2006 Wyoming gubernatorial election

See also: 2006 United States gubernatorial elections

2006 Wyoming gubernatorial election

November 7, 2006

Nominee Dave Freudenthal Ray Hunkins Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 135,516 58,100 Percentage 69.99% 30.01%

County results Precinct results Freudenthal:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90% Hunkins:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% Tie:      50%      No votes

Governor before election Dave Freudenthal Democratic Elected Governor Dave Freudenthal Democratic

The 2006 Wyoming gubernatorial election took place on November 7, 2006. Incumbent Democratic Governor Dave Freudenthal won re-election in a landslide over Republican Ray Hunkins, becoming the first Democrat since 1910 to win every county in the state. To date this was the last time a Democrat was elected to statewide office in Wyoming, the last time a Democrat carried every county in the state, the last gubernatorial election in which a Democrat received more than 30% of the vote, the last statewide election in which a Democrat received more than 45% of the vote, and the last statewide election in which a Democrat won any county besides Teton, Albany, Laramie, or Sweetwater. As of 2024, Ray Hunkins is the last Republican gubernatorial nominee who was never elected Governor of Wyoming. This is the last time that Wyoming voted for and elected a Senate candidate and a gubernatorial candidate of different political parties.

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Dave Freudenthal, incumbent Governor of Wyoming
• Al Hamburg, perennial candidate

Results

Democratic primary results^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Dave Freudenthal (incumbent)	26,550	89.66
	Democratic	Al Hamburg	3,062	10.34
Total votes			29,612	100.00

Republican primary

Candidates

• Ray Hunkins, attorney and rancher
• John H. Self

Results

Republican primary results^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Ray Hunkins	51,803	74.64
	Republican	John H. Self	17,598	25.36
Total votes			69,401	100.00

General election

Governor Freudenthal casts his ballot

Predictions

Source	Ranking	As of
The Cook Political Report[3]	Solid D	November 6, 2006
Sabato's Crystal Ball[4]	Safe D	November 6, 2006
Rothenberg Political Report[5]	Safe D	November 2, 2006
Real Clear Politics[6]	Safe D	November 6, 2006

Polling

Source	Date	Dave Freudenthal (D)	Ray Hunkins (R)
Rasmussen[7]	July 20, 2006	58%	29%
Rasmussen[8]	May 8, 2006	52%	29%

Results

Wyoming gubernatorial election, 2006^[9]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Dave Freudenthal (incumbent)	135,516	69.99%	+20.03%
	Republican	Ray Hunkins	58,100	30.01%	−17.91%
Total votes			193,616	100.00%
	Democratic hold

Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic

• Big Horn (Largest city: Lovell)
• Campbell (Largest city: Gillette)
• Converse (Largest city: Douglas)
• Crook (Largest city: Sundance)
• Fremont (Largest city: Riverton)
• Goshen (Largest city: Torrington)
• Johnson (Largest city: Buffalo)
• Lincoln (Largest city: Kemmerer)
• Niobrara (Largest city: Lusk)
• Park (Largest city: Cody)
• Sheridan (Largest city: Sheridan)
• Sublette (Largest city: Pinedale)
• Uinta (Largest city: Evanston)
• Washakie (Largest city: Worland)
• Weston (Largest city: Newcastle)

See also

• 2006 United States gubernatorial elections
• 2006 United States Senate election in Wyoming

References

1. "Democratic Statewide Candidates Official Summary - Wyoming Primary Election - August 22, 2006" (PDF). Wyoming Secretary of State.
2. "Republican Statewide Candidates Official Summary - Wyoming Primary Election - August 22, 2006" (PDF). Wyoming Secretary of State.
3. "2006 Governor Race Ratings for November 6, 2006" (PDF). The Cook Political Report. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 5, 2008. Retrieved October 1, 2006.
4. "Election Eve 2006: THE FINAL PREDICTIONS". Sabato's Crystal Ball. Retrieved June 25, 2021.
5. "2006 Gubernatorial Ratings". Senate Ratings. The Rothenberg Political Report. Retrieved June 25, 2021.
6. "Election 2006". Real Clear Politics. Retrieved June 25, 2021.
7. "Wyoming: No Party Swap Seen". August 27, 2006. Archived from the original on August 27, 2006. Retrieved September 5, 2016.
8. "Wyoming House Seat in Play". May 18, 2006. Archived from the original on May 18, 2006. Retrieved September 5, 2016.
9. "Statewide Candidates Official Summary - Wyoming General Election - November 7, 2006" (PDF). Wyoming Secretary of State.

Official campaign websites

• Dave Freudenthal (D) for Governor
• Ray Hunkins (R) for Governor