[1] He was defeated for the Democratic nomination for a full term in 1998 by Dan Seum.
Saunders defeated Seum in a rematch in 1992,[2] and served until he retired from the senate in 2004.
In the 1997 organizational session, Saunders was elected president of the senate, defeating incumbent Democratic leader John A.
[5] In July and August 1999, two Democratic senators switched to the Republican party, giving them a majority in the chamber.
[6] In January 2000, Saunders was formally replaced as senate president by Republican David Williams.