The 2002 United States Senate election in Texas was held on November 5, 2002. Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Phil Gramm decided to retire, instead of seeking a fourth term. State Attorney General Republican John Cornyn won the open seat. This was the first open-seat election since 1984.

Republican primary John Cornyn, attorney general of Texas

Polling

Henry Bonilla vs. John Cornyn vs. Tony Garza vs. David Dewhurst Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin HenryBonilla JohnCornyn TonyGarza DavidDewhurst UndecidedMontgomery & Associates (D)Before September 10, 2001– (V)–14%27%7%16%36%

Henry Bonilla vs. David Dewhurst Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin HenryBonilla DavidDewhurst UndecidedMontgomery & Associates (D)Before September 10, 2001– (V)–24%44%32%

Results

Democratic primary

Candidates Nominee Ron Kirk, mayor of Dallas

Eliminated in runoff Victor Morales, teacher, Navy veteran, 1996 Senate nominee

Eliminated in primary

Ken Bentsen Jr., U.S. representative, nephew of former US Senator Lloyd Bentsen Ed Cunningham, former football player for the Texas Longhorns (1985–87, 1989) Gene Kelly, perennial candidate and 2000 Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate

Source: OurCampaigns.com, TX US Senate - D Primary

Runoff

Source: OurCampaigns.com, TX US Senate - D Runoff

General election

Campaign Despite the fact that Texas is a red state, Kirk ran on a socially progressive platform: supporting abortion rights and opposing Bush judicial nominee Priscilla Richman, although Kirk was a former George W. Bush supporter. He also supported increases in defense spending, such as Bush's proposed $48 billion increase in military spending, except for the money Bush wanted to use for missile defense.Newsbank Cornyn was endorsed by U.S. president and former Governor George W. Bush, while Kirk had the support of former San Antonio mayor Henry Cisneros, former Governor Ann Richards and former U.S. Senator Lloyd Bentsen.

Cornyn was criticized for taking campaign money from Enron and other controversial companies. And although other Democrats have seized on the issue, Kirk is well-entrenched in the Dallas business community, and his wife resigned from two private-sector jobs that created potential conflicts of interest for Kirk while he was mayor.

An October Dallas Morning News poll had Cornyn leading 47% to 37%. A record $18 million was spent in the election.

Debates + 2002 United States Senate election in Texas debates Date Host Moderator Link Republican DemocraticKey: Participant  Absent  Not invited  Invited Withdrawn John Cornyn Ron Kirk1 Oct. 18, 2002 Houston ChronicleKHOU Greg HurstC-SPANC-SPAN 2 Oct. 23, 2002 Freedom of Information Foundation of TexasHispanic Broadcasting CorporationKERA-TVTexas Association of BroadcastersTexas MonthlyThe Dallas Morning NewsTXCNUnivisionWFAA John McCaaC-SPANC-SPAN

Predictions SourceRankingAs ofSabato's Crystal Ball November 4, 2002

Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin JohnCornyn (R) RonKirk (D) Other UndecidedZogby International/MSNBCNovember 3–4, 2002– (V)–50%46%–4%Zogby International/MSNBCOctober 30 – November 2, 2002– (V)± 4.5%49%48%–3%Blum & Weprin Associates Inc.October 29 – November 1, 20021,002 (LV)± 3.0%50%41%9%University of Houston/Rice UniversityLate–October 2002656 (LV)± 3.6%45%39%–10%SurveyUSAOctober 29–31, 2002683 (LV)± 3.9%53%45%2%Scripps-HowardOctober 7–29, 20021,000 (A)± 4.3%44%35%–21%Frank N. Magid Associates, Inc.October 21–27, 2002550 (LV)± 4.3%43%40%–15%SurveyUSAOctober 21–23, 2002604 (LV)± 4.1%52%45%3%Frank N. Magid Associates, Inc.October 15–20, 2002600 (LV)± 4.1%46%36%–16%Frank N. Magid Associates, Inc.October 8–13, 2002600 (LV)± 4.1%46%36%–16%Zogby International/MSNBCOctober 9–11, 2002– (V)–45%37%–18%Frank N. Magid Associates, Inc.September 30 – October 6, 2002600 (LV)± 4.1%56%30%–14%FM3 Research (D)September 22–24, 2002– (V)± 3.635%39%–26%Zogby International/MSNBCSeptember 17–18, 2002––42%30%–28%University of Houston/Rice UniversitySeptember 3–15, 2002879 (LV)± 4.1%42%36%–22%Scripps-HowardAugust 7–27, 2002756 (LV)± 3.5%37%32%–30%Montgomery & Associates (D)July 31 – August 7, 2002––46%46%–8%University of Houston/Rice UniversityJune 20–29, 2002739 (LV)± 3.5%28%36%–36%Scripps-HowardMay 20 – June 9, 2002668 (LV)± 3.8%35%30%–33%Montgomery & Associates (D)May 7–13, 20021,066 (LV)± 3.0%46%44%–10%

Results

Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican Atascosa (largest city: Pleasanton) Bastrop (largest city: Elgin) Brewster (largest city: Alpine) Cottle (largest city: Paducah) Fannin (largest city: Bonham) Galveston (largest city: Galveston) Knox (largest city: Munday) Milam (largest city: Rockdale) Palo Pinto (largest city: Mineral Wells) Red River (largest city: Clarksville) Stonewall (largest city: Aspermont) Trinity (largest city: Trinity) Waller (largest city: Hempstead) Robertson (largest city: Hearne) Bexar (largest city: San Antonio) Calhoun (largest city: Port Lavaca)

Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic Pecos (largest city: Fort Stockton) San Augustine (largest city: San Augustine) San Patricio (largest city: Portland) Hudspeth (largest city: Fort Hancock) Refugio (largest city: Refugio) Dallas (largest city: Dallas)

See also 2002 United States Senate election

Notes

Partisan clients

References

External links Official campaign websites (archived) John Cornyn (R) for Senate Ron Kirk (D) for Senate