The Green Papers: Midterm Election 2002
 
Copyright www.flags.net/UNST.htm 107th Congress
Senate Seats by State

This is a list of the current Senate seats and the incumbents occupying them. There are 34 seats up for election in the year 2002.

There has been two deaths and 1 resignation in the 107th Senate:

  • Alaska Class 3: United Staes Senator Frank H. Murkowski (Republican), elected Governor of Alaska on 5 November 2002, was sworn in at noon on 2 December 2002 (Article III, section 4 of the Constitution of the State of Alaska) thus leaving his seat vacant. As Governor, he will name an interim replacement to complete the remaining two years of the State's "Class 3" Senate seat.
  • Minnesota Class 2: United States Senator Paul Wellstone (Democrat), along with his wife Sheila and his daughter Marcia- as well as three members of his staff and two crew members- were all killed in the crash of a King Air B200 turbo-prop airplane in St. Louis County, Minnesota on Friday, October 25, 2002. Mr. Wellstone was the Democratic nominee for re-election to his Class 2 Senate seat in the upcoming 5 November 2002 Midterm Election. The Senator's name will not remain on the General Election ballot but will be replaced by a new candidate as per Minnesota Election Law .
  • Missouri Class 1: On 7 November 2000, the Missouri "Class 1" seat was won by deceased Democratic Governor Mel Carnahan who died in a plane crash on Monday 16 October 2000. On Tuesday 24 October 2000 acting Democratic Governor Roger Wilson announced that he would appoint the former Governor's widow, Jean Carnahan, to fill the vacant Senate Seat should the deceased Governor win the election.

One Senator switched parties during the 107th Senate:

  • Vermont Class 1: On Thursday 24 May 2001 Senator James Jeffords (Republican of Vermont) announced "I will leave the Republican Party and will become an Independent". Jeffords action, when it become official, shifts the political party breakdown in the Senate from 50 Republicans / 50 Democrats to 49 Republicans / 50 Democrats / 1 Independent.

  Alabama    Alaska    Arizona    Arkansas    California    Colorado    Connecticut    Delaware    Florida    Georgia    Hawaii    Idaho    Illinois    Indiana    Iowa    Kansas    Kentucky    Louisiana    Maine    Maryland    Massachusetts    Michigan    Minnesota    Mississippi    Missouri    Montana    Nebraska    Nevada    New Hampshire    New Jersey    New Mexico    New York    North Carolina    North Dakota    Ohio    Oklahoma    Oregon    Pennsylvania    Rhode Island    South Carolina    South Dakota    Tennessee    Texas    Utah    Vermont    Virginia    Washington    West Virginia    Wisconsin    Wyoming 

Senate Links     Senate Electoral Classes


Delaware  6-year term
Partisan Composition: 2 Democrats

Class 2
Seat up for election
Democrat Senator Joseph R. Biden, Jr.
• Re-elected 5 November 2002
First elected: 1972; re-elected: 1978, 1984, 1990, 1996; 2002
Seat up for election: Tuesday 5 November 2002
Renominated - 7 September 2002 Primary
  Elected Democrat Senator Joseph R. Biden, Jr.
  Candidate Independent Maurice "Bud" Barros
Independent Party of Delaware
  Candidate Libertarian Ray Buranello
  Candidate Natural Law Robert E. Mattson
  Candidate Republican Raymond J. "Ray" Clatworthy

Georgia  6-year term
Partisan Composition: 2 Democrats

Class 2
Seat up for election
Democrat Senator Max Cleland
First elected: 1996
Seat up for election: Tuesday 5 November 2002
Renominated - 20 August 2002 - Primary
  Candidate Democrat Senator Max Cleland
  Candidate Libertarian Claude "Sandy" Thomas
  Elected Republican Congressman Saxby Chambliss

Illinois  6-year term
Partisan Composition: 1 Democrat, 1 Republican

Class 2
Seat up for election
Democrat Senator Richard J. Durbin
• Re-elected 5 November 2002
First elected: 1996; re-elected: 2002
[also served in U.S. House- elected: 1982, 1984, 1986, 1988, 1990, 1992, 1994]
Seat up for election: Tuesday 5 November 2002
Renominated - 19 March 2002 Primary
  Elected Democrat Senator Richard J. Durbin
  Candidate Libertarian Steven Burgauer
  Candidate Republican Jim Durkin

Iowa  6-year term
Partisan Composition: 1 Democrat, 1 Republican

Class 2
Seat up for election
Democrat Senator Tom Harkin
• Re-elected 5 November 2002
First elected: 1984; re-elected: 1990, 1996; 2002
[also served in U.S. House- elected: 1974, 1976, 1978, 1980, 1982]
Seat up for election: Tuesday 5 November 2002
Renominated - 4 June 2002 Primary
  Elected Democrat Senator Tom Harkin
  Candidate Green Timothy A. "Tim" Harthan
  Candidate Libertarian Richard J. Moore
  Candidate Republican Congressman Greg Ganske

Louisiana  6-year term
Partisan Composition: 2 Democrats

Class 2
Seat up for election
Democrat Senator Mary L. Landrieu
• Re-elected 5 November 2002
First elected: 1996
Seat up for election: Tuesday 5 November 2002
On Ballot - 5 November 2002 General Election / "Open" (non-partisan) Primary
  Candidate Democrat Raymond Brown
Received 2% of the 5 November 2002 vote. Will not proceed to runoff.
  Elected Democrat Senator Mary L. Landrieu
Received 46% of the 5 November 2002 vote. Defeated Republican Suzanne Haik Terrell in 7 December 2002 runoff with 52% of the vote.
  Candidate Independent Patrick E. "Live Wire" Landry
Received 1% of the 5 November 2002 vote. Will not proceed to runoff.
  Candidate Independent James Lemann
Received 0% of the 5 November 2002 vote. Will not proceed to runoff.
  Candidate Libertarian Gary D. Robbins
Received 0% of the 5 November 2002 vote. Will not proceed to runoff.
Listed as Independent by Secretary of State
  Candidate Republican Congressman John Cooksey
Received 14% of the 5 November 2002 vote. Will not proceed to runoff.
Incumbent Congressman current CD 5
  Candidate Republican Tony Perkins
Received 9% of the 5 November 2002 vote. Will not proceed to runoff.
State Representative
  Candidate Republican Ernest Edward Skillman, Jr.
Received 0% of the 5 November 2002 vote. Will not proceed to runoff.
  Candidate Republican Suzanne Haik Terrell
Received 27% of the 5 November 2002 vote. Will proceed to 7 December 2002 runoff.
Elections comissioner
 No candidate received 50% or move of the vote in the 5 November 2002 election. A run-off election will be held on 7 December 2002 between the two highest vote getters, Democratic Senator Mary Landrieu (46%) and Republican Suzanne Haik Terrell (27%).

Massachusetts  6-year term
Partisan Composition: 2 Democrats

Class 2
Seat up for election
Democrat Senator John F. Kerry
• Re-elected 5 November 2002
First elected: 1984; re-elected: 1990, 1996, 2002
Seat up for election: Tuesday 5 November 2002
Renominated - 17 September 2002 Primary
  Elected Democrat Senator John F. Kerry
  Candidate Libertarian Michael E. Cloud
  Candidate Write-In Randall Forsberg
Democrat for US Senate

Michigan  6-year term
Partisan Composition: 2 Democrats

Class 2
Seat up for election
Democrat Senator Carl Levin
• Re-elected 5 November 2002
First elected: 1978; re-elected: 1984, 1990, 1996, 2002
Seat up for election: Tuesday 5 November 2002
Renominated - 6 August 2002 - Primary
  Elected Democrat Senator Carl Levin
  Candidate Green Eric Borregard
  Candidate Natural Law Doug Dern
  Candidate Reform John S. Mangopoulos
  Candidate Republican Andrew "Rocky" Raczkowski

Missouri  6-year term
Partisan Composition: 1 Democrat, 1 Republican

Class 1
Seat up for election
Democrat Senator Jean Carnahan
Jean Carahan was appointed by Democatic Governor Roger Wilson to fill the seat of her deceased husband, Governor Mel Carnahan, who was posthumously relected on 7 November 2000. She was sworn in on 3 January 2001.
Seat up for election: Tuesday 5 November 2002
Renominated - 6 August 2002 Primary
  Candidate Democrat Senator Jean Carnahan
  Candidate Green Daniel "Digger" Romano
  Candidate Libertarian Tamara Millay
  Elected Republican Jim Talent
Senator-elect Talent will take office before the 108th Congress meets. He will become Senator upon the Friday 22 November 2002 certification of the vote.

Montana  6-year term
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican, 1 Democrat

Class 2
Seat up for election
Democrat Senator Max Baucus
• Re-elected 5 November 2002
First elected: 1978; re-elected: 1984, 1990, 1996, 2002
Seat up for election: Tuesday 5 November 2002
Renominated - 4 June 2002 Primary
  Elected Democrat Senator Max Baucus
  Candidate Green Bob Kelleher
  Candidate Libertarian Stan Jones
  Candidate Republican Mike Taylor
21 October 2002: State Senator Mike Taylor resumes his campaign.
10 October 2002: State Senator Mike Taylor suspended his campaign for the Senate. His name, however, will remain on the ballot. The Republican party is considering a write-in candidate.

New Jersey  6-year term
Partisan Composition: 2 Democrats

Class 2
Seat up for election
Democrat Senator Robert G. Torricelli
First elected: 1996
Seat up for election: Tuesday 5 November 2002
On Ballot - Withdrew his candidacy, 30 September 2002;
had been Renominated by same party- 4 June 2002 Primary
 ** Open Seat (no incumbent) **
  Candidate Conservative Norman E. Wahner
Party designation: Independent
  Elected Democrat Frank Lautenberg
7 October 2002- The U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear an appeal from the ruling of the New Jersey Supreme Court, thus clearing the way for former Senator Lautenberg's name to appear on the General Election ballot.
2 October 2002- In a unanimous ruling, the New Jersey Supreme Court decided that the Democrats could replace the name of Senator Bob Torricelli on the ballot with that of former Senator Lautenberg.
1 October 2002 - Governor Jim McGreevey announced that (pending NJ Supreme Court approval) former Senator Frank Lautenberg would replace incumbent Senator Robert Torricelli as the Democratic candidate for the Class 2 Senate seat in the 5 November election.
  Withdrawn Democrat Senator Robert G. Torricelli - withdrew
7 October 2002- With the U.S. Supreme Court having refused to hear an appeal from the 2 October ruling of the NJ Supreme Court, Senator Torricelli's name will now be legally replaced on the General Election ballot by that of former Senator Frank Lautenberg.
30 September 2002- For the time being, Senator Torricelli's name remains on the General Election ballot pending the resolution in the courts of legal issues re: the application of New Jersey Election Law to this situation.
  Candidate Green John "Ted" Glick
Party designation: Independent
  Candidate Libertarian Elizabeth Macron
Party designation: Independent
  Candidate Republican Douglas R. Forrester
  Candidate Socialist Gregory Pason
Party designation: Independent

Rhode Island  6-year term
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican, 1 Democrat

Class 2
Seat up for election
Democrat Senator John F. "Jack" Reed
• Re-elected 5 November 2002
First elected: 1996; re-elected: 2002
Seat up for election: Tuesday 5 November 2002
Renominated - 10 September 2002 - Primary
  Elected Democrat Senator John F. "Jack" Reed
  Candidate Republican Robert G. Tingle

South Dakota  6-year term
Partisan Composition: 2 Democrats

Class 2
Seat up for election
Democrat Senator Tim Johnson
• Re-elected 5 November 2002
First elected: 1996
Seat up for election: Tuesday 5 November 2002
Renominated - 4 June 2002 Primary
  Elected Democrat Senator Tim Johnson
  Withdrawn Libertarian Kurt Evans - withdrew
Not listed by Secretary of State.
17 October 2002 - suspended campaign and endorsed Republican John Thune in the race for U.S. Senate.
  Candidate Republican Congressman John Thune
Congressman South Dakota At-Large
 Close race. Incumbent Democratic Senator Tim Johnson (167,481 votes, 49.62%) vs Republican Congressman John Thune (166,957 votes, 49.47%). Congressman Thune has apparently declined to request a recount. This race can now be called for Senator Johnson.

West Virginia  6-year term
Partisan Composition: 2 Democrats

Class 2
Seat up for election
Democrat Senator John D. "Jay" Rockefeller, IV
• Re-elected 5 November 2002
First elected: 1984; re-elected: 1990, 1996, 2002
Seat up for election: Tuesday 5 November 2002
Renominated - 14 May 2002 Primary
  Elected Democrat Senator John D. "Jay" Rockefeller, IV
  Candidate Republican Jay Wolfe
 

Notes

Senate Class

Class 1 seats begin their new terms at noon on 3 January 2001... next regular election for these seats is in 2006.
Class 2 seats end their current terms at noon on 3 January 2003... next regular election for these seats is 2002.
Class 3 seats end their current terms at noon on 3 January 2005... next regular election for these seats is 2004.

For more information review UNITED STATES SENATE: Electoral "Classes"


Article I, Section 3, clause 2 of the Constitution of the United States reads as follows:

"Immediately after [the Senate of the United States] shall be assembled in Consequence of the first Election, they shall be divided as equally as may be into three classes. The Seats of the Senators of the first Class shall be vacated at the Expiration of the second Year, of the second Class at the Expiration of the fourth Year, and of the third Class at the Expiration of the sixth Year, so that one third may be chosen every second Year..."

Pursuant to this Constitutional provision, a three-Senator Committee was appointed by the Senate on 11 May 1789 to come up with a plan to carry out the requirements of that provision; this Committee reported to the Senate on 14 May 1789 a plan to divide the then 20 Senators (there were 10 of the 13 original States represented in the Senate at the time- each having 2 Senators: North Carolina and Rhode Island had yet to ratify the U.S. Constitution, while New York had so ratified but had failed to elect Senators as of that date) into the requisite three electoral Classes: under this plan, three groups of Senators (set up in such a way so as no State had its two Senators in the same group) were to be listed and the first Senator on each list (a list which was set up geographically north-to-south in the manner in which the Electoral Vote for President was counted before Congress at that time, so that two of the first Senators on these lists were from New Hampshire and the third was the first Senator in alphabetical order from Massachusetts) was to each blindly draw a piece of paper numbered either "1", "2" or "3" out of a box in the possession of the Secretary of the Senate. This plan being agreeable to the Senate and so approved, the drawing of lots in this manner was carried out the following day (15 May 1789)- such lot drawing ultimately determining that, to start with, Classes 1 and 2 were to have 7 Senators each and Class 3 was to have only 6 Senators.

When New York finally seated its two Senators during the ensuing Summer, there was another lot drawing (actually a double-lot drawing) on 28 July 1789 to determine the Classes for these seats: since one of the seats had to be Class 3 to make it equal in number to that of the other two Classes so far, the two New York Senators each blindly drew between two pieces of paper, one marked "3", the other which was blank- after this, there was a second lot drawing in which the New York Senator who had drawn the blank paper blindly drew again between two pieces of paper marked "1" and "2": he drew "1" so that New York would henceforth have Senators of electoral Classes 1 and 3.

When North Carolina seated its two Senators after ratifying the Constitution on 21 November 1789, there was yet another lot drawing (on 29 January 1790) in which North Carolina's two Senators each blindly drew between pieces of paper marked "2" and "3" (since there were now 12 States and, thus, 24 Senators: 24 being equally divisible by 3, there would now have to be 8 Senators in each of the three Classes to fulfill the Constitutional provision that, as nearly as was practicable, one third of the Senate be elected every second year).

After Rhode Island- the last of the 13 original States- finally ratified the Constitution on 29 May 1790 and subsequently seated its two Senators that Summer, there was yet one more lot drawing in the First Congress (on 25 June 1790) in which Rhode Island's two Senators blindly drew between pieces of paper marked "1", "2" and "3": one Senator drew "2", the other drew "1"- thereby determining electoral Classes 1 and 2 as those for the Senators from this State. When Vermont was admitted to the Union as the 14th state on 4 March 1791, there was again a double lot drawing as there had been for New York. From that day until this, whenever a new State has been admitted to the Union, these types of lot drawings (the type determined by the necessity of keeping the number of Senators in each electoral Class as close to one third as possible at the time of said lot drawing) between the new State's first Senators is held before the Senate to determine in just which of the three electoral Classes that State's Senate seats will be placed from then on.

 

 


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