The 2002 Arizona gubernatorial election took place on November 5, 2002. Incumbent Republican Governor Jane Dee Hull was term limited. The Democratic nominee, Arizona Attorney General Janet Napolitano, narrowly defeated Republican Matt Salmon, a former U.S. Representative, in a victory that was considered a minor upset. Upon her inauguration, Napolitano became the first woman to succeed another woman as governor of a state. This was the last Arizona gubernatorial election in which the winning candidate did not win Maricopa County.
Republican primary
Candidates
Nominee
- Matt Salmon, former U.S. representative from Arizona's 1st congressional district (1995-2001)
Eliminated in primary
- Betsey Bayless, Secretary of State of Arizona (1997-2003)
- Carol Springer, State Treasurer of Arizona (1993-2003)
Declined
- Dan Quayle, former vice president (1989-1993) and U.S Senator from Indiana (1981-1989)
Democratic primary
Candidates
Nominee
- Janet Napolitano, Attorney General of Arizona (1999-2003)
Eliminated in primary
- Alfredo Gutierrez, state senator
- Mike Newcomb, physician
- Mark Osterloh, perennial candidate
Libertarian primary
Candidates
Nominee
Eliminated in primary
General election
Debates
- Complete video of debate, October 30, 2002
Results
The election was extremely close: Napolitano won by just 11,819 votes out of 1,226,111 cast, the closest gubernatorial election in Arizona in many years. Napolitano also won without carrying Maricopa County. Under Arizonan law, the losing candidate may request a recount, for which that candidate must pay, if the margin of victory is less than one percent but greater than half of one percent. In 2002, the margin of victory was 1.0%, barely allowing a recount.
It soon became apparent that Napolitano had won the election and would be the next governor of Arizona. Salmon acknowledged that the chance of his prevailing in a recount was extremely small and decided not to ask for one (recounts seldom see a swing over 1,000 votes; he was losing by over 10,000). He officially called Napolitano on November 17 and congratulated her on her victory. On November 20, Arizona Secretary of State Betsey Bayless certified the results of the election and declared Napolitano the winner.
Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic
- Coconino (largest municipality: Flagstaff)
- Gila (largest city: Payson)
- Greenlee (largest city: Clifton)
- Navajo (largest city: Show Low)
- Pima (largest municipality: Tucson)
- Pinal (largest city: San Tan Valley)
- Santa Cruz (largest municipality: Nogales)