The 2006 Nebraska gubernatorial election was held on November 7, 2006; the primary election was held on May 9, 2006. Republican incumbent Dave Heineman was re-elected to a full term, defeating Democrat David Hahn.
Republican primary
Candidates
- Dave Heineman, incumbent Governor of Nebraska
- Dave Nabity, financial consultant, former Young Republicans state chair
- Tom Osborne, U.S. Congressman, former football coach
Campaign
The Republican primary election had the unusual situation of an incumbent running against several members of his own party. Originally, the 2006 election would not have had an incumbent. However, this changed when Mike Johanns resigned in January 2005 to become United States Secretary of Agriculture; this elevated Lieutenant Governor Dave Heineman to the governorship. He then announced his intention to run for election to a full four-year term. The other two candidates for the Republican nomination were former Nebraska Cornhuskers football coach Tom Osborne—then serving in the United States House of Representatives—and Omaha businessman Dave Nabity.
In 2005, the three Republican candidates raised more than $2 million overall for their campaigns: Osborne $972,000; Heineman $922,000; and Nabity $150,000.
Osborne named Kate Witek, the Nebraska State Auditor, as his running mate for the office of lieutenant governor. She had previously been the running mate of Gene Spence in the 1994 Nebraska gubernatorial election. After the Osborne-Witek ticket was unsuccessful in the Republican primaries, Witek switched parties and joined the Democratic party.
Nebraska Party primary
Candidates
- Barry Richards, farmer