Vermont United States Senate election, 2006
Encyclopedia
The 2006 United States Senate election in Vermont was held on November 7, 2006. Incumbent Republican turned independent U.S. Senator Jim Jeffords
decided to retire. Bernie Sanders
, who has represented Vermont's At Large district as one of the few federally elected independents in the country, won the Democratic primary and then dropped out to run as an independent. Many liberal and Democratic politicians across the country endorsed Sanders, as no Democrat was on the ballot. Sanders won the open seat with 65% of the vote. CNN
called the race in Sanders' favor shortly after 7 p.m. on the day of the election.
and against increased penalties for child pornography. Sanders responded with an ad stating that Tarrant's claims are "dishonest" and "distort my record" and presented what he viewed as more accurate explations of his voting record.
in the House of Representatives, Democratic leadership successfully dissuaded any serious challengers from their party. Sanders was endorsed by prominent Democrats such as DNC
Chairman and former Vermont Governor Howard Dean
, Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid
, and Senator Chuck Schumer of New York, the chairman of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee
. On February 13, 2005 Sanders received an endorsement from Democracy for America
, the political action committee
that was founded by Dean after he withdrew from the 2004 Presidential race.
Sanders won a majority of the votes in every county in the state, with 57% as his lowest county total.
Jim Jeffords
James Merrill "Jim" Jeffords is a former U.S. Senator from Vermont. He served as a Republican until 2001, when he left the party to become an independent. He retired from the Senate in 2006.-Background:...
decided to retire. Bernie Sanders
Bernie Sanders
Bernard "Bernie" Sanders is the junior United States Senator from Vermont. He previously represented Vermont's at-large district in the United States House of Representatives...
, who has represented Vermont's At Large district as one of the few federally elected independents in the country, won the Democratic primary and then dropped out to run as an independent. Many liberal and Democratic politicians across the country endorsed Sanders, as no Democrat was on the ballot. Sanders won the open seat with 65% of the vote. CNN
CNN
Cable News Network is a U.S. cable news channel founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. Upon its launch, CNN was the first channel to provide 24-hour television news coverage, and the first all-news television channel in the United States...
called the race in Sanders' favor shortly after 7 p.m. on the day of the election.
Candidates
- Larry Drown, former trustee of Northfield VillageNorthfield (village), VermontNorthfield is a village in the town of Northfield in Washington County, Vermont, United States. The population was 3,208 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...
- Peter D. Moss
- Louis W. Thabault
- Bernie SandersBernie SandersBernard "Bernie" Sanders is the junior United States Senator from Vermont. He previously represented Vermont's at-large district in the United States House of Representatives...
, U.S. Congressman
Results
Sanders won the Democratic primary, but declined the nomination, leaving no Democratic nominee on the ballot. This victory ensured that no Democrat would appear on the general election ballot to split the vote with Sanders, an ally of the Democrats, who has been supported by leaders in the Democratic Party.Candidates
- Cris Ericson
- Greg ParkeGreg Parke (politician)Gregory Tarl "Greg" Parke is a retired United States Air Force Lieutenant Colonel who was a Republican candidate for U.S. Senate in Vermont.-Early life:...
- Richard TarrantRichard TarrantRichard Edward Tarrant, is an American businessman, and politician. Most recently, he was the Republican nominee for U.S. Senator from the state of Vermont in 2006, but lost the election to Representative Bernie Sanders...
, businessman
Candidates
- Pete Diamondstone (Liberty Union)
- Cris Ericson (I)
- Craig Hill (Green)
- Peter Moss (I)
- Bernie SandersBernie SandersBernard "Bernie" Sanders is the junior United States Senator from Vermont. He previously represented Vermont's at-large district in the United States House of Representatives...
(I) - Richard TarrantRichard TarrantRichard Edward Tarrant, is an American businessman, and politician. Most recently, he was the Republican nominee for U.S. Senator from the state of Vermont in 2006, but lost the election to Representative Bernie Sanders...
(R)
Campaign
In mid-August 2006, the campaign heated up considerably, with Tarrant fully engaged in heavy media advertising, most of which criticized Sanders' public stances. Tarrant ran several ads accusing Sanders of representing himself differently from his voting record in the House of Representatives, citing such examples as Sanders' votes against Amber AlertAMBER Alert
An AMBER Alert or a Child Abduction Emergency is a child abduction alert bulletin in several countries throughout the world, issued upon the suspected abduction of a child, since 1996...
and against increased penalties for child pornography. Sanders responded with an ad stating that Tarrant's claims are "dishonest" and "distort my record" and presented what he viewed as more accurate explations of his voting record.
Endorsements
Since Sanders is allied with the DemocratsDemocratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
in the House of Representatives, Democratic leadership successfully dissuaded any serious challengers from their party. Sanders was endorsed by prominent Democrats such as DNC
Democratic National Committee
The Democratic National Committee is the principal organization governing the United States Democratic Party on a day to day basis. While it is responsible for overseeing the process of writing a platform every four years, the DNC's central focus is on campaign and political activity in support...
Chairman and former Vermont Governor Howard Dean
Howard Dean
Howard Brush Dean III is an American politician and physician from Vermont. He served six terms as the 79th Governor of Vermont and ran unsuccessfully for the 2004 Democratic presidential nomination. He was chairman of the Democratic National Committee from 2005 to 2009. Although his U.S...
, Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid
Harry Reid
Harry Mason Reid is the senior United States Senator from Nevada, serving since 1987. A member of the Democratic Party, he has been the Senate Majority Leader since January 2007, having previously served as Minority Leader and Minority and Majority Whip.Previously, Reid was a member of the U.S...
, and Senator Chuck Schumer of New York, the chairman of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee
Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee
The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee is the Democratic Hill committee for the United States Senate. It is the only organization solely dedicated to electing Democrats to the United States Senate. The DSCC's current chair is Sen. Patty Murray, who succeeded Sen. Robert Menendez following...
. On February 13, 2005 Sanders received an endorsement from Democracy for America
Democracy for America
Democracy for America is a progressive, people-powered political action committee, headquartered in South Burlington, Vermont. Founded by former Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean in 2004, DFA leads public awareness campaigns on a variety of public policy issues, trains activists,...
, the political action committee
Political action committee
In the United States, a political action committee, or PAC, is the name commonly given to a private group, regardless of size, organized to elect political candidates or to advance the outcome of a political issue or legislation. Legally, what constitutes a "PAC" for purposes of regulation is a...
that was founded by Dean after he withdrew from the 2004 Presidential race.
Fundraising
The election was the most expensive political campaign in Vermont history. Tarrant did not seek outside funding, raising 98% of all funds through personal sources, for a total of $7,315,854. Sanders' top contributors include the plaintiff's law firm Barron & Budd, Operating Engineers Union, Laborers Union, and Communication Workers of America, for total raised of $ 5,554,466. In total, Tarrant and Sanders spent $13,771,060. Tarrant spent $85 per vote, the largest cost per vote of any race in the country during 2006, while Sanders spent $34 per vote.Polling
| Source | Date | Sanders (I) | Tarrant (R) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research 2000 | October 23-24, 2006 | 57% | 36% |
| Research 2000 | September 18-19, 2006 | 58% | 33% |
| American Research Group | September 15, 2006 | 55% | 40% |
| Rasmussen | August 3, 2006 | 62% | 34% |
| American Research Group | July 27, 2006 | 56% | 35% |
| Rasmussen | June 16, 2006 | 67% | 29% |
| Research 2000 | May 11, 2006 | 61% | 24% |
| Doyle Poll | March 7, 2006 | 62% | 26% |
| Rasmussen | January 5, 2006 | 70% | 25% |
| Research 2000 | November 1, 2005 | 64% | 16% |
Results
Official results from the Vermont Secretary of State http://vermont-elections.org:Sanders won a majority of the votes in every county in the state, with 57% as his lowest county total.
See also
- United States Senate elections, 2006United States Senate elections, 2006Elections for the United States Senate were held on November 7, 2006, with 33 of the 100 seats in the United States Senate being contested. Senators are elected for six-year terms, with one third of the Senate seats up for a vote every two years. The term of office for those elected in 2006 runs...
- Vermont United States House of Representatives election, 2006Vermont United States House of Representatives election, 2006The Vermont United States House of Representatives election, 2006 was held on November 7, 2006 for representation of Vermont's at-large congressional district in the United States House of Representatives from January 3, 2007 to January 3, 2009....
- Vermont gubernatorial election, 2006Vermont gubernatorial election, 2006The 2006 Vermont gubernatorial election took place on November 7, 2006. Incumbent Republican Jim Douglas succeeded in his bid for re-election, defeating Democrat Scudder Parker.-Democratic Party:...
External links
- Vermont Secretary of State's Draft list of candidates (Excel spreadsheet). (Final version due to be released on July 24, 2006).