2002 New Hampshire gubernatorial election
The 2002 New Hampshire gubernatorial election was held on November 5, 2002. Three-term incumbent Democratic governor Jeanne Shaheen opted to unsuccessfully run for the United States Senate rather than seek a fourth term as governor. Republican Craig Benson, a self-funded businessman, defeated Democrat Mark Fernald, a state senator, in the general election after both won contested primary elections.
This was the only time a Republican was elected governor between 1994 and 2016.
Democratic primary
Candidates
Republican primary
Candidates
- Craig Benson, businessman
- Bruce Keough, former New Hampshire state senator
- Gordon J. Humphrey, former U.S. senator, 2000 Republican nominee for governor
- Robert Kingsbury, perennial candidate
- Joe Haas
- Bob Kroepel