Senator Thomas R. Carper

Thomas R. Carper served as a Senator from Delaware in the United States Congress from 1983 to 2025. A member of the Democratic Party, Thomas R. Carper contributed to the legislative process during 9 terms in office.

Thomas R. Carper’s service in Congress occurred during a significant period in American history. As a member of the Senate, Thomas R. Carper participated in the democratic process and represented the interests of constituents.

Thomas Richard Carper (born January 23, 1947) is an American politician and former military officer who served from 2001 to 2025 as a United States senator from Delaware. A member of the Democratic Party, Carper served from 1983 to 1993 in the United States House of Representatives and from 1993 to 2001 as the 71st governor of Delaware. A native of Beckley, West Virginia, Carper graduated from Ohio State University on an NROTC scholarship. 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 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 served 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 was the senior senator in Delaware’s congressional delegation and the dean of the delegation. He was the last Vietnam War veteran to serve in the Senate.