The 2006 United States Senate election in Florida was held November 7, 2006. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Bill Nelson won re-election to a second term.
Background
During the Terri Schiavo case in March 2005, a talking points memo on the controversy was written by Brian Darling, the legal counsel to Republican Senator Mel Martínez of Florida.[1] The memo suggested the Schiavo case offered "a great political issue" that would appeal to the party's base (core supporters) and could be used against Senator Bill Nelson, a Democrat from Florida who was up for reelection in 2006, because he had refused to co-sponsor the bill which came to be known as the Palm Sunday Compromise.[2] Bill Nelson was nevertheless reelected as Senator on November 7, 2006 with 60% of the vote.
The organization Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW), which monitors political corruption, complained to the Federal Elections Commission (FEC) in October 2006 that the Bacardi beverage company had illegally used corporate resources in support of a fundraising event for Nelson in 2005. CREW had previously filed a similar complaint concerning a Bacardi fundraising event for Republican Senator Mel Martinez, an event that raised as much as $60,000 for Martinez's campaign. The amended complaint alleged that, on both occasions, Bacardi violated the Federal Election Campaign Act and FEC regulations by soliciting contributions from a list of the corporation's vendors.[10]
Endorsements
In a rare move, all twenty-two of Florida's daily newspapers supported Nelson, while none supported Harris in the general election.[11]
As expected, Nelson was easily reelected. He won with 60.3% of the vote winning by 1,064,421 votes or 22.2%, and carried 57 of Florida's 67 counties. Nelson was projected the winner right when the polls closed at 7 P.M. EST.
Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic
^"Senator's office produced Schiavo memo". Associated Press. April 6, 2005 – via NBC News.
^"The Seattle Times: Nation & World: GOP memo says issue offers political rewards". The Washington Post. April 4, 2005. Archived from the original on January 27, 2007 – via The Seattle Times.
^[1]
^"Archived copy". Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved August 30, 2006.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
^U.S. SENATE: It's a toss up | Jacksonville.com
^ a b c d e fhttp://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/content/nation/epaper/2006/08/25/a9a_endorse_0825.html [dead link]
^"Official Results September 5, 2006 Republican Primary Election". Florida Department of State. September 5, 2006. Retrieved December 1, 2017.
^"CREW FILES AMENDED FEC COMPLAINT AGAINST BACARDI USA AND MARTINEZ FOR SENATE". Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington. Retrieved August 7, 2018.
^Harris, Nelson tout testimonials
^ a b c d"Bill Nelson For Senate". Archived from the original on December 13, 2006. Retrieved July 13, 2008.
^"Bill Nelson For Senate". Archived from the original on October 18, 2006. Retrieved October 16, 2006.
^U.S. SENATE: Nelson the best choice | Jacksonville.com
^The News Press Endorsement Recap
^"Bill Nelson For Senate". Archived from the original on October 18, 2006. Retrieved October 16, 2006.
^"Bill Nelson For Senate". Archived from the original on October 18, 2006. Retrieved October 20, 2006.
^"Bill Nelson For Senate". Archived from the original on November 1, 2006. Retrieved November 1, 2006.
^"Bill Nelson For Senate". Archived from the original on October 11, 2006. Retrieved October 11, 2006.
^"Bill Nelson For Senate". Archived from the original on November 1, 2006. Retrieved November 1, 2006.
^Nelson for U.S. Senate
^"Bill Nelson For Senate". Archived from the original on October 18, 2006. Retrieved October 16, 2006.
^"Bill Nelson For Senate". Archived from the original on October 18, 2006. Retrieved October 16, 2006.
^"Bill Nelson For Senate". Archived from the original on October 18, 2006. Retrieved October 20, 2006.
^"Bill Nelson For Senate". Archived from the original on October 18, 2006. Retrieved October 16, 2006.
^"2006 Senate Race Ratings for November 6, 2006" (PDF). The Cook Political Report. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 5, 2008. Retrieved September 30, 2021.
^"Election Eve 2006: THE FINAL PREDICTIONS". Sabato's Crystal Ball. November 6, 2006. Retrieved June 25, 2021.
^"2006 Senate Ratings". Senate Ratings. The Rothenberg Political Report. Retrieved June 25, 2021.
^"Election 2006". Real Clear Politics. Retrieved June 25, 2021.