The 2006 Idaho gubernatorial election was held on November 7, 2006. Incumbent Governor Jim Risch succeeded Dirk Kempthorne, who resigned May 26 to become Secretary of the Interior. Risch served as governor until the end of the term, but had committed to a reelection campaign for Lieutenant Governor before Kempthorne's appointment and subsequent resignation.
This was the last time that a Democrat won over 40% of the vote in Idaho.
Republican primary
Candidates
- Dan Adamson, businessman and attorney
- Walter Bayes, perennial candidate
- Jack Alan Johnson
- C.L. "Butch" Otter, U.S. Representative and former Lieutenant Governor of Idaho
Declined
- Jim Risch, incumbent Governor of Idaho
Results
[[File:Idaho Governor R Primary 2006.svg|thumb|180px|Results by county
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Democratic primary
Candidates
- Jerry Brady, newspaper publisher and 2002 Democratic nominee for governor
- Lee Chaney, laborer
[[File:Idaho Governor D Primary 2006.svg|thumb|180px|Results by county
]]