United States Senate election in South Dakota, 2002

United States Senate election in South Dakota, 2002
South Dakota
November 5, 2002
 
Nominee Tim Johnson John Thune
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 167,481 166,957
Percentage 49.62% 49.47%

County results
U.S. Senator before election

Tim Johnson
Democratic

 Elected U.S. Senator

Tim Johnson
Democratic

Elections 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 won re-election to a second term by a margin of 524 votes.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Results

Democratic primary results[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Tim Johnson (inc.) 65,438 94.84
Democratic Herman Eilers 3,558 5.16
Total votes 68,996 100.00


General election

Candidates

Campaign

Thune, who was considered a rising star in his party, 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.[2] President George W. Bush campaigned for Thune in late October.[3] More than $20 million was spent in the election. Both candidates had raised over $5 million each.[4]

Results

General election results[5]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Tim Johnson (inc.) 167,481 49.62% -1.70%
Republican John Thune 166,949 49.47% +0.79%
Libertarian Kurt Evans 3,070 0.91%
Majority 532 0.15% -2.49%
Turnout 334,438
Democratic hold Swing

References

  1. ↑ http://www.sdsos.gov/electionsvoteregistration/pastelections_electioninfo02_statewideprimaryofficialret.shtm#US Sen-D
  2. ↑ Rothrock Library
  3. ↑ Rothrock Library
  4. ↑ Rothrock Library
  5. ↑ http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/2002/2002Stat.htm#41