2002 Ohio Attorney General election

2002 Ohio Attorney General election

← 1998 November 5, 2002 (2002-11-05) 2006 →

Nominee Jim Petro Leigh Herington Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 2,007,411 1,123,318 Percentage 64.12% 35.88%

County results Petro:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% Herington:      50–60%

Attorney General before election Betty Montgomery Republican Elected Attorney General Jim Petro Republican

The 2002 Ohio Attorney General election was held on November 5, 2002, to elect the Ohio Attorney General. Republican incumbent Ohio Attorney General Betty Montgomery was term-limited and could not seek a third consecutive term. The Republican nominee, Ohio State Auditor Jim Petro, defeated Democratic Ohio Senate Minority Leader Leigh Herington in a landslide, outdoing Betty Montgomery's victory in the previous election, securing 64.12% of the vote.

Republican primary

Candidates

• Jim Petro, Ohio State Auditor (1995–2003)

Campaign

The Republican primary was held on May 7, 2002. Petro won the Republican nomination without opposition.

Results

Republican primary results^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Jim Petro	523,183	100%
Total votes			523,183	100%

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Leigh Herington, Ohio Senate Minority Leader (2001–2003)

Campaign

The Democratic primary was held on May 7, 2002. Herington won the Democratic nomination unopposed.

Results

Democratic primary results^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Leigh Herington	405,453	100%
Total votes			405,453	100%

General election

Candidates

• Jim Petro, Ohio State Auditor (1995–2003) (Republican)
• Leigh Herington, Ohio Senate Minority Leader (2001–2003)

Results

2002 Ohio Attorney General election results^[3]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Jim Petro	2,007,411	64.12%	+1.95%
	Democratic	Leigh Herington	1,123,318	35.88%	−1.95%
Total votes			3,130,729	100.00%
	Republican hold		Swing

References

1. "Republican Statewide Offices: Governor, Attorney General, Auditor of State, and Secretary of State". Ohio Secretary of State. Archived from the original on June 17, 2025.
2. "Democratic Statewide Offices: Governor, Attorney General, Auditor of State, and Secretary of State". Ohio Secretary of State. Archived from the original on June 17, 2025.
3. "Attorney General/Auditor of State - Ohio Secretary of State". Ohio Secretary of State. Archived from the original on September 25, 2021. Retrieved October 15, 2025.

External links

Official campaign websites (archived)

• Jim Petro (R) for Ohio Attorney General
• Leigh Herington (D) for Ohio Attorney General