The 2002 United States Senate election in North Carolina was held on November 5, 2002. Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Jesse Helms announced in August 2001 that he would retire due to health issues. Republican Elizabeth Dole won the open seat, becoming the first non-incumbent elected Republican Senator in the state's history. This was the first open seat election since 1974.
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County results Dole: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% Bowles: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% | |||||||||||||||||
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During the primary campaign, Bowles was considered the choice of the party establishment, receiving support from former Governor Jim Hunt and the AFL-CIO.[1]
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Erskine Bowles | 277,329 | 43.4% | |
Democratic | Dan Blue | 184,216 | 28.8% | |
Democratic | Elaine Marshall | 97,392 | 15.2% | |
Democratic | Cynthia D. Brown | 27,799 | 4.4% | |
Democratic | Others | 52,289 | 8.2% | |
Total votes | 639,025 | 100.0% |
Dole was described as the "handpicked" choice of the White House, and received the support of President George W. Bush, Vice President Dick Cheney, as well as outgoing Senator Jesse Helms.[1]
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Elizabeth Dole | 342,631 | 80.4% | |
Republican | James Snyder Jr. | 60,477 | 14.2% | |
Republican | Jim Parker | 8,752 | 2.1% | |
Republican | Ada Fisher | 6,045 | 1.4% | |
Republican | Others | 8,201 | 1.9% | |
Total votes | 426,106 | 100.0% |
No. | Date | Host | Moderator | Link | Republican | Democratic |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Key: P Participant A Absent N Not invited I Invited W Withdrawn |
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Elizabeth Dole | Erskine Bowles | |||||
1 | Oct. 14, 2002 | Meredith College WRAL-TV WTVD-TV |
David Crabtree Larry Stogner |
C-SPAN | P | P |
2 | Oct. 19, 2002 | East Carolina University WCTI-TV WNCT-TV |
Wes Goforth Alan Hoffman |
C-SPAN | P | P |
Source | Ranking | As of |
---|---|---|
Sabato's Crystal Ball[5] | Lean R | November 4, 2002 |
Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size[a] |
Margin of error |
Elizabeth Dole (R) |
Erskine Bowles (D) |
Other / Undecided |
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SurveyUSA | October 28–30, 2002 | 611 (LV) | ± 4.0% | 50% | 46% | 4% |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Elizabeth Dole | 1,248,664 | 53.56% | +0.92% | |
Democratic | Erskine Bowles | 1,047,983 | 44.96% | −0.96% | |
Libertarian | Sean Haugh | 33,807 | 1.45% | +0.46% | |
Write-in | 727 | 0.03% | +0.02% | ||
Total votes | 2,331,181 | 100.00% | N/A | ||
Republican hold |