The 2006 Maine gubernatorial election took place on November 7, 2006, to elect the governor of Maine. Incumbent Democratic Governor John Baldacci won a second term, defeating Republican nominee Chandler Woodcock.

In the general election, Baldacci, Woodcock, Green Independent Party candidate Pat LaMarche, and independents Barbara Merrill and Phillip Morris Napier appeared on the ballot.

Democratic primary

Candidates John Baldacci, incumbent Governor of Maine Christopher Miller, internet service provider

Results

Republican primary

Candidates Dave Emery, former U.S. Representative Peter Mills, State Senator Chandler Woodcock, State Senator

Results

Green Independent Party Pat LaMarche, businesswoman, nominee for Governor in 1998 and nominee for Vice President of the United States in 2004

Independents Qualified for ballot Barbara Merrill, State Representative Phillip Morris Napier, 2002 candidate for Governor

Withdrawn David Jones, real estate executive John Michael, former State Representative, 2002 candidate for Governor

General election

Predictions Source Ranking As of The Cook Political Report November 6, 2006 Sabato's Crystal Ball November 6, 2006 Rothenberg Political Report November 2, 2006 Real Clear Politics November 6, 2006

Polling Source Date JohnBaldacci (D) ChandlerWoodcock (R) PatLaMarche (G) BarbraMerrill (I) NaPier (I)WCSH/Voice of the VoterWSCH/Voice of the Voter November 5, 200636% 30% 11% 22% 1%Sun JournalSun Journal October 200642% 25% 11% 11% –Survey USASurvey USA October 23, 200642% 34% 9% 12%RasmussenRasmussen October 19, 200646% 38%RasmussenRasmussen September 22, 200644% 39%WCSH/Voice of the VoterWCSH/Voice of the Voter September 14, 200642% 41%RasmussenRasmussen August 22, 200643% 42%RasmussenRasmussen August 2, 200643% 37%Strategic Marketing Services August 1, 200642% 24%Survey USASurvey USA July 11, 2006 41%43%RasmussenRasmussen June 22, 200645% 43%RasmussenRasmussen May 7, 200646% 33%RasmussenRasmussen April 7, 200643% 36%RasmussenRasmussen March 6, 200640% 35%RasmussenRasmussen February 6, 2006 30%36%

Results

Results by county County John BaldacciDemocratic Chandler WoodockRepublican Barbara MerrillIndependent Patricia LaMarcheGreen Others Margin Total votes cast # % # % # % # % # % # % # Androscoggin 13,631 33.3% 13,362 32.7% 9,805 24.0% 3,914 9.6% 204 0.5% 269 0.6% 40,916 Aroostook 12,752 48.4% 7,188 27.3% 3,803 14.4% 2,404 9.1% 184 0.7% 5,564 21.1% 26,331 Cumberland 48,449 39.8% 31,835 26.2% 27,613 22.7% 13,082 10.8% 668 0.5% 16,614 13.6% 121,647 Franklin 4,613 32.0% 5,920 41.1% 2,521 17.5% 1,270 8.8% 97 0.7% -1,307 -9.1% 14,421 Hancock 10,138 40.3% 7,231 28.7% 5,319 21.1% 2,307 9.2% 160 0.6% 2,907 11.6% 25,155 Kennebec 18,765 36.5% 16,178 31.5% 10,748 20.9% 5,482 10.7% 251 0.5% 2,587 5.0% 51,424 Knox 6,506 35.1% 5,019 27.1% 5,056 27.3% 1,808 9.8% 140 0.8% 1,450 7.8% 18,259 Lincoln 5,825 33.0% 5,494 31.2% 4,537 25.7% 1,679 9.5% 96 0.5% 1,450 1.8% 18,259 Oxford 8,281 34.0% 7,771 31.9% 6,122 25.2% 2,036 8.4% 127 0.5% 510 2.1% 24,337 Penobscot 24,015 40.9% 19,100 32.5% 10,643 18.1% 4,677 8.0% 320 0.5% 4,915 8.4% 58,755 Piscataquis 2,591 34.5% 2,829 37.7% 1,476 19.7% 559 7.5% 47 0.6% -238 -3.2% 7,502 Sagadahoc 5,962 35.1% 4,829 28.5% 4,316 25.4% 1,775 10.5% 86 0.5% 1,133 6.6% 16,968 Somerset 6,500 32.3% 7,393 36.7% 4,025 20.0% 2,084 10.3% 139 0.7% -893 -4.4% 20,141 Waldo 5,678 33.5% 5,329 31.5% 4,143 24.5% 1,680 9.9% 108 0.6% 349 2.0% 16,938 Washington 3,897 29.3% 5,057 38.1% 3,002 22.6% 1,204 9.1% 119 0.9% -1,160 -8.8% 13,279 York 32,324 42.0% 21,890 28.5% 15,591 20.3% 6,729 8.8% 362 0.5% 10,434 3.5% 76,896Totals209,92738.1%166,42530.2%118,71521.6%52,6909.6%3,1080.6%43,5027.9%550,865 Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic Cumberland (largest municipality: Portland) Knox (largest municipality: Rockland) Lincoln (Largest city: Waldoboro) Sagadahoc (largest town:Bath) York (largest town:Biddeford)

Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican Franklin (largest town: Farmington) Piscataquis (largest municipality: Dover-Foxcroft) Somerset (largest town: Skowhegan) Washington (largest city: Calais)

Analysis Despite the divided field, Baldacci still finished nearly eight points ahead of his nearest challenger, Woodcock. Merrill took an impressive 21% of the vote, and carried the municipalities of Glenwood Plantation, Hope, Milton, Seboeis Plantation, Stow, The Forks, and Union. Additionally, the municipalities of Carroll Plantation, Dennysville, Wade, and Westmanland finished as exact ties between Baldacci and Woodcock, while the municipality of Highland Plantation finished as an exact tie between Baldacci and LaMarche, the municipality of Webster Plantation finished as an exact tie between Baldacci and Merrill, and the municipality of Nashville Plantation finished as an exact tie between Woodcock and Merrill.

Despite LaMarche getting nearly 10% of the vote and slightly improving on Jonathan Carter's vote percentage and vote total four years earlier, both of which were all-time highs for the Maine Green Independent Party, the 2006 election remains the most recent time the Greens ran a candidate for governor.

See also 2006 United States gubernatorial elections 2006 United States Senate election in Maine

Notes

References

External links Official campaign websites (Archived) John Baldacci for Governor Chandler Woodcock for Governor Bruce Fleming for Governor Alex Hammer for Governor Barbara Merrill for Governor David Jones for Governor