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 over future senator and Senate Majority Leader John Thune by a margin of 524 votes, or 0.15%. This made the election the closest race of the 2002 Senate election cycle.
This was one of the four Democratic-held Senate seats up for election in a state that George W. Bush won in the 2000 presidential election. Thune has held South Dakota's other Senate seat since 2005, and became the Senate Majority Leader after the 2024 elections.
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 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. President George W. Bush campaigned for Thune in late October. More than $20 million was spent in the election. Both candidates had raised over $5 million each.
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 SourceRankingAs ofSabato's Crystal Ball November 4, 2002
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. He served alongside Johnson until the latter retired in 2015.
Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican Union (largest city: Dakota Dunes) Davison (largest city: Mitchell) Gregory (largest city: Gregory) Hamlin (largest city: Estelline) Lincoln (largest city: Sioux Falls) Turner (largest city: Parker)
Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic Bennett (largest city: Martin) Corson (largest city: McLaughlin) Mellette (largest city: White River)
See also 2002 United States Senate elections
References
External links Official campaign websites (archived) Tim Johnson (D) for Senate John Thune (R) for Senate