The 2002 Maine gubernatorial election took place on November 5, 2002, to elect the governor of Maine. Incumbent Independent governor Angus King was term-limited and could not seek re-election to a third consecutive term. U.S. Congressman John Baldacci won the Democratic primary uncontested, while former State Representative Peter Cianchette emerged from the Republican primary victorious. Baldacci and Cianchette squared off in the general election, along with Green Party nominee Jonathan Carter and independent State Representative John Michael.
Ultimately, John Baldacci prevailed to win what would be his first of two terms as governor. This was the first election since 1982 that Maine elected a Democratic governor. This is the last time Cumberland and Knox counties voted Republican in a gubernatorial election, and also the last time that Piscataquis, Somerset, and Washington counties voted Democratic in a gubernatorial election; Franklin County would not vote Democratic again until 2018.
Democratic primary
Candidates
- John Baldacci, U.S. Representative from Maine's 2nd congressional district
Republican primary
Candidates
- Peter Cianchette, former State Representative
- James Libby, former State Senator
Green Party primary
Candidates
- Jonathan Carter, nominee for governor in 1994
Withdrawn
- Steven Farsaci, minister (dropped out of the race after failing to collect the mandatory 2,000 Green Independent signatures)
General election
Candidates
- John Baldacci (D), U.S. Representative
- Peter Cianchette (R), former state representative
- Jonathan Carter (G), nominee for governor in 1994
- John Michael (I), state representative
Results
Results by county
Counties that flipped from Independent to Democratic
- Androscoggin (largest city: Lewiston)
- Aroostook (largest city: Presque Isle)
- Franklin (largest town: Farmington)
- Hancock (largest municipality: Ellsworth)
- Kennebec (largest city: Augusta)
- Oxford (largest town: Rumford)
- Penobscot (largest city: Bangor)
- Piscataquis (largest municipality: Dover-Foxcroft)
- Somerset (largest town: Skowhegan)
- Washington (largest city: Calais)
- Waldo (largest city: Belfast)
Counties that flipped from Independent to Republican
- Cumberland (largest city: Portland)
- Knox (largest municipality: Rockland)
- Lincoln (largest city: Waldoboro)
- Sagadahoc (largest town: Bath)
- York (largest town: Biddeford)
Analysis
Baldacci carried much of western and northern Maine, which he had represented in Congress, while Cianchette used his southern Maine roots to win traditionally Democratic Cumberland County and its surroundings. This election is the most recent time Cumberland County voted for a Republican in a gubernatorial election, as well as the most recent time Piscataquis County voted for a Democrat in any gubernatorial, senate, or presidential election.
Of the five counties Cianchette carried, four voted for Democrat Al Gore in the presidential election held two years earlier, while Baldacci carried four counties that voted for Republican George W. Bush in that election. Baldacci would also win both counties (Piscataquis and Washington) that Bush would carry two years later in the 2004 presidential election, while all of the counties Cianchette won would vote for Democrat John Kerry.
Baldacci and Cianchette finished with exact ties in a handful of municipalities: Chesterville, Kingsbury Plantation, Lincoln Plantation, Mercer, Waite, and West Forks, as well as a handful of precincts for voters in unincorporated portions of Washington County. Carter would carry one municipality, Perkins Township in Franklin County.