United States Senate election in Hawaii, 2006

United States Senate election in Hawaii, 2006

November 7, 2006

Nominee Daniel Akaka Cynthia Thielen Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 210,330 126,097 Percentage 61.4% 36.8%

County Results

U.S. senator before election Daniel Akaka Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Daniel Akaka Democratic

The 2006 United States Senate election in Hawaii was held November 7, 2006. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Daniel Akaka won re-election to his third full term.

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Daniel Akaka, incumbent U.S. Senator
• Ed Case, U.S. Representative

Campaign

Case had stated that although he has the deepest respect for Daniel Akaka, Hawaii is in a time of transition with regard to the state's representation in Congress which requires that the state phase in the next generation to provide continuity in that service. He had warned the state would lose all clout in Washington if the state's two US Senators, both of whom are over 80 years old, leave office within a short time of each other. If a Senator were to die, Hawaii election law requires that the governor appoint a replacement of the same party. Republican Governor Linda Lingle and U.S. Senate Hawaii Candidate 2006,2010,2012 Eddie Pirkowski may run for the seat in 2012 if Akaka retires.

Hawaii's other Representative, Neil Abercrombie, and other Senator, Daniel Inouye, pledged their support to Sen. Akaka.

Polling

Source	Date	Akaka	Case
Honolulu Advertiser/Ward Research	September 17, 2006	51%	38%
Rasmussen	August 11, 2006	47%	45%
Honolulu Advertiser/Ward Research	July 2, 2006	51%	40%
QMark Research & Polling	May 15, 2006	40%	38%

Results

Democratic Primary results
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Daniel K. Akaka	129,158	54.65
	Democratic	Ed Case	107,163	45.35
Total votes			236,321	100

Republican primary

Candidates

• Mark Beatty, attorney and businessman
• Jerry Coffee, retired Navy captain, Vietnam War POW, and motivational speaker (withdrew from the race before the Republican primary but his name still appeared on the ballot)
• Charles "Akacase" Collins
• Jay Friedheim, attorney and candidate for the U.S. Senate in 1998 and 2004
• Eddie Pirkowski, businessman
• Steve Tataii, conflict resolution teacher and author

Results

Republican Primary results
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Jerry Coffee	10,139	41.01
	Republican	Mark Beatty	6,057	24.50
	Republican	Akacase Collins	3,146	12.72
	Republican	Jay Friedheim	2,299	9.30
	Republican	Steve Tataii	1,601	6.48
	Republican	Eddie Pirkowski	1,482	5.99
Total votes			24,724	100

Hawaii State Representative Cynthia Thielen was selected to be the Republican nominee after Jerry Coffee, who had previously withdrawn his candidacy, won the primary.

General election

Candidates

• Daniel Akaka (D), incumbent U.S. Senator
• Cynthia Thielen (R), Hawaii State Representative
• Lloyd Mallan (L), perennial candidate

Polling

Source	Date	Akaka (D)	Thielen(R)
Rasmussen	August 11, 2006	58%	30%

Results

General election results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Daniel Akaka (inc.)	210,330	61.4%	-11.5%
	Republican	Cynthia Thielen	126,097	36.8%	+12.3%
	Libertarian	Lloyd Mallan	6,415	1.9%	+1.0%
Majority			84,233	24.6%
Turnout			342,842
	Democratic hold		Swing

Akaka won in all 4 Hawaii counties, taking at least 60% of the vote in each area.

External links

• Daniel Akaka campaign website
• Ed Case campaign website
• Mark Beatty campaign website
• Cynthia Thielen campaign website
• Steve Tataii campaign website
• Lloyd "Jeff" Mallan campaign website