2000 United States Senate elections (Gore's Victory)

2000 United States Senate elections

November 7, 2000
34 of the 100 seats in the United States Senate 51 seats needed for a majority
Majority party Minority party   Leader Tom Daschle Trent Lott Party Democratic Party Republican Party Leader since January 3, 1995 June 12, 1996 Leader's seat South Dakota Mississippi Seats before 46 54 Seats after 50 50 Seat change ▲ 4 ▼ 4 Popular vote 36,780,875 36,725,431 Percentage 47.04% 46.96% Swing ▼ 2.42% ▲ 0.13% Seats up 15 19 Races won 19 15
Results of the elections:      Democratic gain      Democratic hold      Republican gain      Republican hold      No election
Majority leader before election Trent Lott Republican Party Elected Majority leader Tom Daschle Democratic Party

The 2000 United States Senate elections were held on November 7, 2000. The elections coincided with other federal and state elections, including the presidential election which was won by Democrat Al Gore. It featured a number of fiercely contested elections that resulted in a victory for the Democratic Party, which gained a net total of four seats from the Republican Party. This election marked the first election year since 1990 where Democrats made net gains in the Senate.

These elections took place six years after Republicans had won a net gain of eight seats in Senate Class 1. The GOP lost 4 senate seats, while Democrats defeated incumbent Republicans in Delaware, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, and Washington, and they won an open seat in Florida. In Missouri, the winner was elected posthumously. The Republicans defeated a Democratic incumbent in Virginia, and won an open seat in Nevada.

These elections resulted in an equal 50–50 split between Republicans and Democrats, so the Vice President would cast the tie-breaking votes in organizing the Senate. Democrats thereby held Senate, as Al Gore and later John Kerry were the Vice Presidents and Presidents of the Senate. The Democratic majority would be reinforced, when Republican Senator Jim Jeffords of Vermont became an independent and caucused with the Democrats.

Results summary

↓

50	50
Democratic	Republican

Special elections during the previous Congress

In this special election, the winner was seated between January 1, 2000, and January 2, 2001.

State (linked to summaries below)	Incumbent			Results	Candidates
	Senator	Party	Electoral history
Georgia(Class 3)	Zell Miller	Democratic	2000 (Appointed)	Interim appointee elected November 7, 2000.	Y Zell Miller (Democratic) 58% Mack Mattingly (Republican) 38%

Elections to the next Congress

In these general elections, the winners were elected for the term beginning January 3, 2001.

All of the elections involved the Class 1 seats.

State (linked to summaries below)	Incumbent			Results	Candidates
	Senator	Party	Electoral history
Arizona	Kyl, JonJon Kyl	Republican	1994	Incumbent re-elected.	Y Kyl, JonJon Kyl (Republican) 79.3% William Toel (Independent) 7.8% Vance Hansen (Green) 7.8% Barry Hess (Libertarian) 5.1%
California	Feinstein, DianneDianne Feinstein	Democratic	1992 (Special) 1994	Incumbent re-elected.	Y Feinstein, DianneDianne Feinstein (Democratic) 55.8% Tom Campbell (Republican) 36.6% Medea Benjamin (Green) 3.1% Gail Lightfoot (Libertarian) 1.8% Diane Beall Templin (American Independent) 1.3% Jose Camahort (Reform) 0.9% Brian M. Rees (Natural Law) 0.6%
Connecticut	Lieberman, JoeJoe Lieberman	Democratic	1988 1994	Incumbent re-elected.	Y Lieberman, JoeJoe Lieberman (Democratic) 63.2% Philip Giordano (Republican) 34.1% William Kozak (Concerned Citizens) 2% Wildey J. Moore (Libertarian) 0.7%
Delaware	Roth, WilliamWilliam Roth	Republican	1970 1971 (Appointed) 1976 1982 1988 1994	Incumbent lost re-election. New senator elected.Democratic gain.	Y Carper, TomTom Carper (Democratic) 55.5% William Roth (Republican) 43.7% Mark Dankof (Constitution) 0.3% J. Burke Morrison (Libertarian) 0.3% Robert Mattson (Natural Law) 0.2%
Florida	Mack III, ConnieConnie Mack III	Republican	1988 1994	Incumbent retired. New senator elected.Democratic gain.	Y Nelson, BillBill Nelson (Democratic) 51% Bill McCollum (Republican) 46.2% Willie Logan (Independent) 1.4% Joe Simonetta (Natural Law) 0.4% Darrell L. McCormick (Independent) 0.4% Joel Deckard (Reform) 0.3% Andy Martin (Independent) 0.3% Nikki Oldaker (Independent) 0.1%
Hawaii	Akaka, DanielDaniel Akaka	Democratic	1990 (Appointed)1990 (Special) 1994	Incumbent re-elected.	Y Akaka, DanielDaniel Akaka (Democratic) 72.7% John Carroll (Republican) 24.5% Lauri Clegg (Natural Law) 1.2% Lloyd Jeffrey Mallan (Libertarian) 0.9% David Porter (Constitution) 0.7%
Indiana	Lugar, RichardRichard Lugar	Republican	1976 1982 1988 1994	Incumbent re-elected.	Y Lugar, RichardRichard Lugar (Republican) 66.5% David Johnson (Democratic) 31.9% Paul Hager (Libertarian) 1.6%
Maine	Snowe, OlympiaOlympia Snowe	Republican	1994	Incumbent re-elected.	Y Snowe, OlympiaOlympia Snowe (Republican) 68.9% Mark Lawrence (Democratic) 31.1%
Maryland	Sarbanes, PaulPaul Sarbanes	Democratic	1976 1982 1988 1994	Incumbent re-elected.	Y Sarbanes, PaulPaul Sarbanes (Democratic) 63.2% Paul Rappaport (Republican) 36.7%
Massachusetts	Kennedy, TedTed Kennedy	Democratic	1962 (Special) 1964 1970 1976 1982 1988 1994	Incumbent re-elected.	Y Kennedy, TedTed Kennedy (Democratic) 72.9% Jack E. Robinson III (Republican) 12.9% Carla Howell (Libertarian) 11.9% Philip F. Lawler (Constitution) 1.62% Dale Friedgen (Independent) 0.5%
Michigan	Abraham, SpencerSpencer Abraham	Republican	1994	Incumbent lost re-election. New senator elected. Democratic gain.	Y Stabenow, DebbieDebbie Stabenow (Democratic) 49.4% Spencer Abraham (Republican) 47.9% Matthew Abel (Green) 0.9% Michael Corliss (Libertarian) 0.7% Mark Forton (Reform) 0.6% John Mangopoulos (U.S. Taxpayers) 0.3% William Quarton (Natural Law) 0.1%
Minnesota	Grams, RodRod Grams	Republican	1994	Incumbent lost re-election. New senator elected. Democratic gain.	Y Dayton, MarkMark Dayton (Democratic) 48.8% Rod Grams (Republican) 43.3% James Gibson (Independence) 5.8% David Daniels (Grassroots) 0.9% Rebecca Ellis (Socialist Workers) 0.5% David Swan (Constitution) 0.4% Erik D. Pakieser (Libertarian) 0.3%
Mississippi	Lott, TrentTrent Lott	Republican	1988 1994	Incumbent re-elected.	Y Lott, TrentTrent Lott (Republican) 65.9% Troy Brown (Democratic) 31.6% Jim Giles (Independent) 0.9% Lewis Napper (Libertarian) 0.9% Shawn O'Hara (Reform) 0.7%
Missouri	Ashcroft, JohnJohn Ashcroft	Republican	1994	Incumbent lost re-election. New senator elected. Democratic gain.	Y Carnahan, MelMel Carnahan (Democratic) 50.4% John Ashcroft (Republican) 48.4% Evaline Taylor (Green) 0.5% Grant Samuel Stauffer (Libertarian) 0.4% Hugh Foley (Reform) 0.2% Charles Dockins (Natural Law) 0.1%
Montana	Burns, ConradConrad Burns	Republican	1988 1994	Incumbent re-elected.	Y Burns, ConradConrad Burns (Republican) 50.6% Brian Schweitzer (Democratic) 47.2% Gary Lee (Reform) 2.2%
Nebraska	Kerrey, BobBob Kerrey	Democratic	1988 1994	Template:Party shading/Hold |Incumbent retired. New senator elected.Democratic hold.	Y Nelson, BenBen Nelson (Democratic) 51% Don Stenberg (Republican) 48.8%
Nevada	Bryan, RichardRichard Bryan	Democratic	1988 1994	Incumbent retired. New senator elected.Republican gain.	Y Ensign, JohnJohn Ensign (Republican) 55.1% Edward M. Bernstein (Democratic) 39.7% None of These Candidates 1.9% Kathy Rusco (Green) 1.7% J. J. Johnson (Libertarian) 0.9% Ernie Berghof (Independent American) 0.4% Bill Grutzmacher (Citizens First) 0.3%
New Jersey	Frank Lautenberg	Democratic	1982 1982 (Appointed) 1988 1994	Template:Party shading/Hold |Incumbent retired. New senator elected.Democratic hold.	Y Corzine, JonJon Corzine (Democratic) 50.1% Bob Franks (Republican) 47.1% Bruce Afran (Green) 1.1% Pat DiNizio (Reform) 0.6% Emerson Ellett (Libertarian) 0.2% Dennis A. Breen (Independent) 0.2% J. M. Carter (Trust in God) 0.2% Lorraine LaNeve (NJ Conservative) 0.1% Gregory Pason (Socialist) 0.1% Nancy Rosenstock (Socialist Workers) 0.1% George Gostigian (God Bless Jersey) 0.1%
New Mexico	Bingaman, JeffJeff Bingaman	Democratic	1982 1988 1994	Incumbent re-elected.	Y Bingaman, JeffJeff Bingaman (Democratic) 61.7% William T. Redmond (Republican) 38.3%
New York	Moynihan, Daniel PatrickDaniel Patrick Moynihan	Democratic	1976 1982 1988 1994	Template:Party shading/Hold |Incumbent retired. New senator electedDemocratic hold.	Y Clinton, HillaryHillary Clinton (Democratic) 55% Rick Lazio (Republican) 43% Jeffrey E. Graham (Independence) 0.6% Mark J. Dunau (Green) 0.6% John O. Adefope (Right To Life) 0.3% John Clifton (Libertarian) 0.1% Louis Wein (Constitution) 0.1% Jacob Perasso (Socialist Workers) 0.1%
North Dakota	Conrad, KentKent Conrad	Democratic	1986 1992 (Retired) 1992 (Special) 1994	Incumbent re-elected.	Y Conrad, KentKent Conrad (Democratic) 61.4% Duane Sand (Republican) 38.6%
Ohio	DeWine, MikeMike DeWine	Republican	1994	Incumbent re-elected.	Y DeWine, MikeMike DeWine (Republican) 59.9% Ted Celeste (Democratic) 35.9% John McAlister (Libertarian) 2.6% John Eastman (Natural Law) 1.6%
Pennsylvania	Santorum, RickRick Santorum	Republican	1994	Incumbent re-elected.	Y Santorum, RickRick Santorum (Republican) 52.4% Ron Klink (Democratic) 45.5% John Featherman (Libertarian) 1% Lester Searer (Constitution) 0.6% Robert Domske (Reform) 0.5%
Rhode Island	Chafee, LincolnLincoln Chafee	Republican	1999 (Appointed)	Interim appointee elected.	Y Chafee, LincolnLincoln Chafee (Republican) 56.8% Robert Weygand (Democratic) 41.1% Christopher Young (Reform) 1% Kenneth Proulx (Independent) 0.9%
Tennessee	Frist, BillBill Frist	Republican	1994	Incumbent re-elected.	Y Frist, BillBill Frist (Republican) 65.1% Jeff Clark (Democratic) 32.2% Tom Burrell (Green) 1.3% Charles F. Johnson (Independent) 0.5% Robert Watson (Independent) 0.4% David Jarrod Ownby (Independent) 0.2% Joel Kinstle (Independent) 0.2%
Texas	Hutchison, Kay BaileyKay Bailey Hutchison	Republican	1993 (Special)1994	Incumbent re-elected.	Y Hutchison, Kay BaileyKay Bailey Hutchison (Republican) 65% Gene Kelly (Democratic) 32.3% Doug Sandage (Green) 1.5% Mary Ruwart (Libertarian) 1.1%
Utah	Hatch, OrrinOrrin Hatch	Republican	1976 1982 1988 1994	Incumbent re-elected.	Y Hatch, OrrinOrrin Hatch (Republican) 65.6% Scott Howell (Democratic) 31.5% Carlton Edward Bowen (Independent American) 1.6% Jim Dexter (Libertarian) 1.4%
Vermont	Jeffords, JimJim Jeffords	Republican	1988 1994	Incumbent re-elected.	Y Jeffords, JimJim Jeffords (Republican) 65.6% Ed Flanagan (Democratic) 25.4% Charles W. Russell (Constitution) 3.5% Rick Hubbard (Independent) 1.9% Billy Greer (Vermont Grassroots) 1.7% Hugh Douglas (Libertarian) 1.3% Jerry Levy (Liberty Union) 0.5%
Virginia	Chuck Robb	Democratic	1988 1994	Incumbent lost re-election. New senator elected.Republican gain.	Y Allen, GeorgeGeorge Allen (Republican) 52.3% Chuck Robb (Democratic) 47.7%
Washington	Gorton, SladeSlade Gorton	Republican	1980 1986 (Lost) 1988 1994	Incumbent lost re-election. New senator elected.Democratic gain.	Y Cantwell, MariaMaria Cantwell (Democratic) 48.7% Slade Gorton (Republican) 48.6% Jeff Jared (Libertarian) 2.6%
West Virginia	Byrd, RobertRobert Byrd	Democratic	1958 1964 1970 1976 1982 1988 1994	Incumbent re-elected.	Y Byrd, RobertRobert Byrd (Democratic) 77.7% David T. Gallaher (Republican) 20.2% Joe Whelan (Libertarian) 2.1%
Wisconsin	Kohl, HerbHerb Kohl	Democratic	1988 1994	Incumbent re-elected.	Y Kohl, HerbHerb Kohl (Democratic) 61.5% John Gillespie (Republican) 37% Tim Peterson (Libertarian) 0.8% Eugene A. Hem (Independent) 0.4% [obert R. Raymond (Constitution) 0.2%
Wyoming	Thomas, Craig L.Craig L. Thomas	Republican	1994	Incumbent re-elected.	Y Thomas, Craig L.Craig L. Thomas (Republican) 73.7% Mel Logan (Democratic) 22% Margaret Dawson (Libertarian) 4.2%

Closest races

In ten races the margin of victory was under 10%

District	Winner	Margin
Washington	Democratic (flip)	0.09%
Michigan	Democratic (flip)	1.6%
Missouri	Democratic (flip)	2.1%
Nebraska	Democratic	2.3%
New Jersey	Democratic	3.0%
Montana	Republican	3.4%
Virginia	Republican (flip)	4.6%
Florida	Democratic (flip)	4.8%
Minnesota	Democratic (flip)	5.5%
Pennsylvania	Republican	6.9%

Missouri

2000 United States Senate election in Missouri

November 7, 2000

Nominee Mel Carnahan John Ashcroft Party Democratic Party Republican Party Popular vote 1,191,812 1,142,852 Percentage 50.5% 48.4%

County results Carnahan:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% Ashcroft:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%

U.S. Senator before election John Ashcroft Republican Party Elected U.S. Senator Mel Carnahan Democratic Party

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 ran for reelection to a second term, but he was defeated by Democratic Governor Mel Carnahan.

In 1998, freshman Senator John Ashcroft (R) briefly considered running for president. 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. Incumbent two-term Democratic Governor Mel Carnahan ran against Ashcroft.

In the general election for the state's seat in the U.S. Senate, Ashcroft was facing then-Governor Mel Carnahan in a "tight" race, despite the senator having a larger budget than Carnahan, a war chest that included significant contributions from corporations such as Monsanto Company, 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.

Governor Carnahan defeated incumbent Ashcroft, carrying 50.5% of the vote to Ashcrofts's 48.4%.