2002 Maryland gubernatorial election

The 2002 Maryland gubernatorial election was held on November 5, 2002. Democratic Governor Parris Glendening was term-limited and could not seek a third term. Republican Bob Ehrlich defeated Democrat Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, making him the first Republican governor of Maryland since Spiro Agnew in 1966. This was the last time Charles County voted Republican for any office.

2002 Maryland gubernatorial election

November 5, 2002

Nominee Bob Ehrlich Kathleen Kennedy Townsend Party Republican Democratic Running mate Michael Steele Charles R. Larson Popular vote 879,592 813,422 Percentage 51.6% 47.7%

County Results Ehrlich:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90% Townsend:      60–70%      70–80%

Governor before election Parris Glendening Democratic Elected Governor Bob Ehrlich Republican

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Robert Fustero, perennial candidate
• Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, lieutenant governor

Results

Democratic primary results[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Kathleen Kennedy Townsend	434,948	80.01
	Democratic	Robert Fustero	108,659	19.99
Total votes			543,607	100

Republican primary

Candidates

• Bob Ehrlich, U.S. Representative
• Ross Z. Pierpont, perennial candidate
• James J. Sheridan

Results

Republican primary results[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Bob Ehrlich	229,927	92.88
	Republican	James J. Sheridan	9,181	3.71
	Republican	Ross Z. Pierpont	8,458	3.42
Total votes			247,566	100

General election

Lieutenant Governor Kathleen Kennedy Townsend won the Democratic nomination, and Congressman Bob Ehrlich won the Republican nomination, both over token opposition.

Ehrlich chose Maryland Republican Party Chairman Michael Steele as his running mate, while Townsend chose Admiral Charles R. Larson as her running mate. Larson switched to the Democratic Party just a few weeks before the election.

Kennedy's selection of Larson as her running mate proved to be an unpopular move, seeing as he was a white former Republican and had been selected without consultation with black Democratic leaders.[3] Ehrlich ran advertisements assailing incumbent Governor Parris Glendening for the increasingly dismal fiscal situation in Maryland, an issue that resonated with Maryland voters. Glendening's unpopularity did little to help his Lieutenant Governor's flailing campaign.[4]

Results

Maryland gubernatorial election, 2002

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Bob Ehrlich	879,592	51.55%	+6.74%
	Democratic	Kathleen Kennedy Townsend	813,422	47.68%	-7.47%
	Libertarian	Spear Lancaster	11,546	0.68%
	Write-ins		1,619	0.09%
Majority			66,170	3.88%	-6.45%
Turnout			1,706,179
	Republican gain from Democratic		Swing

References

1. http://www.elections.state.md.us/elections/2002/results/p_governor.html
2. http://www.elections.state.md.us/elections/2002/results/p_governor.html
3. http://archives.cnn.com/2002/ALLPOLITICS/11/05/elec02.md.g.hotrace/index.html
4. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2011-05-22. Retrieved 2011-04-14.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)