2005 United States gubernatorial elections

The 2005 United States gubernatorial elections were held on November 8, 2005 in the states of New Jersey and Virginia as well as in the U.S. commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

2005 United States gubernatorial elections

November 8, 2005

3 governorships
2 states; 1 territory
  Majority party Minority party
 
Leader Kenny Guinn Bill Richardson
Party Republican Democratic
Leader's seat Nevada New Mexico
Last election 31 governorships (28 states) 25 governorships (22 states)
Seats before 31 (28 states) 25 (22 states)
Seats after 31 (28 states) 25 (22 states)
Seat change
Popular vote 1,897,598 2,250,493
Percentage 45.75% 54.25%

Map of the results
     Democratic hold      Covenant gain
     No election

National effect

Shortly before election day, U.S. President George W. Bush returned from a trip to Latin America to provide last-minute campaigning for Virginian gubernatorial candidate Jerry W. Kilgore. After the defeat of Kilgore and Doug Forrester in New Jersey, Democrats ascribed these victories to the President's decreasing popularity. Republicans then tried to downplay these Democratic triumphs as victories exclusive to those states and their candidates. Some speculate that these two elections were harbingers of the positive momentum around the Democratic party, and it could be said that they had some positive effect on the landmark victories in the 2006 midterm elections and the 2008 presidential election for the party. Republicans, however, maintain that the Democrats' advantage in 2005 was due simply to the fact that they were the incumbent party.

Election results

State Incumbent Party Status Opposing candidates
New Jersey Richard Codey Democratic Retired, Democratic victory Jon Corzine (Democratic) 52.87%
Doug Forrester (Republican) 43.17%
Hector Castillo (Independent) 1.29%
Jeffrey Pawlowski (Libertarian) 0.67%
Matt Thieke (Green) 0.54%
Richard Codey (as write-in) 0.43%
Edward Forchion (Marijuana) 0.41%
Michael Latigona (Independent) 0.23%
Wesley Bell (Independent) 0.18%
Angela Lariscy (Socialist Workers) 0.11%
Constantino Rozzo (Socialist) 0.09%
Northern Mariana Islands Juan Babauta Republican Defeated, 26.6% Benigno Fitial (Covenant) 28.1%
Heinz Hofschneider (Independent) 27.3%
Froilan Tenorio (Democratic) 18%
Virginia Mark Warner Democratic Term-limited, Democratic victory Tim Kaine (Democratic) 51.72%
Jerry Kilgore (Republican) 45.99%
Russ Potts (Independent) 2.22%

See also

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