The 2002 New Hampshire gubernatorial election was held on November 5, 2002. Three-term incumbent Democratic governor Jeanne Shaheen opted to unsuccessfully run for the United States Senate rather than seek a fourth term as governor. Republican Craig Benson, a self-funded businessman, defeated Democrat Mark Fernald, a state senator, in the general election after both won contested primary elections.
This was the only time a Republican was elected governor between 1994 and 2016.
Democratic primary
Candidates
- Mark Fernald, New Hampshire state senator
- Bev Hollingworth, New Hampshire state senator
Results
Republican primary
Candidates
- Craig Benson, businessman
- Bruce Keough, former New Hampshire state senator
- Gordon J. Humphrey, former U.S. senator, 2000 Republican nominee for governor
- Robert Kingsbury, perennial candidate
- Joe Haas
- Bob Kroepel
Results
General election
Predictions
Results
Counties that swung from Democratic to Republican
- Coös (largest city: Berlin)
- Hillsborough (largest city: Manchester)
- Grafton (largest city: Lebanon)
- Merrimack (largest city: Concord)
- Strafford (largest city: Dover)
- Sullivan (largest city: Claremont)
See also
- U.S. Gubernatorial Elections, 2002
References
External links
- New Hampshire Secretary of State's office, election division
