The 2006 congressional elections in Arizona were elections for Arizona's delegation to the United States House of Representatives, which occurred along with congressional elections nationwide on November 7, 2006. Arizona has eight seats, as apportioned during the 2000 United States census. Prior to the election, Republicans held six of the eight seats and Democrats held two. In the 8th district, Republican Congressman Jim Kolbe retired, leaving an open seat. Following the elections, Democrats gained two seats at the expense of the Republicans, who lost two.
Overview Statewide PartyCandidatesVotesSeats %+/– %Republican8771,24651.654 250.00Democratic7627,25942.014 250.00Libertarian890,2146.0400.0Independent14,4080.3000.0Write-in4240.0000.0Total281,493,151100.08100.0
By district Results of the 2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Arizona by district:
DistrictRepublicanDemocraticLibertarianOthersTotalResult Votes % Votes % Votes % Votes % Votes %District 1 105,646 51.75% 88,691 43.45% 9,802 4.80% 0 0.00% 204,139 100.0% Republican holdDistrict 2 135,150 58.62% 89,671 38.89% 5,734 2.49% 5 0.00% 230,560 100.0% Republican holdDistrict 3 112,519 59.27% 72,586 38.23% 4,744 2.50% 0 0.00% 189,849 100.0% Republican holdDistrict 4 18,627 23.92% 56,464 72.52% 2,770 3.56% 0 0.00% 77,861 100.0% Democratic holdDistrict 5 93,815 46.44% 101,838 50.41% 6,357 3.15% 0 0.00% 202,010 100.0% Democratic gainDistrict 6 152,201 74.80% 0 0.00% 51,285 25.20% 0 0.00% 203,486 100.0% Republican holdDistrict 7 46,498 35.35% 80,354 61.09% 4,673 3.55% 0 0.00% 131,525 100.0% Democratic holdDistrict 8 106,790 42.09% 137,655 54.25% 4,849 1.91% 4,427 1.74% 253,721 100.0% Democratic gainTotal 771,246 51.65% 627,259 42.01% 90,214 6.04% 4,432 0.30% 1,493,151 100.0%
District 1
The normally Republican 1st district, based in the region north of Phoenix and Tucson and one of the largest districts by land area in the country, had been represented by Republican Rick Renzi since his initial election in 2002.
Republican primary Renzi faced ethical problems in this election and was named by Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington as one of the most corrupt candidates running for office that year.
Candidates Nominee Rick Renzi, incumbent U.S. Representative
Results
Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Ellen Simon, attorney and activist
Eliminated in primary Mike Caccioppoli, former radio correspondent Bob Donahue, businessman and candidate for this seat in 2004 Susan Friedman, marketing director Vic McKerlie, dentist
Withdrawn Jack Jackson Jr., former state representative
Results
Libertarian primary Candidates Nominee David Schlosser, public relations manager
Results
General election Campaign Attorney and community activist Ellen Simon emerged as the Democratic nominee, and though she initially trailed Renzi by wide margins she made up much a large amount of ground and closed the gap, causing many to consider the race competitive. Simon challenged Renzi to a series of eight debates, to which Renzi responded by attacking Simon's husband for being behind on child support payments to his ex-wife.Jon Kamman, "Woes of candidate's husband cloud race", Arizona Republic, August 17, 2006
On 24 October, federal officials opened an inquiry into Renzi. It began when a local landowner filed a complaint that said that Renzi had pressured him into buying land he owned in exchange for his support on the landowner's petition with the federal government for a land swap. When that landowner refused, Renzi sold the land to a second company, who funneled the $200,000 payment ($ adjusted for inflation) through a wine company his father owned. Fortunately for Renzi some of these details didn't come to light until after the election.
Endorsements
Polling Poll sourceDate(s)administeredSamplesizeMargin of errorRickRenzi (R)EllenSimon (D)DavidSchlosser (L)UndecidedRT Strategies and Constituent DynamicsRT Strategies and Constituent Dynamics October 24–26, 2006 1,037 (LV) ±?% 48% 46% 4% 3%Northern Arizona UniversityNorthern Arizona University October 20–22, 2006 403 (LV) ±5.0% 45% 32% 2% 21%RT Strategies and Constituent DynamicsRT Strategies and Constituent Dynamics October 8–10, 2006 983 (LV) ±?% 46% 51% 2% 2%Northern Arizona UniversityNorthern Arizona University September 15–17, 2006 403 (LV) ±5.0% 45% 32% 2% 21%
Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political Report November 6, 2006 Rothenberg November 6, 2006 Sabato's Crystal Ball November 6, 2006 Real Clear Politics November 7, 2006 CQ Politics November 7, 2006
Results Renzi won re-election by an eight-point margin, despite the strong Democratic performance nationwide.
District 2
The heavily conservative and gerrymandered District 2, which owed its strange shape to the decision to not have Hopi and Navajo Native Americans represented by the same congressman due to historic tensions between them, had been represented by Republican Trent Franks since his initial election in 2002. Franks had been re-elected comfortably in the intervening years due to the conservative nature of the Phoenix suburbs that the district pulled from.
Republican primary Candidates Nominee Trent Franks, incumbent U.S. Representative
Results
Democratic primary Candidates Nominee John Thrasher, educator
Eliminated in primary Suchindran Chatterjee, engineer and educator Gene Scharer, educator and nominee for this seat in 2000
Results
Libertarian primary Candidates Nominee Powell Gamill, molecular biologist
Results
Independents William Crum (write-in), blogger
General election Campaign Franks faced Democratic challenger John Thrasher, a music teacher who based his campaign around anti-corruption and immigration reform.
Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political Report November 6, 2006 Rothenberg November 6, 2006 Sabato's Crystal Ball November 6, 2006 Real Clear Politics November 7, 2006 CQ Politics November 7, 2006
Results Franks comfortably won re-election, albeit by a smaller margin than usual.
District 3
The staunchly conservative 3rd district, based in the northern portion of Phoenix and its northern suburbs, had been represented by incumbent Republican John Shadegg since his initial election in 1994.
Republican primary Candidates Nominee John Shadegg, incumbent U.S. Representative
Results
Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Herb Paine, consultant
Eliminated in primary Don Chilton, retired engineer Jim McCoy
Results
Libertarian primary Candidates Nominee Mark Yannone, businessman
Results
General election Endorsements
Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political Report November 6, 2006 Rothenberg November 6, 2006 Sabato's Crystal Ball November 6, 2006 Real Clear Politics November 7, 2006 CQ Politics November 7, 2006
Results True to the district's conservative nature, Shadegg defeated Paine by a wide margin, though it was significantly reduced from his 2004 margin.
District 4
The heavily liberal 4th district, based in the southern portion of Phoenix and its southern suburbs, had a high Hispanic-American population. Incumbent Democrat Ed Pastor had represented this portion of the state since a special election in 1991 to replace Mo Udall.
Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Ed Pastor, incumbent U.S. Representative
Results
Republican primary Candidates Nominee Don Karg, aerospace executive
Results
Libertarian primary Candidates Nominee Ronald Harders, write-in candidate
Results
General election Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political Report November 6, 2006 Rothenberg November 6, 2006 Sabato's Crystal Ball November 6, 2006 Real Clear Politics November 7, 2006 CQ Politics November 7, 2006
Results
District 5
The conservative-leaning 5th district included a small portion of Phoenix and many of its northeastern suburbs, such as Scottsdale and Tempe. Republican J. D. Hayworth had represented the area since his initial election in 1994 and many considered him to be vulnerable to a Democratic challenger.
Republican primary Candidates Nominee J. D. Hayworth, incumbent U.S. Representative
Results
Democratic primary Harry Mitchell, a former Mayor of Tempe, State Senator, and Chairman of the Democratic Party of Arizona, emerged as the Democrats' leading challenger to Hayworth.
Candidates Nominee Harry Mitchell, chair of the Democratic Party of Arizona former state senator and former Mayor of Tempe
Endorsements
Results
Libertarian primary Candidates Nominee Warren Severin, businessman
Results
General election Debates Complete video of debate, September 1, 2006 Complete video of debate, October 17, 2006
Polling Poll sourceDate(s)administeredSamplesizeMargin of errorJ. D.Hayworth (R)HarryMitchell (D)WarrenSeverin (L)UndecidedSurveyUSASurveyUSA October 29–31, 2006 643 (LV) ±3.9% 46% 48% 4% 2%Bennett, Petts & Normington (D)Bennett, Petts & Normington (D) October 18–19, 2006 400 (LV) ±?% 47% 46% – 7%SurveyUSASurveyUSA October 13–15, 2006 509 (LV) ±4.4% 48% 45% 5% 2%Public Opinion Strategies (R)Public Opinion Strategies (R) September 18–19, 2006 400 (LV) ±?% 52% 38% – 10%SurveyUSASurveyUSA September 15–17, 2006 590 (LV) ±4.1% 52% 40% 4% 4%Grove Insight (D)Grove Insight (D) September 12–14, 2006 400 (LV) ±?% 37% 40% – 23%Public Opinion Strategies (R) June 6–10, 2006 400 (LV) ±?% 49% 34% – 17%SurveyUSASurveyUSA May 5–8, 2006 600 (RV) ±4.1% 50% 45% – 5%
Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political Report November 6, 2006 Rothenberg November 6, 2006 Sabato's Crystal Ball November 6, 2006 Real Clear Politics November 7, 2006 CQ Politics November 7, 2006
Results The race was close for much of the fall, and Mitchell ultimately edged out Hayworth on election day by a four-point margin and was elected to his first term in Congress.
District 6
The heavily conservative 6th district, based in the eastern suburbs of Phoenix, had been represented by Republican Congressman Jeff Flake since his initial election in 2000.
Republican primary Flake had built up a repertoire in Congress as being a staunch fiscal conservative and an anti-earmark advocate.
Candidates Nominee Jeff Flake, incumbent U.S. Representative
Results
Democratic primary No Democrat filed.
Libertarian primary Candidates Nominee Jason M. Blair
Results
General election Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political Report November 6, 2006 Rothenberg November 6, 2006 Sabato's Crystal Ball November 6, 2006 Real Clear Politics November 7, 2006 CQ Politics November 7, 2006
Results Flake faced no Democratic opponent and was overwhelmingly re-elected to his fourth term in Congress over Libertarian candidate Jason Blair.
District 7
The heavily Democratic 7th district, based in southwestern Arizona and covering much of the state's border with Mexico, had a majority Hispanic-American population and had been represented by Democratic Congressman Raúl Grijalva since 2003.
Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Raúl Grijalva, incumbent U.S. Representative
Results
Republican primary Candidates Nominee Ron Drake, former Mayor of Avondale
Eliminated in primary Joseph Sweeney, perennial candidate
Results
Libertarian primary Candidates Nominee Joe Cobb, political advisor and economic instructor
Results
General election Grijalva faced the former Mayor of Avondale, Republican Ron Drake, and Libertarian write-in candidate Joe Cobb.
Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political Report November 6, 2006 Rothenberg November 6, 2006 Sabato's Crystal Ball November 6, 2006 Real Clear Politics November 7, 2006 CQ Politics November 7, 2006
Candidates Results Grijalva defeated both Drake and Cobb by a comfortable margin.
District 8