# 2006 Oklahoma gubernatorial election

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vte :
The 2006 Oklahoma gubernatorial election was held on November 7, 2006. Incumbent Democratic governor Brad Henry won re-election to a second term in a landslide, defeating Republican U.S. representative Ernest Istook. Henry took 66.5% of the vote to Istook's 33.5% and swept all but three counties in the state.
As of 2024, this remains the last time that a Democrat was elected Governor of Oklahoma, or along with the concurrent elections, won any statewide office. Republicans later swept all statewide executive offices on the 2010 ballot, as they did majorities in both state legislative chambers.

## Background

Though Democrats had dominated state politics for most of Oklahoma's history, the Oklahoma Republican Party had recently gained control of the Oklahoma House of Representatives and held five of the state's six Congressional seats. Henry's opponent, Republican Ernest Istook, was a member of the United States House of Representatives, representing Oklahoma's 5th congressional district.
As in many Southern states, Oklahoma has favored conservative Democrats to the more liberal members of the party. In his first term, Henry had supported some tax cuts and took centrist positions on many political hot button issues.

## Democratic primary
### Candidates

* Brad Henry, incumbent governor of Oklahoma
* Andrew W. Marr, Jr.

### Results

Democratic primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Brad Henry (incumbent) | 226,957 | 85.82 |
| | Democratic | Andrew W. Marr, Jr. | 37,510 | 14.18 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 264,467 | 100.00 |

## Republican primary
### Candidates

* Ernest Istook, U.S. congressman
* Bob Sullivan, former Oklahoma Secretary of Energy
* James A. Williamson, Oklahoma state senator
* Jim Evanoff

### Campaign

Istook's strongest opponent in the primary was Bob Sullivan, who positioned himself as the only "non-career politician" in the race. He ran ads featuring Gailard Sartain that attacked his opponents' "career politician" background. The Sartain ads were seen as over the top and may have hurt his chances. Sullivan said education was a top priority and had led an effort to place an initiative petition on the November 2006 ballot that would have required 65 percent of money earmarked for education be spent in the classroom.

### Results

Republican primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Ernest Istook | 99,650 | 54.71 |
| | Republican | Bob Sullivan | 56,347 | 30.94 |
| | Republican | James Allen Williamson | 17,769 | 9.76 |
| | Republican | Jim Evanoff | 8,370 | 4.60 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 182,136 | 100.00 |

## General election

The incumbent Democratic governor Brad Henry won the election with more than 66 percent of the vote, beating Republican U.S. representative Ernest Istook.

### Predictions

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

### Polling

| Source | Date | Brad Henry (D) | Ernest Istook (R) |
| Survey USA | November 4, 2006 | 65% | 29% |
| Rasmussen | September 29, 2006 | 59% | 34% |
| Survey USA | September 26, 2006 | 64% | 33% |
| Rasmussen | September 6, 2006 | 54% | 33% |
| Survey USA | August 28, 2006 | 60% | 34% |
| Sooner Poll | July 17, 2006 | 57% | 29% |
| Rasmussen | May 7, 2006 | 50% | 39% |

### Results

2006 Oklahoma gubernatorial election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | Brad Henry (incumbent) | 616,135 | 66.50% | +23.2 |
| | Republican | Ernest Istook | 310,327 | 33.50% | –9.1 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 926,462 | 100.00% | n/a |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

#### Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic

* Roger Mills (Largest city: Cheyenne)
* Custer (Largest city: Weatherford)
* Dewey (Largest city: Seiling)
* Woodward (Largest city: Woodward)
* Alfalfa (Largest city: Helena)
* Cleveland (Largest city: Norman)
* Ellis (Largest city: Shattuck)
* Harper (Largest city: Laverne)
* Grant (Largest city: Medford)
* Canadian (Largest city: Yukon)
* Oklahoma (Largest city: Oklahoma City)
* McClain (Largest city: Newcastle)
* Major (Largest city: Fairview)
* Kay (Largest city: Ponca City)
* Tulsa (Largest city: Tulsa)
* Wagoner (Largest city: Coewta)
* Washington (Largest city: Bartlesville)
* Jackson (Largest city: Altus)
* Stephens (Largest city: Duncan)
* Comanche (Largest city: Lawton)
* Kingfisher (Largest city: Kingfisher)
* Logan (Largest city: Guthrie)
* Noble (Largest city: Perry)
* Garfield (Largest city: Enid)