For related races, see 2006 United States Senate elections.
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 County resultsFeinstein: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% Mountjoy: 40–50% 50–60% | |||||||||||||||||
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The 2006 United States Senate election in California was held November 7, 2006. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein won re-election to her third full term.
Feinstein stood against Republican Dick Mountjoy, who had never held a statewide elected position, but had been a state senator for several years. Also running was Libertarian Michael Metti, Don Grundmann of the American Independent Party, Todd Chretien of the Green Party and Marsha Feinland of the Peace and Freedom Party.
Because California is a state that requires a large amount of money to wage a competitive statewide campaign, it is not unusual - as was the case for this race - for a popular incumbent to have no significant opponent. Several prominent Republicans, such as Bill Jones, Matt Fong, and others, declined to run, and a previously announced challenger, businessman Bill Mundell, withdrew his declaration after determining he would not be a self-funded candidate (as Michael Huffington was in the 1994 election). Since Feinstein's death in 2023, this is the most recent U.S. Senate election in California and latest U.S. Senate election of any state in the nation where both major party Senate nominees are deceased.
Primaries
Democratic
| Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dianne Feinstein (Incumbent) | 2,176,888 | 86.95 | |
| Colleen Fernald | 199,180 | 7.96 | |
| Martin Luther Church | 127,301 | 5.09 | |
| Total votes | 2,503,369 | 100.00 | |
Green
| Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Todd Chretien | 12,821 | 46.14 | |
| Tian Harter | 10,318 | 37.13 | |
| Kent Mesplay | 4,649 | 16.73 | |
| Total votes | 27,788 | 100.00 | |
Others
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Dick Mountjoy | 1,560,472 | 100.00% | |
| American Independent | Don J. Grundmann | 30,787 | 100.00% | |
| Libertarian | Michael S. Metti | 16,742 | 100.00% | |
| Peace and Freedom | Marsha Feinland | 4,109 | 100.00% | |
Candidates
Democratic Party
- Dianne Feinstein, incumbent U.S. Senator, former Mayor of San Francisco
Lost in primary
- Martin Luther Church, retired program manager
- Colleen Fernald, artist and entrepreneur
Republican Party
- Richard Mountjoy, former State Senator, former State Assemblyman and candidate for Lieutenant Governor in 1998
American Independent Party
- Don J. Grundmann, chiropractor
Green Party
- Todd Chretien, writer
Lost in primary
- Tian Harter, green activist and a 1992 Congressional nominee
- Kent Mesplay, environmental activist, air quality inspector, and candidate for president in 2004
Libertarian Party
- Michael Metti, businessman and perennial candidate
Peace and Freedom Party
- Marsha Feinland, state party chair, socialist activist, and retired teacher
General election
Controversy
On September 22, the Los Angeles Times reported that Mountjoy's official biography, as found on his campaign website, falsely asserted that he had served aboard the battleship USS Missouri during the Korean War—he had actually served aboard the heavy cruiser USS Bremerton. A review of the ships' logs corroborated this and the website was quickly changed to reflect his service aboard the Bremerton rather than the Missouri.
I think it was just something that somebody picked up, it didn't come from me.
— Richard Mountjoy
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 6, 2006 |
| Real Clear Politics | Safe D | November 6, 2006 |
Polling
| Source | Date | Feinstein (D) | Mountjoy (R) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Field Poll | April 19, 2006 | 59% | 31% |
| Los Angeles Times Poll | May 28, 2006 | 59% | 30% |
| Field Poll | June 4, 2006 | 54% | 28% |
| Rasmussen | July 13, 2006 | 60% | 33% |
| Public Policy | July 26, 2006 | 42% | 21% |
| Field Poll | August 3, 2006 | 56% | 34% |
| SurveyUSA | August 28, 2006 | 56% | 34% |
| Rasmussen | August 31, 2006 | 56% | 34% |
| Rasmussen | September 12, 2006 | 58% | 35% |
| Datamar | September 18, 2006 | 49% | 38% |
| SurveyUSA | September 27, 2006 | 55% | 35% |
| Los Angeles Times Poll | September 29, 2006 | 54% | 36% |
| Mason-Dixon | October 2, 2006 | 53% | 23% |
| Field Poll | October 3, 2006 | 57% | 29% |
| SurveyUSA | October 26, 2006 | 59% | 33% |
| Field Poll | November 1, 2006 | 55% | 33% |
| SurveyUSA | November 5, 2006 | 60% | 31% |
Results
Feinstein won the election easily. She won almost every major populated area, winning in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Sacramento, and San Diego. Feinstein was projected the winner as soon as the polls closed at 11 P.M. EST.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Dianne Feinstein (incumbent) | 5,076,289 | 59.43% | |
| Republican | Dick Mountjoy | 2,990,822 | 35.02% | |
| Green | Todd Chretien | 147,074 | 1.72% | |
| Libertarian | Michael S. Metti | 133,851 | 1.57% | |
| Peace and Freedom | Marsha Feinland | 117,764 | 1.38% | |
| American Independent | Don J. Grundmann | 75,350 | 0.88% | |
| Green | Kent Mesplay (write-in) | 160 | 0.00% | |
| Independent | Jeffrey Mackler (write-in) | 108 | 0.00% | |
| Independent | Lea Sherman (write-in) | 47 | 0.00% | |
| Independent | Connor Vlakancic (write-in) | 11 | 0.00% | |
| Invalid or blank votes | 357,583 | 4.19% | ||
| Total votes | 8,899,059 | 100.00% | ||
| Turnout | 53.93 | |||
| Democratic hold | ||||
Results breakdown
Final results from the Secretary of State of California.
| County | Feinstein | Votes | Mountjoy | Votes | Others | Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco | 80.54% | 187,692 | 8.31% | 19,374 | 11.15% | 25,979 |
| Marin | 77.56% | 82,025 | 16.82% | 17,788 | 5.62% | 5,946 |
| Alameda | 76.07% | 307,495 | 16.46% | 66,550 | 7.46% | 30,173 |
| San Mateo | 74.80% | 152,082 | 20.19% | 41,043 | 5.02% | 10,200 |
| Santa Cruz | 72.96% | 65,214 | 19.33% | 17,279 | 7.71% | 6,891 |
| Santa Clara | 69.84% | 298,451 | 24.89% | 106,383 | 5.27% | 22,521 |
| Sonoma | 69.50% | 119,672 | 23.01% | 39,619 | 7.49% | 12,906 |
| Contra Costa | 68.48% | 205,516 | 26.91% | 80,764 | 4.60% | 13,818 |
| Los Angeles | 67.13% | 1,298,820 | 27.72% | 536,200 | 5.15% | 99,646 |
| Monterey | 65.28% | 56,887 | 29.15% | 25,400 | 5.57% | 4,852 |
| Mendocino | 64.50% | 19,645 | 25.16% | 7,662 | 10.34% | 3,149 |
| Yolo | 64.25% | 34,548 | 30.10% | 16,187 | 5.65% | 3,036 |
| Napa | 64.05% | 27,144 | 30.58% | 12,958 | 5.37% | 2,277 |
| Solano | 63.06% | 64,828 | 32.06% | 32,956 | 4.89% | 5,025 |
| San Benito | 60.74% | 8,626 | 33.58% | 4,768 | 5.68% | 807 |
| Imperial | 60.02% | 13,182 | 33.41% | 7,338 | 6.57% | 1,442 |
| Humboldt | 58.07% | 27,652 | 31.51% | 15,003 | 10.42% | 4,964 |
| Alpine | 57.17% | 303 | 35.47% | 188 | 7.36% | 39 |
| Santa Barbara | 57.00% | 68,970 | 37.08% | 44,864 | 5.92% | 7,157 |
| Sacramento | 56.59% | 201,221 | 37.94% | 134,887 | 5.47% | 19,447 |
| Lake | 56.41% | 10,830 | 34.85% | 6,691 | 8.74% | 1,678 |
| San Joaquin | 54.71% | 75,011 | 40.02% | 54,874 | 5.27% | 7,224 |
| Merced | 53.84% | 22,081 | 41.24% | 16,914 | 4.93% | 2,021 |
| Ventura | 53.22% | 115,471 | 42.12% | 91,374 | 4.66% | 10,110 |
| San Diego | 53.03% | 403,711 | 42.39% | 322,760 | 4.58% | 34,875 |
| Fresno | 51.45% | 89,331 | 43.94% | 76,286 | 4.60% | 7,993 |
| San Luis Obispo | 50.09% | 47,891 | 44.70% | 42,742 | 5.21% | 4,977 |
| Nevada | 49.98% | 21,204 | 43.88% | 18,618 | 6.14% | 2,606 |
| San Bernardino | 49.40% | 167,821 | 45.17% | 153,430 | 5.43% | 18,442 |
| Trinity | 49.39% | 2,824 | 41.20% | 2,356 | 9.41% | 538 |
| Stanislaus | 49.30% | 50,656 | 46.24% | 47,513 | 4.47% | 4,589 |
| Mono | 48.98% | 1,829 | 44.38% | 1,657 | 6.64% | 248 |
| Riverside | 48.54% | 183,532 | 46.43% | 175,543 | 5.03% | 19,006 |
| Del Norte | 48.11% | 3,207 | 44.33% | 2,955 | 7.56% | 504 |
| Butte | 47.02% | 32,131 | 45.82% | 31,316 | 7.16% | 4,892 |
| Kings | 47.02% | 10,660 | 48.59% | 11,016 | 4.40% | 997 |
| Tuolumne | 45.52% | 9,535 | 48.83% | 10,228 | 5.65% | 1,184 |
| Orange | 45.13% | 321,646 | 49.66% | 353,924 | 5.21% | 37,096 |
| Placer | 44.53% | 53,956 | 50.85% | 61,615 | 4.62% | 5,594 |
| Plumas | 44.36% | 3,881 | 49.66% | 4,345 | 5.98% | 523 |
| Amador | 44.35% | 6,534 | 50.10% | 7,382 | 5.55% | 818 |
| Calaveras | 44.33% | 7,860 | 48.74% | 8,642 | 6.92% | 1,227 |
| El Dorado | 43.25% | 28,915 | 50.99% | 34,091 | 5.76% | 3,853 |
| Mariposa | 42.98% | 3,249 | 50.83% | 3,842 | 6.19% | 468 |
| Madera | 42.39% | 12,658 | 52.27% | 15,609 | 5.34% | 1,596 |
| Tulare | 42.09% | 28,694 | 53.58% | 36,526 | 4.34% | 2,956 |
| Inyo | 41.41% | 2,641 | 51.44% | 3,281 | 7.15% | 456 |
| Siskiyou | 41.20% | 6,752 | 51.46% | 8,433 | 7.34% | 1,203 |
| Colusa | 41.08% | 1,994 | 54.53% | 2,647 | 4.39% | 213 |
| Sierra | 40.67% | 641 | 51.65% | 814 | 7.68% | 121 |
| Yuba | 39.94% | 5,487 | 52.82% | 7,257 | 7.24% | 994 |
| Sutter | 39.48% | 9,297 | 55.69% | 13,113 | 4.83% | 1,138 |
| Kern | 39.29% | 58,330 | 55.19% | 81,944 | 5.53% | 8,205 |
| Tehama | 38.70% | 6,914 | 55.22% | 9,865 | 6.08% | 1,086 |
| Shasta | 37.94% | 22,097 | 56.45% | 32,876 | 5.61% | 3,267 |
| Glenn | 37.84% | 2,813 | 56.76% | 4,219 | 5.39% | 401 |
| Lassen | 35.06% | 2,968 | 56.93% | 4,820 | 8.01% | 678 |
| Modoc | 34.44% | 1,264 | 57.03% | 2,093 | 8.53% | 313 |
Shift by county
Trend by county
Legend
- Republican — +12.5−15%
- Republican — +10−12.5%
- Republican — +7.5−10%
- Republican — +5−7.5%
- Republican — +2.5−5%
- Republican — +0−2.5%
- Democratic — +0−2.5%
- Democratic — +2.5−5%
- Democratic — +5−7.5%
- Democratic — +7.5-10%
- Democratic — +10−12.5%
- Democratic — +12.5−15%
- Democratic — >15%
Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic
- Butte (largest city: Chico)
- Del Norte (largest community: Crescent City)
- Mono (largest municipality: Mammoth Lakes)
- Nevada (largest town: Truckee)
- San Luis Obispo (largest town: San Luis Obispo)
- Trinity (largest community: Weaverville)
Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican
See also
References
- Karni, Annie (September 29, 2023). "Senator Dianne Feinstein Dies at 90". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved September 29, 2023.
- "U.S. Senate: Senators Who Have Died in Office". www.senate.gov. Retrieved September 29, 2023.
- Los Angeles Times (May 19, 2015). "Richard Mountjoy, GOP legislator and key Prop. 187 backer, dies at 83". Los Angeles Times.
- "Senate candidate admits wrong info on bio". NBC News. September 22, 2006. Retrieved November 9, 2006.
- "2006 Senate Race Ratings for November 6, 2006" (PDF). The Cook Political Report. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 5, 2008. Retrieved September 30, 2021.
- "Election Eve 2006: THE FINAL PREDICTIONS". Sabato's Crystal Ball. Retrieved June 25, 2021.
- "2006 Senate Ratings". Senate Ratings. The Rothenberg Political Report. Retrieved June 25, 2021.
- "Election 2006". Real Clear Politics. Retrieved June 25, 2021.
- Field Poll
- Los Angeles Times Poll
- Field Poll
- Rasmussen
- Public Policy
- Field Poll
- SurveyUSA
- Rasmussen
- Rasmussen
- Datamar Archived September 27, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
- SurveyUSA
- Los Angeles Times Poll
- Mason-Dixon
- Field Poll
- SurveyUSA
- Field Poll
- SurveyUSA
- "United States Senate" (PDF). Secretary of State of California. December 16, 2006. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 17, 2008. Retrieved July 14, 2008.
- "Registration and Participation" (PDF). Secretary of State of California. December 18, 2006. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 17, 2008. Retrieved July 14, 2008.
External links
Campaign websites (Archived)
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