The 2006 United States Senate election in Nevada was held on November 7, 2006. Incumbent Republican John Ensign defeated Democratic nominee Jack Carter to win re-election to a second term. This was the only U.S. Senate election in Nevada where the incumbent Republican Senator was re-elected since 1980 and the only election for this seat where the incumbent Republican Senator was re-elected since 1952.

Republican primary Candidates Nominee John Ensign, incumbent U.S. Senator

Defeated in primary Ed Hamilton, businessman

Results

Democratic primary Popular Las Vegas mayor Oscar Goodman had said in January 2006 that he would probably run, but decisively ruled out a run in late April. Going into the 2006 cycle, many top Nevada Democrats such as State Assembly speaker Richard Perkins indicated that the party would put more efforts into the gubernatorial election than into defeating Ensign.

Candidates Nominee Jack Carter, U.S Navy veteran and son of former President Jimmy Carter

Defeated in primary Ruby Jee Tun, middle school science teacher

Declined Oscar Goodman, Mayor of Las Vegas Frankie Sue Del Papa, Attorney General of Nevada Dina Titus, member of the Nevada Senate (ran for Governor)

Results

General election Candidates Jack Carter (D), Navy veteran and son of former President Jimmy Carter John Ensign (R), incumbent U.S. Senator David Schumann (I), retired financial analyst, 2004 nominee, and 2002 state senator nominee Brendan Trainor (L), state party chair, airline quality manager, and frequent candidate

Campaign Carter's advantages included his formidable speaking abilities and kinship with a former U.S. president. On the other hand, Ensign was also considered to be an effective speaker and as of the first quarter of 2006, held an approximately 5–1 advantage over Carter in cash-on-hand.

Endorsements

Debates Complete video of debate, October 15, 2006

Polling Poll sourceDate(s)administeredSamplesizeMargin of errorJohnEnsign(R)JackCarter (D)OthersUndecided Mason-Dixon (Las Vegas Review-Journal)Las Vegas Review-Journal/ Mason-Dixon Oct 05 October 21–24, 2005 625 (RV)±4.0% 59% 25% – 16% Zogby International (Wall Street Journal) October 25–31, 2005 ?±4.5% 48% 33% – 19% Zogby International (Wall Street Journal) December 1–6, 2005 ?±4.3% 52% 34% – 14% Rasmussen ReportsRasmussen January 23, 2006?±4.5% 53% 34% 7% 6% Hart Research (D) March 2–13, 2006 ?±3.1% 49% 32% –19% Zogby International (Wall Street Journal)Zogby/WSJ March 22–27, 2006 ?±4.3% 52% 38% –11% Mason-Dixon (Las Vegas Review-Journal)Las Vegas Review-Journal/Mason-Dixon April April 3–5, 2006625 (RV)±4.0% 60% 27% – 13% Research 2000 (Reno Gazette-Journal/News 4) May 12–15, 2006?±4.0% 52% 32% – 16% Zogby International (Wall Street Journal)Zogby/WSJ June 13–19, 2006?±4.1% 51% 36% – 13% Zogby International (Wall Street Journal) July 11–19, 2006?±4.3% 50% 35% – 15% Rasmussen ReportsRasmussen July 31, 2006500 (LV)±4.5% 46% 39% 4% 11% Mason-Dixon (Las Vegas Review-Journal)Las Vegas Review-Journal/Mason-Dixon August 7–10, 2006625 (RV)±4.0% 54% 33%–13% Zogby International (Wall Street Journal)Zogby/WSJ August 15–21, 2006?±4.3% 48% 45% – 7% Zogby International (Wall Street Journal) August 29–September 5, 2006?±4.4% 52% 40% – 8%Research 2000 (Reno Gazette-Journal) September 5–7, 2006600 (LV)±4.0% 56% 35% – 9% Rasmussen ReportsRasmussen September 6, 2006500 (LV)±4.5% 50% 41% 3% 6% Zogby International (Wall Street Journal) September 19–25, 2006?±4.2% 49% 42% – 9% Mason-Dixon (Las Vegas Review-Journal)Las Vegas Review-Journal/Mason-Dixon Sep September 19–26, 2006625 (RV)±4.0% 58% 35% 1% 6% Zogby International (Wall Street Journal)Zogby/WSJ October 10–16, 2006547 (LV)±4.2% 52% 43%–5% Rasmussen ReportsRasmussen Oct October 17, 2006500 (LV)±4.5% 50% 42%–8%Research 2000 (Reno Gazette-Journal)Reno Gazette-Journal/Research 2000 October 23–25, 2006600 (LV)±4.0% 55% 41%–4% Zogby International (Wall Street Journal) October 23–27, 2006 ?±4.4% 58% 37%–5% Mason-Dixon (Las Vegas Review-Journal)2006 Nevada Polls October 26–30, 2006 ?±4.0% 54% 37%–9%

Predictions Source Ranking As of The Cook Political Report November 6, 2006 Sabato's Crystal Ball November 6, 2006 Rothenberg Political Report November 6, 2006 Real Clear Politics November 6, 2006

Results

By county CountyJohn EnsignRepublicanJack CarterDemocraticVarious candidatesOther partiesMarginTotal#%#%#%#%Carson City11,00260.6%6,46135.6%7023.8%4,54125.0%18,165Churchill5,77771.3%2,00024.7%3274.0%3,77746.6%8,104Clark188,84752.5%159,21444.2%11,9793.3%29,6338.3%360,040Douglas12,82266.3%5,79530.0%7163.7%7,02733.3%19,333Elko8,21869.6%2,94124.9%6525.5%5,27744.7%11,811Esmeralda28966.9%9121.1%5212.0%19845.8%432Eureka51070.8%12817.8%8211.5%38253.0%720Humboldt3,14570.0%1,12925.1%2164.8%2,01644.9%4,490Lander1,25270.1%45025.2%834.6%80244.9%1,785Lincoln1,32371.4%41522.4%1156.2%90849.0%1,853Lyon9,87665.5%4,52230.0%6694.4%5,35435.5%15,067Mineral1,23758.9%72834.7%1356.5%50924.2%2,100Nye6,85557.9%4,29436.3%6885.8%2,56121.6%11,837Pershing98363.9%46230.0%936.0%52133.9%1,538Storey1,15161.2%63533.8%945.0%51627.4%1,880Washoe67,26256.0%48,38540.3%4,4403.7%18,87715.7%120,087White Pine1,95258.6%1,14634.4%2326.9%80624.2%3,330Totals322,50155.4%238,79641.0%21,2753.7%83,70514.4%582,572

See also 2006 United States Senate elections

Notes

References

External links John Ensign (R) for Senate Jack Carter (D) for Senate Brendan Trainor (L) for Senate