2000 United States Senate election in Connecticut

The 2000 United States Senate election in Connecticut took place on November 7, 2000 in conjunction with the 2000 U.S. presidential election, other elections to the United States Senate in other states, as well as elections to the United States House of Representatives and various state and local elections. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Joe Lieberman won re-election to a third six-year term.

While running for re-election to the Senate, Lieberman was also the Democratic nominee for vice president in the concurrent presidential election, as the running mate of presidential nominee Al Gore. With Gore losing the presidency to George W. Bush, Lieberman returned to the Senate and remained there for another 12 years, when he retired.

Had the Gore-Lieberman ticket won, Lieberman would have resigned his Senate seat prior to becoming vice president. The Senate vacancy would have been filled through a special election in 2002; Governor John G. Rowland, a Republican, would have appointed an interim replacement to serve until then.

This was the last Senate election in which Lieberman formally ran as a Democrat. In 2006, his last election prior to retirement, he ran as the Connecticut for Lieberman candidate following his defeat in the Democratic Party primary.

Candidates

 * Joe Lieberman (D), incumbent U.S. senator since 1989
 * Philip Giordano (R), Mayor of Waterbury and former State Representative
 * Wildey J. Moore (L)
 * William Kozak Jr. (CCP)

Campaign
Lieberman, a popular centrist incumbent, focused on his vice presidential campaign. He refused to attend any debates. Giordano was a heavy underdog, as he was ignored by the press and he debated alone.