The 2000 United States Senate election in Missouri was held on November 7, 2000, to select the next U.S. Senator from Missouri. Incumbent Republican Senator John Ashcroft ran for reelection to a second term, but he was defeated by Democratic Governor Mel Carnahan despite Carnahan's death in a plane crash three weeks before election day. Roger B. Wilson, the newly inaugurated governor, appointed Mel Carnahan's widow Jean Carnahan to fill the seat until a special election could be held. As of 2023, this is the only time a deceased person has won a U.S. Senate election.
Background
John Ashcroft had first been elected in 1994, with close to 60% of the vote, amidst a national Republican wave. During his tenure in the senate, he established a reputation as a conservative, advocating for welfare reform and tax reform, and for being a favorite of social conservatives such as Pat Robertson. Beginning in 1997, Ashcroft considered running for President in 2000. Ashcroft visited numerous crucial states, but was undecided between a presidential bid, re-election, or both, which would be permitted under state law. On January 5, 1999, he announced that he would not seek the presidency and would instead seek a second Senate term in the 2000 election.
His opponent was incumbent two-term Democratic Governor Mel Carnahan, who by state law, was barred from seeking a third term. Carnahan had held various statewide positions including State Treasurer, Lieutenant Governor (which he served as while Ashcroft was governor) and as Governor. He also had been seen as a prospective candidate in virtually every Missouri U.S. Senate race in the 1990s. He announced his bid for the seat on November 4, 1998, with polls at the time, showing him leading Senator Ashcroft.
The stage would be set on August 9, 2000, when both candidates won their respective primaries against largely token opposition. With two candidates of such standing, the race was bound to become one of the most competitive in the nation, in a year where control of the Senate was on the line.
Primary results
General election
Candidates
John Ashcroft, incumbent U.S. Senator (Republican) Mel Carnahan, Governor of Missouri (Democratic) (died October 16th) Charles Dockins (Natural Law) Hugh Foley (Reform) Grant Samuel Stauffer (Libertarian) Evaline Taylor (Green)
Campaign
Missouri was often considered by pundits to be a close match to the national electorate, with even the candidates mirroring the presidential candidates at the top of the ticket in many respects. Furthering this line of thinking, Missouri had picked the correct winner in every presidential election from 1904, with the exception of the 1956 presidential election. With this in mind, the race for U.S. Senate quickly became one of the most hotly contested in the country. Both candidates used various ways to campaign. For example, Ashcroft held a bus tour across the state to campaign on "Missouri Values". Likewise, Carnahan held a four day long train tour, an homage to Missouri native and former President Harry S. Truman, who held this seat before being elected as vice president.
Both candidates also saw their character come under siege. Ashcroft received staunch criticism for his role in defeating the judicial nomination of Ronnie White, attacking him as "pro-criminal", a move which Carnahan, and many black leaders, saw as having racial overtones. He was also attacked for his Senate votes against a prescription drug benefit for Medicare, his vote on Bill Clinton's impeachment, and for his conservative voting record. Ashcroft also faced controversy for the honorary degree he received from Bob Jones University, a Christian college which faced controversy over some of its views. Carnahan was also subject to attacks for his past actions, such as wearing blackface in a 1960 sketch. He was also attacked for his commutation of the death sentence of Darrell J. Mease, at the behest of the Pope. In addition to the contrast between the candidates, issues ranging from healthcare to education to Social Security would become some of the most contentious issues, mirroring the national Presidential Election.
Both candidates were close in the polls and in fundraising with it at times being one of the most expensive races in the nation. Ashcroft would have a war chest that included significant contributions from corporations such as Monsanto Company, headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, which gave five times more to Ashcroft's campaign fund than to the fund of any other congressional hopeful at the time. Ashcroft's campaign fund would later be fined by the Federal Election Commission for failure to disclose donors.