The 2006 United States Senate election in Michigan was held November 7, 2006. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow won re-election to a second term.

General election Candidates Mike Bouchard, Oakland County Sheriff (Republican) Dennis FitzSimons, retiree (U.S. Taxpayers) Leonard Schwartz, attorney and economist (Libertarian) David Sole, President of UAW Local 2334 (Green) Debbie Stabenow, incumbent U.S. Senator (Democratic)

Campaign Economic issues took front and center in the campaign, as Michigan's unemployment rate was one of the highest in the nation. In July 2006, unemployment in Michigan stood at approximately 7%, compared with a 4.7% rate nationwide. Pessimism about the state's economic future had left Michigan ranked 49th nationally between 2000 and 2005 in retaining young adults. Since its peak, Detroit had lost over a million people. Bouchard claimed that the incumbent had accomplished nothing, dubbing her "Do-Nothing Debbie."Mich. Voters Focus on Economy - washingtonpost.com President George W. Bush came to Michigan and raised $1 million for Bouchard.

Debates Complete video of debate, October 15, 2006 Complete video of debate, October 18, 2006

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

Polling Source Date DebbieStabenow (D) MikeBouchard (R)Strategic Vision (R)Strategic Vision (R) November 21, 2005 45% 31%EPIC/MRA November 28, 2005 56% 36%RasmussenRasmussen December 3, 2005 49% 33%Strategic Vision (R)Strategic Vision (R) December 22, 2005 47% 35%RasmussenRasmussen January 20, 2006 56% 31%Strategic Vision (R)Strategic Vision (R) February 3, 2006 49% 36%RasmussenRasmussen February 15, 2006 54% 33%Strategic Vision (R)Strategic Vision (R) March 15, 2006 48% 37%WSJ/ZogbyWSJ/Zogby March 31, 2006 52% 38%RasmussenRasmussen April 6, 2006 51% 37%Strategic Vision (R)Strategic Vision (R) April 21, 2006 48% 38%RasmussenRasmussen May 5, 2006 54% 34%Mitchell ResearchMitchell Research May 1–9, 2006 50% 37%Strategic Vision (R)Strategic Vision (R) May 24, 2006 48% 36%Strategic Vision (R)Strategic Vision (R) June 21, 2006 50% 37%WSJ/ZogbyWSJ/Zogby June 21, 2006 49% 41%Free Press-Local 4Free Press-Local 4 July 16, 2006 49% 29%WSJ/ZogbyWSJ/Zogby July 24, 2006 48% 42%Strategic Vision (R)Strategic Vision (R) July 27, 2006 52% 36%RasmussenRasmussen August 16, 2006 49% 44%EPIC/MRAEPIC/MRA August 16, 2006 54% 42%WSJ/Zogby WSJ/Zogby August 28, 2006 49% 45%Strategic Vision (R)Strategic Vision (R) August 29, 2006 49% 42%Free Press-Local 4Free Press-Local 4 August 28–30, 2006 50% 37%RasmussenRasmussen August 31, 2006 51% 43%WSJ/ZogbyWSJ/Zogby September 11, 2006 50% 44%EPIC-MRAEPIC-MRA September 14, 2006 54% 34%Strategic Vision (R)Strategic Vision (R) September 20, 2006 51% 44%WSJ/ZogbyWSJ/Zogby September 28, 2006 49% 42%EPIC-MRAEPIC-MRA October 5, 2006 48% 35%SurveyUSASurveyUSA October 9, 2006 53% 42%RasmussenRasmussen October 9, 2006 56% 39%Free Press-Local 4Free Press-Local 4 October 15, 2006 48% 35%WSJ/ZogbyWSJ/Zogby October 19, 2006 48% 44%Strategic Vision (R)Strategic Vision (R) October 24, 2006 48% 42%Lake Research (D)Lake Research (D) October 24, 2006 53% 35%RasmussenRasmussen October 25, 2006 55% 39%Research 2000Research 2000 October 25, 2006 51% 44%WSJ/ZogbyWSJ/Zogby October 31, 2006 49% 43%Strategic Vision (R)Strategic Vision (R) November 2, 2006 49% 42%Free Press-Local 4Free Press-Local 4 November 5, 2006 53% 34%Mason-Dixon/MSNBCMason-Dixon/MSNBC November 5, 2006 53% 37%Strategic Vision (R)Strategic Vision (R) November 6, 2006 50% 44%

Results From a long way out Stabenow looked like she might be vulnerable. President Bush even came to Michigan to campaign for Bouchard, raising over $1,000,000 for him. However Bouchard never won a single poll. By October the Republican Party, started taking resources out of Michigan to focus on closer races, essentially ceding the race to Stabenow. Stabenow would go on to win the election easily, capturing nearly 57% of the vote. Stabenow did well throughout Michigan, but performed better in heavily populated cities like Detroit, Lansing, Ann Arbor, and Kalamazoo. Bouchard did win Grand Rapids, a typical Republican area. He also won in many rural areas around the state. However Bouchard failed to put a dent in Stabenow's lead, largely due to her strong performance in heavily populated areas. Bouchard conceded to Stabenow at 9:58 P.M. EST. The following results are official.

Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic Alger (largest city: Munising) Alpena (largest city: Alpena) Arenac (largest city: Standish) Benzie (largest city: Frankfort) Clare (largest city: Clare) Delta (largest city: Escanaba) Gladwin (largest city: Gladwin) Gratiot (largest city: Alma) Iosco (largest city: East Tawas) Jackson (largest city: Jackson) Leelanau (largest settlement: Greilickville) Lenawee (largest city: Adrian) Mason (largest city: Ludington) Menominee (largest city: Menominee) Ogemaw (largest city: West Branch) Ontonagon (largest village: Ontonagon) Presque Isle (largest city: Rogers City) Roscommon (largest settlement: Houghton Lake) Schoolcraft (largest city: Manistique) St. Clair (largest city: Port Huron) Calhoun (largest city: Battle Creek) Lake (largest village: Baldwin) Manistee (largest city: Manistee) Monroe (largest city: Monroe) Saginaw (largest city: Saginaw) Shiawassee (largest city: Owosso) Van Buren (largest city: South Haven) Keweenaw (Largest city: Ahmeek) Houghton (Largest city: Houghton) Mackinac (Largest city: St. Ignace) Dickinson (Largest city: Iron Mountain) Baraga (Largest city: Baraga) Luce (Largest city: Newberry) Chippewa (Largest city: Sault Ste. Marie) Montmorency (Largest city: Lewiston) Cheboygan (Largest city: Cheboygan) Crawford (Largest city: Grayling) Oscoda (Largest city: Mio) Alcona (Largest city: Harrisville) Wexford (Largest city: Cadillac) Huron (Largest city: Bad Axe) Sanilac (Largest city: Sandusky) Tuscola (Largest city: Caro) Lapeer (Largest city: Lapeer) Ionia (largest city: Ionia) Montcalm (Largest city: Greenville) Midland (Largest city: Midland) Cass (Largest city: Dowagiac) Branch (Largest city: Coldwater) Charlevoix (Largest city: Boyne City) Oceana (Largest city: Hart) Eaton (largest city: Charlotte) Leelanau (largest municipality: Greilickville) Isabella (largest city: Mount Pleasant) Clinton (largest city: St. Johns) Kalamazoo (largest city: kalamazoo) Oakland (largest city: Troy)

See also 2006 United States Senate elections

References

External links Stabenow for Senate Bouchard for Senate Schwartz for Senate Sole for Senate FitzSimons for Senate