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2006 United States Senate election in Vermont

← 2000 November 7, 2006 (2006-11-07) 2012 →

Nominee Bernie Sanders Richard Tarrant Party Independent Republican Popular vote 171,638 84,924 Percentage 65.41% 32.36%

County results Municipality resultsSanders:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90% Tarrant:      50–60% Tie:      40–50%

U.S. senator before election Jim Jeffords Independent Elected U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders Independent

Elections in Vermont
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v t e

The 2006 United States Senate election in Vermont was held November 7, 2006. Incumbent independent Senator Jim Jeffords decided to retire rather than seek reelection to a fourth term, and Bernie Sanders was elected to succeed him.

Sanders, who represented Vermont's at-large House district as an independent, won the Democratic primary, and then dropped out to run as an independent. Many Democratic politicians across the country endorsed him, and no Democrat was on the ballot. The state committee of the Vermont Democratic Party voted unanimously to endorse Sanders.

Sanders won the seat with 65% of the vote. His win marked the first Republican loss in an election for this Class 1 seat since 1850, decisively ending the longest single-party Senate winning streak in history. (Vermont's Class 3 seat had been held by Democrat Patrick Leahy since 1974, the first time a Republican had lost any Senate election in the state since 1850.)

Democratic primary

After Jeffords retired, there was brief speculation that DNC chair Howard Dean, a former governor and 2004 presidential candidate, would run for Senate. After Dean quickly issued a statement that he would not run, independent Representative Bernie Sanders became the subject of media attention, and ultimately entered and won the race.

Candidates

Declared

• Larry Drown, retired plumber and perennial candidate
• Peter D. Moss, retired chemical engineer
• Louis W. Thabault, former postal worker
• Bernie Sanders, U.S. Representative and Liberty Union nominee for U.S. Senate in 1972

Declined

• Howard Dean, former Governor of Vermont, chair of the Democratic National Committee
• Doug Racine, former Lieutenant Governor of Vermont

Results

Sanders won the Democratic primary, but declined the nomination, leaving no Democratic nominee on the ballot. This victory ensured that no Democrat would appear on the general election ballot to split the vote with Sanders, an ally of the Democrats who had been supported by leaders in the Democratic Party.

Republican primary

National Republicans pressured Lieutenant Governor Brian Dubie to enter the race, and he formed an exploratory committee to do so, but the committee raised little money and Dubie opted not to run. Governor Jim Douglas also declined to run.

Businessman Richard Tarrant announced his campaign in October 2005. Tarrant largely self-funded his campaign, and frequently denounced political partisanship.

Candidates

• Cris Ericson, perennial candidate and marijuana legalization activist
• Greg Parke, retired U.S. Air Force lieutenant colonel and nominee for VT-AL in 2004
• Richard Tarrant, businessman

Declined

• Jim Douglas, governor of Vermont
• Brian Dubie, lieutenant governor of Vermont

Endorsements

Organizations

• Swift Vets and POWs for Truth

State officials

• Jim Douglas, Governor of Vermont
• Walter E. Freed, former Speaker of the Vermont House of Representatives

Individuals

• Tom Brennan, basketball coach

Results

General election

Candidates

• Peter Diamondstone (Liberty Union), socialist activist and perennial candidate
• Cris Ericson (Independent)
• Craig Hill (Green), electronics marketer
• Peter Moss (Independent)
• Bernie Sanders (Independent), U.S. Representative from VT-AL
• Richard Tarrant (Republican), businessman

Campaign

In mid-August 2006, the campaign heated up considerably, with Tarrant fully engaged in heavy media advertising, most of which criticized Sanders's public stances. Tarrant ran several ads accusing Sanders of representing himself differently from his voting record in the House of Representatives, citing such examples as Sanders's votes against Amber Alert and against increased penalties for child pornography. Sanders responded with an ad stating that Tarrant's claims were "dishonest" and "distort my record", and presented what he viewed as more accurate explanations of his voting record.

Tarrant also claimed that Sanders's election would lead to an exodus of businesses from Vermont. Sanders based his campaign on a well-tested message of fixing economic inequality, and ran a positive campaign that took advantage of his high name recognition in the state.

Endorsements

Federal officials

• Barack Obama, U.S. Senator from Illinois
• Harry Reid, U.S. Senator from Nevada
• Chuck Schumer, U.S. Senator from New York

State officials

• Howard Dean, former Governor of Vermont; Chair of the Democratic National Committee

Individuals

• Jon Fishman, drummer
• Mike Gordon, bass guitarist
• Willie Nelson, musician and activist
• Grace Potter, singer
• Kesha Ram, student
• Jeffrey P. Weaver, political staffer

Organizations

• Democracy for America
• MoveOn

Newspapers and publications

• Addison County Independent
• Brattleboro Reformer
• Esquire
• Stowe Reporter
• The Chronicle
• Vermont Woman

Federal officials

• John McCain, U.S. Senator from Arizona

State officials

• Jim Douglas, Governor of Vermont
• Walter E. Freed, former Speaker of the Vermont House of Representatives

Individuals

• Tom Brennan, basketball coach

Fund-raising

The election was the most expensive political campaign in Vermont history.

Tarrant was a self-funded candidate, with 98% of all his campaign expenditures coming from personal sources. He spent $7,315,854 total. Sanders' top contributors include the plaintiffs' law firm Baron & Budd; the International Union of Operating Engineers; the Laborers' International Union of North America; and the Communication Workers of America. Sanders raised $5,554,466 total. In total, Tarrant and Sanders spent $13,771,060. Tarrant spent $85 per vote, the largest cost per vote of any race in the country during 2006, while Sanders spent $34 per vote.

Debates

Predictions

Polling

Results

Official results from the Vermont United States Senate. Sanders won a majority of the votes in every county in the state, with 57% as his lowest county total.

Counties that flipped from Republican to Independent

• Addison (largest municipality: Middlebury)
• Bennington (largest municipality: Bennington)
• Caledonia (Largest city: St. Johnsbury)
• Chittenden (largest municipality: Burlington)
• Essex (Largest city: Lunenburg)
• Franklin (largest municipality: St. Albans)
• Grand Isle (largest municipality: Alburgh)
• Lamoille (largest municipality: Morristown)
• Orange (Largest city: Randolph)
• Orleans (Largest city: Derby)
• Rutland (largest municipality: Rutland)
• Washington (largest municipality: Barre)
• Windham (largest municipality: Brattleboro)
• Windsor (largest municipality: Hartford)

See also

• 2006 United States Senate elections

References

1. ^ Democratic primary is far from ordinary Archived April 5, 2016, at the Wayback Machine (September 11, 2006). Barre-Montpelier Times-Argus.
2. The partisan history of every U.S. Senate seat, in 1 awesome chart. The Washington Post.
3. Scott, Julia (April 21, 2005). "Dean stays in his chair". Salon. Retrieved December 18, 2022.
4. M.D. Drysdale, Primary Election Is Next Tuesday Archived July 16, 2016, at the Wayback Machine (September 7, 2009). Herald.
5. Klein, Rick (July 13, 2006). "Party shuns Vermont Democrats in race: Seeks to clear way for independent in US Senate bid". Boston Globe.
6. Scott, Julia (April 25, 2005). "Dean stays in his chair". Salon. Retrieved March 2, 2021.
7. ^ Porter, Louis (July 12, 2005). "Senate hopeful plans to spend $500,000 of his own money". The Barre-Montpelier Times-Argus. Vermont Press Bureau. Retrieved December 29, 2021.
8. Thursday, April 21, 2005, Bernard Sanders, 63, announces run for Vermont's U.S. Senate seat after Incumbent Independent Jim Jeffords announces his retirement.
9. "2006 U.S. Senate Democratic Primary". Vermont Secretary of State. 2006. Retrieved May 20, 2021.
10. ^ "Vermont governor won't run for Senate". The Boston Globe. Associated Press. May 2, 2005. Retrieved December 29, 2021.
11. ^ Freyne, Peter (October 19, 2005). "Tarrant's Political Debut". Seven Days VT. Retrieved December 29, 2021.
12. ^ Gram, David (May 3, 2006). "Tarrant vows to end 'partisan hatred'". The Barre-Montpelier Times-Argus. Associated Press. Retrieved December 29, 2021.
13. ^ "Republicans face ideological choice in primary". The Burlington Free Press. September 5, 2006. p. 1. Archived from the original on August 19, 2020. Retrieved August 19, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
14. ^ Stolberg, Sheryl Gay (April 21, 2005). "Jeffords to Leave the Senate, Setting Off Vermont Scramble". The New York Times. Retrieved May 21, 2021.
15. ^ Robeznieks, Andis (February 10, 2006). "IDX co-founder using noodle on campaign". Modern Healthcare. Retrieved December 29, 2021.
16. "2006 U.S. Senate Republican Primary". Vermont Secretary of State. 2006. Retrieved May 20, 2021.
17. "How Bernie Sanders Responds to Negative, Mudslinging Attack Ads: Check the Facts!". Youtube. July 7, 2015. Archived from the original on December 21, 2021. Retrieved January 1, 2020.
18. Allen, Darren M. (November 8, 2006). "Sanders whips Tarrant for U.S. Senate seat". Times Argus. Retrieved July 15, 2021.
19. ^ Heintz, Paul (February 24, 2020). "Bernie vs. "Richie Rich": The 2006 Race That Prepared Sanders for Bloomberg". Seven Days VT. Retrieved July 15, 2021.
20. Talbot, Toby (November 30, 2016). "Bernie Sanders and Barack Obama, 2006". Journal Times. Retrieved July 15, 2021.
21. ^ Gachon, Nicolas (2021). Bernie Sanders's Democratic Socialism: Holding Utopia Accountable. Springer Nature. p. 90. ISBN 9783030696610.
22. Lehmann, Evan (May 10, 2005). "Howard Dean endorses Bernie Sanders' run for U.S. Senate". Bennington Banner. Retrieved January 8, 2022.
23. ^ "Part of Phish to play at law-maker's fundraiser". St. Cloud Times. May 1, 2006. Retrieved January 15, 2022.
24. "America Needs a new direction". The Burlington Free Press. April 30, 2006. Retrieved December 1, 2021.
25. "DFA Backs Sanders and Welch". WCAX. February 13, 2006. Archived from the original on September 27, 2007. Retrieved February 3, 2007.
26. Totten, Shay (April 30, 2005). "Vermont Gov. Jim Douglas won't run for Jeffords' Senate seat". Vermont Guardian. Archived from the original on May 1, 2005. Retrieved October 16, 2021.
27. ^ "Newspapers endorse Bernie Sanders". The Burlington Free Press. November 2, 2006. Retrieved January 8, 2021.
28. "Esquire Endorses America". Esquire. November 1, 2006. Retrieved July 15, 2021.
29. "Vermont Woman's Candidate Endorsements". Vermont Woman. October 2006. Retrieved July 15, 2021.
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32. ^ "Congressional Races - 2006 Vermont Senate". Opensecrets.org. OpenSecrets. February 2, 2007. Archived from the original on February 19, 2007. Retrieved February 3, 2007.
33. "Vermont Senate: 2006 Race Profile - Top Contributors". Opensecrets.org. OpenSecrets. December 11, 2006. Archived from the original on December 14, 2006. Retrieved February 3, 2007.
34. Ottenhoff, Patrick (January 31, 2007). "What's the value of a vote". NBC News. Archived from the original on October 12, 2017.
35. C-SPAN
36. "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.
37. "Election Eve 2006: THE FINAL PREDICTIONS". Sabato's Crystal Ball. November 6, 2006. Retrieved June 25, 2021.
38. "2006 Senate Ratings". Senate Ratings. The Rothenberg Political Report. Retrieved June 25, 2021.
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40. Research 2000
41. Rasmussen
42. Doyle Poll
43. Research 2000
44. Rasmussen
45. ^ American Research Group
46. Rasmussen
47. Research 2000
48. Rasmussen
49. Research 2000 Archived November 14, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
50. "Our Campaigns - VT US Senate Race - Nov 07, 2006". ourcampaigns.com. 2008. Retrieved August 25, 2015.

External links

• Vermont Secretary of State's Draft list of candidates (Excel spreadsheet). (Final version due to be released on July 24, 2006).
• 2006 Vermont Senate Debate on C-SPAN

Official campaign websites (Archived)

• Bernie Sanders
• Richard Tarrant

v t e Bernie Sanders
U.S. Senator from Vermont (2007–present) U.S. Representative from Vermont's at-large district (1991–2007) Mayor of Burlington (1981–1989)
Politics	Mayoralty Political positions Stop BEZOS Act Tax Relief Act filibuster University of Chicago sit-ins Veterans Choice Act Workplace Democracy Act Yemen War Powers Resolution Unity Task Forces
Elections	Gubernatorial 1972 1976 1986 Mayoral 1981 1983 1985 1987 U.S. House 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 U.S. Senate 1972 special 1974 2006 2012 2018 2024 Presidential 2016 campaign endorsements primaries debates 2020 campaign endorsements primaries debates Sanders-Trump voters
Works	We Shall Overcome Outsider in the White House The Speech Our Revolution Bernie Sanders Guide to Political Revolution Where We Go from Here It's OK to Be Angry About Capitalism
Public image	Media coverage "America" advertisement Bernie Bro Trump vs. Bernie Mittens meme
Organizations	College Students for Bernie Our Revolution People for Bernie Vets for Bernie
Family	Jane O'Meara Sanders (wife) Carina Driscoll (stepdaughter) Larry Sanders (brother)
Category

• United States Senate elections in Vermont
• 2006 Vermont elections
• 2006 United States Senate elections
• Bernie Sanders