New Hampshire gubernatorial election, 2002

New Hampshire gubernatorial election, 2002

2000 ← November 5, 2002 → 2004

Nominee Craig Benson Mark Fernald Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 259,663 169,277 Percentage 58.62% 38.21%

Governor before election Jeanne Shaheen Democratic Elected Governor Craig Benson Republican

When incumbent Democratic Governor Jeanne Shaheen opted to run for the United States Senate rather than seek a fourth term as Governor, self-funding businessman Craig Benson, the Republican nominee defeated Mark Fernald, a New Hampshire State Senator and the Democratic nominee, in the general election after each of them won contested primary elections.

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Mark Fernald, New Hampshire State Senator
• Bev Hollingworth, New Hampshire State Senator

Results

Democratic Primary results[1]
Party		Candidate	Votes	Percentage
	Democratic	Mark Fernald	34,683	53.28%
	Democratic	Bev Hollingworth	27,777	42.67%
	Democratic	Write-ins	2,632	4.04%
Totals			65,092	100.00%

Republican primary

Candidates

• Craig Benson, businessman
• Bruce Keough, former New Hampshire State Senator
• Gordon Humphrey, former U.S. Senator, 2000 Republican nominee for Governor
• Robert Kingsbury, perennial candidate
• Joe Haas
• Bob Kroepel

Results

Republican primary results[2]
Party		Candidate	Votes	Percentage
	Republican	Craig Benson	56,099	36.65%
	Republican	Bruce Keough	51,461	33.62%
	Republican	Gordon Humphrey	42,698	27.90%
	Republican	Robert Kingsbury	877	0.57%
	Republican	Joe Haas	759	0.50%
	Republican	Bob Kroepel	578	0.38%
	Republican	Write-ins	575	0.38%
Totals			153,047	100.00%

General election

Results

New Hampshire gubernatorial election, 2002[3]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Craig Benson	259,663	58.62%	+14.86%
	Democratic	Mark Fernald	169,277	38.21%	-10.52%
	Libertarian	John Babiarz	13,028	2.94%	+1.80%
	Write-ins		1,008	0.23%
Majority			90,386	20.40%	+15.43%
Turnout			442,976
	Republican gain from Democratic		Swing

References

1. ^ http://www.sos.nh.gov/stateprimary2004/dgovsum.htm
2. ^ http://www.sos.nh.gov/stateprimary2002/rgovsum.htm
3. ^ http://www.sos.nh.gov/general2002/sumgov.htm

External links

• New Hampshire Secretary of State's office, election division

See also

• U.S. Gubernatorial Elections, 2002