2006 Georgia state elections

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2006 Georgia elections
Flag of Georgia (U.S. state).svg
 2004November 7, 2006 (2006-11-07) 2008  

In the 2006 Georgia elections, Incumbent Governor Sonny Perdue, the first Republican Governor of Georgia since reconstruction, was re-elected over then-Lieutenant Governor Mark Taylor (D).

Contents

Prior to the elections, though Republicans held the Governor's mansion and majorities in both houses of the Georgia General Assembly, Democrats then-held five of the eight statewide offices. Following the elections, Republicans would pick up two positions, those being Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of State, with the victories of Casey Cagle (who became the eleventh overall and first ever Republican elected Lieutenant Governor) and Karen Handel (who became the twenty-sixth overall and first Republican since reconstruction to be Secretary of State) in each of their respective races. Both positions were open after the incumbent office holders chose to seek the governorship of Georgia.

All other state Executive Officers, Attorney General of Georgia Thurbert Baker (D), state Superintendent of Schools Kathy Cox (R), Commissioner of Insurance John Oxendine (R), Commissioner of Agriculture Tommy Irvin (D), and Commissioner of Labor Mike Thurmond (D), were re-elected. This was the last time Democrats won a statewide election in Georgia until 2020 when Democrat Joe Biden won the state in the presidential election as well as the last time Democrats won statewide office in Georgia until Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock were elected to the Senate in 2021.

Federal elections

United States Congressional elections

In 2006, all thirteen of Georgia's U.S. House seats were up for election. Neither of the Peach state's U.S. Senate seats were up for election that year.

United States House of Representatives elections

All thirteen of Georgia's incumbent Representatives sought re-election in 2006. Going into the elections, Republicans held seven of Georgia's U.S. House seats and Democrats held six seats.

Despite significant gains by Republicans in Georgia since 2002, such as consecutive Republican victories since in Presidential elections since 1996, gaining both of Georgia's U.S. Senate seats, the election of Sonny Perdue as Georgia's first post-Reconstruction Republican governor in 2002, successful elections of Republicans to other state executive offices, and gaining control of both chambers of the Georgia General Assembly for the first time since Reconstruction, Democrats have succeeded in gaining seats of Georgia's House delegation in recent House elections.

Following gains in both houses of the General Assembly in 2002 and 2004, Republicans enacted a mid-decade redistricting to alter the congressional districts created by the 146th Georgia General Assembly, which Democrats held control of at the time, with the intention of benefiting Republicans. Two Democratic incumbents who were especially targeted were Jim Marshall (GA-8) and John Barrow (GA-12). They were opposed respectively by former Representatives Mac Collins (who previously represented what is now the Third district) and Max Burns. These two races were among the most competitive in the nation, but ultimately resulted in both incumbents being re-elected by razor thin margins of 1 and 0.6 percentage points respectively.

The partisan makeup of Georgia's House delegation did not change, however one Incumbent, Cynthia McKinney (GA-4), was denied renomination by her 59% to 41% defeat in the Democratic Primary runoff to then-Dekalb county Commissioner Hank Johnson.

Governor

In the Republican primary, incumbent Sonny Perdue defeated challenger Ray McBerry by a margin of 88 percent to 12 percent. In the Democratic primary, Lieutenant Governor Mark Taylor defeated state Secretary of State Cathy Cox, Bill Bolton, and Mac McCarley with 51.7 percent of the vote to Cox's 44 percent, Bolton's 2 percent, and McCarley 2 percent. Libertarian Garrett Michael Hayes faced Perdue Mark Taylor in the general election. Independent John Dashler withdrew from the race, unable to collect the 40,000 signatures required for ballot access.

Perdue was re-elected to a second term, winning 57.9 percent of the vote.

Lieutenant governor

2006 Georgia Lieutenant Gubernatorial Election
Flag of Georgia (U.S. state).svg
 2002November 7, 2006 2010  
  Caglelt.jpg Jim Martin october 2008.png
Nominee Casey Cagle Jim Martin
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 1,134,517887,506
Percentage54.08%42.31%

2006 Georgia lieutenant gubernatorial election.svg
County results
Cagle:     40-50%     50-60%     60-70%     70-80%
Martin:     40-50%     50-60%     60-70%     70-80%

Lieutenant Governor before election

Mark Taylor
Democratic

Elected Lieutenant Governor

Casey Cagle
Republican

General election results

2006 Lieutenant Governor election, Georgia
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Casey Cagle 1,134,517 54.1
Democratic Jim Martin 887,50642.3
Libertarian Allen Buckley75,6733.6

Primary Results

Democrats

Georgia Democratic July Primary, 2006
CandidateVotes %
Jim Martin 184,63541.2
Greg Hecht 163,00436.4
Steen Miles 64,71414.4
Griffin Lotson22,3785.0
Rufus Terrill13,3753.0
Georgia Democratic August Runoff, 2006
CandidateVotes %
Jim Martin 141,92762.4
Greg Hecht 85,39937.6

Republicans

Georgia Republican July Primary, 2006
CandidateVotes %
Casey Cagle 227,96856
Ralph Reed 178,79044

Libertarian

  • Allen Buckley

Secretary of State

2006 Georgia Secretary of State election
Flag of Georgia (U.S. state).svg
 2002November 7, 2006 2010  
  United States Representative Karen C. Handel.jpg 3x4.svg
Nominee Karen Handel Gail Buckner
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote1,116,216862,412
Percentage54.10%41.80%

2006 Georgia Secretary of State Election.svg
County results
Handel:     40-50%     50-60%     60-70%     70-80%
Buckner:     40-50%     50-60%     60-70%     70-80%

Secretary of State before election

Cathy Cox
Democratic

Elected Secretary of State

Karen Handel
Republican

General Election Results

2006 Secretary of State election, Georgia
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Karen Handel 1,116,216 54.1
Democratic Gail Buckner 862,41241.8
Libertarian Kevin Madsen84,6704.1

Primary Results

Democrats

Georgia Democratic July Primary, 2006
CandidateVotes %
Gail Buckner 107,55425.4
Darryl Hicks92,74221.9
Angela Moore74,21817.5
Shyam Reddy69,80216.5
Scott Holcomb48,73811.5
Walter Ray29,9927.1
Georgia Democratic August Runoff, 2006
CandidateVotes %
Gail Buckner 119,23855.1
Darryl Hicks97,06144.9

Republicans

Georgia Republican July Primary, 2006
CandidateVotes %
Karen Handel 160,54243.6
Bill Stephens120,17332.6
Charlie Bailey50,79213.8
Eric Martin36,93210
Georgia Republican August Runoff, 2006
CandidateVotes %
Karen Handel 96,93156.6
Bill Stephens74,19843.4

Libertarian

  • Kevin Madsen

Attorney general

2006 Georgia Attorney General Election
Flag of Georgia (U.S. state).svg
 2002November 7, 2006 2010  
  Zell Miller and Thurbert Baker (cropped).jpg 3x4.svg
Nominee Thurbert Baker Perry McGuire
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote1,185,366888,288
Percentage57.16%42.84%

2006 Georgia Attorney General Election.svg
County results
Baker:     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90%
McGuire:     50–60%     60–70%
Tie:     50%

Attorney General before election

Thurbert Baker
Democratic

Elected Attorney General

Thurbert Baker
Democratic

General Election Results

2006 Attorney General election, Georgia
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Thurbert Baker (incumbent) 1,185,366 57.2
Republican Perry McGuire888,28842.8

State School Superintendent

2006 Georgia State Superintendent of Schools election
Flag of Georgia (U.S. state).svg
 2002November 7, 2006 2010  
  Kathy Cox.jpg Majette-denise.jpg
Nominee Kathy Cox Denise Majette
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote1,257,236734,702
Percentage59.92%35.02%

2006 Georgia Superintendent of Schools election.svg
County results
Cox:     40-50%     50-60%     60-70%     70-80%     80-90%
Majette:     40-50%     50-60%     60-70%

Superintendent before election

Kathy Cox
Republican

Elected Superintendent

Kathy Cox
Republican

General election results

2006 State School Superintendent election, Georgia
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Kathy Cox 1,257,236 54.2
Democratic Denise Majette 734,70243.0
Libertarian David Chastain106,2152.8

Primary election results

Democrats

Georgia Democratic July Primary, 2006
CandidateVotes %
Denise Majette 288,56467.1
Carlotta Harrell141,63032.9

Republicans

Georgia Republican July Primary, 2006
CandidateVotes %
Kathy Cox 259,71164.7
Danny Carter141,58235.3

Libertarian

  • David Chastain

Commissioner of Insurance

2006 Georgia Commissioner of Insurance election
Flag of Georgia (U.S. state).svg
 2002November 7, 20062010 
  John Oxendine Headshot.jpg 3x4.svg
Nominee John Oxendine Guy Drexinger
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote1,349,979700,837
Percentage65.47%34.53%

2006 Georgia Insurance Commissioner Election.svg
Oxendine:     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90%     90%
Drexinger:     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90%     90%

Commissioner before election

John Oxendine
Democratic

Elected Commissioner

John Oxendine
Republican

General Election Results

As of 2023, this is the last time Fulton County, the state’s largest county and home to Atlanta, voted Republican in a contested statewide election.

2006 Commissioner of Insurance election, Georgia
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican John Oxendine (incumbent) 1,357,770 65.6
Democratic Guy Drexinger 713,32434.4

Commissioner of Agriculture

2006 Georgia Commissioner of Agriculture Election
Flag of Georgia (U.S. state).svg
 2002November 7, 2006 2010  
  Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Gary Black (cropped).jpg
Nominee Tommy Irvin Gary Black
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 1,168,371846,395
Percentage56.04%40.60%

2006 Goergia Commissioner of Agriculture election.svg
County results
Irvin:     40–50%     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90%
Black:     40–50%     50–60%     60–70%

Commissioner before election

Tommy Irvin
Democratic

Elected Commissioner

Tommy Irvin
Democratic

General Election Results

2006 Commissioner of Agriculture election, Georgia
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Tommy Irvin (incumbent) 1,168,371 56.0
Republican Gary Black846,39540.6
Libertarian Jack Cashin70,0153.4

Primary Results

Democrats

Republicans

Georgia Republican July Primary, 2006
CandidateVotes %
Gary Black153,56842.3
Brian Kemp97,11326.8
Bob Greer57,81315.9
Deanna Strickland54,31815.0
Georgia Republican August Runoff, 2006
CandidateVotes %
Gary Black101,27460.0
Brian Kemp67,50940.0

Libertarian

  • Jack Cashin

Commissioner of Labor

2006 Georgia Labor Commissioner election
Flag of Georgia (U.S. state).svg
 2002November 7, 2006 2010  
  Michael Thurmond.jpg
Nominee Mike Thurmond Brent Brown
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote1,127,182929,812
Percentage54.80%45.20%

2006 Georgia Labor Commissioner Election.svg
County results
Thurmond:     50-60%     60-70%     70-80%     80-90%
Brown:     50-60%     60-70%     70-80%

Commissioner before election

Mike Thurmond
Democratic

Elected Commissioner

Mike Thurmond
Democratic

General election results

2006 Commissioner of Labor election, Georgia
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Mike Thurmond (incumbent) 1,127,182 54.8
Republican Brent Brown929,81245.2

Primary election results

Democrats

Republicans

Georgia Republican July Primary, 2006
CandidateVotes %±
Brent Brown225,28670.3
Chuck Scheid94,99829.7

Public Service Commission

District 3

This is a statewide race.

2006 Georgia Public Service Commission District 3 election
Flag of Georgia (U.S. state).svg
 2000November 7, 2006 (first round)
December 5, 2006 (runoff)
2012 
  Chuck Eaton PSC.jpg
Candidate Chuck Eaton David Burgess
Party Republican Democratic
First round941,748
46.25%
994,619
48.85%
Runoff 112,232
52.18%
102,860
47.82%

2006 Georgia Public Service Commission election First round results.svg
2006 Georgia Public Service Commission Election District 3 Runoff.svg
Eaton:     40–50%     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90%
Burgess:     40–50%     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90%     >90%
Tie:     40–50%     50%

Commissioner before election

David Burgess
Democratic

Elected Commissioner

Chuck Eaton
Republican

General Election Results

2006 Public Service Commissioner District 3 election, Georgia
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic David L. Burgess 994,619 48.8
Republican Chuck Eaton 941,748 46.3
Libertarian Paul MacGregor99,7474.9
2006 Public Service Commissioner District 3 runoff election, Georgia
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Chuck Eaton 112,232 52.2
Democratic David L. Burgess102,86047.8

Primary election results

Republicans

Georgia Republican July Primary, 2006
CandidateVotes %
Chuck Eaton182,46958.6
Mark Parkman128,66941.4

Democrats

  • David Burgess

Libertarians

  • Paul MacGregor

District 5

This is a statewide race.

General Election Results

2006 Public Service Commissioner District 5 election, Georgia
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Stan Wise 1,122,173 55.0
Democratic Dawn Randolph823,68140.4
Libertarian Kevin Cherry95,2474.7

Primary Results

Republicans

Georgia Republican July Primary, 2006
CandidateVotes %
Stan Wise233,61768.8
Newt Nickell105,92931.2

Democrats

  • Dawn Randolph

Libertarians

  • Kevin Cherry

General Assembly elections

Georgia Senate elections

Georgia House of Representatives elections

Judicial elections

In 2006, four seats on the Supreme Court of Georgia and four on the Georgia Court of Appeals were up for election. All judicial elections in Georgia are officially non-partisan.

Supreme Court of Georgia elections

Incumbent state Supreme Court Associate Justices George H. Carley, Harold Melton, Hugh P. Thompson, and Carol W. Hunstein were all re-elected with three being unopposed. Only Hunstein received any opposition, which she overcame handily. [1]

Supreme Court (Hunstein seat) election

Supreme Court of Georgia election, 2006 [1]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Nonpartisan Carol W. Hunstein 1,170,97363.1%
Nonpartisan Mike Wiggins 683,48336.9%
Turnout 1,854,456100

Georgia Court of Appeals elections

Incumbent Judges John Ellington, M. Yvette Miller, Herbert E. Phipps, and J.D. Smith were re-elected without opposition. [2]

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References

  1. 1 2 "Georgia election results 2006". Archived from the original on May 28, 2010. Retrieved March 15, 2010.
  2. "Georgia election results 2006. Appeals". Archived from the original on May 28, 2010. Retrieved March 15, 2010.