2002 United States Senate election in South Dakota

2002 United States Senate election in South Dakota

November 5, 2002
 
Nominee Tim Johnson John Thune
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 167,481 166,957
Percentage 49.62% 49.47%

County results
Johnson:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90%
Thune:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%

U.S. senator before election

Tim Johnson
Democratic

Elected U.S. Senator

Tim Johnson
Democratic

The 2002 United States Senate election in South Dakota was held on November 5, 2002. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Tim Johnson narrowly won re-election to a second term over future senator and Senate Majority Leader John Thune by a margin of 524 votes, or 0.15%. This made the election the closest race of the 2002 Senate election cycle.

This was one of the four Democratic-held Senate seats up for election in a state that George W. Bush won in the 2000 presidential election. Thune has held South Dakota's other Senate seat since 2005, and became the Senate Majority Leader after the 2024 elections.