2002 Illinois gubernatorial election

{{Infobox election

| election_name = 2002 Illinois gubernatorial election

| country = Illinois

| type = presidential

| ongoing = no

| previous_election = 1998 Illinois gubernatorial election

| previous_year = 1998

| next_election = 2006 Illinois gubernatorial election

| next_year = 2006

| election_date = November 5, 2002

| image1 = File:B-Rod.jpg

| image_size = 150x150px

| nominee1 = Rod Blagojevich

| running_mate1 = Pat Quinn

| party1 = Democratic Party (United States)

| popular_vote1 = 1,847,040

| percentage1 = 52.19%

| image2 = 3x4.svg

| image2_size = 150x150px

| nominee2 = Jim Ryan

| running_mate2 = Carl Hawkinson

| party2 = Republican Party (United States)

| popular_vote2 = 1,594,961

| percentage2 = 45.07%

| map_image = 2002 Illinois gubernatorial election results map by county.svg

| map_size = 300px

| map_caption = County results
Blagojevich: {{legend0|#a5b0ff|40–50%}} {{legend0|#7996e2|50–60%}} {{legend0|#6674de|60–70%}}
Ryan: {{legend0|#ffb2b2|40–50%}} {{legend0|#e27f7f|50–60%}} {{legend0|#d75d5d|60–70%}} {{legend0|#d72f30|70–80%}}

| title = Governor

| before_election = George Ryan

| before_party = Republican Party (United States)

| after_election = Rod Blagojevich

| after_party = Democratic Party (United States)

| turnout = 50.05% {{increase}} 0.33 pp

}}

The 2002 Illinois gubernatorial election occurred on November 5, 2002. Incumbent Republican governor George Ryan, who was plagued by scandal, did not run for a second term. Democrat Rod Blagojevich, a U.S. Congressman, ran against Republican Jim Ryan (no relation to the incumbent), the Illinois Attorney General. Blagojevich won 52% to 45%, becoming the first Democrat to win an election for governor since 1972.

As of 2023, this is the last Illinois governor election where no candidate running was an incumbent.

Background

The primaries and general elections coincided with those for federal elections (Senate and House), as well as those for other state offices. The election was part of the 2002 Illinois elections.

For the primaries, turnout for the gubernatorial primaries was 30.81%, with 2,170,344 votes cast and turnout for the lieutenant gubernatorial primaries was 26.99% with 1,908,564 votes cast.{{cite web |title=Voter Turnout |url=https://www.elections.il.gov/ElectionOperations/VoterTurnout.aspx |website=www.elections.il.gov |publisher=Illinois State Board of Elections |access-date=24 March 2020 |archive-date=30 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210530142655/https://www.elections.il.gov/ElectionOperations/VoterTurnout.aspx |url-status=dead }}{{cite web |title=Election Results |url=https://www.elections.il.gov/ElectionOperations/ElectionVoteTotals.aspx |website=www.elections.il.gov |publisher=Illinois State Board of Elections |access-date=23 March 2020 |archive-date=22 February 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200222093629/https://www.elections.il.gov/ElectionOperations/ElectionVoteTotals.aspx |url-status=dead }} For the general election, turnout was 50.05%, with 3,538,891 votes cast.

Democratic primary

=Governor=

==Candidates==

Rod Blagojevich, U.S. Representative
Roland Burris, former Attorney General of Illinois, former Illinois State Comptroller, candidate for governor in 1994 and 1998 and independent candidate for Mayor of Chicago in 1995
Paul Vallas, former CEO of Chicago Public Schools

==Results==

The Democratic primary was a very close 3-way race. Blagojevich prevailed by just 25,469 votes, and just by 2.03%. Vallas did very well in the Chicago suburbs, and narrowly defeated Burris in Cook County, the most populous county in the state. Vallas led early on in the night with Burris in second and Blagojevich in third. Vallas had won probably the most vital county, Cook County. For Blagojevich to beat both opponents, he had to run the board through the rest of Illinois. Blagojevich won almost all of the state's rural counties. Eventually, Cook County had reported all of its votes, with a slight advantage for Vallas over Burris. However many votes were still left to be counted in other cities outside the Chicago area. Blagojevich managed to pull out a narrow victory by winning in Champaign County, home of Champaign. Blagojevich also did well in Sangamon County home to the state's capital, Springfield. Blagojevich also won St. Clair County home of East St. Louis. In the early morning the day after the election, Vallas realized that with all of Cook County's votes counted he had lost. At 4:18 in the morning, Vallas called Blagojevich and congratulated him, and pledged Blagojevich his full support for the general election.

File:Illinois Governor D Primary 2002.svg

{{Election box begin no change

| title = Democratic gubernatorial primary results{{cite web|url=https://www.elections.il.gov/electioninformation/VoteTotalsList.aspx?ElectionType=7kq5QB6bAl4%3d&ElectionID=JyZrg4HyJNo%3d&SearchType=qSfAwUdk1qOFOZFs8GbBdddK0yLOKECmUkSdD0Lok1c%3d&OfficeID=Lqh3yv0FUvI%3d&QueryType=qSfAwUdk1qOEjNYZC1%2bXwQ%3d%3d&|title=Ballots Cast|publisher=Illinois State Board of Elections|date=19 March 2002|access-date=28 May 2019}}{{Dead link|date=August 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| candidate = Rod Blagojevich

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| votes = 457,197

| percentage = 36.50

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| candidate = Paul Vallas

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| votes = 431,728

| percentage = 34.47

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| candidate = Roland Burris

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| votes = 363,591

| percentage = 29.03

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 1,252,516

| percentage = 100.00

}}

=Lieutenant governor=

==Candidates==

F. Michael Kelleher Jr.
Pat Quinn, former Treasurer of Illinois, nominee for Secretary of State in 1994 candidate for US Senate in 1996 candidate for Lieutenant Governor in 1998
Joyce Washington, Nurse

==Results==

[[File:2002 Illinois lieutenant gubernatorial Democratic primary results map by county.svg|thumb|Primary results by county

{{collapsible list

| title = {{legend|#7996e2|Quinn}}|{{legend|#a5b0ff|40–50%}}|{{legend|#7996e2|50–60%}}|{{legend|#6674de|60–70%}}}}

{{collapsible list

| title = {{legend|#b380ff|Washington}}|{{legend|#cda6ff|40-50%}}}}

{{collapsible list

| title = {{legend|#f9d440|Kelleher}}|{{legend|#ffe680|40–50%}}|{{legend|#f9d440|50-60%}}|{{legend|#f4c200|60–70%}}|{{legend|#daae00|70–80%}}}}

]]

{{Election box begin no change

| title = Democratic lieutenant gubernatorial primary results}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| candidate = Pat Quinn

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| votes = 471,038

| percentage = 42.11

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| candidate = Joyce W. Washington

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| votes = 362,902

| percentage = 32.35

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| candidate = F. Michael Kelleher, Jr.

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| votes = 284,549

| percentage = 25.44

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 1,118,489

| percentage = 100.00

}}

Republican primary

=Governor=

==Candidates==

==Results==

[[File:2002 Illinois gubernatorial Republican primary results map by county.svg|thumb|

{{collapsible list

| title = {{legend|#e27f7f|Ryan}}|{{legend|#ffc8cd|30–40%}}|{{legend|#ffb2b2|40–50%}}|{{legend|#e27f7f|50–60%}}|{{legend|#d75d5d|60–70%}}}}

{{collapsible list

| title = {{legend|#b380ff|O'Malley}}|{{legend|#e8cdff|30-40%}}|{{legend|#cda6ff|40-50%}}|{{legend|#b380ff|50-60%}}|{{legend|#9955ff|60-70%}}}}

{{collapsible list

| title = {{legend|#f9d440|Wood}}|{{legend|#ffeeaa|30–40%}}|{{legend|#ffe680|40–50%}}}}

]]

{{Election box begin no change

| title = Republican primary results

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| candidate = Jim Ryan

| party = Republican Party (United States)

| votes = 410,074

| percentage = 44.68

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| candidate = Patrick O'Malley

| party = Republican Party (United States)

| votes = 260,860

| percentage = 28.42

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| candidate = Corinne Wood

| party = Republican Party (United States)

| votes = 246,825

| percentage = 26.89

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| candidate = Write-ins

| party = Republican Party (United States)

| votes = 69

| percentage = 0.01

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 917,828

| percentage = 100.00

}}

=Lieutenant governor=

==Candidates==

Carl Hawkinson, State Senator and former Knox County State's Attorney
Jack McInerney
William O'Connor
Charles Owens

==Results==

[[File:2002 Illinois lieutenant gubernatorial Republican primary results map by county.svg|thumb|

{{collapsible list

| title = {{legend|#e27f7f|Hawkinson}}|{{legend|#ffc8cd|30–40%}}|{{legend|#ffb2b2|40–50%}}|{{legend|#e27f7f|50–60%}}|{{legend|#d75d5d|60–70%}}|{{legend|#d72f30|70–80%}}|{{legend|#c21b18|80–90%}}|{{legend|#A80000|>90%}}}}

{{collapsible list

| title = {{legend|#5bc75b|O'Connor}}|{{legend|#aae5aa|30–40%}}|{{legend|#87de87|40–50%}}|{{legend|#5bc75b|50–60%}}}}

{{collapsible list

| title = {{legend|#ff7644|Owens}}|{{legend|#ff8e65|40–50%}}}}

]]

{{Election box begin no change

| title = Republican lieutenant gubernatorial primary results

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| candidate = Carl Hawkinson

| party = Republican Party (United States)

| votes = 373,040

| percentage = 47.22

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| candidate = William A. O'Connor

| party = Republican Party (United States)

| votes = 257,375

| percentage = 32.58

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| candidate = Jack J. McInerney

| party = Republican Party (United States)

| votes = 90,571

| percentage = 11.46

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| candidate = Charles G. Owens

| party = Republican Party (United States)

| votes = 69,089

| percentage = 8.74

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 790,075

| percentage = 100.00

}}

Libertarian nomination

In March 2002, the Libertarian Party of Illinois nominated Cal Skinner. Skinner had formerly served as a Republican state representative, and was a political conservative.{{cite web |last1=Mann |first1=Anthony |title=Libertarian Party nomination may pose problems for Ryan |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/85490051 |url-access=subscription |via=Newspapers.com |publisher=Southern Illinoisan |access-date=12 March 2023 |language=en |date=March 26, 2002}}

General election

=Campaign=

In the general election, Blagojevich defeated Republican Illinois Attorney General Jim Ryan by a solid margin. Ethics scandals had plagued the administration of incumbent Republican George Ryan, who was of no relation to Jim Ryan, and Blagojevich's campaign focused on the theme of "ending business as usual" in state government. During the campaign, Blagojevich played on the name of his opponent by asking "How can you replace one Ryan with another Ryan and call that change? You want change? Elect a guy named Blagojevich."{{cite news|last=Lin|first=Joanna|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2008-dec-10-na-gov-profile10-story.html|title=He campaigned as a reformer|work=Los Angeles Times|date=December 10, 2008|access-date=May 16, 2015}}

=Predictions=

class="wikitable"

!Source

!Ranking

!As of

The Cook Political Report{{Cite web|url=http://www.cookpolitical.com:80/display.cfm?section=political&edit_id=225|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021208065752/http://www.cookpolitical.com/display.cfm?section=political&edit_id=225|archive-date=December 8, 2002|title=Governor Updated October 31, 2002 {{!}} The Cook Political Report|website=The Cook Political Report|language=en|date=October 31, 2002|access-date=September 18, 2018|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}

| {{USRaceRating|Lean|D|Flip}}

|October 31, 2002

Sabato's Crystal Ball{{Cite web|url=http://www.centerforpolitics.org:80/crystalball/governor_all.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021212142349/http://www.centerforpolitics.org/crystalball/governor_all.htm|archive-date=December 12, 2002|title=Governors Races|website=www.centerforpolitics.org|language=en-US|date=November 4, 2002|access-date=September 18, 2018|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}

| {{USRaceRating|Likely|D|Flip}}

|November 4, 2002

=Polling=

class="wikitable" style="font-size:90%"

valign=bottom

! Poll source

! Date(s)
administered

! Sample
size{{efn|name=key|Key:
A – all adults
RV – registered voters
LV – likely voters
V – unclear}}

! Margin
{{nowrap|of error}}

! style="width:100px;"| Rod
Blagojevich (D)

! style="width:100px;"| Jim
Ryan (R)

! style="width:100px;"| Cal
Skinner (L)

! Other /
Undecided

SurveyUSA[https://www.surveyusa.com/2002Elec.html SurveyUSA]

| align=center| October 28–30, 2002

| align=center| 535 (LV)

| align=center| ± 4.3%

| {{party shading/Democratic}} align=center| 53%

| align=center| 39%

| align=center| 4%

=Results=

Although the election was thought to be a close one early on in the campaign, Blagojevich's big numbers out of Cook County were too much for the Republicans to come back from.

{{Election box begin |title=2002 Illinois gubernatorial election{{cite web|url=https://www.elections.il.gov/ElectionResults.aspx?ID=zSlj0mHwIc8%3d|title=Election Results |publisher=Illinois State Board of Elections |date=5 November 2002 |access-date=28 May 2019}}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Rod Blagojevich

|votes = 1,847,040

|percentage = 52.19%

|change = +4.73%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = Jim Ryan

|votes = 1,594,961

|percentage = 45.07%

|change = -5.96%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Libertarian Party (US)

|candidate = Cal Skinner

|votes = 73,794

|percentage = 2.09%

|change = N/A

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Independent politician

|candidate = Marisellis Brown

|votes = 23,089

|percentage = 0.65%

|change = N/A

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Write-in

|candidate = Peter Dale Kauss

|votes = 8

|percentage = 0.00%

|change = N/A

}}

{{Election box total

|votes = 3,538,891

|percentage = 100.00%

|change = N/A

}}

{{Election box gain with party link no swing|

|winner = Democratic Party (United States)

|loser = Republican Party (United States)

}}

==Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican==

Clinton (Largest city: Breese)
Coles (Largest city: Charleston)
Fayette (Largest city: Vandalia)
Greene (Largest city: Carrollton)
Jersey (Largest city: Jerseyville)
Moultrie (Largest city: Sullivan)
Shelby (Largest city: Shelbyville)
White (Largest city: Carmi)
Williamson (Largest city: Marion)
Johnson (largest city: Vienna)
Cumberland (largest city: Neoga)
Crawford (largest city: Robinson)
Wabash (largest city: Mount Carmel)
Effingham (largest city: Effingham)
Clark (largest city: Marshall)
Jasper (largest city: Newton)
Richland (largest city: Olney)
Clay (Largest city: Flora)
Wayne (Largest city: Fairfield)

==Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic==

Rock Island (largest city: Moline)
Whiteside (largest city: Sterling)
LaSalle (Largest city: Ottawa)
Winnebago (Largest city: Rockford)
Mason (Largest city: Havana)
Putnam (largest city: Hennpin)

Notes

References

Gubernatorial

Illinois

2002

Category:Rod Blagojevich

2002 Illinois gubernatorial election

Background

Democratic primary

=Governor=

==Candidates==

==Results==

=Lieutenant governor=

==Candidates==

==Results==

Republican primary

=Governor=

==Candidates==

==Results==

=Lieutenant governor=

==Candidates==

==Results==

Libertarian nomination

General election

=Campaign=

=Predictions=

=Polling=

=Results=

==Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican==

==Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic==

See also

Notes

References