2006 United States Senate election in Michigan

The 2006 United States Senate election in Michigan was held November 7, 2006. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow won re-election to a second term.

2006 United States Senate election in Michigan
November 7, 2006
 
Nominee Debbie Stabenow Mike Bouchard
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 2,151,278 1,559,597
Percentage 56.9% 41.3%
County results
Stabenow:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%
Bouchard:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%
U.S. senator before election

Debbie Stabenow
Democratic

 Elected U.S. Senator

Debbie Stabenow
Democratic

Elections in Michigan

Candidates

Democratic

Republican

Libertarian
  • Leonard Schwartz, attorney and economist

Green
  • David Sole, President of UAW Local 2334

U.S. Taxpayers
  • Dennis FitzSimons, retiree

Campaign

Economic issues took front and center in the campaign, as Michigan's unemployment rate was one of the highest in the nation. In July 2006, unemployment in Michigan stood at approximately 7%, compared with a 4.7% rate nationwide. Pessimism about the state's economic future had left Michigan ranked 49th nationally between 2000 and 2005 in retaining young adults. Since its peak, Detroit had lost over a million people. Bouchard claimed that the incumbent had accomplished nothing, dubbing her "Do-Nothing Debbie."[1] President George W. Bush came to Michigan and raised $1 million for Bouchard.[2]

Debates

Polling
Source Date Debbie
Stabenow (D)		 Mike
Bouchard (R)
Strategic Vision (R) November 21, 2005 45% 31%
EPIC/MRA November 28, 2005 56% 36%
Rasmussen December 3, 2005 49% 33%
Strategic Vision (R) December 22, 2005 47% 35%
Rasmussen January 20, 2006 56% 31%
Strategic Vision (R) February 3, 2006 49% 36%
Rasmussen February 15, 2006 54% 33%
Strategic Vision (R) March 15, 2006 48% 37%
WSJ/Zogby March 31, 2006 52% 38%
Rasmussen April 6, 2006 51% 37%
Strategic Vision (R) April 21, 2006 48% 38%
Rasmussen May 5, 2006 54% 34%
Mitchell Research May 1–9, 2006 50% 37%
Strategic Vision (R) May 24, 2006 48% 36%
Strategic Vision (R) June 21, 2006 50% 37%
WSJ/Zogby June 21, 2006 49% 41%
Free Press-Local 4 July 16, 2006 49% 29%
WSJ/Zogby July 24, 2006 48% 42%
Strategic Vision (R) July 27, 2006 52% 36%
Rasmussen August 16, 2006 49% 44%
EPIC/MRA August 16, 2006 54% 42%
WSJ/Zogby August 28, 2006 49% 45%
Strategic Vision (R) August 29, 2006 49% 42%
Free Press-Local 4 August 28–30, 2006 50% 37%
Rasmussen August 31, 2006 51% 43%
WSJ/Zogby September 11, 2006 50% 44%
EPIC-MRA September 14, 2006 54% 34%
Strategic Vision (R) September 20, 2006 51% 44%
WSJ/Zogby September 28, 2006 49% 42%
EPIC-MRA October 5, 2006 48% 35%
SurveyUSA October 9, 2006 53% 42%
Rasmussen October 9, 2006 56% 39%
Free Press-Local 4 October 15, 2006 48% 35%
WSJ/Zogby October 19, 2006 48% 44%
Strategic Vision (R) October 24, 2006 48% 42%
Lake Research (D) October 24, 2006 53% 35%
Rasmussen October 25, 2006 55% 39%
Research 2000 October 25, 2006 51% 44%
WSJ/Zogby October 31, 2006 49% 43%
Strategic Vision (R) November 2, 2006 49% 42%
Free Press-Local 4 November 5, 2006 53% 34%
Mason-Dixon/MSNBC November 5, 2006 53% 37%
Strategic Vision (R) November 6, 2006 50% 44%

Results

From a long way out Stabenow looked like she might be vulnerable. President Bush even came to Michigan to campaign for Bouchard, raising over $1,000,000 dollars for him. However Bouchard never won a single poll. By October the Republican Party, started taking resources out of Michigan to focus on closer races, essentially ceding the race to Stabenow. Stabenow would go on to win the election easily, capturing nearly 57% of the vote. Stabenow did well throughout Michigan, but performed better in heavily populated cities like Detroit, Lansing, Ann Arbor, and Kalamazoo. Bouchard did win Grand Rapids, a typical Republican area. He also won in many rural areas around the state. However Bouchard failed to put a dent in Stabenow's lead, largely due to her strong performance in heavily populated areas. Bouchard conceded to Stabenow at 9:58 P.M. EST. The following results are official.[3]

2006 United States Senate election in Michigan
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Democratic Debbie Stabenow (incumbent) 2,151,278 56.9 +7.4
Republican Mike Bouchard 1,559,597 41.3 -6.6
Libertarian Leonard Schwartz 27,012 0.7 0
Green David Sole 23,890 0.6 -0.3
Constitution Dennis FitzSimons 18,341 0.5 +0.2
Majority 591,681 15.6
Turnout 3,780,142
Democratic hold Swing 7%
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References
  1. Mich. Voters Focus on Economy - washingtonpost.com
  2. "Michigan Politics | www.stignacenews.com | St. Ignace News". Archived from the original on December 1, 2017. Retrieved June 26, 2010.
  3. Land, Terri Lynn (May 10, 2007). "Official Michigan General Election Results - United States Senator 6 Year Term (1) Position". Michigan Department of State. Archived from the original on November 18, 2014. Retrieved February 8, 2016.
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