United States Senate election in California, 2006
The 2006 United States Senate election in California was held November 7, 2006. Incumbent Dianne Feinstein was re-elected for another six-year term in Democratic-leaning California. She had faced token Democratic opposition in the primary on June 6, 2006.
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 previous announced challenger, businessman Bill Mundell, withdrew his declaration after determining he would not be a self-funded candidate (like Michael Huffington was in the 1994 election).
Candidates
Democratic Party
Dianne Feinstein - U.S. Senator since 1992, former mayor of San Francisco
Lost in primary Martin Luther Church - retired program manager
Colleen Fernald - mother, artist, entrepreneur
Republican Party
Richard Mountjoy - former state senator, former state assemblyman, unsuccessful candidate in 1998 for Republican nomination for lieutenant governor
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 2004 candidate for Presidential nomination
Libertarian Party
Michael Metti - businessman and frequent candidate
Peace and Freedom Party
Marsha Feinland - state party chair, socialist activist, retired teacher, and frequent candidate
Primary results
[http://sos.ca.gov/elections/sov/2000_primary/us_senate_summary.pdf Link to primary results]
Controversies
Incorrect name of naval ship on Mountjoy Web site
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'd 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.
Results
Results by county
Final results from the Secretary of State of California.
|
