California elections, 2002

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California's state elections were held November 5, 2002. Necessary primary elections were held on March 5. Up for election were all the seats of the California State Assembly, 20 seats of the California Senate, seven constitutional officers, all the seats of the California Board of Equalization, as well as votes on retention of two Supreme Court justices and various appeals court judges. Seven ballot measures were also up for approval. Municipal offices were also included in the election.

California State of the United States of America

California is a state in the Pacific Region of the United States. With 39.6 million residents, California is the most populous U.S. state and the third-largest by area. The state capital is Sacramento. The Greater Los Angeles Area and the San Francisco Bay Area are the nation's second and fifth most populous urban regions, with 18.7 million and 8.8 million residents respectively. Los Angeles is California's most populous city, and the country's second most populous, after New York City. California also has the nation's most populous county, Los Angeles County, and its largest county by area, San Bernardino County. The City and County of San Francisco is both the country's second-most densely populated major city after New York City and the fifth-most densely populated county, behind only four of the five New York City boroughs.

A primary election is the process by which voters, either the general public or members of a political party, can indicate their preference for a candidate in an upcoming general election or by-election, thus narrowing the field of candidates.

California State Assembly lower house of the California State Legislature

The California State Assembly is the lower house of the California State Legislature, the upper house being the California State Senate. The Assembly convenes, along with the State Senate, at the California State Capitol in Sacramento.

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Incumbent governor Gray Davis won reelection with less than 50% of the vote over his Republican challenger Bill Simon. Democrats also won every other statewide office and maintained their majorities in both houses of the state legislature.

Gray Davis former governor of California

Joseph Graham "Gray" Davis Jr. is a retired American politician and attorney who served as the 37th Governor of California from 1999 to 2003. A member of the Democratic Party, only a few months into his second term, in 2003 Davis was recalled and removed from office, the second state governor successfully recalled in U.S. history. Prior to serving as governor, Davis was chief of staff to Governor Jerry Brown (1975–81), a California State Assemblyman (1983–87), California State Controller (1987–95) and the 44th Lieutenant Governor of California (1995–99). Davis holds a B.A. in history from Stanford University and a J.D. from Columbia Law School. He was awarded a Bronze Star for his service as a Captain in the Vietnam War.

The California Republican Party (CAGOP) is the California affiliate of the United States Republican Party. The party is based in Sacramento, and is led by Chairwoman Jessica Patterson.

William Edward "Bill" Simon Jr. is an American businessman, philanthropist and politician. In 2002, Simon campaigned unsuccessfully for Governor of California as a Republican against Democratic incumbent Gray Davis. Billed as a "conservative Republican," the virtually unknown Simon's campaign was significantly boosted by support from better-known Republican officeholders from outside California, including former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani.

Constitutional Offices

Governor

Final results from the California Secretary of State:

2002 California gubernatorial election
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Gray Davis (incumbent)3,533,49047.3
Republican Bill Simon 3,169,801 42.4
Green Peter Miguel Camejo 393,036 5.3
Libertarian Gary David Copeland 161,203 2.2
American Independent Reinhold Gulke 128,035 1.7
Natural Law Iris Adam 88,415 1.1
Turnout {{{votes}}}
Democratic hold

Lieutenant Governor

Final results from the California Secretary of State:

2002 Lieutenant Governor of California election
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Cruz Bustamante (incumbent)3,589,80449.5
Republican Bruce McPherson 3,031,571 41.8
Green Donna J. Warren 298,951 4.1
Libertarian Pat Wright 104,920 1.4
American Independent James D. King 91,015 1.2
Reform Paul Jerry Hanosh 80,307 1.1
Natural Law Kalee Przybylak 66,847 0.9
Total votes7,263,415100.0
Turnout {{{votes}}}
Democratic hold

Secretary of State

Final results from the California Secretary of State:

2002 California Secretary of State election
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Kevin Shelley 3,295,39746.4
Republican Keith Olberg 3,008,539 42.3
Green Lawrence H. Shoup 274,523 3.9
Libertarian Gail Lightfoot 200,146 2.8
Natural Law Louise Marie Allison 173,139 2.4
American Independent Edward C. Noonan 85,791 1.2
Reform Valli Sharpe-Geisler 76,875 1.0
Total votes7,114,410100.0
Turnout {{{votes}}}
Democratic gain from Republican

Controller

Final results from the California Secretary of State:

2002 California State Controller election
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Steve Westly 3,228,90845.4
Republican Tom McClintock 3,206,178 45.1
Green Laura Wells 409,172 5.8
Natural Law J. Carlos Aguirre 176,791 2.4
American Independent Ernest F. Vance 94,088 1.3
Total votes7,115,137100.0
Turnout {{{votes}}}
Democratic hold

Treasurer

Final results from the California Secretary of State:

2002 California State Treasurer election
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Phil Angelides (incumbent)3,481,14649.4
Republican Phillip Gregory Conlon 2,853,997 40.5
Green Jeanne-Marie Rosenmeier 346,423 5.0
Libertarian Marian Smithson 165,040 2.3
Natural Law Sylvia Valentine 109,259 1.5
American Independent Nathan E. Johnson 94,974 1.3
Total votes7,050,839100.0
Turnout {{{votes}}}
Democratic hold

Attorney General

Final results from the California Secretary of State:

2002 California Attorney General election
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Bill Lockyer (incumbent)3,646,82951.4
Republican Dick Ackerman 2,860,542 40.4
Green Glen Freeman Mowrer 275,475 3.9
American Independent Diane B. Templin 190,187 2.6
Libertarian Ed Kuwatch 124,504 1.7
Total votes7,097,447100.0
Turnout {{{votes}}}
Democratic hold

Insurance Commissioner

Final results from the California Secretary of State:

2002 California Insurance Commissioner election
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic John Garamendi 3,283,36746.6
Republican Gary Mendoza 2,937,820 41.7
Green David Ishmael Sheidlower 270,295 3.9
Libertarian Dale F. Ogden 232,182 3.2
Natural Law Raul Calderon 188,283 2.6
American Independent Steven A. Klein 146,200 2.0
Total votes7,058,147100.0
Turnout {{{votes}}}
Democratic hold

Board of Equalization

Overview

California Board of Equalization elections, 2002
PartyVotesPercentageSeats+/–
Democratic 3,391,313 50.28% 2 0
Republican 3,092,030 45.84% 2 0
Libertarian 262,083 3.89% 0 0
Totals6,745,426100.00%4

District 1

Final results from the California Secretary of State:

2002 State Board of Equalization District 1 election
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Carole Migden 1,171,68860.64
Republican David J. Neighbors 648,849 33.59
Libertarian Elizabeth C. Brierly 111,386 5.77
Total votes1,931,923100.00
Turnout {{{votes}}}
Democratic hold

District 2

Final results from the California Secretary of State:

2002 State Board of Equalization District 2 election
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Bill Leonard 1,027,71658.54
Democratic Tim Raboy 728,061 41.46
Total votes1,755,777100.0
Turnout {{{votes}}}
Republican hold

District 3

Final results from the California Secretary of State:

2002 State Board of Equalization District 3 election
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Claude Parrish (incumbent)1,008,17058.93
Democratic Mary Christian-Heising 636,300 37.20
Libertarian J. R. Graham 66,171 3.87
Total votes1,710,641100.00
Turnout {{{votes}}}
Republican hold

District 4

Final results from the California Secretary of State:

2002 State Board of Equalization District 4 election
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic John Chiang (incumbent)855,26463.49
Republican Glen R. Forsch 407,295 30.24
Libertarian Kenneth A. Weissman 84,526 6.27
Total votes1,347,085100.00
Turnout {{{votes}}}
Democratic hold

Judicial system

Supreme Court of California

Final results from the California Secretary of State:

Associate Justice Marvin Baxter, Seat 1
Vote on retentionVotes%±%
Yes3,455,08471.6%
No1,373,64528.4%
Total votes 4,828,729 100.0%
Majority 2,081,439 43.2%
Turnout
Associate Justice Kathryn Werdegar, Seat 2
Vote on retentionVotes%±%
Yes3,704,04074.2%
No1,294,27725.8%
Total votes 4,998,317 100.0%
Majority 2,409,763 48.4%
Turnout
Associate Justice Carlos Moreno, Seat 3
Vote on retentionVotes%±%
Yes3,628,63272.6%
No1,370,68527.4%
Total votes 4,999,317 100.0%
Majority 2,257,947 45.2%
Turnout

California Courts of Appeal

See California Courts of Appeal elections, 2002.

California State Legislature elections

State Senate

For individual races see California State Senate elections, 2002.

There are 40 seats in the State Senate. For this election, candidates running in odd-numbered districts ran for four-year terms. [1]

California State Senate - 2002Seats
  Democratic-Held 25
  Republican-Held 15
2002 Elections
  Democratic Held and Uncontested 11
  Contested 15
  Republican Held and Uncontested 14
 Total
40

State Assembly

For individual races see California State Assembly elections, 2002.

All 80 biennially elected seats of the State Assembly were up for election this year. Each seat has a two-year term. The Democrats retained control of the State Assembly. [2]

California State Assembly - 2002Seats
  Democratic-Held 48
  Republican-Held 32
2002 Elections
  Democratic Incumbent and Uncontested 32
  Contested, Open Seats 32
  Republican Incumbent and Uncontested 16
 Total
80

Statewide ballot propositions

Seven propositions qualified to be listed on the general election ballot in California. Five of them passed.

Proposition 46

Proposition 46 would create a trust fund by selling $2.1 billion in general obligation funds to fund 21 types of housing programs, including multifamily, individual and farmworker housing. Proposition 46 passed with 57.5% approval.

Proposition 47

The state would sell $13 billion in general obligation bonds for construction and renovation of K-12 school facilities and higher education facilities. Proposition 47 passed with 59% approval.

Proposition 48

Would amend the Constitution to delete references to the municipal courts. Proposition 48 passed with 72.8% approval.

Proposition 49

Would substantially increase funding for before and after-school programs, and make general funds permanently earmarked for the programs beginning in the 2004-2005 school year. Proposition 49 passed with 56.6% approval.

Proposition 50

The state would borrow $3.4 billion through the sale of general obligation bonds for water projects. Proposition 50 passed with 55.4% approval.

Proposition 51

Would permanently allocate sales and use taxes raised from the sale or lease of motor vehicles to specific transportation projects. Proposition 51 failed with 41.4% approval.

Proposition 52

Would allow legally eligible California residents presenting proof of current residence to register to vote on Election Day (same-day voter registration). Proposition 52 failed with 40.6% approval.

Related Research Articles

References

See also