The 2002 U.S. House of Representatives election for the state of North Dakota at-large congressional district was held November 5, 2002. The incumbent, Democratic-NPL Congressman Earl Pomeroy was re-elected to his sixth term, defeating Republican candidate Rick Clayburgh.
Only Pomeroy filed as a Dem-NPLer, and the endorsed Republican candidate was Rick Clayburgh, who was serving as the North Dakota State Tax Commissioner. Pomeroy and Clayburgh won the primary elections for their respective parties.
The election was the closest for Pomeroy in all of his career as congressman until his defeat in 2010; he won by just over 11,000 votes. This was because Clayburgh ran an aggressive campaign, and was the most well-known candidate ever to face Pomeroy; he had held a statewide office for 8 years. United States Vice President Dick Cheney campaigned for Clayburgh in Fargo, North Dakota, on July 29.Cheney visits Fargo. Minnesota Public Radio. July 29, 2007.
General election Predictions SourceRankingAs of Sabato's Crystal Ball November 4, 2002 New York Times October 14, 2002
Results
Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican Adams (largest city: Hettinger) Dunn (largest city: Killdeer) Hettinger (largest city: Mott) LaMoure (largest city: LaMoure) Morton (largest city: Mandan)
Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic McKenzie (largest city: Watford City) Pierce (largest city: Rugby)
References