The 2002 Idaho gubernatorial election was held on November 5, 2002 to select the governor of the state of Idaho. Dirk Kempthorne, the Republican incumbent, defeated Democratic nominee Jerry Brady to win a second term, but the win was not nearly as overwhelming as Kempthorne's 1998 victory. This was the first Idaho gubernatorial election since 1978 in which the winner was of the same party as the incumbent president. This was the first time since 1962 that an incumbent Republican Governor of Idaho was re-elected.
Republican primary Candidates Walter L. Bayes Milt Erhart, perennial candidate Raynelle J. George Dirk Kempthorne, incumbent Governor of Idaho
Results
Democratic primary Candidates Jerry Brady, newspaper publisher Rue T. Stears
Results
Libertarian primary Candidates Daniel L. J. Adams, perennial candidate Michael Monroe Gollaher (write-in)
Results
General election Campaign Although Brady performed considerably better than 1998 Democratic gubernatorial nominee Robert C. Huntley, and won a plurality of the vote in Ada County, the state's most populous county, Kempthorne won reelection with a comfortable majority.
Predictions SourceRankingAs ofThe Cook Political Report October 31, 2002Sabato's Crystal Ball November 4, 2002
Results
Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic Ada (largest municipality: Boise) Bannock (largest municipality: Pocatello) Nez Perce (Largest city: Lewiston) Shoshone (Largest city: Kellogg) Latah (Largest city: Moscow)
References
See also Governor of Idaho List of governors of Idaho Idaho gubernatorial elections
External links Official campaign websites (archived) Dirk Kempthorne (R) for Governor Jerry Brady (D) for Governor