The 2006 United States Senate election in Nevada was held on November 7, 2006. Incumbent Republican John Ensign defeated Democratic nominee Jack Carter to win re-election to a second term. This was the only U.S. Senate election in Nevada where the incumbent Republican Senator was re-elected since 1980 and the only election for this seat where the incumbent Republican Senator was re-elected since 1952.
Popular Las Vegas mayor Oscar Goodman had said in January 2006 that he would probably run, but decisively ruled out a run in late April. Going into the 2006 cycle, many top Nevada Democrats such as State Assembly speaker Richard Perkins indicated that the party would put more efforts into the gubernatorial election than into defeating Ensign.
Carter's advantages included his formidable speaking abilities and kinship with a former U.S. president. On the other hand, Ensign was also considered to be an effective speaker and as of the first quarter of 2006, held an approximately 5âÂÂ1 advantage over Carter in cash-on-hand.
Ensign won a majority of the votes in every county in the state, with his lowest percentage at 52.5%.