2002 Wyoming gubernatorial election
{{Short description|none}}
{{see also|2002 United States gubernatorial elections}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2023}}
{{Infobox election
| election_name = 2002 Wyoming gubernatorial election
| country = Wyoming
| type = presidential
| ongoing = Yes
| previous_election = 1998 Wyoming gubernatorial election
| previous_year = 1998
| next_election = 2006 Wyoming gubernatorial election
| next_year = 2006
| election_date = November 5, 2002
| image1 = File:Dave Freudenthal speech.jpg
| image_size = 150x150px
| nominee1 = Dave Freudenthal
| party1 = Democratic Party (United States)
| popular_vote1 = 92,662
| percentage1 = 49.96%
| image2 = File:Eli Bebout 20171012.jpg
| nominee2 = Eli Bebout
| party2 = Republican Party (United States)
| popular_vote2 = 88,873
| percentage2 = 47.92%
| map_image = 2002 Wyoming gubernatorial election results map by county.svg
| map_size = 250px
| map_caption = County results
Freudenthal: {{legend0|#7996e2|50–60%}} {{legend0|#6674de|60–70%}}
Bebout: {{legend0|#ffb2b2|40–50%}} {{legend0|#e27f7f|50–60%}} {{legend0|#d75d5d|60–70%}}
| title = Governor
| before_election = Jim Geringer
| before_party = Republican Party (United States)
| after_election = Dave Freudenthal
| after_party = Democratic Party (United States)
}}
{{ElectionsWY}}
The 2002 Wyoming gubernatorial election was held on November 5, 2002. Incumbent Republican Governor Jim Geringer was term-limited and unable to seek a third term in office, thereby creating an open seat. Former U.S. Attorney Dave Freudenthal and former Wyoming House Speaker Eli Bebout both emerged from competitive Democratic and Republican primaries, respectively, and faced off against each other in the general election. Despite Wyoming's strong inclination to elect Republicans, a contentious race ensued, with Freudenthal ultimately defeating Bebout by fewer than 4,000 votes. As of {{CURRENTYEAR}}, this is the last gubernatorial election in Wyoming to be decided by less than 20 percentage points.
Democratic primary
=Candidates=
- Ken Casner
- Dave Freudenthal, former United States Attorney for the District of Wyoming
- Paul Hickey, attorney, former chairman of the Wyoming Pipeline Authority and son of former governor John J. Hickey
- Toby Simpson, construction worker
=Results=
[[File:2002 Wyoming gubernatorial Democratic primary election results map by county.png|thumb|Results by county:
{{collapsible list
| title = {{legend|#7996E2|Freudenthal}}
|{{legend|#8BB1E0|40–50%}}
|{{legend|#7996E2|50–60%}}
|{{legend|#6674DE|60–70%}}
|{{legend|#584CDE|70–80%}}
|{{legend|#3933E5|80–90%}}
}}
{{collapsible list
| title = {{legend|#FFAE75|Hickey}}
|{{legend|#FFAE75|40–50%}}
}}
]]
{{Election box begin no change
| title = Democratic primary results{{cite web |title=Statewide Candidates' Abstract - Official Primary Election Results - August 20, 2002 |url=https://sos.wyo.gov/Elections/Docs/2002/02Results/02_Primary_SW_Candidates.pdf |publisher=Wyoming Secretary of State}}
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Dave Freudenthal
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| votes = 19,732
| percentage = 53.62
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Paul Hickey
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| votes = 13,793
| percentage = 37.48
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Toby Simpson
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| votes = 1,918
| percentage = 5.21
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Ken Casner
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| votes = 1,356
| percentage = 3.68
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 36,799
| percentage = 100.00
}}
{{Election box end}}
Republican primary
=Candidates=
- Eli Bebout, former Speaker of the Wyoming House of Representatives
- Ray Hunkins, attorney and rancher
- John H. Self
- Bill Sniffin, journalist and former Wyoming Travel Commissioner
- Stephen Watt, State Representative
=Results=
{{Election box begin no change
| title = Republican primary results
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Eli Bebout
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 44,417
| percentage = 48.98
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Ray Hunkins
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 25,363
| percentage = 27.97
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Bill Sniffin
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 13,633
| percentage = 15.03
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Stephen Watt
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 5,724
| percentage = 6.31
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = John H. Self
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 1,548
| percentage = 1.71
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 90,685
| percentage = 100.00
}}
{{Election box end}}
General election
=Predictions=
=Results=
{{Election box begin | title=Wyoming gubernatorial election, 2002{{cite web |title=Statewide Candidates' Abstract - Official General Election Results - November 5, 2002 |url=https://sos.wyo.gov/Elections/Docs/2002/02Results/02General/02_General%20Election_SW_Candidates.pdf |publisher=Wyoming Secretary of State}}}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|
|party = Democratic Party (United States)
|candidate = Dave Freudenthal
|votes = 92,662
|percentage = 49.96%
|change = +9.51%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Republican Party (United States)
|candidate = Eli Bebout
|votes = 88,873
|percentage = 47.92%
|change = -7.68%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Libertarian Party (US)
|candidate = Dave Dawson
|votes = 3,924
|percentage = 2.12%
|change = -1.83%
}}
{{Election box majority|
|votes = 3,789
|percentage = 2.04%
|change = -13.10%
}}
{{Election box turnout|
|votes = 185,459
|percentage =
|change =
}}
{{Election box gain with party link|
|winner = Democratic Party (United States)
|loser = Republican Party (United States)
|swing =
}}
{{Election box end}}