Jean Carnahan
Encyclopedia
Jean Anne Carpenter Carnahan (ˈdʒiːn ˈkɑrnəhæn; born December 20, 1933) is an American
politician and writer who served in the United States Senate
from 2001 to 2002. A Democrat
, she was appointed to the Senate to fill the seat of her posthumously elected husband, becoming the first woman to represent Missouri
in the Senate.
to a working-class family, she was determined to go to college. She worked through the year while attending George Washington University
. She graduated in 1955 with a degree in Business and Public Administration — the first in her family to graduate from high school and college. She is an alumna of Kappa Delta
sorority. She married Mel Carnahan
in 1954.
As Mel Carnahan entered politics, Jean Carnahan was his political partner for several decades. Mel Carnahan was elected Governor of Missouri
, serving 1993–2000. Mrs. Carnahan was an activist First Lady — an advocate for on-site day care centers for working families, childhood immunization, abuse centers, the arts, and Habitat for Humanity.
Gov. Carnahan was running in 2000 for a Senate seat from Missouri against incumbent John Ashcroft
. Only three weeks before election day, he was killed in a plane
crash (along with his son, Randy Carnahan, who piloted the plane, and Chris Sifford, a campaign advisor). Due to the short time before the election, Missouri election law did not allow his name to be removed from the ballot. Acting Governor Roger B. Wilson
announced that he would appoint Jean Carnahan if her husband were to win the election posthumously.
The unusual circumstances made it a strange race. Out of respect, John Ashcroft
suspended his campaign during the mourning period for Mel Carnahan. Jean Carnahan did not actively campaign, but she did accept Gov. Wilson's offer and filmed one campaign commercial. It had been a close race. Mel Carnahan posthumously received the most votes by a slim margin — only 48,000 votes out of 2.36 million cast (51-48%) — and Mrs. Carnahan was appointed to the Senate in 2001. Although under Missouri law, Mel Caranahan could not legally win, since he was dead and therefore did not "live" in the state, and Ashcroft actually won (received the most votes of the legally qualified candidates), Ashcroft did not contest the election certification of the Democratic Secretary of State. The seat was therefore declared vacant and Jean was appointed although, under Missouri
law, she would only serve until a special election could be held in 2002.
The defeated Senator Ashcroft was nominated by President-elect
George W. Bush
to be U.S. attorney general, and because cabinet appointments are subject to Senate approval, Senator Carnahan found herself in the unusual position of casting a vote on the nomination of her former opponent. She voted against Ashcroft's nomination.
In 2002, the special election was held for the remainder of the 6-year term. Jean Carnahan ran, but was defeated in a close race by Republican James Talent; the margin was only 22,000 votes, 49.8%–48.6%.
The 2004 elections proved better for the Carnahan family, when Senator Carnahan's son, Russ
, was elected to Congress, and her daughter, Robin
, was elected Missouri's Secretary of State. Robin Carnahan's bid to follow her mother as a United States Senator failed, however, when she was handily defeated by U.S. Representative Roy Blunt
in the 2010 election
to succeed Missouri's senior Senator, Kit Bond
.
Since losing her Senate race, Jean Carnahan has continued as an activist and author. She has written four books and numerous opinion pieces.
She is among the former Missouri First Ladies who have participated in the cherry blossom tree planting in Marshfield, Missouri
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
politician and writer who served in the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
from 2001 to 2002. A Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
, she was appointed to the Senate to fill the seat of her posthumously elected husband, becoming the first woman to represent Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
in the Senate.
Biography
Born Jean Anne Carpenter in Washington, D.C.Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
to a working-class family, she was determined to go to college. She worked through the year while attending George Washington University
George Washington University
The George Washington University is a private, coeducational comprehensive university located in Washington, D.C. in the United States...
. She graduated in 1955 with a degree in Business and Public Administration — the first in her family to graduate from high school and college. She is an alumna of Kappa Delta
Kappa Delta
Kappa Delta was the first sorority founded at the State Female Normal School , in Farmville, Virginia. It is one of the "Farmville Four" sororities founded at the university...
sorority. She married Mel Carnahan
Mel Carnahan
Melvin Eugene "Mel" Carnahan was an American politician. A Democrat, he served as the 51st Governor of Missouri from 1993 to 2000. He died in a plane crash on the Pevely and Hillsboro, Missouri border during a campaign for the U.S...
in 1954.
As Mel Carnahan entered politics, Jean Carnahan was his political partner for several decades. Mel Carnahan was elected Governor of Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
, serving 1993–2000. Mrs. Carnahan was an activist First Lady — an advocate for on-site day care centers for working families, childhood immunization, abuse centers, the arts, and Habitat for Humanity.
Gov. Carnahan was running in 2000 for a Senate seat from Missouri against incumbent John Ashcroft
John Ashcroft
John David Ashcroft is a United States politician who served as the 79th United States Attorney General, from 2001 until 2005, appointed by President George W. Bush. Ashcroft previously served as the 50th Governor of Missouri and a U.S...
. Only three weeks before election day, he was killed in a plane
Fixed-wing aircraft
A fixed-wing aircraft is an aircraft capable of flight using wings that generate lift due to the vehicle's forward airspeed. Fixed-wing aircraft are distinct from rotary-wing aircraft in which wings rotate about a fixed mast and ornithopters in which lift is generated by flapping wings.A powered...
crash (along with his son, Randy Carnahan, who piloted the plane, and Chris Sifford, a campaign advisor). Due to the short time before the election, Missouri election law did not allow his name to be removed from the ballot. Acting Governor Roger B. Wilson
Roger B. Wilson
Roger B. Wilson is an American politician who was the 52nd Governor of Missouri from October 16, 2000 to January 8, 2001. He is a Democrat.- Early Life and education :...
announced that he would appoint Jean Carnahan if her husband were to win the election posthumously.
The unusual circumstances made it a strange race. Out of respect, John Ashcroft
John Ashcroft
John David Ashcroft is a United States politician who served as the 79th United States Attorney General, from 2001 until 2005, appointed by President George W. Bush. Ashcroft previously served as the 50th Governor of Missouri and a U.S...
suspended his campaign during the mourning period for Mel Carnahan. Jean Carnahan did not actively campaign, but she did accept Gov. Wilson's offer and filmed one campaign commercial. It had been a close race. Mel Carnahan posthumously received the most votes by a slim margin — only 48,000 votes out of 2.36 million cast (51-48%) — and Mrs. Carnahan was appointed to the Senate in 2001. Although under Missouri law, Mel Caranahan could not legally win, since he was dead and therefore did not "live" in the state, and Ashcroft actually won (received the most votes of the legally qualified candidates), Ashcroft did not contest the election certification of the Democratic Secretary of State. The seat was therefore declared vacant and Jean was appointed although, under Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
law, she would only serve until a special election could be held in 2002.
The defeated Senator Ashcroft was nominated by President-elect
President-elect
An -elect is a political candidate who has been elected to an office but who has not yet been sworn in or officially taken office. These may include an incoming president, senator, representative, governor and mayor.Analogously, the term "designate" An -elect is a political candidate who has been...
George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
to be U.S. attorney general, and because cabinet appointments are subject to Senate approval, Senator Carnahan found herself in the unusual position of casting a vote on the nomination of her former opponent. She voted against Ashcroft's nomination.
In 2002, the special election was held for the remainder of the 6-year term. Jean Carnahan ran, but was defeated in a close race by Republican James Talent; the margin was only 22,000 votes, 49.8%–48.6%.
The 2004 elections proved better for the Carnahan family, when Senator Carnahan's son, Russ
Russ Carnahan
John Russell "Russ" Carnahan is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2005. He is a member of the Democratic Party.The district includes the southern third of the city of St. Louis and most of the southern St. Louis suburbs including most of Jefferson County and all of Ste. Genevieve County...
, was elected to Congress, and her daughter, Robin
Robin Carnahan
Robin Carnahan is an American politician, daughter of Missouri politicians Mel and Jean Carnahan and the current Missouri Secretary of State. She is a member of the Democratic Party and was the Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate in 2010, to replace retiring Republican Sen...
, was elected Missouri's Secretary of State. Robin Carnahan's bid to follow her mother as a United States Senator failed, however, when she was handily defeated by U.S. Representative Roy Blunt
Roy Blunt
Roy D. Blunt is the junior United States Senator from Missouri. He is a member of the Republican Party. His Senate seat was previously held by Republican Kit Bond, until his retirement....
in the 2010 election
United States Senate election in Missouri, 2010
The 2010 United States Senate election in Missouri occurred on November 2, 2010 alongside 36 other elections to the United States Senate in other states as well as elections to the United States House of Representatives and various state and local elections. Primary elections were held on August 3,...
to succeed Missouri's senior Senator, Kit Bond
Kit Bond
Christopher Samuel "Kit" Bond is a former United States Senator from Missouri and a member of the Republican Party. First elected to the U.S. Senate in 1986, he defeated Democrat Harriett Woods by a margin of 53%-47%. He was re-elected in 1992, 1998, and 2004...
.
Since losing her Senate race, Jean Carnahan has continued as an activist and author. She has written four books and numerous opinion pieces.
She is among the former Missouri First Ladies who have participated in the cherry blossom tree planting in Marshfield, Missouri
Marshfield, Missouri
Marshfield is a city in Webster County, Missouri, United States. The population was 6,633 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat and part of the Springfield, Missouri Metropolitan Statistical Area.- History :...
.
Electoral history
- 2002 Race for U.S. Senate (Special Election to fill remainder of term)
- Jim TalentJim TalentJames Matthes "Jim" Talent is an American politician and former senator from Missouri. He is a Republican and resided in the St. Louis area while serving in elected office. He identifies with the conservative wing of the Republican party, being particularly outspoken on judicial appointments,...
(R), 50% - Jean Carnahan (D) (inc.), 49%
- Jim Talent
- 2000 Race for U.S. Senate
- Mel CarnahanMel CarnahanMelvin Eugene "Mel" Carnahan was an American politician. A Democrat, he served as the 51st Governor of Missouri from 1993 to 2000. He died in a plane crash on the Pevely and Hillsboro, Missouri border during a campaign for the U.S...
(D), 51% (posthumously elected; Jean Carnahan appointed to fill seat) - John AshcroftJohn AshcroftJohn David Ashcroft is a United States politician who served as the 79th United States Attorney General, from 2001 until 2005, appointed by President George W. Bush. Ashcroft previously served as the 50th Governor of Missouri and a U.S...
(R) (inc.), 48%
- Mel Carnahan
Books by Jean Carnahan
- (1998) If Walls Could Talk: The Story of Missouri’s First Families. MMPI ISBN 0-9668992-0-2.
- (1999) Christmas at the Mansion. MMPI ISBN 0-9668992-1-0.
- (2000) Will You Say a Few Words?. Walsworth Publishing Co. ISBN 0-8262-1513-0.
- (2004) Don’t Let the Fire Go Out!. University of Missouri Press. ISBN 0-8262-1513-0.
- (2009) The Tide Always Comes Back. Skyhorse Publishing ISBN 1-60239-744-9.