2002 Colorado gubernatorial election
Template:Short description Script error: No such module "For". Template:Use American English Script error: No such module "Unsubst". Script error: No such module "infobox".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Template:ElectionsCO The 2002 Colorado gubernatorial election was held on November 5, 2002, to elect the governor of Colorado. Bill Owens, the Republican incumbent, defeated Democratic nominee Rollie Heath to win a second term. Owen's win set the record for biggest win by a Republican in a Colorado gubernatorial election (Democrats won by larger margins in 1982, 1948, and 1928, with Billy Adams' 35 point blowout in that year being the greatest victory for a candidate of any party).[1] As of 2026, this is the last time a Republican was elected Governor of Colorado and the only time in the past half-century that a Republican won a majority in the state.
Republican primary
Candidates
- Bill Owens, incumbent Governor of Colorado
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Script error: No such module "Political party". | Bill Owens (incumbent) | Script error: No such module "string". | 100.00 | |
| Total votes | Script error: No such module "string". | 100.00 | ||
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Democratic primary
Candidates
- Rollie Heath, businessman
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Script error: No such module "Political party". | Rollie Heath | Script error: No such module "string". | 100.00 | |
| Total votes | Script error: No such module "string". | 100.00 | ||
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General election
Debates
- Complete video of debate, September 7, 2002
- Complete video of debate, September 24, 2002
- Complete video of debate, October 17, 2002
Predictions
| Source | Ranking | As of |
|---|---|---|
| The Cook Political Report[3] | Template:USRaceRating | October 31, 2002 |
| Sabato's Crystal Ball[4] | Template:USRaceRating | November 4, 2002 |
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | <templatestyles src="Template:Tooltip/styles.css" />±%Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Script error: No such module "Political party". | Bill Owens (inc.) | Template:Replace | 62.62% | Script error: No such module "String". | |
| Script error: No such module "Political party". | Rollie Heath | 475,373 | 33.65% | Script error: No such module "String". | |
| Script error: No such module "Political party". | Ronald Forthofer | 32,099 | 2.27% | Script error: No such module "String". | |
| Script error: No such module "Political party". | Ralph Shnelvar | 20,547 | 1.45% | Script error: No such module "String". | |
| Majority | 409,210 | 28.97% | Script error: No such module "String". | ||
| Turnout | 1,412,602 | ||||
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Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican
- Routt (Largest city: Steamboat Springs)
- Garfield (largest municipality: Glenwood Springs)
- Eagle (largest municipality: Edwards)
- Summit (largest municipality: Breckenridge)
- Clear Creek (largest city: Idaho Springs)
- Gilpin (largest city: Central City)
- Adams (largest city: Thornton)
- Arapahoe (largest city: Aurora)
- Gunnison (Largest city: Gunnison)
- Lake (Largest city: Leadville)
- Pitkin (Largest city: Aspen)
- La Plata (largest municipality: Durango)
- San Juan (largest municipality: Silverton)
- Saguache (largest city: Center)
- Mineral (Largest city: Creede)
- Conejos (largest municipality: Manassa)
- Costilla (largest municipality: San Luis)
- Las Animas (largest city: Trinidad)
- Huerfano (largest city: Walsenburg)
References
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Template:Colorado elections Template:United States elections, 2002