2006 United States Senate election in Florida

2006 United States Senate election in Florida
	County results; Nelson: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90%; Harris: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70%
U.S. senator before election; Bill Nelson; Democratic	Elected U.S. Senator ; Bill Nelson; Democratic

The 2006 United States Senate election in Florida was held November 7, 2006. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Bill Nelson won re-election to a second term.

Background

During the Terri Schiavo case in March 2005, a talking points memo on the controversy was written by Brian Darling, the legal counsel to Republican Senator Mel Martínez of Florida.^[1] The memo suggested the Schiavo case offered "a great political issue" that would appeal to the party's base (core supporters) and could be used against Senator Bill Nelson, a Democrat from Florida who was up for reelection in 2006, because he had refused to co-sponsor the bill which came to be known as the Palm Sunday Compromise.^[2] Bill Nelson was nevertheless reelected as Senator on November 7, 2006, with 60% of the vote.

Republican primary

Candidates

LeRoy Collins Jr., retired naval officer and son of former Governor LeRoy Collins
Katherine Harris, U.S. Representative and former Florida Secretary of State
Will McBride, attorney
Peter Monroe, businessman and former COO of the Federal Housing Administration^[3]

Endorsements

The Bradenton Herald: McBride^[4]
Florida (Jacksonville) Times-Union: Collins or Monroe^[5]
Gainesville Sun: Collins^[6]
Lakeland Ledger: Collins
Miami Herald: Collins^[7]
Naples Daily News: Collins^[6]
Orlando Sentinel: McBride^[8]
Palm Beach Post: Monroe^[6]
Sarasota Herald-Tribune: no endorsement
South Florida (Fort Lauderdale) Sun Sentinel: Monroe^[6]
St. Petersburg Times: Collins^[6]
Tampa Tribune: Collins^[6]

Polling

Poll Source	Date	LeRoy Collins Jr.	Katherine Harris	Will McBride	Peter Monroe
Strategic Vision^[9]	July 26, 2006	9%	45%	22%	7%
Mason-Dixon^[10]	July 26, 2006	8%	36%	11%	2%
Quinnipiac^[11]	July 27, 2006	6%	40%	21%	3%
Scroth Eldon & Associates^[12]	August 11, 2006	9%	28%	11%	5%
SurveyUSA^[13]	August 24, 2006	20%	43%	15%	7%
Strategic Vision^[14]	August 30, 2006	19%	38%	21%	5%
Quinnipiac^[15]	August 31, 2006	11%	38%	22%	3%
SurveyUSA^[16]	August 31, 2006	12%	45%	22%	5%
Mason-Dixon^[17]	September 2, 2006	17%	38%	21%	2%
Primary Results	September 5, 2006	15%	49%	30%	5%

Results

Republican primary results^[18]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Katherine Harris	474,871	49.4
	Republican	Will McBride	287,741	30.0
	Republican	LeRoy Collins Jr.	146,712	15.3
	Republican	Peter Monroe	51,330	5.3
Total votes			960,654	100.0

General election

Candidates

Floyd Ray Frazier (Independent)
Katherine Harris, former Florida Secretary of State and former U.S. Representative (Republican)
Brian Moore, retired health care executive and former congressional candidate (Independent)
Bill Nelson, incumbent U.S. Senator (Democratic)
Belinda Noah (Independent)
Roy Tanner (Independent)

Campaign

The organization Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW), which monitors political corruption, complained to the Federal Elections Commission (FEC) in October 2006 that the Bacardi beverage company had illegally used corporate resources in support of a fundraising event for Nelson in 2005. CREW had previously filed a similar complaint concerning a Bacardi fundraising event for Republican Senator Mel Martinez, an event that raised as much as $60,000 for Martinez's campaign. The amended complaint alleged that, on both occasions, Bacardi violated the Federal Election Campaign Act and FEC regulations by soliciting contributions from a list of the corporation's vendors.^[19]

Endorsements

In a rare move, all twenty-two of Florida's daily newspapers supported Nelson, while none supported Harris in the general election.^[20]

Bradenton Herald: Bill Nelson^[21]
Charlotte Sun-Herald: Bill Nelson^[21]
Daytona Beach News-Journal: Bill Nelson^[22]
Florida Times-Union: Bill Nelson^[23]
Fort Myers News-Press: Bill Nelson^[24]
Gainesville Sun: Bill Nelson^[25]
Lakeland Ledger: Bill Nelson^[21]
Miami Herald: Bill Nelson^[21]
Naples Daily News: Bill Nelson^[26]
Orlando Sentinel: Bill Nelson^[27]
Palm Beach Post: Bill Nelson^[28]
Pensacola News Journal: Bill Nelson^[29]
Saint Petersburg Times: Bill Nelson^[30]
Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Bill Nelson^[31]
Scripps Treasure Coast Newspapers: Bill Nelson^[32]
South Florida Sun-Sentinel: Bill Nelson^[33]
Tallahassee Democrat: Bill Nelson^[34]
Tampa Tribune: Bill Nelson^[35]

Debates

Complete video of debate, October 23, 2006
Complete video of debate, November 1, 2006

Predictions

Source	Ranking	As of
The Cook Political Report^[36]	Solid D	November 6, 2006
Sabato's Crystal Ball^[37]	Safe D	November 6, 2006
Rothenberg Political Report^[38]	Safe D	November 6, 2006
Real Clear Politics^[39]	Safe D	November 6, 2006

Polling

Graphical summary

Poll Source	Date	Bill Nelson (D)	Katherine Harris (R)
Strategic Vision (R)^[40]	July 20, 2005	48%	40%
Strategic Vision (R)^[41]	August 21, 2005	47%	38%
Quinnipiac^[42]	August 31, 2005	57%	33%
Strategic Vision (R)^[43]	September 22, 2005	48%	36%
Rasmussen^[44]	November 14, 2005	53%	36%
Quinnipiac^[45]	November 15, 2005	55%	31%
Strategic Vision (R)^[46]	November 30, 2005	48%	32%
Rasmussen^[47]	January 5, 2006	54%	31%
Rasmussen^[48]	February 14, 2006	49%	40%
Strategic Vision (R)^[49]	February 22, 2006	49%	34%
Quinnipiac^[50]	February 24, 2006	53%	31%
University of North Florida^[51]	March 15, 2006	48%	28%
Mason-Dixon^[52]	March 29, 2006	51%	35%
Strategic Vision (R)^[53]	March 30, 2006	56%	28%
Zogby/WSJ^[54]	March 31, 2006	50%	37%
Rasmussen^[55]	April 14, 2006	57%	27%
Quinnipiac^[56]	April 20, 2006	56%	27%
Strategic Vision (R)^[57]	April 26, 2006	56%	24%
Rasmussen^[58]	May 22, 2006	60%	33%
Strategic Vision (R)^[59]	May 25, 2006	56%	26%
Quinnipiac^[60]	May 25, 2006	58%	25%
Zogby/WSJ^[61]	June 21, 2006	51%	33%
Strategic Vision (R)^[62]	June 28, 2006	61%	26%
Quinnipiac^[63]	June 30, 2006	59%	26%
Zogby/WSJ^[61]	July 24, 2006	55%	34%
Strategic Vision (R)^[64]	July 26, 2006	60%	22%
Mason-Dixon^[10]	July 26, 2006	57%	29%
Quinnipiac^[65]	July 27, 2006	61%	24%
Rasmussen^[66]	July 28, 2006	61%	33%
St. Petersburg Times^[67]	August 11, 2006	60%	25%
Zogby/WSJ^[68]	August 28, 2006	52%	32%
Strategic Vision (R)^[69]	August 30, 2006	63%	20%
Rasmussen^[70]	September 5, 2006	57%	34%
Zogby/WSJ^[68]	September 11, 2006	51%	33%
SurveyUSA^[71]	September 14, 2006	53%	38%
Mason-Dixon^[72]	September 20–22, 2006	53%	35%
Strategic Vision (R)^[73]	September 27, 2006	59%	31%
Rasmussen^[74]	September 27, 2006	56%	33%
Rasmussen^[75]	October 4, 2006	54%	37%
SurveyUSA^[76]	October 10, 2006	55%	37%
Quinnipiac^[77]	October 11, 2006	61%	33%
Mason-Dixon^[78]	October 16–17, 2006	57%	31%
Strategic Vision (R)^[79]	October 25, 2006	58%	35%
Quinnipiac^[80]	October 25, 2006	64%	29%
St. Petersburg Times^[81]	October 28, 2006	56%	30%
Strategic Vision (R)^[82]	November 2, 2006	59%	33%
Mason-Dixon^[83]	November 3, 2006	58%	34%
SurveyUSA^[84]	November 5, 2006	59%	36%

Results

As expected, Nelson was easily reelected. He won with 60.3% of the vote winning by 1,064,421 votes or 22.2%, and carried 57 of Florida's 67 counties. Nelson was projected the winner right when the polls closed at 7 P.M. EST.

General election results
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Bill Nelson (incumbent)	2,890,548	60.30%	+9.26%
	Republican	Katherine Harris	1,826,127	38.10%	−8.09%
	Independent	Belinda Noah	24,880	0.52%	n/a
	Independent	Brian Moore	19,695	0.41%	n/a
	Independent	Floyd Ray Frazier	16,628	0.35%	n/a
	Independent	Roy Tanner	15,562	0.32%	n/a
	Write-in		94	0.00%	n/a
Majority			1,064,421	22.21%	+17.36%
Turnout			4,793,534
	Democratic hold		Swing

Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic

Gilchrist (Largest city: Trenton)
Sumter (Largest city: The Villages)
Bradford (Largest city: Starke)
Charlotte (Largest city: Charlotte)
Columbia (Largest city: Lake City)
DeSoto (Largest city: Arcadia)
Escambia (Largest city: Pensacola)
Hardee (Largest city: Wachula)
Highlands (Largest city: Sebring)
Indian River (Largest city: Sebastian)
Lake (Largest city: Clermont)
Lee (Largest city: Cape Coral)
Suwannee (Largest city: Live Oak)
Duval (largest municipality: Jacksonville)
Seminole (largest municipality: Sanford)
Hendry (Largest city: Clewiston)
Marion (Largest city: Ocala)

References

^ "Senator's office produced Schiavo memo". Associated Press. April 6, 2005 – via NBC News.
^ "The Seattle Times: Nation & World: GOP memo says issue offers political rewards". The Washington Post. April 4, 2005. Archived from the original on January 27, 2007 – via The Seattle Times.
^ "Orlando Sentinel - Central Florida Political Pulse: Florida Senate race archives". blogs.orlandosentinel.com. Archived from the original on March 24, 2006.
^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved August 30, 2006.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
^ U.S. SENATE: It's a toss up | Jacksonville.com
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/content/nation/epaper/2006/08/25/a9a_endorse_0825.html ^{[dead link]}
^ 404 | MiamiHerald.com^{[dead link]}
^ Topic Galleries - OrlandoSentinel.com^{[permanent dead link]}
^ Strategic Vision
^ ^a ^b Mason-Dixon
^ Quinnipiac
^ Scroth Eldon & Associates
^ SurveyUSA
^ Strategic Vision
^ Quinnipiac
^ SurveyUSA
^ Mason-Dixon ^{[permanent dead link]}
^ "Official Results September 5, 2006 Republican Primary Election". Florida Department of State. September 5, 2006. Retrieved December 1, 2017.
^ "CREW FILES AMENDED FEC COMPLAINT AGAINST BACARDI USA AND MARTINEZ FOR SENATE". Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington. Archived from the original on August 8, 2018. Retrieved August 7, 2018.
^ Harris, Nelson tout testimonials
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d "Bill Nelson For Senate". Archived from the original on December 13, 2006. Retrieved July 13, 2008.
^ "Bill Nelson For Senate". Archived from the original on October 18, 2006. Retrieved October 16, 2006.
^ U.S. SENATE: Nelson the best choice | Jacksonville.com
^ The News Press Endorsement Recap
^ "Bill Nelson For Senate". Archived from the original on October 18, 2006. Retrieved October 16, 2006.
^ "Bill Nelson For Senate". Archived from the original on October 18, 2006. Retrieved October 20, 2006.
^ "Bill Nelson For Senate". Archived from the original on November 1, 2006. Retrieved November 1, 2006.
^ "Bill Nelson For Senate". Archived from the original on October 11, 2006. Retrieved October 11, 2006.
^ "Bill Nelson For Senate". Archived from the original on November 1, 2006. Retrieved November 1, 2006.
^ Nelson for U.S. Senate
^ "Bill Nelson For Senate". Archived from the original on October 18, 2006. Retrieved October 16, 2006.
^ "Bill Nelson For Senate". Archived from the original on October 18, 2006. Retrieved October 16, 2006.
^ "Bill Nelson For Senate". Archived from the original on October 18, 2006. Retrieved October 20, 2006.
^ Tallahassee Democrat - www.tallahassee.com - Tallahassee, FL
^ "Bill Nelson For Senate". Archived from the original on October 18, 2006. Retrieved October 16, 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. November 6, 2006. 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.
^ Strategic Vision (R)
^ Strategic Vision (R)
^ Quinnipiac
^ Strategic Vision (R)
^ Rasmussen Archived November 24, 2005, at the Wayback Machine
^ Quinnipiac
^ Strategic Vision (R)
^ Rasmussen
^ Rasmussen
^ Strategic Vision (R)
^ Quinnipiac
^ University of North Florida
^ Mason-Dixon ^{[permanent dead link]}
^ Strategic Vision (R)
^ Zogby/WSJ
^ Rasmussen
^ Quinnipiac
^ Strategic Vision (R)
^ Rasmussen
^ Strategic Vision (R)
^ Quinnipiac
^ ^a ^b Zogby/WSJ
^ Strategic Vision (R)
^ Quinnipiac
^ Strategic Vision (R)
^ Quinnipiac
^ Rasmussen Archived September 22, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
^ St. Petersburg Times
^ ^a ^b Zogby/WSJ
^ Strategic Vision (R)
^ Rasmussen
^ SurveyUSA
^ Mason-Dixon
^ Strategic Vision (R)
^ Rasmussen
^ Rasmussen
^ SurveyUSA
^ Quinnipiac
^ Mason-Dixon
^ Strategic Vision (R)
^ Quinnipiac
^ St. Petersburg Times
^ Strategic Vision (R)
^ Mason-Dixon
^ SurveyUSA

External links

Debates

Debate, October 23, 2006

Campaign Websites (Archived)

[autogenerated12-1] "Senator's office produced Schiavo memo". Associated Press. April 6, 2005 – via NBC News.

[2] "The Seattle Times: Nation & World: GOP memo says issue offers political rewards". The Washington Post. April 4, 2005. Archived from the original on January 27, 2007 – via The Seattle Times.

[3] "Orlando Sentinel - Central Florida Political Pulse: Florida Senate race archives". blogs.orlandosentinel.com. Archived from the original on March 24, 2006.

[4] "Archived copy". Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved August 30, 2006.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)

[5] U.S. SENATE: It's a toss up | Jacksonville.com

[autogenerated2-6] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/content/nation/epaper/2006/08/25/a9a_endorse_0825.html ^{[dead link]}

[7] 404 | MiamiHerald.com^{[dead link]}

[8] Topic Galleries - OrlandoSentinel.com^{[permanent dead link]}

[9] Strategic Vision

[Mason-Dixon-10] Mason-Dixon

[11] Quinnipiac

[12] Scroth Eldon & Associates

[13] SurveyUSA

[14] Strategic Vision

[15] Quinnipiac

[16] SurveyUSA

[17] Mason-Dixon ^{[permanent dead link]}

[18] "Official Results September 5, 2006 Republican Primary Election". Florida Department of State. September 5, 2006. Retrieved December 1, 2017.

[19] "CREW FILES AMENDED FEC COMPLAINT AGAINST BACARDI USA AND MARTINEZ FOR SENATE". Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington. Archived from the original on August 8, 2018. Retrieved August 7, 2018.

[twentytwo-20] Harris, Nelson tout testimonials

[autogenerated1-21] "Bill Nelson For Senate". Archived from the original on December 13, 2006. Retrieved July 13, 2008.

[22] "Bill Nelson For Senate". Archived from the original on October 18, 2006. Retrieved October 16, 2006.

[23] U.S. SENATE: Nelson the best choice | Jacksonville.com

[newspress-24] The News Press Endorsement Recap

[25] "Bill Nelson For Senate". Archived from the original on October 18, 2006. Retrieved October 16, 2006.

[26] "Bill Nelson For Senate". Archived from the original on October 18, 2006. Retrieved October 20, 2006.

[27] "Bill Nelson For Senate". Archived from the original on November 1, 2006. Retrieved November 1, 2006.

[28] "Bill Nelson For Senate". Archived from the original on October 11, 2006. Retrieved October 11, 2006.

[29] "Bill Nelson For Senate". Archived from the original on November 1, 2006. Retrieved November 1, 2006.

[stpt-30] Nelson for U.S. Senate

[31] "Bill Nelson For Senate". Archived from the original on October 18, 2006. Retrieved October 16, 2006.

[32] "Bill Nelson For Senate". Archived from the original on October 18, 2006. Retrieved October 16, 2006.

[33] "Bill Nelson For Senate". Archived from the original on October 18, 2006. Retrieved October 20, 2006.

[34] Tallahassee Democrat - www.tallahassee.com - Tallahassee, FL

[35] "Bill Nelson For Senate". Archived from the original on October 18, 2006. Retrieved October 16, 2006.

[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.

[39] "Election 2006". Real Clear Politics. Retrieved June 25, 2021.

[40] Strategic Vision (R)

[41] Strategic Vision (R)

[42] Quinnipiac

[43] Strategic Vision (R)

[44] Rasmussen Archived November 24, 2005, at the Wayback Machine

[45] Quinnipiac

[46] Strategic Vision (R)

[47] Rasmussen

[48] Rasmussen

[49] Strategic Vision (R)

[50] Quinnipiac

[51] University of North Florida

[52] Mason-Dixon ^{[permanent dead link]}

[53] Strategic Vision (R)

[54] Zogby/WSJ

[55] Rasmussen

[56] Quinnipiac

[57] Strategic Vision (R)

[58] Rasmussen

[59] Strategic Vision (R)

[60] Quinnipiac

[Zogby/WSJ-61] Zogby/WSJ

[62] Strategic Vision (R)

[63] Quinnipiac

[64] Strategic Vision (R)

[65] Quinnipiac

[66] Rasmussen Archived September 22, 2006, at the Wayback Machine

[67] St. Petersburg Times

[online.wsj.com-68] Zogby/WSJ

[69] Strategic Vision (R)

[70] Rasmussen

[71] SurveyUSA

[72] Mason-Dixon

[73] Strategic Vision (R)

[74] Rasmussen

[75] Rasmussen

[76] SurveyUSA

[77] Quinnipiac

[78] Mason-Dixon

[79] Strategic Vision (R)

[80] Quinnipiac

[81] St. Petersburg Times

[82] Strategic Vision (R)

[83] Mason-Dixon

[84] SurveyUSA

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v t e (2005 ←) 2006 United States elections (→ 2007)
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Background

Republican primary

Candidates

Endorsements

Polling

Results

General election

Candidates

Campaign

Endorsements

Debates

Predictions

Polling

Results

Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic

See also

References

External links