# 2006 Kansas gubernatorial election

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The 2006 Kansas gubernatorial election took place on November 7, 2006. Incumbent Democratic Governor Kathleen Sebelius, who sported high approval ratings ran for re-election to serve a second and final term. She was unopposed for the Democratic nomination and faced Republican State Senator Jim Barnett, who emerged from a crowded primary. Sebelius soundly defeated Barnett and cruised to re-election, which was quite a considerable feat for a Democrat in staunchly conservative Kansas. This was Sebelius's second time winning a majority and was part of a trend from 1984 to 2010 where 7 of 8 Kansas gubernatorial elections were won with a majority rather than a simple plurality. No candidate received a majority of votes in 2014, 2018 or 2022.

## Democratic primary
### Candidates

* Kathleen Sebelius, incumbent Governor of Kansas

### Results

Democratic primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Kathleen Sebelius (incumbent) | 76,046 | 100.00 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 76,046 | 100.00 |

## Republican primary
### Candidates

* Jim Barnett, State Senator
** Running mate: Susan Wagle, state senator (2001–present) and former state representative (1991–2001)
* Ken R. Canfield, author and founder of the National Center for Fathering
** Running mate: Kathe Decker, state representative (1993–present)
* Rex Crowell, former State Representative
** Running mate: Brian Shepherd
* Dennis Hawver, Libertarian nominee for Governor in 2002
** Running mate: Bret D. Landrith, attorney
* Robin Jennison, former Speaker of the Kansas House of Representatives
** Running mate: Dennis Wilson, state senator (2005–present) and former state representative (1995–1999)
* Timothy V. Pickell, attorney
** Running mate: Jeffrey McCalmon
* Richard "Rode" Rodewald, perennial candidate
** Running mate: Helen Kanzig
Republican primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Jim Barnett | 70,299 | 36.18 |
| | Republican | Ken R. Canfield | 51,365 | 26.44 |
| | Republican | Robin Jennison | 42,678 | 21.97 |
| | Republican | Timothy V. Pickell | 10,473 | 5.39 |
| | Republican | Rex Crowell | 8,677 | 4.47 |
| | Republican | Dennis Hawver | 6,661 | 3.43 |
| | Republican | Richard "Rode" Rodewald | 4,142 | 2.13 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 194,295 | 100.00 |

## General election
### Predictions

| Source | Ranking | As of |
| The Cook Political Report | Solid D | November 6, 2006 |
| Sabato's Crystal Ball | Likely D | November 6, 2006 |
| Rothenberg Political Report | Safe D | November 2, 2006 |
| Real Clear Politics | Likely D | November 6, 2006 |

### Polling

| Source | Date | Kathleen Sebelius (D) | Jim Barnett (R) |
| Survey USA | November 5, 2006 | 57% | 40% |
| Rasmussen | October 27, 2006 | 56% | 37% |
| Survey USA | October 16, 2006 | 55% | 42% |
| Survey USA | September 14, 2006 | 58% | 38% |
| Rasmussen | September 1, 2006 | 48% | 37% |
| Rasmussen | July 31, 2006 | 51% | 34% |
| Rasmussen | June 19, 2006 | 49% | 36% |
| Rasmussen | May 3, 2006 | 49% | 37% |
| Rasmussen | April 15, 2006 | 50% | 37% |
| Rasmussen | February 13, 2006 | 45% | 37% |
| Rasmussen | January 25, 2006 | 46% | 35% |

### Results

Kansas gubernatorial election, 2006 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | Kathleen Sebelius (incumbent) | 491,993 | 57.90% | +5.03% |
| | Republican | Jim Barnett | 343,586 | 40.44% | −4.66% |
| | Libertarian | Carl Kramer | 8,896 | 1.05% | +0.08% |
| | Reform | Richard Lee Ranzau | 5,221 | 0.61% | −0.45% |
| | Write-in | Write-in | 4 | 0.00% | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 148,407 | 17.47% | +9.68% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 849,700 | | |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Swing | | |

#### Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic

* Sherman (largest municipality: Goodland)
* Lane (largest municipality: Dighton)
* Stafford (largest municipality: St. John)
* Mitchell (largest municipality: Beloit)
* Lincoln (largest municipality: Lincoln) (previously tied)
* Kingman (largest municipality: Kingman)
* Ottawa (largest municipality: Minneapolis) (previously tied)
* Doniphan (Largest city: Wathena)
* Linn (Largest city: Pleasanton)
* Woodson (Largest city: Yates Center)
* Wilson (Largest city: Neodesha)
* Bourbon (Largest city: Fort Scott)
* Cherokee (Largest city: Baxter Springs)
* McPherson (largest municipality: McPherson)
* Johnson (largest municipality: Overland Park)

#### Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican

* Coffey (largest municipality: Burlington)
* Chase (largest city: Cottonwood Falls)
* Greenwood (largest municipality: Eureka)
* Norton (largest municipality: Norton)
* Pratt (largest municipality: Pratt)
* Pottawatomie (largest municipality: Manhattan)