2002 United States Senate election in South Dakota

2002 United States Senate election in South Dakota

← 1996 November 5, 2002 2008 →

Nominee Tim Johnson John Thune Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 167,481 166,957 Percentage 49.6% 49.5%

County results Johnson:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90% Thune:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%

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 2020 Presidential primaries Democratic 2008 2016 2020 Republican 2008 2016 U.S. Senate elections 1889 1891 1894 1897 1901 1903 1903 sp 1907 1909 1913 1914 1918 1920 1924 1926 1930 1932 1936 1938 1938 sp 1942 1944 1948 1950 1954 1956 1960 1962 1966 1968 1972 1974 1978 1980 1984 1986 1990 1992 1996 1998 2002 2004 2008 2010 2014 2016 2020 2022 2026 U.S. House elections 1889 1890 1891 AL sp 1892 1894 1896 1898 1900 1902 1904 1906 1908 AL sp 1910 1912 1914 1916 1918 1920 1922 1924 1926 1928 1930 1932 1934 1936 1938 1940 1942 1944 1946 1948 1950 1952 1954 1956 1958 1960 1962 1964 1966 1968 1970 1972 1974 1976 1978 1980 1982 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 AL sp 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 2020 2022
State government General elections 2010 2014 2018 2020 Gubernatorial elections 1889 1890 1892 1894 1896 1898 1900 1902 1904 1906 1908 1910 1912 1914 1916 1918 1920 1922 1924 1926 1928 1930 1932 1934 1936 1938 1940 1942 1944 1946 1948 1950 1952 1954 1956 1958 1960 1962 1964 1966 1968 1970 1972 1974 1978 1982 1986 1990 1994 1998 2002 2006 2010 2014 2018 2022 Attorney General elections 2018 Senate elections 2020 House of Representatives elections 2020
Ballot measures 2006 Amendment C 2008 Measure 9 Measure 10 2020 Amendment A Measure 26
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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 by a margin of 524 votes, or 0.15%. This made the election the closest race of the 2002 Senate election cycle.

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]

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.

See also[]

• 2002 United States Senate election

References[]