2002 United States Senate election in Texas

Democratic primary

• Ron Kirk, Mayor of Dallas
• Victor Morales, Teacher, Navy Veteran, 1996 Senate nominee
• Ken Bentsen Jr., U.S. representative, nephew of former US Senator Lloyd Bentsen

Primary

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:Source: OurCampaigns.com, TX US Senate - D Primary

Runoff

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:Source: OurCampaigns.com, TX US Senate - D Runoff

Republican primary

• John Cornyn, Attorney General of Texas

Primary

:Source: OurCampaigns.com, TX US Senate - R Primary

General election

Campaign

Despite the fact that Texas is a red state, Kirk ran on a socially progressive platform: supporting abortion rights and opposing Bush judicial nominee Priscilla Richman, although Kirk was a former George W. Bush supporter. He also supported increases in defense spending, such as Bush's proposed $48 billion increase in military spending, except for the money Bush wanted to use for missile defense. Cornyn was endorsed by U.S. president and former Governor George W. Bush, while Kirk had the support of former San Antonio mayor Henry Cisneros, former Governor Ann Richards and former U.S. Senator Lloyd Bentsen.

Cornyn was criticized for taking campaign money from Enron and other controversial companies. And although other Democrats have seized on the issue, Kirk is well-entrenched in the Dallas business community, and his wife resigned from two private-sector jobs that created potential conflicts of interest for Kirk while he was mayor.

An October Dallas Morning News poll had Cornyn leading 47% to 37%. A record $18 million was spent in the election.

Debates

Predictions

Polling

Results

Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican

• Atascosa (Largest city: Pleasanton)
• Bastrop (Largest city: Elgin)
• Brewster (Largest city: Alpine)
• Cottle (Largest city: Paducah)
• Fannin (Largest city: Bonham)
• Galveston (Largest city: Galveston)
• Knox (Largest city: Munday)
• Milam (Largest city: Rockdale)
• Palo Pinto (Largest city: Mineral Wells)
• Red River (Largest city: Clarksville)
• Stonewall (Largest city: Aspermont)
• Trinity (Largest city: Trinity)
• Waller (Largest city: Hempstead)
• Robertson (Largest city: Hearne)
• Bexar (largest city: San Antonio)
• Calhoun (largest city: Port Lavaca)

Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic

• Pecos (Largest city: Fort Stockton)
• San Augustine (Largest city: San Augustine)
• San Patricio (Largest city: Portland)
• Hudspeth (Largest city: Fort Hancock)
• Refugio (Largest city: Refugio)
• Dallas (largest city: Dallas)

Notes

References

References

1. (27 October 2002). "2002 VOTER'S GUIDE: / U.S. Senate / Cornyn vs. Kirk: More than U.S. Senate seat at stake here". Houston Chronicle.
2. (December 2022)
3. (8 April 2002). "Kirk looks ahead to race with Cornyn". [[Plainview Herald]].
4. (4 April 2002). "Richards campaigns with Kirk in Austin". [[Midland Reporter-Telegram]].
5. (25 September 2002). "Kirk, Cornyn exchange barbs over Enron, fund raising". [[Houston Chronicle]].
6. (20 August 2002). "Wife's lucrative board job issue in Kirk's Senate bid". [[Houston Chronicle]].
7. (31 October 2002). "Ethnicity, money are the recipe for 'Dream Team': Battle for Texas: Democrats court blacks, Hispanics in Republican state". National Post.
8. "Summary". [[OpenSecrets]].
9. [https://www.c-span.org/video/?173288-1/texas-senate-debate C-SPAN]
10. [https://www.c-span.org/video/?173416-1/texas-senate-debate C-SPAN]
11. (November 4, 2002). "Senate Races".
12. [https://www.surveyusa.com/2002Elec.html SurveyUSA]
13. [http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/2002/2002Stat.htm#43 "2002 ELECTION STATISTICS"].