2002 United States gubernatorial elections

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In the 2002 United States gubernatorial elections, 38 governorships were on the ballot—36 states and two territories. The results were a mixed bag: Republicans picked up several seats that had been Democratic, while Democrats gained a number of seats that had been Republican. In the end, Republicans remained the majority party, but with a smaller edge: 26 Republican governorships to 24 Democratic ones, a net shift of one seat against the Republicans. One independent seat (Maine’s Angus King) also changed hands, becoming a Democratic seat after King’s term ended. Overall, 20 of the 38 seats changed party hands.

Notable outcomes and flips
- Alabama: Bob Riley (R) defeated incumbent Don Siegelman (D) in a very close race.
- Alaska: Frank Murkowski (R) defeated Fran Ulmer (D).
- Arizona: Janet Napolitano (D) defeated Matt Salmon (R).
- Arkansas: Mike Huckabee (R) defeated Jimmie Lou Fisher (D).
- California: Gray Davis (D) was re-elected, though his term would soon be interrupted by recall.
- Colorado: Bill Owens (R) was re-elected.
- Connecticut: John G. Rowland (R) was re-elected.
- Florida: Jeb Bush (R) defeated Bill McBride (D) and won a second term.
- Georgia: Sonny Perdue (R) defeated Roy Barnes (D) in a surprising upset.
- Hawaii: Linda Lingle (R) defeated Mazie Hirono (D), becoming the first Republican governor of Hawaii elected since 1959.
- Idaho: Dirk Kempthorne (R) defeated Jerry Brady (D).
- Illinois: Rod Blagojevich (D) defeated Jim Ryan (R).
- Iowa: Tom Vilsack (D) defeated Doug Gross (R).
- Kansas: Kathleen Sebelius (D) defeated Tim Shallenburger (R).
- Maine: John Baldacci (D) defeated Peter Cianchette (R) in a statewide contest that also included Green and independent candidates.
- Maryland: Bob Ehrlich (R) defeated Kathleen Townsend (D), becoming the first Republican governor of Maryland since Spiro Agnew.
- Massachusetts: Mitt Romney (R) defeated Shannon O’Brien (D).
- Michigan: Jennifer Granholm (D) defeated Dick Posthumus (R), becoming Michigan’s first female governor.
- Minnesota: Tim Pawlenty (R) defeated Roger Moe (D) and Tim Penny (IP); incumbent Jesse Ventura did not run again.
- Nebraska: Mike Johanns (R) defeated Stormy Dean (D) in a landslide.
- Nevada: Kenny Guinn (R) defeated Joe Neal (D).
- New Hampshire: Craig Benson (R) defeated Mark Fernald (D).
- New Mexico: Bill Richardson (D) defeated John Sanchez (R).
- New York: George Pataki (R) was re-elected, with Democrat Carl McCall and independent Tom Golisano also on the ballot.
- Ohio: Bob Taft (R) was re-elected.
- Oklahoma: Brad Henry (D) won in a three-candidate race, helped by a split conservative vote.
- Oregon: Ted Kulongoski (D) defeated Kevin Mannix (R).
- Pennsylvania: Ed Rendell (D) defeated Mike Fisher (R).
- Rhode Island: Donald Carcieri (R) defeated Myrth York (D).
- South Carolina: Mark Sanford (R) defeated Jim Hodges (D).
- South Dakota: Mike Rounds (R) defeated Jim Abbott (D).
- Tennessee: Phil Bredesen (D) defeated Van Hilleary (R), flipping the state back to Democrats.
- Texas: Rick Perry (R) defeated Tony Sanchez (D) for his first full term as governor.
- Vermont: Jim Douglas (R) won a very close race and was chosen by the state legislature after no candidate won a majority.
- Wisconsin: Jim Doyle (D) defeated Scott McCallum (R) in a contest helped by a Libertarian candidate taking votes.
- Wyoming: Dave Freudenthal (D) defeated Eli Bebout (R).

Overall, the 2002 cycle was notable for the large number of party switches and for showing a country that could swing both ways in state races. While Republicans maintained the overall majority of governorships, the balance was tighter, and several states that leaned the other way demonstrated how competitive gubernatorial contests can be at the state level.