# 2002 Iowa gubernatorial election

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The 2002 Iowa gubernatorial election took place November 5, 2002. Incumbent Democratic Governor of Iowa Tom Vilsack sought re-election to a second term as governor. He won his party's nomination uncontested, while Doug Gross, an advisor to former and future Governor Terry Branstad, narrowly won the Republican primary in a crowded and competitive election. In the general election, Vilsack was able to improve slightly on his margin of victory four years earlier to win what would be his second and final term as governor.

## Democratic primary
### Candidates

* Tom Vilsack, incumbent Governor of Iowa

### Results

Democratic primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Tom Vilsack (incumbent) | 79,277 | 98.55 |
| | Democratic | Write-ins | 1,166 | 1.45 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 80,443 | 100 |

## Republican primary
### Candidates

* Doug Gross, advisor to former Governor Terry Branstad
* Steve Sukup, Iowa State Representative (1995–2003)
* Bob Vander Plaats, family values activist

### Results

Republican primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Doug Gross | 71,478 | 35.88 |
| | Republican | Steve Sukup | 64,490 | 32.37 |
| | Republican | Bob Vander Plaats | 63,077 | 31.66 |
| | Republican | Write-ins | 189 | 0.09 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 199,234 | 100 |

## General election
### Predictions

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

### Polling

| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Tom Vilsack (D) | Doug Gross (R) | Other / Undecided |
| SurveyUSA | October 27–29, 2002 | 614 (LV) | ± 4.1% | 56% | 42% | 3% |

### Results

Iowa gubernatorial election, 2002 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | Tom Vilsack (incumbent) | 540,449 | 52.69% | +0.39% |
| | Republican | Doug Gross | 456,612 | 44.51% | −2.00% |
| | Green | Jay Robinson | 14,628 | 1.43% | |
| | Libertarian | Clyde Cleveland | 13,098 | 1.28% | |
| | Write-ins | | 1,025 | 0.10% | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 83,837 | 8.17% | +2.37% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,025,802 | | |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Swing | | |

#### Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic

* Adams (largest city: Corning)
* Hardin (largest city: Iowa Falls)
* Winnebago (largest city: Forest City)
* Clarke (largest city: Osceola)
* Louisa (largest city: Wapello)
* Mitchell (largest city: Osage)
* Union (largest city: Creston)
* Appanoose (Largest city: Centerville)
* Decatur (Largest city: Lamoni)
* Lucas (Largest city: Chariton)
* Monona (Largest city: Onawa)
* Ringgold (Largest city: Mount Ayr)
* Taylor (Largest city: Bedford)
* Wayne (Largest city: Corydon)
* Wright (Largest city: Eagle Grove)
* Cherokee (Largest city: Cherokee)
* Calhoun (Largest city: Rockwell City)
* Carroll (Largest city: Carroll)
* Keokuk (Largest city: Sigourney)
* Woodbury (Largest city: Sioux City)
* Washington (Largest city: Washington)
* Pocahontas (Largest city: Pocahontas)
* Franklin (Largest city: Hampton)
* Delaware (Largest city: Manchester)
* Humboldt (largest city: Humboldt)
* Adair (Largest city: Greenfield)
* Scott (largest city: Davenport)

#### Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican

* Jefferson (Largest city: Fairfield)
* Dickinson (Largest city: Spirit Lake)
* Sac (largest city: Sac City)
* Winneshiek (largest city: Decorah)

### By congressional district

Vilsack won four of five congressional districts, including three that elected Republicans.
| District | Vilsack | Gross | Representative |
| 1st | 54% | 43% | Jim Nussle |
| 2nd | 56% | 40% | Jim Leach |
| 3rd | 54% | 44% | Leonard Boswell |
| 4th | 54% | 43% | Tom Latham |
| 5th | 44% | 53% | Steve King |