United States gubernatorial elections, 2002

← 2001

November 5, 2002

2003 →

38 governorships
36 states; 2 territories

	Majority party	Minority party

Party	Republican	Democratic
Last election	27 governorships	21 governorships
Seats before	27	21
Seats after	26	24
Seat change	1	3

Results:

Republican holds

Republican pickups

Democratic holds

Democratic pickups

United States gubernatorial elections were held on November 5, 2002 in 36 states and two territories. The Republicans won eight seats previously held by the Democrats, as well the seat previously held by Minnesota governor Jesse Ventura, who was elected on the Reform Party ticket but had since renounced his party affiliation. The Democrats won 10 seats previously held by the Republicans, as well as the seat previously held by Maine governor Angus King, an independent. Overall, the Republicans suffered a net loss of one seat while the Democrats made a net gain of three. The Republicans managed to maintain their majority of state governorships, but it was reduced to a margin of only two seats. The elections were notable for the sheer number of state governorships that changed parties – 20 in total, constituting more than half of the seats up for election. The elections were also notable for the inroads that both major parties made in regions where their support had historically been low or waning.

In addition to the elections held in 36 states, elections were also held in the unincorporated territories of Guam and the United States Virgin Islands. The Democrats held their seat in the United States Virgin Islands, while the Republicans won an open seat in Guam previously held by the Democrats.

The elections were held concurrently with the other United States elections of 2002.

A bolded state name features an article about the specific election.

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Wikipedia