The 2002 New Hampshire gubernatorial election was held on November 5, 2002. Three-term incumbent Democratic governor Jeanne Shaheen opted to unsuccessfully run for the United States Senate rather than seek a fourth term as governor. Republican Craig Benson, a self-funded businessman, defeated Democrat Mark Fernald, a state senator, in the general election after both won contested primary elections.
This was the only time a Republican was elected governor between 1994 and 2016.
Democratic primary
Candidates Mark Fernald, New Hampshire state senator Beverly Hollingworth, New Hampshire state senator
Results
Republican primary
Candidates Craig Benson, businessman Bruce Keough, former New Hampshire state senator Gordon J. Humphrey, former U.S. senator, 2000 Republican nominee for governor Robert Kingsbury, perennial candidate Joe Haas Bob Kroepel
Results
General election Predictions SourceRankingAs ofThe Cook Political Report October 31, 2002Sabato's Crystal Ball November 4, 2002
Results
Results by county CountyCraig BensonRepublicanMark FernaldDemocraticAll othersMarginTotal votes cast # % # % # % # % Belknap 14,691 67.8% 6,385 29.5%5992.8% 8,306 48.3% 21,675 Carroll 12,596 66.1% 5,930 31.1%5412.9% 6,666 35.0% 19,067 Cheshire 11,595 45.1% 13,320 51.8%8043.1% -1,725 -6.7% 25,719 Coös 6,890 62.3% 3,823 34.6%3503.1% 3,067 25.7% 11,063 Grafton 16,182 54.3% 12,607 42.3%9973.3% 3,575 12.0% 29,786 Hillsborough 78,305 61.3% 45,324 35.5%4,2143.3% 32,981 25.8% 127,843 Merrimack 27,773 52.3% 23,711 44.6%1,6253.0% 4,062 7.7% 53,109 Rockingham 62,542 61.3% 36,342 35.6%3,0803.0% 26,200 26.7% 101,964 Strafford 21,352 55.9% 15,461 40.4%1,4103.7% 5,891 15.5% 38,223 Sullivan 7,737 53.3% 6,374 43.9%6142.9% 1,363 9.4% 14,257Totals259,66358.6%169,27738.2%14,0363.2%90,38620.4%442,976 Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican Coös (largest city: Berlin) Hillsborough (largest city: Manchester) Grafton (largest city: Lebanon) Merrimack (largest city: Concord) Strafford (largest city: Dover) Sullivan (largest city: Claremont)
See also U.S. Gubernatorial Elections, 2002
References
External links New Hampshire Secretary of State's office, election division