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Tom Carper

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For the American poet, see Thomas Carper (poet).

Tom Carper
Chair of the Senate Environment Committee
Incumbent
Assumed office
February 3, 2021
Preceded byJohn Barrasso
Succeeded byTBD
Ranking Member of the Senate Environment Committee
In office
January 3, 2017 – February 3, 2021
Preceded byBarbara Boxer
Succeeded byShelley Moore Capito
Chair of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee
In office
January 3, 2013 – January 3, 2015
Preceded byJoe Lieberman
Succeeded byRon Johnson
United States Senator
from Delaware
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 3, 2001
Serving with Chris Coons
Preceded byWilliam Roth
Chair of the National Governors Association
In office
August 4, 1998 – August 10, 1999
Preceded byGeorge Voinovich
Succeeded byMike Leavitt
71st Governor of Delaware
In office
January 19, 1993 – January 3, 2001
LieutenantRuth Ann Minner
Preceded byDale E. Wolf
Succeeded byRuth Ann Minner
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Delaware's at-large district
In office
January 3, 1983 – January 3, 1993
Preceded byTom Evans
Succeeded byMike Castle
Treasurer of Delaware
In office
January 18, 1977 – January 3, 1983
GovernorPete du Pont
Preceded byMary Jornlin
Succeeded byJanet Rzewnicki
Personal details
Born
Thomas Richard Carper

(1947-01-23) January 23, 1947 (age 77)
Beckley, West Virginia, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Spouses
  • Diane Isaacs
    ​
    ​
    (m. 1978; div. 1983)​
  • Martha Stacy
    ​
    (m. 1985)​
Children2
Education
Signature
WebsiteSenate website
Military service
Branch/serviceUnited States Navy
Years of service
  • 1968–1973 (active)
  • 1973–1991 (reserve)
RankCaptain
UnitNaval Flight Officer
Battles/warsVietnam War
Carper's voice
Carper supporting Rita Landgraf for HHS Assistant Secretary for Aging
Recorded July 19, 2021

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

[edit]

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

[edit]

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

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Carper during his time in the 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

[edit]
Carper with President Bill Clinton in January 1993

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)
Year Assembly Senate Majority President
pro tempore 		House Majority Speaker
1993–1994 137th Democratic Richard S. Cordrey Republican Terry R. Spence
1995–1996 138th Democratic Richard S. Cordrey Republican Terry R. Spence
1997–1998 139th Democratic Thomas B. Sharp Republican Terry R. Spence
1999–2000 140th Democratic Thomas B. Sharp Republican Terry R. Spence

United States Senate

[edit]

Elections

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2000

[edit]
See also: 2000 United States Senate election in Delaware
Carper in his early Senate career

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.[citation needed] 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

[edit]
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

[edit]
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

[edit]
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

[edit]
See also: 2024 United States Senate election in Delaware

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

Tenure

[edit]
From L to R: Sen. Carper, Chinese Ambassador to the U.S. Yang Jiechi, Rep. Mike Castle, Rep. Wayne Gilchrest, and Sen. Joe Biden, October 2004
Sen. Carper with Rep. Mike Pence, May 2006

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

[edit]

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

Caucus membership

[edit]

Political positions

[edit]
Carper with President-elect Joe Biden in January 2021

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

[edit]

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

[edit]

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 led a letter to the Biden administration urging the U.S. to recognize a "nonmilitarized" Palestinian state after the war in Gaza.[36] This letter was signed by 19 Democratic senators who support a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestine conflict.[37]

Gun law

[edit]

Carper joined 23 other Senate Democrats in signing a letter supporting Obama taking executive action to reduce gun violence.[38] In 2013, he voted to ban high-capacity magazines of over 10 bullets.[39] In 2016, Carper participated in the Chris Murphy gun control filibuster.[40] In response to the 2017 Las Vegas shooting, Carper called for more gun laws, specifically background checks and mental health screenings.[41]

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.[42]

Finance and economy

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Carper in 2015

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.[43]

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.[44] 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.[45]

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."[46]

Environment

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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.[47]

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".[48]

Housing

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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.[49]

Technology

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Carper co-wrote the "Protecting Cyberspace as a National Asset Act of 2010"[50] 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".[51] 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."[52]

Consumer regulations

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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.[53]

Employment

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Jobs bill

[edit]

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."[54]

Minimum wage

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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.[55] 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.[56][57][58] Carper said that he preferred legislation that would have a greater chance of becoming law, such as an increase to only $9 an hour.[57]

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.[59]

LGBT rights

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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.[60] He also voted against banning gay marriage again in 2006.[61] In 2013, Carper announced that he now supports same-sex marriage.[62]

Iraq War

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Carper voted yes on the 2002 Iraq War Resolution.[63]

Personal life

[edit]

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.[64] On May 12, 2015, he narrowly escaped injury when the train he took home derailed and crashed in Philadelphia shortly after he deboarded.[65] In 2024, Newark Train Station was renamed in his honor.[66]

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.[67][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

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As of 2018, according to OpenSecrets.org, Carper's net worth was more than $5.7 million.[68]

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.[69][70]

Almanac

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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
Office Type Location Began office Ended office Notes
State Treasurer Executive Dover January 18, 1977 January 16, 1979
State Treasurer Executive Dover January 16, 1979 January 20, 1981
State Treasurer Executive Dover January 20, 1981 January 3, 1983 resigned
U.S. Representative Legislature Washington January 3, 1983 January 3, 1985
U.S. Representative Legislature Washington January 3, 1985 January 3, 1987
U.S. Representative Legislature Washington January 3, 1987 January 3, 1989
U.S. Representative Legislature Washington January 3, 1989 January 3, 1991
U.S. Representative Legislature Washington January 3, 1991 January 3, 1993
Governor Executive Dover January 19, 1993 January 21, 1997
Governor Executive Dover January 21, 1997 January 3, 2001 resigned
U.S. Senator Legislative Washington January 3, 2001 January 3, 2007
U.S. Senator Legislative Washington January 3, 2007 January 3, 2013
U.S. Senator Legislative Washington January 3, 2013 January 3, 2019
U.S. Senator Legislative Washington January 3, 2019 Ongoing
United States Congressional service
Dates Congress Chamber Majority President Committees Class/District
1983–1984 98th U.S. House Democratic Ronald Reagan Financial Services, Fisheries at-large
1985–1986 99th U.S. House Democratic Ronald Reagan Financial Services, Fisheries at-large
1987–1988 100th U.S. House Democratic Ronald Reagan Financial Services, Fisheries at-large
1989–1990 101st U.S. House Democratic George H. W. Bush Financial Services, Fisheries at-large
1991–1992 102nd U.S. House Democratic George H. W. Bush Financial Services, Fisheries at-large
2001–2002 107th U.S. Senate Democratic George W. Bush Banking, Environment, Homeland Security, Aging class 1
2003–2004 108th U.S. Senate Republican George W. Bush Banking, Environment, Homeland Security, Aging class 1
2005–2006 109th U.S. Senate Republican George W. Bush Banking, Environment, Homeland Security, Aging class 1
2007–2009 110th U.S. Senate Democratic George W. Bush Banking, Commerce, Environment, Homeland Security, Aging class 1
2009–2011 111th U.S. Senate Democratic Barack Obama Environment, Finance, Homeland Security class 1
Election results
Year Office Election Subject Party Votes % Opponent Party Votes %
1976 State Treasurer General Tom Carper Democratic 118,159 56% T. Theodore Jones Republican 92,472 43%
1978 State Treasurer General Tom Carper Democratic 91,809 59% Rita Justice Republican 63,011 40%
1980 State Treasurer General Tom Carper Democratic 125,204 59% Lynn Jankus Republican 83,446 40%
1982 U.S. Representative General Tom Carper Democratic 98,533 52% Thomas B. Evans Jr. Republican 87,153 46%
1984 U.S. Representative General Tom Carper Democratic 142,070 58% Elise R. W. du Pont Republican 100,650 41%
1986 U.S. Representative General Tom Carper Democratic 106,351 66% Thomas S. Neuberger Republican 53,767 33%
1988 U.S. Representative General Tom Carper Democratic 158,338 68% James P. Krapf Republican 76,179 32%
1990 U.S. Representative Primary Tom Carper Democratic 24,557 90% Daniel D. Rappa Democratic 2,676 10%
1990 U.S. Representative General Tom Carper Democratic 116,274 66% Ralph O. Williams Republican 58,037 33%
1992 Governor Primary Tom Carper Democratic 36,600 89% Daniel D. Rappa Democratic 4,434 11%
1992 Governor General Tom Carper Democratic 179,268 66% B. Gary Scott Republican 90,747 34%
1996 Governor General Tom Carper Democratic 188,300 70% Janet Rzewnicki Republican 82,654 30%
2000 U.S. Senator General Tom Carper Democratic 181,566 56% William Roth Republican 142,891 44%
2006 U.S. Senator General Tom Carper Democratic 170,567 70% Jan C. Ting Republican 69,734 29%
2012 U.S. Senator General Tom Carper Democratic 265,374 66% Kevin Wade Republican 115,694 29%
2018 U.S. Senator General Tom Carper Democratic 217,385 60% Rob Arlett Republican 137,127 37%

Notes

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  1. ^ "Navy Submarine to Bear Delaware's Name," Wilmington (Delaware) News Journal, 19 Nov 2012
  2. ^ "About Tom Carper". carper.senate.gov. Archived from the original on September 20, 2020. Retrieved September 15, 2020.
  3. ^ Baker, Donald P.; story, Washington Post staff writer; Washington Post staff writer Eugene L. Meyer also contributed to this (March 7, 1981). "Congressmen Shared House With Female Lobbyist". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved March 6, 2020.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  4. ^ a b Cohen, Celia (2002). Only in Delaware, Politics and Politicians in the First State. pp. 293–295.
  5. ^ a b c Bowden, John (December 14, 2017). "Dem senator denies report claiming he lied about abusing his wife". The Hill. Retrieved September 15, 2020.
  6. ^ Goss, Scott. "Donald Trump Jr. tweet revives domestic violence accusation against U.S. Sen. Tom Carper". The News Journal.
  7. ^ "Delaware governor to challenge Roth". CNN. September 21, 2012. Archived from the original on October 3, 2012.
  8. ^ a b Wilkie, Curtis (October 26, 2000). "In Tight Race, Health Issues Dog Delaware's Roth". The Boston Globe (abstract). Archived from the original on July 15, 2012. Retrieved February 9, 2013 – via Boston Globe Archives. Also available at: cache.boston.com. Retrieved September 27, 2017.
  9. ^ "Delaware U.S. Senate Race, 2000: Governor Unseats 5-Term Incumbent by 12 Percent". Sussex County Online (Delaware). sussexcountyonline.com. Retrieved September 27, 2017.
  10. ^ "In Delaware, Gov. Carper Ousts 5-Term Sen. Roth". The Philadelphia Inquirer (preview only; subscription required). November 8, 2000. Retrieved May 1, 2018 – via Philly.com.
  11. ^ Chris Slavens (July 26, 2011). "Kevin Wade vs. Tom Carper?". DelawarePolitics.net. Archived from the original on July 29, 2012. Retrieved April 21, 2012.
  12. ^ Leven, Rachel (October 14, 2011). "Super PAC opposing Sen. Tom Carper registers with FEC". The Hill. Retrieved May 2, 2018.
  13. ^ Bittle, Matt (August 27, 2018). "Carper shifts left under progressive challenger's attack; Harris labels senator as out of touch". Delaware State News. Retrieved September 19, 2018.
  14. ^ Chase, Randall (August 27, 2018). "Carper meets upstart primary challenger Harris in debate". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved September 19, 2018.
  15. ^ Frerick, Austin (August 1, 2018). "Tom Carper: Senator DowDuPont". Forbes. New York City. Retrieved September 19, 2018.
  16. ^ Joyce, A.P. (July 18, 2018). "Can Kerri Harris be the first progressive to oust a sitting Democratic senator?". mic.com. Retrieved September 19, 2018.
  17. ^ "Primary Election (Official Results)". State of Delaware Department of Elections. September 6, 2018. Archived from the original on November 7, 2018. Retrieved September 19, 2018.
  18. ^ "Delaware Election Results". The New York Times. November 6, 2018. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved January 1, 2019.
  19. ^ Everett, Burgess (May 22, 2023). "Carper to retire, opening safe Dem Senate seat". Politico.
  20. ^ "About Tom Carper". carper.senate.gov. Office of Senator Tom Carper. Archived from the original on April 14, 2019. Retrieved June 2, 2022.
  21. ^ Quinn, Holly (January 7, 2021). "Here's how Delaware political leaders responded to the Capitol riot on social media". Technical.ly Delaware. Retrieved January 8, 2021.
  22. ^ Thomas, TaRhonda; Ileto, Christie (January 7, 2021). "Local Democratic members of Congress join call to invoke 25th Amendment to remove President Trump". 6abc Philadelphia. Retrieved January 8, 2021.
  23. ^ "Committee Assignments of the 118th Congress". United States Senate. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
  24. ^ "Carper to Chair Senate Environment and Public Works Committee". February 4, 2021. Retrieved February 17, 2021.
  25. ^ Nilsen, Ella (September 5, 2018). "The left's best hope to pick up a Senate seat is in Delaware". Vox. Retrieved May 9, 2020.
  26. ^ "Lawmakers". ratings.conservative.org. American Conservative Union. Archived from the original on May 4, 2021. Retrieved May 22, 2023.
  27. ^ "The Voter's Self Defense System". Vote Smart. Retrieved May 9, 2020.
  28. ^ "Political positions for Thomas Carper". Archived from the original on November 5, 2014. Retrieved March 27, 2012.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  29. ^ "S. 3 (108th): Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act of 2003 -- Senate Vote #51 -- Mar 13, 2003". GovTrack.us. Retrieved July 31, 2018.
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  31. ^ Petree, Rob (May 23, 2018). "Carper calls Trump's proposal to cut abortion funding a "purely political attack"". Delaware 105.9FM. Archived from the original on May 23, 2018. Retrieved July 31, 2018.
  32. ^ "Tom Carper on the Issues". www.ontheissues.org. Retrieved July 31, 2018.
  33. ^ 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. Retrieved June 24, 2022.
  34. ^ Frazin, Rachel (April 4, 2019). "More than 30 Senate Dems ask Trump to reconsider Central American aid cuts". The Hill.
  35. ^ "Senate Kills Measure to Scrutinize Israeli Human Rights Record as Condition for Aid". The Intercept. January 16, 2024.
  36. ^ "Senate Democrats press Biden to establish two-state solution for Israel, Palestine". The Hill. March 20, 2024.
  37. ^ Bolton, Alexander (March 20, 2024). "Senate Democrats press Biden to establish two-state solution for Israel, Palestine". The Hill. Retrieved October 30, 2024.
  38. ^ Starkey, Jonathan (November 25, 2016). "Carper, Coons push for gun control measures". Delaware Online. Retrieved October 4, 2017.
  39. ^ "Tom Carper on Gun Control". www.ontheissues.org. Retrieved March 20, 2019.
  40. ^ Mathis-Lilley, Ben; Hannon, Elliot (June 15, 2016). "Senate Democrats' Surprise Gun-Control Filibuster Ended at 2:11 a.m." Slate. Retrieved October 4, 2017.
  41. ^ Restuccio, Jonah (October 3, 2017). "Local lawmakers respond to Vegas shooting". WMDT. Retrieved October 4, 2017.
  42. ^ "U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin Helps Introduce Background Check Expansion Act To Reduce Gun Violence". urbanmilwaukee.com. January 9, 2019.
  43. ^ Barone, Michael; McCutcheon, Chuck (2012). Almanac of American Politics. University of Chicago Press. p. 344. ISBN 978-0226038087.
  44. ^ Collins Rudolf, John (November 11, 2010). "On Our Radar: A Proposed Gas Tax Increase". The New York Times. Retrieved April 11, 2012.
  45. ^ Schortgen, Kenneth Jr. (May 16, 2011). "Congress looking at new bill to bail out postal workers". The Wall Street Journal. New York City: Dow Jones & Company. Retrieved April 11, 2012.
  46. ^ Everett, Burgess; Bresnahan, John (August 1, 2019). "Senate passes massive 2-year budget deal". Politico.
  47. ^ Aronoff, Kate (August 24, 2018). "TOM CARPER TOUTS HIS ENVIRONMENTAL RECORD, BUT A CLOSER LOOK SUGGESTS IT'S NOT SO CLEAN". The Intercept. Retrieved September 2, 2018.
  48. ^ Tom Carper (actor) (February 16, 2017). Senate Session Mr. Carper. C-SPAN. Retrieved February 17, 2017.
  49. ^ "Wyden, Merkley urge more affordable housing funds". ktvz.com. April 16, 2019. Archived from the original on April 18, 2019. Retrieved April 17, 2019.
  50. ^ "Home | Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs Committee". www.hsgac.senate.gov.
  51. ^ Senators Say Cybersecurity Bill Has No 'Kill Switch' Archived September 21, 2012, at archive.today, informationweek.com, June 24, 2010. Retrieved on June 25, 2010.
  52. ^ SEN. JOE LIEBERMAN & SEN. SUSAN COLLINS & SEN. TOM CARPER (June 10, 2010). "We must 'arm' cyberspace battlefront". Politico. Retrieved April 2, 2012.
  53. ^ Brush, Silla (May 13, 2010). "White House fights back against Carper amendment to Wall Street reform bill". The Hill. Archived from the original on July 19, 2012. Retrieved April 2, 2012.
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  58. ^ Bolton, Alexander (April 4, 2014). "Centrist Republicans cool to minimum wage hike compromise". The Hill. Retrieved April 9, 2014.
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  60. ^ "Carper Statement on Gay Marriage Amendment". United States Senator Tom Carper. July 14, 2004. Retrieved July 31, 2018.
  61. ^ "Tom Carper on Civil Rights". www.ontheissues.org. Retrieved July 31, 2018.
  62. ^ Cirilli, Kevin (April 2, 2013). "Carper backs same-sex marriage". Politico. Retrieved July 31, 2018.
  63. ^ "Senate Roll Call: Iraq Resolution". The Washington Post. Retrieved August 4, 2018.
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  69. ^ Moorcraft, Bethan (August 3, 2023). "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. Retrieved August 23, 2023.
  70. ^ congresstrading.com [@congresstrading] (August 2, 2023). "Breaking: Senator Carper reports shorting (betting against) the American economy in his stock portfolio".

References

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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Tom Carper.
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Delaware's at-large congressional district
1983–1993 		Succeeded by
Political offices
Preceded by
Mary Jornlin
 Treasurer of Delaware
1977–1983 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Governor of Delaware
1993–2001 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Chair of the National Governors Association
1998–1999 		Succeeded by
U.S. Senate
Preceded by U.S. Senator (Class 1) from Delaware
2001–present
Served alongside: Joe Biden, Ted Kaufman, Chris Coons 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Chair of the Senate New Democrat Coalition
2003–2011
Served alongside: Mary Landrieu 		Position abolished
Preceded by Chair of the Senate Homeland Security Committee
2013–2015 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Ranking Member of the Senate Homeland Security Committee
2015–2017 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Ranking Member of the Senate Environment Committee
2017–2021 		Succeeded by
Preceded by
John Barrasso
 Chair of the Senate Environment Committee
2021–present 		Succeeded by
U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded by Order of precedence of the United States
as United States Senator 		Succeeded by
United States senators by seniority
10th
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