- Source: 2002 United States Senate election in South Dakota
The 2002 United States Senate election in South Dakota was held on November 5, 2002. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Tim Johnson narrowly won re-election to a second term over Republican John Thune by a margin of 524 votes, or 0.15%. This made the election the closest race of the 2002 Senate election cycle.
Thune later narrowly won South Dakota's other U.S. Senate seat in 2004, and was re-elected in 2010, 2016, and 2022 in uncompetitive elections.
Democratic primary
= Candidates
=Tim Johnson, incumbent U.S. Senator
Herman Eilers
= Results
=General election
= Candidates
=Kurt Evans (L), teacher
Tim Johnson (D), incumbent U.S. Senator
John Thune (R), U.S. Representative
= Campaign
=Thune ran against Tim Johnson, who narrowly won his first senate election in 1996. Thune launched a television advertising campaign mentioning al Qaeda and Saddam Hussein, contending that both are seeking nuclear weapons and that this country needs a missile defense system, something Johnson voted against 29 times and that Thune supports. The incumbent attacked Thune for politicizing national security. President George W. Bush campaigned for Thune in late October. More than $20 million was spent in the election. Both candidates had raised over $5 million each.
= Debates
=Complete video of debate, August 27, 2002
Complete video of debate, October 7, 2002
Complete video of debate, October 21, 2002
Complete video of debate, October 24, 2002
= Predictions
== Results
=Johnson narrowly prevailed over Thune by a mere 524 votes. Despite the extremely close results, Thune did not contest the results and conceded defeat on the late afternoon of November 9. Johnson's narrow victory may be attributed to his strong support in Oglala Lakota County, and to Thune also underperforming in typically Republican areas. Johnson was sworn in for a second term on January 3, 2003. Thune was elected to South Dakota's other Senate seat in 2004, defeating incumbent minority leader Tom Daschle. He served alongside Johnson until the latter retired in 2015.
Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican
Union (Largest city: Dakota Dunes)
Davison (largest city: Mitchell)
Gregory (largest city: Gregory)
Hamlin (largest city: Estelline)
Lincoln (largest city: Sioux Falls)
Turner (largest city: Parker)
Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic
Bennett (largest city: Martin)
Corson (Largest city: McLaughlin)
Mellette (Largest city: White River)
See also
2002 United States Senate elections
References
Kata Kunci Pencarian:
- Amerika Serikat
- Pemilihan umum Presiden Amerika Serikat 2016
- Pemilihan umum Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat Amerika Serikat 2010
- Daftar dukungan kampanye presiden Donald Trump 2024
- Bernie Sanders
- Daftar dukungan kampanye presiden Kamala Harris 2024
- 2002 United States Senate election in South Dakota
- 2014 United States Senate election in South Dakota
- 2004 United States Senate election in South Dakota
- 2016 United States Senate election in South Dakota
- 2008 United States Senate election in South Dakota
- 2010 United States Senate election in South Dakota
- 1998 United States Senate election in South Dakota
- 2020 United States Senate election in South Dakota
- 2022 United States Senate election in South Dakota
- 1986 United States Senate election in South Dakota
