Tom Carper

Carper was born in Beckley, West Virginia, the son of Mary Jean (née Patton) and Wallace Richard Carper. He grew up in Danville, Virginia, and graduated from Whetstone High School in Columbus, Ohio. He then graduated from the Ohio State University in 1968, where he was a midshipman in the Naval ROTC and earned a degree in economics. At Ohio State, Carper became a member of the Beta Phi Chapter of the Delta Tau Delta fraternity. Carper earned an MBA from the University of Delaware in 1975.

Serving as a Naval Flight Officer in the U.S. Navy from 1968 until 1973, he served three tours of duty in Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War. He remained in the U.S. Naval Reserve as a P-3 aircraft mission commander for another 18 years and retired with the rank of Captain (O-6).{{cite web|url=https://carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/biography-and-pictures|title=About Tom Carper|work=carper.senate.gov|access-date=September 15, 2020|archive-date=September 20, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200920002257/https://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/biography-and-pictures|url-status=dead}}

While in college at the Ohio State University, Carper worked on the presidential campaign of U.S. Senator Eugene McCarthy. In Delaware, he worked as the campaign treasurer for University of Delaware professor James R. Soles in his unsuccessful 1974 bid for the U.S. House of Representatives.

After receiving his MBA degree in 1975, Carper went to work for the State of Delaware's economic development office. In 1976, after developing good relationships with members of the state party leadership, he took out a $5,000 personal loan to fund his campaign to be Treasurer of Delaware. In the election, he defeated the favored Republican Party candidate, Theodore Jones. He served three terms, from January 18, 1977, through January 3, 1983, during which time he oversaw the development of Delaware's first cash management system.

File:Tom Carper 102nd Congressional portrait.jpg

In 1982, U.S. Senator Joe Biden and other prominent Democrats convinced Carper to run for Delaware's only seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. Incumbent Republican Thomas B. Evans Jr. sought reelection, and although he had been caught in a compromising "association" on a golfing trip with the lobbyist Paula Parkinson, was still considered a strong candidate.{{Cite news|last1=Baker|first1=Donald P.|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1981/03/07/congressmen-shared-house-with-female-lobbyist/b7e72e4f-410b-4187-a8be-91fec3aeca42/|title=Congressmen Shared House With Female Lobbyist|date=1981-03-07|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=2020-03-06|last2=story|first2=Washington Post staff writer; Washington Post staff writer Eugene L. Meyer also contributed to this|language=en-US|issn=0190-8286}}

Carper was considered well-positioned until three weeks before Election Day, when the New York Post published an article claiming that the "dirtiest campaign in the country is being waged in tiny Delaware", which suggested that Carper had abused his wife and stepchildren. But when rumors spread that the story was "planted" by a supporter of Evans, Carper bounced back, with public opinion seeming to be that the allegations inappropriately exploited private issue.{{cite book |title=Only in Delaware, Politics and Politicians in the First State |date=2002|last=Cohen |first=Celia |pages=293–295}}{{cite web|url=https://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/365035-dem-senator-denies-report-claiming-he-lied-about-abusing-his/|title=Dem senator denies report claiming he lied about abusing his wife|last=Bowden|first=John|work=The Hill|date=December 14, 2017|access-date=September 15, 2020}} Carper and his wife both denied the allegations in 1982, but he later admitted to having slapped her. Carper defeated Evans.{{Cite web|url=https://www.delawareonline.com/story/news/politics/2018/09/21/donald-trump-jr-tweet-revives-domestic-violence-accusation-against-u-s-sen-tom-carper/1378052002/|title=Donald Trump Jr. tweet revives domestic violence accusation against U.S. Sen. Tom Carper|first=Scott|last=Goss|website=The News Journal}}

Carper served five terms in the House. He won his second term in 1984, defeating Elise R. W. du Pont, the wife of retiring Governor Pete du Pont. He then easily defeated Republicans Thomas S. Neuberger in 1986, James P. Krapf in 1988 and Ralph O. Williams in 1990. He was a member of the U.S. House Committee on Banking, Finance and Urban Affairs and the U.S. House Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries. He chaired the House Subcommittee on Economic Stabilization. In these positions, he worked to allow banks into the securities business and to discourage the dumping of sludge into the ocean.

During his years in the House, Carper sought to gain better control of Delaware's Democratic Party organization in hopes of someday becoming governor, focusing on heavily Democratic and populous New Castle County. Its Democratic organization was controlled by Eugene T. Reed, a former ironworker and longtime party boss who was then among several politicians in both parties implicated in illegal money raising practices. To address this corruption and rescue the Democratic Party's reputation, Carper recruited Joseph E. Reardon, a DuPont Company chemist, as a candidate for New Castle County Democratic Party chairman. By early 1989, Reardon had been elected, replacing Reed at the head of a newly reformed party organization. In 1990, Carper defeated a Reed ally, Daniel D. Rappa, in the Democratic primary for U.S. representative.

File:President Bill Clinton and First Lady Hillary Clinton greet guests at the National Governors Association Dinner in the Blue Room of the White House (18) (cropped).jpg
in January 1993]]

Republican Governor Michael Castle was term-limited and unable to seek reelection in 1992. The result was what became known as "the Swap", with Castle seeking Carper's seat in the U.S. House of Representatives and Carper seeking the governorship. Neither faced substantive opposition for either post.

Carper defeated Republican B. Gary Scott and was elected governor. He served two terms. Carper positioned himself as a moderate, business-oriented governor, emphasizing economic development and business recruitment. This included the prevention of the closure of the General Motors automobile operation near Newport, Delaware, and convincing pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca to construct its new headquarters in the state.

Carper led an ongoing effort to reduce income tax rates, eliminate the marriage penalty and estate tax, cut the public utility tax, and eliminate the gross receipts tax for many small businesses. Delaware's credit rating improved from among the worst in the nation to AAA. Carper also retained Castle's standards-based education programs. Other programs included a fully funded Head Start program and a prescription-drug benefit for seniors.

Carper had high approval ratings, but was criticized by some old-line Democrats and union leaders.

As a tribute to Anne Marie Fahey, who had been a youth mentor before her death, then-Governor Carper also became a mentor, and began actively promoting mentoring programs throughout Delaware's business community. As a result, by the end of his last term, Delaware held the highest per-capita ratio of youth mentors in the country. Carper also established the Delaware Mentoring Council to help sustain this legacy.

{{See also|2000 United States Senate election in Delaware}}

File:Thomas Carper.jpg

Due to term limits, Carper had to retire as governor in 2000, and sought election to the U.S. Senate against incumbent Republican William Roth, declaring his candidacy in September 1999.{{cite news| title=Delaware governor to challenge Roth |url=https://www.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/stories/1999/09/21/senate.2000/delaware.senate/index.html?_s=PM:ALLPOLITICS |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121003081751/http://articles.cnn.com/1999-09-21/politics/senate.2000_delaware.senate_1_delaware-governor-sixth-senate-term-delaware-residents?_s=PM:ALLPOLITICS |date=September 21, 2012 |archive-date=October 3, 2012 | url-status=live |publisher=CNN}} Some had concerns about Roth's age of 79, compared to Carper's relative youth. Roth started the campaign with a 2-to-1 spending advantage, but Carper went into the final month with more than $1 million on hand.{{cite news|last=Wilkie|first=Curtis|title=In Tight Race, Health Issues Dog Delaware's Roth|url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/boston/access/62928651.html?dids=62928651:62928651&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Oct+26%2C+2000&author=Curtis+Wilkie%2C+Globe+Correspondent&pub=Boston+Globe&desc=IN+TIGHT+RACE%2C+HEALTH+ISSUES+DOG+DELAWARE%27S+ROTH&pqatl=google|type=abstract|via=Boston Globe Archives|access-date=February 9, 2013|newspaper=The Boston Globe|date=October 26, 2000|archive-date=July 15, 2012|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120715102557/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/boston/access/62928651.html?dids=62928651:62928651&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Oct+26,+2000&author=Curtis+Wilkie,+Globe+Correspondent&pub=Boston+Globe&desc=IN+TIGHT+RACE,+HEALTH+ISSUES+DOG+DELAWARE'S+ROTH&pqatl=google|url-status=dead}} Also available at: [http://cache.boston.com/news/politics/campaign2000/news/In_tight_race_health_issues_dog_Delaware_s_Roth+.shtml cache.boston.com]. Retrieved September 27, 2017. He defeated Roth, 56% to 44%. Roth received more votes than Republican presidential candidate George W. Bush, suggesting that the strength of the Democratic turnout for the presidential election was key in Carper's victory.{{citation needed|date=May 2018}} Some commentators attributed Roth's defeat to his age and health, as he collapsed twice during the campaign, once during a television interview and once during a campaign event.{{Cite web|url=http://www.sussexcountyonline.com/campaign2000/results/ussenate.html |title=Delaware U.S. Senate Race, 2000: Governor Unseats 5-Term Incumbent by 12 Percent|publisher=Sussex County Online (Delaware). sussexcountyonline.com |access-date=September 27, 2017}}{{cite news|url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=PI&s_site=philly&p_multi=PI&p_theme=realcities&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB7368E419B47F9&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM|title=In Delaware, Gov. Carper Ousts 5-Term Sen. Roth|newspaper=The Philadelphia Inquirer|via=Philly.com|type=preview only; subscription required|date=November 8, 2000|access-date=May 1, 2018}}

{{See also|2006 United States Senate election in Delaware}}

Carper sought reelection in 2006. He was unopposed in the Democratic primary and faced Republican nominee Jan C. Ting, a professor of law who had narrowly beaten airline pilot Michael D. Protack in the Republican primary. Carper was easily reelected, 67% to 27%.

{{See also|2012 United States Senate election in Delaware}}

As the 2012 election cycle began, a Super PAC was created to oppose Carper's reelection campaign. The Hill quoted Patrick Davis, the custodian of records and agent for Renew Delaware as saying, "Tom Carper has served in the United States Senate for a long time and has been part of the downturn in our economy." Delaware Politics noted that the election would be costly for the Republican candidate and that Carper was heavily favored to win a third term.{{cite web|title=Kevin Wade vs. Tom Carper?|url=http://www.delawarepolitics.net/kevin-wade-vs-tom-carper/|publisher=DelawarePolitics.net|access-date=April 21, 2012|author=Chris Slavens|date=Jul 26, 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120729212320/http://www.delawarepolitics.net/kevin-wade-vs-tom-carper/|archive-date=July 29, 2012}} A Carper spokesperson, Emily Spain, was quoted in The Hill saying that Carper was successful in his previous campaigns "because he works hard, takes nothing for granted, and puts the needs and interests of Delaware first."{{cite web|title=Super PAC opposing Sen. Tom Carper registers with FEC|url=https://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/senate-races/175693-super-pac-opposing-sen-tom-carper-registers-with-fec/|work=The Hill|access-date=May 2, 2018|first=Rachel |last=Leven|date=October 14, 2011}} Carper won the Democratic primary with 88% of the vote and faced off against the only Republican candidate who filed for the race, businessman Kevin Wade. He was reelected with 66% of the vote.

{{See also|2018 United States Senate election in Delaware}}

In 2018, Carper sought his fourth Senate term.{{cite news|first=Matt|last=Bittle|url=https://delawarestatenews.net/news/carper-shifts-left-under-progressive-challengers-attack-harris-labels-senator-as-out-of-touch/|title=Carper shifts left under progressive challenger's attack; Harris labels senator as out of touch|newspaper=Delaware State News|date=August 27, 2018|access-date=September 19, 2018}}{{cite news|first=Randall|last=Chase|url=https://www.chron.com/news/article/Carper-meets-upstart-primary-challenger-Harris-in-13186724.php|title=Carper meets upstart primary challenger Harris in debate|newspaper=Houston Chronicle|date=August 27, 2018|access-date=September 19, 2018}} His campaign contributors included DuPont, his third-largest contributor since 2013. Between 2013 and 2018, he received $2.1 million from political action committees.{{cite magazine|first=Austin|last=Frerick|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/austinfrerick/2018/08/01/senator-dowdupont/#59537cb237dc|title=Tom Carper: Senator DowDuPont|magazine=Forbes|location=New York City|date=August 1, 2018|access-date=September 19, 2018}} In the Democratic primary, Carper was challenged from the left by Kerri Evelyn Harris, a US Air Force Veteran, who, unlike Carper, supports a single-payer healthcare.{{cite web|first=A.P.|last=Joyce|url=https://mic.com/articles/190308/can-kerri-harris-be-the-first-progressive-to-oust-a-sitting-democratic-senator#.0hEhBGahK|title=Can Kerri Harris be the first progressive to oust a sitting Democratic senator?|website=mic.com|date=July 18, 2018|access-date=September 19, 2018}} Carper won the primary with roughly 65% of the vote.{{cite web|url=https://elections.delaware.gov/results/html/election.shtml|title=Primary Election (Official Results)|website=State of Delaware Department of Elections|date=September 6, 2018|access-date=September 19, 2018|archive-date=November 7, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181107221944/https://elections.delaware.gov/results/html/election.shtml|url-status=dead}} It was his most competitive primary in recent history. In the general election, Carper defeated Republican nominee Rob Arlett, 60.0% to 37.8%.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2018/11/06/us/elections/results-delaware-elections.html,%20https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2018/11/06/us/elections/results-delaware-elections.html|title=Delaware Election Results|date=2018-11-06|work=The New York Times|access-date=2019-01-01|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}

{{See also|2024 United States Senate election in Delaware}}

On May 22, 2023, Carper announced that he would not seek reelection in 2024. In his press conference, Carper endorsed U.S. Representative Lisa Blunt Rochester.{{Cite web |last=Everett |first=Burgess |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2023/05/22/carper-to-retire-opening-safe-dem-senate-seat-00098158 |title=Carper to retire, opening safe Dem Senate seat |date=2023-05-22 |website=Politico}}

Senator Carper retired from the United States Senate on January 3, 2025. He was the last remaining combat veteran of the Vietnam War serving in the U.S. Senate.https://www.delawarepublic.org/politics-government/2024-12-12/sen-tom-carper-bids-farewell-to-u-s-senate-after-23-yearshttps://www.cbsnews.com/philadelphia/news/tom-carper-delaware-senator-retiring-not-seeking-reelection-vietnam-veteran-senate-memorial-day/

File:Wayne Gilchrest, Joe Biden, Tom Carper, Mike Castle, and Yang Jiechi.jpg Yang Jiechi, Rep. Mike Castle, Rep. Wayne Gilchrest, and Sen. Joe Biden, October 2004]]

File:Mike Pence with Tom Carper.png, May 2006]]

Carper served with the Democratic minority in the 108th and 109th Congresses and was part of the Democratic majority in the 110th Congress. At the beginning of the 107th Congress, the Democratic Party was in the minority, but later held the majority. Carper was a member of the moderate Democratic Leadership Council (DLC), of which he served as vice chair. In 2004, Carper became part of the Senate Democratic leadership. As a member of a four-person "Executive Committee", he is one of four deputy whips. David Broder of The Washington Post has called Carper "a notably effective and non-partisan leader, admired and trusted on both sides of the aisle."{{cite web |title=About Tom Carper |url=https://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/biography-and-pictures |website=carper.senate.gov |publisher=Office of Senator Tom Carper |access-date=2 June 2022 |archive-date=April 14, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190414104401/https://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/biography-and-pictures |url-status=dead }}

During the January 6 United States Capitol attack, Carper said he did not support invoking the Twenty-fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution or impeachment of Trump.{{cite news |last1=Quinn |first1=Holly |title=Here's how Delaware political leaders responded to the Capitol riot on social media |url=https://technical.ly/delaware/2021/01/07/de-congresspeople-capitol-riot-social-media/ |access-date=January 8, 2021 |work=Technical.ly Delaware |date=January 7, 2021 |language=en}} But hours later, he called on Trump to resign. He also called the attackers "domestic terrorists". That evening, he voted to certify the 2021 United States Electoral College vote count.{{cite news |last1=Thomas |first1=TaRhonda |last2=Ileto |first2=Christie |title=Local Democratic members of Congress join call to invoke 25th Amendment to remove President Trump |url=https://6abc.com/25th-amendment-president-trump-removing-lisa-blunt-rochester/9442503/ |access-date=January 8, 2021 |work=6abc Philadelphia |date=January 7, 2021 |language=en}}

Carper's committee assignments for the 118th Congress are as follows:{{Cite web|url=https://www.senate.gov/general/committee_assignments/assignments.htm|title=Committee Assignments of the 118th Congress|access-date=2023-03-17|website=United States Senate}}

• Committee on Environment and Public Works (chair){{Cite web|date=February 4, 2021|title=Carper to Chair Senate Environment and Public Works Committee|url=https://www.epw.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2021/2/carper-to-chair-of-senate-environment-and-public-works-committee|access-date=February 17, 2021}}
• As chair, Carper is an ex officio member of all subcommittees.
• Committee on Finance
• Subcommittee on Energy, Natural Resources, and Infrastructure
• Subcommittee on Health Care
• Subcommittee on International Trade, Customs, and Global Competitiveness (chair)
• Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
• Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations
• Subcommittee on Government Operations and Border Management

• Senate Oceans Caucus

File:Joe Biden and Tom Carper fist bumping at Biden's farewell address in Delaware.jpg in January 2021]]

Carper is considered a moderate Democrat.{{Cite web|title=The left's best hope to pick up a Senate seat is in Delaware|url=https://www.vox.com/2018/9/5/17805662/tom-carper-kerri-evelyn-harris-delaware-senate-primary|last=Nilsen|first=Ella|date=2018-09-05|website=Vox|language=en|access-date=2020-05-09}} He has a 13% conservative rating from the American Conservative Union.{{cite web |title=Lawmakers |url=http://ratings.conservative.org/people?search=tom%20carper |website=ratings.conservative.org |publisher=American Conservative Union |access-date=22 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210504175955/http://ratings.conservative.org/people?search=tom%20carper |archive-date=May 4, 2021 |language=en |url-status=live}}{{Cite web|title=The Voter's Self Defense System|url=http://votesmart.org/|website=Vote Smart|access-date=2020-05-09}} Carper voted for the Budget Control Act, against cut, cap and balance, for debt increase, for debt ceiling increase, for debt limit increase, for the stimulus, for TARP, for the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, for SCHIP, for DREAM, and for the Immigration Reform Act of 2006.{{cite web|title=Political positions for Thomas Carper|url=http://www.thepoliticalguide.com/Profiles/Senate/Delaware/Thomas_Carper/Views/|access-date=March 27, 2012|archive-date=November 5, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141105201553/http://www.thepoliticalguide.com/Profiles/Senate/Delaware/Thomas_Carper/Views/|url-status=usurped}}

Carper has a mixed record on abortion issues. In 2003, he was one of 17 Democrats who broke with the majority of their party by voting to ban partial-birth abortion.{{Cite web|url=https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/108-2003/s51|title=S. 3 (108th): Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act of 2003 -- Senate Vote #51 -- Mar 13, 2003|website=GovTrack.us|language=en|access-date=2018-07-31}} He also voted against banning abortion after 20 weeks of pregnancy, but voted to ban the use of federal funds for abortion.{{Cite web|url=https://votesmart.org/candidate/key-votes/22421/tom-carper/2/abortion#.W2CgkNJKiUk|title=The Voter's Self Defense System|website=Vote Smart|language=en-US|access-date=2018-07-31}} In 2018, he opposed President Trump's proposal to defund Planned Parenthood.{{Cite news|url=https://www.delaware1059.com/news/carper-calls-trump-s-proposal-to-cut-abortion-funding-a/article_3b313fd4-5e78-11e8-ba80-470c4cf3964f.html|title=Carper calls Trump's proposal to cut abortion funding a "purely political attack"|last=Petree|first=Rob|work=Delaware 105.9FM|date=May 23, 2018|access-date=July 31, 2018|language=en|archive-date=May 23, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180523171627/https://www.delaware1059.com/news/carper-calls-trump-s-proposal-to-cut-abortion-funding-a/article_3b313fd4-5e78-11e8-ba80-470c4cf3964f.html|url-status=dead}} Carper was given a 50% rating by NARAL Pro-Choice America, indicating a mixed record on abortion, according to their scoring, and a 25% rating from the anti-abortion National Right to Life Committee.{{Cite web|url=http://www.ontheissues.org/Senate/Tom_Carper.htm|title=Tom Carper on the Issues|website=www.ontheissues.org|access-date=July 31, 2018}} After Roe v. Wade was overturned in June 2022, he said the decision was "unconscionably cruel and wrong" and that it was a "dark day for our country and our Constitution."{{cite web |last1=Carper |first1=Tom |title="This Supreme Court decision is unconscionably cruel and wrong. It strips away 50 years of constitutional precedent and upends the lives of millions of American women. It's a dark day for our country and our Constitution." |url=https://twitter.com/SenatorCarper/status/1540355274053193731 |website=Twitter |access-date=24 June 2022 |language=en}}

In April 2019, Carper was one of thirty-four senators to sign a letter to President Trump encouraging him "to listen to members of your own Administration and reverse a decision that will damage our national security and aggravate conditions inside Central America", asserting that Trump had "consistently expressed a flawed understanding of U.S. foreign assistance" since becoming president and that he was "personally undermining efforts to promote U.S. national security and economic prosperity" through preventing the use of Fiscal Year 2018 national security funding. The senators argued that foreign assistance to Central American countries created less migration to the U.S., citing the funding's helping to improve conditions in those countries.{{cite news|url=https://thehill.com/policy/international/americas/437463-more-than-30-dem-sens-ask-trump-to-reconsider-cutting-foreign/|title=More than 30 Senate Dems ask Trump to reconsider Central American aid cuts|first=Rachel|last=Frazin|date=April 4, 2019|newspaper=The Hill}}

In January 2024, Carper voted against a resolution, proposed by Bernie Sanders, to apply the human rights provisions of the Foreign Assistance Act to U.S. aid to Israel's military. The proposal was defeated, 72 to 11.{{cite news |title=Senate Kills Measure to Scrutinize Israeli Human Rights Record as Condition for Aid |url=https://theintercept.com/2024/01/16/senate-israel-human-rights-condition-aid/ |work=The Intercept |date=January 16, 2024}} In March 2024, Carper led a letter to the Biden administration urging the U.S. to recognize a "nonmilitarized" Palestinian state after the war in Gaza.{{cite news |title=Senate Democrats press Biden to establish two-state solution for Israel, Palestine |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/4544765-democrats-press-biden-two-state-solution-israel-palestine/ |work=The Hill |date=March 20, 2024}} This letter was signed by 19 Democratic senators who support a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestine conflict.{{Cite web |last=Bolton |first=Alexander |date=2024-03-20 |title=Senate Democrats press Biden to establish two-state solution for Israel, Palestine |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/4544765-democrats-press-biden-two-state-solution-israel-palestine/ |access-date=2024-10-30 |website=The Hill |language=en-US}}

Carper joined 23 other Senate Democrats in signing a letter supporting Obama taking executive action to reduce gun violence.{{cite web|first=Jonathan|last=Starkey|title=Carper, Coons push for gun control measures|url=http://www.delawareonline.com/story/news/politics/2015/11/25/coons-carper-push-gun-control-measures/76306318/|website=Delaware Online|date=November 25, 2016|access-date=October 4, 2017|language=en}} In 2013, he voted to ban high-capacity magazines of over 10 bullets.{{Cite web|url=http://www.ontheissues.org/domestic/Tom_Carper_Gun_Control.htm|title=Tom Carper on Gun Control|website=www.ontheissues.org|access-date=2019-03-20}} In 2016, Carper participated in the Chris Murphy gun control filibuster.{{cite journal|last1=Mathis-Lilley|first1=Ben|last2=Hannon|first2=Elliot|title=Senate Democrats' Surprise Gun-Control Filibuster Ended at 2:11 a.m.|url=http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_slatest/2016/06/15/connecticut_s_chris_murphy_democratic_senators_filibuster_on_gun_control.html|journal=Slate|access-date=October 4, 2017|date=June 15, 2016}} In response to the 2017 Las Vegas shooting, Carper called for more gun laws, specifically background checks and mental health screenings.{{cite web|last1=Restuccio|first1=Jonah|title=Local lawmakers respond to Vegas shooting|url=http://www.wmdt.com/news/maryland/local-lawmakers-respond-to-vegas-shooting/629980702|website=WMDT|access-date=October 4, 2017|date=October 3, 2017}}

In January 2019, Carper was one of forty senators to introduce the Background Check Expansion Act, a bill that would require background checks for either the sale or transfer of all firearms including all unlicensed sellers. Exceptions to the bill's background check requirement included transfers between members of law enforcement, loaning firearms for either hunting or sporting events on a temporary basis, providing firearms as gifts to members of one's immediate family, firearms being transferred as part of an inheritance, or giving a firearm to another person temporarily for immediate self-defense.{{cite news|url=https://urbanmilwaukee.com/pressrelease/u-s-senator-tammy-baldwin-helps-introduce-background-check-expansion-act-to-reduce-gun-violence/|title=U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin Helps Introduce Background Check Expansion Act To Reduce Gun Violence|date=January 9, 2019|publisher=urbanmilwaukee.com}}

File:UNDERMINE PRESIDENT’S CLEAN POWER PLAN (cropped).jpg

He joined in the unsuccessful attempt to tie the Bush administration tax cuts to deficit reduction and has supported additional funding for school choice programs and charter schools. He has also sought additional funding for railroad projects and for rail security. He strongly supported legislation to limit class action lawsuits and to restrict personal bankruptcy. In addition, he is a strong proponent of free trade. In 2012, Carper sponsored a bill, eventually passed and signed into law, that required government agencies to identify $125 billion in expected waste and fraud.{{cite book|title=Almanac of American Politics|date=2012|page=344|isbn=978-0226038087|last1=Barone|first1=Michael|last2=McCutcheon|first2=Chuck|publisher=University of Chicago Press }}

Carper and George Voinovich of Ohio proposed a 25-cent raise in the federal gasoline tax; 10 cents would go to pay down the debt and the rest toward improving the nation's infrastructure. The measure was proposed in November 2010.{{cite news|first=John|last=Collins Rudolf|title=On Our Radar: A Proposed Gas Tax Increase|url=http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/11/11/on-our-radar-a-proposed-gas-tax-hike/|newspaper=The New York Times|date=November 11, 2010|access-date=April 11, 2012}} The measure did not pass.

On May 14, 2011, The Wall Street Journal criticized a postal-bailout bill co-sponsored by Carper and Susan Collins (R-Maine). The bill would give $50–$75 billion to USPS, and would underwrite pension obligations for retired postal workers. The bailout would cost three times the savings of the 2011 federal budget.{{cite news|first=Kenneth Jr.|last=Schortgen|title=Congress looking at new bill to bail out postal workers|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748704613504576268983131039272|newspaper=The Wall Street Journal|publisher=Dow Jones & Company|location=New York City|date=May 16, 2011|access-date=April 11, 2012}}

On August 1, 2019, the Senate passed a bipartisan budget deal that raised spending over current levels by $320 billion and lifted the debt ceiling for the following two years in addition to forming a course for funding the government without the perceived fiscal brinkmanship of recent years. Carper joined Joe Manchin and Republicans Mitt Romney and Rick Scott in issuing a statement asserting that "as former Governors, we were responsible for setting a budget each year that was fiscally responsible to fund our priorities. That's why today, we, as U.S. Senators, cannot bring ourselves to vote for this budget deal that does not put our country on a fiscally sustainable path."{{cite news|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2019/08/01/budget-deal-senate-vote-1444084|title=Senate passes massive 2-year budget deal|first1=Burgess|last1=Everett|first2=John|last2=Bresnahan|date=August 1, 2019|publisher=Politico}}

Carper proposed the creation of a National Park in Delaware, the Coastal Heritage Park, in four locations along the Delaware River and Delaware Bay. In January 2009, Carper briefly chaired a Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works hearing on the Tennessee Valley Authority's coal ash spill in Kingston, Tennessee. However, he did vote for Keystone XL Pipeline, but has since expressed disappointment in that vote.{{cite web |first1=Kate|last1=Aronoff |title=TOM CARPER TOUTS HIS ENVIRONMENTAL RECORD, BUT A CLOSER LOOK SUGGESTS IT'S NOT SO CLEAN |url=https://theintercept.com/2018/08/24/tom-carper-delaware-primary-environment/ |newspaper=The Intercept |date=August 24, 2018|access-date=September 2, 2018}}

Carper supports the EPA and Clean Air Act and blames states to the west of Delaware for its air pollution, calling them "America's tailpipe".{{cite AV media|people=Tom Carper (actor)|date=February 16, 2017|title=Senate Session Mr. Carper|url=https://www.c-span.org/video/?424132-1/us-senate-confirms-mick-mulvaney-debates-pruitt-nomination&live&start=69215|publisher=C-SPAN|access-date=February 17, 2017}}

In April 2019, Carper was one of forty-one senators to sign a bipartisan letter to the housing subcommittee praising the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development's Section 4 Capacity Building program as authorizing "HUD to partner with national nonprofit community development organizations to provide education, training, and financial support to local community development corporations (CDCs) across the country" and expressing disappointment that President Trump's budget "has slated this program for elimination after decades of successful economic and community development." The senators wrote of their hope that the subcommittee would support continued funding for Section 4 in Fiscal Year 2020.{{cite news|url=https://www.ktvz.com/news/wyden-merkley-urge-more-affordable-housing-funds/1069680950|title=Wyden, Merkley urge more affordable housing funds|date=April 16, 2019|publisher=ktvz.com|access-date=April 17, 2019|archive-date=April 18, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190418125917/https://www.ktvz.com/news/wyden-merkley-urge-more-affordable-housing-funds/1069680950|url-status=dead}}

Carper co-wrote the "Protecting Cyberspace as a National Asset Act of 2010"{{Cite web|url=http://www.hsgac.senate.gov/|title=Home | Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs Committee|website=www.hsgac.senate.gov}} introduced on June 19, 2010, by Senator Joe Lieberman (Senator Susan Collins is the third co-author of this bill). If signed into law, this controversial bill, which the American media dubbed the "Kill switch bill", would grant the President emergency powers over the Internet. All three co-authors of the bill, however, issued a statement claiming that instead, the bill "[narrowed] existing broad Presidential authority to take over telecommunications networks".[http://www.informationweek.com/news/government/security/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=225701368&subSection=News Senators Say Cybersecurity Bill Has No 'Kill Switch'] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20120921025259/http://www.informationweek.com/news/government/security/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=225701368&subSection=News |date=September 21, 2012 }}, informationweek.com, June 24, 2010. Retrieved on June 25, 2010. Carper was quoted as saying that the bill "would create a National Center for Cybersecurity and Communications in the Department of Homeland Security, with a Senate-confirmed director to oversee security of the federal government's computer networks. The center would also identify vulnerabilities and help secure key private networks – like utilities and communications systems – that, if attacked or commandeered by a foreign power or cyberterrorists, could result in the crippling of our economy."{{cite web|title=We must 'arm' cyberspace battlefront|url=http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0610/38336_Page2.html|date=June 10, 2010|access-date=April 2, 2012|author=SEN. JOE LIEBERMAN & SEN. SUSAN COLLINS & SEN. TOM CARPER|website=Politico}}

In May 2010, Carper introduced an amendment to limit state regulators from enforcing consumer regulations on national banks and their subsidiaries. It would also remove a Senate legislative measure requiring the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency to find a "substantive standard" on regulation, before the office could move to preempt. The White House opposed Carper's amendment. The amendment passed by a vote of 80–18.{{cite news|first=Silla|last=Brush|title=White House fights back against Carper amendment to Wall Street reform bill|url=http://thehill.com/blogs/on-the-money/banking-financial-institutions/97729-white-housefights-back-against-dem-amendment-to-wall-st-bill|newspaper=The Hill|date=May 13, 2010|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120719140941/http://thehill.com/blogs/on-the-money/banking-financial-institutions/97729-white-housefights-back-against-dem-amendment-to-wall-st-bill|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 19, 2012|access-date=April 2, 2012}}

On September 21, 2011, The Wall Street Journal noted that President Obama's job-creation plans were drawing resistance from Senate Democrats. The article quoted Carper as saying, "I think the best jobs bill that can be passed is a comprehensive long-term deficit-reduction plan. That's better than everything else the president is talking about combined."{{cite news|title=Do-Nothing Democrats?|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424053111904194604576583090732336436|publisher=WSJ.com|access-date=April 11, 2012|date=September 21, 2011}}

In April 2014, the United States Senate debated the Minimum Wage Fairness Act (S. 1737; 113th Congress). The bill would amend the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (FLSA) to increase the federal minimum wage for employees to $10.10 per hour over the course of a two-year period.{{cite web|title=S. 1737 − Summary|date=April 2, 2014|url=http://beta.congress.gov/bill/113th-congress/senate-bill/1737|publisher=United States Congress|access-date=April 8, 2014}} The bill was strongly supported by President Barack Obama and many of the Democratic Senators, but strongly opposed by Republicans in the Senate and House.{{cite news|last=Sink|first=Justin|title=Obama: Congress has 'clear choice' on minimum wage|url=https://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/202475-obama-congress-has-clear-choice-on-minimum-wage/|access-date=April 9, 2014|newspaper=The Hill|date=April 2, 2014}}{{cite news|last=Bolton|first=Alexander|title=Reid punts on minimum-wage hike|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/202964-reid-punts-on-minimum-wage-hike/|access-date=April 9, 2014|newspaper=The Hill|date=April 8, 2014}}{{cite news|last=Bolton|first=Alexander|title=Centrist Republicans cool to minimum wage hike compromise|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/202641-centrist-republicans-cool-to-wage-compromise/|access-date=April 9, 2014|newspaper=The Hill|date=April 4, 2014}} Carper said that he preferred legislation that would have a greater chance of becoming law, such as an increase to only $9 an hour.

On March 5, 2021, Carper voted against Bernie Sanders's amendment to include a $15/hour minimum wage in the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.{{cite news |last1=Johnson |first1=Jake |title=Here Are the 8 Democrats Who Just Joined GOP to Vote Down Sanders' $15 Minimum Wage Amendment |url=https://www.commondreams.org/news/2021/03/05/here-are-8-democrats-who-just-joined-gop-vote-down-sanders-15-minimum-wage-amendment |access-date=March 5, 2021 |work=Common Dreams |date=March 5, 2021 |language=en}}

Carper signed a law as Governor defining "marriage as between a man and a woman," but he also voted as a Senator against the Federal Marriage Amendment, a proposed constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage.{{Cite news|url=https://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ID=875F0C28-A875-404D-84A5-0960EA2C8E0B|title=Carper Statement on Gay Marriage Amendment|date=2004-07-14|work=United States Senator Tom Carper|access-date=2018-07-31|language=en}} He also voted against banning gay marriage again in 2006.{{Cite web|url=http://www.ontheissues.org/Domestic/Tom_Carper_Civil_Rights.htm|title=Tom Carper on Civil Rights|website=www.ontheissues.org|access-date=2018-07-31}} In 2013, Carper announced that he now supports same-sex marriage.{{Cite news|first=Kevin|last=Cirilli|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2013/04/tom-carper-gay-marriage-stance-089538|title=Carper backs same-sex marriage|website=Politico|date=April 2, 2013|access-date=July 31, 2018|language=en}}

Carper voted yes on the 2002 Iraq War Resolution.{{cite news |title=Senate Roll Call: Iraq Resolution |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/onpolitics/transcripts/senaterollcall_iraq101002.htm |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=August 4, 2018}}

Carper has been married twice, first in 1978, to Diane Beverly Isaacs, a former Miss Delaware, who had two children by a previous marriage. They divorced in 1983. In a 1998 interview, Carper admitted, "I slapped my then-wife, Diane, during a heated argument", calling it a mistake.{{Cite news|url=https://www.delaware1059.com/news/carper-admits-to-slapping-his-ex-wife-denies-family-abuse/article_0d3891a4-e1cd-11e7-96cc-9fabc22f4f25.html|title=Carper admits to slapping his ex wife, denies family abuse; stepson speaks out|last=Petree|first=Rob|work=Delaware 105.9FM|access-date=2018-08-09|language=en|archive-date=September 19, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180919115443/https://www.delaware1059.com/news/carper-admits-to-slapping-his-ex-wife-denies-family-abuse/article_0d3891a4-e1cd-11e7-96cc-9fabc22f4f25.html|url-status=dead}} According to a 1982 New York Post article, Carper hit Isaacs "so hard he gave her a black eye" and his wife's two children from a previous relationship "were slapped around and bruised by Carper for doing such things as leaving the family dog on the bed". Carper denied these claims.

Carper married Martha Ann Stacy in 1985. They have two children. The family are members of Westminster Presbyterian Church in Wilmington, Delaware.

Unlike most senators, who maintain residences in both Washington, D.C., and in their home state, Carper commuted more than 100 miles by Amtrak train from his home in Wilmington to the United States Capitol. He said this arrangement helped his family live a normal life despite his demanding, high-profile job.{{cite news |first=Ann|last=Manser|url=http://www.udel.edu/PR/Messenger/01/3/thomas.html|title=Delaware's junior senator knows the business of government and politics|newspaper=University of Delaware Messenger|publisher=University of Delaware|location=Newark, Delaware|date=2001|volume=10|issue=3}} On May 12, 2015, he narrowly escaped injury when the train he took home derailed and crashed in Philadelphia shortly after he debarked.{{cite web|first=Geoff|last=Mulvihill|url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/amtrak-train-derails-killing-6-people-investigation-begins/ar-BBjHvLi|title=Amtrak train derails killing 6 people; investigation begins|website=MSN|date=May 14, 2015|access-date=September 19, 2018}} In 2024, Newark Train Station was renamed in his honor.{{cite web |last1=Mace |first1=Ben |title=Tributes to retiring Sen. Carper include buildings named in his honor in Newark, Smyrna |url=https://www.delawareonline.com/story/news/2024/05/31/buildings-honor-delaware-us-senator-tom-carper-newark-train-station-bombay-hook-refuge/73891184007/ |website=Delaware Online |access-date=31 May 2024}}

As of 2018, according to OpenSecrets.org, Carper's net worth was more than $5.7 million.{{cite web |title=Tom Carper − Net Worth − Personal Finances |url=https://www.opensecrets.org/personal-finances/net-worth?cid=N00012508 |website=OpenSecrets.org |access-date=15 October 2021}}

In August 2023, Congresstrading.com tweeted that Carper, a senior member of the Senate Finance Committee, made an inverse Nasdaq ETF purchase, a short sell option for investors looking to hedge against or profit from a decline in the index. The tweet questioned whether this was a conflict of interest for Carper.{{cite web |last=Moorcraft |first=Bethan |title=This sitting member of the Senate Finance Committee just made a bet against the US stock market by buying an inverse Nasdaq ETF — here's why a government watchdog is calling him out for it |website=Yahoo Finance |date=2023-08-03 |url=https://finance.yahoo.com/news/sitting-member-senate-finance-committee-193000106.html | access-date=2023-08-23}}{{cite web |author=congresstrading.com [@congresstrading] |title=Breaking: Senator Carper reports shorting (betting against) the American economy in his stock portfolio |url=https://twitter.com/congresstrading/status/1686786214475579392 |date=2023-08-02}}

Elections are held the first Tuesday after November 1. The Governor and State Treasurer take office the third Tuesday of January. The Governor has a four-year term and the State Treasurer had a two-year term at this time. U.S. Representatives take office January 3 and have a two-year term. U.S. Senators also take office January 3, but have a six-year term.

{{reflist|2}}

• {{cite book |title=Almanac of American Politics |last=Barone |first=Michael |last2=Cohen |first2=Richard E. |publisher=National Journal Group |location=Washington |year=2005 |isbn=0-89234-112-2 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/almanacofamerica00mich_5 }}
• {{cite book |title=Democracy in Delaware |last=Hoffecker |first=Carol E. |publisher=Cedar Tree Books |location=Wilmington, Delaware |year=2004 |isbn=1-892142-23-6}}
• {{cite book |title=Governing Delaware |last=Boyer |first=William W.|publisher=University of Delaware Press |location=Newark, Delaware |year=2000 |isbn=1-892142-23-6}}

{{commons category}}

• [https://carper.senate.gov/ Senator Tom Carper] official U.S. Senate website
• [https://www.carperfordelaware.com Carper for Delaware] official campaign website
• {{C-SPAN|663}}

{{CongLinks |congbio=c000174 |votesmart=22421 |fec=S8DE00079 |congress=thomas-carper/179 }}

• [http://www.russpickett.com/history/delgov5.htm#carper Profile] at Delaware's Governors
• [http://lcweb2.loc.gov/cocoon/vhp-stories/loc.natlib.afc2001001.02338/ Military profile] at Experiencing War, Library of Congress
• [https://library.udel.edu/static/purl.php?mss0399 University of Delaware's Thomas R. Carper congressional papers]

{{s-start}}

{{s-par|us-hs}}

{{s-bef|before=Tom Evans}}

{{s-ttl|title=Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Delaware's at-large congressional district|years=1983–1993}}

{{s-aft|after=Mike Castle}}

|-

{{s-off}}

{{s-bef|before=Mary Jornlin}}

{{s-ttl|title=Treasurer of Delaware|years=1977–1983}}

{{s-aft|after=Janet Rzewnicki}}

|-

{{s-bef|before=Dale Wolf}}

{{s-ttl|title=Governor of Delaware|years=1993–2001}}

{{s-aft|after=Ruth Ann Minner}}

|-

{{s-bef|before=George Voinovich}}

{{s-ttl|title=Chair of the National Governors Association|years=1998–1999}}

{{s-aft|after=Mike Leavitt}}

|-

{{s-par|us-sen}}

{{s-bef|before=William Roth}}

{{s-ttl|title=U.S. Senator (Class 1) from Delaware|years=2001–2025|alongside=Joe Biden, Ted Kaufman, Chris Coons}}

{{s-aft|after=Lisa Blunt Rochester}}

|-

{{s-bef|before=Bob Graham}}

{{s-ttl|title=Chair of the Senate New Democrat Coalition|years=2003–2011|alongside=Mary Landrieu}}

{{s-non|reason=Position abolished}}

|-

{{s-bef|before=Joe Lieberman}}

{{s-ttl|title=Chair of the Senate Homeland Security Committee|years=2013–2015}}

{{s-aft|after=Ron Johnson}}

|-

{{s-bef|before=Susan Collins}}

{{s-ttl|title=Ranking Member of the Senate Homeland Security Committee|years=2015–2017}}

{{s-aft|after=Claire McCaskill}}

|-

{{s-bef|before=Barbara Boxer}}

{{s-ttl|title=Ranking Member of the Senate Environment Committee|years=2017–2021}}

{{s-aft|after=John Barrasso}}

|-

{{s-bef|before=John Barrasso}}

{{s-ttl|title=Chair of the Senate Environment Committee|years=2021–2025}}

{{s-aft|after=Shelley Moore Capito}}

|-

{{s-prec|usa}}

{{s-bef|before=Kent Conrad|as=Former US Senator}}

{{s-ttl|title=Order of precedence of the United States
{{small|as Former US Senator }}|years=}}

{{s-aft|after=Sam Nunn|as=Former US Senator}}

{{s-end}}

{{US Senate Environment chairs}}

{{US Senate Homeland Security chairs}}

{{United States senators from Delaware}}

{{USRepDE}}

{{Governors of Delaware}}

{{USCongRep-start |congresses=98th–102nd and 107th-118th United States Congresses |state=Delaware}}

{{USCongRep/DE/98}}

{{USCongRep/DE/99}}

{{USCongRep/DE/100}}

{{USCongRep/DE/101}}

{{USCongRep/DE/102}}

{{USCongRep/DE/107}}

{{USCongRep/DE/108}}

{{USCongRep/DE/109}}

{{USCongRep/DE/110}}

{{USCongRep/DE/111}}

{{USCongRep/DE/112}}

{{USCongRep/DE/113}}

{{USCongRep/DE/114}}

{{USCongRep/DE/115}}

{{USCongRep/DE/116}}

{{USCongRep/DE/117}}

{{USCongRep/DE/118}}

{{USCongRep-end}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Carper, Thomas R.}}

Category:1947 births

Category:20th-century members of the United States House of Representatives

Category:20th-century Delaware politicians

Category:21st-century United States senators

Category:American Presbyterians

Category:Businesspeople from Beckley, West Virginia

Category:Businesspeople from Delaware

Category:Democratic Party members of the United States House of Representatives from Delaware

Category:Democratic Party governors of Delaware

Category:Democratic Party United States senators from Delaware

Category:Living people

Category:Military personnel from Beckley, West Virginia

Category:Ohio State University College of Arts and Sciences alumni

Category:Politicians from Wilmington, Delaware

Category:People from Danville, Virginia

Category:Presbyterians from West Virginia

Category:State treasurers of Delaware

Category:United States Navy captains

Category:United States Navy personnel of the Vietnam War

Category:United States Navy reservists

Category:University of Delaware alumni

Category:Whetstone High School (Columbus, Ohio) alumni