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 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.
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.
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.
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.
Final results from the California Secretary of State:
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Gray Davis (incumbent) | 3,533,490 | 47.3 | |
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 | ||||
Final results from the California Secretary of State:
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Cruz Bustamante (incumbent) | 3,589,804 | 49.5 | |
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 votes | 7,263,415 | 100.0 | ||
Turnout | {{{votes}}} | |||
Democratic hold | ||||
Final results from the California Secretary of State:
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Kevin Shelley | 3,295,397 | 46.4 | |||
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 votes | 7,114,410 | 100.0 | ||||
Turnout | {{{votes}}} | |||||
Democratic gain from Republican | ||||||
Final results from the California Secretary of State:
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Steve Westly | 3,228,908 | 45.4 | |
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 votes | 7,115,137 | 100.0 | ||
Turnout | {{{votes}}} | |||
Democratic hold | ||||
Final results from the California Secretary of State:
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Phil Angelides (incumbent) | 3,481,146 | 49.4 | |
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 votes | 7,050,839 | 100.0 | ||
Turnout | {{{votes}}} | |||
Democratic hold | ||||
Final results from the California Secretary of State:
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Bill Lockyer (incumbent) | 3,646,829 | 51.4 | |
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 votes | 7,097,447 | 100.0 | ||
Turnout | {{{votes}}} | |||
Democratic hold | ||||
Final results from the California Secretary of State:
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | John Garamendi | 3,283,367 | 46.6 | |
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 votes | 7,058,147 | 100.0 | ||
Turnout | {{{votes}}} | |||
Democratic hold | ||||
California Board of Equalization elections, 2002 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Party | Votes | Percentage | Seats | +/– | |
Democratic | 3,391,313 | 50.28% | 2 | 0 | |
Republican | 3,092,030 | 45.84% | 2 | 0 | |
Libertarian | 262,083 | 3.89% | 0 | 0 | |
Totals | 6,745,426 | 100.00% | 4 | — |
Final results from the California Secretary of State:
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Carole Migden | 1,171,688 | 60.64 | |
Republican | David J. Neighbors | 648,849 | 33.59 | |
Libertarian | Elizabeth C. Brierly | 111,386 | 5.77 | |
Total votes | 1,931,923 | 100.00 | ||
Turnout | {{{votes}}} | |||
Democratic hold | ||||
Final results from the California Secretary of State:
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Bill Leonard | 1,027,716 | 58.54 | |
Democratic | Tim Raboy | 728,061 | 41.46 | |
Total votes | 1,755,777 | 100.0 | ||
Turnout | {{{votes}}} | |||
Republican hold | ||||
Final results from the California Secretary of State:
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Claude Parrish (incumbent) | 1,008,170 | 58.93 | |
Democratic | Mary Christian-Heising | 636,300 | 37.20 | |
Libertarian | J. R. Graham | 66,171 | 3.87 | |
Total votes | 1,710,641 | 100.00 | ||
Turnout | {{{votes}}} | |||
Republican hold | ||||
Final results from the California Secretary of State:
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | John Chiang (incumbent) | 855,264 | 63.49 | |
Republican | Glen R. Forsch | 407,295 | 30.24 | |
Libertarian | Kenneth A. Weissman | 84,526 | 6.27 | |
Total votes | 1,347,085 | 100.00 | ||
Turnout | {{{votes}}} | |||
Democratic hold | ||||
Final results from the California Secretary of State:
Associate Justice Marvin Baxter, Seat 1 | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Vote on retention | Votes | % | ±% | |||
Yes | 3,455,084 | 71.6% | ||||
No | 1,373,645 | 28.4% | ||||
Total votes | 4,828,729 | 100.0% | ||||
Majority | 2,081,439 | 43.2% | ||||
Turnout |
Associate Justice Kathryn Werdegar, Seat 2 | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Vote on retention | Votes | % | ±% | |||
Yes | 3,704,040 | 74.2% | ||||
No | 1,294,277 | 25.8% | ||||
Total votes | 4,998,317 | 100.0% | ||||
Majority | 2,409,763 | 48.4% | ||||
Turnout |
Associate Justice Carlos Moreno, Seat 3 | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Vote on retention | Votes | % | ±% | |||
Yes | 3,628,632 | 72.6% | ||||
No | 1,370,685 | 27.4% | ||||
Total votes | 4,999,317 | 100.0% | ||||
Majority | 2,257,947 | 45.2% | ||||
Turnout |
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 - 2002 | Seats | |
Democratic-Held | 25 | |
Republican-Held | 15 | |
2002 Elections | ||
Democratic Held and Uncontested | 11 | |
Contested | 15 | |
Republican Held and Uncontested | 14 | |
Total | 40 | |
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 - 2002 | Seats | |
Democratic-Held | 48 | |
Republican-Held | 32 | |
2002 Elections | ||
Democratic Incumbent and Uncontested | 32 | |
Contested, Open Seats | 32 | |
Republican Incumbent and Uncontested | 16 | |
Total | 80 | |
Seven propositions qualified to be listed on the general election ballot in California. Five of them passed.
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.
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.
Would amend the Constitution to delete references to the municipal courts. Proposition 48 passed with 72.8% approval.
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.
The state would borrow $3.4 billion through the sale of general obligation bonds for water projects. Proposition 50 passed with 55.4% approval.
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.
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.
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