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2000 United States Senate election in Pennsylvania

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2000 United States Senate election in Pennsylvania

← 1994 November 7, 2000 2006 →
 
Nominee Rick Santorum Ron Klink
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 2,481,962 2,154,908
Percentage 52.42% 45.51%

County results Precinct resultsSantorum:      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

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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. 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.

Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Rick Santorum won re-election to a second term. 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
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Rick Santorum (inc.) 545,687 100.00%
Total votes 545,687 100.00%

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
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Ron Klink 299,219 40.73%
Democratic Allyson Schwartz 194,763 26.52%
Democratic Tom Foley 184,003 25.05%
Democratic Bob Rovner 28,031 3.82%
Democratic Murray Levin 18,903 2.57%
Democratic Phil Berg 9,636 1.31%
Total votes 734,575 100.00

General election

Candidates

  • Robert Domske (Reform)
  • John Featherman (Libertarian)
  • Ron Klink, U.S. Representative from Murrysville (Democratic)
  • Rick Santorum, incumbent U.S. Senator since 1995 (Republican)
  • Lester Searer (Constitution)

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, 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.

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.

Debates

Results

General election results
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Rick Santorum (incumbent) 2,481,962 52.42% +3.02%
Democratic Ron Klink 2,154,908 45.51% −1.41%
Libertarian John Featherman 45,775 0.97% −0.71%
Constitution Lester Searer 28,382 0.60% +0.6%
Reform Robert Domske 24,089 0.51% +0.5%
Majority 327,054 6.91% +4.43%
Total votes 4,735,116 100
Republican hold

Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican

See also

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. ^ "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".

External links

Official campaign websites (archived)

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