The 2002 Colorado gubernatorial election was held on November 5, 2002 to elect the governor of Colorado. Bill Owens, the Republican incumbent, defeated Democratic nominee Rollie Heath to win a second term. Owen's win set the record for biggest win by a Republican in a Colorado gubernatorial election (Democrats won by larger margins in 1982, 1948, and 1928, with Billy Adams' 35 point blowout in that year being the greatest victory for a candidate of any party).[1] As of 2024, this is the last time a Republican was elected Governor of Colorado and the only time in the past half-century that a Republican won a majority in the state.
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County results Owens: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% Heath: 40–50% 50–60% | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
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Republican | Bill Owens (incumbent) | 189,705 | 100.00 | |
Total votes | 189,705 | 100.00 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Rollie Heath | 98,897 | 100.00 | |
Total votes | 98,897 | 100.00 |
Source | Ranking | As of |
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The Cook Political Report[3] | Safe R | October 31, 2002 |
Sabato's Crystal Ball[4] | Safe R | November 4, 2002 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Bill Owens (inc.) | 884,583 | 62.62% | +13.58% | |
Democratic | Rollie Heath | 475,373 | 33.65% | -14.77% | |
Green | Ronald Forthofer | 32,099 | 2.27% | – | |
Libertarian | Ralph Shnelvar | 20,547 | 1.45% | -0.23% | |
Majority | 409,210 | 28.97% | +28.34% | ||
Turnout | 1,412,602 | ||||
Republican hold |