2006 Georgia state elections

2006 Georgia elections

November 7, 2006 (2006-11-07)

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).

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

Main article: United States House of Representatives elections in Georgia, 2006

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

Main article: Georgia gubernatorial election, 2006

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

November 7, 2006

Nominee Casey Cagle Jim Martin Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 1,134,517 887,506 Percentage 54.08% 42.31%

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

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Casey Cagle	1,134,517	54.1
	Democratic	Jim Martin	887,506	42.3
	Libertarian	Allen Buckley	75,673	3.6

Primary Results

Democrats

Georgia Democratic July Primary, 2006

Candidate		Votes	%
Jim Martin		184,635	41.2
Greg Hecht		163,004	36.4
Steen Miles		64,714	14.4
Griffin Lotson		22,378	5.0
Rufus Terrill		13,375	3.0

Georgia Democratic August Runoff, 2006

Candidate		Votes	%
Jim Martin		141,927	62.4
Greg Hecht		85,399	37.6

Republicans

Georgia Republican July Primary, 2006

Candidate		Votes	%
Casey Cagle		227,968	56
Ralph Reed		178,790	44

Libertarian

• Allen Buckley

Secretary of State

2006 Georgia Secretary of State election

November 7, 2006

Nominee Karen Handel Gail Buckner Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 1,116,216 862,412 Percentage 54.10% 41.80%

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

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Karen Handel	1,116,216	54.1
	Democratic	Gail Buckner	862,412	41.8
	Libertarian	Kevin Madsen	84,670	4.1

Primary Results

Democrats

Georgia Democratic July Primary, 2006

Candidate		Votes	%
Gail Buckner		107,554	25.4
Darryl Hicks		92,742	21.9
Angela Moore		74,218	17.5
Shyam Reddy		69,802	16.5
Scott Holcomb		48,738	11.5
Walter Ray		29,992	7.1

Georgia Democratic August Runoff, 2006

Candidate		Votes	%
Gail Buckner		119,238	55.1
Darryl Hicks		97,061	44.9

Republicans

Georgia Republican July Primary, 2006

Candidate		Votes	%
Karen Handel		160,542	43.6
Bill Stephens		120,173	32.6
Charlie Bailey		50,792	13.8
Eric Martin		36,932	10

Georgia Republican August Runoff, 2006

Candidate		Votes	%
Karen Handel		96,931	56.6
Bill Stephens		74,198	43.4

Libertarian

• Kevin Madsen

Attorney general

2006 Georgia Attorney General Election

November 7, 2006

Nominee Thurbert Baker Perry McGuire Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 1,185,366 888,288 Percentage 57.16% 42.84%

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

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Thurbert Baker (incumbent)	1,185,366	57.2
	Republican	Perry McGuire	888,288	42.8

State School Superintendent

2006 Georgia State Superintendent of Schools election

November 7, 2006

Nominee Kathy Cox Denise Majette Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 1,257,236 734,702 Percentage 59.92% 35.02%

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

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Kathy Cox	1,257,236	54.2
	Democratic	Denise Majette	734,702	43.0
	Libertarian	David Chastain	106,215	2.8

Primary election results

Democrats

Georgia Democratic July Primary, 2006

Candidate		Votes	%
Denise Majette		288,564	67.1
Carlotta Harrell		141,630	32.9

Republicans

Georgia Republican July Primary, 2006

Candidate		Votes	%
Kathy Cox		259,711	64.7
Danny Carter		141,582	35.3

Libertarian

• David Chastain

Commissioner of Insurance

2006 Georgia Commissioner of Insurance election

November 7, 2006

Nominee John Oxendine Guy Drexinger Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 1,349,979 700,837 Percentage 65.47% 34.53%

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

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	John Oxendine (incumbent)	1,357,770	65.6
	Democratic	Guy Drexinger	713,324	34.4

Commissioner of Agriculture

2006 Georgia Commissioner of Agriculture Election

November 7, 2006

Nominee Tommy Irvin Gary Black Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 1,168,371 846,395 Percentage 56.04% 40.60%

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

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Tommy Irvin (incumbent)	1,168,371	56.0
	Republican	Gary Black	846,395	40.6
	Libertarian	Jack Cashin	70,015	3.4

Primary Results

Democrats

• Tommy Irvin (incumbent)

Republicans

Georgia Republican July Primary, 2006

Candidate		Votes	%
Gary Black		153,568	42.3
Brian Kemp		97,113	26.8
Bob Greer		57,813	15.9
Deanna Strickland		54,318	15.0

Georgia Republican August Runoff, 2006

Candidate		Votes	%
Gary Black		101,274	60.0
Brian Kemp		67,509	40.0

Libertarian

• Jack Cashin

Commissioner of Labor

2006 Georgia Labor Commissioner election

November 7, 2006

Nominee Mike Thurmond Brent Brown Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 1,127,182 929,812 Percentage 54.80% 45.20%

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

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Mike Thurmond (incumbent)	1,127,182	54.8
	Republican	Brent Brown	929,812	45.2

Primary election results

Democrats

• Michael Thurmond (incumbent)

Republicans

Georgia Republican July Primary, 2006

Candidate		Votes	%	±
Brent Brown		225,286	70.3
Chuck Scheid		94,998	29.7

Public Service Commission

District 3

This is a statewide race.

2006 Georgia Public Service Commission District 3 election

November 7, 2006 (first round) December 5, 2006 (runoff)

Candidate Chuck Eaton David Burgess Party Republican Democratic First round 941,748 46.25% 994,619 48.85% Runoff 112,232 52.18% 102,860 47.82%

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

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	David L. Burgess	994,619	48.8
	Republican	Chuck Eaton	941,748	46.3
	Libertarian	Paul MacGregor	99,747	4.9

2006 Public Service Commissioner District 3 runoff election, Georgia

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Chuck Eaton	112,232	52.2
	Democratic	David L. Burgess	102,860	47.8

Primary election results

Republicans

Georgia Republican July Primary, 2006

Candidate		Votes	%
Chuck Eaton		182,469	58.6
Mark Parkman		128,669	41.4

Democrats

• David Burgess

Libertarians

• Paul MacGregor

District 5

This is a statewide race.

General Election Results

2006 Public Service Commissioner District 5 election, Georgia

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Stan Wise	1,122,173	55.0
	Democratic	Dawn Randolph	823,681	40.4
	Libertarian	Kevin Cherry	95,247	4.7

Primary Results

Republicans

Georgia Republican July Primary, 2006

Candidate		Votes	%
Stan Wise		233,617	68.8
Newt Nickell		105,929	31.2

Democrats

• Dawn Randolph

Libertarians

• Kevin Cherry

General Assembly elections

Main article: Georgia General Assembly elections, 2006

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.

Supreme Court (Hunstein seat) election

Supreme Court of Georgia election, 2006

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Nonpartisan	Carol W. Hunstein	1,170,973	63.1%
	Nonpartisan	Mike Wiggins	683,483	36.9%
Turnout			1,854,456	100

Georgia Court of Appeals elections

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

External links

• Statewide qualifiers
• Primary Election Results Archived 2007-06-01 at the Wayback Machine
• Primary Runoff Results Archived 2006-12-14 at the Wayback Machine
• General Election Results