The 2006 Connecticut gubernatorial election occurred on November 7, 2006. Incumbent Republican Jodi Rell became governor when John G. Rowland resigned on corruption charges in 2004. Rell had an approval rating of 70% as of October 19, 2006, and polls showed her leading the Democratic nominee, New Haven mayor John DeStefano by a near 30-point margin. As expected, she won the election to a full term in a landslide. DeStefano defeated Stamford Mayor Dannel Malloy in the Connecticut Democratic gubernatorial primary on August 8. As of 2026, this is the last time a Republican and woman was elected Governor of Connecticut, and the last time any gubernatorial candidate won every county in the state to date.
Republican primary
Candidates
- Jodi Rell, incumbent governor
- Running mate: Michael Fedele, State Representative
Results
Governor Rell was unopposed for renomination.
Democratic primary
Governor
Nominee
- John DeStefano, Jr., Mayor of New Haven
Eliminated in primary
- Dannel Malloy, Mayor of Stamford
Declined
- Richard Blumenthal, Connecticut Attorney General
- Chris Dodd, United States Senator
- Susan Bysiewicz, Connecticut Secretary of State
Lieutenant governor
Nominee
- Mary Glassman, former First Selectman of Simsbury (Running mate of Malloy)
Eliminated in primary
- Scott Slifka, Mayor of West Hartford (Running mate of DeStefano)
Independents and third parties
Green Party
- Cliff Thornton, retired businessman; drug policy reform advocate; U.S. Army veteran
Concerned Citizens Party
- Joseph A. Zdonczyk, retired businessman; U.S. Army veteran; Concerned Citizens Party founder
Independent
- John M. Joy (write-in candidate)
General election
Results
The following are the results of the 2006 election: Rell won every county and all but seven towns. Notably, DeStefano won the capital city of Hartford, the largest city of Bridgeport, and his hometown of New Haven.
By county
Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican
- Windham (largest town: Windham)
By congressional district
Rell won all five congressional districts, including four that elected Democrats.