Maryland gubernatorial election, 2002

Maryland gubernatorial election, 2002

1998 ← November 4, 2002 → 2006

Nominee Bob Ehrlich Kathleen Kennedy Townsend Party Republican Democratic Running mate Michael Steele Charles R. Larson Popular vote 879,592 813,422 Percentage 51.55% 47.68%

Governor before election Parris Glendening Democratic Elected Governor Bob Ehrlich Republican

Candidates

Democratic Party

• Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, Lieutenant Governor of Maryland
• Robert Fustero, perennial candidate

Republican Party

• Bob Ehrlich, United States Representative from Maryland's 2nd congressional district
• James J. Sheridan
• Ross Z. Pierpont, perennial candidate

Primary election

Democratic primary results[1]
Party		Candidate	Votes	Percentage
	Democratic	Kathleen Kennedy Townsend	434,948	80.01%
	Democratic	Robert Fustero	108,659	19.99%
Totals			543,607	100%

Republican primary results[2]
Party		Candidate	Votes	Percentage
	Republican	Bob Ehrlich	229,927	92.88%
	Republican	James J. Sheridan	9,181	3.71%
	Republican	Ross Z. Pierpont	8,458	3.42%
Totals			247,566	100%

General election

The 2002 gubernatorial election was held on November 4, 2002. Democratic Governor Parris Glendening was term-limited. Lieutenant Governor Kathleen Kennedy Townsend won the Democratic nomination, and Congressman Robert Ehrlich won the Republican nomination.

Ehrlich choose Maryland Republican Party Chairman Michael Steele as his running mate, while Townsend choose Admiral Charles R. Larson as her running mate. Larson switched to the Democratic party just a few weeks before the election.

Kennedy's selection of Larson as her running mate proved to be an unpopular move, seeing as he was a white former Republican and had been selected without consultation with black Democratic leaders.^[3] Ehrlich ran advertisements assailing incumbent Governor Parris Glendening for the increasingly dismal fiscal situation in Maryland, an issue that resonated with Maryland voters. Glendening's unpopularity did little to help his Lieutenant Governor's flailing campaign.^[4]

On election night, Bob Ehrlich beat Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, enabling him to become the first Republican governor since Spiro Agnew in 1966.

Results

Maryland gubernatorial election, 2002
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Robert Ehrlich	879,592	51.55%	+6.74%
	Democratic	Kathleen Kennedy Townsend	813,422	47.68%	-7.47%
	Libertarian	Spear Lancaster	11,546	0.68%
	Write-ins		1,619	0.09%
Majority			66,170	3.88%	-6.45%
Turnout			1,706,179
	Republican gain from Democratic		Swing

References

1. ^ http://www.elections.state.md.us/elections/2002/results/p_governor.html
2. ^ http://www.elections.state.md.us/elections/2002/results/p_governor.html
3. ^ http://archives.cnn.com/2002/ALLPOLITICS/11/05/elec02.md.g.hotrace/index.html
4. ^ http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/bal-te.md.partners26nov26,0,836237,full.story?coll=bal-home-headlines

See also

Maryland gubernatorial election, 2006