2000 United States gubernatorial elections

Summary

United States gubernatorial elections were held on November 7, 2000, in 11 states and two territories. The elections coincided with the presidential election. Democrats gained one seat by defeating an incumbent in West Virginia. As of 2024, this remains the last gubernatorial cycle in which a Democrat won in Indiana.

2000 United States gubernatorial elections

← 1999 November 7, 2000 2001 →

13 governorships
11 states; 2 territories
  Majority party Minority party
 
Party Republican Democratic
Seats before 30 18
Seats after 29 19
Seat change Decrease 1 Increase 1
Popular vote 5,966,679 6,942,442
Percentage 45.10% 52.48%
Seats up 4 7
Seats won 3 8

2000 Delaware gubernatorial election2000 Indiana gubernatorial election2000 Missouri gubernatorial election2000 Montana gubernatorial election2000 New Hampshire gubernatorial election2000 North Carolina gubernatorial election2000 North Dakota gubernatorial election2000 Utah gubernatorial election2000 Vermont gubernatorial election2000 Washington gubernatorial election2000 West Virginia gubernatorial election2000 Puerto Rico gubernatorial election2000 American Samoa gubernatorial election
Map of the results
     Democratic hold      Republican hold
     Democratic gain      Popular Democratic gain
     Nonpartisan      No election

Race Summary edit

States edit

State Incumbent Party First
elected
Result Candidates
Delaware Tom Carper Democratic 1992 Incumbent term-limited.
New governor elected.
Democratic hold.
  •  Y Ruth Ann Minner (Democratic) 59.2%
  • John M. Burris (Republican) 39.7%
  • Floyd E. McDowell (Independent) 1.0%
Indiana Frank O'Bannon Democratic 1996 Incumbent re-elected.
Missouri Roger B. Wilson Democratic 2000[a] Incumbent retired.
New governor elected.
Democratic hold.
Montana Marc Racicot Republican 1992 Incumbent term-limited.
New governor elected.
Republican hold.
New Hampshire Jeanne Shaheen Democratic 1996 Incumbent re-elected.
North Carolina Jim Hunt Democratic 1976
1984 (term-limited)
1992
Incumbent term-limited.
New governor elected.
Democratic hold.
North Dakota Ed Schafer Republican 1992 Incumbent retired.
New governor elected.
Republican hold.
Utah Mike Leavitt Republican 1992 Incumbent re-elected.
Vermont Howard Dean Democratic 1991[b] Incumbent re-elected.
Washington Gary Locke Democratic 1996 Incumbent re-elected.
West Virginia Cecil Underwood Republican 1956
1960 (term-limited)
1996
Incumbent lost re-election.
New governor elected.
Democratic gain.

Territories edit

State Incumbent Party First
elected
Result Candidates
American Samoa Tauese Sunia Democratic 1996 Incumbent re-elected.
Puerto Rico Pedro Rosselló New Progressive 1992 Incumbent retired.
New governor elected.
Popular Democratic gain.

Closest races edit

States where the margin of victory was under 1%:

  1. Missouri, 0.9%

States where the margin of victory was under 5%:

  1. American Samoa, 2.8%
  2. West Virginia, 2.9%
  3. Puerto Rico, 3.0%
  4. Montana, 3.9%

States where the margin of victory was under 10%:

  1. New Hampshire, 5.0%
  2. North Carolina, 5.8%

Delaware edit

2000 Delaware gubernatorial election
 
← 1996 November 7, 2000 2004 →
     
Nominee Ruth Ann Minner John Burris
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 191,695 128,603
Percentage 59.2% 39.8%

 
County results
Minner:      50–60%      60–70%

Governor before election

Tom Carper
Democratic

Elected Governor

Ruth Ann Minner
Democratic

The 2000 Delaware gubernatorial election was held on November 7, 2000, coinciding with the U.S. presidential election. Incumbent Governor Tom Carper was term-limited and instead successfully ran for the United States Senate. Lieutenant Governor and Democratic nominee Ruth Ann Minner squared off against Republican nominee John M. Burris and won in a landslide on election day.

Indiana edit

2000 Indiana gubernatorial election
 
← 1996 November 7, 2000 (2000-11-07) 2004 →
     
Nominee Frank O'Bannon David McIntosh
Party Democratic Republican
Running mate Joe Kernan J. Murray Clark
Popular vote 1,232,525 908,285
Percentage 56.6% 41.7%

 
County results
O'Bannon:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%
McIntosh:      40–50%      50–60%

Governor before election

Frank O'Bannon
Democratic

Elected Governor

Frank O'Bannon
Democratic

The 2000 Indiana gubernatorial election was held on November 7, 2000. Incumbent Governor Frank O'Bannon, a Democrat, was re-elected over Republican David M. McIntosh with 57% of the vote. Libertarian Andrew Horning also ran and received 2% of the vote. O'Bannon's victory was the fourth consecutive election in which a Democrat was elected Governor of Indiana, the longest winning streak for that party in the state since the Civil War. As of 2023, this was the last time a Democrat was elected Governor of Indiana.

Missouri edit

2000 Missouri gubernatorial election
 
← 1996 November 7, 2000 2004 →
     
Nominee Bob Holden Jim Talent
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 1,152,752 1,131,307
Percentage 49.12% 48.21%

 
County results
Holden:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%
Talent:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%

Governor before election

Roger B. Wilson
Democratic

Elected Governor

Bob Holden
Democratic

The 2000 Missouri gubernatorial election was held on November 7, 2000 and resulted in a narrow victory for the Democratic nominee, State Treasurer of Missouri Bob Holden, over the Republican candidate, U.S. Representative Jim Talent, and several other candidates. Incumbent Democratic Governor Mel Carnahan was term-limited and could not run for re-election to a third term in office. However, he was killed in a plane crash on October 16, 2000, while campaigning for Missouri's Class 1 Senate seat. Lieutenant Governor Roger B. Wilson succeeded to the office following Carnahan's death.

Coincidentally, Talent would later be elected at the 2002 Senate special election and defeated Mel Carnahan's widow Jean Carnahan to begin the rest of Mel Carnahan's unexpired Senate term. This was the only time between 1968 and 2020 that the winner of the Missouri gubernatorial election did not come from the same party as the winner of the presidential election held simultaneously. This gubernatorial election was one of the closest in Missouri's history. Bob Holden did well, as expected in St. Louis and Kansas City. Talent easily won most rural parts of the state. Holden did poorly in the St. Louis suburbs. However Holden's wins in the Democratic strongholds of St. Louis and Kansas City proved to be just enough to push him over the finish line. Because the election was decided by less than 1%, Talent could have requested a recount that his campaign would have to pay for since it was not below half a percent. However, most recounts never see a swing of more than 1,000 votes, and Talent was trailing by 21,445. Talent ultimately did not request a recount and conceded defeat on the late evening of November 14.

Montana edit

2000 Montana gubernatorial election
 
← 1996 November 7, 2000 2004 →
Turnout59.90% 10.70[2]
     
Nominee Judy Martz Mark O'Keefe
Party Republican Democratic
Running mate Karl Ohs Carol Williams
Popular vote 209,135 193,131
Percentage 51.0% 47.1%

 
County results
Martz:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%
O'Keefe:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%

Governor before election

Marc Racicot
Republican

Elected Governor

Judy Martz
Republican

The 2000 Montana gubernatorial election took place on November 7, 2000. Incumbent Governor of Montana Marc Racicot, who was first elected in 1992 and was re-elected in 1996, was unable to seek re-election due to term limits. Judy Martz, the Lieutenant Governor of Montana under Racicot for four years, won the Republican primary and advanced to the general election, where she faced Mark O'Keefe, the Montana State Auditor and Democratic nominee. Despite the fact that George W. Bush, the Republican nominee for president in 2000, won the state in a landslide, the race between Martz and O'Keefe was close. However, Martz managed to narrowly defeat him to win her first and only term as governor. This was the last time that a Republican was elected Governor of Montana until 2020, when Greg Gianforte was elected.[3]

New Hampshire edit

2000 New Hampshire gubernatorial election
 
← 1998 November 7, 2000 2002 →
       
Nominee Jeanne Shaheen Gordon Humphrey Mary Brown
Party Democratic Republican Independent
Popular vote 275,038 246,952 35,904
Percentage 48.8% 43.8% 6.4%

 
 
Shaheen:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%
Humphrey:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90%
Tie:      40–50%

Governor before election

Jeanne Shaheen
Democratic

Elected Governor

Jeanne Shaheen
Democratic

The 2000 New Hampshire gubernatorial election took place on November 7, 2000. Incumbent Democratic Governor Jeanne Shaheen won re-election.

North Carolina edit

2000 North Carolina gubernatorial election
 
← 1996 November 7, 2000 2004 →
     
Nominee Mike Easley Richard Vinroot
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 1,530,324 1,360,960
Percentage 52.02% 46.26%

 
County results

Easley:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%

Vinroot:      50–60%      60–70%

Governor before election

Jim Hunt
Democratic

Elected Governor

Mike Easley
Democratic

The 2000 North Carolina gubernatorial election was held on November 7, 2000. The general election was fought between the Republican nominee, former mayor of Charlotte Richard Vinroot and the Democratic nominee, state Attorney General Mike Easley. Easley won by 52% to 46% and succeeded fellow Democrat Jim Hunt as governor.

North Dakota edit

2000 North Dakota gubernatorial election
 
← 1996 November 7, 2000 2004 →
     
Nominee John Hoeven Heidi Heitkamp
Party Republican Democratic–NPL
Running mate Jack Dalrymple Aaron Krauter
Popular vote 159,255 130,144
Percentage 55.0% 45.0%

 
County results
Hoeven:      50–60%      60–70%
Heitkamp:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%

Governor before election

Ed Schafer
Republican

Elected Governor

John Hoeven
Republican

The 2000 North Dakota gubernatorial election took place on November 7, 2000 for the post of Governor of North Dakota. Incumbent Republican Governor Ed Schafer decided not to run for reelection. Republican nominee John Hoeven won the election over Democratic State Attorney General Heidi Heitkamp. Heitkamp had led in the polls until early October, when reports indicated that she had breast cancer, and would undergo surgery. She ran advertisements to assure voters she was still fit to serve; however, by the final month, Hoeven had taken a six-point lead in polling.[4] As of 2021, this is the most recent North Dakota gubernatorial election in which the Democratic nominee received over 40% of the vote. Hoeven and Heitkamp later served alongside each other in the United States Senate from 2013 to 2019.

Utah edit

2000 Utah gubernatorial election
 
← 1996 November 7, 2000 2004 →
     
Nominee Mike Leavitt Bill Orton
Party Republican Democratic
Running mate Olene Walker Karen Hale
Popular vote 424,837 321,979
Percentage 55.77% 42.27%

 
County results

Leavitt:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%

Orton:      50–60%      60–70%

Governor before election

Mike Leavitt
Republican

Elected Governor

Mike Leavitt
Republican

The 2000 Utah gubernatorial election took place on November 7, 2000. Incumbent Republican Mike Leavitt won reelection to a third term.

Vermont edit

2000 Vermont gubernatorial election
 
← 1998 November 7, 2000 2002 →
       
Nominee Howard Dean Ruth Dwyer Anthony Pollina
Party Democratic Republican Progressive
Popular vote 148,059 111,359 28,116
Percentage 50.5% 38.0% 9.6%

 
 
Dean:      30-40%      40-50%      50-60%      60-70%      70-80%      80-90%
Dwyer:      30-40%      40-50%      50-60%      60-70%      70-80%

Governor before election

Howard Dean
Democratic

Elected Governor

Howard Dean
Democratic

The 2000 Vermont gubernatorial election took place on November 7, 2000. Incumbent Democratic Governor Howard Dean won re-election. The campaign was dominated by the fallout from the passage of a civil union bill and the subsequent backlash encapsulated by the slogan Take Back Vermont. Ruth Dwyer, the Republican nominee in 1998, ran again in 2000 and was closely tied to the Take Back Vermont movement. Howard Dean, the Democratic governor, favored civil unions and was a primary target of Take Back Vermont.[5]

Washington edit

2000 Washington gubernatorial election
 
← 1996 November 7, 2000 2004 →
     
Nominee Gary Locke John Carlson
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 1,441,973 980,060
Percentage 58.4% 39.7%

 
County results

Locke:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%

Carlson:      40–50%      50–60%

Governor before election

Gary Locke
Democratic

Elected Governor

Gary Locke
Democratic

The 2000 Washington gubernatorial election was held on November 7, 2000. Incumbent Democratic governor Gary Locke defeated the Republican candidate John Carlson for his second term in a landslide.

As of 2022, this was the earliest gubernatorial election in Washington in which both candidates are currently still living. This is the last time a Democratic nominee for governor outperformed the Democratic nominee for president in Washington. This would also be the last gubernatorial election in Washington in which the margin of victory was in double digits and in which any counties in Eastern Washington voted for a Democrat until Jay Inslee's 2020 landslide victory.

West Virginia edit

2000 West Virginia gubernatorial election
 
← 1996 November 7, 2000 2004 →
     
Nominee Bob Wise Cecil Underwood
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 324,822 305,926
Percentage 50.1% 47.2%

 
County results
Wise:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%
Underwood:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%

Governor before election

Cecil Underwood
Republican

Elected Governor

Bob Wise
Democratic

The 2000 West Virginia gubernatorial election took place on November 7, 2000. Incumbent Republican Governor Cecil Underwood ran for re-election to a second consecutive term in office, but was defeated by Democratic U.S. Representative Bob Wise. Concurrently, the state voted for the opposite party federally, choosing Republican nominee, George W. Bush over Democratic nominee Al Gore in the presidential election that year. As of 2022, this was the last time in which an incumbent West Virginia Governor lost re-election.

Territories edit

American Samoa edit

Guam election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Tauese Sunia {{{votes}}} 51.4%
Independent L. Peter Reid {{{votes}}} 48.6%
Total votes {{{votes}}} 100.00

Puerto Rico edit

2000 Puerto Rican general election
 
← 1996 7 November 2000 2004 →
Turnout82.20%
       
Nominee Sila María Calderón Carlos Pesquera Rubén Berríos
Party Popular Democratic New Progressive Independence
Alliance Democratic Democratic
Popular vote 978,860 919,194 104,705
Percentage 48.9% 45.9% 5.7%

 
Results by municipality
Calderón:      40-50%      50-60%
Pesquera:      40–50%      50–60%

Governor before election

Pedro Rosselló
New Progressive

Elected Governor

Sila María Calderón
Popular Democratic

See also edit

Notes edit

  1. ^ Wilson took office after his predecessor (Mel Carnahan) was term-limited but died from a plane crash.
  2. ^ Dean took office after his predecessor (Richard Snelling) died. He was subsequently elected in the 1992 Vermont gubernatorial election.

References edit

  1. ^ "Our Campaigns - AS Governor Race - Nov 07, 2000".
  2. ^ "Montana Voter Turnout". Montana Secretary of State. 22 February 2018. Retrieved 2022-05-26.
  3. ^ "GOP Rep. Greg Gianforte wins Montana governor's race |". The Hill. Archived from the original on 2020-11-04. Retrieved 2020-11-04.
  4. ^ Janofsky, Michael (7 November 2000). "THE 2000 ELECTIONS: RACES IN THE STATES; With 11 Governorships Being Contested, Democrats Win 7, Some in States Bush Won". The New York Times. Retrieved 22 August 2016.
  5. ^ Ellen Goodman (November 5, 2000). "'Take Back Vermont,' the signs say, but take it back to what?". The Boston Globe.