2002 Nebraska gubernatorial election

The 2002 Nebraska gubernatorial election, held on November 5, 2002, featured incumbent Republican Governor of Nebraska Mike Johanns defeating his Democratic opponent Stormy Dean in a landslide.

This was the first gubernatorial election in Nebraska where the winning primary candidates chose their running mates after the primary election. Prior to this, both the governor and the lieutenant governor were chosen at the primary election. This was also the first gubernatorial election in which a Republican was re-elected in more than forty years.

Candidates

 * Mike Johanns, incumbent Governor of Nebraska
 * Robert J. Wicht

Candidates

 * Stormy Dean, insurance company executive
 * Luis R. Calvillo

Candidates

 * Paul A. Rosberg, farmer

Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican

 * Thurston (largest village: Pender)
 * Burt (largest village: Tekamah)
 * Lancaster (largest city: Lincoln)
 * Saline (largest city: Crete)
 * Cuming (largest city: West Point)
 * Dakota (largest city: South Sioux City)
 * Cedar (largest city: Hartington)
 * Dixon (largest city: Wakefield)
 * Knox (largest city: Creighton)
 * Nance (largest city: Fullerton)
 * Boone (largest city: Albion)
 * Greeley (largest city: Spalding)
 * Howard (largest city: St. Paul)
 * Sherman (largest city: Loup City)
 * Fillmore (largest city: Geneva)
 * Gage (largest city: Beatrice)
 * Jefferson (largest city: Fairbury)
 * Johnson (largest city: Tecumseh)
 * Pawnee (largest city: Pawnee City)
 * Thayer (largest city: Hebron)
 * Webster (largest city: Red Cloud)
 * Nuckolls (largest city: Superior)
 * Franklin (largest city: Franklin)