Thompson was elected as a Republican to the [[United States Senate]] in the November 8, 1994, special election to fill the unexpired portion of the term ending January 3, 1997, left vacant by the resignation of [[Al Gore|Albert Gore, Jr.]] and was re-elected in 1996 for the term ending January 3, 2003. Not a candidate for reelection in 2002 resumed acting career. | Thompson was elected as a Republican to the [[United States Senate]] in the November 8, 1994, special election to fill the unexpired portion of the term ending January 3, 1997, left vacant by the resignation of [[Al Gore|Albert Gore, Jr.]] and was re-elected in 1996 for the term ending January 3, 2003. Not a candidate for reelection in 2002 resumed acting career. |