2006 Nevada Attorney General election

2006 Nevada Attorney General election

← 2002 November 7, 2006 (2006-11-07) 2010  →

Candidate Catherine Cortez Masto Don Chairez None of These Candidates Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 339,465 204,816 30,694 Percentage 59.04% 35.62% 5.34%

County results Cortez Masto:      40–50%     50–60%     60–70% Chairez:      40–50%     50–60%

Attorney General before election George Chanos [a] Republican Elected Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto Democratic

The 2006 Nevada Attorney General election was held on November 7, 2006, to elect the Nevada Attorney General, concurrently with elections to the United States Senate, U.S. House of Representatives, governor, and other state and local elections. Primary elections were held on August 15, 2006, though both the Republican and Democratic nominees ran uncontested. ^[2]

Incumbent Republican attorney general Brian Sandoval resigned in October 2005 after being appointed as a judge for the United States District Court for the District of Nevada. Governor Kenny Guinn appointed attorney George Chanos to serve as attorney general for the remainder of Sandoval's term, though Chanos announced he would not seek a full term in March 2006. ^[1] Democratic attorney Catherine Cortez Masto won the open seat over former district court judge Don Chairez. ^[3]

Republican primary

No Republican primary was held for attorney general in 2006. Former district court judge Don Chairez became the Republican nominee uncontested. ^[2]

Candidates

Nominee

• Don Chairez, former district court judge and nominee for Nevada's 1st congressional district in 1998 ^[4]

Declined

• George Chanos, incumbent attorney general (2005–present) ^[1]

Democratic primary

No Democratic primary was held for attorney general in 2006. Attorney Catherine Cortez Masto became the Democratic nominee uncontested. ^[2]

Candidates

Nominee

• Catherine Cortez Masto, attorney and former prosecutor ^[5]

General election

Results

2006 Nevada Attorney General election ^[6]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Catherine Cortez Masto	339,465	59.04%
	Republican	Don Chairez	204,816	35.62%
	None of These Candidates		30,694	5.34%
Total votes			574,975	100.00%
	Democratic gain from Republican

See also

• 2006 United States elections
• Political party strength in Nevada

Notes

1. Appointed as attorney general following the resignation of Brian Sandoval, who was appointed as a federal judge in October 2005. ^[1]

References

1. Riley, Brendan (March 13, 2006). "Appointed state attorney general won't run for office". Tahoe Daily Tribune. Retrieved December 24, 2025.
2. "2006 Official Statewide Primary Election Results". Nevada Secretary of State. Retrieved December 24, 2025.
3. "A Democratic landslide, but not in Nevada". Nevada Appeal. November 10, 2006. Retrieved December 24, 2025.
4. Riley, Brendan (August 1, 2008). "Four seek high court seat as Justice Maupin bows out". Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved December 24, 2025.
5. Mishak, Michael (January 1, 2007). "2006: THE YEAR IN REVIEW: The good, the bad". Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved December 24, 2025.
6. "2006 Official Statewide General Election Results". Nevada Secretary of State. Retrieved December 24, 2025.