2006 Kansas gubernatorial election explained

The 2006 Kansas gubernatorial election took place on November 7, 2006. Incumbent Democratic Governor Kathleen Sebelius, who sported high approval ratings^[1] ran for re-election to serve a second and final term. She was unopposed for the Democratic nomination and faced Republican State Senator Jim Barnett, who emerged from a crowded primary. Sebelius soundly defeated Barnett and cruised to re-election, which was quite a considerable feat for a Democrat in staunchly conservative Kansas. This was Sebelius's second time winning a majority and was part of a trend from 1984 to 2010 where 7 of 8 Kansas gubernatorial elections were won with a majority rather than a simple plurality. No candidate received a majority of votes in 2014, 2018 or 2022.

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Kathleen Sebelius, incumbent Governor of Kansas

Results

Republican primary

Candidates

• Jim Barnett, State Senator
  • Running mate: Susan Wagle, state senator (2001–present) and former state representative (1991–2001)
• Ken R. Canfield, author and founder of the National Center for Fathering
  • Running mate: Kathe Decker, state representative (1993–present)
• Rex Crowell, former State Representative
  • Running mate: Brian Shepherd
• Dennis Hawver, Libertarian nominee for Governor in 2002
  • Running mate: Bret D. Landrith, attorney
• Robin Jennison, former Speaker of the Kansas House of Representatives
  • Running mate: Dennis Wilson, state senator (2005–present) and former state representative (1995–1999)
• Timothy V. Pickell, attorney
  • Running mate: Jeffrey McCalmon
• Richard "Rode" Rodewald, perennial candidate
  • Running mate: Helen Kanzig

General election

Predictions

Source	Ranking	As of
align=left	The Cook Political Report[2]		November 6, 2006
align=left	Sabato's Crystal Ball[3]		November 6, 2006
align=left	Rothenberg Political Report[4]		November 2, 2006
align=left	Real Clear Politics[5]		November 6, 2006

Polling

width=150px	Source	width=150px	Date	width=100px	Kathleen Sebelius (D)	width=100px	Jim Barnett (R)
align=left	Survey USA[6]	November 5, 2006		57%	40%
align=left	Rasmussen[7]	October 27, 2006		56%	37%
align=left	Survey USA[8]	October 16, 2006		55%	42%
align=left	Survey USA[9]	September 14, 2006		58%	38%
align=left	Rasmussen[10]	September 1, 2006		48%	37%
align=left	Rasmussen[11]	July 31, 2006		51%	34%
align=left	Rasmussen[12]	June 19, 2006		49%	36%
align=left	Rasmussen[13]	May 3, 2006		49%	37%
align=left	Rasmussen[14]	April 15, 2006		50%	37%
align=left	Rasmussen[15]	February 13, 2006		45%	37%
align=left	Rasmussen[16]	January 25, 2006		46%	35%

Results

Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic

• Sherman (largest municipality: Goodland)
• Lane (largest municipality: Dighton)
• Stafford (largest municipality: St. John)
• Mitchell (largest municipality: Beloit)
• Lincoln (largest municipality: Lincoln) (previously tied)
• Kingman (largest municipality: Kingman)
• Ottawa (largest municipality: Minneapolis) (previously tied)
• Doniphan (Largest city: Wathena)
• Linn (Largest city: Pleasanton)
• Woodson (Largest city: Yates Center)
• Wilson (Largest city: Neodesha)
• Bourbon (Largest city: Fort Scott)
• Cherokee (Largest city: Baxter Springs)
• McPherson (largest municipality: McPherson)
• Johnson (largest municipality: Overland Park)

Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican

• Coffey (largest municipality: Burlington)
• Chase (largest city: Cottonwood Falls)
• Greenwood (largest municipality: Eureka)
• Norton (largest municipality: Norton)
• Pratt (largest municipality: Pratt)
• Pottawatomie (largest municipality: Manhattan)

See also

• U.S. gubernatorial elections, 2006
• List of governors of Kansas

External links

Official campaign websites (Archived)

• Kathleen Sebelius
• Jim Barnett

Notes and References

1. Web site: Approval Ratings For All 50 Governors. SurveyUSA/KWCH-TV/KCTV-TV. 2006-07-20. 2007-11-28.
2. Web site: 2006 Governor Race Ratings for November 6, 2006. The Cook Political Report. October 1, 2006. June 5, 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20080605094803/https://cookpolitical.com/races/report_pdfs/2006_gov_ratings_nov6.pdf. dead.
3. Web site: Election Eve 2006: THE FINAL PREDICTIONS . Sabato's Crystal Ball . June 25, 2021.
4. Web site: 2006 Gubernatorial Ratings . Senate Ratings . The Rothenberg Political Report . June 25, 2021.
5. Web site: Election 2006 . Real Clear Politics . June 25, 2021.
6. http://www.surveyusa.com/client/PollReportEmail.aspx?g=22c5c341-3acc-4743-a515-22131c9243c1 Survey USA
7. https://web.archive.org/web/20081011130027/http://www.rasmussenreports.com/2006/State%20Polls/October%202006/KansasGovernor.htm Rasmussen
8. http://www.surveyusa.com/client/PollReportEmail.aspx?g=4ee459be-49ec-47ca-ab0f-7c565cec9dae Survey USA
9. http://www.surveyusa.com/client/PollReportEmail.aspx?g=f6614f10-a637-4761-84f5-ffb5300dddf6 Survey USA
10. https://web.archive.org/web/20060920021759/http://rasmussenreports.com/2006/State%20Polls/August%202006/KansasGovernor.htm Rasmussen
11. http://www.rasmussenreports.com/2006/State%20Polls/July%202006/kansasGovernor.htm Rasmussen
12. https://web.archive.org/web/20060624203137/http://www.rasmussenreports.com/2006/State%20Polls/June%202006/kansasgovernor.htm Rasmussen
13. https://web.archive.org/web/20060518052403/http://www.rasmussenreports.com/2006/State%20Polls/April%202006/Kansas%20Governor%20April.htm Rasmussen
14. http://www.rasmussenreports.com/2006/State%20Polls/March%202006/Kansas%20Governor%20March.htm Rasmussen
15. https://web.archive.org/web/20060223014744/http://www.rasmussenreports.com/2006/State%20Polls/February%202006/Kansas%20Governor%20February.htm Rasmussen
16. https://web.archive.org/web/20060206175837/http://www.rasmussenreports.com/2006/State%20Polls/January%202006/Kansas%20Governor%20January%2015.htm Rasmussen