months after the elder Chafee announced his retirement instead of seeking a fifth term. As of 2022, this is the last Senate election in Rhode Island won by a Republican. Tennessee Incumbent Republican Bill Frist won re-election to a second term. The Democratic primary was held August 3, 2000. In a field of five candidates, Jeff Clark, a professor at Middle Tennessee State University, edged out John Jay Hooker to win the nomination. Texas Incumbent Republican Kay Bailey Hutchison won re-election to a second term, beating Democrat Gene Kelly, a retired attorney. Utah Incumbent Republican Orrin Hatch won re-election to a fifth term, beating Democratic State senator Scott N. Howell. Vermont Incumbent Republican Jim Jeffords won re-election to a third term in office, over Ed Flanagan, Vermont Auditor of Accounts. Jeffords switched from being a Republican to an independent, who would later caucus with the Democratic Party following the 2000 election in May 2001, thus breaking the 50-50 lock. As of 2022, this is the last Senate election in Vermont won by a Republican. Virginia Incumbent Democrat Chuck Robb ran for a third term, but lost to Republican George Allen. Washington Incumbent Republican Slade Gorton ran for a third consecutive term (fourth overall), but was unseated for a second time (the first being 1986) by Democratic candidate, former Congresswoman Maria Cantwell. Since Maria Cantwell had only won by 1,953 votes, or a margin of 0.08 percent, an automatic recount was triggered. Cantwell won the recount on December 1 with a margin of 2,229 votes (0.09%) in one of the closest elections in Washington state history. West Virginia Incumbent Democrat Robert Byrd won re-election to an eighth term. He won every county and congressional district in the state. Wisconsin Incumbent Democrat Herb Kohl won re-election to a third term. Wyoming Incumbent Republican Craig Thomas won re-election to a second term over Democratic mine worker Mel Logan. See also 2000 United States elections 2000 United States gubernatorial elections 2000 United States presidential election 2000 United States House of Representatives elections 106th United States Congress 107th United States Congress Notes References Further reading External links JoinCalifornia 2000 General Election United States Election 2000 Web Archive from the U.S. Library of Congress 2000 North Dakota U.S. Senate Election results