2002 South Carolina gubernatorial election

2002 South Carolina gubernatorial election

November 5, 2002

Nominee Mark Sanford Jim Hodges Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 585,422 521,140 Percentage 52.9% 47.0%

County results Sanford:      50–60%      60–70% Hodges:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%

Governor before election Jim Hodges Democratic Elected Governor Mark Sanford Republican

The 2002 South Carolina gubernatorial election was held on November 5, 2002 to select the governor of the state of South Carolina. Mark Sanford, the Republican nominee, beat incumbent Democratic Governor Jim Hodges to become the 115th governor of South Carolina. Hodges became only the third incumbent governor in South Carolina history to lose reelection.

Democratic primary

Governor Jim Hodges faced no opposition from South Carolina Democrats and avoided a primary election.

Republican primary

The South Carolina Republican Party held their primary on June 11, 2002 and the runoff on June 25, 2002. The contest became a race between Lieutenant Governor Bob Peeler from the Upstate and Mark Sanford, a former representative of the 1st congressional district in the Lowcountry. Sanford received the support of the candidates eliminated from the runoff election and easily defeated Peeler.

Republican primary results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Mark Sanford	122,143	38.62
	Republican	Bob Peeler	119,026	37.64
	Republican	Charlie Condon	49,469	15.64
	Republican	Ken Wingate	12,366	3.91
	Republican	Jim Miles	8,566	2.71
	Republican	Reb Sutherland	2,770	0.88
	Republican	Bill Branton	1,915	0.61
Total votes			316,255	100

Republican primary runoff results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Mark Sanford	183,820	60.13
	Republican	Bob Peeler	121,881	39.87
Total votes			305,701	100

General election

The general election was held on November 5, 2002 and Mark Sanford was elected as the next governor of South Carolina. Turnout was higher than the previous gubernatorial election because of the competitive nature of the race between the two parties.

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South Carolina Gubernatorial Election, 2002

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Mark Sanford	585,422	52.9	+7.6
	Democratic	Jim Hodges (incumbent)	521,140	47.0	−6.3
	Write-in		1,163	0.1	-0.1
Majority			64,282	5.9	−2.1
Turnout			1,107,725	54.1	+1.1
Republican gain from Democratic

2002 South Carolina gubernatorial election map, by percentile by county.

  65+% won by Sanford

  60%-64% won by Sanford

  55%-59% won by Sanford

  50%-54% won by Sanford

  50%-54% won by Hodges

  55%-59% won by Hodges

  60%-64% won by Hodges

  65+% won by Hodges

See also

• Governor of South Carolina
• List of Governors of South Carolina
• South Carolina gubernatorial elections

External links

• SCIway Biography of Governor James Hovis Hodges
• South Carolina election returns

Preceded by 1998

South Carolina gubernatorial elections

Succeeded by 2006