The 2006 Massachusetts gubernatorial election was held on November 7, 2006. The incumbent Republican governor, Mitt Romney, chose not to seek a second term. Polls had been mixed prior to Romney's announcement, with one poll showing Romney slightly leading Democratic Attorney General Tom Reilly and other polls showing Reilly, who was then the Democratic frontrunner, in the lead.Polls show Romney gaining on Reilly, Reilly leading Healey Boston Globe November 17, 2005
The election was won by the Democratic former United States Assistant Attorney General Deval Patrick, who became the second African-American governor in the United States since Reconstruction and the first Democratic governor of Massachusetts since Michael Dukakis left office in 1991. This was the last time until 2022 that the Democratic nominee won a majority. Healey is the only Republican gubernatorial nominee never to be elected governor between 1990 and 2018.
Republican primary Governor Candidates Kerry Healey, lieutenant governor of Massachusetts
Declined Christy Mihos, businessman (running as an Independent) Mitt Romney, incumbent governor (endorsed Healey)
Healey was unopposed for the Republican nomination.
Lieutenant governor Candidates Reed Hillman, former state representative and Massachusetts State Police colonel
As incumbent Kerry Healey ran for governor, the position of lieutenant governor was open. Reed Hillman was unopposed for the Republican nomination.
Democratic primary Governor Candidates Chris Gabrieli, businessman and lieutenant governor nominee in 2002Gabrieli readies run for governor Boston Globe March 22, 2006 Deval Patrick, former assistant U.S. attorney general for Civil Rights Thomas Reilly, Massachusetts attorney general
Endorsements Deval Patrick: Attleboro Sun Chronicle, Bay State Banner, Blue Mass Group, Boston Globe, Brookline Tab, Cambridge Chronicle, Hamilton-Wenham Chronicle, Wellesley Townsman, Worcester Magazine Tom Reilly: Boston Herald, Cape Cod Times, Springfield Republican
Campaign The Democratic state caucuses were held in February in all cities and towns to elect delegates to the state convention. The Patrick campaign organized their supporters, many of whom had never been involved in such party processes before, to win twice as many pledged delegates as the Reilly campaign. (Chris Gabrieli did not join the race until a month later, which played a major role in his difficulty in getting on the ballot.)
At the Democratic Convention on June 3 in Worcester, each candidate needed to receive support from 15% of the delegates to be on the primary ballot in September. There was some question as to whether Gabrieli could succeed after entering the race so late. Patrick received the convention's endorsement with 57.98% of the vote, Reilly made it with 26.66%, and Gabrieli narrowly achieved ballot access with 15.36% of the delegates' votes.Patrick garners most votes; Reilly touts success at convention Boston Globe June 3, 2006All candidates make it.. Boston Globe June 3, 2006
The campaign was highlighted by numerous debates. The first two debates took place in late April. WBZ-CBS4 News hosted a debate between Democratic candidates Chris Gabrieli, Deval Patrick, and Tom Reilly on April 21 and it aired at 8:30 AM on April 23.The April 23 debate can be viewed online at cbs4boston.com A second Democratic candidate debate, moderated by Sy Becker from WWLP TV 22, was held at Agawam Middle School on April 27.Agawam Candidates' Forum Tonight! MassLive: The Fray April 2006. The April 27 debate and can be heard on MassLive.com
The "Campaign to Stop Killer Coke", a group dedicated to holding Coca-Cola accountable for violence in its Colombian bottling plant in the mid-1990s, began to attack Patrick and his candidacy. Patrick had resigned from the company and said he'd done so after his attempts to get them to carry out an independent investigation were ignored and undermined.Patrick's path from courtroom to boardroom Boston Globe August 13, 2006 Five Massachusetts unions filed a complaint against the group with the Office of Campaign and Political Finance,Pro-Patrick unions file OCPF complaint against Killer Coke Boston Phoenix August 9, 2006 in an effort to require the group to disclose its donors. On August 11, it was reported that Reilly's campaign had been behind the efforts.For Reilly, things go better with Coke Boston Globe August 11, 2006, Holy sh*t!! Vennochi finds Reilly campaign's fingerprints all over Killer Coke Blue Mass Group August 11, 2006
The final two televised debates played a key role in the primary campaign, as they took place during the two weeks between Labor Day and Primary Day when the public and the media hold their greatest focus on the election. The first of the two was carried about by the media consortium (which includes the Boston Globe, NECN, and WBUR, among others) and moderated by former New Hampshire governor Jeanne Shaheen, while the second and final debate was held by WBZ-TV and moderated by their political analyst, Jon Keller.
Polling Source Date MoE Patrick Reilly Gabrieli Other Und.Rasmussen Reports January 15–18, 2006 ±5%30% 29%– 11% 30%State House NewsJanuary 25–27, 2006±7.1%18%58%–4%19%Suffolk UniversitySuffolk University February 2–4, 2006±4.9%30%39%–2%29%UMass LowellFebruary 16, 2006±5%40%40%––20%Survey USASurvey USAMarch 5–6, 2006±5%37%47%––17%Boston GlobeMarch 12, 2006±4.9%22%35%4%14%25%Merrimack CollegeMerrimack CollegeFebruary 25–March 8, 2006±4.8%21.8%37.5%––40.7%Suffolk UniversitySuffolk UniversityApril 3, 2006±4.9%21%32%11%–36%Survey USASurvey USAApril 7–8, 2006±4.8%36%33%19%11%Suffolk UniversitySuffolk UniversityMay 3, 2006±4.9%20%35%15%–29%Survey USASurvey USAMay 1–3, 2006±4.9%28%32%29%–10%State House NewsMay 3–5, 2006±6.8%15%37%25%5%17% June 3 – Patrick receives party endorsement at Democratic State ConventionSurvey USASurvey USAJune 16–18, 2006±4.8%36%31%23%–9%Suffolk UniversitySuffolk UniversityJune 22–26, 2006±4.0%31%25%22%–21%State House NewsJune 28–30, 2006±7.0%34.8%19.3%21.8%1.6%21.4%Survey USASurvey USAJuly 9–11, 2006±4.9%37%26%27%–10%Survey USASurvey USAJuly 31–August 2, 2006±4.6%35%27%30%–8%Suffolk UniversitySuffolk UniversityAugust 17–21, 2006±5.2%24%20%32%–24%Survey USASurvey USAAugust 19–21, 2006±4.8%34%30%30%–6%Boston GlobeAugust 18–23, 2006±4.4%30%24%27%3%15%(including "leaners")31%27%30%4%8%State House NewsSeptember 7–10, 2006±6.8%35.6%19.4%25.6%1.0%16.2%Survey USASurvey USASeptember 9–11, 2006±4.1%45%21%29%4%Boston GlobeSeptember 12–15, 2006±4.4%46%18%25%4%6%Suffolk UniversitySuffolk University September 15–17, 2006±4.0%37%21%29%11%Survey USASurvey USASeptember 15–17, 2006±3.8%46%22%29%3%
Results
On September 19, Patrick won the Democratic primary with 50% of the vote, ahead of Gabrieli (27%) and Reilly (23%).WBZ-TV , September 19, 2006
Lieutenant governor Candidates Deb Goldberg, former chair of the Brookline Board of Selectmen Tim Murray, mayor of Worcester Andrea Silbert, businesswoman
Withdrew Sam Kelley, MD, child, adolescent, and adult psychiatrist; medical director of the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children; and former legislative aide to US Congressman Jim McDermott Marie St. Fleur, state representative from Dorchester
Declined Chris Gabrieli (running for governor)
Campaign On April 23, 2006, a "virtual debate" between Murray, Silbert, and Sam Kelley was released on SaintKermit.com.SaintKermit.com
On May 21, all four candidates debated in Lowell.The May 21 Lt. Governor debate is available online at Lowell Telecommunications Corporation . Four days later, on May 25, Kelley dropped out of the race and joined the Deval Patrick campaign as a volunteer advisor on health care issues."Sam Kelley out of Lt. Gov. race Political Intelligence, boston.com, May 25, 2006
At the Democratic convention in Worcester on June 3, Worcester Mayor Tim Murray was endorsed by a voice vote after receiving 49% on the first ballot. Andrea Silbert and Deb Goldberg both qualified for the ballot with 29% and 22% respectively.
Endorsements Deborah Goldberg: Boston Herald Tim Murray: Boston Globe, Worcester Telegram & Gazette Andrea Silbert: Blue Mass Group, Brookline Tab
Polling Source Date MoE Goldberg Murray Silbert UndecidedSuffolk University June 22–26, 2006 ±4.0%10% 6% 5% 79%Suffolk University August 19–21, 2006 ±5.2% 6%11% 5% 77%State House News September 7–10, 2006 ±6.8%18.3% 15.2% 10.0% 53.4%Boston Globe September 12–15, 2006 ±4.4%26% 20% 18% 27%Suffolk University September 15–17, 2006 ±4.0%35% 22% 21% 31%
Results Tim Murray won the Democratic nomination for lieutenant governor on September 19 with 43% of the vote.cbs4boston.com: Election Results: Boston & Beyond
General election Candidates Kerry Healey, lieutenant governor of Massachusetts (Republican) Running mate: Reed Hillman, former state representative and Massachusetts State Police colonel Christy Mihos, businessman and former member of the Massachusetts Turnpike AuthorityMihos to run as independent Boston Globe March 1, 2006 (Independent) Running mate: John Sullivan, former Winchester selectmanMihos picks John Sullivan Political Intelligence, boston.com, June 8, 2006 Deval Patrick, former assistant U.S. attorney general for Civil Rights (Democratic) Running mate: Tim Murray, mayor of Worcester Grace Ross, anti-poverty and LGBT activistGreen-Rainbow Party Press Release on Nominations March 7, 2006 (Green-Rainbow) Running mate: Wendy Van Horne, nurse (withdrew September 1)Green-Rainbow Party LG candidate drops out Political Intelligence September 1, 2006 Nurse quits lieutenant governor race Boston Globe September 2, 2006 Running mate: Martina Robinson, disability rights activistA new LG candidate for Green Rainbow Party Political Intelligence September 7, 2006
Campaign On April 25, Republican Kerry Healey called for four debates, each involving all four candidates, between the September primaries and November general election, and this proposition was seconded by Patrick.Healey challenges fellow gubernatorial hopefuls to four debates Boston Globe April 25, 2006
The general election campaign kicked off on primary day, September 19, after Tom Reilly and Chris Gabrieli conceded and Kerry Healey accepted her uncontested nomination. Deval Patrick followed with his acceptance speech, appearing with his new running mate Tim Murray and former opponent Chris Gabrieli.
The general election campaign was very heated and was referred to by Michael Dukakis as "the dirtiest gubernatorial campaign in my memory".Enough by Mike Dukakis The Boston Globe, October 29, 2006 The Healey campaign released attack ads implying that Deval Patrick supports sexual assault or murder of police (culminating in the now infamous "parking lot rape" ad). Healey supporters also protested at the homes of Patrick and Patrick campaign manager John E. Walsh, and documents leaked anonymously to media about Patrick's brother-in-law's criminal history.
After the final debate, WRKO talk radio host John DePetro came under scrutiny for referring to Grace Ross as a "fat lesbian". DePetro had been suspended earlier in the year for calling Turnpike Authority chief Matt Amorello a "fag".'Fat lesbian' quip about Ross lands WRKO jock in hot water Boston Herald, November 3, 2006
Debates The first televised debate of the general election was held by WFXT and the Boston Herald on September 25 on WFXT. Moderated by Fox News' Chris Wallace on the day after his Bill Clinton interview.
The second debate was held in Springfield and broadcast on WGBH and NECN.
Endorsements