2000 Missouri gubernatorial election

2000 Missouri gubernatorial election
November 7, 2000
 
Nominee Bob Holden Jim Talent
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 1,152,752 1,131,307
Percentage 49.12% 48.21%
County results
Holden:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%
Talent:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%
Governor before election

Roger B. Wilson
Democratic

Elected Governor

Bob Holden
Democratic

The 2000 Missouri gubernatorial election was held on November 7, 2000. Incumbent Democratic Governor Mel Carnahan was term-limited and ran for the U.S. Senate. On October 16, 2000, Carnahan died in a plane crash, and Lieutenant Governor Roger B. Wilson served the remainder of Carnahan's term.

State Treasurer Bob Holden won the Democratic nomination unopposed, and faced U.S. Representative Jim Talent, who won the Republican primary over lesser-known candidates, in the general election. Holden narrowly defeated Talent, winning 49 percent of the vote to Talent's 48 percent.[1]

Republican primary

Candidates

Results

Republican primary results[4]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Jim Talent 296,159 84.49%
Republican Jen Sievers 33,674 9.61%
Republican Elgar Macy 20,681 5.90%
Total votes 350,514 100.00%

Democratic primary

Candidates

Results

Democratic primary results[4]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Bob Holden 362,457 100.00%
Total votes 362,457 100.00%

Libertarian primary

Candidates

  • John M. Swenson, retiree[3]
  • Dick Illyes, businessman[3]

Results

Libertarian primary results[4]
Party Candidate Votes %
Libertarian John M. Swenson 1,032 60.35%
Libertarian Dick Illyes 678 39.65%
Total votes 1,710 100.00%

Constitution primary

Candidates

  • Richard L. Smith, truck driver[6]

Results

Constitution primary results[4]
Party Candidate Votes %
Constitution Richard L. Smith 299 100.00%
Total votes 299 100.00%

Reform primary

Candidates

  • Richard Allen Kline, retiree[3]
  • Joseph C. Keller, physician[3]
  • Kent A. Benson, developer[3]

Results

Reform primary results[4]
Party Candidate Votes %
Reform Richard Allen Kline 317 42.78%
Reform Joseph C. Keller 231 31.17%
Reform Kent A. Benson 193 26.05%
Total votes 741 100.00%

General election

Results

2000 Missouri gubernatorial election[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Bob Holden 1,152,752 49.12% −8.05%
Republican Jim Talent 1,131,307 48.21% +7.77%
Independent Larry Rice 34,431 1.47%
Libertarian John M. Swenson 11,274 0.48% −1.92%
Green Lavoy Reed 9,008 0.38%
Reform Richard Allen Kline 4,916 0.21%
Constitution Richard L. Smith 3,142 0.13%
Majority 21,445 0.91% −15.82%
Total votes 2,346,830 100.00%
Democratic hold

Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican

References

  1. ^ a b "Official Election Returns State of Missouri General Election Tuesday, November 07, 2000" (PDF). Missouri Secretary of State. 2000. Retrieved February 7, 2026.
  2. ^ Kraske, Steve (February 9, 1999). "Talent aims to be governor of Missouri". The Kansas City Star. p. B3. Retrieved February 7, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g "Governor's office draws 10 candidates". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. August 6, 2000. p. V2. Retrieved February 7, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ a b c d e "Official Election Returns State of Missouri Primary Election Tuesday, August 08, 2000" (PDF). Missouri Secretary of State. 2000. Retrieved February 7, 2026.
  5. ^ Mannies, Jo (March 6, 1998). "It's official: Treasurer Holden wants to be governor". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. p. C3. Retrieved February 7, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "Gubernatorial candidates speak at forum". Springfield News-Leader. May 7, 2000. p. 1B, 10B. Retrieved February 7, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
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