2002 Minnesota gubernatorial election
{{Short description|none}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2023}}
{{Infobox election
| election_name = 2002 Minnesota gubernatorial election
| country = Minnesota
| flag_year = 1983
| type = presidential
| ongoing = no
| previous_election = 1998 Minnesota gubernatorial election
| previous_year = 1998
| election_date = November 5, 2002
| next_election = 2006 Minnesota gubernatorial election
| next_year = 2006
| image_size = x150px
| image1 = File:Tim Pawlenty official photo.jpg
| nominee1 = Tim Pawlenty
| party1 = Republican
| running_mate1 = Carol Molnau
| popular_vote1 = 999,473
| percentage1 = 44.4%
| image2 = File:Roger Moe.jpg
| nominee2 = Roger Moe
| running_mate2 = Julie Sabo
| party2 = Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party
| popular_vote2 = 821,268
| percentage2 = 36.5%
| image3 = File:Congressman Timothy Penny (cropped).jpg
| nominee3 = Tim Penny
| running_mate3 = Martha Robertson
| party3 = Independence Party of Minnesota
| popular_vote3 = 364,534
| percentage3 = 16.2%
| map_image = {{switcher |280px |County results |280px |Precinct results |default=1}}
| map_size = 270px
| map_caption = Pawlenty: {{legend0|#FEC8CD|30–40%}} {{legend0|#FFB2B2|40–50%}} {{legend0|#E27F7F|50–60%}} {{legend0|#d75d5d|60–70%}} {{legend0|#D72F30|70–80%}} {{legend0|#C21B18|80–90%}} {{legend0|#A80000|>90%}}
Moe: {{legend0|#BDD3FF|30–40%}} {{legend0|#A5B0FF|40–50%}} {{legend0|#7996e2|50–60%}} {{legend0|#6674de|60–70%}} {{legend0|#584cde|70–80%}} {{legend0|#3933e5|80–90%}} {{legend0|#0D0596|>90%}}
Penny: {{legend0|#F9DFCB|30–40%}} {{legend0|#EAB58F|40–50%}} {{legend0|#DC8B53|50–60%}} {{legend0|#CB5F12|60–70%}} {{legend0|#B34F06|70–80%}} {{legend0|#944105|80–90%}} {{legend0|#723102|>90%}}
Tie: {{legend0|#EFE7F5|20–30%}} {{legend0|#DECDE6|30–40%}} {{legend0|#d2b1d9|40–50%}} {{legend0|#ae8bb1|50%}}
| title = Governor
| before_election = Jesse Ventura
| before_party = Independence Party of Minnesota
| after_election = Tim Pawlenty
| after_party = Republican Party of Minnesota
| flag_image =
}}
{{ElectionsMN}}
The 2002 Minnesota gubernatorial election took place on November 5, 2002 for the post of Governor of Minnesota. Republican candidate Tim Pawlenty defeated Democratic candidate Roger Moe and Independence Party of Minnesota candidate Tim Penny. Due to the health of his spouse, incumbent Governor Jesse Ventura chose not to seek re-election. Pawlenty comfortably won the election, which was attributed in part to Moe's uninspired campaign, with Moe being dubbed a "cautious dullard" four years later by the City Pages.{{cite news|first=Britt |last=Robson|url=http://www.citypages.com/databank/27/1343/article14661.asp |title=Running Man|work=City Pages|date=August 30, 2006 |access-date=November 10, 2006|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070108113629/http://citypages.com/databank/27/1343/article14661.asp |archive-date=January 8, 2007}}
Republican primary
= Candidate =
- Tim Pawlenty, Minnesota House of Representatives and Majority Leader
- Leslie Davis, former Minneapolis mayoral candidate in 1994
= Results =
{{Election box begin no change
|title = 2002 Republican gubernatorial primary election
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Tim Pawlenty
| party = Republican Party of Minnesota
| votes = 172,927
| percentage = 88.64
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Sue Jeffers
| party = Republican Party of Minnesota
| votes = 22,172
| percentage = 11.36
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 195,099
| percentage = 100.00
}}
{{Election box end}}
DFL primary
In May 2002, the DFL formally endorsed Moe over rival Judi Dutcher, the Minnesota State Auditor. Becky Lourey, a member of the Minnesota Senate, was also a contender before dropping out.{{Cite web |last=Howard |first=K. C. |title=DFL endorses Moe for governor's race |url=https://mndaily.com/244895/uncategorized/dfl-endorses-moe-governors-race/ |access-date=2022-04-03 |website=The Minnesota Daily}}
= Candidate =
- Roger Moe, Member of the Minnesota Senate and Majority Leader
- Oloveuse S. "Ole" Savior, artist and perennial candidate.
= Results =
{{Election box begin no change
|title = 2002 Democratic–Farmer–Labor gubernatorial primary election
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Roger Moe
| party = Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party
| votes = 199,103
| percentage = 88.79
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Ole Savior
| party = Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party
| votes = 25,135
| percentage = 11.21
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 224,238
| percentage = 100.00
}}
{{Election box end}}
General election
= Polling =
Polls indicated a dead heat between Penny, Moe, and Pawlenty less than a month before the election. A poll by the Star Tribune had Moe and Penny tied at 27%, and Pawlenty ahead with 29%.{{Cite news |last=Gilyard |first=Burl |date=2002-11-08 |title=Decimation of Independence |url=https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2002/11/jesse-ventura-s-independence-party-collapses.html |access-date=2024-11-10 |work=Slate |language=en-US |issn=1091-2339}}
= Debates =
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|+ 2002 Minnesota gubernatorial election debates |
| scope="col" | {{abbr|No.|Number}}
! scope="col" | Date ! scope="col" | Host ! scope="col" | Moderator ! scope="col" | Link ! scope="col" | Republican ! scope="col" | Democratic ! scope="col" | Independence ! scope="col" | Green |
|---|
| colspan="5" rowspan="2" |Key: {{Colors|black|#90ff90| P }} Participant {{Colors|black|#FFFFDD| A }} Absent {{Colors|black|#ff9090| N }} Not invited {{Colors|black|#CCFFCC| I }} Invited {{color box|#f0e68c|W}} Withdrawn ! scope="col" style="background:{{party color|Republican Party (US)}}" | ! scope="col" style="background:{{party color|Democratic Party (US)}}" | ! scope="col" style="background:{{party color|Independence-Alliance Party}}" | ! scope="col" style="background:{{party color|Green Party (US)}}" | |
| scope="col" | Tim Pawlenty
! scope="col" | Roger Moe ! scope="col" | Tim Penny ! scope="col" | Ken Pentel |
| 1
| style="white-space:nowrap;" | Jul. 31, 2002 | style="white-space:nowrap;" | Twin Cities PBS | style="white-space:nowrap;" | Eric Eskola | style="white-space:nowrap;" | [https://www.c-span.org/video/?171775-1/minnesota-gubernatorial-debate C-SPAN] | {{Yes|P}} | {{Yes|P}} | {{Yes|P}} | {{Yes|P}} |
| 2
| style="white-space:nowrap;" | Nov. 1, 2002 | style="white-space:nowrap;" | Twin Cities PBS | style="white-space:nowrap;" | Eric Eskola | style="white-space:nowrap;" | [https://www.c-span.org/video/?173635-1/minnesota-gubernatorial-debate C-SPAN] | {{Yes|P}} | {{Yes|P}} | {{Yes|P}} | {{Yes|P}} |
= Predictions =
= Results =
{{align|right|{{Switcher| 200px|Swing by county
{{collapsible list| title = Legend|{{legend|#00a1c8|Democratic — +>15%}}|{{legend|#00bdec|Democratic — +12.5-15%}}|{{legend|#09ceff|Democratic — +10-12.5%}}|{{legend|#4bdbff|Democratic — +7.5-10%}}|{{legend|#77e3ff|Democratic — +5-7.5%}}|{{legend|#AAEEFF|Democratic — +2.5-5%}}|{{legend|#D5F6FF|Democratic — +0-2.5%}}|{{legend|#FFD5D5|Republican — +0-2.5%}}|{{legend|#FFAAAA|Republican — +2.5-5%}}|{{legend|#FF8080|Republican — +5-7.5%}}|{{legend|#FF5555|Republican — +7.5-10%}}|{{legend|#FF2A2A|Republican — +10-12.5%}}|{{legend|#FF0000|Republican — +12.5-15%}}|{{legend|#D40000|Republican — +>15%}}
}}|200px|Trend by county
{{collapsible list| title = Legend|{{legend|#00a1c8|Democratic — +>15%}}|{{legend|#00bdec|Democratic — +12.5-15%}}|{{legend|#09ceff|Democratic — +10-12.5%}}|{{legend|#4bdbff|Democratic — +7.5-10%}}|{{legend|#77e3ff|Democratic — +5-7.5%}}|{{legend|#AAEEFF|Democratic — +2.5-5%}}|{{legend|#D5F6FF|Democratic — +0-2.5%}}|{{legend|#FFD5D5|Republican — +0-2.5%}}|{{legend|#FFAAAA|Republican — +2.5-5%}}|{{legend|#FF8080|Republican — +5-7.5%}}|{{legend|#FF5555|Republican — +7.5-10%}}|{{legend|#FF2A2A|Republican — +10-12.5%}}|{{legend|#FF0000|Republican — +12.5-15%}}|{{legend|#D40000|Republican — +>15%}}}}}}}}{{Election box begin | title=2002 gubernatorial election, Minnesota{{cite web| url = http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/state.php?year=2002&fips=27&f=0&off=5&elect=0 | title = 2002 Gubernatorial General Election Results – Minnesota | access-date = 2008-05-27 | website = Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections}}}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|
|party = Republican Party (United States)
|candidate = Tim Pawlenty
|votes = 999,473
|percentage = 44.4%
|change = +10.1%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party
|candidate = Roger Moe
|votes = 821,268
|percentage = 36.5%
|change = +6.4%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Independence Party of Minnesota
|candidate = Tim Penny
|votes = 364,534
|percentage = 16.2%
|change = -20.8%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Green Party (United States)
|candidate = Ken Pentel
|votes = 50,589
|percentage = 2.3%
|change = +2.0%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Independent
|candidate = Booker Hodges IV
|votes = 9,698
|percentage = 0.4%
|change = +0.4%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Socialist Workers Party (United States)
|candidate = Kari Sachs
|votes = 3,026
|percentage = 0.1%
|change = +0.09%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Constitution Party (United States)
|candidate = Lawrence Aeshliman
|votes = 2,537
|percentage = 0.1%
|change = +0.1%
}}
{{Election box candidate|
|party =
|votes = 2
|percentage = 0.0%
|change = +0.0%
}}
{{Election box candidate|
|party =
|candidate = Write-ins
|votes = 1,348
|percentage = 0.06%
|change = +0.02%
}}
{{Election box majority|
|votes = 178,205
|percentage = 7.9%
|change =
}}
{{Election box turnout|
|votes = 2,252,473
|percentage = 70.7%
|change = +10.6%
}}
{{Election box gain with party link no swing|
|winner = Republican Party (United States)
|loser = Independence Party of Minnesota
|swing =
}}
{{Election box end}}
==Counties that flipped from Reform to Republican==
- Benton (Largest city: Sauk Rapids)
- Blue Earth (Largest city: Mankato)
- Chisago (Largest city: North Branch)
- Cottonwood (Largest city: Windom)
- Dakota (Largest city: Hastings)
- Goodhue (Largest city: Red Wing)
- Grant (Largest city: Elbow Lake)
- Isanti (Largest city: Cambridge)
- Kanabec (Largest city: Mora)
- Kandiyohi (Largest city: Willmar)
- Le Sueur (Largest city: Le Sueur)
- McLeod (Largest city: Hutchinson)
- Meeker (Largest city: Litchfield)
- Mille Lacs (Largest city: Princeton)
- Nicollet (Largest city: North Mankato)
- Pope (Largest city: Glenwood)
- Renville (Largest city: Olivia)
- Sherburne (Largest city: Elk River)
- Sibley (Largest city: Gaylord)
- Stearns (Largest city: St. Cloud)
- Steele (Largest city: Owatonna)
- Wabasha (Largest city: Lake City)
- Washington (Largest city: Stillwater)
- Watonwan (Largest city: St. James)
- Wright (Largest city: Otsego)
- Aitkin (largest city: Aitkin)
- Pine (largest city: Pine City)
- Rice (largest city: Faribault)
- Anoka (Largest city: Blaine)
- Carver (Largest city: Chaska)
==Counties that flipped from Reform to Democratic==
- Yellow Medicine (Largest city: Granite Falls)
- Chippewa (Largest city: Montevideo)
- Hennepin (Largest city: Minneapolis)
- Ramsey (Largest city: St. Paul)
- Swift (largest city: Benson)
==Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic==
- Beltrami (Largest city: Bemidji)
- Koochiching (Largest city: International Falls)
- Clearwater (Largest city: Bagley)
==Counties that flipped from Republican to Independence==
- Olmsted (largest city: Rochester)
- Fillmore (largest city: Spring Valley)
- Freeborn (largest city: Albert Lea)
==Counties that flipped from Democratic to Independence==
References
{{reflist}}
See also
{{Minnesota elections}}
{{United States elections, 2002}}
{{US Third Party Election}}