2006 United States Senate election in Texas

The 2006 United States Senate election in Texas was held November 7, 2006. Incumbent Republican Kay Bailey Hutchison won re-election to a third full term, defeating Democrat Barbara Ann Radnofsky.

← 2000

November 7, 2006

2012 →


Nominee	Kay Bailey Hutchison	Barbara Ann Radnofsky
Party	Republican	Democratic
Popular vote	2,661,789	1,555,202
Percentage	61.69%	36.04%

County results
Hutchison: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% >90%
Radnofsky: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80%

U.S. senator before election

Kay Bailey Hutchison
Republican

Elected U.S. Senator

Kay Bailey Hutchison
Republican

Campaign

Because no candidate received a majority of votes in the Democratic primary, a runoff was held April 11, 2006. Attorney Barbara Ann Radnofsky prevailed over Gene Kelly. Scott Lanier Jameson won the Libertarian Party nomination at the party's state convention on June 10, 2006, defeating Timothy Wade and Ray Salinas. Arthur W. Loux, a Roman Forest City Councilman and a member of the Minutemen, ran as an independent.^{[citation needed]}

Incumbent Republican Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison had co-sponsored legislation supporting a constitutional amendment that would contain senatorial term limits, but stated that she would only leave office after two terms if such limits applied to all senators. After deciding not to challenge Governor Rick Perry in a Republican gubernatorial primary, Hutchison sought re-election to the Senate for a third full term.

Debate

2006 United States Senate election in Texas debate
No.	Date	Host	Moderator	Link	Republican	Democratic	Libertarian
Key: P Participant A Absent N Not invited I Invited W Withdrawn
					Kay Bailey Hutchison	Barbara Ann Radnofsky	Scott Jameson
1	Oct. 19, 2006	KLRN Texas League of Women Voters	Yolette Garcia	C-SPAN	P	P	P

Predictions

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

Polling

Source	Date	Hutchison (R)	Radnofsky (D)
Polimetrix	November 5, 2006	65%	29%
Zogby	October 25, 2006	61%	27%
Rasmussen	October 23, 2006	60%	34%
Rasmussen	August 31, 2006	58%	32%
Rasmussen	August 3, 2006	61%	31%
Rasmussen	July 13, 2006	58%	31%
Rasmussen	May 18, 2006	53%	34%
Rasmussen	January 8, 2006	64%	25%

Results

United States Senate election in Texas, 2006
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Kay Bailey Hutchison (incumbent)	2,661,789	61.69	−4.65
	Democratic	Barbara Ann Radnofsky	1,555,202	36.04	+3.69
	Libertarian	Scott Jameson	97,672	2.26	+1.10
Majority			1,106,587	25.7
Turnout			4,314,663
	Republican hold		Swing

Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican

Newton (Largest city: Newton)

Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic

Travis (Largest city: Austin)
Webb (Largest city: Laredo)