2006 United States Senate election in Michigan

2006 United States Senate election in Michigan
	Stabenow: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% >90%; Bouchard: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90%; Tie:
U.S. senator before election; Debbie Stabenow; Democratic	Elected U.S. Senator ; Debbie Stabenow; Democratic

The 2006 United States Senate election in Michigan was held November 7, 2006. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow won re-election to a second term.

General election

Candidates

Mike Bouchard, Oakland County Sheriff (Republican)
Dennis FitzSimons, retiree (U.S. Taxpayers)
Leonard Schwartz, attorney and economist (Libertarian)
David Sole, President of UAW Local 2334 (Green)
Debbie Stabenow, incumbent U.S. Senator (Democratic)

Campaign

Economic issues took front and center in the campaign, as Michigan's unemployment rate was one of the highest in the nation. In July 2006, unemployment in Michigan stood at approximately 7%, compared with a 4.7% rate nationwide. Pessimism about the state's economic future had left Michigan ranked 49th nationally between 2000 and 2005 in retaining young adults. Since its peak, Detroit had lost over a million people. Bouchard claimed that the incumbent had accomplished nothing, dubbing her "Do-Nothing Debbie."^[1] President George W. Bush came to Michigan and raised $1 million for Bouchard.^[2]

Debates

Complete video of debate, October 15, 2006
Complete video of debate, October 18, 2006

Predictions

Source	Ranking	As of
The Cook Political Report^[3]	Lean D	November 6, 2006
Sabato's Crystal Ball^[4]	Likely D	November 6, 2006
Rothenberg Political Report^[5]	Likely D	November 6, 2006
Real Clear Politics^[6]	Likely D	November 6, 2006

Polling

Source	Date	Debbie Stabenow (D)	Mike Bouchard (R)
Strategic Vision (R)^[7]	November 21, 2005	45%	31%
EPIC/MRA^[8]	November 28, 2005	56%	36%
Rasmussen^[9]	December 3, 2005	49%	33%
Strategic Vision (R)^[10]	December 22, 2005	47%	35%
Rasmussen^[11]	January 20, 2006	56%	31%
Strategic Vision (R)^[12]	February 3, 2006	49%	36%
Rasmussen^[13]	February 15, 2006	54%	33%
Strategic Vision (R)^[14]	March 15, 2006	48%	37%
WSJ/Zogby^[15]	March 31, 2006	52%	38%
Rasmussen^[16]	April 6, 2006	51%	37%
Strategic Vision (R)^[17]	April 21, 2006	48%	38%
Rasmussen^[18]	May 5, 2006	54%	34%
Mitchell Research^[19]	May 1–9, 2006	50%	37%
Strategic Vision (R)^[20]	May 24, 2006	48%	36%
Strategic Vision (R)^[21]	June 21, 2006	50%	37%
WSJ/Zogby^[22]	June 21, 2006	49%	41%
Free Press-Local 4^[23]	July 16, 2006	49%	29%
WSJ/Zogby^[24]	July 24, 2006	48%	42%
Strategic Vision (R)^[25]	July 27, 2006	52%	36%
Rasmussen^[26]	August 16, 2006	49%	44%
EPIC/MRA^[27]	August 16, 2006	54%	42%
WSJ/Zogby^[28]	August 28, 2006	49%	45%
Strategic Vision (R)^[29]	August 29, 2006	49%	42%
Free Press-Local 4^[30]	August 28–30, 2006	50%	37%
Rasmussen^[31]	August 31, 2006	51%	43%
WSJ/Zogby^[32]	September 11, 2006	50%	44%
EPIC-MRA^[33]	September 14, 2006	54%	34%
Strategic Vision (R)^[34]	September 20, 2006	51%	44%
WSJ/Zogby^[35]	September 28, 2006	49%	42%
EPIC-MRA^[36]	October 5, 2006	48%	35%
SurveyUSA^[37]	October 9, 2006	53%	42%
Rasmussen^[38]	October 9, 2006	56%	39%
Free Press-Local 4^[39]	October 15, 2006	48%	35%
WSJ/Zogby^[40]	October 19, 2006	48%	44%
Strategic Vision (R)^[41]	October 24, 2006	48%	42%
Lake Research (D)^[42]	October 24, 2006	53%	35%
Rasmussen^[43]	October 25, 2006	55%	39%
Research 2000^[44]	October 25, 2006	51%	44%
WSJ/Zogby^[45]	October 31, 2006	49%	43%
Strategic Vision (R)^[46]	November 2, 2006	49%	42%
Free Press-Local 4^[47]	November 5, 2006	53%	34%
Mason-Dixon/MSNBC^[48]	November 5, 2006	53%	37%
Strategic Vision (R)^[49]	November 6, 2006	50%	44%

Results

From a long way out Stabenow looked like she might be vulnerable. President Bush even came to Michigan to campaign for Bouchard, raising over $1,000,000 for him. However Bouchard never won a single poll. By October the Republican Party, started taking resources out of Michigan to focus on closer races, essentially ceding the race to Stabenow. Stabenow would go on to win the election easily, capturing nearly 57% of the vote. Stabenow did well throughout Michigan, but performed better in heavily populated cities like Detroit, Lansing, Ann Arbor, and Kalamazoo. Bouchard did win Grand Rapids, a typical Republican area. He also won in many rural areas around the state. However Bouchard failed to put a dent in Stabenow's lead, largely due to her strong performance in heavily populated areas. Bouchard conceded to Stabenow at 9:58 P.M. EST. The following results are official.^[50]

2006 United States Senate election in Michigan
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Debbie Stabenow (incumbent)	2,151,278	56.91%	+7.44%
	Republican	Mike Bouchard	1,559,597	41.26%	−6.60%
	Libertarian	Leonard Schwartz	27,012	0.72%	0%
	Green	David Sole	23,890	0.63%	−0.27%
	Constitution	Dennis FitzSimons	18,341	0.48%	+0.20%
Majority			591,681	15.6%
Turnout			3,780,142	52.64%
	Democratic hold		Swing	7%

Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic

Alger (largest city: Munising)
Alpena (largest city: Alpena)
Arenac (largest city: Standish)
Benzie (largest city: Frankfort)
Clare (largest city: Clare)
Delta (largest city: Escanaba)
Gladwin (largest city: Gladwin)
Gratiot (largest city: Alma)
Iosco (largest city: East Tawas)
Jackson (largest city: Jackson)
Leelanau (largest settlement: Greilickville)
Lenawee (largest city: Adrian)
Mason (largest city: Ludington)
Menominee (largest city: Menominee)
Ogemaw (largest city: West Branch)
Ontonagon (largest village: Ontonagon)
Presque Isle (largest city: Rogers City)
Roscommon (largest settlement: Houghton Lake)
Schoolcraft (largest city: Manistique)
St. Clair (largest city: Port Huron)
Calhoun (largest city: Battle Creek)
Lake (largest village: Baldwin)
Manistee (largest city: Manistee)
Monroe (largest city: Monroe)
Saginaw (largest city: Saginaw)
Shiawassee (largest city: Owosso)
Van Buren (largest city: South Haven)
Keweenaw (Largest city: Ahmeek)
Houghton (Largest city: Houghton)
Mackinac (Largest city: St. Ignace)
Dickinson (Largest city: Iron Mountain)
Baraga (Largest city: Baraga)
Luce (Largest city: Newberry)
Chippewa (Largest city: Sault Ste. Marie)
Montmorency (Largest city: Lewiston)
Cheboygan (Largest city: Cheboygan)
Crawford (Largest city: Grayling)
Oscoda (Largest city: Mio)
Alcona (Largest city: Harrisville)
Wexford (Largest city: Cadillac)
Huron (Largest city: Bad Axe)
Sanilac (Largest city: Sandusky)
Tuscola (Largest city: Caro)
Lapeer (Largest city: Lapeer)
Ionia (largest city: Ionia)
Montcalm (Largest city: Greenville)
Midland (Largest city: Midland)
Cass (Largest city: Dowagiac)
Branch (Largest city: Coldwater)
Charlevoix (Largest city: Boyne City)
Oceana (Largest city: Hart)
Eaton (largest city: Charlotte)
Leelanau (largest municipality: Greilickville)
Isabella (largest city: Mount Pleasant)
Clinton (largest city: St. Johns)
Kalamazoo (largest city: kalamazoo)
Oakland (largest city: Troy)

References

^ Mich. Voters Focus on Economy - washingtonpost.com
^ "Michigan Politics | www.stignacenews.com | St. Ignace News". Archived from the original on December 1, 2017. Retrieved June 26, 2010.
^ "2006 Senate Race Ratings for November 6, 2006" (PDF). The Cook Political Report. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 5, 2008. Retrieved September 30, 2021.
^ "Election Eve 2006: THE FINAL PREDICTIONS". Sabato's Crystal Ball. November 6, 2006. Retrieved June 25, 2021.
^ "2006 Senate Ratings". Senate Ratings. The Rothenberg Political Report. Retrieved June 25, 2021.
^ "Election 2006". Real Clear Politics. Retrieved June 25, 2021.
^ Strategic Vision (R)
^ "EPIC/MRA". Archived from the original on September 30, 2007. Retrieved December 1, 2005.
^ Rasmussen Archived December 10, 2005, at the Wayback Machine
^ Strategic Vision (R)
^ Rasmussen
^ Strategic Vision (R)
^ Rasmussen
^ Strategic Vision (R)
^ WSJ/Zogby
^ Rasmussen
^ Strategic Vision (R)
^ Rasmussen
^ Mitchell Research
^ Strategic Vision (R)
^ Strategic Vision (R)
^ WSJ/Zogby
^ Free Press-Local 4 Archived November 2, 2014, at the Wayback Machine
^ WSJ/Zogby
^ Strategic Vision (R)
^ Rasmussen
^ EPIC/MRA Archived February 28, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
^ WSJ/Zogby
^ Strategic Vision (R)
^ Free Press-Local 4 Archived September 29, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
^ Rasmussen
^ WSJ/Zogby
^ EPIC-MRA
^ Strategic Vision (R)
^ WSJ/Zogby
^ EPIC-MRA
^ SurveyUSA
^ Rasmussen
^ Free Press-Local 4 Archived September 29, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
^ WSJ/Zogby
^ Strategic Vision (R)
^ Lake Research (D)
^ Rasmussen
^ Research 2000
^ WSJ/Zogby
^ Strategic Vision (R)
^ Free Press-Local 4 Archived September 29, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
^ Mason-Dixon/MSNBC
^ Strategic Vision (R)
^ Land, Terri Lynn (May 10, 2007). "Official Michigan General Election Results - United States Senator 6 Year Term (1) Position". Michigan Department of State. Archived from the original on November 18, 2014. Retrieved February 8, 2016.

External links

Stabenow for Senate Archived October 1, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
Bouchard for Senate
Schwartz for Senate
Sole for Senate
FitzSimons for Senate

[1] Mich. Voters Focus on Economy - washingtonpost.com

[2] "Michigan Politics | www.stignacenews.com | St. Ignace News". Archived from the original on December 1, 2017. Retrieved June 26, 2010.

[3] "2006 Senate Race Ratings for November 6, 2006" (PDF). The Cook Political Report. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 5, 2008. Retrieved September 30, 2021.

[4] "Election Eve 2006: THE FINAL PREDICTIONS". Sabato's Crystal Ball. November 6, 2006. Retrieved June 25, 2021.

[5] "2006 Senate Ratings". Senate Ratings. The Rothenberg Political Report. Retrieved June 25, 2021.

[6] "Election 2006". Real Clear Politics. Retrieved June 25, 2021.

[7] Strategic Vision (R)

[8] "EPIC/MRA". Archived from the original on September 30, 2007. Retrieved December 1, 2005.

[9] Rasmussen Archived December 10, 2005, at the Wayback Machine

[10] Strategic Vision (R)

[11] Rasmussen

[12] Strategic Vision (R)

[13] Rasmussen

[14] Strategic Vision (R)

[15] WSJ/Zogby

[16] Rasmussen

[17] Strategic Vision (R)

[18] Rasmussen

[19] Mitchell Research

[20] Strategic Vision (R)

[21] Strategic Vision (R)

[22] WSJ/Zogby

[23] Free Press-Local 4 Archived November 2, 2014, at the Wayback Machine

[24] WSJ/Zogby

[25] Strategic Vision (R)

[26] Rasmussen

[27] EPIC/MRA Archived February 28, 2008, at the Wayback Machine

[28] WSJ/Zogby

[29] Strategic Vision (R)

[30] Free Press-Local 4 Archived September 29, 2007, at the Wayback Machine

[31] Rasmussen

[32] WSJ/Zogby

[33] EPIC-MRA

[34] Strategic Vision (R)

[35] WSJ/Zogby

[36] EPIC-MRA

[37] SurveyUSA

[38] Rasmussen

[39] Free Press-Local 4 Archived September 29, 2007, at the Wayback Machine

[40] WSJ/Zogby

[41] Strategic Vision (R)

[42] Lake Research (D)

[43] Rasmussen

[44] Research 2000

[45] WSJ/Zogby

[46] Strategic Vision (R)

[47] Free Press-Local 4 Archived September 29, 2007, at the Wayback Machine

[48] Mason-Dixon/MSNBC

[49] Strategic Vision (R)

[50] Land, Terri Lynn (May 10, 2007). "Official Michigan General Election Results - United States Senator 6 Year Term (1) Position". Michigan Department of State. Archived from the original on November 18, 2014. Retrieved February 8, 2016.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

[10]

[11]

[12]

[13]

[14]

[15]

[16]

[17]

[18]

[19]

[20]

[21]

[22]

[23]

[24]

[25]

[26]

[27]

[28]

[29]

[30]

[31]

[32]

[33]

[34]

[35]

[36]

[37]

[38]

[39]

[40]

[41]

[42]

[43]

[44]

[45]

[46]

[47]

[48]

[49]

[50]

v t e (2005 ←) 2006 United States elections (→ 2007)
U.S. Senate	Arizona California Connecticut Delaware District of Columbia (shadow) Florida Hawaii Indiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Jersey New Mexico New York North Dakota Ohio Pennsylvania Rhode Island Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming
U.S. House (election ratings)	Alabama Alaska Arizona 8th Arkansas California 50th sp Colorado Connecticut Delaware District of Columbia delegate shadow Florida Georgia 4th Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota 5th 6th Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio 2nd Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas 22nd and 22nd sp Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming
Governors	Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Lt. Gov Colorado Connecticut District of Columbia Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Iowa Kansas Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Mexico New York Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Lt. Gov Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Vermont Wisconsin Wyoming
State Attorneys General	California Florida Maryland Michigan Minnesota New York
State officials	California Insurance Commissioner Secretary of State Controller Treasurer Superintendent of Public Instruction Florida Chief Financial Officer Commissioner of Agriculture Maryland Comptroller Michigan Secretary of State Minnesota Auditor New York Comptroller
State legislatures	Arizona California Assembly Senate Connecticut Senate Delaware House Senate Iowa House Senate Maryland House Senate Massachusetts House Senate Michigan House Senate Minnesota House Senate Montana House New Mexico House North Carolina House Senate Pennsylvania House Senate Texas House Senate
Mayors	Anaheim, CA Anchorage, AK Austin, TX Fort Lauderdale, FL Irvine, CA Long Beach, CA Newark, NJ New Orleans, LA Richmond, CA San Bernardino, CA San Jose, CA Norfolk, VA Oakland, CA Providence, RI Santa Ana, CA Tallahassee, FL Tulsa, OK Washington, DC
States	Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming