2002 United States Senate election in Louisiana

November 5, 2002 (first round) December 7, 2002 (runoff)

Nominee Mary Landrieu Suzanne Haik Terrell Party Democratic Republican First round 573,347 46.00% 339,506 27.24% Runoff 638,654 51.70% 596,642 48.30%   Nominee John Cooksey Tony Perkins Party Republican Republican First round 171,752 13.78% 119,776 9.61% Runoff Eliminated Eliminated

First round parish results Runoff parish results Runoff congressional district results Landrieu   30–40%   40–50%   50–60%   60–70%   70–80% Terrell   40–50%   50–60%   60–70% Cooksey   30–40%   40–50%   60–70%

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

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Government

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, although she did not earn 50% of the vote in the first round and was therefore forced into a runoff election with Republican Suzanne Haik Terrell, the Louisiana Elections Commissioner.

During the runoff, Landrieu was outspent three-to-one by Terrell, who 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

Primary results

Runoff

Analysis

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 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, but ultimately defeated in her bid for a fourth term in 2014.

See also

• 2002 United States Senate elections

References

External links

• Elections Division from the Louisiana Secretary of State