Tom Carper

Tom 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
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
Treasurer of Delaware
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 (1947-01-23) 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	2
Education	Ohio State University (BA) University of Delaware (MBA)
Signature
Website	Senate website
Military service
Branch/service	United States Navy
Years of service	1968–1973 (active) 1973–1991 (reserve)
Rank	Captain
Unit	Naval Flight Officer
Battles/wars	Vietnam War
Carper's voice Carper supporting Rita Landgraf for HHS Assistant Secretary for Aging Recorded July 19, 2021

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. 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^[1] 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 serves 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 is 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.