The 2002 Kansas gubernatorial election was held on November 5, 2002. Incumbent Governor Bill Graves, a Republican, was barred from seeking a third term by the Kansas Constitution. Kansas Insurance Commissioner Kathleen Sebelius, the Democratic nominee, ran against Kansas State Treasurer Tim Shallenburger, the Republican nominee, with Sebelius defeating Shallenburger to become the second female Governor of Kansas after Joan Finney who served as governor from 1991 to 1995.
Democratic primary
Candidates Kathleen Sebelius, Kansas Insurance Commissioner
Results
Republican primary
Candidates Tim Shallenburger, Kansas State Treasurer (1999–present) and former state representative (1987–1998) Running mate: Dave Lindstrom, former Kansas City Chiefs defensive end and businessman Dave Kerr, Kansas State Senator Running mate: Mary Birch, former president of the Overland Park Chamber of Commerce (1984–2002) Bob Knight, Mayor of Wichita, Kansas Running mate: Kent Glasscock, Speaker of the Kansas House of Representatives (2001–2003) and state representative (1991–2003), was Carla Stovall's running mate until she dropped out. Dan Bloom, real estate developer and former Superintendent of the Eudora school district Running mate: Eric Bloom, architectural engineering student
Withdrawn Carla Stovall, Kansas Attorney General (1995–2003). Running mate: Kent Glasscock, Speaker of the Kansas House of Representatives (2001–2003) and state representative (1991–2003) Initially, Stovall was one of the presumed "front-runner" candidates, and her anticipated run against the probable Democratic nominee, Kansas Insurance Commissioner Kathleen Sebelius, drew national attention as becoming possibly a rare "woman-vs.-woman" gubernatorial race.Clymer, Adam: "In 2002, Woman's Place May Be the Statehouse," date, The New York Times, retrieved July 28, 2020Broder, David: "Closing The Governor Gap," February 20, 2002, The Washington Post, retrieved July 28, 2020 Though the front-runner among moderate candidatesAssociated Press: "Decision: Lt. Governor says he won't wait for formal announcement from Stovall before he makes decision," April 11, 2002, Garden City Telegram, page 1, from NewspaperArchive.com (OCR text), retrieved July 28, 2020"Stovall Drops Out," April 16, 2002, Lawrence Journal-World, retrieved July 28, 2020 — and confident that she would win if she stayed in the race — Stovall dropped out in April, 2002, citing a lack of enthusiasm for campaigning, and for the job of governor,"Sebelius: A Legacy," April 28, 2009, Topeka Capital-Journal, retrieved July 28, 2020 and announced plans to marry Kansas media mogul Larry Steckline, whom she married in August."Kansas official plans to marry," , May 9, 2002, Daily Oklahoman, retrieved July 29, 2020"Stovall-Steckline wedding," last modified Nov. 13, 2002, Marion County Record, retrieved July 29, 2020
Stovall's abrupt withdrawal threw the moderate wing of the Kansas Republican Party into chaos, as they scrambled to replace her. Kent Glasscock, her running mate, was the heir-apparent, and claimed entitlement to Stovall's campaign funds, but conservative opponent Tim Shallenberger, the incumbent State Treasurer, argued that the funds, per his interpretation of state law, had to be returned to the state Republican party, or to the donors, a charity, or the state government's general revenue fund. Additional Republican candidates began to emerge, also, further complicating the race. Glasscock ultimately became a running mate for gubernatorial candidate Bob Knight.Beatty, Bob and Virgil W. Dean, editors: "Doing What Needed to Get Done, When It Needed to Get Done”: A Conversation with Former Governor Bill Graves," undated Kansas History pp.172-197, retrieved July 29, 2020 from Washburn University reference archives.
Stovall's withdrawal was credited with giving advantage to the Democratic nominee (and ultimate victor), Katheleen Sebelius.Beatty, Bob and Linsey Moddelmog, editors: "Find a Way to Find Common Ground": A Conversation with Former Governor Kathleen Sebelius," Winter 2017-2018, Kansas History, retrieved July 29, 2020; pp.277-278: former Gov. Sebelius: "I entered the race [when] Carla [Stovall] [was] in the primary, and... within four months [she was] dropping out. So [the race] changed dramatically."
Results
General election
Predictions SourceRankingAs ofThe Cook Political Report October 31, 2002Sabato's Crystal Ball November 4, 2002
Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin KathleenSebelius (D) TimShallenburger (R) DennisHawver (L) TheodorePettibone (Reform) Other /undecidedSurveyUSASurveyUSA October 31 – November 2, 2002 704 (LV) ± 3.8% 51% 44% 2% 1% 2%
Results
Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic
Notes
References