The 2002 United States Senate election in Massachusetts took place on November 5, 2002. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator John Kerry won re-election to a fourth term against Libertarian Michael Cloud, with no Republican filing to run. Kerry won every county, congressional district, municipality, and precinct in the state.

The lack of a Republican Party candidate caused Cloud to receive the largest percentage of votes for a U.S. Senate candidate in the Libertarian Party's history at that time, though this record has since been eclipsed by Joe Miller in Alaska in 2016 and Ricky Dale Harrington Jr. in Arkansas in 2020. Cloud also won the largest number of raw votes for a Libertarian candidate at the time, since eclipsed by Harrington.

Kerry's support for the invasion of Iraq also prompted a late write-in challenge by anti-war candidate Randall Forsberg.

Democratic primary

General election Candidates Michael Cloud (Libertarian) Randall Forsberg, anti-war activist (Independent, write-in) John Kerry, incumbent U.S. Senator since 1985 (Democratic)

Predictions SourceRankingAs ofSabato's Crystal Ball November 4, 2002

Results

By county CountyJohn KerryDemocraticMichael CloudLibertarianAll others#%#%#%Barnstable70,39376.5%20,69622.5%9721.1%Berkshire34,52185.6%5,42413.4%3981.0%Bristol122,10483.0%24,48916.6%5040.3%Dukes5,48784.3%86413.3%1612.5%Essex186,30979.6%45,95619.6%1,9160.8%Franklin18,65476.6%3,75715.4%1,9508.0%Hampden100,61681.7%21,69617.6%7780.7%Hampshire39,44878.1%7,39814.6%3,6947.3%Middlesex395,08779.0%91,95118.4%13,1032.6%Nantucket3,00882.6%60416.6%290.8%Norfolk192,34279.9%45,23518.8%3,0801.3%Plymouth123,59777.7%34,62321.8%8120.5%Suffolk129,02684.9%20,63413.6%2,2381.5%Worcester185,38479.5%46,48019.9%1,3400.6% Totals1,605,97680.0%369,80718.4%30,9751.5% Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic Barnstable (largest municipality: Barnstable) Essex (largest municipality: Lynn) Hampden (largest municipality: Springfield) Plymouth (largest municipality: Brockton) Worcester (largest municipality: Worcester)

See also 2002 United States Senate elections

References

External links 2002 Statewide Election results Official campaign websites (archived) John Kerry (D) for Senate Michael Cloud (L) for Senate