# 2002 Oregon gubernatorial election

"none" is preferred when the title is already sufficiently detailed; see [[WP:SDNONE]]
Elections in Oregon :
Federal government
Presidential elections
1860
1864
1868
1872
1876
1880
1884
1888
1892
1896
1900
1904
1908
1912
1916
1920
1924
1928
1932
1936
1940
1944
1948
1952
1956
1960
1964
1968
1972
1976
1980
1984
1988
1992
1996
2000
2004
2008
2012
2016
2020
2024
Presidential primaries
Democratic
2000
2004
2008
2016
2020
2024
Republican
2004
2008
2012
2016
2020
2024
U.S. Senate elections
1859
1860 sp
1862 sp
1864
1870
1872
1882
1885
1885 sp
1888
1890
1895
1898
1898 sp
1901
1903
1907
1907 sp
1909
1913
1914
1918
1918 sp
1920
1924
1926
1930
1932
1936
1938
1938 sp
1942
1944
1944 sp
1948
1950
1954
1956
1960
1960 sp
1962
1966
1968
1972
1974
1978
1980
1984
1986
1990
1992
1996
1996 sp
1998
2002
2004
2008
2010
2014
2016
2020
2022
2026
U.S. House of Representatives elections
1858
1859
1860
1862
1864
1866
1868
1870
1872
1873
AL sp
1874
1875
AL sp
1876
1878
1880
1882
1884
1886
1888
1890
1892
1894
1896
1898
1900
1902
1903
1st sp
1904
1906
1908
1910
1912
1914
1916
1918
1920
1922
1924
1926
1928
2nd sp
1932
1934
1936
1938
1940
1942
1944
1946
1st sp
1948
1950
1952
1954
1956
1958
1960
1962
1964
1st sp
1966
1968
1970
1972
1974
1976
1978
1980
1982
1984
1986
1988
1990
1992
1994
1996
3rd sp
1998
2000
2002
2004
2006
2008
2010
2012
1st sp
2014
2016
2018
2020
2022
2024 :
State government
General elections
2006
primary
2007
2008
2010
2012
2014
2016
2018
2020
2022
2024
Gubernatorial elections
1858
1862
1866
1870
1874
1878
1882
1886
1890
1894
1898
1902
1906
1910
1914
1918
1922
1926
1930
1934
1938
1942
1946
1948 sp
1950
1954
1956 sp
1958
1962
1966
1970
1974
1978
1982
1986
1990
1994
1998
2002
2006
2010
2014
2016 sp
2018
2022
Secretary of State elections
2000
2004
2008
2012
2016
2020
2024
Attorney General elections
2000
2004
2008
2012
2016
2020
2024
State Treasurer elections
2000
2004
2008
2010 sp
2012
2016
2020
2024
Labor Commissioner elections
2002
2006
2008
2012
2014
2018
2022
Legislative Assembly elections
2008
2010
2012
2014
2016
2018
2020
House
Senate
2022
House
Senate
2024
House
Senate :
Ballot measures
List of Oregon ballot measures
1990
1992
1994
1996
1997
1998
2002
2003
2004
2006
2007
2008
2010
2012
2014
2016
2018
2020
2022
2024 :
Multnomah County
District Attorney elections
2020
2024 :
Portland
General elections
2006
2024
Mayoral elections
1900
1976
1980
1984
1988
1992
1996
2000
2004
2008
2012
2016
2020
2024
City Council elections
1994
1996
1998
2000
2002
2004
2006
2008
2010
2012
2014
2016
2018
2020
2022
2024
City Auditor elections
2022
2024 :
vte :
The 2002 Oregon gubernatorial election took place on November 5, 2002. Incumbent Democrat John Kitzhaber was barred by term limits from seeking a third consecutive term; he later successfully ran again in 2010 and 2014. To replace him, former Oregon Supreme Court Associate Justice Ted Kulongoski won a crowded and competitive Democratic primary, while former State Representative Kevin Mannix emerged from an equally competitive Republican primary. The campaign between Kulongoski and Mannix, who were joined by Libertarian nominee Tom Cox, was close and went down to the wire. Ultimately, Kulongoski eked out a narrow margin of victory over Mannix, which was slightly smaller than Cox's total vote share, allowing Kulongoski to win what would be the first of two terms as governor. As of 2024, this is the last time that Oregon voted for a gubernatorial nominee and a U.S. Senate nominee of different political parties.

## Democratic primary
### Candidates

* Ted Kulongoski, former Oregon Supreme Court Associate Justice, former Attorney General of Oregon, nominee for U.S. Senate in 1980, and nominee for governor in 1982
* Jim Hill, former Oregon State Treasurer
* Bev Stein, chair of the Multnomah County Commission

### Campaign

Kulongoski obtained the endorsement of labor unions and the backing of governor Kitzhaber. A poll before the election showed Kulongoski at 40%, ahead of former State Treasurer Jim Hill at 23%, and Bev Stein at 19%. Lesser known candidates standing in the Democratic primary included William Allen, campaigning on the belief that Oregon paid too much money to the federal government and should consider seceding, and Caleb Burns standing to reform Oregon's schools.

### Results

Democratic Primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Ted Kulongoski | 170,799 | 48.21 |
| | Democratic | Jim Hill | 92,294 | 26.05 |
| | Democratic | Bev Stein | 76,517 | 21.60 |
| | Democratic | William Peter Allen | 6,582 | 1.86 |
| | Democratic | Caleb Burns | 4,167 | 1.18 |
| | Democratic | Write-ins | 3,925 | 1.11 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 354,284 | 100.00 |

## Republican primary
### Candidates

* Kevin Mannix, former Oregon State Representative, 2000 Republican nominee for Attorney General of Oregon
* Jack Roberts, Oregon Commissioner of Labor and Industries
* Ron Saxton, former Chair of the Portland Public Schools Board
* W. Ames Curtright
* Robert Weidner, 1998 Constitution Party nominee for Governor of Oregon
* Lee R. Shindler

### Results

Republican primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Kevin Mannix | 117,194 | 35.24 |
| | Republican | Jack Roberts | 98,008 | 29.47 |
| | Republican | Ron Saxton | 93,484 | 28.11 |
| | Republican | W. Ames Curtright | 10,986 | 3.30 |
| | Republican | Roger Weidner | 7,395 | 2.22 |
| | Republican | Lee R. Shindler | 2,266 | 0.68 |
| | Republican | Write-ins | 3,242 | 0.97 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 332,575 | 100.00 |

## General election
### Campaign

Kulongoski focused on education, his support for gay rights and the Oregon Death with Dignity law. Mannix campaigned on his plans to cut taxes to stimulate the economy of Oregon and encouraging partnerships between businesses and colleges. Tom Cox for the Libertarian party and two write in candidates, Richard Alevizos and Gary Spanovich, also stood in the election.
The departure of Kitzhaber, who had opposed plans to build a Columbia Gorge casino, was considered an opportunity for the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs. Tribes invested record amounts of money into Oregon politics in this race, including $40,000 supporting Kulongoski. Kulongoski did not take a position on the issue during the campaign, but later became a supporter of the plan.
Kulongoski campaigned using a motor home and his many visits to bowling alleys became a trademark of his campaign. Early in the campaign Kulongoski held a large lead over Mannix in the polls but the gap narrowed as the election neared after Mannix put Kulongoski on the defensive. Mannix characterised Kulongoski as a strong tax and spender after he endorsed a proposed $313 million income tax rise to avoid cuts in education and other areas. He also attacked Kulongoski for being soft on crime. A poll in October showed Kulongoski at 45%, only 4 percent ahead of Mannix at 41%.
Mannix conceded the election on 6 November 2002 after Kulongoski secured a decisive lead in the vote count. The Libertarian candidate Tom Cox claimed that he was responsible for Kulongoski's victory as his exit polls suggested he took twice as many Republican votes as Democratic votes.

### Predictions

| Source | Ranking | As of |
| The Cook Political Report | Lean D | October 31, 2002 |
| Sabato's Crystal Ball | Lean D | November 4, 2002 |

### Results

Oregon gubernatorial election, 2002 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | Ted Kulongoski | 618,004 | 49.03% | −15.39% |
| | Republican | Kevin Mannix | 581,785 | 46.16% | +16.15% |
| | Libertarian | Tom Cox | 57,760 | 4.58% | +2.77% |
| | Write-ins | | 2,948 | 0.23% | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 36,219 | 2.87% | −31.54% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,260,497 | | |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Swing | | |

#### Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican

* Baker (largest city: Baker City)
* Clackamas (largest city: Lake Oswego)
* Coos (Largest city: Coos Bay)
* Crook (largest city: Prineville)
* Curry (largest city: Brookings)
* Douglas (largest city: Roseburg)
* Deschutes (largest municipality: Bend)
* Grant (largest city: John Day)
* Gilliam (Largest city: Condon)
* Harney (largest city: Burns)
* Jefferson (largest city: Madras)
* Josephine (largest city: Grants Pass)
* Klamath (largest city: Klamath Falls)
* Lake (largest city: Lakeview)
* Linn (largest city: Albany)
* Morrow (Largest city: Boardman)
* Jackson (largest city: Medford)
* Marion (largest city: Salem)
* Polk (largest city: Salem)
* Sherman (largest city: Wasco)
* Umatilla (largest city: Hermiston)
* Union (largest city: La Grande)
* Wallowa (largest city: Enterprise)
* Wasco (largest city: The Dalles)
* Washington (largest city: Hillsboro)
* Wheeler (largest city: Fossil)
* Yamhill (largest city: McMinnville)