United States Senate election in South Dakota, 2002

United States Senate election in South Dakota, 2002

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
Federal government Presidential Elections 1892 1896 1900 1904 1908 1912 1916 1920 1924 1928 1932 1936 1940 1944 1948 1952 1956 1960 1964 1968 1972 1976 1980 1984 1988 1992 1996 2000 2004 2008 2012 2016 Presidential Primaries Democratic 2008 Republican 2008 2012 U.S. Senate elections 1980 1986 1992 1996 1998 2002 2004 2008 2010 2014 2016 U.S. House elections 2002 2004 (special) 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016
State government General elections 2014 Gubernatorial elections 1889 1890 1892 1894 1896 1898 1900 1902 1904 1906 1972 1974 1978 1982 1986 1990 1994 1998 2002 2006 2010 2014
Ballot measures 2006 Amendment C

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

• 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, 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

Johnson narrowly prevailed over Thune by a mere 532 votes. Despite the extreme closeness of the election, Thune did not contest the results and conceded defeat on the late afternoon of November 9. Johnson's narrow victory may be attributed to Minnehaha County home of Sioux Falls. Thune also underperformed typically Republican areas. Johnson was sworn in for a second term on January 3, 2003. Johnson would go on to easily win a third term in 2008.

References