2002 Rhode Island gubernatorial election

The 2002 Rhode Island gubernatorial election took place on November 5, 2002. Incumbent Republican Governor Lincoln Almond was term-limited. Republican Donald Carcieri won the open seat, defeating Democrat Myrth York. , this was the last time the Republican candidate won Providence County.

In the Republican primary election, Carcieri defeated James Bennett, who had won the endorsement of the state Republican Party.

The 2002 campaign was particularly costly to York as she spent $3.8 million of her own money to finance what was to be her last bid for elected office. A key turning point in the campaign was when York criticized Carcieri for the actions of businesses he had been associated with but refused to answer Carcieri's request that she reveal what companies her personal assets were invested in.

Republican primary
A Republican primary was held on September 10.

Candidates

 * Donald Carcieri, businessman
 * Jim Bennett

Results by county
[[File:Rhode Island Republican gubernatorial primary results by county, 2002.svg|210px|thumb|Results by county Carcieri

{{legend|#E27F90|Carcieri—50–60%}}

{{legend|#CC2F4A|Carcieri—60–70%}}

{{legend|#D40000|Carcieri—70–80%}} ]]

Results by municipality
[[File:Rhode Island Republican gubernatorial primary results by municipality, 2002.svg|210px|thumb|Results by municipality Carcieri

{{legend|#E27F90|Carcieri—50–60%}}

{{legend|#CC2F4A|Carcieri—60–70%}}

{{legend|#D40000|Carcieri—70–80%}}

{{legend|#AA0000|Carcieri—80–90%}} Bennett

{{legend|#FFDC43|Bennett—50–60%}}

{{legend|#DAAE00|Bennett—70–80%}} ]] Source:

Democratic primary
A Democratic primary was held on September 10.

Candidates

 * Antonio J. Pires, former Rhode Island State Representative.
 * Sheldon Whitehouse, Attorney General of Rhode Island, former U.S. Attorney for the District of Rhode Island
 * Myrth York, former Rhode Island Senator, 1994 and 1998 Democratic nominee for Governor

Results
[[File:Rhode Island Democratic gubernatorial primary results by county, 2002.svg|150px|thumb|Results by county York

{{legend|#BDD3FF|York—30–40%}}

{{legend|#A5B0FF|York—40–50%}} Whitehouse

{{legend|#FFC5DA|Whitehouse—30–40%}}

{{legend|#FFAACC|Whitehouse—40–50%}} ]] [[File:Rhode Island Democratic gubernatorial primary results by municipality, 2002.svg|150px|thumb|Results by municipality York

{{legend|#BDD3FF|York—30–40%}}

{{legend|#A5B0FF|York—40–50%}}

{{legend|#7996E2|York—50–50%}}

{{legend|#6674DE|York—60–70%}} Whitehouse

{{legend|#FFC5DA|Whitehouse—30–40%}}

{{legend|#FFAACC|Whitehouse—40–50%}}

{{legend|#FF80B2|Whitehouse—50–60%}} Pires

{{legend|#FFEEAA|Pires—30–40%}}

{{legend|#FFDD55|Pires—40–50%}} ]]

Results by municipality
Source: