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2006 Massachusetts gubernatorial election

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2006 Massachusetts gubernatorial election
← 2002 November 7, 2006 2010 →
Turnout56.23% Increase 0.94 [1]
  File:Christy Mihos, 2006 (3x4).jpeg
Nominee Deval Patrick Kerry Healey Christy Mihos
Party Democratic Republican Independent
Running mate Tim Murray Reed V. Hillman John J. Sullivan
Popular vote 1,234,984 784,342 154,628
Percentage 55.6% 35.3% 7.0%
Municipality results
Governor before election

Mitt Romney
Republican

Elected Governor

Deval Patrick
Democratic

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The 2006 Massachusetts gubernatorial election was held on November 7, 2006. The incumbent Republican governor, Mitt Romney, chose not to seek a second term. The election was won by the Democratic former United States Assistant Attorney General Deval Patrick, who became the second African-American governor in the United States since Reconstruction and the first Democratic governor of Massachusetts since Michael Dukakis left office in 1991. This was the last time until 2022 that the Democratic nominee won a majority.

Background

One-term Republican governor Mitt Romney did not seek re-election; his term ended January 4, 2007. Polls had been mixed prior to Romney's announcement, with one poll showing Romney slightly leading Democrat Attorney General Tom Reilly and other polls showing Reilly, who was then the Democratic frontrunner, in the lead.[2]

Democratic primary

Governor

Candidates

Endorsements

Campaign

The Democratic State Caucuses were held in February in all cities and towns to elect delegates to the state convention. The Patrick campaign organized their supporters, many of whom had never been involved in such party processes before, to win twice as many pledged delegates as the Reilly campaign. (Chris Gabrieli did not join the race until a month later, which played a major role in his difficulty in getting on the ballot.)

At the Democratic Convention on June 3 in Worcester, each candidate needed to receive support from 15% of the delegates to be on the primary ballot in September. There was some question as to whether Gabrieli could succeed after entering the race so late. Patrick received the convention's endorsement with 57.98% of the vote, Reilly made it with 26.66%, and Gabrieli narrowly achieved ballot access with 15.36% of the delegates' votes.[4][5]

The campaign was highlighted by numerous debates. The first two debates took place in late April. WBZ-CBS4 News hosted a debate between Democratic candidates Chris Gabrieli, Deval Patrick, and Tom Reilly on April 21 and it aired at 8:30 AM on April 23.[6] A second Democratic candidate debate, moderated by Sy Becker from WWLP TV 22, was held at Agawam Middle School on April 27.[7]

The "Campaign to Stop Killer Coke", a group dedicated to holding Coca-Cola accountable for violence in its Colombian bottling plant in the mid-1990s, began to attack Patrick and his candidacy. Patrick had resigned from the company and said he'd done so after his attempts to get them to carry out an independent investigation were ignored and undermined.[8] Five Massachusetts unions filed a complaint against the group with the Office of Campaign and Political Finance,[9] in an effort to require the group to disclose its donors. On August 11, it was reported that Reilly's campaign had been behind the efforts.[10]

The final two televised debates played a key role in the primary campaign, as they took place during the two weeks between Labor Day and Primary Day when the public and the media hold their greatest focus on the election. The first of the two was carried about by the media consortium (which includes the Boston Globe, NECN, and WBUR, among others) and moderated by former New Hampshire governor Jeanne Shaheen, while the second and final debate was held by WBZ-TV and moderated by their political analyst, Jon Keller.

Polling

Source Date MoE Patrick Reilly Gabrieli Other Und.
Rasmussen Reports January 15–18, 2006 ±5% 30% 29% – 11% 30%
State House News January 25–27, 2006 ±7.1% 18% 58% – 4% 19%
Suffolk University February 2–4, 2006 ±4.9% 30% 39% – 2% 29%
UMass Lowell February 16, 2006 ±5% 40% 40% – – 20%
Survey USA March 5–6, 2006 ±5% 37% 47% – – 17%
Boston Globe March 12, 2006 ±4.9% 22% 35% 4% 14% 25%
Merrimack College February 25–March 8, 2006 ±4.8% 21.8% 37.5% – – 40.7%
Suffolk University April 3, 2006 ±4.9% 21% 32% 11% – 36%
Survey USA April 7–8, 2006 ±4.8% 36% 33% 19% 11%
Suffolk University May 3, 2006 ±4.9% 20% 35% 15% – 29%
Survey USA May 1–3, 2006 ±4.9% 28% 32% 29% – 10%
State House News May 3–5, 2006 ±6.8% 15% 37% 25% 5% 17%
June 3 – Patrick receives party endorsement at Democratic State Convention
Survey USA June 16–18, 2006 ±4.8% 36% 31% 23% – 9%
Suffolk University June 22–26, 2006 ±4.0% 31% 25% 22% – 21%
State House News June 28–30, 2006 ±7.0% 34.8% 19.3% 21.8% 1.6% 21.4%
Survey USA July 9–11, 2006 ±4.9% 37% 26% 27% – 10%
Survey USA July 31–August 2, 2006 ±4.6% 35% 27% 30% – 8%
Suffolk University August 17–21, 2006 ±5.2% 24% 20% 32% – 24%
Survey USA August 19–21, 2006 ±4.8% 34% 30% 30% – 6%
Boston Globe August 18–23, 2006 ±4.4% 30% 24% 27% 3% 15%
(including "leaners") 31% 27% 30% 4% 8%
State House News September 7–10, 2006 ±6.8% 35.6% 19.4% 25.6% 1.0% 16.2%
Survey USA September 9–11, 2006 ±4.1% 45% 21% 29% 4%
Boston Globe September 12–15, 2006 ±4.4% 46% 18% 25% 4% 6%
Suffolk University[permanent dead link] September 15–17, 2006 ±4.0% 37% 21% 29% 11%
Survey USA September 15–17, 2006 ±3.8% 46% 22% 29% 3%

Results

On September 19, Patrick won the Democratic primary with 50% of the vote, ahead of Gabrieli (27%) and Reilly (23%).[11]

Municipal results of the Democratic primary for the Massachusetts gubernatorial election, 2006
Massachusetts Democratic gubernatorial primary, 2006[12]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Deval Patrick 452,229 49.57%
Democratic Chris Gabrieli 248,301 27.22%
Democratic Tom Reilly 211,031 23.13%
Write-in All others 787 0.08%
Write-in Blanks 14,054 1.51%
Total votes 926,402 100%

Lieutenant governor

Candidates

Withdrew
Declined

Campaign

On April 23, 2006, a "virtual debate" between Murray, Silbert, and Sam Kelley was released on SaintKermit.com.[14]

On May 21, all four candidates debated in Lowell.[15] Four days later, on May 25, Kelley dropped out of the race and joined the Deval Patrick campaign as a volunteer advisor on health care issues.[16]

At the Democratic convention in Worcester on June 3, Worcester Mayor Tim Murray was endorsed by a voice vote after receiving 49% on the first ballot. Andrea Silbert and Deb Goldberg both qualified for the ballot with 29% and 22% respectively.

Endorsements

Polling

Source Date MoE Goldberg Murray Silbert Undecided
Suffolk University June 22–26, 2006 ±4.0% 10% 6% 5% 79%
Suffolk University August 19–21, 2006 ±5.2% 6% 11% 5% 77%
State House News September 7–10, 2006 ±6.8% 18.3% 15.2% 10.0% 53.4%
Boston Globe September 12–15, 2006 ±4.4% 26% 20% 18% 27%
Suffolk University[permanent dead link] September 15–17, 2006 ±4.0% 35% 22% 21% 31%

Results

Tim Murray won the Democratic nomination for lieutenant governor on September 19 with 43% of the vote.[17]

Massachusetts Democratic gubernatorial primary, 2006[12]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Tim Murray 351,009 42.60%
Democratic Deborah Goldberg 279,771 33.95%
Democratic Andrea Silbert 191,638 23.26%
Write-in All others 1,591 0.19%
Write-in Blanks 102,393 11.00%
Total votes 926,402 100%

Republican primary

Governor

Candidates

Declined

Romney endorsed Lieutenant Governor Kerry Healey to succeed him in the 2006 gubernatorial election. Healey was unopposed for the Republican nomination.

Lieutenant governor

Candidates

  • Reed Hillman, former State Representative and Massachusetts State Police Colonel

As incumbent Kerry Healey ran for governor, the position of lieutenant governor was open. Reed Hillman was unopposed for the Republican nomination

General election

Candidates

  • Running mate: Wendy Van Horne, nurse (withdrew September 1)[21]
  • Running mate: Martina Robinson, disability rights activist[22]

Campaign

On April 25, Republican Kerry Healey called for four debates, each involving all four candidates, between the September primaries and November general election, and this proposition was seconded by Patrick.[23]

The general election campaign kicked off on primary day, September 19, after Tom Reilly and Chris Gabrieli conceded and Kerry Healey accepted her uncontested nomination. Deval Patrick followed with his acceptance speech, appearing with his new running mate Tim Murray and former opponent Chris Gabrieli.

The general election campaign was very heated and was referred to by Michael Dukakis as "the dirtiest gubernatorial campaign in my memory".[24] The Healey campaign released attack ads implying that Deval Patrick supports sexual assault or murder of police (culminating in the now infamous "parking lot rape" ad). Healey supporters also protested at the homes of Patrick and Patrick campaign manager John E. Walsh,[25] and documents leaked anonymously to media about Patrick's brother-in-law's criminal history.

After the final debate, WRKO talk radio host John DePetro came under scrutiny for referring to Grace Ross as a "fat lesbian". DePetro was suspended earlier in the year for calling Turnpike Authority chief Matt Amorello a "fag".[26]

Debates

The first televised debate of the general election was held by WFXT and the Boston Herald] on September 25 on WFXT. Moderated by Fox News' Chris Wallace on the day after his Bill Clinton interview.

The second debate was held in Springfield and broadcast on WGBH and NECN.

Endorsements

Predictions

Source Ranking As of
The Cook Political Report[41] Lean D (flip) November 6, 2006
Sabato's Crystal Ball[42] Likely D (flip) November 6, 2006
Rothenberg Political Report[43] Likely D (flip) November 2, 2006
Real Clear Politics[44] Likely D (flip) November 6, 2006

Polling

Poll Date MoE Patrick (D) Healey (R) Mihos (I) Ross (GR) Und/Other
State House News November 17–20, 2005 ±4.8% 44% 32% 24%
Suffolk University February 6, 2006 ±4.9% 39% 32% 29%
UMass Lowell February 16, 2006 ±5% 34% 34% 12% 20%
40% 38% 22%
Survey USA March 3–5, 2006 ±3.8% 30% 35% 20% 14%
Boston Globe March 3–9, 2006 ±4.4% 36% 29% 13% 22%
44% 38% 18%
Merrimack College February 25–March 8, 2006 ±5.6% 32.0% 28.0% 13.0% 27.0%
±4.8% 34.5% 39.4% 26.1%
Rasmussen March 13, 2006 ±4.5% 38% 25% 17% 20%
Suffolk University March 18–20, 2006 ±4.9% 29% 26% 13% 32%
State House News March 16–18, 2006 ±4.8% 25% 32% 18% 25%
Zogby/WSJ March 30, 2006 ±3.5% 53% 31.5%
Suffolk University April 3, 2006 ±4.9% 29% 24% 9% 1% 38%
Rasmussen April 14, 2006 ±4.5% 34% 27% 19% 20%
Suffolk University May 3, 2006 ±4.9% 26% 28% 10% 4% 33%
State House News May 5, 2006 ±4.8% 29% 31% 15% 17%
Survey USA May 8, 2006 ±4.4% 34% 32% 17% 17%
Rasmussen May 15, 2006 ±4.5% 36% 26% 16% 22%
June 3 – Patrick receives party endorsement at Democratic State Convention
Zogby/WSJ June 21, 2006 ±3.5% 55.7% 33.7% 10.6%
Suffolk University June 22–26, 2006 ±4.0% 38% 25% 10% 1% 26%
State House News June 28–30, 2006 ±5.0% 40.1% 30.5% 9.3% 1.7% 18.4%
Rasmussen June 27, 2006 ±4.5% 43% 23% 15% 19%
Zogby/WSJ July 24, 2006 ±4.2% 57.4% 30.8% 11.8%
Rasmussen August 12, 2006 ±4.5% 39% 29% 14% 18%
Zogby/WSJ August 15–21, 2006 ±3.8% 49.6% 23.9% 26.5%
Suffolk University August 17–21, 2006 ±4.1% 38% 30% 10% 2% 20%
State House News September 7–10, 2006 ±4.7% 43% 30% 7% 1% 19%
Zogby/WSJ September 11, 2006 ±3.9% 57.5% 33.0% 9.5%
September 19 – Primary election night; start of campaign
Survey USA September 19–21, 2006 ±3.9% 64% 25% 5% 1% 5%
Rasmussen September 20, 2006 ±4.5% 57% 24% 9% 10%
Merrimack College September 20–24, 2006 ±4.5% 54.2% 20.9% 5.3% 0.5% 19.1%
Zogby/WSJ September 25, 2006 ±3.9% 58.7% 27.3% 8.3% 5.7%
Boston Globe/WBZ September 26–29, 2006 ±4.3% 55% 30% 7% 1% 7%
Suffolk University October 2–4, 2006 ±4.5% 49% 28% 6% 1% 16%
Survey USA October 8–10, 2006 ±4% 52% 34% 9% 1% 4%
Suffolk University October 10–11, 2006 ±4.9% 46% 33% 7% 1% 12%
Zogby/WSJ October 10–16, 2006 ±3.6% 56% 33.6% 6.4% 4%
Suffolk University October 20–23, 2006 ±4.9% 53% 26% 9% 2% 11%
Survey USA October 21–23, 2006 ±4% 56% 31% 8% 2% 4%
UNH/Boston Globe October 22–25, 2006 ±4.1% 54% 29% 8% 2% 6%
Zogby/WSJ October 23–27, 2006 ±3.7% 58.1% 32.7% 4%
SurveyUSA/WBZ October 31–November 1, 2006 ±3.9% 55% 34% 6% 3%
State House News November 1–2, 2006 ±5% 50.9% 27.1% 8.0% 2.1% 6.7%
Suffolk University November 2–5, 2006 ±4.9% 53% 31% 6% 2% 9%

Results

Official results certified by the Massachusetts Secretary of State, as of December 6, 2006, with all 2,166 precincts reporting.[45]

2006 Massachusetts gubernatorial election[45]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Deval Patrick 1,234,984 55.64% Increase 10.70
Republican Kerry Healey 784,342 35.33% Decrease 14.44
Independent Christy Mihos 154,628 6.97% Increase 6.27
Green-Rainbow Grace Ross 43,193 1.95% Decrease 1.54
Write-in All others 2,632 0.12 Increase .06
Total votes 2,219,779 55.63% Increase 0.40
Blank 24,056
Turnout 2,243,835
Majority 450,642 20.30%
Democratic gain from Republican Swing Increase 25.13

Patrick won a majority of the vote in every county in the state.

See also

References

  1. ^ "Massachusetts gubernatorial election, 2006".
  2. ^ Polls show Romney gaining on Reilly, Reilly leading Healey Boston Globe November 17, 2005
  3. ^ Gabrieli readies run for governor Boston Globe March 22, 2006
  4. ^ Patrick garners most votes; Reilly touts success at convention Boston Globe June 3, 2006
  5. ^ All candidates make it.. Boston Globe June 3, 2006
  6. ^ The April 23 debate can be viewed online at cbs4boston.com
  7. ^ Agawam Candidates' Forum Tonight! MassLive: The Fray April 2006. The April 27 debate and can be heard on MassLive.com
  8. ^ Patrick's path from courtroom to boardroom Boston Globe August 13, 2006
  9. ^ Pro-Patrick unions file OCPF complaint against Killer Coke Boston Phoenix August 9, 2006
  10. ^ For Reilly, things go better with Coke Boston Globe August 11, 2006, Holy sh*t!! Vennochi finds Reilly campaign's fingerprints all over Killer Coke Archived 2006-08-20 at the Wayback Machine Blue Mass Group August 11, 2006
  11. ^ WBZ-TV Archived 2007-02-08 at the Wayback Machine, September 19, 2006
  12. ^ a b State Primary Election Results 2006 Massachusetts Elections Division official results (PDF, 196k)
  13. ^ St. Fleur Withdraws As Reilly's Running Mate
  14. ^ SaintKermit.com Archived 2006-09-22 at the Wayback Machine
  15. ^ The May 21 Lt. Governor debate is available online at Lowell Telecommunications Corporation Archived 2006-10-10 at the Wayback Machine.
  16. ^ "Sam Kelley out of Lt. Gov. race Political Intelligence, boston.com, May 25, 2006
  17. ^ cbs4boston.com: Election Results: Boston & Beyond Archived 2007-02-08 at the Wayback Machine
  18. ^ Mihos to run as independent Boston Globe March 1, 2006
  19. ^ Mihos picks John Sullivan Political Intelligence, boston.com, June 8, 2006
  20. ^ Green-Rainbow Party Press Release on Nominations Archived 2006-04-18 at the Wayback Machine March 7, 2006
  21. ^ Green-Rainbow Party LG candidate drops out Political Intelligence September 1, 2006
    Nurse quits lieutenant governor race Boston Globe September 2, 2006
  22. ^ A new LG candidate for Green Rainbow Party Political Intelligence September 7, 2006
  23. ^ Healey challenges fellow gubernatorial hopefuls to four debates Boston Globe April 25, 2006
  24. ^ Enough by Mike Dukakis The Boston Globe, October 29, 2006
  25. ^ "Blue Mass. Group: Message to Kerry Healey: don't make him angry. You wouldn't like him when he's angry". Archived from the original on 2007-10-11. Retrieved 2013-06-25.
  26. ^ ‘Fat lesbian’ quip about Ross lands WRKO jock in hot water Boston Herald, November 3, 2006
  27. ^ Healey-Hillman for Corner Office Boston Herald, October 30, 2006
  28. ^ In the governor's race, our choice is Healey Springfield Republican, October 30, 2006
  29. ^ [1] Archived 2007-01-01 at the Wayback Machine The Eagle-Tribune November 1, 2006
  30. ^ [2] Sentinel & Enterprise November 1, 2006
  31. ^ [3] Lowell Sun November 1, 2006
  32. ^ "Editorials/Opinion (March 4, 2006)". Archived from the original on 2006-03-05. Retrieved 2006-11-07. Cape Cod Times November 4, 2006
  33. ^ Patrick for governor, The Boston Globe, October 29, 2006
  34. ^ A promising change: Patrick, Murray would be strong Statehouse team, Worcester Telegram & Gazette, October 29, 2006
  35. ^ Endorsement: Patrick for governor[permanent dead link], MetroWest Daily News, October 29, 2006
  36. ^ Patrick for governor, Providence Journal, October 29, 2006
  37. ^ Patrick for Governor Berkshire Eagle, October 31, 2006
  38. ^ Deval Patrick for governor Boston Phoenix, November 1, 2006
  39. ^ Editorial: Patrick for Governor[permanent dead link] Newton Tab, November 1, 2006
  40. ^ Editorial: Patrick is our pick[permanent dead link] West Roxbury & Roslindale Transcript, October 26, 2006
  41. ^ "2006 Governor Race Ratings for November 6, 2006" (PDF). The Cook Political Report. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 5, 2008. Retrieved October 1, 2006.
  42. ^ "Election Eve 2006: THE FINAL PREDICTIONS". Sabato's Crystal Ball. Retrieved June 25, 2021.
  43. ^ "2006 Gubernatorial Ratings". Senate Ratings. The Rothenberg Political Report. Retrieved June 25, 2021.
  44. ^ "Election 2006". Real Clear Politics. Retrieved June 25, 2021.
  45. ^ a b 2006 Massachusetts General Election Results: Governor/Lt. Governor Mass.gov
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