The sixth season of the American political drama television series The West Wing aired in the United States on NBC from October 20, 2004, to April 6, 2005, and consisted of 22 episodes.

CJ Cregg becomes chief of staff but she finds it difficult to adapt, a fact not helped by the President's worsening multiple sclerosis and consequent interference from the First Lady in an effort to conserve his energy.

[3] Kristin Chenoweth joined the recurring cast as Annabeth Schott, a former feature writer who becomes Deputy Press Secretary.

[3] Actors who left the cast include John Amos as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Percy Fitzwallace who was killed in the penultimate episode of the previous season,[6] Jesse Bradford as intern Ryan Pierce[7] and Michael Hyatt as legislative affairs advisor Angela Blake.

The senior staff clash with Congressional leaders on how to fund US peacekeepers destined for the Middle East following the peace accord signed by Israel and the Palestinians.

He meets with environmental supporters who berate the White House for doing too little to beef up laws in this area, including raising fuel emissions standards; Josh points out that they have had seven years of a hostile Congress.

Santos gets friendly with Republicans over a Patients' Bill of Rights, and the first American soldier dies in the Gaza peacekeeping mission, upsetting Donna.

While preparing for the upcoming China summit, the Chinese are insulted by President Bartlet's acceptance of a Taiwanese independence movement flag at a prayer breakfast.

Eventually at a performance by James Taylor that evening paying tribute to Sam Cooke, Jed confides to Abby that he did not see the flag.

In Washington, a NASA functionary warns that an asteroid could strike Earth, while Josh wonders who should be the next guy to occupy the Oval Office and puts off a talk with Donna about her future until she finally quits her job.

The presidential candidates journey to Iowa, where Democrats Russell and Santos, and Republican Vinick, are all told by their handlers that when they appear before the corn growers association they must support subsidies for ethanol as fuel, regardless of their true feelings.

It is five days before the New Hampshire primary, and Josh is desperately trying to find a "silver bullet" that will get his candidate into the local debate between front-runners Russell and Hoynes.

Meanwhile, a bill to combat drought conditions in the western U.S. presents problems for C.J., particularly in dealing with lobbyist Clifford Calley – whom Leo suggests as a replacement for Josh.

Senator Rafferty, a new contender, garners media attention with a ground-breaking speech, her words echoing President Bartlet's original health care plan known only to White House insiders.

As Super Tuesday approaches, the three Democratic candidates battle it out to win California as the state legislature passes a bill that would prevent illegal immigrants from obtaining driver's licenses.

Meanwhile, Leo and Kate learn that they have more in common than politics when a distant memory of corrupted elections and bar-room antics reveal a more intimate connection.

He gets political advice from Bruno about choosing a vice president and how to deal with the latest controversy of Vinick's church attendance, or lack thereof.

Meanwhile, the International Space Station has a leak and is losing oxygen which jeopardizes the lives of the three astronauts aboard and morality and mortality are examined.

With voices on all sides furious, President Bartlet demands that the leaker's name be on his desk by Friday and has given the task to Toby and Kate Harper.

At the White House, Kate and Toby meet the FBI agents in charge of interviewing people capable of leaking the shuttle information.

After being asked to drop out and support a candidate Santos gives a rallying speech to the delegates reminding them to vote with their hearts.

[33] Alex Graves was nominated for Outstanding Directing in a Drama Series and production sound mixer Patrick Hanson and re-recording mixers Dan Hiland and Gary D. Rogers were nominated in the Outstanding Single-Camera Sound Mixing for a Series category, both for the episode "2162 Votes".

[33][36] "2162 Votes" also got Hanson, Hiland and Rogers a Cinema Audio Society Awards nomination for Outstanding Achievement in Sound Mixing for a Television Series.