2000 United States Senate election in Pennsylvania

Last updated

2000 United States Senate election in Pennsylvania
Flag of Pennsylvania.svg
  1994 November 7, 2000 2006  
  Rick Santorum official photo.jpg Ron Klink.jpg
Nominee Rick Santorum Ron Klink
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote2,481,9622,154,908
Percentage52.42%45.51%

2000 United States Senate election in Pennsylvania results map by county.svg
PA US Senate 2000 By Precinct.svg
Santorum:     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90%     >90%
Klink:     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90%     >90%
Tie:      50%     No data

U.S. senator before election

Rick Santorum
Republican

Elected U.S. Senator

Rick Santorum
Republican

The 2000 United States Senate election in Pennsylvania was held on November 7, 2000, during a year which coincided with a United States presidential election in which Pennsylvania was viewed as a swing state. [1] [2] Pennsylvania was one of four states that elected Republican Senators despite being won by Al Gore in the concurrent presidential election, the others being Maine, Rhode Island and Vermont.

Contents

Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Rick Santorum won re-election to a second term. [3] This was the last time until 2024 where Republicans won the Class 1 Senate seat from Pennsylvania.

Republican primary

2000 Republican U.S. Senate primary [4]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Rick Santorum (inc.) 545,687 100.00%
Total votes545,687 100.00%

Democratic primary

Candidates

Campaign

The contest began for Democrats with a close primary challenge; U.S. Congressman Klink narrowly defeated State Senator Allyson Schwartz and former lieutenant governor nominee Tom Foley by portraying himself as the only candidate who could defeat Santorum.

Results

2000 Democratic U.S. Senate primary [4]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Ron Klink 299,219 40.73%
Democratic Allyson Schwartz 194,76326.52%
Democratic Tom Foley 184,00325.05%
Democratic Bob Rovner 28,0313.82%
Democratic Murray Levin18,9032.57%
Democratic Phil Berg9,6361.31%
Total votes734,575 100.00

General election

Candidates

Campaign

Santorum had gained a reputation as a polarizing figure during his first term in the Senate and had lost the support of more moderate members of his own party by 1999, [5] [6] but entered the race with a large fundraising advantage and high levels of support from the political right. Klink was viewed as a viable choice because he was a traditional Democrat on most issues and had strong union ties but also was opposed to abortion rights, which Democrats hoped would return votes to their party in the heavily Catholic but economically liberal coal regions of the state. The campaign turned increasingly negative as both candidates publicly questioned each other's integrity. [7]

Enthusiasm around Klink's campaign then waned as liberal Democrats balked at donating to a candidate who was almost as socially conservative as Santorum. This was especially true in Philadelphia, where Klink was all but unknown. Klink was also badly outspent, leaving him unable to expand his presence in the state; he didn't run a single advertisement on Philadelphia television stations. Ultimately, Klink only carried eight counties as Santorum, who had achieved nationwide prominence for taking positions against abortion and LGBT rights in the United States, was ultimately able to secure victory. [8]

Debates

Results

General election results [9]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Republican Rick Santorum (incumbent) 2,481,962 52.42% +3.02%
Democratic Ron Klink 2,154,90845.51%−1.41%
Libertarian John Featherman45,7750.97%−0.71%
Constitution Lester Searer28,3820.60%+0.6%
Reform Robert Domske24,0890.51%+0.5%
Majority327,0546.91%+4.43%
Total votes4,735,116 100
Republican hold

Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Melissa Hart (politician)</span> American lawyer and politician (born 1962)

Melissa Ann Hart is an American lawyer and politician. She was a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives from 2001 to 2007, representing western Pennsylvania's 4th congressional district. In the 2006 midterm elections, Hart lost her bid for re-election to Democrat Jason Altmire. She challenged Altmire again in the 2008 election, but was defeated again.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2000 United States Senate elections</span>

The 2000 United States Senate elections were held on November 7, 2000. The elections coincided with other federal and state elections, including the presidential election which was won by Republican George W. Bush. These elections took place 6 years after Republicans had won a net gain of eight seats in Senate Class 1. Despite George W. Bush's victory in the presidential election, the Republicans lost four senate seats, the most a winning president's party has lost since the passage of the 17th Amendment. This election marked the first election year since 1990 where Democrats made net gains in the Senate. Democrats defeated incumbent Republicans in Delaware, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, and Washington, and they won an open Republican-held seat in Florida. In Missouri, the winner was elected posthumously. The Republicans defeated Democratic incumbent Chuck Robb in Virginia, and won an open seat in Nevada. Additionally, Republican Senator Paul Coverdell of Georgia died earlier in the year and was replaced by Democratic appointee Zell Miller, who then went on to win the special election.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2006 United States Senate elections</span>

The 2006 United States Senate elections were held on November 7, 2006, with all 33 Class 1 Senate seats being contested. The term of office for those elected in 2006 ran from January 3, 2007, to January 3, 2013. Before the election cycle, the Republican Party controlled 55 of the 100 Senate seats.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Allyson Schwartz</span> American politician (born 1948)

Allyson Schwartz is an American Democratic Party politician who represented parts of Montgomery County and Northeast Philadelphia in the United States House of Representatives from 2005 to 2015 and Northeast and Northwest Philadelphia in the Pennsylvania Senate from 1991 to 2005. She has finished second in a statewide Democratic Party primary twice: for United States Senate in 2000 and for Governor in 2014.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ron Klink</span> American politician (born 1951)

Ronald Paul Klink is an American television broadcaster and politician and who served four terms as a United States Representative from Pennsylvania from 1993 to 2001, as member of the Democratic Party.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mark Singel</span> Pennsylvania politician

Mark Stephen Singel is an American politician who served as the 27th lieutenant governor of Pennsylvania from 1987 to 1995, alongside Governor Bob Casey. Singel served as the state's acting governor from June 14, 1993 to December 13, 1993, during Casey's lengthy battle with amyloidosis and subsequent multiple organ transplant.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2006 United States Senate election in Pennsylvania</span>

The 2006 United States Senate election in Pennsylvania was held on November 7, 2006. Incumbent Republican Rick Santorum ran for re-election to a third term, but was easily defeated by Democratic State Treasurer Bob Casey, Jr., the son of former Governor Bob Casey Sr. Casey was elected to serve between January 3, 2007 and January 3, 2013.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2006 United States Senate election in Ohio</span>

The 2006 United States Senate election in Ohio was held November 7, 2006. Incumbent Republican Mike DeWine ran for re-election, but was defeated by Democratic congressman Sherrod Brown. As of 2024, this is the most recent time a Democratic Senate candidate in Ohio won a race by double digits.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2004 United States Senate election in Pennsylvania</span>

The 2004 United States Senate election in Pennsylvania was held on November 2, 2004. Incumbent Republican Senator Arlen Specter won re-election to a fifth term. As of 2024, this is the last time a Republican statewide candidate won Montgomery and Delaware Counties and won more than 25% of the vote in Philadelphia. Specter later lost renomination in 2010 as a Democrat, having joined the party in April 2009. Specter’s party switch marked the first time since 1947 that Democrats held both of Pennsylvania’s U.S. Senate seats.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2010 United States Senate election in Utah</span>

The 2010 United States Senate election in Utah took place on November 2, 2010, along with other midterm elections throughout the United States. Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Bob Bennett was seeking re-election to a fourth term, but lost renomination at the Republican Party's state convention. Mike Lee proceeded to win the Republican primary against Tim Bridgewater and the general election against Democrat Sam Granato. As of 2024, this is the most recent U.S. Senate election in which a political party held the seat after denying renomination to the incumbent senator.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1994 United States Senate election in Pennsylvania</span>

The 1994 United States Senate election in Pennsylvania was held November 8, 1994. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Harris Wofford, who was appointed to the position in 1991 and won a special election the same year, sought re-election to a full six-year term, but he was defeated by Republican Rick Santorum. By a margin of 2.5%, this election was the second-closest race of the 1994 Senate election cycle, behind only the election in California.

Terry E. Van Horne was a former Democratic member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, where he represented the 54th legislative district.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2000 United States House of Representatives elections in Pennsylvania</span>

The 2000 United States House elections in Pennsylvania was an election for Pennsylvania's delegation to the United States House of Representatives, which occurred as part of the general election of the House of Representatives on November 7, 2000.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rick Santorum</span> American politician and commentator (born 1958)

Richard John Santorum is an American politician, attorney, author, and political commentator who represented Pennsylvania in the United States Senate from 1995 to 2007. He was the Senate's third-ranking Republican during the final six years of his tenure. He also ran unsuccessfully for president of the United States in the 2012 Republican primaries, finishing second to Mitt Romney.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2012 United States Senate election in Pennsylvania</span>

The 2012 United States Senate election in Pennsylvania was held on November 6, 2012, alongside a presidential election, other elections to the United States Senate in other states, as well as elections to the United States House of Representatives and various state and local elections. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Bob Casey, Jr. ran for and won re-election to a second term, defeating Republican nominee Tom Smith, and Libertarian nominee Rayburn Smith.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2012 United States presidential election in Pennsylvania</span>

The 2012 United States presidential election in Pennsylvania took place on November 6, 2012, as part of the 2012 United States presidential election in which all 50 states plus the District of Columbia participated. The primary election to select the Democratic and Republican candidates had been held on April 24, 2012. Pennsylvania voters chose 20 electors to represent them in the Electoral College via a popular vote pitting incumbent Democratic President Barack Obama and his running mate, Vice President Joe Biden, against Republican challenger and former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney and his running mate, Congressman Paul Ryan. Pennsylvania's electoral vote number was a reduction from the 2008 delegation, which had 21 electors. This change was due to reapportionment following the 2010 United States Census. Pennsylvania's 20 electoral votes are allotted on a winner-take-all basis.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2014 Pennsylvania gubernatorial election</span>

The 2014 Pennsylvania gubernatorial election was held on November 4, 2014, to elect the governor and lieutenant governor of Pennsylvania, concurrently with elections to the United States Senate in other states and elections to the United States House of Representatives and various state and local elections.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1988 United States Senate election in Pennsylvania</span>

The 1988 United States Senate election in Pennsylvania was held on November 8, 1988. Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator John Heinz successfully sought re-election to another term, defeating Democratic nominee Joe Vignola.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2016 United States Senate election in Pennsylvania</span>

The 2016 United States Senate election in Pennsylvania took place on November 8, 2016, to elect a member of the United States Senate to represent the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, concurrently with the 2016 U.S. presidential election, as well as other elections to the United States Senate in numerous other states and elections to the United States House of Representatives and various state and local elections. The primaries were held on April 26. Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Pat Toomey was reelected to a second term in a close race, defeating Democratic nominee Katie McGinty and Libertarian Party nominee Edward Clifford. With a margin of 1.43%, this election was the second-closest race of the 2016 Senate election cycle, behind only the election in New Hampshire.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2022 Pennsylvania gubernatorial election</span>

The 2022 Pennsylvania gubernatorial election was held on November 8, 2022, to elect the governor and lieutenant governor of Pennsylvania. Democratic state attorney general Josh Shapiro defeated Republican state senator Doug Mastriano to win his first term in office. Shapiro succeeded Democratic incumbent Tom Wolf, who was term limited.

References

  1. Resnick, Jolyn and Kalen Churcher. "Supporters rally in area for candidates." Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania: The Times Leader, November 7, 2000, p. 4 (subscription required).
  2. Miller, Rhonda. "State GOP leaders rally the faithful: Six-city campaign tour ends at county airport." Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, November 7, 2000, p. 8 (subscription required).
  3. "Commonwealth of PA - Elections Information". Archived from the original on May 15, 2008. Retrieved May 16, 2008.
  4. 1 2 "Pennsylvania Elections | Summary Results" . Retrieved September 27, 2023.
  5. Jesdanun, Anick. "Santorum's views not right on." Danville, Pennsylvania: The Danville News, January 26, 1999, p. 5 (subscription required).
  6. Brown, Jack. "Former congressman mulls run for Senate." Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: The Philadelphia Inquirer, January 7, 1999, p. 11 (subscription required).
  7. Marx, Claude R. "Santorum, Klink spend final day making pleas for votes: The two candidates for Pennsylvania's U.S. Senate seat both predict victory in hotly contested race." Hazleton, Pennsylvania: Standard-Speaker, November 7, 2000, p. 1 (subscription required).
  8. Pennsylvania Elections: Statewide Contests from 1950-2004
  9. "Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives".

Official campaign websites (archived)