2002 Maine gubernatorial election

2002 Maine gubernatorial election

← 1998 November 5, 2002 2006 →

Nominee John Baldacci Peter Cianchette Jonathan Carter Party Democratic Republican Green Popular vote 238,179 209,496 46,903 Percentage 47.15% 41.47% 9.28%

County results Municipality results Baldacci:      30–40%      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90% Cianchette:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90% Carter:      50–60% Tie:      40–50%      50%

Governor before election Angus King Independent Elected Governor John Baldacci Democratic

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.^[1]

Democratic primary

Candidates

• John Baldacci, U.S. Representative from Maine's 2nd congressional district

Results

Democratic primary results^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	John Baldacci	71,735	100.00
Total votes			71,735	100.00

Republican primary

Candidates

• Peter Cianchette, former State Representative
• James Libby, former State Senator

Results

Republican primary results^[3]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Peter E. Cianchette	52,692	66.88
	Republican	James D. Libby	26,091	33.12
Total votes			78,783	100.00

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Withdrawn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)^[4]

Results

Green Party primary results^[5]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Green	Jonathan Carter	1,613	100.00
Total votes			1,613	100.00

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

Predictions

Source	Ranking	As of
The Cook Political Report[6]	Lean D (flip)	October 31, 2002
Sabato's Crystal Ball[7]	Likely D (flip)	November 4, 2002

Results

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 carry 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.

Maine gubernatorial election, 2002^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	John Baldacci	238,179	47.15%	+35.37%
	Republican	Peter Cianchette	209,496	41.47%	+22.89%
	Green	Jonathan Carter	46,903	9.28%	+2.59%
	Independent	John Michael	10,612	2.10%
Majority			28,683	5.68%	−33.26%
Turnout			505,190
	Democratic gain from Independent		Swing

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)

References

1. "Baldacci, John E. | Maine: An Encyclopedia". April 25, 2011. Retrieved January 12, 2023.
2. "General Election, November 5, 2002 - Tabulations - Governor (Secretary of State, State of Maine, U.S.A.)". Archived from the original on October 26, 2011. Retrieved January 15, 2012.
3. "Primary Election, June 11, 2002 - Tabulations - Governor - Republican (Secretary of State, State of Maine, U.S.A.)". Archived from the original on October 17, 2012. Retrieved December 28, 2012.
4. Higgins, A.J. (March 15, 2002). "Farsaci drops out of race after petition drive fails". Bangor Daily News. Archived from the original on July 9, 2013. Retrieved July 9, 2013.
5. "Primary Election, June 11, 2002 - Tabulations - Governor - Green Independent (Secretary of State, State of Maine, U.S.A.)". Archived from the original on October 17, 2012. Retrieved December 28, 2012.
6. "Governor Updated October 31, 2002 | The Cook Political Report". The Cook Political Report. October 31, 2002. Archived from the original on December 8, 2002. Retrieved September 18, 2018.
7. "Governors Races". www.centerforpolitics.org. November 4, 2002. Archived from the original on December 12, 2002. Retrieved September 18, 2018.

External links

Official campaign websites (Archived)

• John Baldacci
• Peter Cianchette