The 2002 United States House of Representatives elections were held on November 5, 2002, in the middle of President George W. Bush's first term, to elect U.S. Representatives to serve in the 108th United States Congress. This was the first congressional election using districts drawn up during the 2000 United States redistricting cycle on the basis of the 2000 census.

Although it was a midterm election under a Republican president, the Republican Party made a net gain of eight seats, giving the party their largest majority since 1995. Some speculate that this may have been due to increased support for the president's party in the wake of the September 11 attacks.

As of 2026, it is the most recent midterm election in which the president's party won control of the House, as well as gain seats in the House. It is also the only midterm election from 1982 to the present in which the president's party won control of the House as Republicans did not win the House majority in 1982 nor 1986 for Ronald Reagan, in 1990 for George H. W. Bush, in 2006 for George W. Bush, or in 2018 for Donald Trump. Meanwhile Democrats did not win the House majority in 1994 nor 1998 for Bill Clinton, in 2010 nor 2014 for Barack Obama, or in 2022 for Joe Biden.

Results Federal

+ ↓ 229 1 205 Republican I Democratic

Summary of the November 5, 2002 United States House of Representatives election results

Political Parties Seats Popular vote 2000 2002 Netchange Strength Vote % Change Republican Party 221 229 8 52.6% 37,332,552 50.0% +2.4% Democratic Party 212 205 7 47.1% 33,795,885 45.2% -1.9% Libertarian Party - - - - 1,050,776 1.4% -0.2% Independent 2 1 1 0.2% 398,398 0.5% -0.2% Green Party - - - - 297,187 0.4% +0.1% Constitution Party - - - - 129,748 0.2% +0.1% Conservative Party - - - - 48,964 0.1% - Others - - - - 1,653,045 2.2% +0.4% Total 435 435 0 100.0% 74,706,555 100.0% -

Source: Election Statistics - Office of the Clerk

Maps

Retirements In the November general elections, 35 incumbents did not seek re-election, either to retire or to seek other positions.

Democrats 13 Democrats did not seek re-election. : Carrie Meek retired. : Rod Blagojevich retired to run for governor of Illinois. : Tim Roemer retired when redistricted from the 3rd district. : John Baldacci retired to run for governor of Maine. : James Barcia retired to run for Michigan Senate. : David Bonior retired to run for governor of Michigan. : John LaFalce retired when redistricted from the 29th district. : Eva Clayton retired. : Robert Borski retired when redistricted from the 3rd district. : William J. Coyne retired. : Bob Clement retired to run for U.S. Senate. : Ken Bentsen retired to run for U.S. Senate. : Tom Barrett retired to run for governor of Wisconsin.

Republicans 22 Republicans did not seek re-election. : Sonny Callahan retired. : Bob Riley retired to run for governor of Alabama. : Bob Stump retired when redistricted from the 3rd district. : Steve Horn retired when redistricted from the 38th district. : Bob Schaffer retired. : Dan Miller retired. : Saxby Chambliss retired to run for U.S. Senate. : Greg Ganske retired to run for U.S. Senate. : John Cooksey retired to run for U.S. Senate. : Bob Ehrlich retired to run for governor of Maryland. : John E. Sununu retired to run for U.S. Senate. : Marge Roukema retired. : Joe Skeen retired. : Benjamin Gilman retired when redistricted from the 20th district. : Wes Watkins retired. : J. C. Watts retired. : Lindsey Graham retired to run for U.S. Senate. : John Thune retired to run for U.S. Senate. : Van Hilleary retired to run for governor of Tennessee. : Ed Bryant retired to run for U.S. Senate. : Dick Armey retired. : Jim Hansen retired.

Resignation and expulsion 2 seats opened early due to a resignation and an expulsion. Neither were filled until the November elections.

Democrats One Democrat resigned and one was expelled. : Tony P. Hall resigned September 9, 2002, to become U.S. Ambassador to the Food and Agriculture Organization, having previously announced his retirement. : James Traficant was expelled July 24, 2002, after being convicted of ten felonies.

Republicans No Republicans resigned.

Incumbents defeated In primary elections Democrats Six Democrats lost renomination. : Earl Hilliard Sr. lost renomination to Artur Davis, who then won the general election. : Gary Condit lost renomination to Dennis Cardoza, who then won the general election. : Cynthia McKinney lost renomination to Denise Majette, who then won the general election. : Lynn Rivers lost renomination in a redistricting race to John Dingell, who then won the general election. : Tom Sawyer lost renomination to Tim Ryan, who then won the general election. : Frank Mascara lost renomination in a redistricting race to John Murtha, who then won the general election.

Republicans Two Republicans lost renomination. : Bob Barr lost renomination in a redistricting race to John Linder, who then won the general election. : Brian Kerns lost renomination in a redistricting race to Steve Buyer, who then won the general election.

In the general election Democrats Five Democrats lost re-election to Republicans. : James H. Maloney lost a redistricting race to Nancy Johnson. : Karen Thurman lost to Ginny Brown-Waite. : David Phelps lost a redistricting race to John Shimkus. : Bill Luther lost to John Kline. : Ronnie Shows lost a redistricting race to Chip Pickering.

Republicans Three Republicans lost re-election to Democrats. : Connie Morella lost to Chris Van Hollen. : Felix Grucci lost to Tim Bishop. : George Gekas lost a redistricting race to Tim Holden.

Open seats that changed parties Democratic seats won by Republicans Three Democratic seats were won by Republicans. : Won by Chris Chocola. : Won by Candice Miller. : Won by Mike Turner.

Republican seats won by Democrats Five Republican seats were won by Democrats. : Won by Linda Sánchez. : Won by Jim Marshall. : Won by Rodney Alexander. : Won by Dutch Ruppersberger. : Won by Lincoln Davis.

Open seats that parties held Democratic seats held by Democrats Democrats held five of their open seats. : Won by Kendrick Meek. : Won by Rahm Emanuel. : Won by Frank Ballance. : Won by Jim Cooper. : Won by Chris Bell.

Republican seats held by Republicans Republicans held fourteen of their open seats. : Won by Jo Bonner. : Won by Mike Rogers. : Won by Trent Franks. : Won by Marilyn Musgrave. : Won by Katherine Harris. : Won by Steve King. : Won by Jeb Bradley. : Won by Scott Garrett. : Won by Steve Pearce. : Won by Tom Cole. : Won by Gresham Barrett. : Won by Marsha Blackburn. : Won by Michael C. Burgess. : Won by Rob Bishop.

Newly created seats Of the 435 districts created in the 2000 redistricting, sixteen had no incumbent representative.

Democratic gain Three Democrats were elected in newly created seats. : Won by Raúl Grijalva. : Won by David Scott. : Won by Brad Miller.

Republican gain Thirteen Republicans were elected in newly created seats. : Won by Rick Renzi. : Won by Devin Nunes. : Won by Bob Beauprez. : Won by Tom Feeney. : Won by Mario Díaz-Balart. : Won by Phil Gingrey. : Won by Max Burns. : Won by Thaddeus McCotter. : Won by Jon Porter. : Won by Jim Gerlach. : Won by Tim Murphy. : Won by Jeb Hensarling. : Won by John Carter.

Election ratings

Closest races Thirty-eight races were decided by 10% or lower.

District Winner Margin data-sort-value=-1 0.07% data-sort-value=-1 (flip) 0.56% data-sort-value=-1 0.74% data-sort-value=-1 (flip) 1.02% data-sort-value=-1 (flip) 1.64% data-sort-value=-1 (flip) 1.66% data-sort-value=-1 2.11% data-sort-value=-1 2.73% data-sort-value=-1 2.82% data-sort-value=-1 3.22% data-sort-value=-1 3.28% data-sort-value=-1 3.29% data-sort-value=-1 3.57% data-sort-value=-1 3.57% data-sort-value=-1 3.61% data-sort-value=-1 3.97% data-sort-value=-1 4.02% data-sort-value=-1 (flip) 4.22% data-sort-value=-1 4.30% data-sort-value=-1 4.33% data-sort-value=-1 4.44% data-sort-value=-1 (flip) 4.68% data-sort-value=-1 4.82% data-sort-value=-1 5.02% data-sort-value=-1 5.29% data-sort-value=-1 (flip) 5.59% data-sort-value=-1 6.45% data-sort-value=-1 7.66% data-sort-value=-1 7.83% data-sort-value=-1 7.89% data-sort-value=-1 8.18% data-sort-value=-1 8.37% data-sort-value=-1 (flip) 8.59% data-sort-value=-1 8.99% data-sort-value=-1 9.01% data-sort-value=-1 9.57% data-sort-value=-1 9.58% data-sort-value=-1 9.65%

Special elections

Two special elections were held for members to serve the remainder of the term ending January 3, 2003.

District Incumbent This race Member Party First elected Results Candidates Steve Largent Republican 1994 Incumbent resigned to run for Governor of Oklahoma.New member elected January 8, 2002.Republican hold.Winner was subsequently re-elected in November. Patsy Mink Democratic 19641976 1990 Incumbent died September 28, 2002, but was posthumously re-elected, see below.New member elected November 30, 2002.Democratic hold.Winner was subsequently re-elected in a special election on January 4, 2003 for the next term.

Alabama

District Incumbent This race Member Party First elected Results Candidates Sonny Callahan Republican 1984 Incumbent retired.Republican hold. Terry Everett Republican 1992 Incumbent re-elected. Bob Riley Republican 1996 Incumbent retired to run for Governor of Alabama.Republican hold. Robert Aderholt Republican 1996 Incumbent re-elected. Bud Cramer Democratic 1990 Incumbent re-elected. Spencer Bachus Republican 1992 Incumbent re-elected. Earl Hilliard Sr. Democratic 1992 Incumbent lost renomination.Democratic hold.

Alaska

District Incumbent This race Member Party First elected Results Candidates Don Young Republican 1973 Incumbent re-elected.

Arizona

The state gained two seats in reapportionment.

District Incumbent This race Member Party First elected Results Candidates None (District created) New district.Republican gain. Bob Stump Republican 1976 Incumbent retired.Republican hold. John Shadegg Republican 1994 Incumbent re-elected. Ed Pastor Democratic 1991 Incumbent re-elected. J. D. Hayworth Republican 1994 Incumbent re-elected. Jeff Flake Republican 2000 Incumbent re-elected. None (District created) New district.Democratic gain. Jim Kolbe Republican 1984 Incumbent re-elected.

Arkansas

District Incumbent This race Member Party First elected Results Candidates Marion Berry Democratic 1996 Incumbent re-elected. Vic Snyder Democratic 1996 Incumbent re-elected. John Boozman Republican 2001 Incumbent re-elected. Mike Ross Democratic 2000 Incumbent re-elected.

California

The state gained one seat in reapportionment.