The 2002 Idaho gubernatorial election was held on November 5, 2002 to select the

governor A governor is an administrative leader and head of a polity or political region, ranking under the head of state and in some cases, such as governors-general, as the head of state's official representative. Depending on the type of political ...

of the state of

Idaho Idaho ( ) is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the Western United States. To the north, it shares a small portion of the Canada–United States border with the province of British Columbia. It borders the states of Montana and Wyom ...

Dirk Kempthorne Dirk Arthur Kempthorne (born October 29, 1951) is an American politician who served as the 49th United States Secretary of the Interior from 2006 to 2009 under President George W. Bush. A member of the Republican Party, he previously served as a ...

, the

Republican Republican can refer to: Political ideology * An advocate of a republic, a type of government that is not a monarchy or dictatorship, and is usually associated with the rule of law. ** Republicanism, the ideology in support of republics or agains ...

incumbent, defeated Democratic nominee Jerry Brady to win a second term, but the win was not nearly as overwhelming as Kempthorne's 1998 victory. This was the first Idaho gubernatorial election since 1978 in which the winner was of the same party as the

incumbent The incumbent is the current holder of an official, office or position, usually in relation to an election. In an election for president, the incumbent is the person holding or acting in the office of president before the election, whether seek ...

president.

Republican primary

Candidates

*Walter L. Bayes *Milt Erhart, perennial candidate *Raynelle J. George *

, incumbent

Governor of Idaho A governor is an administrative leader and head of a polity or political region, ranking under the head of state and in some cases, such as governors-general, as the head of state's official representative. Depending on the type of political r ...

Results

Democratic primary

Candidates

*Jerry Brady, newspaper publisher *Rue T. Stears

Results

Libertarian primary

Candidates

*Daniel L. J. Adams, perennial candidate *Michael Monroe Gollaher (write-in)

Results

General election

Campaign

Although Brady performed considerably better than 1998 Democratic gubernatorial nominee Robert C. Huntley and won in

Ada County Ada County is located in the southwestern part of Idaho, United States. As of the 2021 United States census estimate, the county had a population of 511,931, making it by far the state's most populous county; it is home to 26.8% of the state's p ...

, Kempthorne won reelection with a comfortable majority.

Republican primary

Candidates

Results

Democratic primary

Candidates

Results

Libertarian primary

Candidates

Results

General election

Campaign

Predictions

Results

References

See also