2002 Maine gubernatorial election

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2002 Maine gubernatorial election
Flag of Maine.svg
←  1998 November 5, 2002 2006  →
  Baldacci.jpg PeterCianchette.jpg 3x4.svg
Nominee John Baldacci Peter Cianchette Jonathan Carter
Party Democratic Republican Green
Popular vote238,179209,49646,903
Percentage47.15%41.47%9.28%
2002 Maine gubernatorial election results map by county.svg
2002 Maine gubernatorial election results map by municipality.svg
Baldacci:     30–40%     40–50%     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90%     >90%
Cianchette:     40–50%     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90%
Carter:     50–60%
Tie:     40–50%     50%
Governor before election

Angus King
Independent

Elected Governor

John Baldacci
Democratic

The 2002 Maine gubernatorial election took place on November 5, 2002, to elect the governor of Maine. Incumbent Independent governor Angus King was term-limited and could not seek re-election to a third consecutive term. U.S. Congressman John Baldacci won the Democratic primary uncontested, while former State Representative Peter Cianchette emerged from the Republican primary victorious. Baldacci and Cianchette squared off in the general election, along with Green Party nominee Jonathan Carter and independent State Representative John Michael.

Contents

Ultimately, John Baldacci prevailed to win what would be his first of two terms as governor. This was the first election since 1982 that Maine elected a Democratic governor. [1]

Democratic primary

Candidates

Results

Democratic primary results [2]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic John Baldacci 71,735 100.00
Total votes71,735 100.00

Republican primary

Candidates

Results

Republican primary results [3]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Peter E. Cianchette 52,692 66.88
Republican James D. Libby26,09133.12
Total votes78,783 100.00

Green Party primary

Candidates

Withdrawn

Results

Green Party primary results [5]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Green Jonathan Carter 1,613 100.00
Total votes1,613 100.00

General election

Candidates

Predictions

SourceRankingAs of
The Cook Political Report [6] Lean D (flip)October 31, 2002
Sabato's Crystal Ball [7] Likely D (flip)November 4, 2002

Results

Baldacci carried much of western and northern Maine, which he had represented in Congress, while Cianchette used his southern Maine roots to win traditionally Democratic Cumberland County and its surroundings. This election is the most recent time Cumberland County voted for a Republican in a gubernatorial election, as well as the most recent time Piscataquis County voted for a Democrat in any gubernatorial, senate, or presidential election.

Of the five counties Cianchette carried, four voted for Democrat Al Gore in the presidential election held two years earlier, while Baldacci carried four counties that voted for Republican George W. Bush in that election. Baldacci would also win both counties (Piscataquis and Washington) that Bush would carry two years later in the 2004 presidential election, while all of the counties Cianchette won would vote for Democrat John Kerry.

Baldacci and Cianchette finished with exact ties in a handful of municipalities: Chesterville, Kingsbury Plantation, Lincoln Plantation, Mercer, Waite, and West Forks, as well as a handful of precincts for voters in unincorporated portions of Washington County. Carter would carry one municipality, Perkins Township in Franklin County.

Maine gubernatorial election, 2002 [2]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Democratic John Baldacci 238,179 47.15% +35.37%
Republican Peter Cianchette 209,49641.47%+22.89%
Green Jonathan Carter 46,9039.28%+2.59%
Independent John Michael 10,6122.10%
Majority 28,6835.68%−33.26%
Turnout 505,190
Democratic gain from Independent Swing

Counties that flipped from Independent to Democratic

Counties that flipped from Independent to Republican

References

  1. ↑ "Baldacci, John E. | Maine: An Encyclopedia". April 25, 2011. Retrieved January 12, 2023.
  2. 1 2 "General Election, November 5, 2002 - Tabulations - Governor (Secretary of State, State of Maine, U.S.A.)". Archived from the original on October 26, 2011. Retrieved January 15, 2012.
  3. ↑ "Primary Election, June 11, 2002 - Tabulations - Governor - Republican (Secretary of State, State of Maine, U.S.A.)". Archived from the original on October 17, 2012. Retrieved December 28, 2012.
  4. ↑ Higgins, A.J. (March 15, 2002). "Farsaci drops out of race after petition drive fails". Bangor Daily News . Archived from the original on July 9, 2013. Retrieved July 9, 2013.
  5. ↑ "Primary Election, June 11, 2002 - Tabulations - Governor - Green Independent (Secretary of State, State of Maine, U.S.A.)". Archived from the original on October 17, 2012. Retrieved December 28, 2012.
  6. ↑ "Governor Updated October 31, 2002 | The Cook Political Report". The Cook Political Report. October 31, 2002. Archived from the original on December 8, 2002. Retrieved September 18, 2018.
  7. ↑ "Governors Races". www.centerforpolitics.org. November 4, 2002. Archived from the original on December 12, 2002. Retrieved September 18, 2018.

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