page_title: 2006 California Insurance Commissioner election
hierarchical_section_title: 2006 California Insurance Commissioner election
context_page_description: The 2006 California Insurance Commissioner election occurred on November 7, 2006. The primary elections took place on June 6, 2006. Businessman Steve Poizner, the Republican nominee, defeated Lieutenant Governor Cruz Bustamante, the Democratic nominee, for the office previously held by Democrat John Garamendi, who was term-limited and ran for lieutenant governor. Poizner is the only Republican other than Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to win a statewide election in California since 1998. As of 2020, this is the last time a Republican was elected Insurance Commissioner.
context_section_description: The 2006 California Insurance Commissioner election occurred on November 7, 2006. The primary elections took place on June 6, 2006. Businessman Steve Poizner, the Republican nominee, defeated Lieutenant Governor Cruz Bustamante, the Democratic nominee, for the office previously held by Democrat John Garamendi, who was term-limited and ran for lieutenant governor.  Poizner is the only Republican other than Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to win a statewide election in California since 1998. As of 2020, this is the last time a Republican was elected Insurance Commissioner.
caption: Election results by county