# 2006 Idaho gubernatorial election

The 2006 Idaho gubernatorial election 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.
This was the last time that a Democrat won over 40% of the vote in Idaho.

## Republican primary
### Candidates

* Dan Adamson, businessman and attorney
* Walter Bayes, perennial candidate
* Jack Alan Johnson
* C.L. "Butch" Otter, U.S. Representative and former Lieutenant Governor of Idaho

#### Declined

* Jim Risch, incumbent Governor of Idaho

### Results

Republican primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Butch Otter | 96,045 | 70.02 |
| | Republican | Dan Adamson | 29,093 | 21.21 |
| | Republican | Jack Alan Johnson | 7,652 | 5.58 |
| | Republican | Walter Bayes | 4,385 | 3.20 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 137,175 | 100.00 |

## Democratic primary
### Candidates

* Jerry Brady, newspaper publisher and 2002 Democratic nominee for governor
* Lee Chaney, laborer
Democratic Primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Jerry Brady | 25,261 | 82.98 |
| | Democratic | Lee Chaney | 5,182 | 17.02 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 30,443 | 100.00 |

## General Election
### Candidates

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vte :
* Marvin Richardson (unendorsed Constitution) – organic strawberry farmer and sawmill owner
* Jerry Brady (Democratic), newspaper publisher and 2002 Democratic nominee for governor
* Ted Dunlap (Libertarian)
* Butch Otter (Republican), U.S. Congressman, former Lieutenant Governor of Idaho

### Controversy

A candidate legally named Marvin Pro-Life Richardson filed suit to force the state to print his full legal on the ballots, as filed in campaign paperwork. The Secretary of State stated that ballots themselves are supposed to be neutral, not political billboards, and declined the request. 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 naming "Marvin Richardson" as the Constitution Party candidate. The party later disavowed his candidacy resulting in a candidate without a name, and without a party, appearing on the ballot.

### Predictions

| Source | Ranking | As of |
| The Cook Political Report | Tossup | November 6, 2006 |
| Sabato's Crystal Ball | Tilt R | November 6, 2006 |
| Rothenberg Political Report | Lean R | November 2, 2006 |
| Real Clear Politics | Tossup | November 6, 2006 |

### Results

* Democratic—+30-35%
* Democratic—+20-25%
* Democratic—+10-15%
* Democratic—+5-10%
* Democratic—+<5%
* Republican—+<5%
* Republican—+5-10%
* Democratic—+15-20%
* Democratic—+10-15%
* Democratic—+5-10%
* Democratic—+<5%
* Republican—+<5%
* Republican—+5-10%
* Republican—+10-15%
* Republican—+15-20%
* Republican—+20-25%
Idaho gubernatorial election, 2006 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Butch Otter | 237,437 | 52.67% | −3.61% |
| | Democratic | Jerry Brady | 198,845 | 44.11% | +2.38% |
| | Constitution | Marvin Richardson | 7,309 | 1.62% | |
| | Libertarian | Ted Dunlap | 7,241 | 1.61% | −0.38% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 38,592 | 8.56% | −5.99% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 450,832 | | |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Swing | | |

#### Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic

* Teton (Largest city: Victor)
* Valley (Largest city: McCall)