2002 Iowa gubernatorial election

The 2002 Iowa gubernatorial election took place November 5, 2002. Incumbent Democratic Governor of Iowa Tom Vilsack sought re-election to a second term as governor. He won his party's nomination uncontested, while Doug Gross, an advisor to former and future Governor Terry Branstad, narrowly won the Republican primary in a crowded and competitive election. In the general election, Vilsack was able to improve slightly on his margin of victory four years earlier to win what would be his second and final term as governor.

2002 Iowa gubernatorial election

November 5, 2002

Nominee Tom Vilsack Doug Gross Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 540,449 456,612 Percentage 52.7% 44.5%

County results Vilsack:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70% Gross:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70-80%      80–90%

Governor before election Tom Vilsack Democratic Elected Governor Tom Vilsack Democratic

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Tom Vilsack, incumbent Governor of Iowa

Results

Democratic primary results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Tom Vilsack (incumbent)	79,277	98.55
	Democratic	Write-ins	1,166	1.45
Total votes			80,443	100

Republican primary

Candidates

• Doug Gross, advisor to former Governor Terry Branstad
• Steve Sukup, Iowa State Representative (1995–2003)
• Bob Vander Plaats, family values activist

Results

Primary results by county:

Gross

•   Gross—61-70%
•   Gross—51-60%
•   Gross—41-50%
•   Gross—31-40%

Sukup

•   Sukup—81-90%
•   Sukup—71-80%
•   Sukup—61-70%
•   Sukup—51-60%
•   Sukup—41-50%
•   Sukup—31-40%

Vander Plaats

•   Vander Plaats—81-90%
•   Vander Plaats—71-80%
•   Vander Plaats—61-70%
•   Vander Plaats—51-60%
•   Vander Plaats—41-50%
•   Vander Plaats—31-40%

Republican primary results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Doug Gross	71,478	35.88
	Republican	Steve Sukup	64,490	32.37
	Republican	Bob Vander Plaats	63,077	31.66
	Republican	Write-ins	189	0.09
Total votes			199,234	100

General election

Predictions

Source	Ranking	As of
The Cook Political Report	Tossup	October 31, 2002
Sabato's Crystal Ball	Lean D	November 4, 2002

Polling

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Tom Vilsack (D)	Doug Gross (R)	Other / Undecided
SurveyUSA	October 27–29, 2002	614 (LV)	± 4.1%	56%	42%	3%

Results

Iowa gubernatorial election, 2002

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Tom Vilsack (incumbent)	540,449	52.69%	+0.39%
	Republican	Doug Gross	456,612	44.51%	-2.00%
	Green	Jay Robinson	14,628	1.43%
	Libertarian	Clyde Cleveland	13,098	1.28%
	Write-ins		1,025	0.10%
Majority			83,837	8.17%	+2.37%
Turnout			1,025,802
	Democratic hold		Swing

Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic

• Adams (largest city: Corning)
• Hardin (largest city: Iowa Falls)
• Winnebago (largest city: Forest City)
• Clarke (largest city: Osceola)
• Louisa (largest city: Wapello)
• Mitchell (largest city: Osage)
• Union (largest city: Creston)
• Appanoose (Largest city: Centerville)
• Decatur (Largest city: Lamoni)
• Lucas (Largest city: Chariton)
• Monona (Largest city: Onawa)
• Ringgold (Largest city: Mount Ayr)
• Taylor (Largest city: Bedford)
• Wayne (Largest city: Corydon)
• Wright (Largest city: Eagle Grove)
• Cherokee (Largest city: Cherokee)
• Calhoun (Largest city: Rockwell City)
• Carroll (Largest city: Carroll)
• Keokuk (Largest city: Sigourney)
• Woodbury (Largest city: Sioux City)
• Washington (Largest city: Washington)
• Pocahontas (Largest city: Pocahontas)
• Franklin (Largest city: Hampton)
• Delaware (Largest city: Manchester)
• Humboldt (largest city: Humboldt)
• Adair (Largest city: Greenfield)
• Scott (largest city: Davenport)

Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican

• Jefferson (Largest city: Fairfield)
• Dickinson (Largest city: Spirit Lake)
• Sac (largest city: Sac City)
• Winneshiek (largest city: Decorah)

See also

• 2002 United States gubernatorial elections
• State of Iowa
• Governors of Iowa