2006 Tennessee gubernatorial election

For related races, see 2006 United States gubernatorial elections.

2006 Tennessee gubernatorial election

November 7, 2006
Turnout	49.97% 0.43 pp
Nominee Phil Bredesen Jim Bryson Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 1,247,491 540,853 Percentage 68.6% 29.7%
Bredesen:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90% Bryson:      50–60%      60–70% Tie:      50%
Governor before election Phil Bredesen Democratic Elected Governor Phil Bredesen Democratic

The 2006 Tennessee gubernatorial election took place on November 7, 2006, to elect the governor of Tennessee. Incumbent Democratic Governor Phil Bredesen was re-elected to a second term with 68.6% of the vote, defeating his Republican challenger Jim Bryson. Improving on his performance from 2002, Bredesen also carried every county in the state.

As of 2024, this was the last time a Democrat won a majority of counties in the state, the last time a Democrat won any statewide race in Tennessee, and the most recent statewide election in Tennessee in which 88 of the state's 95 counties, including Knox County and Hamilton County, went to the Democratic candidate. Only Davidson, Shelby, Haywood, Hardeman, Houston, Jackson, and Lake counties have voted for a Democratic candidate in a Presidential, Senate, or gubernatorial race since 2006. Eight years after this, Republican Governor Bill Haslam would win every county in the state when he won re-election. This marked a sharp political shift in Tennessee.

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Phil Bredesen, incumbent Governor of Tennessee
• John Jay Hooker, perennial candidate
• Tim Sevier
• Walt Ward

Results

Democratic Party primary results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Phil Bredesen (incumbent)	393,004	88.50
	Democratic	John Jay Hooker	31,933	7.19
	Democratic	Tim Sevier	11,562	2.60
	Democratic	Walt Ward	7,555	1.70
Total votes			444,054	100.00

Republican primary

Candidates

• Jim Bryson, State Senator
• David M. Farmer
• Joe Kirkpatrick
• Mark Albertini
• Wayne Thomas Bailey
• Wayne Young
• Timothy Thomas

Results

County results

Republican Primary results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Jim Bryson	160,786	50.03
	Republican	David M. Farmer	50,900	15.84
	Republican	Joe Kirkpatrick	34,491	10.73
	Republican	Mark Albertini	29,184	9.08
	Republican	Wayne Thomas Bailey	24,273	7.55
	Republican	Wayne Young	11,997	3.73
	Republican	Timothy Thomas	9,747	3.03
Total votes			321,378	100.00

General election

Candidates

• Phil Bredesen (D)
• Jim Bryson (R)
• Carl Two Feathers Whitaker (I)
• George Banks (I)
• Charles E. Smith (I)
• Howard W. Switzer (I)
• David Gatchell (I)
• Marivuana Stout Leinoff (I)

Predictions

Source	Ranking	As of
The Cook Political Report	Solid D	November 6, 2006
Sabato's Crystal Ball	Safe D	November 6, 2006
Rothenberg Political Report	Safe D	November 2, 2006
Real Clear Politics	Likely D	November 6, 2006

Polling

Source	Date	Phil Bredesen (D)	Jim Bryson (R)
Survey USA	October 25, 2006	66%	28%
Survey USA	October 10, 2006	63%	32%
Accuratings Archived December 30, 2010, at the Wayback Machine	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%

Results

2006 Tennessee gubernatorial election

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Phil Bredesen (incumbent)	1,247,491	68.60%	+17.95%
	Republican	Jim Bryson	540,853	29.74%	−17.85%
	Independent	Carl Two Feathers Whitaker	11,374	0.63%	N/A
	Independent	George Banks	7,531	0.41%	N/A
	Independent	Charles E. Smith	4,083	0.22%	N/A
	Independent	Howard W. Switzer	2,711	0.15%	N/A
	Independent	David Gatchell	2,385	0.13%	N/A
	Independent	Marivuana Stout Leinoff	2,114	0.12%	N/A
	Write-in		7	0.00%	N/A
Majority			706,638	38.86%	+35.80%
Turnout			1,818,549
	Democratic hold		Swing

Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic

• Bledsoe (Largest city: Pikeville)
• Claiborne (Largest city: Harrogate)
• Hardin (Largest city: Savannah)
• Lincoln (Largest city: Fayetteville)
• Macon (Largest city: Lafayette)
• Pickett (Largest city: Byrdstown)
• Rutherford (Largest city: Murfreesboro)
• Sumner (Largest city: Hendersonville)
• Wilson (Largest city: Mt. Juliet)
• Tipton (Largest city: Atoka)
• Madison (Largest city: Jackson)
• Chester (Largest city: Henderson)
• Henderson (Largest city: Lexington)
• Wayne (Largest city: Waynesboro)
• Williamson (Largest city: Franklin)
• Scott (Largest city: Oneida)
• Cumberland (Largest city: Crossville)
• Meigs (Largest city: Decatur)
• Hamilton (Largest city: Chattanooga)
• Bradley (Largest city: Cleveland)
• McMinn (Largest city: Athens)
• Blount (Largest city: Maryville)
• Loudon (Largest city: Lenoir City)
• Monroe (Largest city: Sweetwater)
• Sevier (Largest city: Sevierville)
• Jefferson (Largest city: Jefferson City)
• Grainer (Largest city: Bean Station)
• Hamlben (Largest city: Morristown)
• Greene (Largest city: Greenville)
• Hancock (Largest city: Sneedville)
• Hawkins (Largest city: Kingsport)
• Sullivan (Largest city: Kingsport)
• Johnson (Largest city: Mountain City)
• Washington (Largest city: Johnson City)
• Carter (Largest city: Elizabethton)
• Unicoi (Largest city: Erwin)
• Rhea (Largest city: Dayton)
• Fayette (Largest town: Oakland)
• Fentress (Largest city: Jamestown)
• Lawrence (Largest city: Lawrenceburg)
• McNairy (Largest city: Selmer)
• Moore (Largest city: Lynchburg)
• Union (Largest city: Maynardville)
• Weakley (Largest city: Martin)

See also

• 2006 United States gubernatorial elections
• 2006 United States Senate election in Tennessee

External links

Official campaign websites (Archived)

• Phil Bredesen for Governor
• Jim Bryson for Governor
• Carl Whitaker for Governor
• Mark Albertini for Governor
• Combat Ward for Governor