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2000 United States Senate election in Missouri

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2000 United States Senate election in Missouri
← 1994 November 7, 2000 2002 (special) →
 
Nominee Mel Carnahan † John Ashcroft
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 1,191,812 1,142,852
Percentage 50.46% 48.39%
Carnahan:      40-50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%
Ashcroft:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%
U.S. senator before election

John Ashcroft
Republican

Elected U.S. Senator

Mel Carnahan †
Democratic

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The 2000 United States Senate election in Missouri was held on November 7, 2000, to select the next U.S. senator from Missouri. Incumbent Republican senator John Ashcroft lost re-election to a second term to Democratic governor Mel Carnahan despite Carnahan's death in a plane crash 20 days before Election Day (due to the timing of Carnahan's death, state law did not allow his name to be replaced on the ballot). Newly inaugurated governor Roger Wilson appointed Mel Carnahan's widow Jean Carnahan to fill the seat pending a 2002 special election.

Following his defeat, Ashcroft would later appoint his position as United States Attorney General by President-elect George W. Bush from 2001 to 2005.

As of 2024, this is the only time a deceased person has won a U.S. Senate election.

Background

[edit]

John Ashcroft had first been elected in 1994, with close to 60% of the vote, amidst a national Republican wave. During his tenure in the senate, he established a reputation as a conservative, advocating for welfare reform and tax reform, and for being a favorite of social conservatives such as Pat Robertson.[1][2][3] Beginning in 1997, Ashcroft considered running for President in 2000.[4] Ashcroft visited numerous crucial states, but was undecided between a presidential bid, re-election, or both, which would be permitted under state law.[5] On January 5, 1999, he announced that he would not seek the presidency and would instead seek a second Senate term in the 2000 election.[6]

His opponent was incumbent two-term Democratic governor Mel Carnahan, who by state law, was barred from seeking a third term. Carnahan had held various statewide positions, including state treasurer, lieutenant governor (which he served as while Ashcroft was governor) and as governor. He also had been seen as a prospective candidate in virtually every Missouri U.S. Senate race in the 1990s,[7][8] including passing on a bid for the Class 1 Senate seat in 1994.[9] He announced his bid for the seat on November 4, 1998, with polls at the time, showing him leading Senator Ashcroft.[10]

Primary results

[edit]

The primary election was held on August 9, 2000. Both candidates won their respective primaries against largely token opposition.[11]

Democratic primary results [12]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Mel Carnahan 323,841 78.20%
Democratic Ronald Waggoner 90,251 21.80%
Total votes 414,092 100.0%
Republican primary results [12]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican John Ashcroft (incumbent) 327,442 89.60%
Republican Marc Perkel 38,103 10.40%
Total votes 365,545 100.0%

General election

[edit]

Candidates

[edit]
  • John Ashcroft, incumbent U.S. senator (Republican)
  • Mel Carnahan, Governor of Missouri (Democratic) (died October 16)
  • Charles Dockins (Natural Law)
  • Hugh Foley (Reform)
  • Grant Samuel Stauffer (Libertarian)
  • Evaline Taylor (Green)

Campaign

[edit]

Missouri was often considered by pundits to be a close match to the national electorate, with even the candidates mirroring the presidential candidates at the top of the ticket in many respects.[13] Furthering this line of thinking, Missouri had picked the correct winner in every presidential election from 1904, with the exception of the 1956 presidential election.[14] With this in mind, the race for U.S. Senate quickly became one of the most hotly contested in the country.[15] Both candidates used various ways to campaign. For example, Ashcroft held a bus tour across the state to campaign on "Missouri Values".[16] Likewise, Carnahan held a four day long train tour, an homage to Missouri native and former president Harry S. Truman, who held this seat before being elected as vice president.[17]

Both candidates had long been considered rivals, and the race became negative early.[18] Ashcroft received staunch criticism for his role in defeating the judicial nomination of Ronnie White, attacking him as "pro-criminal", a move which Carnahan, and many black leaders, saw as having racial overtones.[19] He was also attacked for his Senate votes against a prescription drug benefit for Medicare, his vote on Bill Clinton's impeachment, and for his conservative voting record.[13][20][21] Ashcroft also faced controversy for the honorary degree he received from Bob Jones University, a Christian college which faced controversy over some of its views.[22] Carnahan was also subject to attacks for his past actions, such as wearing blackface in a 1960 sketch.[23] He was also attacked for his commutation of the death sentence of Darrell J. Mease, at the behest of the Pope.[24] In addition to the contrast between the candidates, issues ranging from healthcare to education to Social Security would become some of the most contentious issues, mirroring the national Presidential Election.[25][26]

Both candidates were close in the polls and in fundraising with it at times being one of the most expensive races in the nation.[27] Ashcroft would have a war chest that included significant contributions from corporations such as Monsanto Company,[28] headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, which gave five times more to Ashcroft's campaign fund than to the fund of any other congressional hopeful at the time.[29] Ashcroft's campaign fund would later be fined by the Federal Election Commission for failure to disclose donors.[30][31]

Debates

[edit]

There were two debates held during the cycle. The first debate was held on Friday, October 13 in St. Louis on KMOX, on radio. The second debate was held days later on October 15 on KCPT-TV in Kansas City. A third debate was planned in Cape Girardeau, but details could not be worked out, and ultimately, the debate would never occur.[32]

Plane crash

[edit]

On October 16, the day after the second debate between the two candidates, Carnahan spent the day campaigning. At around 6:45 that evening, planned to depart to New Madrid, for a meeting with Black leaders in Missouri.[33] However, owing to failing instruments and bad weather conditions, the plane crashed at around 7:30 in rural Jefferson County. Carnahan was killed along with his son Roger "Randy" Carnahan, and his longtime aide Chris Sifford.[34] In response, Ashcroft suspended all campaigning on the day of the plane crash in light of the accident and resumed it eight days before the election date.[35] Carnahan's death also came the day before the third presidential debate, which was to be held in St. Louis. Both Al Gore and George W. Bush offered tributes to the late governor before the debate.[36]

The election was tight in the final weeks, albeit with Ashcroft leading in most polls.[37] But the news of Carnahan's death appeared to throw the outcome in doubt.[38] Many media outlets and analysts even assumed that the tragedy assured Ashcroft would win a second term.[39][40] Nonetheless, Carnahan's name remained on the ballot as Missouri's last date to change who appears on the ballot was October 13, just three days prior to the crash.[41] Lieutenant Governor Roger B. Wilson became acting governor the day of the plane crash and was officially sworn in as governor after Carnahan's death was confirmed 2 days later. Should Carnahan have won the election, Wilson promised to appoint his widow Jean Carnahan.[42] She accepted the would-be appointment and with the slogan "Don't let the fire go out!", a slogan her husband liked to use, the campaign continued with an outpouring of support.[43] What was once a contentious campaign, quickly became a campaign of emotion.[44] Polls bore this out, with some of the final polls in the race showing Carnahan with a sizable lead, which only grew as voters were informed of the planned appointment of his widow.[45][46]

While Carnahan's chances rose, Ashcroft found himself in a difficult position as a result of Carnahan's death. Ashcroft tried to turn the campaign's focus back on the issues, including enlisting the help of former senator John Danforth, who filmed an advertisement encouraging voters to look at Ashcroft's experience.[47][48] But due to the unique circumstances of the election, Ashcroft found it hard to regain the momentum.[49] He commented in a TV interview that suspending his campaign had damaged him politically, even though he still maintained it was the right thing to do.[50] In the final week, Ashcroft focused his campaign exclusively on the issues, stringently avoiding any mentions of his late opponent.[47]

Results

[edit]

Despite his death, Carnahan won by a margin of approximately fifty thousand votes.[51] He was the first person posthumously elected to the United States Senate.[a] Hence, John Ashcroft became the first ever U.S. Senate candidate, incumbent or otherwise, to be defeated by a deceased person.[52] A professor of political science at the University of Missouri commented that the incumbent Senator lost the election because his candidacy was "overwhelmed" by a campaign of "emotion and symbolism."[35]

2000 United States Senate election in Missouri[51]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Mel Carnahan † 1,191,812 50.46%
Republican John Ashcroft (incumbent) 1,142,852 48.39%
Green Evaline Taylor 10,612 0.45%
Libertarian Grant Samuel Stauffer 10,198 0.43%
Reform Hugh Foley 4,166 0.18%
Natural Law Charles Dockins 1,933 0.08%
Write-in 13 0.00%
Total votes 2,361,586 100.0
Democratic gain from Republican

Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic

[edit]

Aftermath

[edit]

There was speculation that the results would be subject to a legal challenge. Even before the election, Republicans claimed that Carnahan would be ineligible due to him being dead, claims Democrats dismissed as attempts to depress support for the late governor.[53] A point of contention among Republicans was the decision of judge Evelyn Baker to extend polling hours in the city of St. Louis until 10:00 PM, 3 hours after polls in the city should have closed.[54] Baker claimed that huge turnout overwhelmed the polling places, and that many people were being denied the ability to vote.[55] Kit Bond, the state's Republican senior senator alleged that this was voter fraud, and called for a federal investigation.[56] Ultimately, nothing came of any of these issues, and Ashcroft declined to seriously push the issue.[35]

Asked by the media whether he would ever seek office again, Ashcroft responded, "The last thing I want to do is think about running for public office again."[35] In December 2000, he was chosen for the position of United States Attorney General by President-elect George W. Bush and his nomination was confirmed by the Senate[57] by a vote of 58 to 42. He served from February 2, 2001, until February 3, 2005.[58]

Keeping to his word, Governor Roger B. Wilson appointed Carnahan's 66-year-old widow, Jean Carnahan, to fill the vacant seat until a successor could be duly elected.[59] The appointment was made official on in early December after the final results had been certified.[60][61] Carnahan was sworn in on January 3, 2001, along with the rest of the senators elected the previous year.[62]

In 2002, a special election was held in Missouri for the remainder of the six-year term of the state's Senator. Jean Carnahan ran for election to complete the term but was defeated by Republican Jim Talent with a margin of approximately twenty-two thousand votes.[63]

See also

[edit]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ In 1962, voters in California elected Clement Woodnutt Miller to the House of Representatives one month after his death in a plane crash. In 1972, two other Representatives, Nick Begich of Alaska and Hale Boggs of Louisiana were re-elected after their plane went missing in the Alaska wilderness. They were both declared dead in absentia after the election.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ PBS NewsHour (December 22, 2000). "Attorney General-Designate John Ashcroft". PBS NewsHour. Archived from the original on September 3, 2021. Retrieved June 15, 2023.
  2. ^ Franken, Bob (January 12, 1998). "Ashcroft Takes A Stab At Tax Reform - 01-12-98". www.cnn.com. Archived from the original on May 2, 2001. Retrieved June 15, 2023.
  3. ^ Neal, Terry M. (September 10, 2023). "In Senate, Bush Backed by Ashcroft (washingtonpost.com)". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on September 10, 2023. Retrieved September 10, 2023.
  4. ^ Manning, Carl (August 14, 1997). "Ashcroft says he is serious on presidency". The Southeast Missourian. p. 1. Retrieved September 15, 2023.
  5. ^ "Ashcroft must decide which run to make". The Southeast Missourian. December 13, 1998. pp. 14A. Retrieved September 15, 2023.
  6. ^ "Ashcroft decides not to jump into 2000 race - January 5, 1999". www.cnn.com. January 5, 1999. Archived from the original on August 18, 2000. Retrieved July 11, 2023.
  7. ^ Charton, Scott (April 28, 1991). "Democrats solicit a Senate hopeful". The Southeast Missourian. p. 8. Retrieved September 15, 2023.
  8. ^ Charton, Scott (January 25, 1997). "Carnahan: No Senate bid". The Southeast Missourian. p. 1. Retrieved September 15, 2023.
  9. ^ Charton, Scott (January 3, 1994). "Carnahan prefers second term over Senate bid in '94". The Southeast Missourian. pp. 4A. Retrieved September 15, 2023.
  10. ^ Charton, Scott (1998). "Carnahan seeks Ashcroft's Senate Seat". The Nevada Daily Mail. pp. 10A. Retrieved September 15, 2023.
  11. ^ "Carnahan, Ashcroft Senate race set". Lawrence Journal-World. August 9, 2000. pp. 2A. Retrieved September 15, 2023.
  12. ^ a b Election result statistics sos.mo.gov
  13. ^ a b Farney, Dennis (June 14, 2000). "The Missouri Senate Race Looks Like A Microcosm of Bush-Gore Campaign". The Wall Street Journal. Archived from the original on June 14, 2023. Retrieved June 14, 2023.
  14. ^ Hardy, Richard J. "Online NewsHour Election 2000: Missouri". www.pbs.org. Archived from the original on June 25, 2022. Retrieved June 15, 2023.
  15. ^ "Stuart Rothenberg: The fight for the Senate - September 20, 2000". www.cnn.com. Archived from the original on September 22, 2000. Retrieved July 21, 2023.
  16. ^ "Ashcroft for Senate 2000 | Our Missouri Values Working in the Senate". August 15, 2000. Archived from the original on August 15, 2000. Retrieved July 21, 2023.
  17. ^ "Missouri Senate race matches two political 'titans' - July 19, 2000". www.cnn.com. Archived from the original on October 1, 2000. Retrieved July 21, 2023.
  18. ^ Mark, David (2009). Going dirty: the art of negative campaigning (2nd ed.). Lanham, Md: Rowman & Littlefield. p. 180. ISBN 978-0-7425-9982-6.
  19. ^ Grumwald, Michael (October 23, 1999). "Washingtonpost.com: Missouri Senate Race Is Heating Up Early". www.washingtonpost.com. Archived from the original on August 16, 2000. Retrieved June 14, 2023.
  20. ^ "THE PRESIDENT'S TRIAL: THE REPUBLICANS; In Pro-Clinton States, 13 Senators Face a Squeeze by Right-Wing Ire - The New York Times". The New York Times. September 19, 2017. Archived from the original on September 19, 2017. Retrieved August 4, 2023.
  21. ^ "Kansas City Star - Election 2000". August 19, 2000. Archived from the original on August 19, 2000. Retrieved August 4, 2023.
  22. ^ Murray, Barbara (September 30, 2000). "Bob Jones Controversy Spreads to Missouri (washingtonpost.com)". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on September 30, 2000. Retrieved October 9, 2023.[dead link]
  23. ^ Associated Press (October 25, 1999). "Washingtonpost.com: Mo. Governor's Blackface Gets a New Showing". www.washingtonpost.com. Archived from the original on November 2, 2011. Retrieved June 14, 2023.
  24. ^ Niebuhr, Gustav (January 29, 1999). "Governor Grants Pope's Plea For Life of a Missouri Inmate". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on May 20, 2015. Retrieved June 14, 2023.
  25. ^ Davis, Patti (September 25, 2000). "Missouri heavyweights slug it out in heated Senate race - September 25, 2000 2000". www.cnn.com. Archived from the original on September 30, 2000. Retrieved June 15, 2023.
  26. ^ Charton, Scott (October 14, 2000). "Ashcroft, Carnahan talk Social Security". The Southeast Missourian. p. 1. Retrieved September 15, 2023.
  27. ^ Manning, Margie (February 27, 2000). "$7 million in Senate race". www.bizjournals.com. Archived from the original on April 29, 2005. Retrieved June 15, 2023.
  28. ^ Schanbacher, William D. The Politics of Food: The Global Conflict between Food Security and Food Sovereignty, Praeger Security International; February 26, 2010; ISBN 978-0313363283; p.47
  29. ^ Harrison, Beth B. Shedding Light on Genetically Engineered Food: What You Don’t Know About the Food You’re Eating and What You Can Do to Protect Yourself, iUniverse, Inc., November 13, 2007, ISBN 978-0595451807
  30. ^ "Complaint alleges Ashcroft violationa". The Telegraph-Herald. Knight Rider News Service. March 9, 2001. pp. 2A. Retrieved September 15, 2023.
  31. ^ Pincus, Walter (March 7, 2004). "Ashcroft funds scrutinized". Lawrence Journal-World. pp. 3A. Retrieved September 15, 2023.
  32. ^ Johnston, Laura (October 4, 2000). "Carnahan, Ashcroft OK debate dates". The Southeast Missourian. p. 1. Retrieved September 15, 2023.
  33. ^ Manning, Carl (October 19, 2000). "Carnahan's last day was filled with campaigning". The Nevada Daily Mail. pp. 3B. Retrieved September 15, 2023.
  34. ^ "Audio tapes give glimpse into cockpit before Carnahan's crashed". The Southeast Missourian. Associated Press. February 3, 2001. pp. 5A. Retrieved September 15, 2023.
  35. ^ a b c d Fountain, John W. (November 9, 2000). "THE 2000 ELECTIONS: MISSOURI; Senator Refuses To Challenge Loss". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on September 4, 2014. Retrieved June 15, 2023.
  36. ^ Johnson, Doug (October 18, 2000). "Wilson sworn in as governor as crash probe picks up speed". The Nevada Daily Mail. p. 5. Retrieved September 15, 2023.
  37. ^ Dao, James (November 5, 2000). "THE 2000 CAMPAIGN: MISSOURI; Republican Senator Treads Softly in Run Against Well-Tended Grave of a Governor". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on May 27, 2015. Retrieved September 18, 2023.
  38. ^ "CNN.com - U.S. Senate Democratic majority cast in doubt after governor's death - October 17, 2000". www.cnn.com. October 17, 2000. Archived from the original on June 19, 2001. Retrieved June 15, 2023.
  39. ^ "OnPolitics". The Washington Post. February 11, 2002. Archived from the original on February 11, 2002. Retrieved July 27, 2023.
  40. ^ "Carnahan's Death Reshapes Senate Battle - The Washington Post". The Washington Post. July 27, 2023. Archived from the original on July 27, 2023. Retrieved July 27, 2023.
  41. ^ "CNN.com - Missouri law lets governor appoint successor if Carnahan wins - October 30, 2000". CNN. November 17, 2001. Archived from the original on November 17, 2001. Retrieved July 27, 2023.
  42. ^ Charton, Scott (October 24, 2000). "Wilson prefers Carnahan widow for Senate appointment". The Nevada Daily Mail. p. 7. Retrieved September 15, 2023.
  43. ^ "Jean Carnahan Accepts Senate Offer - CBS News". www.cbsnews.com. CBS News Service. October 27, 2000. Archived from the original on July 11, 2023. Retrieved June 15, 2023.
  44. ^ "In Missouri Race, Emotion Becomes a Driving Force - The Washington Post". The Washington Post. July 27, 2023. Archived from the original on July 27, 2023. Retrieved July 27, 2023.
  45. ^ Charton, Scott (October 31, 2000). "Widows decision complicates Senate race". The Fort Scott Tribune. p. 10. Retrieved September 15, 2023.
  46. ^ "Widow Says She'd Accept Senate Seat - The Washington Post". The Washington Post. July 27, 2023. Archived from the original on July 27, 2023. Retrieved July 27, 2023.
  47. ^ a b Clairborne, William (July 27, 2023). "In Missouri Race, Emotion Becomes a Driving Force - The Washington Post". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on July 27, 2023. Retrieved September 10, 2023.
  48. ^ "Missouri elects deceased candidate". Herald-Journal. Associated Press. November 8, 2000. pp. A7. Retrieved September 15, 2023.
  49. ^ Davey, Monica (November 9, 2000). "ASHCROFT TAKES SENATE LOSS TO LATE GOVERNOR WITH GRACE". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on November 3, 2022. Retrieved September 10, 2023.
  50. ^ Charton, Scott (November 7, 2000). "Ashcroft crosses state in hope of gaining voters". Ocala Star-Banner. pp. 4A. Retrieved September 15, 2023.
  51. ^ a b "2000 ELECTION STATISTICS". clerk.house.gov. Retrieved August 6, 2023.
  52. ^ Bump, Phillip (October 1, 2014). "Five people have won election to Congress, despite being dead". Washington Post. Archived from the original on October 3, 2015. Retrieved July 11, 2023.
  53. ^ Quaid, Libby (November 3, 2000). "GOP floats idea of constitutional challenge should Carnahan win". The Nevada Daily Mail. p. 1. Retrieved September 15, 2023.
  54. ^ "Call for Missouri Vote Fraud Investigation". ABC News. ABC News. November 9, 2000. Archived from the original on January 31, 2011. Retrieved September 10, 2023.
  55. ^ Johnson, Dirk (November 8, 2000). "THE 2000 ELECTIONS: THE SWING STATES; Judge Delays Closing of Polls in St. Louis Amid Unexpectedly Heavy Turnout". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on July 10, 2012. Retrieved September 10, 2023.
  56. ^ "Bond Alleges Voter Fraud in Missouri". PBS NewsHour. November 9, 2000. Archived from the original on September 10, 2023. Retrieved September 10, 2023.
  57. ^ "Attorney General Nominee John Ashcroft's Senate Confirmation Hearing (Day One)". The American Presidency Project. January 16, 2001. Archived from the original on December 11, 2013. Retrieved July 11, 2023.
  58. ^ "Office of the Attorney General | Attorney General: John David Ashcroft | United States Department of Justice". www.justice.gov. October 23, 2014. Archived from the original on December 29, 2014. Retrieved September 11, 2023.
  59. ^ Wayne, Stephen J. & Clyde Wilcox. The Election of the Century: The 2000 Election and What it Tells Us About American Politics in the New Millennium, Routledge, February 20, 2002, ISBN 978-0765607430; ch.10
  60. ^ "Governor makes it official: Widow of winner gets seat". products.kitsapsun.com. Associated Press. December 6, 2000. Archived from the original on September 10, 2023. Retrieved September 10, 2023.
  61. ^ Powers, Marc (December 5, 2000). "Jean Carnahan". The Southeast Missourian. pp. 4A. Retrieved September 15, 2023.
  62. ^ Snow, Kate (January 3, 2001). "Carnahan takes Senate seat won posthumously by husband - January 3, 2001". www.cnn.com. Archived from the original on January 24, 2001. Retrieved September 11, 2023.
  63. ^ "State Of Missouri | Specify a Race". April 2, 2015. Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved July 11, 2023.
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