2006 Governor's Chairs by State

The Green Papers: 2006 Midterm Election

2006 Governor's Chairs
by State

36 Governor's Chairs up for election in 2006

36 Elected

14 Governor's Chairs not up for election in 2006

9 Open Governor's Chairs (voluntary retirement, seeking other political office, term limits)

26 Incumbents renominated by same party

1 Incumbent lost primary - no longer a candidate for this office

1 Republican

213 Candidates seeking a Governor's Chair (Candidates may run under the banner of multiple parties. Hence, the number of parties may be greater than the number of candidates.)

This is a list of the current Governors' chairs, the incumbents occupying them, and the candidacy status of said incumbents. Chairs up for election in the year 2006 are marked as such.

Friday May 26, 2006: The United States Senate confirmed Governor Dirk Kempthorne of Idaho as Secretary of the Interior by a vote of 85 yeas, 8 nays and 7 not voting. Governor Kempthorne was first elected Governor of Idaho in 1998 and re-elected in 2002. He served in U.S. Senate (elected: 1992) and was nominated by President George W. Bush to be the Secretary of the Interior on 16 March 2006. Upon the confirmation of Governor Kempthorne, Lieutenant Governor James E. "Jim" Risch (Republican) ascended to the position of Governor of Idaho. Mr. Risch was was first elected as Lieutenant Governor in 2002 and was renominated for Lieutenant Governor in the 23 May 2006 Republican Primary.

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Gubernatorial Links



Alabama 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2002, 2006. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican

Alaska 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2002, 2006. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican

Arizona 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2002, 2006. Term Limit: The Governor can not serve for more than 8 years
Partisan Composition: 1 Democratic

	Democratic	Governor Janet Napolitano • Re-elected Tuesday 7 November 2006 • First elected: 2002 • Chair up for election: Tuesday 7 November 2006 • The current Governor is unaffected by the State's term limit. • Renominated - 12 September 2006 Primary
	Polls: Democratic Governor Janet Napolitano

Arkansas 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2002, 2006. Term Limit: No one can serve more than 2 4-year terms in a lifetime
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican

California 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2002, 2006. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican

Colorado 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2002, 2006. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican

Connecticut 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2002, 2006. Term Limit: None
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican

Delaware 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2004, 2008. Term Limit: No one can serve more than 2 4-year terms in a lifetime
Partisan Composition: 1 Democratic

	Democratic	Governor Ruth Ann Minner • First elected: 2000; re-elected: 2004. • Chair up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2008 • The current Governor is affected by a term limit and cannot run for re-election.

Florida 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2002, 2006. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican

Georgia 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2002, 2006. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican

Hawaii 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2002, 2006. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican

Idaho 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2002, 2006. Term Limit: None
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican

Illinois 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2002, 2006. Term Limit: None
Partisan Composition: 1 Democratic

	Democratic	Governor Rod R. Blagojevich • Re-elected Tuesday 7 November 2006 • First elected: 2002 • Chair up for election: Tuesday 7 November 2006 • Renominated - 21 March 2006 Primary
	Polls: Leans Democratic - Democratic Governor Rod R. Blagojevich

Indiana 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2004, 2008. Term Limit: No more than 2 4-year terms in any 3-term period
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican

Iowa 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2002, 2006. Term Limit: None
Partisan Composition: 1 Democratic

Open	Democratic	Governor Thomas J. "Tom" Vilsack • First elected: 1998; re-elected: 2002 • Chair up for election: Tuesday 7 November 2006 • Open Chair - Retiring at end of current term. Not a candidate for re-election.
	Polls: Toss-up - Currently Democratic. Democratic Secretary of State Chester "Chet" Culver vs. Republican Congressman Jim Nussle
		Open Chair (no incumbent)

Kansas 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2002, 2006. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms
Partisan Composition: 1 Democratic

	Democratic	Governor Kathleen Sebelius • Re-elected Tuesday 7 November 2006 • First elected: 2002 • Chair up for election: Tuesday 7 November 2006 • The current Governor is unaffected by the State's term limit. • Renominated - 1 August 2006 Primary
	Polls: Democratic Governor Kathleen Sebelius

Kentucky 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2003, 2007. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican

Louisiana 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2003, 2007. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms
Partisan Composition: 1 Democratic

	Democratic	Governor Kathleen Babineaux Blanco • First elected: 2003 • Chair up for election: Saturday 20 October 2007 • The current Governor is unaffected by the State's term limit.

Maine 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2002, 2006. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms. GOVERNOR is the only Statewide elected officer
Partisan Composition: 1 Democratic

	Democratic	Governor John Elias Baldacci • Re-elected Tuesday 7 November 2006 • First elected: 2002 • Chair up for election: Tuesday 7 November 2006 • The current Governor is unaffected by the State's term limit. • Renominated - 13 June 2006 Primary
	Polls: Leans Democratic - Democratic Governor John Elias Baldacci

Maryland 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2002, 2006. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican

Massachusetts 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2002, 2006. Term Limit: None
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican

Michigan 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2002, 2006. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms
Partisan Composition: 1 Democratic

	Democratic	Governor Jennifer M. Granholm • Re-elected Tuesday 7 November 2006 • First elected: 2002 • Chair up for election: Tuesday 7 November 2006 • The current Governor is unaffected by the State's term limit. • Renominated - 8 August 2006 Primary
	Polls: Toss-up - Democratic Governor Jennifer M. Granholm vs. Republican Dick DeVos

Minnesota 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2002, 2006. Term Limit: None
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican

Mississippi 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2003, 2007. Term Limit: No one can serve more than 2 4-year terms in a lifetime
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican

Missouri 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2004, 2008. Term Limit: No one can serve more than 2 4-year terms in a lifetime
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican

Montana 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2004, 2008. Term Limit: No more than 2 4-year terms in any 4-term period
Partisan Composition: 1 Democratic

	Democratic	Governor Brian Schweitzer • First elected: 2004 • Chair up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2008 • The current Governor is unaffected by the State's term limit.

Nebraska 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2002, 2006. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican

Nevada 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2002, 2006. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican

New Hampshire 2 year term, Election Cycle: 2004, 2006. Term Limit: None. GOVERNOR is the only Statewide elected officer
Partisan Composition: 1 Democratic

	Democratic	Governor John Lynch • Re-elected Tuesday 7 November 2006 • First elected: 2004 • Chair up for election: Tuesday 7 November 2006 • Renominated - 12 September 2006 Primary
	Polls: Democratic Governor John Lynch

New Jersey 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2005, 2009. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms
Partisan Composition: 1 Democratic

	Democratic	Governor Jon S. Corzine • First elected: 2005 • Chair up for election: Tuesday 3 November 2009 • The current Governor is unaffected by the State's term limit.

New Mexico 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2002, 2006. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms
Partisan Composition: 1 Democratic

	Democratic	Governor William B. "Bill" Richardson • Re-elected Tuesday 7 November 2006 • First elected: 2002 • Chair up for election: Tuesday 7 November 2006 • The current Governor is unaffected by the State's term limit. • Renominated - 6 June 2006 Primary
	Polls: Democratic Governor William B. "Bill" Richardson

New York 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2002, 2006. Term Limit: None
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican

North Carolina 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2004, 2008. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms
Partisan Composition: 1 Democratic

	Democratic	Governor Mike Easley • First elected: 2000; re-elected: 2004 • Chair up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2008 • The current Governor is affected by a term limit and cannot run for re-election.

North Dakota 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2004, 2008. Term Limit: None
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican

Ohio 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2002, 2006. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican

Oklahoma 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2002, 2006. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms
Partisan Composition: 1 Democratic

	Democratic	Governor Brad Henry • Re-elected Tuesday 7 November 2006 • First elected: 2002 • Chair up for election: Tuesday 7 November 2006 • The current Governor is unaffected by the State's term limit. • Renominated - 25 July 2006 Primary
	Polls: Leans Democratic - Democratic Governor Brad Henry

Oregon 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2002, 2006. Term Limit: No more than 2 4-year terms in any 3-term period
Partisan Composition: 1 Democratic

	Democratic	Governor Theodore R. "Ted" Kulongoski • Re-elected Tuesday 7 November 2006 • First elected: 2002 • Chair up for election: Tuesday 7 November 2006 • The current Governor is unaffected by the State's term limit. • Renominated - 16 May 2006 Primary
	Polls: Leans Democratic - Democratic Governor Theodore R. "Ted" Kulongoski

Pennsylvania 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2002, 2006. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms
Partisan Composition: 1 Democratic

	Democratic	Governor Edward G. "Ed" Rendell • Re-elected Tuesday 7 November 2006 • First elected: 2002 • Chair up for election: Tuesday 7 November 2006 • The current Governor is unaffected by the State's term limit. • Renominated - 16 May 2006 Primary
	Polls: Leans Democratic - Democratic Governor Edward G. "Ed" Rendell

Rhode Island 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2002, 2006. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican

South Carolina 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2002, 2006. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican

South Dakota 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2002, 2006. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican

Tennessee 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2002, 2006. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms. GOVERNOR is the only Statewide elected officer
Partisan Composition: 1 Democratic

	Democratic	Governor Phil Bredesen • Re-elected Tuesday 7 November 2006 • First elected: 2002 • Chair up for election: Tuesday 7 November 2006 • The current Governor is unaffected by the State's term limit. • Renominated - 3 August 2006 Primary
	Polls: Democratic Governor Phil Bredesen

Texas 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2002, 2006. Term Limit: None
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican

Utah 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2004, 2008. Term Limit: None
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican

Vermont 2 year term, Election Cycle: 2004, 2006. Term Limit: None
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican

Virginia 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2005, 2009. Term Limit: ineligble to immediately succeed after a given 4-year term
Partisan Composition: 1 Democratic

	Democratic	Governor Timothy M. "Tim" Kaine • First elected: 2005 • Chair up for election: Tuesday 3 November 2009 • The current Governor is affected by a term limit and cannot run for re-election.

Washington 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2004, 2008. Term Limit: None
Partisan Composition: 1 Democratic

	Democratic	Governor Christine Gregoire • First elected: 2004 • Chair up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2008

West Virginia 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2004, 2008. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms
Partisan Composition: 1 Democratic

	Democratic	Governor Joe Manchin, III • First elected: 2004 • Chair up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2008 • The current Governor is unaffected by the State's term limit.

Wisconsin 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2002, 2006. Term Limit: None
Partisan Composition: 1 Democratic

	Democratic	Governor Jim Doyle • Re-elected Tuesday 7 November 2006 • First elected: 2002 • Chair up for election: Tuesday 7 November 2006 • Renominated - 12 September 2006 Primary
	Polls: Leans Democratic - WATCH - Almost a toss up. Democratic Governor Jim Doyle vs. Republican Congressman Mark Green

Wyoming 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2002, 2006. Term Limit: No more than 2 4-year terms in any 4-term period. The Wyoming Supreme Court determined on 4 May 2004 that term limits require an amendment to the state constitution rather than, as they were, imposed by a 1992 ballot initiative. At the time, the ruling was not applied to statewide offices. Reference: CATHCART v. MEYER, 2004 WY 49, 88 P.3d 1050, Case Number: 04-32, 04-33, 04-34, Decided: 05/04/2004
Partisan Composition: 1 Democratic

	Democratic	Governor Dave Freudenthal • Re-elected Tuesday 7 November 2006 • First elected: 2002 • Chair up for election: Tuesday 7 November 2006 • The current Governor is unaffected by the State's term limit. • Renominated - 22 August 2006 Primary
	Polls: Democratic Governor Dave Freudenthal

Political Parties Parties appear in parenthesis and italics when a candidate receives the endorsement of a given Party and/or official sources indicate a candidate's association with a particular Party but only where the Party in question does not appear on the actual ballot as such.

Major Parties
	• Democratic
	• Democratic-Farmer Labor
	• Republican
Major Third Parties
	• Green
	• Green-Rainbow
	• Libertarian
	• Pacific Green
	• Reform
Other Third Parties
	• Alaskan Independence
	• American
	• American Constitution
	• American Independent
	• Concerned Citizens
	• Conservative
	• Constitution
	• Independence
	• Independent American
	• Liberty Union
	• Marijuana
	• Nebraska
	• Peace And Freedom
	• Populist
	• Quit Raising Taxes
	• Rent is too High
	• Right to Life
	• Socialist Party USA
	• Socialist Workers Party
	• U.S. Taxpayers
	• Veterans Party of America
	• Working Families
Independents
	• By Petition
	• Independent
	• No Party Affiliation
	• Unaffiliated
	• Unenrolled
Write-in/Scattered/otherwise not readily classifiable
	• None of these candidates
	• Scattering
	• Write-in

Notes

Candidates for office appear on this page in italics where 'The Green Papers' does not yet have independent confirmation from an election authority that this candidate is actually on the ballot.