# 2002 Oklahoma gubernatorial election

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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 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.
As of 2024, this is the last time that a gubernatorial nominee and a lieutenant gubernatorial nominee of different political parties were simultaneously elected in Oklahoma to date.

## 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.

## 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. 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.

### Primary results

Democratic primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Vince Orza | 154,263 | 44.03 |
| | Democratic | Brad Henry | 99,883 | 28.51 |
| | Democratic | Kelly Haney | 59,044 | 16.85 |
| | Democratic | Jim Dunegan | 28,130 | 8.03 |
| | Democratic | James E. Lamkin | 9,069 | 2.59 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 350,389 | 100.00 |

### Runoff primary results

Democratic runoff primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Brad Henry | 135,336 | 52.42 |
| | Democratic | Vince Orza | 122,855 | 47.58 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 258,191 | 100.00 |

## Republican primary

Steve Largent easily won the GOP nomination against token opposition.

### Primary results

Republican primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Steve Largent | 179,631 | 87.25 |
| | Republican | Jim Denny | 16,713 | 8.12 |
| | Republican | Andrew Marr, Jr | 9,532 | 4.63 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 205,876 | 100.00 |

## General election
### Predictions

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

### Polling

| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Brad Henry (D) | Steve Largent (R) | Gary Richardson (I) | Other / Undecided |
| SurveyUSA | November 1–3, 2002 | 710 (LV) | ± 3.8% | 42% | 38% | 17% | 3% |

### 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.
2002 Oklahoma gubernatorial election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | Brad Henry | 448,143 | 43.3 | +2.4% |
| | Republican | Steve Largent | 441,277 | 42.6 | −15.9% |
| | Independent | Gary Richardson | 146,200 | 14.1 | N/A |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 1,035,620 | 100.0 | |
| | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican | Swing | +2.4% | |

#### Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic

* Caddo (Largest city: Anadarko)
* Carter (Largest city: Ardmore)
* Garvin (Largest city: Pauls Valley)
* Greer (Largest city: Mangum)
* Harmon (Largest city: Hollis)
* Kiowa (Largest city: Hobart)
* Love (Largest city: Marietta)
* Marshall (Largest city: Madill)
* Murray (Largest city: Sulphur)
* Nowata (Largest city: Nowata)
* Pontotoc (Largest city: Ada)
* Delaware (Largest city: Grove)
* Washita (Largest city: New Cordell)
* Blaine (Largest city: Watonga)
* Creek (Largest city: Sapulpa)
* Grady (Largest city: Chickasaw)
* Lincoln (Largest city: Chandler)
* Payne (Largest city: Stillwater)
* Pottawatomie (Largest city: Shawnee)
* Rogers (Largest city: Claremore)
* Woods (Largest city: Alva)
* Beckham (Largest city: Elk City)
* Love (Largest city: Marietta)
* Bryan (Largest city: Durant)
* Cotton (Largest city: Walters)
* Jefferson (Largest city: Waurika)

### By congressional district

Henry won 2 of 5 congressional districts, including that elected a Republican.
| District | Henry | Largent | Richardson | Representative |
| 1st | 37.37% | 47.43% | 15.20% | John Sullivan |
| 2nd | 52.98% | 33.22% | 13.80% | Brad Carson |
| 3rd | 41.05% | 43.19% | 15.75% | Wes Watkins (107th Congress) |
| 3rd | 41.05% | 43.19% | 15.75% | Frank Lucas (108th Congress) |
| 4th | 44.28% | 42.02% | 13.70% | J. C. Watts (107th Congress) |
| 4th | 44.28% | 42.02% | 13.70% | Tom Cole (108th Congress) |
| 5th | 40.95% | 46.29% | 12.77% | Ernest Istook |