2002 Oklahoma gubernatorial election explained

See also: 2002 United States gubernatorial elections.

Election Name:2002 Oklahoma gubernatorial election
Country:Oklahoma
Flag Image:Flag of Oklahoma (1988–2006, unofficial).svg
Type:presidential
Ongoing:no
Previous Election:1998 Oklahoma gubernatorial election
Previous Year:1998
Next Election:2006 Oklahoma gubernatorial election
Next Year:2006
Election Date:November 5, 2002
Image1:File:BradhenryDEA.jpg
Nominee1:Brad Henry
Party1:Democratic Party (United States)
Popular Vote1:448,143
Percentage1:43.3%
Nominee2:Steve Largent
Party2:Republican Party (United States)
Popular Vote2:441,277
Percentage2:42.6%
Image3:File:Gary Richardson meeting with local Oklahoman boy (cropped) (cropped).jpg
Nominee3:Gary Richardson
Party3:Independent (United States)
Popular Vote3:146,200
Percentage3:14.1%
Map Size:300px
Governor
Before Election:Frank Keating
Before Party:Republican Party (United States)
After Election:Brad Henry
After Party:Democratic Party (United States)

The 2002 Oklahoma gubernatorial election was held on November 5, 2002, and was a race for Governor of Oklahoma. Democrat Brad Henry won the election with 43 percent of the vote, beating Republican Steve Largent and conservative independent Gary Richardson.

Henry's narrow win has been attributed to Richardson and Largent's split of the conservative vote[1] and the inclusion of a cockfighting ban on the ballot, an issue which brought opponents of the referendum from Southeastern Oklahoma, a traditional Democratic stronghold that strongly supported Henry, out to vote.[1] [2] [3]

This is the last time that a gubernatorial nominee and a lieutenant gubernatorial nominee of different political parties were elected in Oklahoma.

Background

Though Democrats had dominated state politics for most of Oklahoma's history, the Oklahoma Republican Party had made historic gains, including five of the state's six Congressional seats at the time of the election. This made it especially hard for Henry to win with a growing Republican dominance in the state. This was most notable in the urban areas of Oklahoma City and Tulsa, both of which voted for Largent.[4]

Democratic primary

Three state legislators sought the Democratic Party nomination, trailing Vince Orza who had previously sought the Governor's office as a Republican, only to be defeated by Bill Price in the primary runoff.[5] State Senator Brad Henry advanced to the runoff with 28% against Orza's 44%, but opposition to the former Republican from New York coalesced behind Henry. Orza found himself once again losing the runoff after winning the initial primary.[6] [7] [8]

Runoff primary results

Republican primary

Steve Largent easily won the GOP nomination against token opposition.[9]

Primary results

General election

Predictions

SourceRankingAs of
The Cook Political Report[10] October 31, 2002
Sabato's Crystal Ball[11] November 4, 2002

Results

This election was extremely close, with Henry prevailing by just 6,866 votes or 0.6%. Under Oklahoma Law, if the margin of victory is less than one percent but greater than half a percent, the losing candidate can request a recount that their campaign has to pay for. However, Largent ultimately decided against it, considering that because Henry led by 6,866 votes, the possibility of him prevailing were extremely difficult. On November 23, Largent officially conceded defeat. Two days later on November 25, Oklahoma Secretary of State Kay Dudley certified the results, declaring Henry the governor-elect.

Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic

By congressional district

Henry won 2 of 5 congressional districts, including that elected a Republican.[12]

DistrictHenryLargentRichardsonRepresentative
1st37.37%47.43%15.20%
2nd52.98%33.22%13.80%Brad Carson
3rd41.05%43.19%15.75%Wes Watkins (107th Congress)
Frank Lucas (108th Congress)
4th44.28%42.02%13.70%J. C. Watts (107th Congress)
Tom Cole (108th Congress)
5th40.95%46.29%12.77%Ernest Istook

Notes and References

  1. Averill, David, "Eyeing another campaign: Richardson had impact on 2002 governor's race", Tulsa World, March 22, 2009.
  2. https://www.usatoday.com/news/politicselections/state/2002-11-06-oklahoma-gov_x.htm "Henry upsets Steve Largent in governor's race"
  3. John M. Broder, "The 2002 Elections: Governors; Bright Spots, Amid Dim Ones, for Democrats", The New York Times, November 7, 2009.
  4. Gaddie, Ronald Keith, "Oklahoma Republican Party ", Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture (accessed May 31, 2010).
  5. News: An Editorial: Orza is the Worst . The Oklahoman . September 9, 1990.
  6. Web site: Primary Election August 27, 2002 Summary Results . Oklahoma State Election Board.
  7. Web site: 1990 Results . Oklahoma State Election Board . C-4.
  8. Web site: The primary runoff alternative that could have changed Oklahoma elections by Chris Powell Medium. 20 July 2019.
  9. News: Greiner . John . Hinton . Mick . Largent easily wins GOP nod Orza, Henry divide Democrats . The Oklahoman . August 28, 2002.
  10. 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.
  11. 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.
  12. Web site: Twitter.