006
Next Election:	2010 Wyoming gubernatorial election
Next Year:	2010
Image1:	File:Dave Freudenthal speech.jpg
Nominee1:	Dave Freudenthal
Party1:	Democratic Party (United States)
Popular Vote1:	135,516
Percentage1:	69.99%
Nominee2:	Ray Hunkins
Party2:	Republican Party (United States)
Popular Vote2:	58,100
Percentage2:	30.01%
Map Size:	250px
Governor
Before Party:	Democratic Party (United States)
After Election:	Dave Freudenthal
After Party:	Democratic Party (United States)

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.

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Dave Freudenthal, incumbent Governor of Wyoming
• Al Hamburg, perennial candidate

Results

Republican primary

Candidates

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

Results

General election

Predictions

Source	Ranking	As of
align=left	The Cook Political Report^[1]		November 6, 2006
align=left	Sabato's Crystal Ball^[2]		November 6, 2006
align=left	Rothenberg Political Report^[3]		November 2, 2006
align=left	Real Clear Politics^[4]		November 6, 2006

Polling

Source	Date	Dave	Ray Hunkins (R)
Rasmussen	July 20, 2006	align=center	58%	29%
Rasmussen	May 8, 2006	align=center	52%	29%

Results

Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic

• Big Horn (Largest city: Lovell)
• Campbell (Largest city: Gillette)
• Converse (Largest city: Douglas)
• Crook (Largest city: Sundance)
• Fremont (Largest city: Riverton)
• Goshen (Largest city: Torrington)
• Johnson (Largest city: Buffalo)
• Lincoln (Largest city: Kemmerer)
• Niobrara (Largest city: Lusk)
• Park (Largest city: Cody)
• Sheridan (Largest city: Sheridan)
• Sublette (Largest city: Pinedale)
• Uinta (Largest city: Evanston)
• Washakie (Largest city: Worland)
• Weston (Largest city: Newcastle)

See also

• 2006 United States gubernatorial elections
• 2006 United States Senate election in Wyoming

References

Official campaign websites

• Dave Freudenthal (D) for Governor
• Ray Hunkins (R) for Governor

Notes and References

1. 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.
2. Web site: Election Eve 2006: THE FINAL PREDICTIONS . Sabato's Crystal Ball . June 25, 2021.
3. Web site: 2006 Gubernatorial Ratings . Senate Ratings . The Rothenberg Political Report . June 25, 2021.
4. Web site: Election 2006 . Real Clear Politics . June 25, 2021.