2000 Missouri gubernatorial election

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.

Republican primary

Candidates

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

Results

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Bob Holden, State Treasurer

Results

Libertarian primary

Candidates

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

Results

Constitution primary

Candidates

• Richard L. Smith, truck driver

Results

Reform primary

Candidates

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

Results

General election

Results

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)

References