2006 United States Senate election in New York

Candidates • Hillary Clinton, incumbent Senator • Jonathan B. Tasini, journalist and anti-war activist Withdrew • Mark Greenstein, businessman (endorsed Tasini) Campaign Hillary Clinton announced in November 2004 that she would seek a second term in the Senate, and began fundraising and campaigning. Clinton faced opposition for the Democratic party nomination from the anti-war base of her own party, that had become increasingly frustrated with her support for the Iraq War. On October 12, 2005 New Paltz firefighter and activist Steven Greenfield, a former Green Party leader, announced he would run as a Democrat. On December 6, 2005, labor advocate Jonathan Tasini announced that he would run as well, running as an antiwar candidate, calling for immediate withdrawal of troops from Iraq, universal health care, expansion in Medicare benefits, the creation of Universal Voluntary Accounts for pensions, and what he termed "New Rules For the Economy", a more labor-centric as opposed to the corporate-centric approach to economic matters espoused by Clinton. Tasini was president of Economic Future Group and former president of the National Writers Union. Tasini was supported by anti-war activist Cindy Sheehan, who had in October said of Clinton, "I will resist her candidacy with every bit of my power and strength...I will not make the mistake of supporting another pro-war Democrat for president again." On March 31, 2006, businessman Mark Greenstein announced his run for the seat. Greenstein, endorsed by the New Democrats, presented himself as a non-liberal Democrat who was campaigning to "bring the far left back to reality that Big Government is the source of most ongoing problems Democrat constituents face." He contended that Clinton was "too liberal" in her support for regulations, "too wishy-washy" on the Iraq war and on gay rights, and had lost integrity by using the Dubai Ports issue for political purposes. Greenstein challenged Clinton to sign a pledge that she would serve out her full 6 year Senate term if re-elected. However, in May 2006, Greenstein endorsed Tasini and essentially dropped out of the race. On June 1, 2006, Clinton accepted the unanimous endorsement of the New York State Democratic Party's convention in Buffalo. Eight days later, Greenstein dropped out of the race. Tasini pressed on, submitting 40,000 signatures to the State Election Commission on July 14, far more than the 15,000 needed to force a primary. Clinton's campaign said that she would not challenge the signatures. Results == Republican nomination ==

Candidates • K. T. McFarland, former Deputy Assistant United States Secretary of Defense • John Spencer, former mayor of Yonkers Withdrew • Edward F. Cox, attorney and son-in-law of Richard Nixon • Jeanine Pirro, Westchester County District Attorney (December 21, 2005) (ran for Attorney General) Campaign New York Republicans originally had high hopes of mounting a serious challenge to Clinton, and derailing her expected future presidential bid. On August 18, 2005, another Republican candidate, former mayor of Yonkers John Spencer, gave a radio interview in which he attacked Pirro, calling her chances of winning the Conservative Party of New York State nomination "a Chinaman's chance." Spencer later apologized. On October 14, 2005, Governor Pataki endorsed Pirro. Later that day, Cox withdrew from the race; his campaign had raised only $114,249 in contributions in the prior three months. On October 18, 2005, remarks by Pirro that appeared to suggest that Democrats were indifferent to child molesters and murderers drew sharp criticism from the Clinton campaign and others. Pirro trailed Clinton badly in fund-raising and in polls; her campaign had failed to gain traction. The announcement was timed to coincide with the 2005 New York City transit strike, so as to draw minimal attention to the Republicans' difficulties. Cox considered reentering the race but did not. Politically, Spencer was generally opposed to abortion, against gun control, and a supporter of tighter border security. He supported the George W. Bush administration and its policies, including the war in Iraq. Spencer came out in favor of New York's Court of Appeals denying same-sex marriage to 42 gay and lesbian couples who challenged that denial as unconstitutional. Spencer said that marriage equality for same-sex couples equated to "special rights for gays." Spencer was endorsed by Republican officials such as Congressman Vito Fossella. In contrast, McFarland was pro-choice. In a June 2006 radio ad, Spencer attacked national Republicans for not funding his campaign. On August 22, McFarland announced that she would be suspending her campaign until further notice after her daughter was caught shoplifting. Results On September 12, 2006, Spencer defeated McFarland in the Republican Primary, winning 61 to 39 percent of the vote. Republican turnout was less than 6%, the lowest level in more than 30 years. Spencer would also gain the Conservative Party line. Results == General election ==

Candidates • Hillary Rodham Clinton, incumbent U.S. Senator • Bill Van Auken, writer and nominee for president in 2004 (Socialist Equality) • Roger Calero, writer and nominee for president in 2004 (Socialist Workers) • Howie Hawkins, anti-nuclear energy activist and founder of the Green Party (Green) • Jeff Russell (Libertarian) Lester "Beetlejuice" Green, a frequent guest on The Howard Stern Show announced a mock campaign via video for the "2008 New York Senate Election," though there was no Senate election in New York in 2008. His announcement video listed his stances on abortion and tax cuts. Green was not listed on any ballot. Campaign Clinton spent $36 million for her re-election, more than any other candidate for Senate in the 2006 elections. Polls during the campaign generally showed Clinton with a 20-point lead or better over Spencer, with none of the third-party candidates — Hawkins, Bill Van Auken of the Socialist Equality Party, and Jeff Russell of the Libertarian Party — showing strength. During the campaign, Spencer also disparaged Clinton's looks, saying "You ever see a picture of her back then? Whew." and "I don't know why Bill married her." The Daily News also reported that Spencer said Clinton had undergone "millions of dollars of work -- plastic surgery" to help improve her appearance. "She looks good now," Smith quoted Spencer as saying. Howard Wolfson, a Clinton political adviser, said the story showed that Spencer "is unfit for the U.S. Senate." "I'm not sure what's worse: that Mr. Spencer made these insulting comments or that, instead of owning up and apologizing for them, he is lying about them," Wolfson said in a written statement to CNN. "Either way, it's clear that he is unfit for the U.S. Senate." Wolfson also denied that the senator has ever had plastic surgery. On November 7, 2006, Clinton won in a landslide, garnering 67% of the vote to Spencer's 31%. Debate Predictions Polling Results :Source: New York State Board of Elections General Election Results, Certified December 14, 2006 :Percentages do not add to 100% due to rounding. :Per New York State law, Clinton and Spencer totals include their minor party line votes: Independence Party and Working Families Party for Clinton, Conservative Party for Spencer. :In addition, 213,777 ballots were blank, void, or scattered, and are not included in the Turnout sum or percentages. Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic == Analysis ==

Clinton's victory margin over her Republican opponent (67%–31%) was a significant gain over her showing in the 2000 senate race against Rick Lazio (55%–43%). She carried all but four of New York's sixty-two counties. Clinton's 2006 margin did not quite equal the percentage received by Eliot Spitzer in the concurrent gubernatorial race (69%%–29%) nor by Chuck Schumer in his 2004 Senate re-election campaign (71%%–24%), both of which had also been against little-known Republican opponents. Jeanine Pirro would go on to get the Republican nomination for New York State Attorney General, but lost in the 2006 attorney general election to Democrat Andrew Cuomo. Clinton was criticized by some Democrats for spending too much in a one-sided contest, while some supporters were concerned she did not leave more funds for a potential presidential bid in 2008. In the following months she transferred $10 million of her Senate funds toward her 2008 presidential campaign. Following her Attorney General loss, Pirro left electoral politics and became a television judge and political commentator. Spencer left politics altogether. Tasani ran for a House seat in 2010 but was not competitive. Clinton fell short in her 2008 presidential nomination bid, served as U.S. Secretary of State for four years, and then ran again in the 2016 United States presidential election but suffered a general election loss. == See also ==