# 2002 United States Senate election in Tennessee

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vte :
The 2002 United States Senate election in Tennessee was held on November 5, 2002. Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Fred Thompson decided to retire. Former Republican Governor Lamar Alexander won the open seat.

## Republican primary
### Candidates

* Lamar Alexander, former U.S. Secretary of Education, former Governor of Tennessee
* Ed Bryant, U.S. Representative
* Mary Taylor-Shelby, perennial candidate
* June Griffin, activist
* Michael Brent Todd
* James E. DuBose
* Christopher G. Fenner

### Results

Republican Primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Lamar Alexander | 295,052 | 53.79% |
| | Republican | Ed Bryant | 233,678 | 42.60% |
| | Republican | Mary Taylor-Shelby | 5,589 | 1.02% |
| | Republican | June Griffin | 4,930 | 0.90% |
| | Republican | Michael Brent Todd | 4,002 | 0.73% |
| | Republican | James E. DuBose | 3,572 | 0.65% |
| | Republican | Christopher G. Fenner | 1,552 | 0.28% |
| | Republican | Write-ins | 107 | 0.03% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 548,482 | 100.00% |

## Democratic primary
### Candidates

* Bob Clement, U.S. Representative and candidate for Governor in 1978
* Gary G. Davis, perennial candidate
* Cher A. Hopkey
* Michael L. Hampstead
* Alvin M. Strauss

### Results

Democratic primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Bob Clement | 418,172 | 82.18% |
| | Democratic | Gary G. Davis | 50,563 | 9.94% |
| | Democratic | Cher A. Hopkey | 14,481 | 2.85% |
| | Democratic | Michael L. Hampstead | 12,940 | 2.54% |
| | Democratic | Alvin M. Strauss | 12,241 | 2.41% |
| | Democratic | Write-ins | 478 | 0.08% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 508,875 | 100.00% |

## General election
### Campaign

Alexander raised $2 million through June 2002. Clement attacked the Governor for his corporate connections and business dealings. By October, Clement had nearly raised $900,000, while Alexander raised almost $3 million. Bush, who had a 60% approval rating in the state, helped campaign and raise money for Alexander. Alexander was also endorsed by the NRA Political Victory Fund.

### Debates

* Complete video of debate, September 30, 2002
* Complete video of debate, October 6, 2002
* Complete video of debate, October 13, 2002
* Complete video of debate, October 20, 2002

### Predictions

| Source | Ranking | As of |
| Sabato's Crystal Ball | Likely R | November 4, 2002 |

### Polling

| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Lamar Alexander (R) | Bob Clement (D) | Other / Undecided |
| SurveyUSA | October 26–28, 2002 | 726 (LV) | ± 3.8% | 52% | 41% | 7% |
In a September poll from the Knoxville News Sentinel, Alexander was up 45% to 27%. In a DNSC poll during the same month, Alexander was up 49% to 42%. In a mid October Zogby poll had the governor leading 49% to 36%. A late October WREG-TV poll had Alexander leading 45% to 36%.

### Results

United States Senate election in Tennessee, 2002 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Lamar Alexander | 891,498 | 54.28% | −7.09% |
| | Democratic | Bob Clement | 728,232 | 44.34% | +7.52% |
| | Independent | John Jay Hooker | 6,401 | 0.39% | N/A |
| | Independent | Wesley M. Baker | 6,106 | 0.37% | N/A |
| | Independent | Connie Gammon | 5,349 | 0.33% | N/A |
| | Independent | Karl Stanley Davidson | 2,217 | 0.13% | N/A |
| | Independent | Basil Marceaux | 1,170 | 0.07% | N/A |
| | Write-ins | | 356 | 0.02% | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 163,266 | 9.94% | −14.61% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,642,432 | 50.40% | |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Swing | | |

#### Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic

* Bedford (Largest city: Shelbyville)
* Campbell (Largest city: LaFollette)
* Cannon (Largest town: Woodbury)
* Clay (Largest city: Celina)
* Crockett (Largest city: Bells)
* Davidson (Largest city: Nashville)
* Dickson (Largest city: Dickson)
* Franklin (Largest city: Winchester)
* Giles (Largest city: Pulaski)
* Henry (Largest city: Paris)
* Lewis (Largest city: Hohenwald)
* Macon (Largest city: Lafayette)
* Marion (Largest town: Jasper)
* Marshall (Largest city: Lewisburg)
* Morgan (Largest community: Coalfield)
* Obion (Largest city: Union City)
* Robertson (Largest city: Springfield)
* Sequatchie (Largest city: Dunlap)
* Stewart (Largest city: Dover)
* Warren (Largest city: McMinnville)
* Weakley (Largest city: Martin)
* White (Largest city: Sparta)