2006 United States Senate election in Wyoming
{{Short description|none}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2017}}
{{Infobox election
| election_name = 2006 United States Senate election in Wyoming
| country = Wyoming
| type = presidential
| ongoing = no
| previous_election = 2000 United States Senate election in Wyoming
| previous_year = 2000
| next_election = 2008 United States Senate special election in Wyoming
| next_year = 2008 (special)
| election_date = November 7, 2006
| image1 = File:Thomascraigportrait.jpg
| image_size = 150x150px
| nominee1 = Craig L. Thomas
| party1 = Republican Party (United States)
| popular_vote1 = 135,174
| percentage1 = 69.99%
| image2 = No image.svg
| nominee2 = Dale Groutage
| party2 = Democratic Party (United States)
| popular_vote2 = 57,761
| percentage2 = 29.86%
| map_image = {{switcher |250px |County results |250px |Precinct results |default=1 }}
| map_size = 250px
| map_caption =Thomas: {{legend0|#e27f7f|50–60%}} {{legend0|#d75d5d|60–70%}} {{legend0|#d72f30|70–80%}} {{legend0|#c21b18|80–90%}} {{legend0|#A80000|>90%}}
Groutage: {{legend0|#7996e2|50–60%}} {{legend0|#6674de|60–70%}}
Tie: {{legend0|#AE8BB1|50%}} {{legend0|#808080|No votes}}
| title = U.S. Senator
| before_election = Craig L. Thomas
| before_party = Republican Party (United States)
| after_election = Craig L. Thomas
| after_party = Republican Party (United States)
}}
{{ElectionsWY}}
The 2006 United States Senate election in Wyoming was held November 7, 2006. The primaries were on August 22, 2006, in which both incumbent Republican Craig Thomas and his Democratic challenger were unopposed. Thomas won re-election to a third term, but died of leukemia on June 4, 2007; fellow Republican John Barrasso was subsequently appointed and has held the seat since.
Democratic primary
= Candidates =
- Dale Groutage, engineer
= Results =
{{Election box begin no change
| title = Democratic primary results{{cite web|url=http://soswy.state.wy.us/Elections/Docs/2006/06Results/D_Statewide_Candidate_Summary.pdf |title=Results |publisher=soswy.state.wy.us |date= |accessdate=2021-05-08}}
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Dale Groutage
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| votes = 24,924
| percentage = 100.00
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 24,924
| percentage = 100.00
}}
{{Election box end}}
Republican primary
= Candidates =
- Craig Thomas, incumbent U.S. Senator
= Results =
{{Election box begin no change
| title = Republican primary results{{cite web|url=http://soswy.state.wy.us/Elections/Docs/2006/06Results/R_Statewide_Candidate_Summary.pdf |title=Results |publisher=soswy.state.wy.us |date= |accessdate=2021-05-08}}
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Craig Thomas (incumbent)
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 78,211
| percentage = 100.00
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 78,211
| percentage = 100.00
}}
{{Election box end}}
General election
= Candidates =
- Dale Groutage (D), engineer
- Craig Thomas (R), incumbent U.S. Senator
= Campaign =
Thomas was a very popular two term incumbent, having a 68% approval rating.{{cite web |url=http://legacy.rasmussenreports.com/MembersOnly/2006%20State%20Polls/July%202006/WY_070606%20Toplines.htm |title=Archived copy |access-date=June 13, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303182825/http://legacy.rasmussenreports.com/MembersOnly/2006%20State%20Polls/July%202006/WY_070606%20Toplines.htm |archive-date=March 3, 2016 |url-status=dead }} Despite doing very well in the polls, Thomas agreed to a debate. An October debate was sponsored by the Casper Star-Tribune and KCWY in Casper. Thomas said the nation has made progress in its energy policy, while Groutage said the nation's energy policy has failed because Congress has done more for special interests than the people.[https://archive.today/20130210000800/http://www.wyomingnews.com/articles/2006/10/16/election_2006/races/united_states/house_of_representatives/ushouse273.txt Candidates face off for first time – Wyoming Tribune Eagle Online]
= Debates =
- [https://www.c-span.org/video/?195032-1/wyoming-senate-debate Complete video of debate], October 22, 2006
= Predictions =
= Polling =
| class="wikitable" |
| style="background:lightgrey;"
! Source ! Date ! Thomas (R) ! Groutage (D) |
| Rasmussen[https://web.archive.org/web/20060518051932/http://www.rasmussenreports.com/2006/State%20Polls/April%202006/Wyoming%20April.htm Rasmussen]
| May 8, 2006 | {{Party shading/Republican}} | 64% | 25% |
| Rasmussen[https://web.archive.org/web/20060827193255/http://www.rasmussenreports.com/2006/State%20Polls/July%202006/wyGovSenate.htm Rasmussen]
| July 20, 2006 | {{Party shading/Republican}} | 59% | 32% |
| Mason-Dixon[http://www.billingsgazette.net/articles/2006/10/16/news/wyoming/45-poll.txt Mason-Dixon]
| October 16, 2006 | {{Party shading/Republican}} | 67% | 26% |
| Aspen Media & Market Research[http://trib.com/news/state-and-regional/article_d723cfe2-f4ac-5a92-a8f5-0c1e0c8d582d.html Aspen Media & Market Research]
| October 18, 2006 | {{Party shading/Republican}} | 70% | 22% |
= Results =
{{Election box begin
| title = General election results{{cite web|url=http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/2006/2006Stat.htm |title=Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives |publisher=Clerk.house.gov |date= |accessdate=2021-05-08}}}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| candidate = Craig L. Thomas (incumbent)
| votes = 135,174
| percentage = 69.99%
| change = -3.78%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| candidate = Dale Groutage
| votes = 57,671
| percentage = 29.86%
| change = +7.82%
}}
{{Election box candidate
| party =
| candidate = Write-ins
| votes = 291
| percentage = 0.15%
| change =
}}
{{Election box majority
| votes = 77,503
| percentage = 40.13%
| change = -11.61%
}}
{{Election box turnout
| votes = 193,136
| percentage =
| change =
}}
{{Election box hold with party link
|winner = Republican Party (United States)
|loser =
|swing =
}}
{{Election box end}}
Thomas won at least 56% of the vote in every county in Wyoming.