2002 United States Senate election in Oregon

Summary

The 2002 United States Senate election in Oregon was held on November 5, 2002. Incumbent Republican United States Senator Gordon Smith ran for re-election to a second term. Oregon Secretary of State Bill Bradbury emerged as the Democratic nominee, and though a competitive gubernatorial election occurred at the same time, Bradbury's campaign was never able to gain traction and Smith overwhelmingly won re-election (Bradbury only carried Multnomah County). As of 2024, this is the last time the Republicans have won a U.S. Senate election in Oregon.

2002 United States Senate election in Oregon

← 1996 November 5, 2002 2008 →
 
Nominee Gordon Smith Bill Bradbury
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 712,287 501,898
Percentage 56.21% 39.61%

County results
Smith:      40-50%      50-60%      60-70%      70-80%      80-90%
Bradbury:      50–60%

Senator before election

Gordon Smith
Republican

Elected Senator

Gordon Smith
Republican

Democratic primary edit

Candidates edit

Results edit

Democratic primary results[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Bill Bradbury 279,792 85.89%
Democratic Craig Hanson 27,472 8.43%
Democratic Greg Haven 13,995 4.30%
Democratic Write-ins 4,480 1.38%
Total votes 325,739 100.00%

Republican primary edit

Results edit

Republican primary results[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Gordon Smith (Incumbent) 306,504 98.89%
Republican Write-ins 3,439 1.11%
Total votes 309,943 100.00%

General election edit

Campaign edit

Smith, who had only served one term in the U.S. Senate, had slightly lower than a 50% approval rating before the summer of 2002 began.[2] By July 2002, Smith had raised over $5 million, while Bradbury raised only about $1 million.[3]

Predictions edit

Source Ranking As of
Sabato's Crystal Ball[4] Likely R November 4, 2002

Results edit

United States Senate election in Oregon, 2002[5]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Gordon H. Smith (Incumbent) 712,287 56.21% +6.41%
Democratic Bill Bradbury 501,898 39.61% -6.30%
Libertarian Dan Fitzgerald 29,979 2.37% +1.43%
Constitution Lon Mabon 21,703 1.71%
Write-ins 1,354 0.11%
Majority 210,389 16.60% +12.71%
Turnout 1,267,221
Republican hold Swing

Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican edit

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b "Content Manager WebDrawer - 2002 Primary Election Official Results".
  2. ^ Berke, Richard L. (June 8, 2002). "A Senate Candidate's Refrain: 'Could You Stretch It to $500?'". The New York Times.
  3. ^ Madden, Mike (July 16, 2002). "Smith, Hooley maintain comfortable fund-raising leads". USA Today. Archived from the original on November 14, 2012.
  4. ^ "Senate Races". www.centerforpolitics.org. November 4, 2002. Archived from the original on November 18, 2002. Retrieved June 25, 2021.
  5. ^ Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives. "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 5, 2002" (PDF). U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 38.