# 2002 Colorado gubernatorial election

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vte :
The 2002 Colorado gubernatorial election was held on November 5, 2002, to elect the governor of Colorado. Bill Owens, the Republican incumbent, defeated Democratic nominee Rollie Heath to win a second term. Owen's win set the record for biggest win by a Republican in a Colorado gubernatorial election (Democrats won by larger margins in 1982, 1948, and 1928, with Billy Adams' 35 point blowout in that year being the greatest victory for a candidate of any party). As of 2025, this is the last time a Republican was elected Governor of Colorado and the only time in the past half-century that a Republican won a majority in the state.

## Republican primary
### Candidates

* Bill Owens, incumbent Governor of Colorado

### Results

Republican primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Bill Owens (incumbent) | 189,705 | 100.00 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 189,705 | 100.00 |

## Democratic primary
### Candidates

* Rollie Heath, businessman

### Results

Democratic primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Rollie Heath | 98,897 | 100.00 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 98,897 | 100.00 |

## General election
### Debates

* Complete video of debate, September 7, 2002
* Complete video of debate, September 24, 2002
* Complete video of debate, October 17, 2002

### Predictions

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

### Results

2002 Colorado gubernatorial election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Bill Owens (inc.) | 884,583 | 62.62% | +13.58% |
| | Democratic | Rollie Heath | 475,373 | 33.65% | −14.77% |
| | Green | Ronald Forthofer | 32,099 | 2.27% | – |
| | Libertarian | Ralph Shnelvar | 20,547 | 1.45% | −0.23% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 409,210 | 28.97% | +28.34% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,412,602 | |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

#### Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican

* Routt (Largest city: Steamboat Springs)
* Garfield (largest municipality: Glenwood Springs)
* Eagle (largest municipality: Edwards)
* Summit (largest municipality: Breckenridge)
* Clear Creek (largest city: Idaho Springs)
* Gilpin (largest city: Central City)
* Adams (largest city: Thornton)
* Arapahoe (largest city: Aurora)
* Gunnison (Largest city: Gunnison)
* Lake (Largest city: Leadville)
* Pitkin (Largest city: Aspen)
* La Plata (largest municipality: Durango)
* San Juan (largest municipality: Silverton)
* Saguache (largest city: Center)
* Mineral (Largest city: Creede)
* Conejos (largest municipality: Manassa)
* Costilla (largest municipality: San Luis)
* Las Animas (largest city: Trinidad)
* Huerfano (largest city: Walsenburg)