The 2006 Pennsylvania gubernatorial election was held on November 7, 2006, and included the races for the governor of Pennsylvania and lieutenant governor of Pennsylvania. Incumbent Democratic Governor Ed Rendell successfully ran for re-election. Pennsylvania's first female lieutenant governor, Catherine Baker Knoll, was also running for re-election.

As of 2025, this is the most recent gubernatorial election in which the Democratic candidate has carried the following counties: Clearfield, Columbia, Elk, Mercer, Pike, Susquehanna, Warren, Washington, Wayne and Wyoming. This is the last time any statewide race in Pennsylvania resulted in a candidate getting over 60% of the vote.

Background Rendell and Knoll had the advantage of incumbency, important in the swing state of Pennsylvania. Rendell's approval rating as of May 2006 was 62%.Survey USA

In the 2000 Presidential election, then-Vice President Al Gore won the state 50.6%-46.4% over then-Texas Governor George W. Bush. In 2004, Senator John Kerry carried the state 50.9%-48.4% over incumbent President Bush.

Although the state had voted Democratic in eight of the past 12 presidential elections, its Congressional delegation had been majority Republican for years. The counties of Philadelphia and Allegheny were the Democratic strongholds, while the central part of the state was where the Republican Party fared best. The 2005 statewide party registration had Democrats out-numbering Republicans in the state with 3,841,429 to 3,292,656, with 939,252 registered independent voters.2005 Municipal Election

Democratic primary Michael Morrill, the Green Party's nominee for governor in 2002, considered challenging Rendell on a progressive liberal platform. However, on February 13, 2006, Morrill stated that he would not run, citing the toll his 2002 race had taken on his family.Morrill release Rendell thus ran unopposed.

Results

Republican primary Candidates Declared Lynn Swann, Pittsburgh Steelers Hall of Fame wide receiver and chairman of the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports

Withdrew Jim Panyard, former president of the Pennsylvania Manufacturers Association Jeff Piccola, majority whip of the Pennsylvania State Senate from Susquehanna Township William Scranton III, former lieutenant governor and the 1986 nominee

Declined Bruce Castor, district attorney of Montgomery County and candidate for attorney general in 2004 Jane Earll, state senator from Erie County and nominee for lieutenant governor in 2002 Melissa Hart, U.S. representative from Pittsburgh (ran for re-election) Rick Santorum, U.S. senator (ran for re-election) Mark Schweiker, former governor Pat Toomey, former U.S. representative from Allentown and candidate for U.S. Senate in 2004

Campaign Lynn Swann, Jeff Piccola, Jim Panyard and Bill Scranton III all announced their intention to run in the Republican primary for governor in 2006. Scranton, who served two terms as lieutenant governor of Pennsylvania, was the son of popular former governor William Scranton, and a member of the wealthy Scranton family, was the early front-runner. However, a series of blunders by his campaign, and a lack of momentum from the Piccola and Panyard campaigns, moved Swann into presumptive nominee status. The state Republican party then endorsed Swann, leading the three other candidates to drop out ahead of the March deadline to file for the primary.

Results

General election Candidates

Ed Rendell, incumbent governor of Pennsylvania (Democratic)Ed Rendell's Campaign Website Lynn Swann, former Pittsburgh Steelers Hall of Fame wide receiver and chairman of the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports (Republican)Lynn Swann's Campaign Website Running mate: Jim Matthews, Montgomery County commissioner and brother of Chris Matthews

Withdrew

Marakay Rogers, attorney and 2004 attorney general nomineeGreen Party (Green)

Failed to submit signatures

Russ Diamond, 2005 General Assembly pay raise whistleblower (Independent) Running mate: Tom Lingenfelter, former Republican state committeeman and perennial candidate Hagan Smith, building contractor and chair of Butler County Constitution Party (Constitution)Hagan For Governor site

Four candidates were campaigning for governor,Politics1: Pennsylvania but only two went on to appear on the ballot in November. Constitution candidate Hagan Smith and Independent candidate Russ Diamond were unable to secure the necessary signatures to appear on the ballot. On August 11, Green Party candidate Marakay Rogers withdrew her nominating papers, following a challenge by Pennsylvania Democrats, who alleged that more than 69,000 signatures on the petitions were fake names, unregistered voters or illegible. The challenge followed a Republican drive to collect signatures to put Green candidate Carl Romanelli on the ballot in the Senate race.Green Party candidate withdraws

Rogers continued to campaign, hoping that a federal appeals court would rule favorably in a lawsuit seeking to overturn the state's signature requirement for third-party candidates.Minor parties sue

Analysis

In July 2005, a Zogby Poll showed Rendell with only a 47% to 41% lead over Lynn Swann. Some speculated that controversy over Act 72, proposed Medicaid cuts, and possibly even a legislative pay increase that was signed into law, had reduced the governor's popularity. Rendell led in other recent polls by significantly higher margins. Following that poll, Rendell's supporters pointed out that he had raised more money than his opponents, which they felt would help him spread his message. They also pointed out that as a sitting governor, Rendell had all the traditional advantages of an incumbent.Madonna analysis Franklin & Marshall College (Terry Madonna) Center for Politics & Public Affairs

Swann hoped to perform strongly in the conservative "T" section of the state (the central and northern regions) and in his native western Pennsylvania area. Swann canvassed for votes among tailgating voters in Philadelphia before the Steelers game against the Eagles. On February 7, Swann served as master of ceremonies for the Pittsburgh Steelers's Super Bowl XL victory parade before 250,000 people.A quarter-million thanks Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Polls in early February showed Swann and Rendell in a statistical tie.Rendell, Swann in dead heat Pittsburgh Tribune-Review However, Swann's momentum did not survive an effective barrage of advertising from Rendell in early spring, and he had trouble keeping up with Rendell's effective fundraising. Swann's focus on reform never caught traction, possibly as a result of his vocal support for Chip Brightbill and Robert Jubelirer, legislative leaders who were defeated in the May 2006 primary election.

Predictions Source Ranking As of The Cook Political Report November 6, 2006 Sabato's Crystal Ball November 6, 2006 Rothenberg Political Report November 2, 2006 Real Clear Politics November 6, 2006

Polling Poll source Date(s) administered EdRendell (D) LynnSwann (R)Temple/Inquirer PollTemple/Inquirer Poll September 24, 2006 60% 33%RasmussenRasmussen September 22, 2006 56% 36%Zogby/WSJZogby/WSJ September 11, 2006 51.6% 42.1%Zogby/WSJ August 28, 2006 48.4% 43.5%RasmussenRasmussen August 25, 2006 50% 38%Strategic VisionStrategic Vision August 17, 2006 51% 41%QuinnipiacQuinnipiac August 16, 2006 57% 38%RasmussenRasmussen July 26, 2006 50% 40%Zogby/WSJ July 24, 2006 47.5% 41.1%Strategic VisionStrategic Vision July 20, 2006 49% 36%RasmussenRasmussen June 26, 2006 50% 36%QuinnipiacQuinnipiac June 22, 2006 55% 31%Zogby/WSJ June 21, 2006 47.7% 43.4%Strategic VisionStrategic Vision June 15, 2006 49% 38%RasmussenRasmussen May 25, 2006 52% 34%QuinnipiacQuinnipiac May 12, 2006 55% 33%Strategic VisionStrategic Vision May 10, 2006 49% 41%Keystone PollKeystone Poll May 3, 2006 49% 35%RasmussenRasmussen April 29, 2006 41% 44%IssuesPA/Pew PollIssuesPA/Pew Poll April 17–26, 2006 30% 29%MuhlenbergMuhlenberg April 17–24, 2006 45% 39%Strategic VisionStrategic Vision April 13, 2006 44% 42%QuinnipiacQuinnipiac April 5, 2006 47% 37%IssuesPA/Pew PollIssuesPA/Pew Poll March 30, 2006 29% 35%RasmussenRasmussen March 28, 2006 44% 41%Strategic VisionStrategic Vision March 15, 2006 44% 44%MuhlenbergMuhlenberg March 4, 2006 46% 43%RasmussenRasmussen February 21, 2006 46% 43%QuinnipiacQuinnipiac February 15, 2006 48% 36%Keystone PollKeystone Poll February 9, 2006 45% 42%Strategic VisionStrategic Vision January 25, 2006 44% 46%RasmussenRasmussen January 19, 2006 43% 45%Strategic VisionStrategic Vision December 21, 2005 45% 41%QuinnipiacQuinnipiac December 13, 2005 48% 35%Strategic VisionStrategic Vision November 16, 2005 45% 42%RasmussenRasmussen November 7, 2005 50% 36%Strategic VisionStrategic Vision October 19, 2005 46% 41%Keystone PollKeystone Poll September 2005 53% 33%Strategic VisionStrategic Vision September 12, 2005 48% 43%Strategic VisionStrategic Vision August 2, 2005 47% 41% Rasmussen July 20, 2005 47% 41%Keystone Poll June 2005 42% 32%Keystone Poll March 2005 59% 29%

Debate + 2006 Pennsylvania gubernatorial election debate Date Host Moderator Link Democratic RepublicanKey: Participant  Absent  Not invited  Invited Withdrawn Ed Rendell Lynn Swann1 Oct. 4, 2006 KDKA-TVPittsburgh Post-GazettePoint Park University Ken Rice C-SPAN

Results

Results by county