I am trying to find out something. I saw Fred served 8 years in the senate. Did he serve out someone elses unexpired term before serving a full term?
Correct. In 1992 Gore, the incumbent, was elected VP. He stepped down upon being sworn in as VP. Harlan Matthews took the seat until the next general election (1994), when, pursuant to state law, another election had to be held for the (by-then) remaining TWO years. Thompson won that election, then in 1996 he won a full term.