2002 South Dakota gubernatorial election explained

Election Name:2002 South Dakota gubernatorial election
Country:South Dakota
Type:presidential
Ongoing:no
Previous Election:1998 South Dakota gubernatorial election
Previous Year:1998
Next Election:2006 South Dakota gubernatorial election
Next Year:2006
Election Date:November 2, 2002
Image1:File:Mike Rounds official photo.JPG
Nominee1:Mike Rounds
Running Mate1:Dennis Daugaard
Party1:Republican Party (United States)
Popular Vote1:189,920
Percentage1:56.8%
Nominee2:Jim Abbott
Running Mate2:Michael Wilson
Party2:Democratic Party (United States)
Popular Vote2:140,263
Percentage2:41.9%
Map Size:260px
Governor
Before Election:Bill Janklow
Before Party:Republican Party (United States)
After Election:Mike Rounds
After Party:Republican Party (United States)

The 2002 South Dakota gubernatorial election took place on November 2, 2002 to elect a Governor of South Dakota. Republican nominee Mike Rounds was elected, defeating Democratic nominee Jim Abbott.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Results

Republican primary

Candidates

Campaign

Rounds' victory was one of South Dakota's greatest political upsets. Until late in 2001, then-Congressman John Thune was the front-runner for the nomination. When Thune passed on the race in order to challenge Senator Tim Johnson, state Attorney General Mark Barnett and former Lieutenant Governor Steve T. Kirby quickly became candidates. Rounds declared his candidacy late, in December 2001 and was out-raised and outspent ten-to-one by each of his opponents.

However, the contest between Kirby and Barnett soon became very negative and "dirty". Barnett attacked Kirby for not investing in companies based in South Dakota and for his involvement with Collagenesis, a company which removed skin from donated human cadavers and processed them for use. It became the subject of a massive scandal when it was revealed that the company was using the skins for much more lucrative cosmetic surgery like lip and penis enhancements while burn victims "lie waiting in hospitals as nurses scour the country for skin to cover their wounds, even though skin is in plentiful supply for plastic surgeons".[1] Kirby invested in the company after the scandal broke and Barnett attacked him for it in television advertisements.[2] However, the advertisements backfired because "the claims were so outlandish, that people thought for sure that they were exaggerated or completely fabricated."[3]

As the two front-runners concentrated on attacking each other, Rounds insisted on running a positive campaign and was not attacked by his opponents. Rounds' positive image and extensive knowledge of state government won him many supporters who were alienated by the front-runners. On the day of the primary election, Rounds won a stunning victory, with 44.3% of the vote to Barnett's 29.5% and Kirby's 26.1%.

Results

General election

Predictions

SourceRankingAs of
The Cook Political Report[4] October 31, 2002
Sabato's Crystal Ball[5] November 4, 2002

Results

Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic

Notes and References

  1. Web site: GOP's flesh-eating zombie candidate. 26 February 2008. 1 April 2013. The Hill. Markos. Moulitsas.
  2. Web site: Collagenesis. https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211215/jW1LDv-Vh5g . 2021-12-15 . live. 5 November 2006. 1 April 2013. YouTube.
  3. Web site: SD-Sen: 2002 ad against Flesh Eating Zombie. 28 February 2008. 1 April 2013. Daily Kos.
  4. 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.
  5. 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.