Tom Carper
American politician (born 1947) / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Thomas Richard Carper (born January 23, 1947) is an American politician and former military officer serving as the senior United States senator from Delaware, having held the seat since 2001. A member of the Democratic Party, Carper served in the United States House of Representatives from 1983 to 1993 and was the 71st governor of Delaware from 1993 to 2001.
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Tom Carper | |
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 Official portrait, 2012 | |
| United States Senator from Delaware | |
| Assumed office January 3, 2001 | |
| Preceded by | William Roth |
| Chair of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee | |
| Assumed office February 3, 2021 | |
| Preceded by | John Barrasso |
| Ranking Member of the Senate Environment Committee | |
| In office January 3, 2017 – February 3, 2021 | |
| Preceded by | Barbara Boxer |
| Succeeded by | Shelley Moore Capito |
| Chair of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee | |
| In office January 3, 2013 – January 3, 2015 | |
| Preceded by | Joe Lieberman |
| Succeeded by | Ron Johnson |
| Chair of the National Governors Association | |
| In office August 4, 1998 – August 10, 1999 | |
| Preceded by | George Voinovich |
| Succeeded by | Mike Leavitt |
| 71st Governor of Delaware | |
| In office January 19, 1993 – January 3, 2001 | |
| Lieutenant | Ruth Ann Minner |
| Preceded by | Dale E. Wolf |
| Succeeded by | Ruth Ann Minner |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Delaware's at-large district | |
| In office January 3, 1983 – January 3, 1993 | |
| Preceded by | Tom Evans |
| Succeeded by | Mike Castle |
| Treasurer of Delaware | |
| In office January 18, 1977 – January 3, 1983 | |
| Governor | Pete du Pont |
| Preceded by | Mary Jornlin |
| Succeeded by | Janet Rzewnicki |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Thomas Richard Carper (1947-01-23) January 23, 1947 (age 77) Beckley, West Virginia, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouses | Diane Isaacs
(m. 1978; div. 1983)Martha Stacy (m. 1985) |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | Ohio State University (BA) University of Delaware (MBA) |
| Signature |  |
| Website | Senate website |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Branch/service |  United States Navy |
| Years of service | 1968–1991 |
| Rank |  Captain |
| Unit | Naval Flight Officer Navy Reserve |
| Battles/wars | Vietnam War |
Tom Carper on his support for the nomination of Rita Landgraf to be HHS Assistant Secretary for Aging Recorded July 19, 2021 | |
A native of Beckley, West Virginia, Carper graduated from Ohio State University. Serving as a naval flight officer in the U.S. Navy from 1968 until 1973, he flew the P-3 Orion as a tactical coordinator and mission commander[1] and saw active duty in the Vietnam War. After leaving the active duty Navy, he remained in the U.S. Naval Reserve for another 18 years and eventually retired with the rank of Captain (O-6). Upon receiving his MBA from the University of Delaware in 1975, Carper went to work for the state of Delaware in its economic development office. He was elected state treasurer, serving from 1977 to 1983 and leading the development of Delaware's first cash management system.
Encouraged by local politicians, Carper successfully ran for Delaware's only seat in the U.S. House of Representatives in 1982. He served five terms in the House, where he chaired the Subcommittee on Economic Stabilization. In 1992, he swapped positions with term-limited Republican Governor Mike Castle, and the two were easily elected to each other's seats. Carper governed for two terms as a moderate, business-oriented New Democrat, following the lead of the two previous Republican governors.
Carper was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2000, defeating Republican incumbent William Roth. He was reelected by landslides in 2006, 2012, and 2018. He serves as one of four deputy Democratic whips, the chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee and on the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee and the Finance Committee. Carper is the senior senator in Delaware's congressional delegation and the dean of the delegation. He is the last Vietnam War veteran to serve in the Senate.