2006 United States Senate election in California
The 2006 United States Senate election in California was held November 7, 2006. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein won re-election to her third full term.
Background
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.
Candidates
Democratic Party">United States Democratic Party">Democratic Party
- Dianne Feinstein, incumbent U.S. Senator, former Mayor of San Francisco
- Martin Luther Church, retired program manager
- Colleen Fernald, artist and entrepreneur
Republican Party">United States Republican Party">Republican Party
- Richard Mountjoy, former State Senator, former State Assemblyman and candidate for Lieutenant Governor in 1998
[American Independent Party]
- Don J. Grundmann, chiropractor
Green Party">Green Party (United States)">Green Party
- Todd Chretien, writer
- Tian Harter, green activist and a 1992 Congressional nominee
- Kent Mesplay, environmental activist, air quality inspector, and candidate for President in 2004
Libertarian Party">Libertarian Party (United States)">Libertarian Party
- Michael Metti, businessman and perennial candidate
[Peace and [Freedom Party (United States)|Peace and Freedom Party]]
- Marsha Feinland, state party chair, socialist activist and retired teacher
Primary results
Democratic
Green
Others
General election
Controversy
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.Polling
Results
Feinstein won the election easily. Feinstein won almost every major populated area winning in, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Sacramento, and San Diego. Feinstein was projected the winner right when the polls closed at 11 P.M. EST.Results breakdown
Final results from the Secretary of State of California.| County | Feinstein | Votes | Mountjoy | Votes | Others | Votes |
| San Francisco | 80.54% | 187,692 | 8.31% | 19,374 | 11.15% | 25,979 |
| Marin | 77.56% | 82,025 | 16.82% | 17,788 | 5.62% | 5,946 |
| Alameda | 76.07% | 307,495 | 16.46% | 66,550 | 7.46% | 30,173 |
| San Mateo | 74.80% | 152,082 | 20.19% | 41,043 | 5.02% | 10,200 |
| Santa Cruz | 72.96% | 65,214 | 19.33% | 17,279 | 7.71% | 6,891 |
| Santa Clara | 69.84% | 298,451 | 24.89% | 106,383 | 5.27% | 22,521 |
| Sonoma | 69.50% | 119,672 | 23.01% | 39,619 | 7.49% | 12,906 |
| Contra Costa | 68.48% | 205,516 | 26.91% | 80,764 | 4.60% | 13,818 |
| Los Angeles | 67.13% | 1,298,820 | 27.72% | 536,200 | 5.15% | 99,646 |
| Monterey | 65.28% | 56,887 | 29.15% | 25,400 | 5.57% | 4,852 |
| Mendocino | 64.50% | 19,645 | 25.16% | 7,662 | 10.34% | 3,149 |
| Yolo | 64.25% | 34,548 | 30.10% | 16,187 | 5.65% | 3,036 |
| Napa | 64.05% | 27,144 | 30.58% | 12,958 | 5.37% | 2,277 |
| Solano | 63.06% | 64,828 | 32.06% | 32,956 | 4.89% | 5,025 |
| San Benito | 60.74% | 8,626 | 33.58% | 4,768 | 5.68% | 807 |
| Imperial | 60.02% | 13,182 | 33.41% | 7,338 | 6.57% | 1,442 |
| Humboldt | 58.07% | 27,652 | 31.51% | 15,003 | 10.42% | 4,964 |
| Alpine | 57.17% | 303 | 35.47% | 188 | 7.36% | 39 |
| Santa Barbara | 57.00% | 68,970 | 37.08% | 44,864 | 5.92% | 7,157 |
| Sacramento | 56.59% | 201,221 | 37.94% | 134,887 | 5.47% | 19,447 |
| Lake | 56.41% | 10,830 | 34.85% | 6,691 | 8.74% | 1,678 |
| San Joaquin | 54.71% | 75,011 | 40.02% | 54,874 | 5.27% | 7,224 |
| Merced | 53.84% | 22,081 | 41.24% | 16,914 | 4.93% | 2,021 |
| Ventura | 53.22% | 115,471 | 42.12% | 91,374 | 4.66% | 10,110 |
| San Diego | 53.03% | 403,711 | 42.39% | 322,760 | 4.58% | 34,875 |
| Fresno | 51.45% | 89,331 | 43.94% | 76,286 | 4.60% | 7,993 |
| San Luis Obispo | 50.09% | 47,891 | 44.70% | 42,742 | 5.21% | 4,977 |
| Nevada | 49.98% | 21,204 | 43.88% | 18,618 | 6.14% | 2,606 |
| San Bernardino | 49.40% | 167,821 | 45.17% | 153,430 | 5.43% | 18,442 |
| Trinity | 49.39% | 2,824 | 41.20% | 2,356 | 9.41% | 538 |
| Stanislaus | 49.30% | 50,656 | 46.24% | 47,513 | 4.47% | 4,589 |
| Mono | 48.98% | 1,829 | 44.38% | 1,657 | 6.64% | 248 |
| Riverside | 48.54% | 183,532 | 46.43% | 175,543 | 5.03% | 19,006 |
| Del Norte | 48.11% | 3,207 | 44.33% | 2,955 | 7.56% | 504 |
| Butte | 47.02% | 32,131 | 45.82% | 31,316 | 7.16% | 4,892 |
| Kings | 47.02% | 10,660 | 48.59% | 11,016 | 4.40% | 997 |
| Tuolumne | 45.52% | 9,535 | 48.83% | 10,228 | 5.65% | 1,184 |
| Orange | 45.13% | 321,646 | 49.66% | 353,924 | 5.21% | 37,096 |
| Placer | 44.53% | 53,956 | 50.85% | 61,615 | 4.62% | 5,594 |
| Plumas | 44.36% | 3,881 | 49.66% | 4,345 | 5.98% | 523 |
| Amador | 44.35% | 6,534 | 50.10% | 7,382 | 5.55% | 818 |
| Calaveras | 44.33% | 7,860 | 48.74% | 8,642 | 6.92% | 1,227 |
| El Dorado | 43.25% | 28,915 | 50.99% | 34,091 | 5.76% | 3,853 |
| Mariposa | 42.98% | 3,249 | 50.83% | 3,842 | 6.19% | 468 |
| Madera | 42.39% | 12,658 | 52.27% | 15,609 | 5.34% | 1,596 |
| Tulare | 42.09% | 28,694 | 53.58% | 36,526 | 4.34% | 2,956 |
| Inyo | 41.41% | 2,641 | 51.44% | 3,281 | 7.15% | 456 |
| Siskiyou | 41.20% | 6,752 | 51.46% | 8,433 | 7.34% | 1,203 |
| Colusa | 41.08% | 1,994 | 54.53% | 2,647 | 4.39% | 213 |
| Sierra | 40.67% | 641 | 51.65% | 814 | 7.68% | 121 |
| Yuba | 39.94% | 5,487 | 52.82% | 7,257 | 7.24% | 994 |
| Sutter | 39.48% | 9,297 | 55.69% | 13,113 | 4.83% | 1,138 |
| Kern | 39.29% | 58,330 | 55.19% | 81,944 | 5.53% | 8,205 |
| Tehama | 38.70% | 6,914 | 55.22% | 9,865 | 6.08% | 1,086 |
| Shasta | 37.94% | 22,097 | 56.45% | 32,876 | 5.61% | 3,267 |
| Glenn | 37.84% | 2,813 | 56.76% | 4,219 | 5.39% | 401 |
| Lassen | 35.06% | 2,968 | 56.93% | 4,820 | 8.01% | 678 |
| Modoc | 34.44% | 1,264 | 57.03% | 2,093 | 8.53% | 313 |