Politicos of the Past

As Election Day 2010 gets underway, we take a look back at a few notable politicians who died earlier this year.

Pete Domenici (1932–2017), former longtime New Mexico Senator

Republican power broker was in the Senate for more than 30 years.

Daniel Akaka (1924–2018), first Native Hawaiian elected to Congress

Daniel Akaka, the first U.S. senator of Native Hawaiian ancestry, died Friday, April 6, 2018 after a long illness. He was 93.

John McCain (1936–2018), war hero turned maverick politician

In a Congress where the gulf between red and blue seems wider than it ever has, the long-serving Senator John McCain created an image of himself as a bipartisan bridge-builder. A Republican devoted to his party, he nevertheless reached across the aisle to form alliances and friendships with Democrats as he tried to advance ideals including fiscal conservatism, campaign finance reform, and American exceptionalism.

Richard Lugar (1932–2019), former U.S. Senator from Indiana

Richard Lugar was a longtime Republican Senator from Indiana who was highly regarded for his foreign policy leadership. He served in the Senate from 1977 until 2013. He teamed with Democratic Senator Sam Nunn on the Nunn-LugarCooperative Threat Reduction Program, which secured the dismantling of weapons of mass destruction in the former Soviet Union. Lugar was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2013 from President Obama.

Kay Hagan (1953–2019), former North Carolina senator

Kay Hagan was the first Democratic woman elected to the U.S. Senate from North Carolina. In 2008 she was a state senator when she beat Republican Elizabeth Dole. She lost her seat in 2014 to Republican Thom Tillis in a close contest that was one of the most expensive Senate races ever. In the Senate, Hagan was a strong advocate for women and a prominent backer of the Affordable Care Act. After discovering that the U.S. Senate swimming pool was for men only, she worked with Senator Chuck Schumer to end that practice.

Tom Coburn (1948–2020), Oklahoma congressman known as “Dr. No”

Tom Coburn  was a Republican congressman from Oklahoma who served in the House of Representatives from 1995 to 2001 and in the Senate from 2005 until his retirement in 2015. He was given the nickname “Dr. No” for his tendency to block bills.

Roberta McCain (1912–2020), mother of Senator John McCain

Roberta McCain, the mother of Senator John McCain, has died at the age of 108.

Paul Sarbanes (1933–2020), longtime U.S. senator from Maryland

Paul Sarbanes was a former Democratic U.S. senator from Maryland who served five terms and drafted the first article of impeachment against President Richard Nixon.

Walter Mondale (1928–2021), 42nd vice president and U.S. senator from Minnesota

Walter Mondale was the 42nd vice president of the United States, serving under President Jimmy Carter from 1977 to 1981.

John Warner (1927–2021), longtime U.S. Senator and sixth husband of Elizabeth Taylor

John Warner was a Republican U.S. Senator from Virginia who served from 1979 to 2009, as well as the former U.S. Secretary of the Navy.

Mike Gravel (1930–2021), former U.S. Senator from Alaska

Mike Gravel was a Democratic U.S. Senator from Alaska as well as a two-time presidential candidate.

Mike Enzi (1944–2021), former senator from Wyoming

Mike Enzi was a Republican senator from Wyoming who served in the senate from 1997 until his retirement in 2021.

Carl Levin (1934–2021), former longtime Michigan senator

Carl Levin was a prominent Democratic U.S. senator from Michigan who served in the Senate for 36 years.

Bob Dole (1923–2021), longtime U.S. senator from Kansas

Bob Dole represented Kansas as a Republican in the U.S. Senate from 1969 to 1996 and ran for president against Democrat Bill Clinton in 1996.

Johnny Isakson (1944–2021), U.S. senator from Georgia

Johnny Isakson was a Republican who represented Georgia in the U.S. Senate from 2005 to 2019.

Orrin Hatch (1934–2022), long-serving U.S. Senator from Utah

Orrin Hatch was a Republican U.S. senator from Utah, the longest-serving Republican in U.S. Senate history and the longest-serving senator from Utah in Senate history.

David Durenberger (1934–2023), U.S. senator from Minnesota

David Durenberger was a Republican U.S. senator from Minnesota who served for 16 years.

James Abourezk (1931–2023), first Arab American U.S. Senator

James Abourezk was a Democratic politician from South Dakota who became the first Arab American elected to the U.S. Senate.

Lowell Weicker (1931–2023), U.S. senator and Connecticut governor 

Lowell Weicker was a Republican U.S. congressman who later went Independent and served as governor of Connecticut.

James Buckley (1923–2023), oldest former U.S. senator 

James Buckley was a U.S. senator from New York who served in the 1970s and later became a federal judge.

Lauch Faircloth (1928–2023), U.S. senator from North Carolina 

Lauch Faircloth was a politician who served one term representing North Carolina in the U.S. Senate as a Republican.

Dick Clark (1928–2023), U.S. senator who opposed apartheid 

Richard “Dick” Clark was a former U.S. senator who walked across the state of Iowa to meet residents in-person during his 1972 campaign.

Dianne Feinstein (1933–2023), U.S. senator from California

Dianne Feinstein was a Democratic U.S. senator from California, who served six terms in Congress from 1992 to her death.

Herbert Kohl (1935–2023), former Senator and co-founder of Kohl’s 

Herbert Kohl was a businessman, politician, and philanthropist who was a former U.S. Senator, previous owner of the Milwaukee Bucks basketball team, and co-founder of Kohl’s department stores with his brother and father.0

Jean Carnahan (1933–2024), Missouri’s first female U.S. senator

Jean Carnahan represented Missouri in the U.S. Senate and was the former first lady of Missouri.

Joe Lieberman (1942–2024), former senator and vice president nominee 

Joe Lieberman was a former U.S. Senator and vice-presidential candidate who ran with Al Gore in 2000 and was the first person of Jewish faith on one of the two major parties’ U.S. presidential tickets.

Bob Graham (1936-2024), former U.S. senator and Florida governor

Bob Graham was a Democratic politician who served as the governor of Florida in the 1970s and ‘80s and went on to become a three-term U.S. senator.

David Pryor (1934–2024), U.S. senator and Arkansas governor

David Pryor was a Democratic politician who served as governor of Arkansas in the 1970s, as well as representing the state in the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate. 

Sen. Jim Inhofe (1934–2024), U.S. senator from Oklahoma

Sen. Jim Inhofe was a U.S. senator from Oklahoma for nearly three decades who served in public office in one form or another for nearly 60 years overall.

Steve Symms (1938–2024), conservative U.S. senator

Steve Symms was a staunch conservative and longtime Republican elected official, serving four terms in Congress and two as a United States senator for Idaho.

Jim Sasser (1936–2024), longtime U.S. senator from Tennessee 

Jim Sasser was a three-term U.S. senator from Tennessee who also served as ambassador to China under former President Bill Clinton.

Dan Evans (1925–2024), former Washington governor and U.S. senator

Dan Evans was a three-term governor of Washington state in the 1960s and ‘70s who went on to serve as a U.S. senator in the ‘80s.

Tim Johnson (1946–2024), longtime U.S. senator from South Dakota

Tim Johnson was a longtime U.S. senator from South Dakota who was the last Democrat to win statewide election in the state.

Fred R. Harris (1930–2024), former Oklahoma senator

Fred R. Harris was a former U.S. senator from Oklahoma who once chaired the Democratic National Committee and twice sought a presidential nomination.

Alan Simpson (1931–2024), longtime U.S. senator from Wyoming 

Alan Simpson was a longtime Republican politician from Wyoming best known for his tenure in the U.S. Senate, which included a decade as Senate whip.