Carper, Thomas Richard (1947-…), has been a member of the United States Senate since 2001. Carper, a Democrat, represents Delaware. Before he became a senator, Carper served two terms as Delaware’s governor.
Carper was born in Beckley, West Virginia, on Jan. 23, 1947. He grew up in Danville, Virginia. In 1968, he received a B.A. degree in economics from Ohio State University. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1968 to 1973 and fought in the Vietnam War (1957-1975). In 1973, Carper entered the U.S. Navy Reserve. He remained a member of the reserve until 1991, when he retired with the rank of captain. He earned an M.B.A. degree from the University of Delaware in 1975.
Carper served as Delaware’s treasurer from 1976 to 1983. As state treasurer, he improved Delaware’s ailing credit rating. In 1982, Carper was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, where he served until 1993. He was chairman of the House Subcommittee on Economic Stabilization. Representative Carper worked to reduce the federal deficit, increase affordable housing, modernize banking, reform welfare, and protect the environment.
Carper became Delaware’s governor in 1993, and he was reelected in 1996. As governor, he worked to further raise Delaware’s credit rating, improve the state’s education and welfare systems, lower tax rates, strengthen families, and prevent crime. His leadership resulted in expanded health care coverage in Delaware. He also helped make Delaware a national leader in land preservation. In 1998 and 1999, Carper served as chairman of the National Governors’ Association, an organization made up of the governors of the 50 states and 5 U.S. commonwealths and territories. As chairman, he focused on improving student performance nationwide.
Carper was first elected to the Senate in 2000. As a senator, Carper served on the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, the Environment and Public Works Committee, and the Finance Committee. He was reelected in 2006, 2012, and 2018. In 2023, Carper announced that he would retire from the Senate at the end of his term in January 2025.
