The 2006 Massachusetts gubernatorial election was held on November 7, 2006. The incumbent Republican governor, Mitt Romney, chose not to seek a second term. Polls had been mixed prior to Romney's announcement, with one poll showing Romney slightly leading Democrat Attorney General Tom Reilly and other polls showing Reilly, who was then the Democratic frontrunner, in the lead. The election was won by the Democratic former United States Assistant Attorney General Deval Patrick, who became the second African-American governor in the United States since Reconstruction and the first Democratic governor of Massachusetts since Michael Dukakis left office in 1991. This was the last time until 2022 that the Democratic nominee won a majority. Democratic primary Governor Candidates Chris Gabrieli, businessman and Lieutenant Governor nominee in 2002 Deval Patrick, former Assistant United States Attorney General for Civil Rights Thomas Reilly, Massachusetts Attorney General Endorsements Deval Patrick: Attleboro Sun Chronicle, Bay State Banner, Blue Mass Group, Boston Globe, Brookline Tab, Cambridge Chronicle, Hamilton-Wenham Chronicle, Wellesley Townsman, Worcester Magazine Tom Reilly: Boston Herald, Cape Cod Times, Springfield Republican Campaign The Democratic State Caucuses were held in February in all cities and towns to elect delegates to the state convention. The Patrick campaign organized their supporters, many of whom had never been involved in such party processes before, to win twice as many pledged delegates as the Reilly campaign. (Chris Gabrieli did not join the race until a month later, which played a major role in his difficulty in getting on the ballot.) At the Democratic Convention on June 3 in Worcester, each candidate needed to receive support from 15% of the delegates to be on the primary ballot in September. There was some question as to whether Gabrieli could succeed after entering the race so late. Patrick received the convention's endorsement with 57.98% of the vote, Reilly made it with 26.66%, and Gabrieli narrowly achieved ballot access with 15.36% of the delegates' votes. The campaign was highlighted by numerous debates. The first two debates took place in late April. WBZ-CBS4 News hosted a debate between Democratic candidates Chris Gabrieli, Deval Patrick, and Tom Reilly on April 21 and it aired at 8:30 AM on April 23. A second Democratic candidate debate, moderated by Sy Becker from WWLP TV 22, was held at Agawam Middle School on April 27. The "Campaign to Stop Killer Coke", a group dedicated to holding Coca-Cola accountable for violence