The 2002 Iowa gubernatorial election took place November 5, 2002. Incumbent Democratic Governor of Iowa Tom Vilsack sought re-election to a second term as governor. Governor Vilsack won his party's nomination uncontested, while Doug Gross, an advisor to former Governor Terry Branstad, narrowly won the Republican Party's primary in a crowded and competitive primary election. In the general election, Vilsack was able to improve slightly on his margin of victory four years earlier to win what would be his second and final term as governor.
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County results Vilsack: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% Gross: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70-80% 80–90% | |||||||||||||||||
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Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Tom Vilsack (incumbent) | 79,277 | 98.55 | |
Democratic | Write-ins | 1,166 | 1.45 | |
Total votes | 80,443 | 100 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Doug Gross | 71,478 | 35.88 | |
Republican | Steve Sukup | 64,490 | 32.37 | |
Republican | Bob Vander Plaats | 63,077 | 31.66 | |
Republican | Write-ins | 189 | 0.09 | |
Total votes | 199,234 | 100 |
Source | Ranking | As of |
---|---|---|
The Cook Political Report[2] | Tossup | October 31, 2002 |
Sabato's Crystal Ball[3] | Lean D | November 4, 2002 |
Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size[a] |
Margin of error |
Tom Vilsack (D) |
Doug Gross (R) |
Other / Undecided |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SurveyUSA | October 27–29, 2002 | 614 (LV) | ± 4.1% | 56% | 42% | 3% |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Tom Vilsack (incumbent) | 540,449 | 52.69% | +0.39% | |
Republican | Doug Gross | 456,612 | 44.51% | -2.00% | |
Green | Jay Robinson | 14,628 | 1.43% | ||
Libertarian | Clyde Cleveland | 13,098 | 1.28% | ||
Write-ins | 1,025 | 0.10% | |||
Majority | 83,837 | 8.17% | +2.37% | ||
Turnout | 1,025,802 | ||||
Democratic hold | Swing |