2002 Arizona gubernatorial election

2002 Arizona gubernatorial election

November 5, 2002
Turnout56.33%
 
Nominee Janet Napolitano Matt Salmon Richard Mahoney
Party Democratic Republican Independent
Popular vote 566,284 554,465 84,947
Percentage 46.19% 45.22% 6.93%

County results
Napolitano:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%
Salmon:      40–50%      50–60%

Governor before election

Jane Dee Hull
Republican

Elected Governor

Janet Napolitano
Democratic

The 2002 Arizona gubernatorial election took place on November 5, 2002. Incumbent Republican Governor Jane Dee Hull was term limited. The Democratic nominee, Arizona Attorney General Janet Napolitano, narrowly defeated Republican Matt Salmon, a former U.S. Representative, in a victory that was considered a minor upset. Upon her inauguration, Napolitano became the first woman to succeed another woman as governor of a state. This was the last Arizona gubernatorial election in which the winning candidate did not win Maricopa County.