Nebraska Gubernatorial Election, 2006 Article Index for
Nebraska
Website Links For
Nebraska
 

Information About

Nebraska Gubernatorial Election, 2006





OVERVIEW

The Republican primary election had the unusual situation of an incumbent running against several members of his own party. Originally, the 2006 election would not have had an incumbent. However, this changed when Mike Johanns resigned in January 2005 to become United States Secretary Of Agriculture ; this elevated Dave Heineman to the governorship. He then announced his intention to run for election to a full four-year term. The other two candidates for the Republican nomination were Tom Osborne , former coach of the Nebraska Cornhuskers Football team and currently serving in the United States House Of Representatives , and Omaha businessman Dave Nabity .

The Democratic primary election did not have any candidates until December 2005, when David Hahn announced his candidacy. Glenn Boot Jr. of Ashland was the other Democratic candidate, but he was disqualified due to a previous felony conviction.

The Nebraska Party (affiliated with the Constitution Party ) has one candidate, Barry Richards of Hayes Center .

In 2005, the three Republican candidates raised more than $2 million overall for their campaigns: Osborne $972,000; Heineman $922,000; and Nabity $150,000.

Dave Heineman surprisingly won the Republican nomination with 50% of the vote, although Tom Osborne was a heavy favorite going into the race. The '' Lincoln Journal Star '' analyzed the race after the primary election:

'' Reuters '' noted " of Democrats changed their registration to Republican to allow them to weigh in on the contest." [http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/washington/politics-nebraska.html?_r=1&oref=slogin


CANDIDATES



Unsuccessful primary candidates

  • Republicans

  • --- Dave Nabity – financial consultant, former Young Republicans state chair

  • --- Tom Osborne – Nebraska Third District Congressman, former football coach



POLLING



RESULTS


General


  party Republican Party (US)
  candidate Dave Heineman ( Incumbent )
  votes 434,802
  percentage 734
  change +47


  party Democratic Party (US)
  candidate David Hahn
  votes 144,624
  percentage 244
  change -31


  party Nebraska Party
  candidate Barry Richards
  votes 8,894
  percentage 15
  change -23


  party Independent (politician)
  candidate Mort Sullivan
  votes 3,740
  percentage 06
  change ''n/a''


  votes 290,178
  percentage 490


  votes 592,060


  winner Republican Party (US)


Source: CNN.com Election 2006 Coverage


Primary

Unofficial results from the Nebraska Secretary of State Office :

  party Republican Party (US)
  candidate Dave Heineman
  votes '''135,740'''
  percentage '''5047'''
  change N/A


  party Republican Party (US)
  candidate Tom Osborne
  votes 118,778
  percentage 4417
  change N/A


  party Republican Party (US)
  candidate Dave Nabity
  votes 14,422
  percentage 536
  change N/A



EXTERNAL LINKS

Candidates' campaign sites

Other election sites


SEE ALSO