Tom Carper facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Quick facts for kids

Thomas R. Carper

Official portrait, 2012

United States Senator
from Delaware

In office
January 3, 2001 – January 3, 2025

Preceded by

William Roth

Succeeded by

Lisa Blunt Rochester

Senate positions


Chair of the Senate Environment Committee
In office February 3, 2021 – January 3, 2025
Preceded by	John Barrasso
Succeeded by	Shelley Moore Capito
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

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

Chair of the National Governors Association

In office
August 4, 1998 – August 10, 1999

Preceded by

George Voinovich

Succeeded by

Mike Leavitt

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

Delaware State Treasurer

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

January 23, 1947 (age 78)
Beckley, West Virginia, U.S.

Political party

Democratic

Spouses

Diane Isaacs

(m. 1978; div. 1983)
Martha Stacy

(m. 1985)

Children

Education

Signature

Military service

Branch

United States Navy

Service years

1968–1973 (active)
1973–1991 (reserve)

Rank

Captain

Unit

Naval Flight Officer

Conflict

Vietnam War

Thomas Richard Carper (born January 23, 1947) is an American politician and former military officer. He served as a U.S. Senator for Delaware from 2001 until January 3, 2025. He is a member of the Democratic Party.

Before becoming a senator, Carper was a member of the United States House of Representatives from 1983 to 1993. He also served as the 71st Governor of Delaware from 1993 to 2001.

Carper was born in Beckley, West Virginia. He studied at Ohio State University with a scholarship from the Naval ROTC program. He served in the U.S. Navy as a naval flight officer from 1968 to 1973. During this time, he flew P-3 Orion aircraft and served in the Vietnam War. After his active duty, he continued to serve in the U.S. Naval Reserve for 18 more years. He retired with the rank of Captain.

After his military service, Carper earned his MBA from the University of Delaware in 1975. He then began working for Delaware's economic development office. He was elected Delaware State Treasurer in 1977 and served until 1983. As Treasurer, he helped create Delaware's first system for managing state money.

Early Life and Education

Thomas Carper was born in Beckley, West Virginia. He grew up in Danville, Virginia, and went to Whetstone High School in Columbus, Ohio. In 1968, he graduated from Ohio State University with a degree in economics. While there, he was part of the Naval ROTC program. He later earned his MBA from the University of Delaware in 1975.

Early Career in Delaware

Carper served as a Naval Flight Officer in the U.S. Navy from 1968 to 1973. He completed three tours of duty in Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War. After leaving active duty, he stayed in the U.S. Naval Reserve for 18 more years. He retired as a Captain.

After getting his MBA in 1975, Carper started working for the State of Delaware's economic development office. In 1976, he ran for Treasurer of Delaware and won. He served three terms, from 1977 to 1983. During his time as Treasurer, he helped create Delaware's first system for managing its cash.

Serving in the U.S. House of Representatives

Carper during his time in the House of Representatives

In 1982, Carper decided to run for Delaware's only seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. He won the election, defeating the Republican incumbent.

Carper served five terms in the House. He was part of committees that dealt with banking, finance, and transportation. He also led the House Subcommittee on Economic Stabilization. In these roles, he worked on issues like allowing banks into the securities business and preventing pollution in the ocean.

Governor of Delaware

Carper with President Bill Clinton
in January 1993

In 1992, Governor Mike Castle could not run for reelection due to term limits. Carper ran for governor, and Castle ran for Carper's seat in the U.S. House. Both won their new positions easily.

Carper served two terms as governor. He focused on helping Delaware's economy grow and attracting businesses to the state. For example, he helped prevent the General Motors car factory near Newport, Delaware, from closing. He also convinced the pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca to build its new headquarters in Delaware.

As governor, Carper worked to lower income tax rates and remove other taxes for small businesses. Delaware's credit rating improved greatly during his time. He also continued education programs and started a prescription drug benefit for seniors. Carper also encouraged mentoring programs for young people across Delaware.

Serving as a U.S. Senator

Senate Elections

Carper in his early Senate career

In 2000, Carper ran for the United States Senate against the Republican senator William Roth. Carper won the election with 56% of the votes.

He was reelected by large margins in 2006, 2012, and 2018. In 2018, he faced a more competitive primary election but still won with about 65% of the vote.

On May 22, 2023, Carper announced that he would not seek reelection in 2024. He retired from the Senate on January 3, 2025. He was the last combat veteran of the Vietnam War to serve in the U.S. Senate.

Time in the Senate

From L to R: Sen. Carper, Chinese Ambassador to the U.S. Yang Jiechi, Rep. Mike Castle, Rep. Wayne Gilchrest, and Sen. Joe Biden, October 2004

Sen. Carper with Rep. Mike Pence, May 2006

Carper was known as a moderate Democrat. He was part of the Democratic leadership in the Senate, serving as one of four deputy whips. Many people saw him as an effective leader who could work well with both Democrats and Republicans.

During the January 6 United States Capitol attack in 2021, Carper initially did not support removing President Trump from office. However, hours later, he called for Trump to resign and described the attackers as "domestic terrorists." He then voted to confirm the 2020 election results.

Senate Committee Roles

Carper served on several important committees in the Senate:

Committee on Environment and Public Works (he was the chair)
Committee on Finance
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs

Political Views and Actions

Carper with President-elect
Joe Biden in January 2021

Carper is considered a moderate Democrat. This means he often holds views that are in the middle of the political spectrum.

Foreign Policy

In 2019, Carper and other senators wrote to President Trump. They encouraged him to continue foreign aid to Central American countries. They believed this aid helped improve conditions there and reduced migration to the U.S.

In 2024, Carper voted against a proposal to apply human rights rules to U.S. military aid to Israel. Later, he led a letter urging the U.S. to recognize a "nonmilitarized" Palestinian state after the war in Gaza.

Gun Laws

Carper supported efforts to reduce gun violence. In 2013, he voted to ban high-capacity magazines. In 2016, he participated in a filibuster to push for more gun control. He has called for stronger background checks and mental health screenings for gun buyers. In 2019, he helped introduce a bill to require background checks for all firearm sales.

Economy and Finance

Carper in 2015

Carper supported efforts to reduce the national debt. He also supported funding for school choice programs and charter schools. He worked to get more funding for railroad projects and rail security. He also supported laws to limit class action lawsuits and make personal bankruptcy rules stricter. He is a strong supporter of free trade.

In 2012, Carper sponsored a bill that became law. It required government agencies to find $125 billion in expected waste and fraud. In 2010, he suggested raising the federal gasoline tax to help pay down debt and improve the nation's infrastructure, but this measure did not pass.

In 2019, Carper voted against a bipartisan budget deal. He felt it did not put the country on a financially stable path.

Environment

Carper proposed creating a National Park in Delaware called the Coastal Heritage Park. He supports the EPA and the Clean Air Act. He believes that air pollution in Delaware comes from states to the west.

Housing

In 2019, Carper signed a letter supporting the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's Section 4 Capacity Building program. This program helps local community development organizations. He expressed disappointment that President Trump's budget proposed eliminating this program.

Technology

In 2010, Carper helped write a bill called the "Protecting Cyberspace as a National Asset Act." This bill aimed to improve cybersecurity. It would create a National Center for Cybersecurity and Communications within the Department of Homeland Security. This center would oversee federal computer network security and help secure important private networks.

Consumer Regulations

In 2010, Carper introduced an amendment to limit state regulators from enforcing consumer rules on national banks. The amendment passed.

Employment

Carper believed that a plan to reduce the national debt would be the best way to create jobs.

In 2014, the Senate discussed raising the federal minimum wage. Carper said he preferred a smaller increase that had a better chance of becoming law. In 2021, he voted against a $15/hour minimum wage in the American Rescue Plan Act.

LGBT Rights

As Governor, Carper signed a law defining marriage as between a man and a woman. However, as a Senator, he voted against a proposed constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage. In 2013, Carper announced that he supported same-sex marriage.

Iraq War

Carper voted yes on the 2002 Iraq War Resolution.

Personal Life

Carper has been married twice. His first marriage was to Diane Beverly Isaacs in 1978, and they divorced in 1983. He married Martha Ann Stacy in 1985, and they have two children. The family attends Westminster Presbyterian Church in Wilmington, Delaware.

Unlike many senators, Carper often traveled by Amtrak train from his home in Wilmington to Washington, D.C.. He said this helped his family have a more normal life. In 2015, he narrowly avoided injury when a train he had just left derailed and crashed in Philadelphia. In 2024, the Newark Train Station was renamed in his honor.

Images for kids

Carper during his time in the House of Representatives
Carper with President Bill Clinton in January 1993
Carper in his early Senate career
From L to R: Sen. Carper, Chinese Ambassador to the U.S. Yang Jiechi, Rep. Mike Castle, Rep. Wayne Gilchrest, and Sen. Joe Biden, October 2004
Sen. Carper with Rep. Mike Pence, May 2006
Carper with President-elect Joe Biden in January 2021
Carper in 2015