2002 United States Senate special election in Missouri

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. Missouri 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 was narrowly defeated by Republican nominee Jim Talent. Technically, the race flipped control of the Senate from Democrats to Republicans, but 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]

2002 United States Senate special election in Missouri

November 5, 2002

Nominee Jim Talent Jean Carnahan Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 935,032 913,778 Percentage 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 election Jean Carnahan Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Jim Talent Republican

This was the last time a senate special election held alongside the general election flipped parties until 2020.

Background

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.

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Jean Carnahan, incumbent U.S. Senator
• Darrel D. Day

Results

Democratic primary results[4]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Jean Carnahan (incumbent)	368,149	83.22
	Democratic	Darrel D. Day	74,237	16.78
Total votes			442,386	100.00

Republican primary

Candidates

• 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 2000

Results

Republican primary results[4]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Jim Talent	395,994	89.58
	Republican	Joseph A. May	18,525	4.19
	Republican	Doris Bass Landfather	14,074	3.18
	Republican	Scott Craig Babbitt	7,705	1.74
	Republican	Martin Lindstedt	5,773	1.31
Total votes			442,071	100.00

Libertarian primary

Candidates

• Tamara A. Millay, perennial candidate
• Edward Joseph Manley

Results

Libertarian primary results[4]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Libertarian	Tamara A. Millay	1,942	59.35
	Libertarian	Edward Joseph Manley	1,330	40.65
Total votes			3,272	100.00

General election

Candidates

• 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 2000

Campaign

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 been under slight Democratic dominance resulting from Vermont junior senator Jim Jeffords's decision to renounce the Republican Party, turning independent and making the choice to caucus with the 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]

Results

General election results[12]

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			1,877,620
	Republican gain from Democratic		Swing

See also

• 2002 United States Senate elections

References

1. https://www.senate.gov/pagelayout/history/one_item_and_teasers/partydiv.htm
2. Witcover, Jules (October 18, 2000). "In Mo., tragic loss for Democrats". Retrieved October 3, 2017.
3. "Governor's Widow Goes to Senate". December 6, 2000. Retrieved October 3, 2017.
4. "Official Election Returns State of Missouri Primary Election". Office of Secretary of State, Missouri. August 21, 2001. Retrieved May 21, 2013.
5. 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.
6. Expectations Game Plays for Both Mo. Senate Candidates. Fox News. October 22, 2002. Retrieved April 27, 2015.
7. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on June 8, 2015. Retrieved March 14, 2015.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
8. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on June 8, 2015. Retrieved March 14, 2015.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
9. http://www.citizensforethics.org/filelibrary/HotlineListofReturnedDoations01.06.06.pdf%5B%5D
10. Vlahos, Kelley Beaucar (November 7, 2002). "After the Celebration: What Can a GOP Senate Do?". Retrieved October 3, 2017.
11. Mannies, Jo (November 22, 2002). "It's official: With election results certified, Talent will be a senator starting Saturday". St. Louis Dispatch.
12. http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/2002/2002Stat.htm#25