Tennessee gubernatorial election, 2002

Tennessee gubernatorial election, 2002

November 5, 2002

Candidate Phil Bredesen Van Hilleary Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 837,284 786,803 Percentage 50.65% 47.59%

County Results

Governor before election Don Sundquist Republican Elected Governor Phil Bredesen Democratic

The Tennessee gubernatorial election of 2002 was held on November 5, 2002. The incumbent, Don Sundquist, was barred from serving a third term. To succeed him, former Nashville Mayor Phil Bredesen, the Democratic nominee, who had run against Sundquist in 1994, narrowly defeated United States Congressman Van Hilleary, the Republican nominee, in the general election.

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Phil Bredesen, former Mayor of Nashville, 1994 Democratic nominee for Governor
• Randy Nichols, Knox County District Attorney General
• Charles E. Smith, former Tennessee Commissioner of Education
• Charles V. Brown
• L. Best
• Floyd R. Conover

Results

Democratic Party primary results^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Phil Bredesen	426,418	79.05
	Democratic	Randy Nichols	38,322	7.10
	Democratic	Charles E. Smith	34,547	6.40
	Democratic	Charles V. Brown	17,506	3.25
	Democratic	L. Best	16,007	2.97
	Democratic	Floyd R. Conover	6,218	1.15
	Democratic	Write-ins	420	0.08
Total votes			539,438	100.00

Republican primary

Candidates

• Van Hilleary, United States Congressman from Tennessee's 4th congressional district
• Jim Henry, former Minority Leader of the Tennessee House of Representatives
• Bob Tripp
• Dave Kelley
• Jessie D. McDonald

Results

Republican Primary results^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Van Hilleary	343,543	64.31
	Republican	Jim Henry	159,862	29.92
	Republican	Bob Tripp	17,156	3.21
	Republican	Dave Kelley	8,581	1.61
	Republican	Jessie D. McDonald	4,682	0.88
	Republican	Write-ins	389	0.07
Total votes			534,213	100.00

General election

Candidates

Major

• Phil Bredesen (D)
• Van Hilleary (R)
• Edwin C. Sanders (I)
• Carl Two Feathers Whitaker (I)
• John Jay Hooker (I)
• David Gatchell (I)
• Gabriel Givens (I)
• Ray Ledford (I)
• James E. Herren (I)
• Charles V. Wilhoit, Jr. (I)
• Marivuana Stout Leinoff (I)
• Francis E. Waldron (I)
• Ronny Simmons (I)
• Robert O. Watson (I)
• Basil Marceaux (I)

Results

Tennessee gubernatorial election, 2002^[3]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±
	Democratic	Phil Bredesen	837,284	50.65%	+21.17%
	Republican	Van Hilleary	786,803	47.59%	-21.03%
	Independent	Edwin C. Sanders	7,749	0.47%
	Independent	Carl Two Feathers Whitaker	5,308	0.32%
	Independent	John Jay Hooker	4,577	0.28%
	Independent	David Gatchell	2,991	0.18%
	Independent	Gabriel Givens	1,591	0.10%
	Independent	Ray Ledford	1,589	0.10%
	Independent	James E. Herren	1,210	0.07%
	Independent	Charles V. Wilhoit, Jr.	898	0.05%
	Independent	Marivuana Stout Leinoff	645	0.04%
	Independent	Francis E. Waldron	635	0.04%
	Independent	Ronny Simmons	630	0.04%
	Independent	Robert O. Watson	579	0.04%
	Independent	Basil Marceaux	302	0.02%
	Write-ins		376	0.02%
Majority			50,481	3.05%	-36.10%
Turnout			1,653,167
	Democratic gain from Republican		Swing

References

1. "August 1, 2002, Democratic Primary: Governor" (PDF). Tennessee Secretary of State. Retrieved June 27, 2014.
2. "August 1, 2002, Republican Primary: Governor" (PDF). Tennessee Secretary of State. Retrieved June 27, 2014.
3. "November 5, 2002, General Election: Governor" (PDF). Tennessee Secretary of State. Retrieved June 27, 2014.