United States Senate election in Minnesota, 2002

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The Minnesota United States Senate election 2002 was between incumbent Paul Wellstone and Mayor of Saint Paul Norm Coleman. Eleven days prior to the election, on October 25, 2002 Wellstone was killed in a plane crash. The Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party (DFL) chose former Vice President Walter Mondale to replace Wellstone on the ballot. Coleman narrowly beat Mondale 47% to 50%.^[1] Governor Jesse Ventura then appointed Dean Barkley to serve the rest of Wellstone's term.

1 Democratic Primary
2 Republican primary
3 General election
4 Election Results
5 See also
6 References

[edit] Democratic Primary

Incumbent Senator Wellstone easily beat his challenger Dick Franson 92.53% to 4.94%. Franson had run in 3 primary races.

[edit] Republican primary

Mayor of Saint Paul Norm Coleman easily beat his challenger Jack Shepard 95% to 5%. Coleman would go on to win the general election, 47% to 50%.

[edit] General election

At the time of his death, Wellstone was slightly ahead in the polls. After Walter Mondale was chosen as the DFL candidate, in a poll taken a few days before the election Mondale was leading 51% to 45%. Early on election day Mondale was leading in votes but by nightfall Norm Coleman pulled ahead. The senator-elect won narrowly 47% to 50%.