The 2006 Florida gubernatorial election took place on November 7, 2006. Incumbent Republican Governor Jeb Bush was term-limited, and could not run for election to a third consecutive term. The election was won by then-Republican Charlie Crist, the state's attorney general. The election was notable in that for the first time, the state elected a Republican governor in three consecutive elections.
Turnout for the 2006 election was down 8.5% from 2002 and down 2.7% from 1998. With Republicans holding the seat, the state's governorship avoided being part of the wave in which Democrats netted a gain of six governorships across the nation. This remains the last time that Charlie Crist won a statewide election in Florida, as well as the last election in which he ran as a Republican. This was the last time until 2022 that anyone was elected governor with a majority of the vote. To date, this is the last time Florida simultaneously elected a United States Senate candidate and a gubernatorial candidate of different political parties.
Democratic primary Campaign Jim Davis won the Democratic primary on September 5. Davis was the congressman from Florida's 11th congressional district and served in the Florida House of Representatives, where he also served as the majority leader. On September 13, Davis selected former state senator and 2002 gubernatorial candidate Daryl Jones of Miami as his running mate.
The Democratic primary turned heated as it approached primary day. Rod Smith attacked Jim Davis for a 1990 legislative vote denying restitution for two black men wrongfully imprisoned for murder. Davis countered that Smith was a "pawn" of the sugar industry, and that "big business" and special interests were funding many of Smith's attack ads.
Candidates Declared Glenn Burkett Carol Castagnero, retired teacher John M. Crotty Jim Davis, U.S. representative from Tampa Rod Smith, state senator from Gainesville
Withdrew Bud Chiles, son of former governor Lawton Chiles Scott Maddox, former mayor of Tallahassee and former chairman of the Florida Democratic Party
Declined Betty Castor, former Education Commissioner of Florida, former president of the University of South Florida, 2004 Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate
Endorsements
Republican primary Charlie Crist, the Republican candidate, won the primary on September 5 with 64% of the vote. Crist was Florida's attorney general at the time. Previously he was elected State Education Commissioner, and has served in the Florida Senate. He faced Bob Graham for his seat in the United States Senate in 1998. On September 13, 2006, Crist announced that State Representative Jeff Kottkamp of Cape Coral would be his running mate.
The GOP primary did not end up being very competitive. Crist touted experience in statewide offices, and a strong fundraising capability. He portrayed himself as relatively moderate on social issues, which created some misgivings among conservative Republicans in the state, but not nearly enough to sway the vote to Tom Gallagher.
Candidates Declared Charlie Crist, attorney general of Florida, and nominee for U.S. Senate in 1998 Tom Gallagher, chief financial officer of Florida, former State Treasurer-Insurance Commissioner, former Education Commissioner, and candidate for governor in 1986 and 1994 Vernon Palmer Michael W. St. Jean, minister
Declined Toni Jennings, lieutenant governor of Florida
Endorsements
General election Candidates Charlie Crist, Florida Attorney General (Republican nominee) Jim Davis, United States Representative from Florida's 11th congressional district (Democratic nominee) Max Linn, financial planner (Reform Party nominee) John Wayne Smith, perennial candidate (no party affiliation) Richard Paul Dembinsky, perennial candidate (no party affiliation) Karl C.C. Behm, paintball facility owner (no party affiliation)
Predictions Source Ranking As of The Cook Political Report November 6, 2006 Sabato's Crystal Ball November 6, 2006 Rothenberg Political Report November 2, 2006 Real Clear Politics November 6, 2006
Opinion polling
Source Date Crist (R) Davis (D)Survey USASurvey USA November 6, 2006 49% 47%Strategic VisionStrategic Vision November 6, 2006 51% 44%Orlando SentinelOrlando Sentinel November 3, 2006 50% 43%Mason-DixonMason-Dixon November 3, 2006 50% 43%Strategic VisionStrategic Vision November 2, 2006 50% 44%Zogby/WSJZogby/WSJ October 31, 2006 49.9% 45.1%St. Petersburg TimesSt. Petersburg Times October 28, 2006 48% 42%RasmussenRasmussen October 26, 2006 52% 41%Strategic VisionStrategic Vision October 25, 2006 51% 42%QuinnipiacQuinnipiac October 23, 2006 46% 44%Zogby/WSJ October 19, 2006 50.2% 41%Rasmussen October 18, 2006 46% 41%RasmussenRasmussen October 2, 2006 54% 38%Strategic VisionStrategic VisionSeptember 28, 2006 50% 40%Zogby/WSJ September 25, 2006 50.1% 36.6%RasmussenRasmussen September 19, 2006 45% 40%Zogby/WSJ September 11, 2006 50.6% 36.4%RasmussenRasmussen September 5, 2006 45% 41%Strategic VisionStrategic Vision August 30, 2006 49% 41%Zogby/WSJ August 28, 2006 52.4% 38.5%RasmussenRasmussen August 1, 2006 47% 42%QuinnipiacQuinnipiac July 26, 2006 44% 38%Strategic VisionStrategic Vision July 26, 2006 49% 39%Mason-DixonMason-Dixon July 24, 2006 48% 32%Zogby/WSJ July 24, 2006 42.8% 39.0%QuinnipiacQuinnipiac June 29, 2006 41% 39%RasmussenRasmussen June 29, 2006 49% 35%Strategic VisionStrategic Vision June 28, 2006 49% 41%Zogby/WSJ June 21, 2006 42.5% 39.8%Strategic VisionStrategic Vision May 25, 2006 48% 40%QuinnipiacQuinnipiac May 24, 2006 37% 40%RasmussenRasmussen May 22, 2006 44% 39%RasmussenRasmussen April 21, 2006 44% 33%QuinnipiacQuinnipiac April 19, 2006 37% 39%QuinnipiacQuinnipiac February 22, 2006 40% 36%RasmussenRasmussen January 6, 2006 36% 35%RasmussenRasmussen November 16, 2005 38% 41%QuinnipiacQuinnipiac November 15, 2005 39% 40%
Results Charlie Crist won by over 7 points, winning all Republican-leaning areas of Florida, as well as the notable "swing" region along the I-4 corridor (Daytona Beach, Orlando, Tampa/St. Petersburg). Davis performed well in the Democrat-leaning south Florida, Gainesville, and Tallahassee areas. Crist under-performed compared to his predecessor Jeb Bush, but still outpaced Davis, despite the low turnout. Reform Party candidate Max Linn received nearly 2% of the vote, but his sizeable haul of over 92,500 votes was still not enough to sway the election. Crist also won 18% of the African-American electorate, which outpaced previous Republicans' efforts in attracting this voting bloc in statewide elections.
Also on the ballot the same day was a constitutional amendment to raise the requirement for all future ballot initiatives to a supermajority (60%). Previously, constitutional amendments put on the ballot required only a simple majority (50% +1) to be approved, and led to some controversial amendments being put on the ballot. Support and opposition for the amendment fell loosely along party lines with Democrats generally opposing its passage. Both Crist and Davis publicly opposed the measure, but it was passed anyway by the voters with a 55% margin - a higher margin than either candidate received.
Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican Franklin (largest city: Eastpoint) Liberty (largest city: Bristol) Calhoun (largest city: Blountstown) Hamilton (largest city: Jasper) Wakulla (largest city: Sopchoppy) Jackson (largest city: Marianna)
Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic Miami-Dade (largest city: Miami)
See also 2006 United States gubernatorial elections Governor of Florida List of governors of Florida 2006 United States Senate election in Florida
Notes
References
External links Official campaign websites (archived) Charlie Crist for Governor Jim Davis for Governor Max Linn for Governor Atlee Yarrow for Governor Piotr Blass for Governor