The 2006 Arkansas lieutenant gubernatorial election was held on November 7, 2006, to elect the Lieutenant Governor of Arkansas, concurrently with elections to the United States House of Representatives, governor, and other state and local elections. Primary elections were held on May 23, 2006, with primary runoff elections, if necessary, being held on June 13, 2006.
Incumbent Republican lieutenant governor Winthrop Paul Rockefeller, who was term-limited from seeking a third full term in office, died on July 16, 2006, due to complications from myeloproliferative disorder. The office then remained vacant until January 2007.
Former Social Security Administration commissioner Bill Halter, who had previously considered a run for governor, defeated state legislator Jim Holt in the general election, flipping party control of the office. As of 2026, this election is the last time a Democrat was elected to the office of lieutenant governor.
Republican primary Candidates Nominee Jim Holt, state senator from the 35th district (2003–present) and state representative from the 5th district (2001–2003) Eliminated in primary Charles Banks Doug Matayo, state representative from the 93rd district (2003–present) Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error CharlesBanks JimHolt DougMatayo UndecidedSurveyUSA/KTHV May 12–14, 2006 344 (LV) ± 5.3%12%57%12%19%SurveyUSA/KTHV April 8–10, 2006 353 (LV) ± 5.2%12%59%7%22% Results
Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Bill Halter, former acting commissioner of the Social Security Administration (2001) Eliminated in primary runoff Tim Wooldridge, state senator and former state representative Eliminated in primary Mike Hathorn, former state representative from the 90th district (2003–2005) and 24th district (1999–2003) Jay Martin, majority leader of the Arkansas House of Representatives (2005–present) from the 40th district (2003–present) Polling Regular primary Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error BillHalter MikeHathorn JayMartin TimWooldridge UndecidedSurveyUSA/KTHV May 12–14, 2006 491 (LV) ± 4.5%41%14%6%20%20%SurveyUSA/KTHV April 8–10, 2006 446 (LV) ± 4.7%33%14%7%15%31% Runoff Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error BillHalter TimWooldridge Other/UndecidedSurveyUSA/KTHV June 9–11, 2006 455 (LV) ± 4.7%60%35%6%SurveyUSA/KTHV June 3–5, 2006 436 (LV) ± 4.8%59%34%7% Results
General election Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error JimHolt (R) BillHalter (D) Other/UndecidedSurveyUSA/KTHV November 3–5, 2006 549 (LV) ± 4.3%42%50%7%SurveyUSA/KTHV October 22–24, 2006 572 (LV) ± 4.2%39%54%7%SurveyUSA/KTHV September 25–26, 2006 493 (LV) ± 4.5%42%48%10%SurveyUSA/KTHV August 27–29, 2006 538 (LV) ± 4.3%41%50%8%SurveyUSA/KTHV July 14–16, 2006 509 (LV) ± 4.4%39%48%12% Results
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