2002 Rhode Island gubernatorial election
{{Short description|none}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2023}}
{{Infobox election
| election_name = 2002 Rhode Island gubernatorial election
| country = Rhode Island
| type = Presidential
| previous_election = 1998 Rhode Island gubernatorial election
| previous_year = 1998
| next_election = 2006 Rhode Island gubernatorial election
| next_year = 2006
| ongoing = no
| election_date = November 5, 2002
| image1 = File:Donald Carcieri (cropped).jpg
| image_size = 150x150px
| nominee1 = Donald Carcieri
| party1 = Republican Party (United States)
| popular_vote1 = 181,827
| percentage1 = 54.8%
| running_mate1 =
| image2 = File:Myrth York 2011 (cropped).jpg
| nominee2 = Myrth York
| party2 = Democratic Party (United States)
| popular_vote2 = 150,229
| percentage2 = 45.2%
| running_mate2 =
| image3 =
| candidate3 =
| party3 =
| popular_vote3 =
| percentage3 =
| running_mate3 =
| map = {{switcher|250px
|County results
|Municipality results}}
| map_caption = Carcieri: {{legend0|#e27f7f|50–60%}} {{legend0|#d75d5d|60–70%}} {{legend0|#d72f30|70–80%}}
York: {{legend0|#7996e2|50–60%}} {{legend0|#6674de|60–70%}}
| title = Governor
| before_election = Lincoln Almond
| before_party = Republican Party (United States)
| after_election = Donald Carcieri
| after_party = Republican Party (United States)
}}
{{ElectionsRI}}
The 2002 Rhode Island gubernatorial election took place on November 5, 2002. Incumbent Republican governor Lincoln Almond was term-limited. Republican Donald Carcieri won the open seat, defeating Democrat Myrth York.
In the Republican primary election, Carcieri defeated James Bennett, who had won the endorsement of the state Republican Party.{{cite news |url=http://www.ripr.org/post/fung-moves-closer-capturing-republican-governor-endorsement#stream/0 |title=Fung moves closer to capturing Republican governor endorsement | publisher=Rhode Island Public Radio |date=2014-06-20}}
The 2002 campaign was particularly costly to York as she spent $3.8 million of her own money to finance what was to be her last bid for elected office. A key turning point in the campaign was when York criticized Carcieri for the actions of businesses he had been associated with but refused to answer Carcieri's request that she reveal what companies her personal assets were invested in.{{Cite web |last=Fenton |first=Josh |title=Myrth York Leads New Anti-Cianci Group and Launches TV Ad |url=https://www.golocalprov.com/politics/myrth-york-leads-new-anti-cianci-group-and-launches-tv-ad |access-date=2022-12-16 |website=GoLocalProv |language=en}}
Republican primary
A Republican primary was held on September 10.
=Candidates=
- Donald Carcieri, businessman
- Jim Bennett
=Results=
{{Election box begin no change
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Donald Carcieri
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 17,227
| percentage = 66.91
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = James S. Bennett
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 8,518
| percentage = 33.09
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 25,745
| percentage = 100.00
}}
{{Election box end}}
==Results by county==
[[File:Rhode Island Republican gubernatorial primary results by county, 2002.svg|210px|thumb|Results by county
{{collapsible list
|title=Carcieri
|{{legend|#E27F90|Carcieri—50–60%}}
|{{legend|#CC2F4A|Carcieri—60–70%}}
|{{legend|#D40000|Carcieri—70–80%}}
}}
]]
| class="wikitable sortable"
! rowspan="2" |County ! colspan="2" |Donald Carcieri ! colspan="2" |James S. Bennett ! rowspan="2" |Total votes cast |
| data-sort-type="number" style="text-align:center;" |#
! data-sort-type="number" style="text-align:center;" |% ! data-sort-type="number" style="text-align:center;" |# ! data-sort-type="number" style="text-align:center;" |% |
|---|
| style="text-align:center;"
| |Bristol | |1,337 | |67.15% | |654 | |32.85% | |1,991 |
| style="text-align:center;"
|Kent |4,529 |77.01% |1,352 |22.99% |5,881 |
| style="text-align:center;"
|2,055 |58.56% |1,454 |41.44% |3,509 |
| style="text-align:center;"
|6,091 |62.00% |3,733% |38.00% |9,824 |
| style="text-align:center;"
| |Washington | |3,306 | |70.19% | |1,404 | |29.81% | |4,710 |
| style="text-align:center;"
!Totals !17,227 !66.91% !8,518 !33.09% !25,745 |
==Results by municipality==
[[File:Rhode Island Republican gubernatorial primary results by municipality, 2002.svg|210px|thumb|Results by municipality
{{collapsible list
|title=Carcieri
|{{legend|#E27F90|Carcieri—50–60%}}
|{{legend|#CC2F4A|Carcieri—60–70%}}
|{{legend|#D40000|Carcieri—70–80%}}
|{{legend|#AA0000|Carcieri—80–90%}}
}}
{{collapsible list
|title=Bennett
|{{legend|#FFDC43|Bennett—50–60%}}
|{{legend|#DAAE00|Bennett—70–80%}}
}}
]]
| class="wikitable sortable"
! rowspan="2" |Municipality ! colspan="2" |Donald Carcieri ! colspan="2" |James S. Bennett ! rowspan="2" |Total votes cast ! rowspan="1" |Turnout |
| data-sort-type="number" style="text-align:center;" |#
! data-sort-type="number" style="text-align:center;" |% ! data-sort-type="number" style="text-align:center;" |# ! data-sort-type="number" style="text-align:center;" |% ! data-sort-type="number" style="text-align:center;" |% |
|---|
| style="text-align:center;"
| |Barrington | |796 | |70.38% | |335 | |29.62% | |1,131 | |12.3% |
| style="text-align:center;"
| |Bristol | |344 | |65.77% | |179 | |34.23% | |523 | |5.4% |
| style="text-align:center;"
| |Burrillville | | 121 | | 54.02% | | 103 | | 45.98% | | 224 | |3.2% |
| style="text-align:center;"
| |44 | |64.71% | |24 | |35.29% | |68 | |2.9% |
| style="text-align:center;"
| |Charlestown | |130 | |43.77% | |167 | |56.23% | |297 | |6.3% |
| style="text-align:center;"
| |Coventry | |490 | |67.96% | |231 | |32.04% | |721 | |4.1% |
| style="text-align:center;"
| |Cranston | |1,229 | |66.61% | |616 | |33.39% | |1,845 | |5.2% |
| style="text-align:center;"
| |Cumberland | |366 | |59.51% | |249 | |40.49% | |615 | |4.9% |
| style="text-align:center;"
| |1,431 | |89.94% | |160 | |10.06% | |1,591 | |19.3% |
| style="text-align:center;"
| |539 | |64.24% | |300 | |35.76% | |839 | |5.7% |
| style="text-align:center;"
| |Exeter | |288 | |71.64% | |114 | |28.36% | |402 | |14.3% |
| style="text-align:center;"
| |Foster | |113 | |69.75% | |49 | |30.25% | |162 | |6.4% |
| style="text-align:center;"
| |Glocester | |145 | |71.78% | |57 | |28.22% | |202 | |3.9% |
| style="text-align:center;"
| |Hopkinton | |88 | |49.16% | |91 | |50.84% | |179 | |4.5% |
| style="text-align:center;"
| |Jamestown | |300 | |68.18% | |140 | |31.82% | |440 | |13.5% |
| style="text-align:center;"
| |Johnston | |134 | |67.00% | |66 | |33.00% | |200 | |2.5% |
| style="text-align:center;"
| |Lincoln | |1,089 | |56.60% | |835 | |43.40% | |1,924 | |18.9% |
| style="text-align:center;"
| |164 | |66.67% | |82 | |33.33% | |246 | |11.3% |
| style="text-align:center;"
| |Middletown | |309 | |62.30% | |187 | |37.70% | |496 | |7.1% |
| style="text-align:center;"
| |Narragansett | |438 | |71.69% | |173 | |28.31% | |611 | |6.2% |
| style="text-align:center;"
| |New Shoreham | |11 | |24.44% | |34 | |75.56% | |45 | |4.6% |
| style="text-align:center;"
| |Newport | |381 | |55.22% | |309 | |44.78% | |690 | |8.0% |
| style="text-align:center;"
| |1,380 | |85.29% | |238 | |14.71% | |1,618 | |10.9% |
| style="text-align:center;"
| |244 | |74.85% | |82 | |25.15% | |326 | |3.0% |
| style="text-align:center;"
| |223 | |48.48% | |237 | |51.52% | |460 | |7.9% |
| style="text-align:center;"
| |Pawtucket | |328 | |56.36% | |254 | |43.64% | |582 | |3.2% |
| style="text-align:center;"
| |Portsmouth | |704 | |54.15% | |596 | |45.85% | |1,300 | |15.2% |
| style="text-align:center;"
| |Providence | |629 | |64.12% | |352 | |35.88% | |981 | |2.2% |
| style="text-align:center;"
| |Richmond | |149 | |68.98% | |67 | |31.02% | |216 | |5.8% |
| - style="text-align:center;"
| Scituate | |316 | |69.60% | |138 | |30.40% | |454 | |7.7% |
| - style="text-align:center;"
| |Smithfield | |377 | |65.00% | |203 | |35.00% | | 580 | |5.8% |
| - style="text-align:center;"
| |543 | |64.18% | |303 | |35.82% | |846 | |6.4% |
| - style="text-align:center;"
| |Tiverton | |197 | |58.46% | |140 | |41.54% | | 337 | |4.7% |
| - style="text-align:center;"
| |Warren | |106 | |63.46% | |61 | |36.53% | |167 | |2.6% |
| - style="text-align:center;"
| |Warwick | |2,046 | |73.32% | |783 | |27.68% | |2,829 | |7.8% |
| - style="text-align:center;"
| |279 | |56.25% | |217 | |43.75% | | 496 | |9.8% |
| - style="text-align:center;"
| |West Warwick | |207 | |76.10% | |65 | |23.90% | |272 | |4.2% |
| - style="text-align:center;"
| |Westerly | |355 | |75.85% | |113 | |24.15% | |468 | |4.4% |
| - style="text-align:center;"
| |Woonsocket | | 194 | | 53.59% | | 168 | | 46.41% | | 362 | |2.9% |
| style="text-align:center;"
!Totals !17,227 !66.91% !8,518 !33.09% !25,745 !6.3% |
Democratic primary
A Democratic primary was held on September 10.
=Candidates=
- Antonio J. Pires, former Rhode Island state representative.
- Sheldon Whitehouse, Attorney General of Rhode Island, former U.S. attorney for the District of Rhode Island
- Myrth York, former Rhode Island senator, 1994 and 1998 Democratic nominee for governor
=Polling=
| class="wikitable" style="font-size:90%; text-align:center" |
| valign=bottom
! Poll source ! Date(s) ! Sample ! Margin ! style="width:60px;"| Pires ! style="width:60px;"| Whitehouse ! style="width:60px;"| York ! Undecided |
| style="text-align:left;"|Taubman Center for Public Policy[https://www.brown.edu/Administration/News_Bureau/2002-03/02-015.html Taubman Center for Public Policy]
|August 31-September 2, 2002 |437 |± 5.0% |13% |26% |{{party shading/Democratic}}|32% |29% |
=Results=
[[File:Rhode Island Democratic gubernatorial primary results by county, 2002.svg|150px|thumb|Results by county
{{collapsible list
|title=York
|{{legend|#BDD3FF|York—30–40%}}
|{{legend|#A5B0FF|York—40–50%}}
}}
{{collapsible list
|title=Whitehouse
|{{legend|#FFC5DA|Whitehouse—30–40%}}
|{{legend|#FFAACC|Whitehouse—40–50%}}
}}
]]
[[File:Rhode Island Democratic gubernatorial primary results by municipality, 2002.svg|150px|thumb|Results by municipality
{{collapsible list
|title=York
|{{legend|#BDD3FF|York—30–40%}}
|{{legend|#A5B0FF|York—40–50%}}
|{{legend|#7996E2|York—50–50%}}
|{{legend|#6674DE|York—60–70%}}
}}
{{collapsible list
|title=Whitehouse
|{{legend|#FFC5DA|Whitehouse—30–40%}}
|{{legend|#FFAACC|Whitehouse—40–50%}}
|{{legend|#FF80B2|Whitehouse—50–60%}}
}}
{{collapsible list
|title=Pires
|{{legend|#FFEEAA|Pires—30–40%}}
|{{legend|#FFDD55|Pires—40–50%}}
}}
]]
{{Election box begin no change
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Myrth York
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| votes = 46,806
| percentage = 39.16
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Sheldon Whitehouse
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| votes = 45,880
| percentage = 38.39
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Antonio J. Pires
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| votes = 26,838
| percentage = 22.45
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 119,524
| percentage = 100.00
}}
{{Election box end}}
==Results by county==
| class="wikitable sortable"
! rowspan="2" |County ! colspan="2" |Antonio J. Pires ! colspan="2" |Sheldon Whitehouse ! colspan="2" |Myrth York ! rowspan="2" |Total votes cast |
| data-sort-type="number" style="text-align:center;" |#
! data-sort-type="number" style="text-align:center;" |% ! data-sort-type="number" style="text-align:center;" |# ! data-sort-type="number" style="text-align:center;" |% ! data-sort-type="number" style="text-align:center;" |# ! data-sort-type="number" style="text-align:center;" |% |
|---|
| style="text-align:center;"
| |Bristol | |1,277 | |27.67% | |1,682 | |36.45% | |1,656 | |35.88% | |4,615 |
| style="text-align:center;"
|Kent |3,014 |19.31% |6,265 |40.13% |6,333 |40.56% |15,612 |
| style="text-align:center;"
|1,032 |15.41% |2,943 |43.93% |2,724 |40.66% |6,699 |
| style="text-align:center;"
|19,404 |24.13% |30,311 |37.70% |30,687 |38.17% |80,402 |
| style="text-align:center;"
| |Washington | |2,111 | |17.31% | |4,679 | |38.37% | |5,406 | |44.33% | |12,196 |
| style="text-align:center;"
!Totals !26,838 !22.45% !45,880 !38.39% !46,806 !39.16% !119,524 |
==Results by municipality==
| class="wikitable sortable"
! rowspan="2" |Municipality ! colspan="2" |Antonio J. Pires ! colspan="2" |Sheldon Whitehouse ! colspan="2" |Myrth York ! rowspan="2" |Total votes cast ! rowspan="1" |Turnout |
| data-sort-type="number" style="text-align:center;" |#
! data-sort-type="number" style="text-align:center;" |% ! data-sort-type="number" style="text-align:center;" |# ! data-sort-type="number" style="text-align:center;" |% ! data-sort-type="number" style="text-align:center;" |# ! data-sort-type="number" style="text-align:center;" |% ! data-sort-type="number" style="text-align:center;" |% |
|---|
| style="text-align:center;"
| |Barrington | |278 | |17.46% | |692 | |43.47% | |622 | |39.07% | |1,592 | |16.5% |
| style="text-align:center;"
| |Bristol | |710 | |35.52% | |642 | |32.12% | |647 | |32.37% | |1,999 | |15.8% |
| style="text-align:center;"
| |Burrillville | | 194 | | 17.67% | | 436 | | 39.71% | | 468 | | 42.62% | | 1,098 | |12.8% |
| style="text-align:center;"
| |593 | |40.15% | |362 | |24.51% | |522 | |35.34% | |1,477 | |29.0% |
| style="text-align:center;"
| |Charlestown | |75 | |15.89% | |168 | |35.59% | |229 | |48.52% | |472 | |10.1% |
| style="text-align:center;"
| |Coventry | |577 | |20.67% | |1,061 | |38.02% | |1,153 | |41.31% | |2,791 | |13.5% |
| style="text-align:center;"
| |Cranston | |1,843 | |19.68% | |3,818 | |40.76% | |3,706 | |39.56% | |9,367 | |20.5% |
| style="text-align:center;"
| |Cumberland | |2,005 | |39.87% | |1,699 | |33.78% | |1,325 | |26.35% | |5,029 | |24.9% |
| style="text-align:center;"
| |155 | |18.15% | |337 | |39.46% | |362 | |42.39% | |854 | |10.6% |
| style="text-align:center;"
| |2,025 | |33.65% | |1,878 | |31.21% | |2,114 | |35.13% | |6,017 | |24.6% |
| style="text-align:center;"
| |Exeter | |61 | |16.18% | |146 | |38.73% | |170 | |45.09% | |377 | |11.5% |
| style="text-align:center;"
| |Foster | |41 | |17.23% | |85 | |35.71% | |112 | |47.06% | |238 | |9.3% |
| style="text-align:center;"
| |Glocester | |96 | |18.64% | |219 | |42.52% | |200 | |38.83% | |515 | |8.9% |
| style="text-align:center;"
| |Hopkinton | |25 | |8.56% | |136 | |46.58% | |131 | |44.86% | |292 | |6.7% |
| style="text-align:center;"
| |Jamestown | |150 | |16.78% | |348 | |38.93% | |396 | |44.30% | |894 | |23.9% |
| style="text-align:center;"
| |Johnston | |1,193 | |19.24% | |2,817 | |45.44% | |2,190 | |35.32% | |6,200 | |31.7% |
| style="text-align:center;"
| |Lincoln | |770 | |32.24% | |902 | |37.77% | |716 | |29.98% | |2,388 | |18.9% |
| style="text-align:center;"
| |48 | |16.27% | |136 | |46.10% | |111 | |37.63% | |295 | |13.3% |
| style="text-align:center;"
| |Middletown | |138 | |14.35% | |420 | |43.66% | |404 | |42.00% | |962 | |12.2% |
| style="text-align:center;"
| |Narragansett | |663 | |22.29% | |1,208 | |40.62% | |1,103 | |37.09% | |2,974 | |24.3% |
| style="text-align:center;"
| |New Shoreham | |15 | |16.13% | |20 | |21.51% | |58 | |62.37% | |93 | |7.8% |
| style="text-align:center;"
| |Newport | |258 | |11.34% | |1,171 | |51.47% | |846 | |37.19% | |2,275 | |20.2% |
| style="text-align:center;"
| |432 | |17.92% | |915 | |37.95% | |1,064 | |44.13% | |2,411 | |14.8% |
| style="text-align:center;"
| |1,163 | |19.77% | |2,830 | |48.10% | |1,891 | |32.14% | |5,884 | |23.5% |
| style="text-align:center;"
| |263 | |21.06% | |567 | |45.40% | |419 | |33.55% | |1,249 | |17.6% |
| style="text-align:center;"
| |Pawtucket | |4,348 | |49.49% | |1,891 | |21.53% | |2,546 | |28.98% | |8,785 | |25.6% |
| style="text-align:center;"
| |Portsmouth | |258 | |17.40% | |587 | |39.58% | |638 | |43.02% | |1,483 | |15.3% |
| style="text-align:center;"
| |Providence | |3,726 | |14.23% | |10,035 | |38.34% | |12,414 | |47.43% | |26,175 | |28.7% |
| style="text-align:center;"
| |Richmond | |52 | |14.09% | |128 | |34.69% | |189 | |51.22% | |369 | |9.0% |
| - style="text-align:center;"
| Scituate | |141 | |24.06% | |214 | |36.52% | |231 | |39.42% | |586 | |10.0% |
| - style="text-align:center;"
| |Smithfield | |453 | |23.03% | |810 | |41.18% | |704 | |35.79% | | 1,967 | |15.9% |
| - style="text-align:center;"
| |575 | |16.45% | |1,213 | |34.70% | |1,708 | |48.86% | |3,496 | |22.4% |
| - style="text-align:center;"
| |Tiverton | |180 | |22.78% | |281 | |35.57% | |329 | |41.65% | | 790 | |8.3% |
| - style="text-align:center;"
| |Warren | |289 | |28.22% | |348 | |33.98% | |387 | |37.79% | |1,024 | |12.8% |
| - style="text-align:center;"
| |Warwick | |1,719 | |19.08% | |3,571 | |39.64% | |3,719 | |41.28% | |9,009 | |17.2% |
| - style="text-align:center;"
| |57 | |20.21% | |113 | |40.07% | |112 | |39.72% | | 282 | |9.8% |
| - style="text-align:center;"
| |West Warwick | |506 | |18.91% | |1,183 | |44.21% | |987 | |36.88% | |2,676 | |18.5% |
| - style="text-align:center;"
| |Westerly | |213 | |12.44% | |745 | |43.52% | |754 | |44.04% | |1,712 | |13.0% |
| - style="text-align:center;"
| |Woonsocket | | 550 | | 16.05% | | 1,748 | | 51.01% | | 1,129 | | 32.94% | | 3,427 | |17.7% |
| style="text-align:center;"
!Totals !26,838 !22.45% !45,880 !38.39% !46,806 !39.16% !119,524 !20.4% |
General election
=Predictions=
=Polling=
| class="wikitable" style="font-size:90%" |
| valign=bottom
! Poll source ! Date(s) ! Sample ! Margin ! style="width:100px;"| Donald ! style="width:100px;"| Myrth ! Other / |
| SurveyUSA[https://www.surveyusa.com/2002Elec.html SurveyUSA]
| align=center| October 28–30, 2002 | align=center| 593 (LV) | align=center| ± 4.2% | {{party shading/Republican}} align=center| 48% | align=center| 45% | align=center| 7% |
=Results=
{{Election box begin | title=Rhode Island gubernatorial election, 2002http://www.elections.state.ri.us/elections/results/2002/generalelection/governor.php {{Dead link|date=March 2022}}}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|
|party = Republican Party (United States)
|candidate = Donald Carcieri
|votes = 181,827
|percentage = 54.76%
|change = +3.76%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Democratic Party (United States)
|candidate = Myrth York
|votes = 150,229
|percentage = 45.24%
|change = +3.24%
}}
{{Election box majority|
|votes = 31,598
|percentage = 9.52%
|change = +0.52%
}}
{{Election box turnout|
|votes = 332,056
|percentage =
|change =
}}
{{Election box hold with party link|
|winner = Republican Party (United States)
|loser =
|swing =
}}
{{Election box end}}
Notes
{{notelist}}
References
{{reflist}}
See also
{{United States elections, 2002}}