2006 Minnesota Secretary of State election

The 2006 Minnesota Secretary of State election was held on 7 November 2006 in order to elect the Secretary of State of Minnesota. Democratic–Farmer–Labor nominee Mark Ritchie defeated Republican nominee and incumbent Secretary of State Mary Kiffmeyer, For Independent Voters nominee Bruce D. Kennedy and Independence nominee Joel Spoonheim.^[1]

2006 Minnesota Secretary of State election

← 2002 7 November 2006 2010 →

Nominee Mark Ritchie Mary Kiffmeyer Party Democratic (DFL) Republican Popular vote 1,049,432 943,989 Percentage 49.09% 44.16%

County results Ritchie:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70% Kiffmeyer:      40–50%      50–60%

Secretary of State before election Mary Kiffmeyer Republican Elected Secretary of State Mark Ritchie Democratic (DFL)

Primary elections

On 12 September 2006, Mark Ritchie faced only token opposition in his party's primary from perennial candidate Dick Franson, and easily won his party's nomination. Every other candidate was their respective party's sole nominee and so won their primaries uncontested that same day.^[2]

General election

On election day, 7 November 2006, Democratic–Farmer–Labor nominee Mark Ritchie won the election by a margin of 105,443 votes against his foremost opponent Republican nominee Mary Kiffmeyer, thereby gaining Democratic–Farmer–Labor control over the office of Secretary of State. Ritchie was sworn in as the 21st Minnesota Secretary of State on 2 January 2007.^[3]

Results

Minnesota Secretary of State election, 2006

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic (DFL)	Mark Ritchie	1,049,432	49.09
	Republican	Mary Kiffmeyer (incumbent)	943,989	44.16
	For Independent Voters	Bruce D. Kennedy	78,522	3.67
	Independence	Joel Spoonheim	64,489	3.02
	Write-in		1,211	0.06
Total votes			2,137,643	100.00
	Democratic (DFL) gain from Republican