Tom Carper Explained

Tom Carper
Jr/Sr:United States Senator
State:Delaware
Alongside:Chris Coons
Term Start:January 3, 2001
Predecessor:William Roth
Office1:Chair of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee
Term Start1:February 3, 2021
Predecessor1:John Barrasso
Office2:Ranking Member of the Senate Environment Committee
Term Start2:January 3, 2017
Term End2:February 3, 2021
Predecessor2:Barbara Boxer
Successor2:Shelley Moore Capito
Office3:Chair of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee
Term Start3:January 3, 2013
Term End3:January 3, 2015
Predecessor3:Joe Lieberman
Successor3:Ron Johnson
Office4:Chair of the National Governors Association
Term Start4:August 4, 1998
Term End4:August 10, 1999
Predecessor4:George Voinovich
Successor4:Mike Leavitt
Order5:71st Governor of Delaware
Lieutenant5:Ruth Ann Minner
Term Start5:January 19, 1993
Term End5:January 3, 2001
Predecessor5:Dale E. Wolf
Successor5:Ruth Ann Minner
State6:Delaware
Term Start6:January 3, 1983
Term End6:January 3, 1993
Predecessor6:Tom Evans
Successor6:Mike Castle
Office7:Treasurer of Delaware
Governor7:Pete du Pont
Term Start7:January 18, 1977
Term End7:January 3, 1983
Predecessor7:Mary Jornlin
Successor7:Janet Rzewnicki
Birth Name:Thomas Richard Carper
Birth Date:23 January 1947
Birth Place:Beckley, West Virginia, U.S.
Party:Democratic
Spouse:
    Children:2
    Education:Ohio State University (BA)
    University of Delaware (MBA)
    Signature:Tom Carper signature.png
    Allegiance:United States
    Serviceyears:1968–1991
    Rank: Captain
    Unit:Naval Flight Officer
    Navy Reserve
    Battles:Vietnam War

    Thomas Richard Carper (born January 23, 1947) is an American politician and former military officer serving as the senior United States senator from Delaware, having held the seat since 2001. A member of the Democratic Party, Carper served in the United States House of Representatives from 1983 to 1993 and was the 71st governor of Delaware from 1993 to 2001.

    A native of Beckley, West Virginia, Carper graduated from Ohio State University. Serving as a naval flight officer in the U.S. Navy from 1968 until 1973, he flew the P-3 Orion as a tactical coordinator and mission commander[1] and saw active duty in the Vietnam War. After leaving the active duty Navy, he remained in the U.S. Naval Reserve for another 18 years and eventually retired with the rank of Captain (O-6). Upon receiving his MBA from the University of Delaware in 1975, Carper went to work for the state of Delaware in its economic development office. He was elected state treasurer, serving from 1977 to 1983 and leading the development of Delaware's first cash management system.

    Encouraged by local politicians, Carper successfully ran for Delaware's only seat in the U.S. House of Representatives in 1982. He served five terms in the House, where he chaired the Subcommittee on Economic Stabilization. In 1992, he swapped positions with term-limited Republican Governor Mike Castle, and the two were easily elected to each other's seats. Carper governed for two terms as a moderate, business-oriented New Democrat, following the lead of the two previous Republican governors.

    Carper was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2000, defeating Republican incumbent William Roth. He was reelected by landslides in 2006, 2012, and 2018. He serves as one of four deputy Democratic whips, the chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee and on the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee and the Finance Committee. Carper is the senior senator in Delaware's congressional delegation and the dean of the delegation. He is the last Vietnam War veteran to serve in the Senate.

    Early life and education

    Carper was born in Beckley, West Virginia, the son of Mary Jean (née Patton) and Wallace Richard Carper. He grew up in Danville, Virginia, and graduated from Whetstone High School in Columbus, Ohio. He then graduated from the Ohio State University in 1968, where he was a midshipman in the Naval ROTC and earned a degree in economics. At Ohio State, Carper became a member of the Beta Phi Chapter of the Delta Tau Delta fraternity. Carper earned an MBA from the University of Delaware in 1975.

    Early career

    Serving as a Naval Flight Officer in the U.S. Navy from 1968 until 1973, he served three tours of duty in Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War. He remained in the U.S. Naval Reserve as a P-3 aircraft mission commander for another 18 years and retired with the rank of Captain (O-6).[2]

    While in college at the Ohio State University, Carper worked on the presidential campaign of U.S. Senator Eugene McCarthy. In Delaware, he worked as the campaign treasurer for University of Delaware professor James R. Soles in his unsuccessful 1974 bid for the U.S. House of Representatives.

    After receiving his MBA degree in 1975, Carper went to work for the State of Delaware's economic development office. In 1976, after developing good relationships with members of the state party leadership, he took out a $5,000 personal loan to fund his campaign to be Treasurer of Delaware. In the election, he defeated the favored Republican Party candidate, Theodore Jones. He served three terms, from January 18, 1977, through January 3, 1983, during which time he oversaw the development of Delaware's first cash management system.

    U.S. House of Representatives

    In 1982, U.S. Senator Joe Biden and other prominent Democrats convinced Carper to run for Delaware's only seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. Incumbent Republican Thomas B. Evans Jr. sought reelection, and although he had been caught in a compromising "association" on a golfing trip with the lobbyist Paula Parkinson, was still considered a strong candidate.[3]

    Carper was considered well-positioned until three weeks before Election Day, when the New York Post published an article claiming that the "dirtiest campaign in the country is being waged in tiny Delaware", which suggested that Carper had abused his wife and stepchildren. But when rumors spread that the story was "planted" by a supporter of Evans, Carper bounced back, with public opinion seeming to be that the allegations inappropriately exploited private issue.[4] [5] Carper and his wife both denied the allegations in 1982, but he later admitted to having slapped her. Carper defeated Evans.[6]

    Carper served five terms in the House. He won his second term in 1984, defeating Elise R. W. du Pont, the wife of retiring Governor Pete du Pont. He then easily defeated Republicans Thomas S. Neuberger in 1986, James P. Krapf in 1988 and Ralph O. Williams in 1990. He was a member of the U.S. House Committee on Banking, Finance and Urban Affairs and the U.S. House Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries. He chaired the House Subcommittee on Economic Stabilization. In these positions, he worked to allow banks into the securities business and to discourage the dumping of sludge into the ocean.

    During his years in the House, Carper sought to gain better control of Delaware's Democratic Party organization in hopes of someday becoming governor, focusing on heavily Democratic and populous New Castle County. Its Democratic organization was controlled by Eugene T. Reed, a former ironworker and longtime party boss who was then among several politicians in both parties implicated in illegal money raising practices. To address this corruption and rescue the Democratic Party's reputation, Carper recruited Joseph E. Reardon, a DuPont Company chemist, as a candidate for New Castle County Democratic Party chairman. By early 1989, Reardon had been elected, replacing Reed at the head of a newly reformed party organization. In 1990, Carper defeated a Reed ally, Daniel D. Rappa, in the Democratic primary for U.S. representative.

    Governor of Delaware

    Republican Governor Michael Castle was term-limited and unable to seek reelection in 1992. The result was what became known as "the Swap", with Castle seeking Carper's seat in the U.S. House of Representatives and Carper seeking the governorship. Neither faced substantive opposition for either post.

    Carper defeated Republican B. Gary Scott and was elected governor. He served two terms. Carper positioned himself as a moderate, business-oriented governor, emphasizing economic development and business recruitment. This included the prevention of the closure of the General Motors automobile operation near Newport, Delaware, and convincing pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca to construct its new headquarters in the state.

    Carper led an ongoing effort to reduce income tax rates, eliminate the marriage penalty and estate tax, cut the public utility tax, and eliminate the gross receipts tax for many small businesses. Delaware's credit rating improved from among the worst in the nation to AAA. Carper also retained Castle's standards-based education programs. Other programs included a fully funded Head Start program and a prescription-drug benefit for seniors.

    Carper had high approval ratings, but was criticized by some old-line Democrats and union leaders.[4]

    As a tribute to Anne Marie Fahey, who had been a youth mentor before her death, then-Governor Carper also became a mentor, and began actively promoting mentoring programs throughout Delaware's business community. As a result, by the end of his last term, Delaware held the highest per-capita ratio of youth mentors in the country. Carper also established the Delaware Mentoring Council to help sustain this legacy.

    Delaware General Assembly
    (sessions while Governor)
    YearAssemblySenate MajorityPresident
    pro tempore
    House MajoritySpeaker
    1993–1994137thDemocraticRichard S. CordreyRepublicanTerry R. Spence
    1995–1996138thDemocraticRichard S. CordreyRepublicanTerry R. Spence
    1997–1998139thDemocraticThomas B. SharpRepublicanTerry R. Spence
    1999–2000140thDemocraticThomas B. SharpRepublicanTerry R. Spence

    United States Senate

    Elections

    2000

    See also: 2000 United States Senate election in Delaware. Due to term limits, Carper had to retire as governor in 2000, and sought election to the U.S. Senate against incumbent Republican William Roth, declaring his candidacy in September 1999.[7] Some had concerns about Roth's age of 79, compared to Carper's relative youth. Roth started the campaign with a 2-to-1 spending advantage, but Carper went into the final month with more than $1 million on hand.[8] He defeated Roth, 56% to 44%. Roth received more votes than Republican presidential candidate George W. Bush, suggesting that the strength of the Democratic turnout for the presidential election was key in Carper's victory. Some commentators attributed Roth's defeat to his age and health, as he collapsed twice during the campaign, once during a television interview and once during a campaign event.[8] [9] [10]

    2006

    See also: 2006 United States Senate election in Delaware. Carper sought reelection in 2006. He was unopposed in the Democratic primary and faced Republican nominee Jan C. Ting, a professor of law who had narrowly beaten airline pilot Michael D. Protack in the Republican primary. Carper was easily reelected, 67% to 27%.

    2012

    See also: 2012 United States Senate election in Delaware. As the 2012 election cycle began, a Super PAC was created to oppose Carper's reelection campaign. The Hill quoted Patrick Davis, the custodian of records and agent for Renew Delaware as saying, "Tom Carper has served in the United States Senate for a long time and has been part of the downturn in our economy." Delaware Politics noted that the election would be costly for the Republican candidate and that Carper was heavily favored to win a third term.[11] A Carper spokesperson, Emily Spain, was quoted in The Hill saying that Carper was successful in his previous campaigns "because he works hard, takes nothing for granted, and puts the needs and interests of Delaware first."[12] Carper won the Democratic primary with 88% of the vote and faced off against the only Republican candidate who filed for the race, businessman Kevin Wade. He was reelected with 66% of the vote.

    2018

    See also: 2018 United States Senate election in Delaware. In 2018, Carper sought his fourth Senate term.[13] [14] His campaign contributors included DuPont, his third-largest contributor since 2013. Between 2013 and 2018, he received $2.1 million from political action committees.[15] In the Democratic primary, Carper was challenged from the left by Kerri Evelyn Harris, a US Air Force Veteran, who, unlike Carper, supports a single-payer healthcare.[16] Carper won the primary with roughly 65% of the vote.[17] It was his most competitive primary in recent history. In the general election, Carper defeated Republican nominee Rob Arlett, 60.0% to 37.8%.[18]

    2024

    See also: 2024 United States Senate election in Delaware.

    On May 22, 2023, Carper announced that he will not seek reelection in 2024. In his press conference, Carper endorsed U.S. Representative Lisa Blunt Rochester.[19]

    Tenure

    Carper served with the Democratic minority in the 108th and 109th Congresses and was part of the Democratic majority in the 110th Congress. At the beginning of the 107th Congress, the Democratic Party was in the minority, but later held the majority. Carper was a member of the moderate Democratic Leadership Council (DLC), of which he served as vice chair. In 2004, Carper became part of the Senate Democratic leadership. As a member of a four-person "Executive Committee", he is one of four deputy whips. David Broder of The Washington Post has called Carper "a notably effective and non-partisan leader, admired and trusted on both sides of the aisle."[20]

    During the January 6 United States Capitol attack, Carper said he did not support invoking the Twenty-fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution or impeachment of Trump.[21] But hours later, he called on Trump to resign. He also called the attackers "domestic terrorists". That evening, he voted to certify the 2021 United States Electoral College vote count.[22]

    Committee assignments

    Carper's committee assignments for the 118th Congress are as follows:[23]

    Caucus membership

    Political positions

    Carper is considered a moderate Democrat.[25] He has a 13% conservative rating from the American Conservative Union.[26] [27] Carper voted for the Budget Control Act, against cut, cap and balance, for debt increase, for debt ceiling increase, for debt limit increase, for the stimulus, for TARP, for the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, for SCHIP, for DREAM, and for the Immigration Reform Act of 2006.[28]

    Abortion

    Carper has a mixed record on abortion issues. In 2003, he was one of 17 Democrats who broke with the majority of their party by voting to ban partial-birth abortion.[29] He also voted against banning abortion after 20 weeks of pregnancy, but voted to ban the use of federal funds for abortion.[30] In 2018, he opposed President Trump's proposal to defund Planned Parenthood.[31] Carper was given a 50% rating by NARAL Pro-Choice America, indicating a mixed record on abortion, according to their scoring, and a 25% rating from the anti-abortion National Right to Life Committee.[32] After Roe v. Wade was overturned in June 2022, he said the decision was "unconscionably cruel and wrong" and that it was a "dark day for our country and our Constitution."[33]

    Foreign policy

    In April 2019, Carper was one of thirty-four senators to sign a letter to President Trump encouraging him "to listen to members of your own Administration and reverse a decision that will damage our national security and aggravate conditions inside Central America", asserting that Trump had "consistently expressed a flawed understanding of U.S. foreign assistance" since becoming president and that he was "personally undermining efforts to promote U.S. national security and economic prosperity" through preventing the use of Fiscal Year 2018 national security funding. The senators argued that foreign assistance to Central American countries created less migration to the U.S., citing the funding's helping to improve conditions in those countries.[34]

    In January 2024, Carper voted against a resolution, proposed by Bernie Sanders, to apply the human rights provisions of the Foreign Assistance Act to U.S. aid to Israel's military. The proposal was defeated, 72 to 11.[35] In March 2024, Carper urged the Biden administration to recognize a "nonmilitarized" Palestinian state after the war in Gaza.[36]

    Gun law

    Carper joined 23 other Senate Democrats in signing a letter supporting Obama taking executive action to reduce gun violence.[37] In 2013, he voted to ban high-capacity magazines of over 10 bullets.[38] In 2016, Carper participated in the Chris Murphy gun control filibuster.[39] In response to the 2017 Las Vegas shooting, Carper called for more gun laws, specifically background checks and mental health screenings.[40]

    In January 2019, Carper was one of forty senators to introduce the Background Check Expansion Act, a bill that would require background checks for either the sale or transfer of all firearms including all unlicensed sellers. Exceptions to the bill's background check requirement included transfers between members of law enforcement, loaning firearms for either hunting or sporting events on a temporary basis, providing firearms as gifts to members of one's immediate family, firearms being transferred as part of an inheritance, or giving a firearm to another person temporarily for immediate self-defense.[41]

    Finance and economy

    He joined in the unsuccessful attempt to tie the Bush administration tax cuts to deficit reduction and has supported additional funding for school choice programs and charter schools. He has also sought additional funding for railroad projects and for rail security. He strongly supported legislation to limit class action lawsuits and to restrict personal bankruptcy. In addition, he is a strong proponent of free trade. In 2012, Carper sponsored a bill, eventually passed and signed into law, that required government agencies to identify $125 billion in expected waste and fraud.[42]

    Carper and George Voinovich of Ohio proposed a 25-cent raise in the federal gasoline tax; 10 cents would go to pay down the debt and the rest toward improving the nation's infrastructure. The measure was proposed in November 2010.[43] The measure did not pass.

    On May 14, 2011, The Wall Street Journal criticized a postal-bailout bill co-sponsored by Carper and Susan Collins (R-Maine). The bill would give $50–$75 billion to USPS, and would underwrite pension obligations for retired postal workers. The bailout would cost three times the savings of the 2011 federal budget.[44]

    On August 1, 2019, the Senate passed a bipartisan budget deal that raised spending over current levels by $320 billion and lifted the debt ceiling for the following two years in addition to forming a course for funding the government without the perceived fiscal brinkmanship of recent years. Carper joined Joe Manchin and Republicans Mitt Romney and Rick Scott in issuing a statement asserting that "as former Governors, we were responsible for setting a budget each year that was fiscally responsible to fund our priorities. That's why today, we, as U.S. Senators, cannot bring ourselves to vote for this budget deal that does not put our country on a fiscally sustainable path."[45]

    Environment

    Carper proposed the creation of a National Park in Delaware, the Coastal Heritage Park, in four locations along the Delaware River and Delaware Bay. In January 2009, Carper briefly chaired a Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works hearing on the Tennessee Valley Authority's coal ash spill in Kingston, Tennessee. However, he did vote for Keystone XL Pipeline, but has since expressed disappointment in that vote.[46]

    Carper supports the EPA and Clean Air Act and blames states to the west of Delaware for its air pollution, calling them "America's tailpipe".[47]

    Housing

    In April 2019, Carper was one of forty-one senators to sign a bipartisan letter to the housing subcommittee praising the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development's Section 4 Capacity Building program as authorizing "HUD to partner with national nonprofit community development organizations to provide education, training, and financial support to local community development corporations (CDCs) across the country" and expressing disappointment that President Trump's budget "has slated this program for elimination after decades of successful economic and community development." The senators wrote of their hope that the subcommittee would support continued funding for Section 4 in Fiscal Year 2020.[48]

    Technology

    Carper co-wrote the "Protecting Cyberspace as a National Asset Act of 2010"[49] introduced on June 19, 2010, by Senator Joe Lieberman (Senator Susan Collins is the third co-author of this bill). If signed into law, this controversial bill, which the American media dubbed the "Kill switch bill", would grant the President emergency powers over the Internet. All three co-authors of the bill, however, issued a statement claiming that instead, the bill "[narrowed] existing broad Presidential authority to take over telecommunications networks".[50] Carper was quoted as saying that the bill "would create a National Center for Cybersecurity and Communications in the Department of Homeland Security, with a Senate-confirmed director to oversee security of the federal government's computer networks. The center would also identify vulnerabilities and help secure key private networks – like utilities and communications systems – that, if attacked or commandeered by a foreign power or cyberterrorists, could result in the crippling of our economy."[51]

    Consumer regulations

    In May 2010, Carper introduced an amendment to limit state regulators from enforcing consumer regulations on national banks and their subsidiaries. It would also remove a Senate legislative measure requiring the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency to find a "substantive standard" on regulation, before the office could move to preempt. The White House opposed Carper's amendment. The amendment passed by a vote of 80–18.[52]

    Employment

    Jobs bill

    On September 21, 2011, The Wall Street Journal noted that President Obama's job-creation plans were drawing resistance from Senate Democrats. The article quoted Carper as saying, "I think the best jobs bill that can be passed is a comprehensive long-term deficit-reduction plan. That's better than everything else the president is talking about combined."[53]

    Minimum wage

    In April 2014, the United States Senate debated the Minimum Wage Fairness Act (S. 1737; 113th Congress). The bill would amend the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (FLSA) to increase the federal minimum wage for employees to $10.10 per hour over the course of a two-year period.[54] The bill was strongly supported by President Barack Obama and many of the Democratic Senators, but strongly opposed by Republicans in the Senate and House.[55] [56] [57] Carper said that he preferred legislation that would have a greater chance of becoming law, such as an increase to only $9 an hour.[56]

    On March 5, 2021, Carper voted against Bernie Sanders's amendment to include a $15/hour minimum wage in the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.[58]

    LGBT rights

    Carper signed a law as Governor defining "marriage as between a man and a woman," but he also voted as a Senator against the Federal Marriage Amendment, a proposed constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage.[59] He also voted against banning gay marriage again in 2006.[60] In 2013, Carper announced that he now supports same-sex marriage.[61]

    Iraq War

    Carper voted yes on the 2002 Iraq War Resolution.[62]

    Personal life

    Carper married Martha Ann Stacy in 1985. They have two children. The family are members of Westminster Presbyterian Church in Wilmington, Delaware.

    Unlike most senators, who maintain residences in both Washington, D.C., and in their home state, Carper commutes more than 100 miles by Amtrak train from his home in Wilmington to the United States Capitol. Carper says this arrangement has helped his family live a normal life despite his demanding, high-profile job.[63] On May 12, 2015, he narrowly escaped injury when the train he took home derailed and crashed in Philadelphia shortly after he deboarded.[64] In 2024, Newark Train Station was renamed in his honor.[65]

    Carper has been married twice, first in 1978, to Diane Beverly Isaacs, a former Miss Delaware, who had two children by a previous marriage. They divorced in 1983. In a 1998 interview, Carper admitted, "I slapped my then-wife, Diane, during a heated argument," describing it as a mistake.[66] [5] According to a 1982 New York Post article, Carper hit Isaacs "so hard he gave her a black eye" and his wife's two children from a previous relationship "were slapped around and bruised by Carper for doing such things as leaving the family dog on the bed." Carper denied these claims.[5]

    Finances

    As of 2018, according to OpenSecrets.org, Carper's net worth was more than $5.7 million.[67]

    In August 2023, Congresstrading.com tweeted that Carper, a senior member of the Senate Finance Committee, made an inverse Nasdaq ETF purchase, a short sell option for investors looking to hedge against or profit from a decline in the index. The tweet questioned whether this was a conflict of interest for Carper.[68] [69]

    Almanac

    Elections are held the first Tuesday after November 1. The Governor and State Treasurer take office the third Tuesday of January. The Governor has a four-year term and the State Treasurer had a two-year term at this time. U.S. Representatives take office January 3 and have a two-year term. U.S. Senators also take office January 3, but have a six-year term.

    Public offices
    OfficeTypeLocationBegan officeEnded officeNotes
    State TreasurerExecutiveDoverJanuary 18, 1977January 16, 1979
    State TreasurerExecutiveDoverJanuary 16, 1979January 20, 1981
    State TreasurerExecutiveDoverJanuary 20, 1981January 3, 1983resigned
    U.S. RepresentativeLegislatureWashingtonJanuary 3, 1983January 3, 1985
    U.S. RepresentativeLegislatureWashingtonJanuary 3, 1985January 3, 1987
    U.S. RepresentativeLegislatureWashingtonJanuary 3, 1987January 3, 1989
    U.S. RepresentativeLegislatureWashingtonJanuary 3, 1989January 3, 1991
    U.S. RepresentativeLegislatureWashingtonJanuary 3, 1991January 3, 1993
    GovernorExecutiveDoverJanuary 19, 1993January 21, 1997
    GovernorExecutiveDoverJanuary 21, 1997January 3, 2001resigned
    U.S. SenatorLegislativeWashingtonJanuary 3, 2001January 3, 2007
    U.S. SenatorLegislativeWashingtonJanuary 3, 2007January 3, 2013
    U.S. SenatorLegislativeWashingtonJanuary 3, 2013January 3, 2019
    U.S. SenatorLegislativeWashingtonJanuary 3, 2019Ongoing
    United States Congressional service
    DatesCongressChamberMajorityPresidentCommitteesClass/District
    1983–198498thU.S. HouseDemocraticRonald ReaganFinancial Services, Fisheriesat-large
    1985–198699thU.S. HouseDemocraticRonald ReaganFinancial Services, Fisheriesat-large
    1987–1988100thU.S. HouseDemocraticRonald ReaganFinancial Services, Fisheriesat-large
    1989–1990101stU.S. HouseDemocraticGeorge H. W. BushFinancial Services, Fisheriesat-large
    1991–1992102ndU.S. HouseDemocraticGeorge H. W. BushFinancial Services, Fisheriesat-large
    2001–2002107thU.S. SenateDemocraticGeorge W. BushBanking, Environment, Homeland Security, Agingclass 1
    2003–2004108thU.S. SenateRepublicanGeorge W. BushBanking, Environment, Homeland Security, Agingclass 1
    2005–2006109thU.S. SenateRepublicanGeorge W. BushBanking, Environment, Homeland Security, Agingclass 1
    2007–2009110thU.S. SenateDemocraticGeorge W. BushBanking, Commerce, Environment, Homeland Security, Agingclass 1
    2009–2011111thU.S. SenateDemocraticBarack ObamaEnvironment, Finance, Homeland Securityclass 1
    Election results
    YearOfficeElectionSubjectPartyVotes%OpponentPartyVotes%
    1976State TreasurerGeneralTom CarperDemocratic118,15956%T. Theodore JonesRepublican92,47243%
    1978State TreasurerGeneralTom CarperDemocratic91,80959%Rita JusticeRepublican63,01140%
    1980State TreasurerGeneralTom CarperDemocratic125,20459%Lynn JankusRepublican83,44640%
    1982U.S. RepresentativeGeneralTom CarperDemocratic98,53352%Thomas B. Evans Jr.Republican87,15346%
    1984U.S. RepresentativeGeneralTom CarperDemocratic142,07058%Elise R. W. du PontRepublican100,65041%
    1986U.S. RepresentativeGeneralTom CarperDemocratic106,35166%Thomas S. NeubergerRepublican53,76733%
    1988U.S. RepresentativeGeneralTom CarperDemocratic158,33868%James P. KrapfRepublican76,17932%
    1990U.S. RepresentativePrimaryTom CarperDemocratic24,55790%Daniel D. RappaDemocratic2,67610%
    1990U.S. RepresentativeGeneralTom CarperDemocratic116,27466%Ralph O. WilliamsRepublican58,03733%
    1992GovernorPrimaryTom CarperDemocratic36,60089%Daniel D. RappaDemocratic4,43411%
    1992GovernorGeneralTom CarperDemocratic179,26866%B. Gary ScottRepublican90,74734%
    1996GovernorGeneralTom CarperDemocratic188,30070%Janet RzewnickiRepublican82,65430%
    2000U.S. SenatorGeneralTom CarperDemocratic181,56656%William RothRepublican142,89144%
    2006U.S. SenatorGeneralTom CarperDemocratic170,56770%Jan C. TingRepublican69,73429%
    2012U.S. SenatorGeneralTom CarperDemocratic265,37466%Kevin WadeRepublican115,69429%
    2018U.S. SenatorGeneralTom CarperDemocratic217,38560%Rob ArlettRepublican137,12737%

    References

    External links

    |-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-

    Notes and References

    1. "Navy Submarine to Bear Delaware's Name," Wilmington (Delaware) News Journal, 19 Nov 2012
    2. Web site: About Tom Carper. carper.senate.gov. September 15, 2020. September 20, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200920002257/https://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/biography-and-pictures. dead.
    3. News: Baker. Donald P.. Congressmen Shared House With Female Lobbyist. 1981-03-07. The Washington Post. 2020-03-06. story. Washington Post staff writer; Washington Post staff writer Eugene L. Meyer also contributed to this. en-US. 0190-8286.
    4. Book: Cohen, Celia . Only in Delaware, Politics and Politicians in the First State . 2002. 293–295.
    5. Web site: Dem senator denies report claiming he lied about abusing his wife. Bowden, John. The Hill. December 14, 2017. September 15, 2020.
    6. Web site: Donald Trump Jr. tweet revives domestic violence accusation against U.S. Sen. Tom Carper. Scott. Goss. The News Journal.
    7. News: Delaware governor to challenge Roth . https://web.archive.org/web/20121003081751/http://articles.cnn.com/1999-09-21/politics/senate.2000_delaware.senate_1_delaware-governor-sixth-senate-term-delaware-residents?_s=PM:ALLPOLITICS . September 21, 2012 . October 3, 2012 . CNN.
    8. News: Wilkie. Curtis. In Tight Race, Health Issues Dog Delaware's Roth. abstract. Boston Globe Archives. February 9, 2013. The Boston Globe. October 26, 2000. July 15, 2012. https://archive.today/20120715102557/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/boston/access/62928651.html?dids=62928651:62928651&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Oct+26,+2000&author=Curtis+Wilkie,+Globe+Correspondent&pub=Boston+Globe&desc=IN+TIGHT+RACE,+HEALTH+ISSUES+DOG+DELAWARE'S+ROTH&pqatl=google. dead. Also available at: cache.boston.com. Retrieved September 27, 2017.
    9. Web site: Delaware U.S. Senate Race, 2000: Governor Unseats 5-Term Incumbent by 12 Percent. Sussex County Online (Delaware). sussexcountyonline.com . September 27, 2017.
    10. News: In Delaware, Gov. Carper Ousts 5-Term Sen. Roth. The Philadelphia Inquirer. Philly.com. preview only; subscription required. November 8, 2000. May 1, 2018.
    11. Web site: Kevin Wade vs. Tom Carper?. DelawarePolitics.net. April 21, 2012. Chris Slavens. Jul 26, 2011. dead. https://archive.today/20120729212320/http://www.delawarepolitics.net/kevin-wade-vs-tom-carper/. July 29, 2012.
    12. Web site: Super PAC opposing Sen. Tom Carper registers with FEC. The Hill. May 2, 2018. Rachel . Leven. October 14, 2011.
    13. News: Matt. Bittle. Carper shifts left under progressive challenger's attack; Harris labels senator as out of touch. Delaware State News. August 27, 2018. September 19, 2018.
    14. News: Randall. Chase. Carper meets upstart primary challenger Harris in debate. Houston Chronicle. August 27, 2018. September 19, 2018.
    15. Austin. Frerick. Tom Carper: Senator DowDuPont. Forbes. New York City. August 1, 2018. September 19, 2018.
    16. Web site: A.P.. Joyce. Can Kerri Harris be the first progressive to oust a sitting Democratic senator?. mic.com. July 18, 2018. September 19, 2018.
    17. Web site: Primary Election (Official Results). State of Delaware Department of Elections. September 6, 2018. September 19, 2018. November 7, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181107221944/https://elections.delaware.gov/results/html/election.shtml. dead.
    18. News: Delaware Election Results. 2018-11-06. The New York Times. 2019-01-01. en-US. 0362-4331.
    19. Web site: Everett . Burgess . Carper to retire, opening safe Dem Senate seat . 2023-05-22 . Politico.
    20. Web site: About Tom Carper . carper.senate.gov . Office of Senator Tom Carper . 2 June 2022 . April 14, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190414104401/https://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/biography-and-pictures . dead .
    21. News: Quinn . Holly . Here's how Delaware political leaders responded to the Capitol riot on social media . January 8, 2021 . Technical.ly Delaware . January 7, 2021 . en.
    22. News: Thomas . TaRhonda . Ileto . Christie . Local Democratic members of Congress join call to invoke 25th Amendment to remove President Trump . January 8, 2021 . 6abc Philadelphia . January 7, 2021 . en.
    23. Web site: Committee Assignments of the 118th Congress. 2023-03-17. United States Senate.
    24. Web site: February 4, 2021. Carper to Chair Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. February 17, 2021.
    25. Web site: The left's best hope to pick up a Senate seat is in Delaware. Nilsen. Ella. 2018-09-05. Vox. en. 2020-05-09.
    26. Web site: Lawmakers . ratings.conservative.org . . 22 May 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210504175955/http://ratings.conservative.org/people?search=tom%20carper . May 4, 2021 . en . live.
    27. Web site: The Voter's Self Defense System. Vote Smart. 2020-05-09.
    28. Web site: Political positions for Thomas Carper. March 27, 2012. November 5, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20141105201553/http://www.thepoliticalguide.com/Profiles/Senate/Delaware/Thomas_Carper/Views/. dead.
    29. Web site: S. 3 (108th): Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act of 2003 -- Senate Vote #51 -- Mar 13, 2003. GovTrack.us. en. 2018-07-31.
    30. Web site: The Voter's Self Defense System. Vote Smart. en-US. 2018-07-31.
    31. News: Carper calls Trump's proposal to cut abortion funding a "purely political attack". Petree. Rob. Delaware 105.9FM. May 23, 2018. July 31, 2018. en. May 23, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180523171627/https://www.delaware1059.com/news/carper-calls-trump-s-proposal-to-cut-abortion-funding-a/article_3b313fd4-5e78-11e8-ba80-470c4cf3964f.html. dead.
    32. Web site: Tom Carper on the Issues. www.ontheissues.org. July 31, 2018.
    33. Web site: Carper . Tom . "This Supreme Court decision is unconscionably cruel and wrong. It strips away 50 years of constitutional precedent and upends the lives of millions of American women. It's a dark day for our country and our Constitution." . Twitter . 24 June 2022 . en.
    34. News: More than 30 Senate Dems ask Trump to reconsider Central American aid cuts. Rachel. Frazin. April 4, 2019. The Hill.
    35. News: Senate Kills Measure to Scrutinize Israeli Human Rights Record as Condition for Aid . The Intercept . January 16, 2024.
    36. News: Senate Democrats press Biden to establish two-state solution for Israel, Palestine . The Hill . March 20, 2024.
    37. Web site: Jonathan. Starkey. Carper, Coons push for gun control measures. Delaware Online. November 25, 2016. October 4, 2017. en.
    38. Web site: Tom Carper on Gun Control. www.ontheissues.org. 2019-03-20.
    39. Mathis-Lilley. Ben. Hannon. Elliot. Senate Democrats' Surprise Gun-Control Filibuster Ended at 2:11 a.m.. Slate. October 4, 2017. June 15, 2016.
    40. Web site: Restuccio. Jonah. Local lawmakers respond to Vegas shooting. WMDT. October 4, 2017. October 3, 2017.
    41. News: U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin Helps Introduce Background Check Expansion Act To Reduce Gun Violence. January 9, 2019. urbanmilwaukee.com.
    42. Book: Almanac of American Politics. 2012. 344. 978-0226038087. Barone. Michael. McCutcheon. Chuck. University of Chicago Press .
    43. News: John. Collins Rudolf. On Our Radar: A Proposed Gas Tax Increase. The New York Times. November 11, 2010. April 11, 2012.
    44. News: Kenneth Jr.. Schortgen. Congress looking at new bill to bail out postal workers. The Wall Street Journal. Dow Jones & Company. New York City. May 16, 2011. April 11, 2012.
    45. News: Senate passes massive 2-year budget deal. Burgess. Everett. John. Bresnahan. August 1, 2019. Politico.
    46. Web site: Kate. Aronoff . TOM CARPER TOUTS HIS ENVIRONMENTAL RECORD, BUT A CLOSER LOOK SUGGESTS IT'S NOT SO CLEAN . . August 24, 2018. September 2, 2018.
    47. Tom Carper (actor). February 16, 2017. Senate Session Mr. Carper. C-SPAN. February 17, 2017.
    48. News: Wyden, Merkley urge more affordable housing funds. April 16, 2019. ktvz.com. April 17, 2019. April 18, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190418125917/https://www.ktvz.com/news/wyden-merkley-urge-more-affordable-housing-funds/1069680950. dead.
    49. Web site: Home | Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs Committee. www.hsgac.senate.gov.
    50. http://www.informationweek.com/news/government/security/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=225701368&subSection=News Senators Say Cybersecurity Bill Has No 'Kill Switch'
    51. Web site: We must 'arm' cyberspace battlefront. June 10, 2010. April 2, 2012. SEN. JOE LIEBERMAN & SEN. SUSAN COLLINS & SEN. TOM CARPER. Politico.
    52. News: Silla. Brush. White House fights back against Carper amendment to Wall Street reform bill. The Hill. May 13, 2010. https://archive.today/20120719140941/http://thehill.com/blogs/on-the-money/banking-financial-institutions/97729-white-housefights-back-against-dem-amendment-to-wall-st-bill. dead. July 19, 2012. April 2, 2012.
    53. News: Do-Nothing Democrats?. WSJ.com. April 11, 2012. September 21, 2011.
    54. Web site: S. 1737 - Summary. April 2, 2014. United States Congress. April 8, 2014.
    55. News: Sink. Justin. Obama: Congress has 'clear choice' on minimum wage. April 9, 2014. The Hill. April 2, 2014.
    56. News: Bolton. Alexander. Reid punts on minimum-wage hike. April 9, 2014. The Hill. April 8, 2014.
    57. News: Bolton. Alexander. Centrist Republicans cool to minimum wage hike compromise. April 9, 2014. The Hill. April 4, 2014.
    58. News: Johnson . Jake . Here Are the 8 Democrats Who Just Joined GOP to Vote Down Sanders' $15 Minimum Wage Amendment . March 5, 2021 . Common Dreams . March 5, 2021 . en.
    59. News: Carper Statement on Gay Marriage Amendment. 2004-07-14. United States Senator Tom Carper. 2018-07-31. en.
    60. Web site: Tom Carper on Civil Rights. www.ontheissues.org. 2018-07-31.
    61. News: Kevin. Cirilli. Carper backs same-sex marriage. Politico. April 2, 2013. July 31, 2018. en.
    62. News: Senate Roll Call: Iraq Resolution . . August 4, 2018.
    63. News: Ann. Manser. Delaware's junior senator knows the business of government and politics. University of Delaware Messenger. University of Delaware. Newark, Delaware. 2001. 10. 3.
    64. Web site: Geoff. Mulvihill. Amtrak train derails killing 6 people; investigation begins. MSN. May 14, 2015. September 19, 2018.
    65. Web site: Mace . Ben . Tributes to retiring Sen. Carper include buildings named in his honor in Newark, Smyrna . Delaware Online . 31 May 2024.
    66. News: Carper admits to slapping his ex wife, denies family abuse; stepson speaks out. Petree. Rob. Delaware 105.9FM. 2018-08-09. en. September 19, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180919115443/https://www.delaware1059.com/news/carper-admits-to-slapping-his-ex-wife-denies-family-abuse/article_0d3891a4-e1cd-11e7-96cc-9fabc22f4f25.html. dead.
    67. Web site: Tom Carper - Net Worth - Personal Finances . OpenSecrets.org . 15 October 2021.
    68. Web site: Moorcraft . Bethan . This sitting member of the Senate Finance Committee just made a bet against the US stock market by buying an inverse Nasdaq ETF — here's why a government watchdog is calling him out for it . Yahoo Finance . 2023-08-03 . 2023-08-23.
    69. Web site: congresstrading.com [@congresstrading] . Breaking: Senator Carper reports shorting (betting against) the American economy in his stock portfolio . 2023-08-02.