Tom Daschle Democratic Bill Frist Republican The 2002 United States Senate elections featured a series of fiercely contested elections that resulted in a victory for the Republican Party, which gained two seats and thus a narrow majority from the Democratic Party in the United States Senate.

[14] McPhillips received a large amount of support in the southern part of the state, but Parker won the most votes.

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.

Durbin faced off against State Representative and future Illinois House minority leader Jim Durkin, whom he was able to beat, ensuring his return to the Senate.

Harkin was opposed in the general election by United States Congressman Greg Ganske, who fought off a surprisingly difficult challenger in the Republican primary.

During the run-off, Landrieu was out-spent three-to-one by Republican contender Suzanne Haik Terrell, the Louisiana Elections Commissioner.

Dean Barkley Independence Norm Coleman Republican Incumbent Democrat Paul Wellstone was running for re-election to a third term, but died in a plane crash eleven days before the election.

The Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party (DFL) chose former Vice President and 1984 Presidential candidate Walter Mondale to replace Wellstone on the ballot.

The day before the election, Independence Governor Jesse Ventura had appointed Dean Barkley (IP) to serve the rest of Wellstone's term.

Carnahan beat his Republican opponent, John Ashcroft, who did not legally contest being defeated by a dead candidate.

National security and Carnahan's vote against fellow Missourian John Ashcroft as attorney general were major issues in the campaign.

[47] Talent, citing Carnahan's votes against homeland-security legislation and missile defense, accused her of being soft on national security, which she objected to, saying he was "doubt[ing] her patriotism.

Talent's victory was certified November 21, 2002, one day before Congress adjourned, which prevented Republicans from claiming a senate majority.

[58] Nonetheless, the party never fully forgave him, and some of his fellow Republican Senators went so far as to endorse his primary opponent, Rep. John Sununu,[59] who would go on to win by 8 points.

During the campaign, there was a major scandal that involved the use of a telemarketing firm hired by that state's Republican Party (NHGOP) for election tampering.

The GOP Marketplace, based in Northern Virginia, jammed another phone bank being used by the state Democratic Party and the firefighters' union for efforts to turn out voters on behalf of New Hampshire Governor Jeanne Shaheen on Election Day.

Robert Torricelli Democratic Frank Lautenberg Democratic The race was to originally feature Democrat Robert Torricelli, who was running for a second term in the seat he had won when former Senator Bill Bradley elected not to run for a fourth term in 1996 and who had been the state's senior Senator following Frank Lautenberg's retirement at the end of the 106th United States Congress, against former West Windsor Township mayor Douglas Forrester, who had won the Republican nomination.

The New Jersey Supreme Court ruled unanimously on October 2 that the party could switch Lautenberg's name in for Sen. Torricelli's on the ballot.

Republican Elizabeth Dole won the open seat over Democrat Erskine Bowles, former White House Chief of Staff.

Reed was an extremely popular senator, with a May Brown University poll showing the incumbent with a 73% approval rating, higher than any other elected lawmaker in the state.

Alex Sanders, the former president of the College of Charleston, entered the race and faced no opposition from South Carolina Democrats, thereby avoiding a primary election.

This was due in large part because the South Carolina Republicans were preoccupied with the gubernatorial race,[75] and also because potential rivals were deterred by the huge financial war chest Graham had amassed early in the campaign.

Graham campaigned that he had a consistent conservative voting record that he claimed closely matched that of outgoing Senator Strom Thurmond.

Sanders campaigned on his membership in the NAACP, the Sons of Confederate Veterans, and the National Rifle Association of America (NRA).

Thune, who was considered a rising star in his party, ran against Tim Johnson, who narrowly won his first senate election in 1996.

Despite the extreme closeness of the election, Thune did not contest the results and conceded defeat on the late afternoon of November 9.

Republican Lamar Alexander, former U.S. Secretary of Education and former Governor of Tennessee, won the open seat over Democrat Bob Clement, U.S. Representative.

Republican John Cornyn won the open seat over the Democratic Mayor of Dallas, Ron Kirk.

The race was perceived as close, with an October Dallas Morning News poll showing Cornyn leading 47% to 37%.

Wolfe was endorsed by President George W. Bush and the National Rifle Association of America (NRA), but it wasn't enough to make the election competitive.