Nine states in which politically motivated U.S. Attorney appointments were made since 2005.
Tight Races in 2006 – Seats previously held by Republicans where pre election polling showed a tight race or possible/likely Democratic win.
- All seats were held by Republicans who either ran again or retired.
- 11 of 15 were designated as "KEY RACES" by Congressional Quarterly
- Seven of the races were decided by a margin of 2% or less (3 Dem - 4 Rep) and designated "CLOSE" below.
- Overall, the Democrats won 8 races and the Republicans 7.
- Prior to the election, these ratings were given to the race:
2 - Lean Republican 4 - Leans Democratic
3 - Republican Favorite 5 - No Clear Favorite
1 - Solid Republican
2006 Election Results, Washington Post
Races Chosen in the Nine States: The U.S. House races listed are in the nine states mentioned by Rove as critical to success in 2006 as reported in the McClatchy article, a New U.S. attorneys seem to have partisan records, 23 March 2006. In that article, Rove identified 11 critical states in the 2006 election. McClatchy reporters noted that in 9 of the 11, there had been new appointments of U.S attorney's since 2005. These nine states were examined on the basis of close elections where election fraud might take place from analysis by internet poster TruthIsAll. The data below focuses on races for the House. One race for governor, Nevada, is mentioned since that state saw a long time U.S. Attorney fired who was investigating the Republican candidate for governor, Gibbons.
These 15 House seats were Republican going into the election, yet many incumbents chose not to run. They were close races, for the most part. The New Mexico race was a vital win since Republican incumbent Heather Wilson is the heir apparent to the Republican Senate seat which will become vacant if, as anticipated, Sen. Pete Domenici retires. Given the retention rate for incumbents and party control of a district, these states were the weak link in Roves plan. Rove's data more than justified covering all bases for the anticipated post election challenges in extremely close elections. The firings and subsequent appointments of loyalists were a no lose proposition. If they were necessary, they would help with post election Republican challenges. Even without challenges, more loyal U.S. Attorney would be in place, which would be a desirable end period.
Colorado: New U.S. Attorney 8 August 2006.
Private practice, major firm, Denver.
Colo. U.S. House District 4 Results | ||
Candidate | Votes | % |
Marilyn Musgrave * (R) | 104,876 | 46% |
Angie Paccione (D) | 97,670 | 43% |
Eric Eidsness (Ref.) | 25,880 | 11% |
Key: * Incumbent | Leans Republican | ||
WinnerColo. U.S. House District 5 Results (KEY RACE) | ||
Candidate | Votes | % |
Doug Lamborn (R) | 101,603 | 59% |
Jay Fawcett (D) | 69,677 | 41% |
Key: * Incumbent | Republican Favored CLOSE | ||
Colo. U.S. House District 7 Results (KEY RACE) | ||
Candidate | Votes | % |
Ed Perlmutter (D) | 99,824 | 55% |
Rick O'Donnell (R) | 76,825 | 42% |
Dave Chandler (Green) | 2,964 | 2% |
Roger McCarville (AmC) | 2,495 | 1% |
Key: * Incumbent | Leans Democratic | ||
Florida: New U.S. Attorney (Middle District)
8 March 2002 (Cong. Districts 13, 16, 24).
DOJ Civil Righ
Fla. U.S. House District 13 Results (KEY RACE) | ||
Candidate | Votes | % |
Vern Buchanan (R) | 119,102 | 50% |
Christine Jennings (D) | 118,729 | 50% |
Key: * Incumbent | | ||
Fla. U.S. House District 16 Results (KEY RACE) | ||
Candidate | Votes | % |
Tim Mahoney (D) | 115,506 | 50% |
Mark Foley (R) | 111,102 | 48% |
Emmie Ross (I) | 6,512 | 3% |
Key: * Incumbent | Leans Democratic CLOSE | ||
Fla. U.S. House District 22 Results (KEY RACE) | ||
Candidate | Votes | % |
Ron Klein (D) | 107,357 | 51% |
Clay Shaw * (R) | 99,255 | 47% |
Neil Evangelista (I) | 4,213 | 2% |
Key: * Incumbent | | ||
Florida: New U.S. Attorney (Southern District)
9 June 2006. DOJ Civil Rights (head)
Fla. U.S. House District 24 Results | ||
Candidate | Votes | % |
Tom Feeney * (R) | 123,557 | 58% |
Clint Curtis (D) | 89,672 | 42% |
Key: * Incumbent | Safe Republican | ||
Iowa (Northern District): New U.S. Attorney
December 2006. DOJ Civil Rights
Iowa U.S. House District 1 Results (KEY RACE) | ||
Candidate | Votes | % |
Bruce Braley (D) | 113,724 | 55% |
Mike Whalen (R) | 89,471 | 43% |
James Hill (OTH) | 2,184 | 1% |
Albert Schoeman (OTH) | 1,224 | 1% |
Key: * Incumbent | | ||
Iowa (Southern District): New U.S. Attorney
June 2004.
Iowa U.S. House District 2 Results | ||
Candidate | Votes | % |
Dave Loebsack (D) | 107,097 | 51% |
Jim Leach * (R) | 101,386 | 49% |
Key: * Incumbent | | ||
Minnesota: New U.S. Attorney 17 February 2006
Senior Counsel, Paul McNulty, US DOJ
Minn. U.S. House District 1 Results | ||
Candidate | Votes | % |
Tim Walz (D) | 141,622 | 53% |
Gil Gutknecht * (R) | 126,487 | 47% |
Key: * Incumbent | | ||
Minn. U.S. House District 2 Results | ||
Candidate | Votes | % |
John Kline * (R) | 163,292 | 56% |
Coleen Rowley (D) | 116,360 | 40% |
Doug Williams (INP) | 10,802 | 4% |
Key: * Incumbent | | ||
Minn. U.S. House District 6 Results (KEY RACE) | ||
Candidate | Votes | % |
Michele Bachmann (R) | 151,962 | 50% |
Patty Wetterling (D) | 128,053 | 42% |
John Binkowski (INP) | 23,632 | 8% |
Key: * Incumbent | | ||
U.S. Attorney Iglesias fired 7 December 2006. Interim
appointment of Larry Gomez, career DOJ employee
N.M. U.S. House District 1 Results (KEY RACE) | ||
Candidate | Votes | % |
Heather Wilson * (R) | 104,575 | 50% |
Patricia A. Madrid (D) | 102,968 | 50% |
Key: * Incumbent | | ||
Wisconsin (Eastern District) New U.S. Attorney May
2002. DOJ Criminal Prosecutor
Wisc. U.S. House District 8 Results (KEY RACE) | ||
Candidate | Votes | % |
Steven Kagen (D) | 141,598 | 51% |
John Gard (R) | 134,990 | 49% |
Key: * Incumbent | | ||
End Congressional Districts
------------------------------------------------------------------
NEVADA GOVERNOR 2006
Daniel Bogden Fired in December 2007 for
no good reason while FBI investigated now
elected Governor Gibbons, a favored Republican
candidate. Replaced by political appointee.
Nev. Governor Results (KEY RACE) | ||
Candidate | Votes | % |
Jim Gibbons (R) | 277,855 | 48% |
Dina Titus (D) | 254,920 | 44% |
None of These Candidates (Una.) | 20,619 | 4% |
Christopher Hansen (IAP) | 19,966 | 3% |
Craig Bergland (Green) | 6,731 | 1% |
Key: * Incumbent | | ||
