United States Senate election in Louisiana, 2002

United States Senate election in Louisiana, 2002

November 5, 2002

Nominee Mary Landrieu Suzanne Haik Terrell Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 638,654 596,642 Percentage 51.70% 48.30%

Parish Results

U.S. Senator before election Mary Landrieu Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Mary Landrieu Democratic

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The 2002 United States Senate election in Louisiana was held on November 5, 2002. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Mary Landrieu won re-election to a second term.

During the run-off, Landrieu was out-spent three-to-one by Republican contender Suzanne Haik Terrell, the Louisiana Elections Commissioner. Terrell also had prominent Republicans including President George W. Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney visit Louisiana to campaign on her behalf. Republicans, confident of victory having gained seats in the elections to the House of Representatives and to the Senate, solidifying control of the former and taking control of the latter, publicly called the election "Operation Icing on the Cake".^[1][2] Some Democrats responded by calling their efforts "Operation Wipe that Smirk off of Bush's Face"^[3] and dubbed Landrieu's subsequent run-off victory, "Operation Pie in the Face".^[4]

Candidates

Democratic

• Raymond Brown
• Mary Landrieu, incumbent U.S. Senator

Republican

• John Cooksey, U.S. Representative
• Tony Perkins, State Representative
• Ernest Edward Skillman
• Suzanne Haik Terrell, Louisiana Elections Commissioner

Independents

• Live Wire Landry
• James Lemann
• Gary D. Robbins

Initial results

Run off results

Landrieu pulled off what many considered to be an upset victory. The Republicans believed they would most likely win the race. Before the election many Republicans called the race operation icing on the cake. After Landrieu won the runoff Democrats dubbed her victory operation pie in the face. The race was close. In terms of rural parishes the vote was split fairly evenly. Landrieu did well in Caddo Parish home of Shreveport, and in East Baton Rouge Parish home of East Baton Rouge. Ultimately though it was Landrieu's huge win in Orleans Parish home of New Orleans that pushed her over the finish line. Haik Terrell conceded defeat to Landrieu at 12:38 P.M. EST, congratulating Landrieu on her victory. Landrieu would go on to be reelected to a third term in 2008.

References

External links

• Elections Division from the Louisiana Secretary of State