Mel Carnahan

Carnahan's official portrait

Melvin Eugene Carnahan (February 11, 1934 – October 16, 2000) was an American lawyer and politician. He was the 51st Governor of Missouri from 1993 until his death in a plane crash in 2000. A month after his death, he was elected to the United States Senate. He was a Democrat.

Early life

Carnahan was born in Birch Tree, Missouri in 1934. He studied at George Washington University and at the University of Missouri. In 1948, because his father was running for congress, Carnahan was present for Harry S. Truman's last campaign stop in St. Louis.[1] Carnahan would later say his father inspired him to be a politician.[2]

Carnahan was married to Jean Carpenter from 1954 until his death. They had four children. His daughter is Robin Carnahan, former U.S. Senate candidate and Administrator of General Services. His son is Russ Carnahan, a former U.S. Representative.

Political career

Carnahan with President Bill Clinton in 1993
Carnahan with Walter Cronkite in 1999

From 1989 to 1993, Carnahan was the Lieutenant Governor of Missouri when John Ashcroft was governor. In 1992, he was elected governor of Missouri and re-elected in 1996.

During his time as governor, Carnahan oversaw the increase and decrease of taxes in the state.[3] He also had to deal with natural disasters such as the Great Flood of 1993, one of the deadliest floods in U.S. History.[4] Carnahan would travel across the state afterwards,[5] and also called a special session of the state legislature to figure out how to pay for the damage.[6]

In 1999, Carnahan, a death penalty supporter, commuted the death sentence of a Missouri inmate, Darrell Mease, after Pope John Paul II asked him to do so during his visit to St. Louis.[7] This move was controversial, with 34% of voters saying that they were more likely to vote against Carnahan in his U.S. Senate bid.[8]

On November 4, 1998, Carnahan announced his plan to run again incumbent Senator John Ashcroft for his senate seat in 2000.[9] It had been said that neither man liked each other.[10][11] The campaign became heated and intense, becoming one of the most focused election races in the nation.[12] Carnahan was attacked for his actions as governor, and for other incidents, such as photos of him performing in blackface in 1960.[13] In October, Carnahan was losing to Ashcroft in the polls.[14] He would go on to win the election after his death.[15]

Death

Carnahan was killed in a plane crash near Hillsboro, Missouri on October 16, 2000, aged 66. The 2000 presidential debate, held the next day in St. Louis, opened with a moment of silence and both candidates talked about Carnahan's death.[16][17]

Aftermath

Lieutenant Governor Roger B. Wilson became governor to serve the rest of Carnahan's term the day after his death. Because Missouri election law would not allow Carnahan's name to be removed from the November 7, 2000, ballot,[18] Governor Wilson promised to pick Carnahan's widow Jean to the seat if Carnahan won the election.[19] Carnahan's campaign continued, using the slogan "I'm Still with Mel."[20] Carnahan became the first person in U.S. history to a win a U.S. Senate election posthumously, winning 50.5% of the vote against Ashcroft's 48.4%.[21][15]

References

  1. ↑ "Whistle-Stop Campaign 6". www.sos.mo.gov. Archived from the original on December 30, 2016. Retrieved October 19, 2023.
  2. ↑ Grebing, Jim (January 10, 1993). "Carnahan assumes his duties Monday". The Southeast Missourian. p. 4.
  3. ↑ Keller, Rudi (September 30, 2022). "After four decades, Hancock Amendment continues to shape Missouri tax policy • Missouri Independent". Missouri Independent. Archived from the original on October 1, 2022. Retrieved September 18, 2023.
  4. ↑ "The Great Flood of 1993". National Weather Service. July 8, 2017. Archived from the original on July 8, 2017. Retrieved August 4, 2023.
  5. ↑ Grebing, Jim (July 23, 1993). "Carnahan:State will do its part". The Southeast Missourian. pp. 4A. Retrieved September 15, 2023.
  6. ↑ Manning, Carl (September 3, 1993). "Carnahan To Call Special Session To Address State's Flood Damage". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. p. 12. Retrieved October 14, 2023.
  7. ↑ Niebahr, Gustav (January 29, 1999). "Governor Grants Pope's Plea For Life of a Missouri Inmate - NYTimes.com". New York Times. Archived from the original on May 20, 2015. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
  8. ↑ Cuneo, Michael W. (2004). Almost Midnight: an American Story of Murder and Redemption (1st ed.). New York, NY: Broadway Books. pp. 312. ISBN 9780767913423.
  9. ↑ Charton, Scott (November 4, 1998). "Carnahan seeks Ashcroft's seat". The Nevada Daily Mail. pp. 10A. Retrieved September 15, 2023.
  10. ↑ "Missouri's Monster Mash - CBS News". www.cbsnews.com. CBS News Staff. September 15, 2000. Archived from the original on September 22, 2023. Retrieved September 22, 2023.
  11. ↑ Mannies, Jo (August 27, 2000). "U.S. Senate race is marked by clear contrasts". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. p. 10. Retrieved October 14, 2023.
  12. ↑ Rothenberg, Stuart (September 20, 2000). "Stuart Rothenberg: The fight for the Senate - September 20, 2000". CNN. Archived from the original on September 22, 2000. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
  13. ↑ Associated Press (October 25, 1999). "Mo. Governor's Blackface Gets a New Showing". Washington Post. Archived from the original on November 2, 2011. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
  14. ↑ Horner, William T. (2005). Showdown in the Show-Me State : the Fight Over Conceal-and-Carry Gun Laws in Missouri. Columbia, MO: University of Missouri Press. pp. 150. ISBN 0-8262-1587-4.
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 Adams, Michael G. (2002). "Missouri Compromise: Did the Posthumous Senatorial Election of Mel Carnahan and Subsequent Appointment of Jean Carnahan Compromise Federal or State Law". Kentucky Law Review. 29 (3): 433 – via Hein Online.
  16. ↑ "A tribute to Carnahan". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. October 18, 2000. p. 1. Retrieved October 15, 2023.
  17. ↑ "CPD: October 17, 2000 Debate Transcript". www.debates.org. Retrieved October 15, 2023.
  18. ↑ "US Senators from Missouri". www.sos.mo.gov. Retrieved September 18, 2023.
  19. ↑ "Carnahan's Widow to 'Enter' Missouri Sen. Race". ABC News. October 24, 2000. Archived from the original on January 30, 2011. Retrieved August 23, 2023.
  20. ↑ Tackett, Michael (October 30, 2000). "LATE GOVERNOR'S LEAD IN POLL FUELS ANTICIPATION OF WIFE'S ENTRY IN RACE". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on October 1, 2018. Retrieved September 15, 2023.
  21. ↑ "CNN.com - Republican senator loses to dead rival in Missouri - November 7, 2000". www.cnn.com. Retrieved October 14, 2023.

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