The 2006 Connecticut gubernatorial election occurred on November 7, 2006. Incumbent Republican Jodi Rell became governor when John G. Rowland resigned on corruption charges in 2004. Rell had an approval rating of 70% as of October 19, 2006, and polls showed her leading the Democratic nominee, New Haven mayor John DeStefano by a near 30-point margin. As expected, she won the election to a full term in a landslide. DeStefano defeated Stamford Mayor Dannel Malloy in the Connecticut Democratic gubernatorial primary on August 8. As of , this is the last time a Republican and woman was elected Governor of Connecticut, and the last time any gubernatorial candidate won every county in the state to date.
Republican primary Candidates Jodi Rell, incumbent governor Running mate: Michael Fedele, State Representative
Results Governor Rell was unopposed for renomination.
Democratic primary Governor Candidates Nominee John DeStefano, Jr., Mayor of New Haven
Eliminated in primary Dannel Malloy, Mayor of Stamford
Declined Richard Blumenthal, Connecticut Attorney General Chris Dodd, United States Senator Susan Bysiewicz, Connecticut Secretary of State
Results Convention
Primary
Lieutenant governor Candidates Nominee Mary Glassman, former First Selectman of Simsbury (Running mate of Malloy)
Eliminated in primary Scott Slifka, Mayor of West Hartford (Running mate of DeStefano)
Results Primary
Independents and third parties Green Party Cliff Thornton, retired businessman; drug policy reform advocate; U.S. Army veteran
Concerned Citizens Party Joseph A. Zdonczyk, retired businessman; U.S. Army veteran; Concerned Citizens Party founder
Independent John M. Joy (write-in candidate)
General 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 Source Date JohnDeStefano (D) JodiRell (R)RasmussenRasmussen October 3, 2006 33% 58%QuinnipiacQuinnipiac August 17, 2006 32% 64%RasmussenRasmussen August 14, 2006 35% 57%RasmussenRasmussen July 23, 2006 32% 54%QuinnipiacQuinnipiac July 20, 2006 25% 62%RasmussenRasmussen June 19, 2006 31% 59%QuinnipiacQuinnipiac June 8, 2006 24% 64%Quinnipiac May 2, 2006 20% 66%QuinnipiacQuinnipiac February 16, 2006 16% 70%QuinnipiacQuinnipiac January 12, 2006 21% 64%QuinnipiacQuinnipiac July 27, 2005 22% 61%QuinnipiacQuinnipiac April 6, 2005 19% 66%QuinnipiacQuinnipiac November 23, 2004 22% 59%
Results The following are the results of the 2006 election: Rell won every county and all but seven towns. Notably, DeStefano won the capital city of Hartford, the largest city of Bridgeport, and his hometown of New Haven.
By county County Jodi RellRepublican John DeStefanoDemocratic Various candidatesOther parties Margin Total votes cast # % # % # % # % Fairfield 185,037 68.7% 81,676 30.3% 2,582 0.9% 103,361 38.5% 269,295 Hartford 165,660 58.2% 114,824 40.4% 4,009 1.4% 50,836 17.8% 284,493 Litchfield 49,368 69.8% 20,358 28.8% 1,039 1.4% 29,010 41.0% 70,765 Middlesex 39,509 61.5% 23,783 37.0% 918 1.5% 15,726 24.5% 64,210 New Haven 161,350 62.4% 92,822 36.3% 3,518 1.4% 67,528 26.1% 258,690 New London 54,469 62.3% 31,623 36.2% 1,325 1.5% 22,846 26.1% 87,417 Tolland 33,648 62.6% 19,172 35.6% 972 1.8% 14,476 27.0% 53,792 Windham 21,007 60.4% 12,962 37.2% 835 2.4% 8,045 23.2% 34,804Totals710,04863.2%398,22035.4%15,1441.3%311,82827.8%1,123,412 Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican Windham (largest town: Windham)
By congressional district Rell won all five congressional districts, including four that elected Democrats. District Rell DeStefano Jr. Representative 58% 41%John B. Larson63%35%Rob Simmons (109th Congress)Joe Courtney (110th Congress) 61% 37%Rosa DeLauro 67% 32%Christopher Shays67%32%Nancy L. Johnson (109th Congress)Chris Murphy (110th Congress)
See also U.S. gubernatorial elections, 2006 State of Connecticut Governors of Connecticut Dan Malloy
References
External links State of Connecticut Secretary of State: 2006 Primary and Election Information State of Connecticut Secretary of State: Statement of Vote Bysiewicz for Governor DeStefano for Governor Malloy for Governor Miner for Governor Rell for Governor Thornton for Governor