2002 Hawaii gubernatorial election

The 2002 Hawaii gubernatorial election was held on November 5, 2002, to select the Governor of Hawaii. Incumbent Democratic Governor of Hawaii Ben Cayetano was term-limited and therefore could not run for re-election. Former Maui Mayor Linda Lingle, who had narrowly lost the 1998 election, was nominated once again by the Republicans while Lieutenant Governor Mazie Hirono earned the Democratic nomination in a tight race. Lingle and Hirono duked it out in a hard-fought campaign, with Hirono's campaign crippled by allegations of corruption within the Hawaii Democratic Party and many voters desiring a change.[1]

2002 Hawaii gubernatorial election

November 5, 2002
 
Nominee Linda Lingle Mazie Hirono
Party Republican Democratic
Running mate Duke Aiona Matt Matsunaga
Popular vote 197,009 179,647
Percentage 51.6% 47.0%

County results
Lingle:      50–60%
Hirono:      50–60%

Governor before election

Ben Cayetano
Democratic

Elected Governor

Linda Lingle
Republican

Ultimately Lingle defeated Hirono in a close election, making her the first Republican Governor of Hawaii elected since 1959 and the state's first-ever female governor. She was the first white governor of the state since 1970.

Lingle and Hirono faced off again in Hawaii’s 2012 U.S. Senate election, where Hirono won 63% - 37%, making Lingle the first female Governor and Hirono the first female U.S. Senator in Hawaii history.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Results

Democratic primary results[2]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Mazie Hirono 76,709 41.24
Democratic Ed Case 74,096 39.84
Democratic D. G. Anderson 33,384 17.95
Democratic George Nitta, Jr. 747 0.40
Democratic Art P. Reyes 568 0.31
Democratic Joe Fernandez 491 0.26
Total votes 185,995 100.00

Republican primary

Candidates

Results

Republican primary results[2]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Linda Lingle 70,808 89.77
Republican John Carroll 7,616 9.66
Republican Crystal Young 454 0.58
Total votes 78,878 100.00

General election

Campaign

Lingle was critical of the way that Hirono had handled education and economic issues as lieutenant governor; in a TV spot premiered by the Lingle campaign in September, the Republican noted that "Reading scores are now among the worst in the nation. We rank last in jobs creation and first in poverty increase" and argued that Hirono bore part of the blame.[3] Hirono responded that low reading scores could be attributed to the fact that many Hawaiian students — such as Hirono, herself an immigrant from Japan — were learning English as a second language. She also pointed to legislation which she had supported to "improve teacher quality" and boost test scores, and commented that "I'd like to know what Linda has done" to further the cause.[3]

Predictions

Source Ranking As of
The Cook Political Report[4] Tossup October 31, 2002
Sabato's Crystal Ball[5] Lean R (flip) November 4, 2002

Results

Hawaii gubernatorial election, 2002[6]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Linda Lingle 197,009 51.56% +2.74%
Democratic Mazie Hirono 179,647 47.01% -3.09%
Natural Law Bu Laʻia Hill 2,561 0.67%
Libertarian Tracy Ryan 1,364 0.36% -0.72%
Independent Jim Brewer 1,147 0.30%
Independent Daniel Cunningham 382 0.10%
Majority 17,362 4.54% +3.25%
Turnout 382,110
Republican gain from Democratic Swing

Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican

References

  1. Broder, John M. (October 19, 2002). "THE 2002 CAMPAIGN: THE DEMOCRATS; Hawaii Democrats Reeling After Scandals and a Death". The New York Times. Retrieved August 21, 2019.
  2. "2002 Primary election results" (PDF).
  3. "Lingle Unveils New Political Ad Blasting Mazie Hirono's Record". Hawaii News Now. Gray Television. September 26, 2002. Retrieved June 14, 2021.
  4. "Governor Updated October 31, 2002". The Cook Political Report. October 31, 2002. Archived from the original on December 8, 2002. Retrieved September 18, 2018.
  5. "Governors Races". www.centerforpolitics.org. November 4, 2002. Archived from the original on December 12, 2002. Retrieved September 18, 2018.
  6. "2002 General election results" (PDF).
Official campaign websites (Archived)


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