The 2002 United States House of Representatives elections were held on November 5, 2002, in the middle of
President George W. Bush
George Walker Bush (born July 6, 1946) is an American politician and businessman who was the 43rd president of the United States from 2001 to 2009. A member of the Bush family and the Republican Party (United States), Republican Party, he i ...
's first term, to elect
U.S. Representatives to serve in the
108th United States Congress. This was the first congressional election using districts drawn up during the
2000 United States redistricting cycle on the basis of the
2000 census.
Although it was a
midterm election under a Republican president, the Republican Party made a net gain of eight seats, giving the party their largest majority since 1995. Some speculate that this may have been due to increased support for the president's party in the wake of the
September 11 attacks
The September 11 attacks, also known as 9/11, were four coordinated Islamist terrorist suicide attacks by al-Qaeda against the United States in 2001. Nineteen terrorists hijacked four commercial airliners, crashing the first two into ...
. As of 2024, it is the most recent midterm election in which the president's party did not lose control of the House.
Results
Federal
Summary of the November 5, 2002
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is a chamber of the Bicameralism, bicameral United States Congress; it is the lower house, with the U.S. Senate being the upper house. Together, the House and Senate have the authority under Artic ...
election results
Source
Election Statistics - Office of the Clerk
Maps
File:2002 House Elections by vote share.svg, Winner's share of the vote
File:2002 US House of Representatives Election by States.svg, Popular vote by states
File:108 us house membership.png, House seats by party holding plurality in state
File:108 us house changes.png, Summary of party change of U.S. House seats in the 2002 House election
Retirements
In the November general elections, 35 incumbents did not seek re-election, either to retire or to seek other positions.
Democrats
13 Democrats did not seek re-election.
# :
Carrie Meek retired.
# :
Rod Blagojevich retired to
run for Governor of Illinois.
# :
Tim Roemer retired when redistricted from the 3rd district.
# :
John Baldacci
John Elias Baldacci (born January 30, 1955) is an American politician who served as the 73rd governor of Maine from 2003 to 2011. A Democratic Party (United States), Democrat, he also served in the United States House of Representatives from 199 ...
retired to
run successfully for Governor of Maine.
# :
James A. Barcia retired to
run for Michigan Senate.
# :
David Bonior retired to
run for Governor of Michigan.
# :
John J. LaFalce retired when redistricted from the 29th district.
# :
Eva Clayton retired.
# :
Robert A. Borski Jr. retired when redistricted from the 3rd district.
# :
William J. Coyne retired.
# :
Bob Clement retired to
run for U.S. Senator.
# :
Ken Bentsen Jr. retired to
run for U.S. Senator.
# :
Tom Barrett retired to
run for Governor of Wisconsin.
Republicans
22 Republicans did not seek re-election.
# :
Sonny Callahan retired.
# :
Bob Riley retired to
run for Governor of Alabama.
# :
Bob Stump retired when redistricted from the 3rd district.
# :
Steve Horn retired when redistricted from the 38th district.
# :
Bob Schaffer retired.
# :
Dan Miller retired.
# :
Saxby Chambliss
Clarence Saxby Chambliss (; born November 10, 1943) is an American lawyer and retired politician who was a United States Senate, United States Senator from Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia from 2003 to 2015. A member of the Republican Party (Unite ...
retired to
run for U.S. Senator.
# :
Greg Ganske retired to
run for U.S. Senator.
# :
John Cooksey retired to
run for U.S. Senator.
# :
Bob Ehrlich retired to
run for Governor of Maryland.
# :
John E. Sununu retired to
run for U.S. Senator.
# :
Marge Roukema retired.
# :
Joe Skeen retired.
# :
Benjamin Gilman retired when redistricted from the 20th district.
# :
Wes Watkins
Wesley Wade Watkins (December 15, 1938 – March 26, 2025) was an American politician from the U.S. state, state of Oklahoma. Watkins was a member of the United States House of Representatives where he represented for 14 years as a Democratic P ...
retired.
# :
J. C. Watts retired.
# :
Lindsey Graham
Lindsey Olin Graham (; born July 9, 1955) is an American politician and attorney serving as the Seniority in the United States Senate, senior United States Senate, United States senator from South Carolina, a seat he has held since 2003. A membe ...
retired to
run for U.S. Senator.
# :
John Thune retired to
run for U.S. Senator.
# :
Van Hilleary retired to
run for Governor of Tennessee.
# :
Ed Bryant retired to
run for U.S. Senator.
# :
Dick Armey retired.
# :
James V. Hansen retired.
Resignation and expulsion
2 seats opened early due to a resignation and an expulsion. Neither were filled until the November elections.
Democrats
One Democrat resigned and one was expelled.
# :
Tony P. Hall resigned September 9, 2002, to become
U.S. Ambassador to the Food and Agriculture Organization.
# :
Jim Traficant was expelled July 24, 2002 for criminal conviction.
Republicans
No Republicans resigned.
Incumbents defeated
In primary elections
Democrats
Six Democrats lost renomination.
# :
Earl Hilliard lost renomination to
Artur Davis, who then won the general election.
# :
Gary Condit lost renomination to
Dennis Cardoza, who then won the general election.
# :
Cynthia McKinney lost renomination to
Denise Majette, who then won the general election.
# :
Lynn N. Rivers lost renomination in a redistricting race to
John Dingell, who then won the general election.
# :
Thomas C. Sawyer lost renomination to
Tim Ryan, who then won the general election.
# :
Frank Mascara lost renomination in a redistricting race to
John Murtha, who then won the general election.
Republicans
Two Republicans lost renomination.
# :
Bob Barr lost renomination in a redistricting race to
John Linder
John Elmer Linder (born September 9, 1942) is an American politician who was a member of the United States House of Representatives from 1993 to 2011. His district was numbered the from 1993 to 1997, the from 1997 to 2003, and the from 2003 ...
, who then won the general election.
# :
Brian D. Kerns lost renomination in a redistricting race to
Steve Buyer, who then won the general election.
In the general election
Democrats
Five Democrats lost re-election to Republicans.
# :
James H. Maloney lost a redistricting race to
Nancy Johnson
Nancy Elizabeth Johnson (née Lee; born January 5, 1935) is an American lobbyist and politics in the United States, politician from the U.S. state, state of Connecticut. Johnson was a United States Republican Party, Republican member of the Un ...
.
# :
Karen Thurman lost to
Ginny Brown-Waite.
# :
David D. Phelps lost a redistricting race to
John Shimkus.
# :
Bill Luther lost to
John Kline.
# :
Ronnie Shows lost a redistricting race to
Chip Pickering.
Republicans
Three Republicans lost re-election to Democrats.
# :
Connie Morella lost to
Chris Van Hollen.
# :
Felix Grucci lost to
Tim Bishop.
# :
George Gekas lost a redistricting race to
Tim Holden.
Open seats that changed parties
Democratic seats won by Republicans
Three Democratic seats were won by Republicans.
# : Won by
Chris Chocola.
# : Won by
Candice Miller.
# : Won by
Mike Turner.
Republican seats won by Democrats
Five Republican seats were won by Democrats.
# : Won by
Linda Sánchez.
# : Won by
Jim Marshall.
# : Won by
Rodney Alexander.
# : Won by
Dutch Ruppersberger.
# : Won by
Lincoln Davis.
Open seats that parties held
Democratic seats held by Democrats
Democrats held five of their open seats.
# : Won by
Kendrick Meek.
# : Won by
Rahm Emanuel
Rahm Israel Emanuel (; born November 29, 1959) is an American politician, advisor, diplomat, and former investment banker who most recently served as List of ambassadors of the United States to Japan, United States ambassador to Japan from 2022 ...
.
# : Won by
Frank Ballance.
# : Won by
Jim Cooper.
# : Won by
Chris Bell.
Republican seats held by Republicans
Republicans held fourteen of their open seats.
# : Won by
Jo Bonner.
# : Won by
Mike Rogers.
# : Won by
Trent Franks.
# : Won by
Marilyn Musgrave.
# : Won by
Katherine Harris.
# : Won by
Steve King.
# : Won by
Jeb Bradley.
# : Won by
Scott Garrett.
# : Won by
Steve Pearce.
# : Won by
Tom Cole.
# : Won by
Gresham Barrett.
# : Won by
Marsha Blackburn
Mary Marsha Blackburn (née Wedgeworth; born June 6, 1952) is an American politician and businesswoman serving as the Seniority in the United States Senate, senior United States Senate, United States senator from Tennessee. Blackburn was first ...
.
# : Won by
Michael C. Burgess.
# : Won by
Rob Bishop.
Newly created seats
Of the 435 districts created in the 2000 redistricting, sixteen had no incumbent representative.
Democratic gain
Three Democrats were elected in newly created seats.
# : Won by
Raúl Grijalva.
# : Won by
David Scott
David Randolph Scott (born June 6, 1932) is an American retired test pilot and NASA astronaut who was the List of Apollo astronauts#People who have walked on the Moon, seventh person to walk on the Moon. Selected as part of the NASA Astronaut ...
.
# : Won by
Brad Miller.
Republican gain
Thirteen Republicans were elected in newly created seats.
# : Won by
Rick Renzi.
# : Won by
Devin Nunes
Devin Gerald Nunes (; born October 1, 1973) is an American businessman and politician who serves as the Chair of the President's Intelligence Advisory Board since January 20, 2025, and as chief executive officer of the Trump Media & Technolog ...
.
# : Won by
Bob Beauprez.
# : Won by
Tom Feeney.
# : Won by
Mario Diaz-Balart.
# : Won by
Phil Gingrey.
# : Won by
Max Burns.
# : Won by
Thad McCotter.
# : Won by
Jon Porter.
# : Won by
Jim Gerlach.
# : Won by
Tim Murphy.
# : Won by
Jeb Hensarling.
# : Won by
John Carter.
Election ratings
Closest races
Thirty-eight races were decided by 10% or lower.
Special elections
Two special elections were held for members to serve the remainder of the term ending January 3, 2003.
Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
The state gained two seats in reapportionment.
Arkansas
California
The state gained one seat in reapportionment.
Colorado
The state gained one seat in reapportionment.
Connecticut
The state lost one seat in reapportionment.
Delaware
Florida
The state gained two seats in reapportionment.
Georgia
The state gained two seats in reapportionment.
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
The state lost one seat in reapportionment.
Indiana
The state lost one seat in reapportionment.
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
The state lost one seat in reapportionment.
Minnesota
Mississippi
The state lost one seat in reapportionment.
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
The state lost two seats in reapportionment.
North Carolina
The state gained one seat in reapportionment.
North Dakota
Ohio
The state lost one seat in reapportionment.
Oklahoma
The state lost one seat in reapportionment.
Oregon
Pennsylvania
The state lost two seats in reapportionment.
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
The state gained two seats in reapportionment.
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
The state lost one seat in reapportionment.
Wyoming
See also
*
2002 United States elections
**
2002 United States gubernatorial elections
**
2002 United States Senate elections
The 2002 United States Senate elections featured a series of fiercely contested elections that resulted in a victory for the Republican Party, which gained two seats and thus a narrow majority from the Democratic Party in the United States Sena ...
*
107th United States Congress
The 107th United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, composed of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C., from January ...
*
108th United States Congress
Notes
References
External links
United States Election 2002 Web Archivefrom the U.S.
Library of Congress
The Library of Congress (LOC) is a research library in Washington, D.C., serving as the library and research service for the United States Congress and the ''de facto'' national library of the United States. It also administers Copyright law o ...
{{Mike Pence
Presidency of George W. Bush
Aftermath of the September 11 attacks
Barney Frank
Dennis Hastert
Ed Markey
Mike Pence