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.

, 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 offices on the 2010 ballot, and have held majorities in both state legislative chambers since the 2008 election.

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.Gaddie, Ronald Keith, "Oklahoma Republican Party ," Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture (accessed May 28, 2010). 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

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.Robert J. Sullivan, Jr. 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.Allen, Cindy, "Governor, his challengers debate about leadership role," Enid News & Eagle, June 8, 2006 (accessed May 28, 2010).

Results

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 November 6, 2006 Sabato's Crystal Ball November 6, 2006 Rothenberg Political Report November 2, 2006 Real Clear Politics November 6, 2006

Polling Source Date BradHenry (D) ErnestIstook (R)Survey USASurvey USA November 4, 2006 65% 29%RasmussenRasmussen September 29, 2006 59% 34%Survey USASurvey USA September 26, 2006 64% 33%RasmussenRasmussen September 6, 2006 54% 33%Survey USASurvey USA August 28, 2006 60% 34%Sooner PollSooner Poll July 17, 2006 57% 29%RasmussenRasmussen May 7, 2006 50% 39%

Results

Results by county County Brad HenryDemocratic Ernest IstookRepublican Margin Total votes cast # % # % # %Adair3,25367.52%1,56532.48%1,68835.04%4,818Alfalfa1,38967.04%68332.96%70634.07%2,072Atoka2,37274.64%80625.36%1,56649.28%3,178Beaver85746.40%99053.60%-133-7.20%1,847Beckham3,42371.06%1,39428.94%2,02942.12%4,817Blaine2,19269.52%96130.48%1,23139.04%3,153Bryan6,31079.06%1,67120.94%4,63958.13%7,981Caddo4,99074.12%1,74225.88%3,24848.25%6,732Canadian16,18858.33%11,56541.67%4,62316.66%27,753Carter7,34870.79%3,03229.21%4,31641.58%10,380Cherokee7,90376.01%2,49523.99%5,40852.01%10,398Choctaw3,13981.68%70418.32%2,43563.36%3,843Cimarron35333.36%70566.64%-352-33.27%1,058Cleveland40,64165.18%21,70734.82%18,93430.37%62,348Coal1,62781.07%38018.93%1,24762.13%2,007Comanche14,94174.60%5,08625.40%9,85549.21%20,027Cotton1,66082.38%35517.62%1,30564.76%2,015Craig3,31976.63%1,01223.37%2,30753.27%4,331Creek12,93666.49%6,51933.51%6,41732.98%19,455Custer4,68168.55%2,14831.45%2,53337.09%6,829Delaware6,80768.72%3,09831.28%3,70937.45%9,905Dewey1,29169.67%56230.33%72939.34%1,853Ellis97263.08%56936.92%40326.15%1,541Garfield10,76066.79%5,35133.21%5,40933.57%16,111Garvin5,74571.38%2,30428.62%3,44142.75%8,049Grady9,15166.61%4,58733.39%4,56433.22%13,738Grant1,30268.85%58931.15%71337.70%1,891Greer1,08570.23%46029.77%62540.45%1,545Harmon55974.43%19225.57%36748.87%751Harper74664.53%41035.47%33629.07%1,156Haskell2,42675.44%79024.56%1,63650.87%3,216Hughes2,52675.88%80324.12%1,72351.76%3,329Jackson3,67365.30%1,95234.70%1,72130.60%5,625Jefferson1,40280.34%34319.66%1,05960.69%1,745Johnston2,25381.39%51518.61%1,73862.79%2,768Kay9,05468.85%4,09631.15%4,95837.70%13,150Kingfisher2,92160.10%1,93939.90%98220.21%4,860Kiowa2,14877.32%63022.68%1,51854.64%2,778Latimer2,01976.22%63023.78%1,38952.43%2,649Le Flore7,96371.98%3,10028.02%4,86343.96%11,063Lincoln7,02367.58%3,36932.42%3,65435.16%10,392Logan6,40859.96%4,28040.04%2,12819.91%10,688Love1,79780.08%44719.92%1,35060.16%2,244Major1,60357.37%1,19142.63%41214.75%2,794Marshall2,65075.03%88224.97%1,76850.06%3,532Mayes8,30073.84%2,94026.16%5,36047.69%11,240McClain6,62265.25%3,52734.75%3,09530.50%10,149McCurtain4,48569.96%1,92630.04%2,55939.92%6,411McIntosh4,62676.72%1,40423.28%3,22253.43%6,030Murray3,01576.70%91623.30%2,09953.40%3,931Muskogee12,88575.79%4,11724.21%8,76851.57%17,002Noble2,46067.03%1,21032.97%1,25034.06%3,670Nowata2,02670.69%84029.31%1,18641.38%2,866Okfuskee2,14774.73%72625.27%1,42149.46%2,873Oklahoma110,72663.02%64,98736.98%45,73926.03%175,713Okmulgee7,32175.48%2,37824.52%4,94350.96%9,699Osage8,83371.58%3,50728.42%5,32643.16%12,340Ottawa5,21172.98%1,92927.02%3,28245.97%7,140Pawnee3,04968.95%1,37331.05%1,67637.90%4,422Payne12,00668.47%5,52931.53%6,47736.94%17,535Pittsburg8,07674.20%2,80825.80%5,26848.40%10,884Pontotoc7,31373.83%2,59226.17%4,72147.66%9,905Pottawatomie12,25770.73%5,07329.27%7,18441.45%17,330Pushmataha2,33080.54%56319.46%1,76761.08%2,893Roger Mills98367.24%47932.76%50434.47%1,462Rogers15,67465.44%8,27834.56%7,39630.88%23,952Seminole4,38470.50%1,83429.50%2,55041.01%6,218Sequoyah5,88271.52%2,34228.48%3,54043.04%8,224Stephens9,16869.22%4,07630.78%5,09238.45%13,244Texas1,64242.06%2,26257.94%-620-15.88%3,904Tillman2,18582.64%45917.36%1,72665.28%2,644Tulsa90,45961.32%57,06038.68%33,39922.64%147,519Wagoner10,97762.94%6,46437.06%4,51325.88%17,441Washington8,99558.94%6,26541.06%2,73017.89%15,260Washita2,76671.40%1,10828.60%1,65842.80%3,874Woods2,00969.16%89630.84%1,11338.31%2,905Woodward3,51765.53%1,85034.47%1,66731.06%5,367Totals616,13566.50%310,32733.50%305,80833.01%926,462

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

See also 2006 Oklahoma elections

References

External links Official campaign websites (Archived) Brad Henry 2006 Gubernatorial Campaign Site Ernest Istook 2006 Gubernatorial Campaign Site Oklahoma State Election Board, primary results Bob Sullivan 2006 Gubernatorial Campaign Site Jim Williamson 2006 Gubernatorial Campaign Site