2006 Minnesota Secretary of State election
{{short description|none}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox election
| election_name = 2006 Minnesota Secretary of State election
| country = Minnesota
| flag_year = 1983
| type = Presidential
| ongoing = no
| previous_election = 2002 Minnesota Secretary of State election
| previous_year = 2002
| next_election = 2010 Minnesota Secretary of State election
| next_year = 2010
| election_date = 7 November 2006
| image1 = File:Mark Richie Minnesota Secretary of State (cropped).jpg
| image_size = 150x150px
| nominee1 = Mark Ritchie
| party1 = Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party
| popular_vote1 = 1,049,432
| percentage1 = 49.09%
| image2 = File:Minnesota State Senator Mary Kiffmeyer.jpg
| nominee2 = Mary Kiffmeyer
| party2 = Republican Party (United States)
| popular_vote2 = 943,989
| percentage2 = 44.16%
| map_image = File:2006 Minnesota Secretary of State election results map by county.svg
| map_size = 280px
| map_caption = County results
Ritchie: {{legend0|#A5B0FF|40–50%}} {{legend0|#7996e2|50–60%}} {{legend0|#6674de|60–70%}}
Kiffmeyer: {{legend0|#FFB2B2|40–50%}} {{legend0|#E27F7F|50–60%}}
| title = Secretary of State
| before_election = Mary Kiffmeyer
| before_party = Republican Party (United States)
| after_election = Mark Ritchie
| after_party = Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party
}}
{{ElectionsMN}}
The 2006 Minnesota Secretary of State election was held on 7 November 2006 in order to elect the Secretary of State of Minnesota. Democratic–Farmer–Labor nominee Mark Ritchie defeated Republican nominee and incumbent Secretary of State Mary Kiffmeyer, For Independent Voters nominee Bruce D. Kennedy and Independence nominee Joel Spoonheim.{{cite web |url=https://mn.electionarchives.lib.umn.edu/election/2320061099922600/ |title=Secretary of State, 2006 Election |publisher=electionarchives.lib.umn.edu |date= |access-date=28 September 2024}}
Primary elections
On 12 September 2006, Mark Ritchie faced only token opposition in his party's primary from perennial candidate Dick Franson, and easily won his party's nomination. Every other candidate was their respective party's sole nominee and so won their primaries uncontested that same day.{{cite web |url=https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=48201 |title=MN Secretary of State - DFL Primary |publisher=ourcampaigns.com |date=25 October 2016 |access-date=28 September 2024}}
General election
On election day, 7 November 2006, Democratic–Farmer–Labor nominee Mark Ritchie won the election by a margin of 105,443 votes against his foremost opponent Republican nominee Mary Kiffmeyer, thereby gaining Democratic–Farmer–Labor control over the office of Secretary of State. Ritchie was sworn in as the 21st Minnesota Secretary of State on 2 January 2007.{{cite web |url=https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=48200 |title=MN Secretary of State |publisher=ourcampaigns.com |date=29 February 2008 |access-date=28 September 2024}}
= Results =
{{Election box begin no change | title=Minnesota Secretary of State election, 2006|
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|
|party = Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party
|candidate = Mark Ritchie
|votes = 1,049,432
|percentage = 49.09
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change|
|party = Republican Party (United States)
|candidate = Mary Kiffmeyer (incumbent)
|votes = 943,989
|percentage = 44.16
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change|
|party = For Independent Voters
|candidate = Bruce D. Kennedy
|votes = 78,522
|percentage = 3.67
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change|
|party = Independence Party of Minnesota
|candidate = Joel Spoonheim
|votes = 64,489
|percentage = 3.02
}}
{{Election box write-in with party link no change|
|party =
|candidate =
|votes = 1,211
|percentage = 0.06
}}
{{Election box total no change|
|votes = 2,137,643
|percentage = 100.00
}}
{{Election box gain with party link no change|
|winner= Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party
|loser = Republican Party (United States)
}}
{{Election box end}}