2002 New Hampshire gubernatorial election

Summary

The 2002 New Hampshire gubernatorial election was held on November 5, 2002. Three-term incumbent Democratic Governor Jeanne Shaheen opted to unsuccessfully run for the United States Senate rather than seek a fourth term as governor. Republican Craig Benson, a self-funded businessman, defeated Democrat Mark Fernald, a state senator, in the general election after both won contested primary elections.

2002 New Hampshire gubernatorial election

← 2000 November 5, 2002 2004 →
 
Nominee Craig Benson Mark Fernald
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 259,663 169,277
Percentage 58.7% 38.2%

Benson:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90%
Fernald:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      >90%

Governor before election

Jeanne Shaheen
Democratic

Elected Governor

Craig Benson
Republican

This was the only time a Republican was elected governor between 1994 and 2016.

Democratic primary edit

Candidates edit

Results edit

Democratic Primary results[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Mark Fernald 34,683 53.28
Democratic Bev Hollingworth 27,777 42.67
Democratic Write-ins 2,632 4.04
Total votes 65,092 100.00

Republican primary edit

Candidates edit

Results edit

Republican primary results[2]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Craig Benson 56,099 36.65
Republican Bruce Keough 51,461 33.62
Republican Gordon Humphrey 42,698 27.90
Republican Robert Kingsbury 877 0.57
Republican Joe Haas 759 0.50
Republican Bob Kroepel 578 0.38
Republican Write-ins 575 0.38
Total votes 153,047 100.00

General election edit

Predictions edit

Source Ranking As of
The Cook Political Report[3] Lean R (flip) October 31, 2002
Sabato's Crystal Ball[4] Likely R (flip) November 4, 2002

Results edit

New Hampshire gubernatorial election, 2002[5]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Craig Benson 259,663 58.62% +14.86%
Democratic Mark Fernald 169,277 38.21% -10.52%
Libertarian John Babiarz 13,028 2.94% +1.80%
Write-ins 1,008 0.23%
Majority 90,386 20.40% +15.43%
Turnout 442,976
Republican gain from Democratic Swing

Counties that swung from Democratic to Republican edit

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ http://www.sos.nh.gov/stateprimary2004/dgovsum.htm
  2. ^ "Summary R Gov". Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved May 25, 2011.
  3. ^ "Governor Updated October 31, 2002 | The Cook Political Report". The Cook Political Report. October 31, 2002. Archived from the original on December 8, 2002. Retrieved September 18, 2018.
  4. ^ "Governors Races". www.centerforpolitics.org. November 4, 2002. Archived from the original on December 12, 2002. Retrieved September 18, 2018.
  5. ^ http://www.sos.nh.gov/general2002/sumgov.htm

External links edit

  • New Hampshire Secretary of State's office, election division