Tennessee gubernatorial election, 2006

The Tennessee gubernatorial election of 2006 was held on November 7, 2006. The incumbent, Democrat Phil Bredesen, defeated Republican state Senator Jim Bryson to serve another term as Governor.

Candidates

Democratic Party

• Phil Bredesen - Incumbent Governor

Defeated in primary

• John Jay Hooker - perennial candidate
• Tim Sevier
• Walt "Combat" Ward - State probation officer

Republican Party

• Jim Bryson - state Senator

Defeated in primary

• Mark Albertini
• Wayne Bailey
• David M. Farmer
• Joe Kirkpatrick
• Timothy Thomas
• Wayne Young

Green Party

• Howard M. Switzer - Green Party candidate

Independents

• George Banks
• David Gatchell
• Stout Leinoff
• Charles E. Smith

Other

• Carl Whitaker - Jefferson Republican Party candidate

Primaries

Both parties held their primary elections on August 3, 2006.

Democratic Governor Bredesen easily defeated the opposition, gaining 88.6% of ballots cast. Perennial candidate John Jay Hooker (also running for the Senate nomination) gained 7.2%, Tim Sevier received 2.6% of the vote, and Walt "Combat" Ward received 1.7% of the votes cast.

The Republican primaries were only slightly more competitive. Frontrunner Jim Bryson, who filed papers to enter the race at the last minute, gained an even 50.0% of the vote. Other contenders were David M. Farmer with 15.8%; Joe Kirkpatrick at 10.7%; Mark Albertini at 9.2%; Wayne Bailey at 7.5%; Wayne Young with 3.7%; and Timothy Thomas at 3.0% of the ballots cast.

General election

Bryson and Bredesen took part in the first of three planned debates on October 3 in Knoxville.[1] A second debate was held in Memphis on October 8, and a third on October 14 in Nashville.

Pre-election polls indicated that Bredesen would easily win reelection: an October 3 poll showed Bredesen held a 63% to 22% lead over Bryson.[2]

Results

2006 gubernatorial election, Tennessee
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Phil Bredesen (incumbent)	1,241,606	68.6	+17.9
	Republican	Jim Bryson	538,508	29.7	-17.9
	Jefferson Republican Party	Carl "Two Feathers" Whitaker	11,298	0.6	+0.3
	Independent	George Banks	7,506	0.4	n/a
	Independent	Charles E. Smith	4,062	0.2	n/a
	Green	Howard Switzer	2,681	0.1	n/a
	Independent	David Gatchell	2,374	0.1	n/a
	Independent	Marivuana Stout Leinoff	2,105	0.1	n/a
Majority			703,098	38.9
Turnout			1,810,140
	Democratic hold		Swing

Polling

Source	Date	Bredesen (D)	Bryson (R)
Survey USA	October 25, 2006	66%	28%
Survey USA	October 10, 2006	63%	32%
Accuratings	October 24, 2006	67%	33%
The Commercial Appeal	October 3, 2006	63%	22%
Rasmussen	October 3, 2006	63%	28%
Rasmussen	September 7, 2006	58%	31%
Zogby	June 13, 2006	58%	22%

See also

• U.S. gubernatorial elections, 2006

External links

• Mark Albertini Campaign Site
• Bredesen Campaign Site
• Jim Bryson for Governor site
• Combat Ward Governor Site
• Carl Whitaker for Governor
• Carl "Two Feathers" Whitaker site