2002 Colorado gubernatorial election

For related races, see 2002 United States gubernatorial elections.

2002 Colorado gubernatorial election

* * *

| <- 1998 | November 5, 2002 | 2006 ->

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|  |  |

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Nominee  | Bill Owens | Rollie Heath |
Party  | Republican | Democratic
Running mate  | Jane E. Norton | Bill Thiebaut
Popular vote  | 884,583 | 475,373
Percentage  | 62.62% | 33.65%

* * *

County results
Owens: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90%
Heath: 40–50% 50–60%

* * *

| Governor before election

Bill Owens
Republican

| Elected Governor

Bill Owens
Republican

|

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* v
* t
* e

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 2025, 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

[edit]

### Candidates

[edit]

* Bill Owens, incumbent Governor of Colorado

### Results

[edit]

Republican primary results[2] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %

|
|
|

| Republican | Bill Owens (incumbent)  | 189,705  | 100.00
Total votes  | 189,705  | 100.00

## Democratic primary

[edit]

### Candidates

[edit]

* Rollie Heath, businessman

### Results

[edit]

Democratic primary results[2] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %

|
|
|

| Democratic | Rollie Heath  | 98,897  | 100.00
Total votes  | 98,897  | 100.00

## General election

[edit]

### Debates

[edit]

* Complete video of debate, September 7, 2002
* Complete video of debate, September 24, 2002
* Complete video of debate, October 17, 2002

### Predictions

[edit]

Source  | Ranking  | As of

|
|

The Cook Political Report[3] | Safe R  | October 31, 2002
Sabato's Crystal Ball[4] | Safe R  | November 4, 2002

### Results

[edit]

2002 Colorado gubernatorial election[2] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Republican | Bill Owens (inc.)  | 884,583  | 62.62%  | +13.58%
| Democratic | Rollie Heath | 475,373  | 33.65%  | −14.77%
| Green | Ronald Forthofer  | 32,099  | 2.27%  | –
| Libertarian | Ralph Shnelvar  | 20,547  | 1.45%  | −0.23%
Majority  | 409,210  | 28.97%  | +28.34%
Turnout | 1,412,602  |
| Republican hold

#### Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican

[edit]

* 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

[edit]

1. ^ "Our Campaigns - Container Detail Page". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
2. ^ a b c Davidson, Donetta (2002). Official Publication of the Abstract of Votes Cast for the 2001 Coordinated, 2002 Primary, 2002 General (PDF). Denver, Colorado: Colorado Secretary of State.
3. ^ "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.
4. ^ "Governors Races". www.centerforpolitics.org. November 4, 2002. Archived from the original on December 12, 2002. Retrieved September 18, 2018.

* v
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Elections in Colorado

Presidential elections|

* 1876
* 1880
* 1884
* 1888
* 1892
* 1896
* 1900
* 1904
* 1908
* 1912
* 1916
* 1920
* 1924
* 1928
* 1932
* 1936
* 1940
* 1944
* 1948
* 1952
* 1956
* 1960
* 1964
* 1968
* 1972
* 1976
* 1980
* 1984
* 1988
* 1992
* 1996
* 2000
* 2004
* 2008
* 2012
* 2016
* 2020
* 2024

Senate elections|

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|

Class 3|

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House elections|

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Legislative elections|

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|

State House|

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(2001 ←)  2002 United States elections (→ 2003)

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