2006 Maryland gubernatorial election

The Maryland gubernatorial election of 2006 was held on November 7, 2006. Incumbent Republican Governor Bob Ehrlich ran for a second term, but was defeated by the Democratic nominee, Baltimore Mayor Martin O'Malley. Ehrlich was the only incumbent governor from either party to lose a general election in the 2006 midterms. This is the most recent Maryland statewide election in which Baltimore County voted for a losing candidate.

2006 Maryland gubernatorial election
November 7, 2006
 
Nominee Martin O'Malley Bob Ehrlich
Party Democratic Republican
Running mate Anthony G. Brown Kristen Cox
Popular vote 942,279 825,464
Percentage 52.7% 46.2%
County results
O'Malley:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%
Ehrlich:      50–60%      60–70%
Governor before election

Bob Ehrlich
Republican

 Elected Governor

Martin O'Malley
Democratic

Elections in Maryland
Government

Democratic primary

Candidates

Campaign

Baltimore Mayor Martin O'Malley and Montgomery County Executive Doug Duncan emerged as the two Democratic candidates for governor in late 2005. Early polling indicated that O'Malley would have the advantage in both the Democratic primary and the general election, with a solid lead over Duncan in the primary and a several point lead over Ehrlich in the general.[1]

As the gubernatorial campaign intensified, Duncan withdrew from the race, citing his diagnosis with clinical depression. In the same announcement, he threw his support behind O’Malley and declined to seek another office in the fall.[2] No other Democratic candidate had announced, so O'Malley was unopposed in the primary election.

O'Malley selected Anthony G. Brown, a black State Delegate from Prince George's County and a veteran of the Iraq War, as his running mate.

Results
Democratic primary results[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Martin O'Malley 524,671 100.00%
Total votes 524,671 100.00%

Republican primary

Candidates

Campaign

Ehrlich sought a second term as governor and did not face opposition at any point in the Republican primary. Incumbent Lieutenant Governor Michael Steele ran for the U.S. Senate instead of seeking a second term as lieutenant governor, so Ehrlich named Maryland Secretary of Disabilities Kristen Cox, who is blind, as his running mate.[4]

Results
Republican primary results[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Bob Ehrlich (incumbent) 213,744 100.00%
Total votes 213,744 100.00%

General election

Candidates

Campaign

Elected to his first term in 2002, incumbent Republican Governor Bob Ehrlich ran for a second term as governor, opposed by the Democratic nominee, Martin O'Malley, the Mayor of Baltimore. Both candidates emerged from uncontested primary elections and a contentious election season began.

Early in the campaign, Ehrlich boasted decent approval ratings from Maryland citizens, with a Gonzalez Research poll taken during October 2005 showing him with a 49% approval rating.[1] and a Baltimore Sun poll from November 2005 giving the Governor a 50% approval and a 33% disapproval.[5] However, the unpopularity of the national Republican Party and President George W. Bush dragged Ehrlich's re-election chances down.

Ehrlich launched attack ads that hit O'Malley on crime in Baltimore under his tenure as Mayor, calling the murder rate in Baltimore "awful" and "an embarrassment to the state of Maryland."[6] O'Malley countered with one television ad that featured testimonials from local community leaders, Howard County Executive James N. Robey, Baltimore County Executive James T. Smith, Jr.[7] and another ad that attacked Ehrlich for breaking his promise to end parole for violent criminals.[8]

The Washington Post and The Washington Times both endorsed Ehrlich in his bid for re-election, with the Times praising Ehrlich's "brand of moderate conservatism that offers a refreshing contrast" to the state's historically Democratic leanings[9] and the Post called him "a generally proficient, pragmatic governor" and praised him for "successes on transportation, the environment and education."[10]

In turn, the Baltimore Sun endorsed O'Malley, saying, "the progress under the mayor's tenure is clear and irrefutable", and that he addressed "rising crime, failing schools and shrinking economic prospects."[11] O'Malley also called upon the praise given to him by TIME Magazine when they named him one of the country's "Top 5 Big City Mayors."[12]

Polling
Source Date Martin
O'Malley (D)		 Bob
Ehrlich (R)
SurveyUSA November 5, 2006 50% 47%
Baltimore Sun/Potomac Inc. November 1, 2006 47% 46%
Wall Street Journal/Zogby October 31, 2006 49.3% 43.9%
Public Opinion Strategies October 31, 2006 46% 45%
Rasmussen October 30, 2006 50% 47%
Washington Post October 29, 2006 55% 45%
Rasmussen October 17, 2006 53% 45%
USA TODAY/Gallup October 6, 2006 53% 41%
Baltimore Sun/Potomac Inc. September 24, 2006 50% 44%
Survey USA September 20, 2006 51% 44%
Rasmussen September 20, 2006 49% 42%
Wall Street Journal/Zogby September 11, 2006 52.5% 39.6%
Wall Street Journal/Zogby August 28, 2006 52.0% 42.2%
Rasmussen August 18, 2006 50% 43%
August 14, 2006 41% 41%
Wall Street Journal/Zogby July 24, 2006 51.3% 42.2%
Rasmussen July 17, 2006 49% 42%
Baltimore Sun/Potomac Inc. July 16, 2006 46% 38%
The Washington Post June 25, 2006 51% 40%
Wall Street Journal/Zogby June 21, 2006 53.1% 39.2%
Opinion Works April 27, 2006 46% 37%
Rasmussen April 21, 2006 51% 42%
Gonzales Research April 18, 2006 46% 41%
Rasmussen January 13, 2006 42% 47%
Wall Street Journal/Zogby January 13, 2006 53% 40%
Rasmussen November 22, 2005 46% 40%
Baltimore Sun November 6, 2005 48% 33%
Baltimore Sun October 25, 2005 48% 42%
Rasmussen July 18, 2005 41% 46%
Baltimore Sun April 17, 2005 45% 39%
Baltimore Sun January 2005 40% 40%

Results
Maryland gubernatorial election, 2006[13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Democratic Martin O'Malley 942,279 52.69% +5.02%
Republican Bob Ehrlich (incumbent) 825,464 46.16% -5.39%
Green Ed Boyd 15,551 0.87% N/A
Populist Christopher Driscoll 3,481 0.19% N/A
Write-in 1,541 0.09% N/A
Total votes 1,788,316 100.00% N/A
Democratic gain from Republican
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References
  1. http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2005/oct/24/20051024-103424-5071r/
  2. http://www.wbaltv.com/r/9410402/detail.html%5B%5D
  3. http://www.elections.state.md.us/elections/2006/results/primary/office_Governor__Lt_Governor.html
  4. http://www.parc.umd.edu/2006Analyses/EhrlichAnalysisKristenCox.htm%5B%5D
  5. http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bal-te.poll06,1,526266.story?coll=bal-home-headlines
  6. https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/09/29/AR2006092901818.html
  7. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1mb2FBF7Pwo
  8. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5DTH_Saas1I
  9. http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2006/sep/6/20060906-100015-2449r/
  10. https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/24/AR2006102401145.html
  11. O'Malley for governor
  12. http://www.time.com/time/archive/preview/0,10987,1050272,00.html
  13. http://www.elections.state.md.us/elections/2006/results/general/office_Governor__Lt_Governor.html
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