2002 Wyoming gubernatorial election
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The 2002 Wyoming gubernatorial election was held on November 5, 2002. Incumbent Republican Governor Jim Geringer was term-limited and unable to seek a third term in office, thereby creating an open seat. Former U.S. Attorney Dave Freudenthal and former Wyoming House Speaker Eli Bebout both emerged from competitive Democratic and Republican primaries, respectively, and faced off against each other in the general election. Despite Wyoming's strong inclination to elect Republicans, a contentious race ensued, with Freudenthal ultimately defeating Bebout by fewer than 4,000 votes. As of 2026, this is the last gubernatorial election in Wyoming to be decided by less than 30 percentage points.
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November 5, 2002
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 County results Freudenthal: 50–60% 60–70% Bebout: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% | |||||||||||||||||
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Democratic primary
Candidates
- Ken Casner
- Dave Freudenthal, former United States Attorney for the District of Wyoming
- Paul Hickey, attorney, former chairman of the Wyoming Pipeline Authority and son of former governor John J. Hickey
- Toby Simpson, construction worker
Results
Freudenthal
- 40–50%
- 50–60%
- 60–70%
- 70–80%
- 80–90%
Hickey
- 40–50%
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Dave Freudenthal | 19,732 | 53.62 | |
| Democratic | Paul Hickey | 13,793 | 37.48 | |
| Democratic | Toby Simpson | 1,918 | 5.21 | |
| Democratic | Ken Casner | 1,356 | 3.68 | |
| Total votes | 36,799 | 100.00 | ||
Republican primary
Candidates
- Eli Bebout, former Speaker of the Wyoming House of Representatives
- Ray Hunkins, attorney and rancher
- John H. Self
- Bill Sniffin, journalist and former Wyoming Travel Commissioner
- Stephen Watt, State Representative
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Eli Bebout | 44,417 | 48.98 | |
| Republican | Ray Hunkins | 25,363 | 27.97 | |
| Republican | Bill Sniffin | 13,633 | 15.03 | |
| Republican | Stephen Watt | 5,724 | 6.31 | |
| Republican | John H. Self | 1,548 | 1.71 | |
| Total votes | 90,685 | 100.00 | ||
General election
Predictions
| Source | Ranking | As of |
|---|---|---|
| The Cook Political Report[2] | Tossup | October 31, 2002 |
| Sabato's Crystal Ball[3] | Lean R | November 4, 2002 |
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Dave Freudenthal | 92,662 | 49.96% | +9.51% | |
| Republican | Eli Bebout | 88,873 | 47.92% | −7.68% | |
| Libertarian | Dave Dawson | 3,924 | 2.12% | −1.83% | |
| Majority | 3,789 | 2.04% | −13.10% | ||
| Turnout | 185,459 | ||||
| Democratic gain from Republican | Swing | ||||
By county
| County[5] | Dave Freudenthal Democratic |
Eli Bebout Republican |
Dave Dawson Libertarian |
Margin | Total | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | % | # | % | # | % | # | % | ||
| Albany | 6,772 | 59.50% | 4,404 | 38.70% | 205 | 1.80% | 2,368 | 20.81% | 11,381 |
| Big Horn | 1,438 | 34.42% | 2,579 | 61.73% | 161 | 3.85% | −1,141 | −27.31% | 4,178 |
| Campbell | 3,498 | 34.18% | 6,501 | 63.52% | 235 | 2.30% | −3,003 | −29.34% | 10,234 |
| Carbon | 3,493 | 58.35% | 2,345 | 39.17% | 148 | 2.47% | 1,148 | 19.18% | 5,986 |
| Converse | 2,092 | 46.79% | 2,281 | 51.02% | 98 | 2.19% | −189 | −4.23% | 4,471 |
| Crook | 931 | 33.03% | 1,807 | 64.10% | 81 | 2.87% | −876 | −31.07% | 2,819 |
| Fremont | 5,500 | 39.67% | 8,108 | 58.47% | 258 | 1.86% | −2,608 | −18.81% | 13,866 |
| Goshen | 1,893 | 40.34% | 2,718 | 57.92% | 82 | 1.75% | −825 | −17.58% | 4,693 |
| Hot Springs | 1,212 | 55.57% | 942 | 43.19% | 27 | 1.24% | 270 | 12.38% | 2,181 |
| Johnson | 1,263 | 40.22% | 1,829 | 58.25% | 48 | 1.53% | −566 | −18.03% | 3,140 |
| Laramie | 18,563 | 60.99% | 11,487 | 37.74% | 385 | 1.26% | 7,076 | 23.25% | 30,435 |
| Lincoln | 1,887 | 34.02% | 3,520 | 63.47% | 139 | 2.51% | −1,633 | −29.44% | 5,546 |
| Natrona | 13,175 | 55.80% | 9,825 | 41.61% | 610 | 2.58% | 3,350 | 14.19% | 23,610 |
| Niobrara | 411 | 33.77% | 774 | 63.60% | 32 | 2.63% | −363 | −29.83% | 1,217 |
| Park | 4,192 | 39.00% | 6,287 | 58.49% | 269 | 2.50% | −2,095 | −19.49% | 10,748 |
| Platte | 2,122 | 54.86% | 1,645 | 42.53% | 101 | 2.61% | 477 | 12.33% | 3,868 |
| Sheridan | 5,510 | 48.91% | 5,567 | 49.41% | 189 | 1.68% | −57 | −0.51% | 11,266 |
| Sublette | 1,025 | 39.27% | 1,539 | 58.97% | 46 | 1.76% | −514 | −19.69% | 2,610 |
| Sweetwater | 7,809 | 59.33% | 5,026 | 38.18% | 328 | 2.49% | 2,783 | 21.14% | 13,163 |
| Teton | 4,281 | 56.60% | 3,128 | 41.35% | 155 | 2.05% | 1,153 | 15.24% | 7,564 |
| Uinta | 3,004 | 47.58% | 3,125 | 49.49% | 185 | 2.93% | −121 | −1.92% | 6,314 |
| Washakie | 1,533 | 45.26% | 1,805 | 53.29% | 49 | 1.45% | −272 | −8.03% | 3,387 |
| Weston | 1,058 | 38.03% | 1,631 | 58.63% | 93 | 3.34% | −573 | −20.60% | 2,782 |
| Totals | 92,662 | 49.96% | 88,873 | 47.92% | 3,924 | 2.12% | 3,789 | 2.04% | 185,459 |
