2002 United States Senate special election in Missouri
December 15, 2023
The 2002 United States Special Senate election in Missouri was held on November 5, 2002 to decide who would serve the rest of Democrat Mel Carnahan's term, after he died while campaigning and posthumously won the 2000 election. The winner would serve four more years until the next election in 2006. Governor Roger Wilson appointed Carnahan's wife Jean, also a Democrat, to serve temporarily. She then decided to run to serve the remainder of the term, but she was narrowly defeated by Republican nominee Jim Talent.
2002 United States Senate special election in Missouri
Technically, the race flipped control of the Senate from Democrats to Republicans, but in reality, the Senate had adjourned before Talent could take office, and so no change in leadership occurred until the 108th Congress opened session on January 3, 2003.[1] With a margin of 1.1%, this election was the second-closest race of the 2002 Senate election cycle, behind only the election in South Dakota.
In the November 2000 elections, Democratic Governor of Missouri Mel Carnahan, who had died in a plane crash three weeks before, remained on the ballot for election to the U.S. Senate. Carnahan received more votes than his Republican opponent, incumbent Senator John Ashcroft, who did not legally contest being defeated by a dead candidate. Lieutenant Governor Roger B. Wilson ascended to serve the remaining three months of Carnahan's gubernatorial term, and promised to appoint Carnahan's widow in her husband's place should Carnahan posthumously defeat Ashcroft. Accordingly, Jean Carnahan was appointed to the Senate effective on January 3, 2001; and a special election was scheduled in 2002 for the balance of Carnahan's Senate term.[2][3]
The Seventeenth Amendment requires that appointments to the Senate last only until a special election is held.
Jim Talent (R), former U.S. Representative and nominee for governor in 2000
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National security and Carnahan's vote against fellow Missourian John Ashcroft as attorney general were major issues in the campaign. Republicans argued Carnahan owed her vote to Ashcroft, who had lost his bid for re-election to the Senate to Carnahan's husband.[5] Talent, citing Carnahan's votes against homeland-security legislation and missile defense, accused her of being soft on national security, which she objected to, saying he was "doubt[ing] her patriotism."[6]
Jack Abramoff contributed $2,000 to Talent's 2002 senatorial campaign[7] and Preston Gates & Ellis, a former Abramoff employer, had also contributed $1,000 to Talent's campaign.[8] Talent later returned both contributions.[9] Talent's win returned Republican control of the Senate which had a small Democratic majority after Jim Jeffords left the Republican Party to become an Independent caucusing with Democrats.
Talent's victory wasn't certified until November 21, 2002, one day before Congress adjourned, which prevented them from claiming a senate majority. He automatically became a Senator the following day because, under federal law, he formally took office the day after both chambers of Congress adjourned. Because Republicans would hold the majority in the following congress, they saw no need to hold a special session in the 107th to take advantage of their brief majority.[10][11]
Carnahan only won 26 counties and the independent city of St. Louis out of the state’s 114 counties. However, she kept the race close by running up margins in St. Louis and in Jackson County home of Kansas City, though her victory in St. Louis County was a close one. Ultimately Talent was able to win the seat by running up decent margins in rural areas of the state.
^Witcover, Jules (October 18, 2000). "In Mo., tragic loss for Democrats". Retrieved October 3, 2017.
^"Governor's Widow Goes to Senate". December 6, 2000. Retrieved October 3, 2017.
^ abc. Office of Secretary of State, Missouri. August 21, 2001. Archived from the original on October 23, 2012. Retrieved May 21, 2013.
^Horner, William T. Showdown in the Show-Me State: The Fight over Conceal-and-carry Gun Laws in Missouri. Page 159. University of Missouri Press, 2005. Retrieved April 27, 2015.
^Expectations Game Plays for Both Mo. Senate Candidates. Fox News. October 22, 2002. Retrieved April 27, 2015.
^. Archived from the original on June 8, 2015. Retrieved March 14, 2015.
^. Archived from the original on June 8, 2015. Retrieved March 14, 2015.
^Vlahos, Kelley Beaucar (November 7, 2002). "After the Celebration: What Can a GOP Senate Do?". Retrieved October 3, 2017.
^Mannies, Jo (November 22, 2002). "It's official: With election results certified, Talent will be a senator starting Saturday". St. Louis Dispatch.
^. www.centerforpolitics.org. November 4, 2002. Archived from the original on November 18, 2002. Retrieved June 25, 2021.
^"Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives".
December 15, 2023
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The 2002 United States Special Senate election in Missouri was held on November 5 2002 to decide who would serve the rest of Democrat Mel Carnahan s term after he died while campaigning and posthumously won the 2000 election The winner would serve four more years until the next election in 2006 Governor Roger Wilson appointed Carnahan s wife Jean also a Democrat to serve temporarily She then decided to run to serve the remainder of the term but she was narrowly defeated by Republican nominee Jim Talent 2002 United States Senate special election in Missouri 2000 November 5 2002 2006 Nominee Jim Talent Jean CarnahanParty Republican DemocraticPopular vote 935 032 913 778Percentage 49 8 48 7 County results Talent 40 50 50 60 60 70 70 80 Carnahan 40 50 50 60 60 70 70 80 U S senator before electionJean CarnahanDemocratic Elected U S Senator Jim TalentRepublicanTechnically the race flipped control of the Senate from Democrats to Republicans but in reality the Senate had adjourned before Talent could take office and so no change in leadership occurred until the 108th Congress opened session on January 3 2003 1 With a margin of 1 1 this election was the second closest race of the 2002 Senate election cycle behind only the election in South Dakota Contents 1 Background 2 Democratic primary 2 1 Candidates 2 2 Results 3 Republican primary 3 1 Candidates 3 2 Results 4 Libertarian primary 4 1 Candidates 4 2 Results 5 General election 5 1 Candidates 5 2 Campaign 5 3 Predictions 5 4 Polling 5 5 Results 5 5 1 Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic 5 5 2 Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican 6 See also 7 Notes 8 ReferencesBackground editIn the November 2000 elections Democratic Governor of Missouri Mel Carnahan who had died in a plane crash three weeks before remained on the ballot for election to the U S Senate Carnahan received more votes than his Republican opponent incumbent Senator John Ashcroft who did not legally contest being defeated by a dead candidate Lieutenant Governor Roger B Wilson ascended to serve the remaining three months of Carnahan s gubernatorial term and promised to appoint Carnahan s widow in her husband s place should Carnahan posthumously defeat Ashcroft Accordingly Jean Carnahan was appointed to the Senate effective on January 3 2001 and a special election was scheduled in 2002 for the balance of Carnahan s Senate term 2 3 The Seventeenth Amendment requires that appointments to the Senate last only until a special election is held Democratic primary editCandidates edit Jean Carnahan incumbent U S Senator Darrel D DayResults edit Democratic primary results 4 Party Candidate Votes Democratic Jean Carnahan incumbent 368 149 83 22Democratic Darrel D Day 74 237 16 78Total votes 442 386 100 00Republican primary editCandidates edit Scott Craig Babbitt Doris Bass Landfather St Louis alderman and perennial candidate Martin Lindstedt perennial candidate Joseph A May dentist Jim Talent former U S Representative and nominee for Governor in 2000Results edit Republican primary results 4 Party Candidate Votes Republican Jim Talent 395 994 89 58Republican Joseph A May 18 525 4 19Republican Doris Bass Landfather 14 074 3 18Republican Scott Craig Babbitt 7 705 1 74Republican Martin Lindstedt 5 773 1 31Total votes 442 071 100 00Libertarian primary editCandidates edit Tamara A Millay perennial candidate Edward Joseph ManleyResults edit Libertarian primary results 4 Party Candidate Votes Libertarian Tamara A Millay 1 942 59 35Libertarian Edward Joseph Manley 1 330 40 65Total votes 3 272 100 00General election editCandidates edit Jean Carnahan D incumbent U S Senator Tamara Millay L perennial candidate Daniel Romano G Jim Talent R former U S Representative and nominee for governor in 2000Campaign edit National security and Carnahan s vote against fellow Missourian John Ashcroft as attorney general were major issues in the campaign Republicans argued Carnahan owed her vote to Ashcroft who had lost his bid for re election to the Senate to Carnahan s husband 5 Talent citing Carnahan s votes against homeland security legislation and missile defense accused her of being soft on national security which she objected to saying he was doubt ing her patriotism 6 Jack Abramoff contributed 2 000 to Talent s 2002 senatorial campaign 7 and Preston Gates amp Ellis a former Abramoff employer had also contributed 1 000 to Talent s campaign 8 Talent later returned both contributions 9 Talent s win returned Republican control of the Senate which had a small Democratic majority after Jim Jeffords left the Republican Party to become an Independent caucusing with Democrats Talent s victory wasn t certified until November 21 2002 one day before Congress adjourned which prevented them from claiming a senate majority He automatically became a Senator the following day because under federal law he formally took office the day after both chambers of Congress adjourned Because Republicans would hold the majority in the following congress they saw no need to hold a special session in the 107th to take advantage of their brief majority 10 11 Predictions edit Source Ranking As ofSabato s Crystal Ball 12 Lean R flip November 4 2002Polling edit Poll source Date s administered Samplesize a Marginof error JeanCarnahan D JimTalent R Other UndecidedSurveyUSA October 31 November 3 2002 958 LV 3 3 49 47 4 Results edit Carnahan only won 26 counties and the independent city of St Louis out of the state s 114 counties However she kept the race close by running up margins in St Louis and in Jackson County home of Kansas City though her victory in St Louis County was a close one Ultimately Talent was able to win the seat by running up decent margins in rural areas of the state General election results 13 Party Candidate Votes Republican Jim Talent 935 032 49 80 1 41 Democratic Jean Carnahan incumbent 913 778 48 67 1 80 Libertarian Tamara A Millay 18 345 0 98 0 55 Green Daniel Romano 10 465 0 56 0 11 Majority 21 254 1 13 0 94 Turnout 1 877 620Republican gain from Democratic SwingCounties that flipped from Republican to Democratic edit Schuyler Largest city Lancaster Bates Largest city Butler Shannon Largest city Winona Washington largest city Potosi Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican edit Dunklin Largest city Kennett Callaway Largest city Fulton Howard Largest city Fayette See also edit2002 United States Senate electionsNotes edit Key A all adultsRV registered votersLV likely votersV unclearReferences edit U S Senate Party Division Witcover Jules October 18 2000 In Mo tragic loss for Democrats Retrieved October 3 2017 Governor s Widow Goes to Senate December 6 2000 Retrieved October 3 2017 a b c Official Election Returns State of Missouri Primary Election Office of Secretary of State Missouri August 21 2001 Archived from the original on October 23 2012 Retrieved May 21 2013 Horner William T Showdown in the Show Me State The Fight over Conceal and carry Gun Laws in Missouri Page 159 University of Missouri Press 2005 Retrieved April 27 2015 Expectations Game Plays for Both Mo Senate Candidates Fox News October 22 2002 Retrieved April 27 2015 FEC Disclosure Report Search Results Archived from the original on June 8 2015 Retrieved March 14 2015 FEC Disclosure Report Search Results Archived from the original on June 8 2015 Retrieved March 14 2015 http www citizensforethics org filelibrary HotlineListofReturnedDoations01 06 06 pdf permanent dead link Vlahos Kelley Beaucar November 7 2002 After the Celebration What Can a GOP Senate Do Retrieved October 3 2017 Mannies Jo November 22 2002 It s official With election results certified Talent will be a senator starting Saturday St Louis Dispatch Senate Races www centerforpolitics org November 4 2002 Archived from the original on November 18 2002 Retrieved June 25 2021 Office of the Clerk U S House of Representatives Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 2002 United States Senate special election in Missouri amp oldid 1187991024, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
