2002 United States Senate election in Tennessee

None March 2026 September 2023 2002 United States Senate elections 2002 Tennessee Senate election 2002 United States Senate election in Tennessee Tennessee presidential no 1996 United States Senate election in Tennessee 1996 2008 United States Senate election in Tennessee 2008 November 5, 2002 150x150px File:LamarAlexander (cropped).jpg Lamar Alexander Republican Party (United States) 891,498 54.28% File:Bob Clement.jpg Bob Clement Democratic Party (United States) 728,232 44.34% 300px County results 300px Congressional district results Alexander: #ffb2b2 40–50% #e27f7f 50–60% #d75d5d 60—70% #d72f30 70–80%Clement: #a5b0ff 40–50% #7996e2 50–60% #6674de 60–70% U.S. Senator Fred Thompson Republican Party (United States) Lamar Alexander Republican Party (United States) 50.40% November 5, 2002 Tennessee Voter Turnout in 2002 Tennessee Secretary of State https://sos.tn.gov/elections/statistics February 28, 2023 12.37 pp The 2002 United States Senate election in Tennessee was held on November 5, 2002, to elect a member of the United States Senate to represent the state of Tennessee. Incumbent Republican Senator Fred Thompson announced that he would not seek re-election. Former Republican Governor Lamar Alexander won the open seat, defeating Democratic Congressman Bob Clement with 54.3% of the vote. With this election, Alexander became the first Tennessean to be popularly elected both governor and senator.https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CDIR-2020-07-22/pdf/CDIR-2020-07-22-TN-S-2.pdf?utm Government Publishing Office (Official Congressional Directory At the age of 62, Alexander also became the oldest elected freshman US senator from Tennessee since Democrat Lawrence D. Tyson in 1924, which he held until 2018 when Marsha Blackburn surpassed him at the age of 66. Background In early 2002, Republican Senator Fred Thompson announced that he would not seek re-election to the United States Senate, reversing earlier indications that he intended to run for a second full term. His retirement created an open-seat contest in a state that had trended Republican in recent federal elections, contributing to increased attention on the race within Tennessee.Tennessee battleground state for control of U.S. Senate, says Vanderbilt professor https://news.vanderbilt.edu/2002/06/28/tennessee-battleground-state-for-control-of-us-senate-says-vanderbilt-professor-60249/ Vanderbilt University News Vanderbilt University June 28, 2002 February 1, 2026 The open seat drew involvement from both state and national party organizations. Lamar Alexander, a former Governor of Tennessee and United States Secretary of Education, entered the race and won the Republican nomination. His prior statewide service and fundraising totals placed him in a strong position heading into the general election.Tennessee battleground state for control of U.S. Senate, says Vanderbilt professor https://news.vanderbilt.edu/2002/06/28/tennessee-battleground-state-for-control-of-us-senate-says-vanderbilt-professor-60249/ Vanderbilt University News Vanderbilt University June 28, 2002 February 1, 2026 President George W. Bush, who had a 60% approval rating in the state, participated in campaign events for Alexander, including fundraising and public appearances in Tennessee during the general election.http://0-infoweb.newsbank.com/iw-search/we/InfoWeb?p_product=NewsBank&p_theme=aggregated5&p_action=doc&p_docid=0F619F2C1D75492C&p_docnum=4&p_queryname=15 March 2022Tennessee battleground state for control of U.S. Senate, says Vanderbilt professor https://news.vanderbilt.edu/2002/06/28/tennessee-battleground-state-for-control-of-us-senate-says-vanderbilt-professor-60249/ Vanderbilt University News Vanderbilt University June 28, 2002 February 1, 2026 Bob Clement, a member of the United States House of Representatives and the son of former Tennessee governor Frank G. Clement, won the Democratic nomination. Alexander raised $2 million through June 2002.http://0-infoweb.newsbank.com/iw-search/we/InfoWeb?p_product=NewsBank&p_theme=aggregated5&p_action=doc&p_docid=0F3F35A6FADD62C1&p_docnum=2&p_queryname=15 March 2022 Clement attacked the Governor for his corporate connections and business dealings. By October, Clement had nearly raised $900,000, while Alexander raised almost $3 million.http://0-infoweb.newsbank.com/iw-search/we/InfoWeb?p_product=NewsBank&p_theme=aggregated5&p_action=doc&p_docid=0F6B623AA37922AC&p_docnum=6&p_queryname=18 March 2022 Alexander was also endorsed by the NRA Political Victory Fund.http://0-infoweb.newsbank.com/iw-search/we/InfoWeb?p_product=NewsBank&p_theme=aggregated5&p_action=doc&p_docid=0F71FA86E46BE3D8&p_docnum=16&p_queryname=18 March 2022 Republican primary Campaign The Republican primary between former Governor Lamar Alexander and U.S. Representative Ed Bryant involved competitive campaigning and ideological differences that drew attention within the state. Bryant positioned himself as the more conservative candidate, running television advertisements criticizing Alexander's record and emphasizing his own conservative credentials. Alexander's campaign responded by highlighting his prior experience in statewide and national office. Observers noted that the tone of the advertisements and the exchanges between the campaigns reflected the ongoing battle between moderate and conservative factions of the Tennessee Republican Party during the primary.Tennessee battleground state for control of U.S. Senate, says Vanderbilt professor https://news.vanderbilt.edu/2002/06/28/tennessee-battleground-state-for-control-of-us-senate-says-vanderbilt-professor-60249/ Vanderbilt University News Vanderbilt University June 28, 2002 February 1, 2026 Political scientists later observed that although Bryant’s campaign framed the race around conservative principles, he was unable to consolidate the state’s religious right base behind his candidacy, contributing to Alexander’s victory in the primary.Tennessee battleground state for control of U.S. Senate, says Vanderbilt professor https://news.vanderbilt.edu/2002/06/28/tennessee-battleground-state-for-control-of-us-senate-says-vanderbilt-professor-60249/ Vanderbilt University News Vanderbilt University June 28, 2002 February 1, 2026 Candidates Lamar Alexander, former U.S. Secretary of Education, former Governor of Tennessee Ed Bryant, U.S. Representative Mary Taylor-Shelby, perennial candidate June Griffin, activist Michael Brent Todd James E. DuBose Christopher G. Fenner Results Republican Primary resultshttp://www.tn.gov/sos/election/results/2002-8/us-senate-rp8-02.pdf Archived copy 2011-06-03 2011-07-13 https://web.archive.org/web/20110713042655/http://www.tn.gov/sos/election/results/2002-8/us-senate-rp8-02.pdf dead Lamar Alexander Republican Party (United States) 295,052 53.79% Ed Bryant Republican Party (United States) 233,678 42.60% Mary Taylor-Shelby Republican Party (United States) 5,589 1.02% June Griffin Republican Party (United States) 4,930 0.90% Michael Brent Todd Republican Party (United States) 4,002 0.73% James E. DuBose Republican Party (United States) 3,572 0.65% Christopher G. Fenner Republican Party (United States) 1,552 0.28% Write-ins Republican Party (United States) 107 0.03% 548,482 100.00% thumb|center|Results by county: #CC2F4A Alexander #F2B3BE 40–50% #E27F90 50–60% #CC2F4A 60–70% #D40000 70–80% #FF6600 Bryant #FFB380 40–50% #FF9955 50–60% #FF7F2A 50–60% #FF6600 70–80% #D45500 80–90%|266x266px Democratic primary Candidates Bob Clement, U.S. Representative and candidate for Governor in 1978 Gary G. Davis, perennial candidate Cher A. Hopkey Michael L. Hampstead Alvin M. Strauss Results Democratic primary resultshttp://www.tn.gov/sos/election/results/2002-8/us-senate-dp8-02.pdf Archived copy 2011-06-03 2011-07-13 https://web.archive.org/web/20110713042649/http://www.tn.gov/sos/election/results/2002-8/us-senate-dp8-02.pdf dead Bob Clement Democratic Party (United States) 418,172 82.18% Gary G. Davis Democratic Party (United States) 50,563 9.94% Cher A. Hopkey Democratic Party (United States) 14,481 2.85% Michael L. Hampstead Democratic Party (United States) 12,940 2.54% Alvin M. Strauss Democratic Party (United States) 12,241 2.41% Write-ins Democratic Party (United States) 478 0.08% 508,875 100.00% General election Debates Complete video of debate, September 30, 2002 Complete video of debate, October 6, 2002 Complete video of debate, October 13, 2002 Complete video of debate, October 20, 2002 Predictions SourceRankingAs ofSabato's Crystal Ballhttp://www.centerforpolitics.org/crystalball/senate_all.htm https://web.archive.org/web/20021118115505/http://www.centerforpolitics.org/crystalball/senate_all.htm November 18, 2002 Senate Races www.centerforpolitics.org en-US November 4, 2002 June 25, 2021 dead mdy-all Likely RNovember 4, 2002 Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesizekey Key:A – all adultsRV – registered votersLV – likely votersV – unclear Marginof error LamarAlexander (R) BobClement (D) Other /UndecidedSurveyUSASurveyUSA October 26–28, 2002 726 (LV) ± 3.8% 52% 41% 7% In a September poll from the Knoxville News Sentinel, Alexander was up 45% to 27%. In a DNSC poll during the same month, Alexander was up 49% to 42%. In a mid October Zogby poll had the governor leading 49% to 36%.http://0-infoweb.newsbank.com/iw-search/we/InfoWeb?p_product=NewsBank&p_theme=aggregated5&p_action=doc&p_docid=110FA9E198336770&p_docnum=14&p_queryname=18 March 2022 A late October WREG-TV poll had Alexander leading 45% to 36%.http://0-infoweb.newsbank.com/iw-search/we/InfoWeb?p_product=NewsBank&p_theme=aggregated5&p_action=doc&p_docid=0F75BDFE8D07F58E&p_docnum=4&p_queryname=18 March 2022 Results United States Senate election in Tennessee, 2002http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/2002/2002Stat.htm#42 Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives Republican Party (United States) Lamar Alexander 891,498 54.28% -7.09% Democratic Party (United States) Bob Clement 728,232 44.34% +7.52% Independent (United States) John Jay Hooker 6,401 0.39% N/A Independent (United States) Wesley M. Baker 6,106 0.37% N/A Independent (United States) Connie Gammon 5,349 0.33% N/A Independent (United States) Karl Stanley Davidson 2,217 0.13% N/A Independent (United States) Basil Marceaux 1,170 0.07% N/A Write-ins 356 0.02% N/A 163,266 9.94% -14.61% 1,642,432 50.40% Republican Party (United States) By county CountyNovember 5, 2002 United States Senate https://sharetngov.tnsosfiles.com/sos/election/results/2002-11/us-senate.pdf Tennessee Secretary of StateLamar AlexanderRepublicanBob ClementDemocraticJohn Jay Hooker IndependentWesley Baker IndependentOthers IndependentTotal votes#%#%#%#%#%Anderson12,70055.2%9,95743.3%1010.4%1050.5%1360.6%22,999Bedford4,89849.1%4,91849.3%580.6%560.6%460.5%9,976Benton2,03035.8%3,53062.3%270.5%230.4%541.0%5,664Bledsoe1,93453.9%1,60344.6%60.2%190.5%290.8%3,591Blount21,06163.9%11,47134.8%1050.3%1300.4%1760.5%32,943Bradley16,48969.7%6,78228.7%1040.4%960.4%1960.8%23,667Campbell4,39248.6%4,52750.1%310.3%250.3%610.7%9,036Cannon1,67141.4%2,29256.8%230.6%200.5%270.7%4,033Carroll4,54049.1%4,51848.9%420.5%720.8%660.7%9,238Carter10,79868.7%4,54228.9%630.4%1230.8%1851.2%15,711Cheatham5,64751.4%5,20947.4%430.4%310.3%500.5%10,980Chester2,51857.5%1,80941.3%110.3%200.5%210.5%4,379Claiborne3,66653.4%3,04544.4%330.5%500.7%650.9%6,859Clay1,00443.2%1,27754.9%190.8%140.6%110.5%2,325Cocke4,85958.1%3,29839.5%530.6%630.8%831.0%8,356Coffee7,54150.1%7,32248.7%570.4%370.2%800.5%15,037Crockett2,07148.0%2,17150.3%250.6%160.4%350.8%4,318Cumberland9,94258.8%6,71439.7%510.3%770.5%1170.7%16,901Davidson70,97442.9%92,99456.2%6920.4%2610.2%6800.4%165,601Decatur1,80243.5%2,25854.5%210.5%170.4%421.0%4,140DeKalb1,97340.1%2,86958.3%290.6%180.4%290.6%4,918Dickson5,91043.0%7,73156.2%470.3%230.2%470.3%13,758Dyer5,47553.2%4,61044.8%570.6%440.4%1131.1%10,299Fayette5,74460.7%3,58937.9%150.2%640.7%500.5%9,462Fentress2,65354.6%2,13143.9%200.4%140.3%380.8%4,856Franklin5,49947.1%5,99451.3%540.5%400.3%960.8%11,683Gibson7,32650.2%6,94747.6%890.6%1060.7%1280.9%14,596Giles3,55946.3%3,94151.3%590.8%420.5%811.1%7,682Grainger3,08558.6%2,10239.9%210.4%210.4%360.7%5,265Greene10,41465.6%5,13132.3%730.5%1190.7%1420.9%15,879Grundy1,22033.0%2,43965.9%90.2%170.5%160.4%3,701Hamblen10,11561.6%6,05836.9%540.3%850.5%1150.7%16,427Hamilton53,07060.6%33,43338.2%2200.3%2240.3%5690.7%87,516Hancock1,18062.7%66635.4%70.4%130.7%160.9%1,882Hardeman3,00246.9%3,26651.0%360.6%490.8%470.7%6,400Hardin3,89552.5%3,42546.2%230.3%220.3%510.7%7,416Hawkins8,65862.6%4,89335.4%610.4%970.7%1240.9%13,833Haywood2,27443.2%2,92955.6%250.5%160.3%240.5%5,268Henderson4,09657.7%2,85840.3%450.6%320.5%681.0%7,099Henry4,09743.0%5,26355.2%430.5%480.5%860.9%9,537Hickman2,56039.2%3,88559.5%230.4%220.3%400.6%6,530Houston76329.4%1,79469.1%140.5%100.4%140.5%2,595Humphreys2,07334.3%3,89164.5%240.4%190.3%280.5%6,035Jackson1,13333.0%2,24765.5%170.5%190.6%160.5%3,432Jefferson7,26661.7%4,26936.3%560.5%820.7%980.8%11,771Johnson3,10170.3%1,22727.8%230.5%290.7%340.8%4,414Knox70,79361.8%42,10636.8%3670.3%5680.5%6900.6%114,524Lake50638.4%77859.0%141.1%80.6%131.0%1,319Lauderdale2,90444.7%3,45653.2%490.8%350.5%470.7%6,491Lawrence6,38153.5%5,38045.1%410.3%540.5%600.5%11,916Lewis1,73044.6%2,07353.4%220.6%150.4%391.0%3,879Lincoln4,52352.2%3,96745.8%480.6%350.4%861.0%8,659Loudon9,39866.1%4,66832.8%310.2%330.2%890.6%14,219Macon2,47648.9%2,49549.3%330.7%270.5%290.6%5,060Madison15,64056.1%11,87942.6%990.4%970.3%1490.5%27,864Marion3,64045.2%4,28153.2%380.5%350.4%530.7%8,047Marshall3,35544.9%3,97153.2%470.6%340.5%620.8%7,469Maury10,24049.8%10,05348.9%870.4%550.3%1310.6%20,566McMinn8,41061.5%4,98936.5%630.5%890.7%1150.8%13,666McNairy3,95452.0%3,53346.5%290.4%320.4%530.7%7,601Meigs1,54154.9%1,21043.1%120.4%160.6%260.9%2,805Monroe6,46958.8%4,39639.9%370.3%420.4%650.6%11,009Montgomery15,82449.6%15,64549.0%1140.4%1350.4%1830.6%31,901Moore1,03150.7%98448.4%70.3%40.2%80.4%2,034Morgan2,57547.5%2,81151.9%90.2%50.1%210.4%5,421Obion4,59345.4%5,31952.6%480.5%420.4%1061.0%10,108Overton2,07136.3%3,56562.4%240.4%200.4%320.6%5,712Perry85739.1%1,27358.1%150.7%190.9%261.2%2,190Pickett1,16257.2%84441.5%110.5%60.3%90.4%2,032Polk2,25949.7%2,21548.7%200.4%130.3%390.9%4,546Putnam9,34050.4%8,82947.7%1050.6%970.5%1450.8%18,516Rhea5,11565.9%2,56133.0%140.2%340.4%430.6%7,767Roane9,69355.7%7,44542.8%680.4%820.5%1110.6%17,399Robertson7,94846.1%9,11052.8%440.3%500.3%1020.6%17,254Rutherford29,01856.7%21,61342.2%2020.4%960.2%2500.5%51,179Scott2,41451.3%2,20246.8%200.4%340.7%330.7%4,703Sequatchie1,76548.5%1,82650.2%100.3%130.4%260.7%3,640Sevier13,97968.3%6,22330.4%580.3%700.3%1290.6%20,459Shelby117,92949.5%117,62949.3%9710.4%6220.3%1,2510.5%238,402Smith2,13737.1%3,55561.7%220.4%160.3%290.5%5,759Stewart1,31734.3%2,43663.5%290.8%100.3%451.2%3,837Sullivan28,49567.7%12,87230.6%1230.3%2470.6%3840.9%42,121Sumner23,63856.6%17,65042.3%1370.3%1230.3%2120.5%41,760Tipton8,82164.1%4,67834.0%650.5%720.5%1200.9%13,756Trousdale78634.5%1,46164.2%70.3%90.4%120.5%2,275Unicoi3,18969.1%1,33528.9%130.3%310.7%491.1%4,617Union2,41354.3%1,98444.6%150.3%140.3%200.4%4,446Van Buren67338.2%1,06360.4%90.5%60.3%90.5%1,760Warren5,21944.1%6,41454.1%690.6%570.5%870.7%11,846Washington20,19567.9%8,99430.3%1000.3%1800.6%2560.9%29,725Wayne2,42161.2%1,48637.6%100.3%200.5%160.4%3,953Weakley5,13847.7%5,43450.4%540.5%630.6%870.8%10,776White3,37345.9%3,83152.2%360.5%380.5%630.9%7,341Williamson36,27270.2%15,04429.1%1340.3%730.1%1460.3%51,669Wilson17,12256.3%12,90442.4%1180.4%990.3%1720.6%30,415TotalThe Tennessee Secretary of State reported slightly different vote totals than the Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives, which is the primary source used here. While overall vote totals the same, minor differences exist between the two sources in how votes are attributed to individual candidates. These discrepancies are small and do not affect the outcome in any county.891,42054.3%728,29544.3%6,4070.4%6,1050.4%10,2050.6%1,642,432 Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic Bedford (Largest city: Shelbyville) Campbell (Largest city: LaFollette) Cannon (Largest town: Woodbury) Clay (Largest city: Celina) Crockett (Largest city: Bells) Davidson (Largest city: Nashville) Dickson (Largest city: Dickson) Franklin (Largest city: Winchester) Giles (Largest city: Pulaski) Henry (Largest city: Paris) Lewis (Largest city: Hohenwald) Macon (Largest city: Lafayette) Marion (Largest town: Jasper) Marshall (Largest city: Lewisburg) Morgan (Largest community: Coalfield) Obion (Largest city: Union City) Robertson (Largest city: Springfield) Sequatchie (Largest city: Dunlap) Stewart (Largest city: Dover) Warren (Largest city: McMinnville) Weakley (Largest city: Martin) White (Largest city: Sparta) See also 2002 United States Senate elections 2002 Tennessee gubernatorial election 2002 Tennessee elections Notes References External links Official campaign websites (archived) Lamar Alexander (R) for Senate Bob Clement (D) for Sentate Category:2002 Tennessee elections Tennessee 2002