United States Senate election in Florida, 2000
Encyclopedia
The 2000 United States Senate election in Florida was held on November 7, 2000. Incumbent U.S. Senator Connie Mack III
decided to retire instead of seeking a fourth term. Democrat Bill Nelson
won the open seat.
, where Bush narrowly defeated Gore after an intense recount. The senate election was evenly matched with two U.S. Congressmen in their mid-50s. Both parties heavily targeted this senate seat. The election became very nasty as Nelson called his opponent "an extremist who would sacrifice the elderly, the poor, and the working class to coddle the rich." McCollum called the Democrat "a liberal who would tax everything that moves, and some things that don't." The election advertisements were very negative, as both candidates talked more about each other than themselves.
Nelson raised only soft money, but had help from President Bill Clinton
and VP Al Gore
. Two days before the election, McCollum predicted he would win by a 6 point margin. On election day, he lost by a 6 point margin.
Connie Mack III
Cornelius Alexander McGillicuddy III , popularly known as Connie Mack, is a former Republican politician. He served as a member of the United States House of Representatives from Florida from 1983 to 1989 and then as a Senator from 1989 to 2001. He served as chairman of the Senate Republican...
decided to retire instead of seeking a fourth term. Democrat Bill Nelson
Bill Nelson
Clarence William "Bill" Nelson is the senior United States Senator from the state of Florida and a member of the Democratic Party. He is a former U.S. Representative and former Treasurer and Insurance Commissioner of Florida...
won the open seat.
Candidates
- Bill NelsonBill NelsonClarence William "Bill" Nelson is the senior United States Senator from the state of Florida and a member of the Democratic Party. He is a former U.S. Representative and former Treasurer and Insurance Commissioner of Florida...
, U.S. Congressman from the 9thFlorida's 9th congressional districtFlorida's 9th congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Florida that encompasses most of rural eastern Hillsborough County, northern parts of Pinellas County and the Gulf coast of Pasco County .The district is currently represented by Republican Gus Bilirakis.-List of...
and 11thFlorida's 11th congressional districtFlorida's 11th congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Florida that encompasses most of the city of Tampa and its suburbs and the shoreline of southeastern Hillsborough County. It also includes two areas in other counties: urban neighborhoods of south St...
districts - Newall Jerome Daughtrey, 1998 Democratic nominee for Florida State Comptroller
- David B. Higginbottom, 1986 and 1988 Democratic nominee for U.S. House of Representatives from in Florida's 10th congressional districtFlorida's 10th congressional districtFlorida's 10th congressional district is the only Florida district entirely within a single county, Pinellas County, Florida. It is currently represented by Republican Bill Young. Barack Obama received 51% of the vote in this district in 2008....
Results
Candidates
- Bill McCollumBill McCollumIra William "Bill" McCollum, Jr. is a former Florida Attorney General. A Republican, he was Florida's 36th attorney general, taking office in 2007...
, U.S. Congressman from the 8thFlorida's 8th congressional districtFlorida's 8th congressional district lies in central Florida. The district takes in parts of Orange County, Lake County, Marion County and Osceola County. Most of Orlando is in the district, including Walt Disney World...
and 5thFlorida's 5th congressional districtFlorida's 5th congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Florida that comprises all of Citrus, Hernando, and Sumter counties and most of Lake, Levy, and Pasco counties and portions of Marion and Polk counties...
districts - Hamilton A. S. Bartlett
Results
Major
- Bill McCollumBill McCollumIra William "Bill" McCollum, Jr. is a former Florida Attorney General. A Republican, he was Florida's 36th attorney general, taking office in 2007...
(R), U.S. Congressman from the 8thFlorida's 8th congressional districtFlorida's 8th congressional district lies in central Florida. The district takes in parts of Orange County, Lake County, Marion County and Osceola County. Most of Orlando is in the district, including Walt Disney World...
and 5thFlorida's 5th congressional districtFlorida's 5th congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Florida that comprises all of Citrus, Hernando, and Sumter counties and most of Lake, Levy, and Pasco counties and portions of Marion and Polk counties...
districts - Bill NelsonBill NelsonClarence William "Bill" Nelson is the senior United States Senator from the state of Florida and a member of the Democratic Party. He is a former U.S. Representative and former Treasurer and Insurance Commissioner of Florida...
(D), U.S. Congressman from the 9thFlorida's 9th congressional districtFlorida's 9th congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Florida that encompasses most of rural eastern Hillsborough County, northern parts of Pinellas County and the Gulf coast of Pasco County .The district is currently represented by Republican Gus Bilirakis.-List of...
and 11thFlorida's 11th congressional districtFlorida's 11th congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Florida that encompasses most of the city of Tampa and its suburbs and the shoreline of southeastern Hillsborough County. It also includes two areas in other counties: urban neighborhoods of south St...
districts
Minor
- Joel Deckard (Re)
- Willie Logan (I)
- Andy Martin (I)
- Darrell McCormick (I)
- Joe Simonetta (NL)
Campaign
This election was in conjunction to the presidential electionUnited States presidential election in Florida, 2000
The 2000 United States presidential election in Florida took place on November 7, 2000 as it did in the other 49 states and D.C., which was part of the 2000 United States presidential election...
, where Bush narrowly defeated Gore after an intense recount. The senate election was evenly matched with two U.S. Congressmen in their mid-50s. Both parties heavily targeted this senate seat. The election became very nasty as Nelson called his opponent "an extremist who would sacrifice the elderly, the poor, and the working class to coddle the rich." McCollum called the Democrat "a liberal who would tax everything that moves, and some things that don't." The election advertisements were very negative, as both candidates talked more about each other than themselves.
Nelson raised only soft money, but had help from President Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
and VP Al Gore
Al Gore
Albert Arnold "Al" Gore, Jr. served as the 45th Vice President of the United States , under President Bill Clinton. He was the Democratic Party's nominee for President in the 2000 U.S. presidential election....
. Two days before the election, McCollum predicted he would win by a 6 point margin. On election day, he lost by a 6 point margin.