2002 Rhode Island gubernatorial election
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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.
November 5, 2002
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Carcieri: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% York: 50–60% 60–70% | |||||||||||||||||
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In the Republican primary election, Carcieri defeated James Bennett, who had won the endorsement of the state Republican Party.[1]
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.[2]
Republican primary
A Republican primary was held on September 10.
Candidates
- Donald Carcieri, businessman
- Jim Bennett
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Donald Carcieri | 17,227 | 66.91 | |
| Republican | James S. Bennett | 8,518 | 33.09 | |
| Total votes | 25,745 | 100.00 | ||
Results by county

- Carcieri—50–60%
- Carcieri—60–70%
- Carcieri—70–80%
| County | Donald Carcieri | James S. Bennett | Total votes cast | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | % | # | % | ||
| Bristol | 1,337 | 67.15% | 654 | 32.85% | 1,991 |
| Kent | 4,529 | 77.01% | 1,352 | 22.99% | 5,881 |
| Newport | 2,055 | 58.56% | 1,454 | 41.44% | 3,509 |
| Providence | 6,091 | 62.00% | 3,733% | 38.00% | 9,824 |
| Washington | 3,306 | 70.19% | 1,404 | 29.81% | 4,710 |
| Totals | 17,227 | 66.91% | 8,518 | 33.09% | 25,745 |
Results by municipality

- Carcieri—50–60%
- Carcieri—60–70%
- Carcieri—70–80%
- Carcieri—80–90%
- Bennett—50–60%
- Bennett—70–80%
| Municipality | Donald Carcieri | James S. Bennett | Total votes cast | Turnout | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | % | # | % | % | ||
| Barrington | 796 | 70.38% | 335 | 29.62% | 1,131 | 12.3% |
| Bristol | 344 | 65.77% | 179 | 34.23% | 523 | 5.4% |
| Burrillville | 121 | 54.02% | 103 | 45.98% | 224 | 3.2% |
| Central Falls | 44 | 64.71% | 24 | 35.29% | 68 | 2.9% |
| Charlestown | 130 | 43.77% | 167 | 56.23% | 297 | 6.3% |
| Coventry | 490 | 67.96% | 231 | 32.04% | 721 | 4.1% |
| Cranston | 1,229 | 66.61% | 616 | 33.39% | 1,845 | 5.2% |
| Cumberland | 366 | 59.51% | 249 | 40.49% | 615 | 4.9% |
| East Greenwich | 1,431 | 89.94% | 160 | 10.06% | 1,591 | 19.3% |
| East Providence | 539 | 64.24% | 300 | 35.76% | 839 | 5.7% |
| Exeter | 288 | 71.64% | 114 | 28.36% | 402 | 14.3% |
| Foster | 113 | 69.75% | 49 | 30.25% | 162 | 6.4% |
| Glocester | 145 | 71.78% | 57 | 28.22% | 202 | 3.9% |
| Hopkinton | 88 | 49.16% | 91 | 50.84% | 179 | 4.5% |
| Jamestown | 300 | 68.18% | 140 | 31.82% | 440 | 13.5% |
| Johnston | 134 | 67.00% | 66 | 33.00% | 200 | 2.5% |
| Lincoln | 1,089 | 56.60% | 835 | 43.40% | 1,924 | 18.9% |
| Little Compton | 164 | 66.67% | 82 | 33.33% | 246 | 11.3% |
| Middletown | 309 | 62.30% | 187 | 37.70% | 496 | 7.1% |
| Narragansett | 438 | 71.69% | 173 | 28.31% | 611 | 6.2% |
| New Shoreham | 11 | 24.44% | 34 | 75.56% | 45 | 4.6% |
| Newport | 381 | 55.22% | 309 | 44.78% | 690 | 8.0% |
| North Kingstown | 1,380 | 85.29% | 238 | 14.71% | 1,618 | 10.9% |
| North Providence | 244 | 74.85% | 82 | 25.15% | 326 | 3.0% |
| North Smithfield | 223 | 48.48% | 237 | 51.52% | 460 | 7.9% |
| Pawtucket | 328 | 56.36% | 254 | 43.64% | 582 | 3.2% |
| Portsmouth | 704 | 54.15% | 596 | 45.85% | 1,300 | 15.2% |
| Providence | 629 | 64.12% | 352 | 35.88% | 981 | 2.2% |
| Richmond | 149 | 68.98% | 67 | 31.02% | 216 | 5.8% |
| Scituate | 316 | 69.60% | 138 | 30.40% | 454 | 7.7% |
| Smithfield | 377 | 65.00% | 203 | 35.00% | 580 | 5.8% |
| South Kingstown | 543 | 64.18% | 303 | 35.82% | 846 | 6.4% |
| Tiverton | 197 | 58.46% | 140 | 41.54% | 337 | 4.7% |
| Warren | 106 | 63.46% | 61 | 36.53% | 167 | 2.6% |
| Warwick | 2,046 | 73.32% | 783 | 27.68% | 2,829 | 7.8% |
| West Greenwich | 279 | 56.25% | 217 | 43.75% | 496 | 9.8% |
| West Warwick | 207 | 76.10% | 65 | 23.90% | 272 | 4.2% |
| Westerly | 355 | 75.85% | 113 | 24.15% | 468 | 4.4% |
| Woonsocket | 194 | 53.59% | 168 | 46.41% | 362 | 2.9% |
| Totals | 17,227 | 66.91% | 8,518 | 33.09% | 25,745 | 6.3% |
Source:[4]
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
Polling
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of error |
Pires | Whitehouse | York | Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Taubman Center for Public Policy[5] | August 31-September 2, 2002 | 437 | ± 5.0% | 13% | 26% | 32% | 29% |
Results

- York—30–40%
- York—40–50%
- Whitehouse—30–40%
- Whitehouse—40–50%

- York—30–40%
- York—40–50%
- York—50–50%
- York—60–70%
- Whitehouse—30–40%
- Whitehouse—40–50%
- Whitehouse—50–60%
- Pires—30–40%
- Pires—40–50%
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Myrth York | 46,806 | 39.16 | |
| Democratic | Sheldon Whitehouse | 45,880 | 38.39 | |
| Democratic | Antonio J. Pires | 26,838 | 22.45 | |
| Total votes | 119,524 | 100.00 | ||
Results by county
| County | Antonio J. Pires | Sheldon Whitehouse | Myrth York | Total votes cast | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | % | # | % | # | % | ||
| Bristol | 1,277 | 27.67% | 1,682 | 36.45% | 1,656 | 35.88% | 4,615 |
| Kent | 3,014 | 19.31% | 6,265 | 40.13% | 6,333 | 40.56% | 15,612 |
| Newport | 1,032 | 15.41% | 2,943 | 43.93% | 2,724 | 40.66% | 6,699 |
| Providence | 19,404 | 24.13% | 30,311 | 37.70% | 30,687 | 38.17% | 80,402 |
| Washington | 2,111 | 17.31% | 4,679 | 38.37% | 5,406 | 44.33% | 12,196 |
| Totals | 26,838 | 22.45% | 45,880 | 38.39% | 46,806 | 39.16% | 119,524 |
Results by municipality
| Municipality | Antonio J. Pires | Sheldon Whitehouse | Myrth York | Total votes cast | Turnout | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | % | # | % | # | % | % | ||
| Barrington | 278 | 17.46% | 692 | 43.47% | 622 | 39.07% | 1,592 | 16.5% |
| Bristol | 710 | 35.52% | 642 | 32.12% | 647 | 32.37% | 1,999 | 15.8% |
| Burrillville | 194 | 17.67% | 436 | 39.71% | 468 | 42.62% | 1,098 | 12.8% |
| Central Falls | 593 | 40.15% | 362 | 24.51% | 522 | 35.34% | 1,477 | 29.0% |
| Charlestown | 75 | 15.89% | 168 | 35.59% | 229 | 48.52% | 472 | 10.1% |
| Coventry | 577 | 20.67% | 1,061 | 38.02% | 1,153 | 41.31% | 2,791 | 13.5% |
| Cranston | 1,843 | 19.68% | 3,818 | 40.76% | 3,706 | 39.56% | 9,367 | 20.5% |
| Cumberland | 2,005 | 39.87% | 1,699 | 33.78% | 1,325 | 26.35% | 5,029 | 24.9% |
| East Greenwich | 155 | 18.15% | 337 | 39.46% | 362 | 42.39% | 854 | 10.6% |
| East Providence | 2,025 | 33.65% | 1,878 | 31.21% | 2,114 | 35.13% | 6,017 | 24.6% |
| Exeter | 61 | 16.18% | 146 | 38.73% | 170 | 45.09% | 377 | 11.5% |
| Foster | 41 | 17.23% | 85 | 35.71% | 112 | 47.06% | 238 | 9.3% |
| Glocester | 96 | 18.64% | 219 | 42.52% | 200 | 38.83% | 515 | 8.9% |
| Hopkinton | 25 | 8.56% | 136 | 46.58% | 131 | 44.86% | 292 | 6.7% |
| Jamestown | 150 | 16.78% | 348 | 38.93% | 396 | 44.30% | 894 | 23.9% |
| Johnston | 1,193 | 19.24% | 2,817 | 45.44% | 2,190 | 35.32% | 6,200 | 31.7% |
| Lincoln | 770 | 32.24% | 902 | 37.77% | 716 | 29.98% | 2,388 | 18.9% |
| Little Compton | 48 | 16.27% | 136 | 46.10% | 111 | 37.63% | 295 | 13.3% |
| Middletown | 138 | 14.35% | 420 | 43.66% | 404 | 42.00% | 962 | 12.2% |
| Narragansett | 663 | 22.29% | 1,208 | 40.62% | 1,103 | 37.09% | 2,974 | 24.3% |
| New Shoreham | 15 | 16.13% | 20 | 21.51% | 58 | 62.37% | 93 | 7.8% |
| Newport | 258 | 11.34% | 1,171 | 51.47% | 846 | 37.19% | 2,275 | 20.2% |
| North Kingstown | 432 | 17.92% | 915 | 37.95% | 1,064 | 44.13% | 2,411 | 14.8% |
| North Providence | 1,163 | 19.77% | 2,830 | 48.10% | 1,891 | 32.14% | 5,884 | 23.5% |
| North Smithfield | 263 | 21.06% | 567 | 45.40% | 419 | 33.55% | 1,249 | 17.6% |
| Pawtucket | 4,348 | 49.49% | 1,891 | 21.53% | 2,546 | 28.98% | 8,785 | 25.6% |
| Portsmouth | 258 | 17.40% | 587 | 39.58% | 638 | 43.02% | 1,483 | 15.3% |
| Providence | 3,726 | 14.23% | 10,035 | 38.34% | 12,414 | 47.43% | 26,175 | 28.7% |
| Richmond | 52 | 14.09% | 128 | 34.69% | 189 | 51.22% | 369 | 9.0% |
| Scituate | 141 | 24.06% | 214 | 36.52% | 231 | 39.42% | 586 | 10.0% |
| Smithfield | 453 | 23.03% | 810 | 41.18% | 704 | 35.79% | 1,967 | 15.9% |
| South Kingstown | 575 | 16.45% | 1,213 | 34.70% | 1,708 | 48.86% | 3,496 | 22.4% |
| Tiverton | 180 | 22.78% | 281 | 35.57% | 329 | 41.65% | 790 | 8.3% |
| Warren | 289 | 28.22% | 348 | 33.98% | 387 | 37.79% | 1,024 | 12.8% |
| Warwick | 1,719 | 19.08% | 3,571 | 39.64% | 3,719 | 41.28% | 9,009 | 17.2% |
| West Greenwich | 57 | 20.21% | 113 | 40.07% | 112 | 39.72% | 282 | 9.8% |
| West Warwick | 506 | 18.91% | 1,183 | 44.21% | 987 | 36.88% | 2,676 | 18.5% |
| Westerly | 213 | 12.44% | 745 | 43.52% | 754 | 44.04% | 1,712 | 13.0% |
| Woonsocket | 550 | 16.05% | 1,748 | 51.01% | 1,129 | 32.94% | 3,427 | 17.7% |
| Totals | 26,838 | 22.45% | 45,880 | 38.39% | 46,806 | 39.16% | 119,524 | 20.4% |
Source:[4]
General election
Predictions
| Source | Ranking | As of |
|---|---|---|
| The Cook Political Report[7] | Tossup | October 31, 2002 |
| Sabato's Crystal Ball[8] | Lean D (flip) | November 4, 2002 |
Polling
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Donald Carcieri | 181,827 | 54.76% | +3.76% | |
| Democratic | Myrth York | 150,229 | 45.24% | +3.24% | |
| Majority | 31,598 | 9.52% | +0.52% | ||
| Turnout | 332,056 | ||||
| Republican hold | Swing | ||||
By county
| Donald Carcieri Republican |
Myrth York Democratic | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| County | Votes | % | Votes | % |
| Bristol | 10,707 | 58.6% | 7,555 | 41.4% |
| Kent | 36,470 | 60.2% | 24,139 | 39.8% |
| Newport | 17,008 | 57.8% | 12,408 | 42.2% |
| Providence | 89,697 | 50.5% | 87,818 | 49.5% |
| Washington | 27,945 | 60.4% | 18,309 | 39.6% |
Notes
- Key:
A – all adults
RV – registered voters
LV – likely voters
V – unclear