2002 United States Senate election in North Carolina
← 1996 November 5, 2002 2008 →
 
Nominee Elizabeth Dole Erskine Bowles
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 1,248,664 1,047,983
Percentage 53.56% 44.96%
County results
Dole:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%
Bowles:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%
U.S. senator before election

Jesse Helms
Republican

Elected U.S. Senator

Elizabeth Dole
Republican

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The 2002 United States Senate election in North Carolina was held on November 5, 2002. Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Jesse Helms announced in August 2001 that he would retire due to health issues. Republican Elizabeth Dole won the open seat, becoming the first non-incumbent elected Republican Senator in the state's history. This was the first open seat election since 1974.

Democratic primary

During the primary campaign, Bowles was considered the choice of the party establishment, receiving support from former Governor Jim Hunt and the AFL-CIO.[1]

Candidates

Results

Democratic primary results[2]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Erskine Bowles 277,329 43.4%
Democratic Dan Blue 184,216 28.8%
Democratic Elaine Marshall 97,392 15.2%
Democratic Cynthia D. Brown 27,799 4.4%
Democratic Others 52,289 8.2%
Total votes 639,025 100.0%

Republican primary

Dole was described as the "handpicked" choice of the White House, and received the support of President George W. Bush, Vice President Dick Cheney, as well as outgoing Senator Jesse Helms.[1]

Candidates

Results

Republican primary results[4]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Elizabeth Dole 342,631 80.4%
Republican James Snyder Jr. 60,477 14.2%
Republican Jim Parker 8,752 2.1%
Republican Ada Fisher 6,045 1.4%
Republican Others 8,201 1.9%
Total votes 426,106 100.0%

General election

Candidates

Debates

Predictions

Source Ranking As of
Sabato's Crystal Ball[5] Lean R November 4, 2002

Polling

Poll source Date(s)
administered 		Sample
size[a] 		Margin
of error 		Elizabeth
Dole (R) 		Erskine
Bowles (D) 		Other /
Undecided
SurveyUSA October 28–30, 2002 611 (LV) ± 4.0% 50% 46% 4%

Results

2002 United States Senate election in North Carolina[6]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Elizabeth Dole 1,248,664 53.56% +0.92%
Democratic Erskine Bowles 1,047,983 44.96% −0.96%
Libertarian Sean Haugh 33,807 1.45% +0.46%
Write-in 727 0.03% +0.02%
Total votes 2,331,181 100.00% N/A
Republican hold

Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican

Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Key:
    A – all adults
    RV – registered voters
    LV – likely voters
    V – unclear

References

  1. ^ a b Broder, David (September 9, 2002). "N.C.'s Democratic Senate Primary Still Open to Upset". Washington Post.
  2. ^ State Board of Elections[permanent dead link]
  3. ^ "CANDIDATE FAULTS DOLE, GOP\ JIM PARKER SAYS THE REPUBLICAN PARTY AND THE DOLE CAMPAIGN AREN'T PLAYING FAIR". Greensboro News and Record. Retrieved February 13, 2022.
  4. ^ State Board of Elections[permanent dead link]
  5. ^ "Senate Races". www.centerforpolitics.org. November 4, 2002. Archived from the original on November 18, 2002. Retrieved June 25, 2021.
  6. ^ State Board of Elections
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