| Election Name: | 2002 Kansas gubernatorial election |
| Country: | Kansas |
| Type: | presidential |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 1998 Kansas gubernatorial election |
| Previous Year: | 1998 |
| Next Election: | 2006 Kansas gubernatorial election |
| Next Year: | 2006 |
| Election Date: | November 5, 2002 |
| Image1: | File:Sebeliusofficialphoto.jpg |
| Nominee1: | Kathleen Sebelius |
| Running Mate1: | John E. Moore |
| Party1: | Democratic Party (United States) |
| Popular Vote1: | 441,858 |
| Percentage1: | 52.9% |
| Nominee2: | Tim Shallenburger |
| Running Mate2: | Dave Lindstrom |
| Party2: | Republican Party (United States) |
| Popular Vote2: | 376,830 |
| Percentage2: | 45.1% |
| Map Size: | 270px |
| Governor | |
| Before Election: | Bill Graves |
| Before Party: | Republican Party (United States) |
| After Election: | Kathleen Sebelius |
| After Party: | Democratic Party (United States) |
The 2002 Kansas gubernatorial election was held on November 5, 2002. Incumbent Governor Bill Graves, a Republican, was barred from seeking a third term by the Kansas Constitution. Kansas Insurance Commissioner Kathleen Sebelius, the Democratic nominee, ran against Kansas State Treasurer Tim Shallenburger, the Republican nominee, with Sebelius defeating Shallenburger to become the second female Governor of Kansas after Joan Finney who served as governor from 1991 to 1995.
Initially, Stovall was one of the presumed "front-runner" candidates, and her anticipated run against the probable Democratic nominee, Kansas Insurance Commissioner Kathleen Sebelius, drew national attention as becoming possibly a rare "woman-vs.-woman" gubernatorial race.[3] [4] Though the front-runner among moderate candidates[5] [6] — and confident that she would win if she stayed in the race — Stovall dropped out in April, 2002, citing a lack of enthusiasm for campaigning, and for the job of governor,[7] and announced plans to marry Kansas media mogul Larry Steckline, whom she married in August.[8] [9]
Stovall's abrupt withdrawal threw the moderate wing of the Kansas Republican Party into chaos, as they scrambled to replace her. Kent Glasscock, her running mate, was the heir-apparent, and claimed entitlement to Stovall's campaign funds, but conservative opponent Tim Shallenberger, the incumbent State Treasurer, argued that the funds, per his interpretation of state law, had to be returned to the state Republican party, or to the donors, a charity, or the state government's general revenue fund. Additional Republican candidates began to emerge, also, further complicating the race. Glasscock ultimately became a running mate for gubernatorial candidate Bob Knight.[10]
Stovall's withdrawal was credited with giving advantage to the Democratic nominee (and ultimate victor), Katheleen Sebelius.[11]
| Source | Ranking | As of | |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Cook Political Report[12] | October 31, 2002 | ||
| Sabato's Crystal Ball[13] | November 4, 2002 |