2006 Iowa gubernatorial election

{{Infobox election

| election_name = 2006 Iowa gubernatorial election

| country = Iowa

| flag_image = Flag of Iowa (xrmap collection).svg

| type = presidential

| ongoing = no

| previous_election = 2002 Iowa gubernatorial election

| previous_year = 2002

| next_election = 2010 Iowa gubernatorial election

| next_year = 2010

| election_date = November 7, 2006

| image_size = x150px

| image1 = File:Gov Chet Culver.jpg

| nominee1 = Chet Culver

|running_mate1 = Patty Judge

| party1 = Democratic Party (United States)

| popular_vote1 = 569,021

| percentage1 = 54.02%

| image2 = File:Jim Nussle small (cropped).jpg

| nominee2 = Jim Nussle

|running_mate2 = Bob Vander Plaats

| party2 = Republican Party (United States)

| popular_vote2 = 467,425

| percentage2 = 44.38%

| map_image = {{switcher |240px |County results |240px |Congressional district results}}

| map_caption = Culver: {{legend0|#a5b0ff|40–50%}} {{legend0|#7996e2|50–60%}} {{legend0|#6674de|60–70%}}
Nussle: {{legend0|#ffb2b2|40–50%}} {{legend0|#e27f7f|50–60%}} {{legend0|#d75d5d|60–70%}} {{legend0|#d72f30|70–80%}} {{legend0|#c21b18|80–90%}}

| title = Governor

| before_election = Tom Vilsack

| before_party = Democratic Party (United States)

| after_election = Chet Culver

| after_party = Democratic Party (United States)

}}

The 2006 Iowa gubernatorial election took place on November 7, 2006. The incumbent governor, Tom Vilsack, a Democrat, had served two terms and decided not to seek a third term. In the election, Chet Culver defeated Jim Nussle to win the governorship, by a margin of 54% to 44%.{{cite news |last=Beaumont |first=Thomas |title=Culver sails into victory |publisher=Des Moines Register |date=November 8, 2006 |url=http://www.dmregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061108/NEWS09/311080011|access-date=2006-11-09}}

{{As of|2022}}, this was the last time a Democrat won the governorship of Iowa. This election marks the first time Democrats won three consecutive gubernatorial elections in the state since 1966, and the only time Democrats have ever done so for four-year terms.

Democratic primary

=Candidates=

== Won primary ==

Chet Culver, Iowa Secretary of State (1999–present), son of former United States Senator John Culver
Running mate: Patty Judge, Secretary of Agriculture of Iowa (1999–present) and former State Senator

== Defeated in primary ==

Mike Blouin, former director of the Iowa Department of Economic Development (2003–2005), former U.S. Representative for IA-02 (1975–1979), and 1st director of the Information Security Oversight Office (1979–1980)
Running mate: Andrea McGuire, physician
Ed Fallon, Iowa State Representative (1993–present)
Sal Mohamed, engineer{{Cite web |last=Rondeau |first=Sharon |date=2011-11-24 |title=Who Disqualified 2008 Presidential Candidate Sal Mohamed, and Why? |url=https://www.thepostemail.com/2011/11/24/who-disqualified-2008-presidential-candidate-sal-mohamed-and-why/ |access-date=2023-03-15 |website=The Post & Email |language=en-US}} and 2004 Democratic candidate for Congress

== Declined to run ==

Sally Pederson, Lieutenant Governor of Iowa (1999–present){{Cite web |last=Dorman |first=Todd |date=2004-11-24 |title=Sally Pederson won't run for governor |url=https://wcfcourier.com/news/politics/sally-pederson-wont-run-for-governor/article_0b7e2953-0935-5c51-9393-1891a8e4c42d.html |access-date=2023-03-15 |website=Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier |language=en}}

=Results=

[[File:2006 Iowa gubernatorial Democratic primary county map.svg|thumb|240px|Primary results by county:

{{collapsible list

| title = Culver

|{{legend|#011966|Culver—71-80%}}

|{{legend|#0030c0|Culver—61-70%}}

|{{legend|#154bef|Culver—51-60%}}

|{{legend|#4872f1|Culver—41-50%}}

|{{legend|#00ffff|Culver—31-40%}}

}}

{{collapsible list

| title = Blouin

|{{legend|#006400|Blouin—51-60%}}

|{{legend|#59d622|Blouin—41-50%}}

|{{legend|#90ee90|Blouin—31-40%}}

}}

{{collapsible list

| title = Fallon

|{{legend|#ddde1f|Fallon—61-70%}}

|{{legend|#ffff00|Fallon—51-60%}}

|{{legend|#f2f26c|Fallon—41-50%}}

}}

]]

{{Election box begin no change

| title = Democratic primary results{{cite web |title=2006 Primary Election Official Results |url=http://www.sos.state.ia.us/pdfs/elections/2006/primary/2006PrimaryElectionOfficialResults.pdf |website=sos.state.ia.us |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061215052308/http://www.sos.state.ia.us/pdfs/elections/2006/primary/2006PrimaryElectionOfficialResults.pdf |archive-date=15 December 2006 |date=6 June 2006 |url-status=dead}}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| candidate = Chet Culver