2002 Kansas gubernatorial election

The Kansas gubernatorial election of 2002 was held on November 5, 2002. Incumbent Governor Bill Graves, a Republican was barred from seeking a third term by the Kansas Constitution. Kansas Insurance Commissioner Kathleen Sebelius, the Democratic nominee, ran against Kansas State Treasurer Tim Shallenburger, the Republican nominee, with Sebelius defeating Shallenburger to become the second female Governor of Kansas after Joan Finney who served as governor from 1991 to 1995.

2002 Kansas gubernatorial election
November 5, 2002
 
Nominee Kathleen Sebelius Tim Shallenburger
Party Democratic Republican
Running mate John E. Moore Dave Lindstrom
Popular vote 441,858 376,830
Percentage 52.9% 45.1%
County results
Sebelius:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%
Shallenburger:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%
Tie:      40-50%
Governor before election

Bill Graves
Republican

 Elected Governor

Kathleen Sebelius
Democratic

Elections in Kansas

Democratic primary

Candidates

Results
Democratic primary results[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Kathleen Sebelius 87,499 100.00
Total votes 87,499 100.00

Republican primary
Primary results by county:
  Tie between Shallenburger and Kerr-38%

Candidates

Withdrawn

Initially, Stovall was one of the presumed "front-runner" candidates, and her anticipated run against the probable Democratic nominee, Kansas Insurance Commissioner Kathleen Sebelius, drew national attention as becoming possibly a rare "woman-vs.-woman" gubernatorial race.[2][3] Though the front-runner among moderate candidates[4][5] — and confident that she would win if she stayed in the race[5] — Stovall dropped out in April, 2020, citing a lack of enthusiasm for campaigning, and for the job of governor,[5][6] and announced plans to marry Kansas media mogul Larry Steckline, whom she married in August.[7][8]

Stovall's abrupt withdrawal threw the moderate wing of the Kansas Republican Party into chaos, as they scrambled to replace her.[4][5] Kent Glasscock, her running mate, was the heir-apparent, and claimed entitlement to Stovall's campaign funds,[5] but conservative opponent Tim Shallenberger, the incumbent State Treasurer, argued that the funds, per his interpretation of state law, had to be returned to the state Republican party, or to the donors, a charity, or the state government's general revenue fund.[5] Additional Republican candidates began to emerge, also, further complicating the race.[5] Glasscock, ultimately, became a running mate for gubernatorial candidate Bob Knight.[9]

Stovall's withdrawal was credited with giving advantage to the Democratic nominee (and ultimate victor), Katheleen Sebelius.[4][6][10]

Results
Republican primary results[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Tim Shallenburger 122,141 41.47
Republican Dave Kerr 86,995 29.54
Republican Bob Knight 77,642 26.36
Republican Dan Bloom 7,726 2.62
Total votes 294,504 100.00

General election

Results
Kansas gubernatorial election, 2002[11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Democratic Kathleen Sebelius 441,858 52.87% +30.22%
Republican Tim Shallenburger 376,830 45.09% -28.28%
Reform Theodore Pettibone 8,907 1.07% +0.01%
Libertarian Dennis Hawver 8,097 0.97%
Majority 65,028 7.78% -42.93%
Turnout 835,692
Democratic gain from Republican Swing

References
  1. http://www.kssos.org/elections/02elec/2002PrimaryOfficialResults.pdf
  2. Clymer, Adam: "In 2002, Woman's Place May Be the Statehouse,"date, New York Times, retrieved July 28, 2020
  3. Broder, David: "Closing The Governor Gap,"February 20, 2002, Washington Post, retrieved July 28, 2020
  4. Associated Press: "Decision: Lt. Governor says he won't wait for formal announcement from Stovall before he makes decision,"April 11, 2002, Garden City Telegram, page 1, from NewspaperArchive.com (OCR text), retrieved July 28, 2020
  5. "Stovall Drops Out," April 16, 2002, Lawrence Journal-World, retrieved July 28, 2020
  6. "Sebelius: A Legacy," April 28, 2009, Topeka Capital-Journal, retrieved July 28, 2020
  7. "Kansas official plans to marry,", May 9, 2002, Daily Oklahoman, retrieved July 29, 2020
  8. "Stovall-Steckline wedding," last modified Nov. 13, 2002, Marion County Record, retrieved July 29, 2020
  9. Beatty, Bob and Virgil W. Dean, editors: "Doing What Needed to Get Done, When It Needed to Get Done”: A Conversation with Former Governor Bill Graves," undated Kansas History pp.172-197, retrieved July 29, 2020 from Washburn University reference archives.
  10. Beatty, Bob and Linsey Moddelmog, editors: "Find a Way to Find Common Ground": A Conversation with Former Governor Kathleen Sebelius," Winter 2017-2018, Kansas History, retrieved July 29, 2020; pp.277-278: former Gov. Sebelius: "I entered the race [when] Carla [Stovall] [was] in the primary, and... within four months [she was] dropping out. So [the race] changed dramatically."
  11. http://www.kssos.org/elections/02elec/2002GeneralOfficialResults.pdf
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