November 7, 2006 2010 → 52.67% 44.11% | 237,437 198,845 | |
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The Idaho gubernatorial election of 2006 was held on November 7, 2006. Incumbent Governor Jim Risch succeeded Dirk Kempthorne, who resigned May 26 to become Secretary of the Interior. Risch served as Governor until the end of the term, but had committed to a reelection campaign for Lieutenant Governor before Kempthorne's appointment and subsequent resignation.
Contents
Candidates
Candidates
Nominated candidates
Controversy
Marvin Pro-Life Richardson (that was his legal middle name) filed suit to force the state to print his full legal name on the ballots, just as he filed his paperwork. The Secretary of State denied this, stating that ballots themselves are supposed to be neutral, not political billboards. Richardson claimed that it is simply his name. In September 2006 he changed his legal name to simply "Pro-Life" in an attempt to force the issue. However, the ballots went to the printer with "Marvin Richardson" as the Constitution Party candidate. The party later disavowed his candidacy resulting in a candidate without a name, and without a party, yet on the ballot.
Election results
Although Otter won by 8.56% the election was surprisingly close. Brady performed much better than expected, reviving 44.11% of the vote.