2002 Iowa gubernatorial election explained

Election Name:	2002 Iowa gubernatorial election
Country:	Iowa
Flag Image:	Flag of Iowa (xrmap collection).svg
Type:	presidential
Ongoing:	no
Previous Election:	1998 Iowa gubernatorial election
Previous Year:	1998
Next Election:	2006 Iowa gubernatorial election
Next Year:	2006
Election Date:	November 5, 2002
Image1:	File:Tom Vilsack, official USDA photo portrait.jpg
Nominee1:	Tom Vilsack
Party1:	Democratic Party (United States)
Popular Vote1:	540,449
Percentage1:	52.7%
Nominee2:	Doug Gross
Party2:	Republican Party (United States)
Popular Vote2:	456,612
Percentage2:	44.5%
Map Size:	240px
Governor
Before Election:	Tom Vilsack
Before Party:	Democratic Party (United States)
After Election:	Tom Vilsack
After Party:	Democratic Party (United States)

The 2002 Iowa gubernatorial election took place November 5, 2002. Incumbent Democratic Governor of Iowa Tom Vilsack sought re-election to a second term as governor. He won his party's nomination uncontested, while Doug Gross, an advisor to former and future Governor Terry Branstad, narrowly won the Republican primary in a crowded and competitive election. In the general election, Vilsack was able to improve slightly on his margin of victory four years earlier to win what would be his second and final term as governor.

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Tom Vilsack, incumbent Governor of Iowa

Results

Republican primary

Candidates

• Doug Gross, advisor to former Governor Terry Branstad
• Steve Sukup, Iowa State Representative (1995 - 2003)
• Bob Vander Plaats, family values activist

Results

General election

Predictions

Source	Ranking	As of
The Cook Political Report^[1]		October 31, 2002
Sabato's Crystal Ball^[2]		November 4, 2002

Results

Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic

• Adams (largest city: Corning)
• Hardin (largest city: Iowa Falls)
• Winnebago (largest city: Forest City)
• Clarke (largest city: Osceola)
• Louisa (largest city: Wapello)
• Mitchell (largest city: Osage)
• Union (largest city: Creston)
• Appanoose (Largest city: Centerville)
• Decatur (Largest city: Lamoni)
• Lucas (Largest city: Chariton)
• Monona (Largest city: Onawa)
• Ringgold (Largest city: Mount Ayr)
• Taylor (Largest city: Bedford)
• Wayne (Largest city: Corydon)
• Wright (Largest city: Eagle Grove)
• Cherokee (Largest city: Cherokee)
• Calhoun (Largest city: Rockwell City)
• Carroll (Largest city: Carroll)
• Keokuk (Largest city: Sigourney)
• Woodbury (Largest city: Sioux City)
• Washington (Largest city: Washington)
• Pocahontas (Largest city: Pocahontas)
• Franklin (Largest city: Hampton)
• Delaware (Largest city: Manchester)
• Humboldt (largest city: Humboldt)
• Adair (Largest city: Greenfield)
• Scott (largest city: Davenport)

Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican

• Jefferson (Largest city: Fairfield)
• Dickinson (Largest city: Spirit Lake)
• Sac (largest city: Sac City)
• Winneshiek (largest city: Decorah)

See also

• 2002 United States gubernatorial elections
• State of Iowa
• Governors of Iowa

Notes and References

1. Web site: Governor Updated October 31, 2002 The Cook Political Report. https://web.archive.org/web/20021208065752/http://www.cookpolitical.com/display.cfm?section=political&edit_id=225. December 8, 2002. The Cook Political Report. en. October 31, 2002. September 18, 2018. dead. mdy-all.
2. Web site: Governors Races. https://web.archive.org/web/20021212142349/http://www.centerforpolitics.org/crystalball/governor_all.htm. December 12, 2002. www.centerforpolitics.org. en-US. November 4, 2002. September 18, 2018. dead. mdy-all.
3. https://www.surveyusa.com/2002Elec.html SurveyUSA