2002 Colorado gubernatorial election

For related races, see 2002 United States gubernatorial elections.

2002 Colorado gubernatorial election
← 1998 November 5, 2002 2006 →
 
Nominee Bill Owens Rollie Heath
Party Republican Democratic
Running mate Jane E. Norton Bill Thiebaut
Popular vote 884,583 475,373
Percentage 62.62% 33.65%
County results
Owens:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%
Heath:      40–50%      50–60%
Governor before election

Bill Owens
Republican

Elected Governor

Bill Owens
Republican

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The 2002 Colorado gubernatorial election was held on November 5, 2002, to elect the governor of Colorado. Bill Owens, the Republican incumbent, defeated Democratic nominee Rollie Heath to win a second term. Owen's win set the record for biggest win by a Republican in a Colorado gubernatorial election (Democrats won by larger margins in 1982, 1948, and 1928, with Billy Adams' 35 point blowout in that year being the greatest victory for a candidate of any party).[1] As of 2025, this is the last time a Republican was elected Governor of Colorado and the only time in the past half-century that a Republican won a majority in the state.

Republican primary

Candidates

Results

Republican primary results[2]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Bill Owens (incumbent) 189,705 100.00
Total votes 189,705 100.00

Democratic primary

Candidates

Results

Democratic primary results[2]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Rollie Heath 98,897 100.00
Total votes 98,897 100.00

General election

Debates

Predictions

Source Ranking As of
The Cook Political Report[3] Safe R October 31, 2002
Sabato's Crystal Ball[4] Safe R November 4, 2002

Results

2002 Colorado gubernatorial election[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Bill Owens (inc.) 884,583 62.62% +13.58%
Democratic Rollie Heath 475,373 33.65% −14.77%
Green Ronald Forthofer 32,099 2.27% –
Libertarian Ralph Shnelvar 20,547 1.45% −0.23%
Majority 409,210 28.97% +28.34%
Turnout 1,412,602
Republican hold

Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican

References

  1. ^ "Our Campaigns - Container Detail Page". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
  2. ^ a b c Davidson, Donetta (2002). Official Publication of the Abstract of Votes Cast for the 2001 Coordinated, 2002 Primary, 2002 General (PDF). Denver, Colorado: Colorado Secretary of State.
  3. ^ "Governor Updated October 31, 2002 | The Cook Political Report". The Cook Political Report. October 31, 2002. Archived from the original on December 8, 2002. Retrieved September 18, 2018.
  4. ^ "Governors Races". www.centerforpolitics.org. November 4, 2002. Archived from the original on December 12, 2002. Retrieved September 18, 2018.