Oregon gubernatorial election, 2002

Oregon gubernatorial election, 2002

1998 ← November 5, 2002 → 2006

Nominee Ted Kulongoski Kevin Mannix Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 618,004 581,785 Percentage 49.0% 46.2%

Governor before election John Kitzhaber Democratic Elected Governor Ted Kulongoski Democratic

The 2002 Oregon gubernatorial election took place on November 5, 2002 for the post of Governor of Oregon. Democratic candidate Ted Kulongoski defeated Republican Kevin Mannix.

Democratic primary

Former Oregon Supreme Court justice Ted Kulongoski won the Democratic primary on May 21, 2002, to gain the party's nomination. Incumbent governor John Kitzhaber was term limited and unable to seek re-election.

Kulongoski obtained the endorsement of labor unions and the backing of governor Kitzhaber. A poll before the election showed Kulongoski on 40% ahead of former State Treasurer Jim Hill on 23% and Bev Stein on 19%.^[1] Lesser known candidates standing in the Democratic primary included William Allen, campaigning on the belief that Oregon paid too much money to the federal government and should consider seceding, and Caleb Burns standing to reform Oregon's schools.^[2]

Kulongoski won the primary with 49% of the vote against 26% for Jim Hill and 22% for Bev Stein.^[3]

Republican primary

The Republican saw a close race between three main candidates. Conservative lawyer and former State Representative Kevin Mannix defeated the state Commissioner of Labor and Industries Jack Roberts and former Portland school board member Ron Saxton.^[1]

One poll before the primary showed Saxton ahead on 30% against 27% for both Mannix and Roberts. However another poll showed Mannix ahead on 29% against 27% for Saxton and Roberts on 19%.^[1] Other candidates in the Republican primary included W. Ames Curtright, who called himself the 'flying governor' as he planned to fly his plane around the state keeping in touch with the people and Roger Weidner who was running to change the court system.^[2]

Candidate	# of votes	% of votes
Kevin Mannix	117,194	35.2
Jack Roberts	98,008	29.5
Ron Saxton	93,484	28.1
Ames Curtwright	10,986	3.3
Roger Weidner	7,395	2.2
Miscellaneous	3,242	1.0
Lee Shindler	2,266	0.7

Source: 2002 Gubernatorial Republican Primary Election Results - Oregon

Campaign

Kulongoski focused on education, his support for gay rights and the Oregon Death with Dignity law. Mannix campaigned on his plans to cut taxes to stimulate the economy of Oregon and encouraging partnerships between businesses and colleges. Tom Cox for the Libertarian party and two write in candidates, Richard Alevizos and Gary Spanovich, also stood in the election.^[4]

The departure of Kitzhaber, who had opposed plans to build a Columbia Gorge casino, was considered an opportunity for the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs.^[5] Tribes invested record amounts of money into Oregon politics in this race, including $40,000 supporting Kulongoski.^[6] Kulongoski did not take a position on the issue during the campaign, but later became a supporter of the plan.

Kulongoski campaigned using a motor home and his many visits to bowling alleys became a trademark of his campaign.^[7] Early in the campaign Kulongoski held a large lead over Mannix in the polls but the gap narrowed as the election neared after Mannix put Kulongoski on the defensive. Mannix characterised Kulongoski as a strong tax and spender after he endorsed a proposed 313 million dollar income tax rise to avoid cuts in education and other areas.^[8] He also attacked Kulongoski for being soft on crime.^[7] A poll in October showed Kulongoski on 45%, only 4 percent ahead of Mannix on 41%.^[8]

Mannix conceded the election on 6 November 2002 after Kulongoski secured a decisive lead in the vote count. The Libertarian candidate Tom Cox claimed that he was responsible for Kulongoski's victory as his exit polls suggested he took twice as many Republican votes as Democratic votes.^[9]

Results

2002 gubernatorial election, Oregon[10]
Party		Candidate	Votes	Percentage
	Democratic	Ted Kulongoski	618,004	49.0%
	Republican	Kevin Mannix	581,785	46.2%
	Libertarian	Tom Cox	57,760	4.6%
	Others		2,948	0.2%
Majority			36,219	2.8
Totals			1,323,497	67.3%
	Democratic hold

References

1. ^ ^{a b c} "GOP, Dems See Chance at Oregon Governor's Spot". Fox News Channel. 2002-05-18. http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,53087,00.html. Retrieved 2008-05-20. 
2. ^ ^{a b} "Five 'other' candidates are running". Oregon Daily Emerald. 2002-05-09. http://media.www.dailyemerald.com/media/storage/paper859/news/2002/05/09/UndefinedSection/Five-other.Candidates.Are.Running-1977168.shtml. Retrieved 2008-05-20. 
3. ^ "Pennsylvania, Oregon Now Set for Main Events". Cook Political Report. 2002-05-25. Archived from the original on 2008-01-30. http://web.archive.org/web/20080130110606/http://www.cookpolitical.com/column/2002/052502.php. Retrieved 2008-05-20. 
4. ^ "Governor race heats up". Oregon Daily Emerald. 2002-09-23. http://media.www.dailyemerald.com/media/storage/paper859/news/2002/09/23/News/Governor.Race.Heats.Up-1978032.shtml. Retrieved 2008-05-20. 
5. ^ Jim Lynch (November 21, 2002). "Silence of Oregon's Governor Elect Adds Fuel to Fight over Casino". Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News (The Oregonian). http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-94942606.html. 
6. ^ Jim Lynch (January 15, 2003). "Native American Tribes Invest Record Cash in Oregon Politics". Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News (The Oregonian). http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-96481968.html. 
7. ^ ^{a b} Benedetto, Richard (2002-11-11). "Blue-collar campaign allows lawyer to bowl over challenger". USA Today. http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2002-11-11--kulongoski-usat_x.htm. Retrieved 2008-05-20. 
8. ^ ^{a b} "Seeming Shoo-In Finds Himself Fighting". Fox News Channel. 2002-10-23. http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,66521,00.html. Retrieved 2008-05-20. 
9. ^ "Mannix concedes in race for governor". Oregon Daily Emerald. 2002-11-07. http://media.www.dailyemerald.com/media/storage/paper859/news/2002/11/07/UndefinedSection/Mannix.Concedes.In.Race.For.Governor-1978729.shtml. Retrieved 2008-05-21. 
10. ^ "2002 Gubernatorial General Election Results - Oregon". Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections. http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/state.php?year=2002&fips=41&f=0&off=5&elect=0. Retrieved 2008-05-20.