West Virginia's 2nd congressional district election, 2006
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The West Virginia 2nd congressional district election for the 110th Congress was held on November 7, 2006. Incumbent Shelley Moore Capito was the nominee for the Republican Party; attorney Mike Callaghan was the nominee for the Democratic Party. Capito won with 57% of the vote to 43% for Callaghan.
Candidates
Callaghan grew up in Richwood, a small town in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains in Nicholas County, West Virginia. He attended Richwood High School and the University of Virginia, where he obtained a bachelor's degree in engineering. He then marticulated at West Virginia University's law school, where he served as editor-in-chief of the West Virginia Law Review.
For nine years, Callaghan was as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the southern district of West Virginia, serving from 1997 until 2001 as head of the criminal division. Mike focused his tenure on prosecuting crimes related to drug trafficking and white collar crime. In 2001, Mike was appointed Secretary of the Department of Environmental Protection by then Governor Bob Wise.
Callaghan has served as chairman of the West Virginia Democratic Party, where he spoke out on issues related to social security and education. As chairman, he modernized the business and political methods of the West Virginia Democratic Party by retooling the Party’s website and focusing on increasing youth involvement in politics. Callaghan was honored at the 2004 Jefferson-Jackson Dinner with the Franklin D. Roosevelt award, naming him the West Virginia Democrat of the Year. He is a lifelong hunter, a member of the National Rifle Association and an opponent of restrictions on the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution.
Polling data
No major pollster conducted a survey in this district. However, the Cook Political Report rated this district as safe Republican, and CQPolitics.com rated this district Republican favored.
Result
Capito defeated Callaghan by a 57%-43% margin.