2006 Ohio Secretary of State election

2006 Ohio Secretary of State election

← 2002 November 7, 2006 (2006-11-07) 2010 →

Nominee Jennifer Brunner Greg Hartmann Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 2,104,114 1,546,454 Percentage 55.03% 40.45%

Brunner:      40-50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% Hartmann:      40-50%      50–60%      60–70%

Secretary of State before election Ken Blackwell Republican Elected Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner Democratic

The 2006 Ohio Secretary of State election was held on November 7, 2006, to elect the Ohio Secretary of State, concurrently with elections to the United States Senate, U.S. House of Representatives, governor, and other state and local elections, as part of the 2006 midterm elections. Primary elections were held on May 2, 2006, though both major party candidates ran uncontested.^[1] A debate was hosted by the League of Women Voters and Ohio News Network on October 19, 2006.^[2]

Incumbent Republican secretary Ken Blackwell was term-limited and instead was the unsuccessful Republican nominee for governor.^[3] Democratic Franklin County Common Pleas judge Jennifer Brunner defeated Republican Hamilton County judge Greg Hartmann in the general election.^[4] Prior to the election, Hartmann was involved in a controversy regarding Social Security numbers being public and leaked in Hamilton County, which was brought up during a debate between him and Brunner.^[5] Brunner became the first woman to be elected as Ohio Secretary of State.^[6]

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Greg Hartmann, Hamilton County judge and clerk^[7]

Withdrawn

• Jim Trakas, state representative from the 17th district (1999-present)^[8]

Results

Republican primary results^[9]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Greg Hartmann	444,076	100.0%
Total votes			444,076	100.0%

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Jennifer Brunner, Franklin County Common Pleas judge and former member of the Franklin County Board of Elections^[6]

Results

Democratic primary results^[10]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Jennifer Brunner	599,785	100.0%
Total votes			599,785	100.0%

General election

Endorsements

Jennifer Brunner (D)

Newspapers and other media

• The Toledo Blade^[11]

Organizations

• Columbus Education Association^[12]

Results

Ohio Secretary of State election, 2006^[13]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Jennifer Brunner	2,104,114	55.03%
	Republican	Greg Hartmann	1,546,454	40.45%
	Independent	John Eastman	94,706	2.48%
	Independent	Timothy Kettler	78,080	2.04%
Total votes			3,823,354	100.0%
	Democratic gain from Republican

References

1. "Primary Election: May 2, 2006". Ohio Secretary of State. Retrieved October 22, 2025.
2. "Race for Ohio Secretary of State is Civil". WOSU 89.7. October 19, 2006. Retrieved October 22, 2025.
3. "After years of red majority, blue tidal wave inundates GOP". The Daily Record. November 10, 2006. Retrieved October 22, 2025.
4. Drew, James; Eder, Steve (November 8, 2006). "Strickland easily takes Ohio governor job". The Blade. Retrieved October 22, 2025.
5. "Secretary of State Candidates Debate at City Club". Ideastream Public Media. October 27, 2006. Retrieved September 14, 2025.
6. "Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner". CBS 19. March 14, 2007. Retrieved October 22, 2025.
7. "Greg Hartmann (R)". FOX 19. September 11, 2006. Retrieved October 22, 2025.
8. Fox, John (January 9, 2008). "Who the Hell Is Greg Hartmann?". Cincinnati CityBeat. Retrieved October 22, 2025.
9. "Republican Secretary of State: May 2, 2006". Ohio Secretary of State. Retrieved October 22, 2025.
10. "Democratic Secretary of State: May 2, 2006". Ohio Secretary of State. Retrieved October 22, 2025.
11. "The Blade's Endorsements" (PDF). The Toledo Blade. November 2, 2006. Retrieved October 22, 2025.
12. "TBS recommended endorsements" (PDF). Columbus Education Association. September 5, 2006. Retrieved October 22, 2025.
13. "Secretary of State: November 7, 2006". Ohio Secretary of State. Retrieved September 14, 2025.

External links

Official campaign websites (archived)

• Jennifer Brunner (D) for Ohio Secretary of State
• Greg Hartmann (R) for Ohio Secretary of State
• John Eastman (I) for Ohio Secretary of State
• Tim Kettler (I) for Ohio Secretary of State