2002 New Hampshire gubernatorial election

2002 New Hampshire gubernatorial election

← 2000 November 5, 2002 2004 →
 
Nominee Craig Benson Mark Fernald
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 259,663 169,277
Percentage 58.7% 38.2%

Benson:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90%
Fernald:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      >90%

Governor before election

Jeanne Shaheen
Democratic

Elected Governor

Craig Benson
Republican

The 2002 New Hampshire gubernatorial election was held on November 5, 2002. Three-term incumbent Democratic governor Jeanne Shaheen opted to unsuccessfully run for the United States Senate rather than seek a fourth term as governor. Republican Craig Benson, a self-funded businessman, defeated Democrat Mark Fernald, a state senator, in the general election after both won contested primary elections.

This was the only time a Republican was elected governor between 1994 and 2016.