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2002 United States Senate election in Georgia

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The 2002 United States Senate election in Georgia took place on November 5, 2002. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Max Cleland ran for re-election to a second term, but was defeated by Republican Saxby Chambliss by nearly a 7 point margin, becoming the first Republican ever to win the state’s Class 2 Senate seat.

2002 United States Senate election in Georgia
← 1996 November 5, 2002 2008 →
 
Nominee Saxby Chambliss Max Cleland
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 1,071,153 931,857
Percentage 52.77% 45.90%
Chambliss:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90%
Cleland:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90%
Tie:      40–50%      50%      No data
U.S. Senator before election

Max Cleland
Democratic

Elected U.S. Senator

Saxby Chambliss
Republican

Democrat Roy Barnes simultaneously lost the gubernatorial election to Republican Sonny Perdue, marking just the sixth time in the last 50 years in which U.S. Senate and gubernatorial incumbents from the same political party were simultaneously defeated in the same state.[1][a]

Democratic primary

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Max Cleland, the incumbent U.S. Senator, won renomination unopposed.[2]

Republican primary

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Three candidates ran in the primary:[3]

Chambliss won easily, carrying nearly every county.

Republican primary results[4]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Saxby Chambliss 300,371 61.1
Republican Bob Irvin 132,132 26.9
Republican Robert Brown 59,109 12.0
Total votes 491,612 100.00

Campaign

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Chambliss's campaign used the refrain of national defense and security, but drew criticism for television ads that paired images of Cleland and Osama bin Laden and Saddam Hussein, and for questioning the commitment to homeland security of his opponent, a triple amputee and decorated Vietnam veteran.[5][6] Republican Senator and fellow Vietnam veteran John McCain of Arizona said of one ad, "It's worse than disgraceful, it's reprehensible."[7] McCain, along with Republican Senator and fellow Vietnam veteran Chuck Hagel of Nebraska, made significant complaints to the Republican National Committee until the ads were taken down.[8] Political strategist Rick Wilson received criticism from numerous journalists for his role in the ad, including from Glenn Greenwald, Charlie Pierce, and the Center for Public Integrity.[9][10][11]

Debates

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Predictions

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Source Ranking As of
Sabato's Crystal Ball[12] Lean D November 4, 2002

Results

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General election results
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Saxby Chambliss 1,071,153 52.77%
Democratic Max Cleland (incumbent) 931,857 45.90%
Libertarian Claude Thomas 26,981 1.33%
Total votes 2,029,991 100.0%
Republican gain from Democratic

Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ Ostermeier, Eric (November 19, 2014). "Mark Begich and Sean Parnell Join Small Group in Defeat". Smart Politics.
  2. ^ "Official Results of the August 20, 2002 Primary Election". Georgia Secretary of State. Retrieved August 18, 2020.
  3. ^ "GOP candidates for U.S. Senate debate in Macon". AccessNorthGa.com. August 2, 2002. Retrieved August 18, 2020.
  4. ^ "2002 Georgia Senate Primary". Georgia Secretary of State. Retrieved August 18, 2020.
  5. ^ Chambliss Ad (Cleland), YouTube, August 2, 2006
  6. ^ Politico: Cleland ad causes trouble for Chambliss. November 12, 2008.
  7. ^ The Atlantic: The Daily Dish: Quote for the Day. November 12, 2008.
  8. ^ The Orlando Sentinel: Ex-senator Boosts Kerry, Battles Critics. June 13, 2004
  9. ^ "Max Cleland Did Not Deserve What Rick Wilson Did to Him". November 9, 2021.
  10. ^ "Following Max Cleland's death, Glenn Greenwald et al. Recall Rick Wilson's despicable take on the ex-senator and decorated Vietnam vet [video]". November 9, 2021. Archived from the original on November 10, 2021. Retrieved November 10, 2021.
  11. ^ "Anatomy of an attack ad".
  12. ^ "Senate Races". www.centerforpolitics.org. November 4, 2002. Archived from the original on November 18, 2002. Retrieved June 25, 2021.

Notes

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  1. ^ The others were 1972 in Delaware, 1974 in Ohio, 1974 in Colorado, 1978 in Minnesota, and 1980 in Washington
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