2000 Missouri gubernatorial election

For related races, see 2000 United States gubernatorial elections.

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.

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

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.

Republican primary

Candidates

• Jim Talent, U.S. Representative
• Jen Sievers, investor
• Elgar Macy, U.S. Navy veteran

Results

Republican primary results

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

• Bob Holden, State Treasurer

Results

Democratic primary results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Bob Holden	362,457	100.00%
Total votes			362,457	100.00%

Libertarian primary

Candidates

• John M. Swenson, retiree
• Dick Illyes, businessman

Results

Libertarian primary results

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

Results

Constitution primary results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Constitution	Richard L. Smith	299	100.00%
Total votes			299	100.00%

Reform primary

Candidates

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

Results

Reform primary results

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

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

• Audrain (largest city: Mexico)
• Bates (largest city: Butler)
• Chariton (largest city: Salisbury)
• Clark (largest city: Kahoka)
• Clinton (largest city: Cameron)
• Daviess (largest city: Gallatin)
• Dunklin (largest city: Kennett)
• Franklin (largest city: Washington)
• Gentry (largest city: Albany)
• Grundy (largest city: Trenton)
• Henry (largest city: Clinton)
• Hickory (largest city: Hermitage)
• Howard (largest city: Fayette)
• Iron (largest city: Ironton)
• Knox (largest city: Edina)
• Lafayette (largest city: Odessa)
• Lewis (largest city: Canton)
• Linn (largest city: Brookfield)
• Livingston (largest city: Chillicothe)
• Madison (largest city: Fredericktown)
• Nodaway (largest city: Maryville)
• Pike (largest city: Bowling Green)
• Reynolds (largest city: Ellington)
• Schuyler (largest city: Lancaster)
• Scotland (largest city: Memphis)
• Scott (largest city: Sikeston)
• Shannon (largest city: Winona)
• St. Francois (largest city: Farmington)
• Sullivan (largest city: Milan)
• Wayne (largest city: Piedmont)
• Worth (largest city: Grant City)
• Buchanan (largest city: St. Joseph)
• Clay (largest city: Liberty)
• Jefferson (largest city: Arnold)
• Mississippi (largest city: Charleston)
• New Madrid (largest city: New Madrid)
• Pemiscot (largest city: Caruthersville)
• Ray (largest city: Richmond)
• Saline (largest city: Marshall)
• Washington (largest city: Potosi)
• Iron (largest city: Ironton)
• Sainte Genevieve (largest city: Ste. Genevieve)
• Platte (largest city: Kansas City)
• Pettis (largest city: Sedalia)
• Pulaski (largest city: Fort Leonard Wood)
• Adair (largest city: Kirksville)
• Andrew (largest city: Savannah)
• Cass (largest city: Harrisonville)
• Johnson (largest city: Warrensburg)
• Caldwell (largest city: Hamilton)
• Callaway (largest city: Fulton)
• Carroll (largest city: Carrollton)
• DeKalb (largest city: Cameron)
• Oregon (largest city: Thayer)
• Ralls (largest city: Hannibal)
• Randolph (largest city: Moberly)
• Ripley (largest city: Doniphan)
• Marion (largest city: Hannibal)
• Mercer (largest city: Princeton)
• Monroe (largest city: Monroe City)
• Montgomery (largest city: Montgomery City)
• Macon (largest city: Macon)
• St. Clair (largest city: Appleton City)
• Vernon (largest city: Nevada)
• Benton (largest city: Warsaw)
• Crawford (largest city: Cuba)
• Scott (largest city: Sikeston)
• Carter (largest city: Van Buren)
• Maries (largest city: Belle)
• Morgan (largest city: Versailles)
• Atchison (largest city: Tarkio)
• Dent (largest city: Salem)
• Phelps (largest city: Rolla)
• Bollinger (largest city: Marble Hill)
• Butler (largest city: Poplar Bluff)
• Cole (largest city: Jefferson City)
• Cooper (largest city: Boonville)
• Harrison (largest city: Bethany)
• Holt (largest city: Mound City)
• Osage (largest city: Linn)
• Perry (largest city: Perryville)
• Putnam (largest city: Unionville)
• Miller (largest city: Eldon)
• Moniteau (largest city: California)
• Shelby (largest city: Shelbina)
• Stoddard (largest city: Dexter)