The 2006 Iowa gubernatorial election took place on November 7, 2006. The incumbent governor, Tom Vilsack, a Democrat, had served two terms and decided not to seek a third. In the election, Chet Culver defeated Jim Nussle to win the governorship, by a margin of 54% to 44%.
This election marks the first time Democrats won three consecutive gubernatorial elections in the state since 1966, and the only time Democrats have ever done so for four-year terms. Until Rob Sand’s win in 2026, this was the last time a Democrat was elected Governor of Iowa.
Democratic primary
Candidates
Won primary
- Chet Culver, Iowa secretary of state (1999–2007), son of former United States Senator John Culver
- Running mate: Patty Judge, secretary of agriculture of Iowa (1999–2007) and former state senator
Defeated in primary
- Mike Blouin, former director of the Iowa Department of Economic Development (2003–2005), former U.S. representative for IA-02 (1975–1979), and 1st director of the Information Security Oversight Office (1979–1980)
- Running mate: Andrea McGuire, physician
- Ed Fallon, Iowa state representative (1993–2006)
- Sal Mohamed, engineer and 2004 Democratic candidate for Congress
Declined to run
- Sally Pederson, lieutenant governor of Iowa (1999–2007)
Republican primary
Candidates
- Jim Nussle, U.S. representative
Withdrew
- Bob Vander Plaats, president and CEO of The Family Leader, to become Nussle's running mate for the general election
Independents
Green
- Wendy Barth, peace activist and software engineer from Cedar Rapids
Libertarian
- Kevin Litten, pharmacist from Cedar Rapids
General election
The Democratic nominee, Iowa Secretary of State Chet Culver, selected Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Patty Judge as his running mate. Judge had previously run for the Democratic nomination for governor before dropping out to run for lieutenant governor. The Republican nominee, U.S. Congressman Jim Nussle, selected Sioux City businessman Bob Vander Plaats as his running mate. Vander Plaats, like Judge, had previously run for his party's nomination before dropping out to run for lieutenant governor.
Endorsements
Individuals
- Wesley Clark, general, 2004 Democratic presidential candidate
Results
Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican
- Audubon (largest city: Audubon)
- Carroll (largest city: Carroll)
- Cherokee (largest city: Cherokee)
- Dallas (largest city: Waukee)
- Delaware (largest city: Manchester)
- Guthrie (largest city: Guthrie Center)
- Greene (largest city: Jefferson)
- Monona (largest city: Onawa)
Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic
- Allamakee (largest city: Waukon)
- Hancock (largest city: Garner)
- Iowa (largest city: Williamsburg)
- Jefferson (largest city: Fairfield)
- Madison (largest city: Winterset)
- Winneshiek (largest city: Decorah)
- Woodbury (largest city: Sioux City)
- Louisa (largest city: Wapello)
- Sac (largest city: Sac City)
- Calhoun (largest city: Rockwell City)
By congressional district
Culver won four of five congressional districts, including one that elected a Republican.