| Election Name: | 1802 North Carolina gubernatorial election |
| Country: | North Carolina |
| Type: | Presidential |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 1801 North Carolina gubernatorial election |
| Previous Year: | 1801 |
| Next Election: | 1802 North Carolina gubernatorial special election |
| Next Year: | 1802 (Special) |
| Election Date: | 20 November 1802 |
| Nominee1: | John Baptista Ashe |
| Party1: | Democratic-Republican Party |
| Popular Vote1: | 103 |
| Percentage1: | 60.23% |
| Nominee2: | William Polk |
| Party2: | Federalist Party |
| Popular Vote2: | 49 |
| Percentage2: | 28.66% |
| Nominee3: | Joseph Taylor |
| Party3: | Democratic-Republican Party |
| Popular Vote3: | 19 |
| Percentage3: | 11.11% |
| Governor | |
| Before Election: | Benjamin Williams |
| Before Party: | Federalist Party |
| After Election: | John Baptista Ashe |
| After Party: | Democratic-Republican Party |
The 1802 North Carolina gubernatorial election was held on 20 November 1802 in order to elect the Governor of North Carolina. Democratic-Republican candidate and former member of the U.S. House of Representatives from North Carolina's 3rd district John Baptista Ashe was elected by the North Carolina General Assembly against Federalist candidate and former member of the North Carolina House of Representatives William Polk and Democratic-Republican candidate Joseph Taylor.[1]
On election day, 20 November 1802, Democratic-Republican candidate John Baptista Ashe was elected by the North Carolina General Assembly by a margin of 54 votes against his foremost opponent Federalist candidate William Polk, thereby gaining Democratic-Republican control over the office of Governor. Ashe was set to be sworn in as the 12th Governor of North Carolina on 6 December 1802, but died on 27 November 1802, resulting in a special election to be held on 4 December in order to replace him.[2]