2002 Massachusetts gubernatorial election

none January 2025 September 2023 2002 Massachusetts gubernatorial election Massachusetts presidential no 1998 Massachusetts gubernatorial election 1998 2006 Massachusetts gubernatorial election 2006 November 5, 2002 55.29% 4.1 https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=42 Our Campaigns - MA Governor Race - Nov 05, 2002 www.ourcampaigns.com 150x150px File:Mitt Romney's official gubernatorial portrait (cropped).jpg Mitt Romney Republican Party (United States) Kerry Healey 1,091,988 49.18% File:Shannon O'Brien (1).jpg Shannon O'Brien Democratic Party (United States) Chris Gabrieli 985,981 44.40% 300px County results 300px Municipality results 300px Congressional district results 300px Precinct results 1 Romney: #FFB2B2 40–50% #E27F7F 50–60% #d75d5d 60–70% #D72F30 70–80%O'Brien: #A5B0FF 40–50% #7996e2 50–60% #6674de 60–70% #584cde 70–80% #3933e5 80–90% #0D0596 >90%Tie: #d2b1d9 40–50% Governor Jane Swift (acting) Republican Party (United States) Mitt Romney Republican Party (United States) The 2002 Massachusetts gubernatorial election was held on November 5, 2002. Incumbent Republican acting governor Jane Swift chose not to seek a full term in office. Republican businessman Mitt Romney defeated Democratic Treasurer Shannon O'Brien. This would be the only time Romney won a general election in the state, as in the 2012 presidential election and the 1994 Senate election, he lost every county in the state. Republican primary Governor Candidates Mitt Romney, businessman and nominee for U.S. Senate in 1994 Withdrew Jane Swift, acting governor In 2002, Republican lieutenant governor Jane Swift was expected to campaign for the governor's office, and she had said she would in October 2001. Swift had been serving as acting governor after Republican governor Paul Cellucci resigned upon being appointed U.S. Ambassador to Canada.The Almanac of American Politics 2004 Barone Michael Michael Barone (pundit) Richard E. Cohen Richard E. Cohen 2004 National Journal Group Washington 0-89234-106-8 paperback 772–773 However, Swift was viewed as an unpopular executive, and her administration was plagued by political missteps and personal and ethical controversies.Associated Press. "Massachusetts's first female governor takes office, under heavy statewide scrutiny" https://web.archive.org/web/20080220142213/http://tspweb02.tsp.utexas.edu/webarchive/04-11-01/2001041120_s02_Massachuse.html 2008-02-20 The Daily Texan, April 11, 2001. Retrieved October 29, 2006. Many Republicans viewed her as a liability and considered her unable to win a general election against a Democrat.Frank, Mitch."Jane Swift Takes One For the Team:The Massachusetts GOP took a risk by choosing Mitt Romney over the more progressive Swift. Will their decision come back to haunt them?" https://web.archive.org/web/20030406181452/http://www.time.com/time/columnist/frank/article/0%2C9565%2C219417%2C00.html 2003-04-06 Time Magazine, March 21, 2002. Retrieved October 29, 2006. Prominent GOP activists campaigned to persuade businessman Mitt Romney, who had previously run for the U.S. Senate from the state, to run for governor.Berwick Jr., Bob and Roch, Lisa Riley. "Boston GOP beseeching Mitt: But hero of S.L. Games is coy about his future" https://web.archive.org/web/20081223033009/http://deseretnews.com/oly/view/0,3949,70001352,00.html 2008-12-23 Deseret News, February 22, 2002. Retrieved November 1, 2006. Romney was coming off a successful stint as head of the Salt Lake Organizing Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games of 2002 and was also mentioned as a possible candidate for Governor of Utah.http://www.boston.com/news/politics/2008/specials/romney/articles/part6_main/?page=full https://web.archive.org/web/20081007133710/http://www.boston.com/news/politics/2008/specials/romney/articles/part6_main/?page=full dead October 7, 2008 The Making of Mitt Romney: Part 6: Taking office, remaining an outsider Mooney Brian June 29, 2007 The Boston Globe Romney had previously indicated in fall 2001 that he would not challenge a sitting Republican in running for the Massachusetts governorship, and thus was in a delicate position. Massachusetts Republican State Committee chair Kerry Healey had flown to Utah to personally assess Romney's intentions. On March 17, Romney flew to Massachusetts; a Boston Herald poll showed him defeating Swift by a 75 percent to 12 percent margin in a Republican primary. Two days later, Swift declared that she had decided not to seek her party's nomination, citing family reasons and also saying "I believe that this is in the best interest of our state, as it will allow the Republican Party's best chances of holding the governor's office in November.""Swift exits, Romney joins Mass. governor's race"https://web.archive.org/web/20070813060324/http://archives.cnn.com/2002/ALLPOLITICS/03/19/massachusetts.governor/index.html 2007-08-13 , CNN, March 19, 2002. Retrieved October 30, 2006. Three hours later, Romney announced his candidacy. Romney was subsequently unopposed in the Republican party primary. Polling Poll source Dates administered Mitt Romney Jane M. SwiftBoston Heraldhttps://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F30A11FF385C0C738EDDAA0894DA404482 Boston Herald March 17, 2002 77% 12% Lieutenant governor Candidates Kerry Healey, chair of the Massachusetts Republican Party (ran with Mitt Romney) Jim Rappaport, former chair of the Massachusetts Republican Party and nominee for U.S. Senate in 1990 Withdrew Donna Cuomo, former State Representative from North AndoverGOP'S No. 2 Race Takes a Twist Boston Globe April 3, 2002 Frank Phillips Stephanie EbbertFenn Jennifer Some in GOP miffed at Mitt The Sun April 4, 2002 Patrick Guerriero, deputy chief of staff to Jane Swift and former mayor of Melrose (ran with Jane Swift; endorsed Healey) Declined Frank Cousins, Essex County Sheriff Daniel Grabauskas, Registrar of Motor VehiclesGuarino David R. Credit cut; Registry KOs popular charge card service Boston Herald November 24, 2001 (ran for Treasurer and Receiver-General) Ralph C. Martin II, Suffolk County District AttorneySilberman Ellen J. ProQuest Archiver: Titles https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/bostonherald/access/81794257.html?dids=81794257:81794257&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT https://web.archive.org/web/20110629091729/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/bostonherald/access/81794257.html?dids=81794257:81794257&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT dead June 29, 2011 May 28, 2017 Boston Herald September 21, 2001 Christy Mihos, member of the Massachusetts Turnpike AuthorityHolmes Rick Turnpike hearings deserve open road https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/bostonherald/access/98832198.html?dids=98832198:98832198&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT 18 March 2011 Boston Herald January 9, 2002 29 June 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110629091745/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/bostonherald/access/98832198.html?dids=98832198:98832198&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT dead Jim Rappaport, the Republican nominee for United States Senate in 1990 and a political adversary of Jane Swift, was the first Republican to declare his candidacy for lieutenant governor.Battenfeld Joe Rappaport could torpedo Swift bid to control GOP https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/bostonherald/access/79929508.html?dids=79929508:79929508&FMT=ABS&FMTS 18 March 2011 Boston Herald September 7, 2001 29 June 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110629091652/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/bostonherald/access/79929508.html?dids=79929508:79929508&FMT=ABS&FMTS dead In February, Swift named Patrick Guerriero, her deputy chief of staff, as her running mate after multiple others, including Christy Mihos, declined.Anderson Lisa Massachusetts savors prospect of hot primary https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/107015879.html?dids=107015879:107015879&FMT=ABS&FMTS 18 March 2011 Chicago Tribune February 12, 2002 29 June 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110629091706/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/107015879.html?dids=107015879:107015879&FMT=ABS&FMTS dead Guerriero was the nation's first openly gay candidate for lieutenant governor.WCVB Boston http://www.thebostonchannel.com/news/1168473/detail.html Swift Names Guerriero As Running Mate January 2002 Wu Janet dead https://web.archive.org/web/20120320073348/http://www.thebostonchannel.com/news/1168473/detail.html 2012-03-20 After Romney entered the race he selected Kerry Healey, former chairman of the Massachusetts Republican Party, to be his running mate.Romney taps Healey as his running mate Worcester Telegram & Gazette April 4, 2002 Shortly after Romney's endorsement of Healey, Guerriero dropped out of the race and gave his support to Healey.Tutalo Frank Healey's candidacy, Guerriero's withdrawal, shake up Lt. Governor's race Harvard Hillside April 4, 2002 Rappaport remained in the race and lost to Healey in the Republican primary. Results Massachusetts Republican lieutenant gubernatorial primary, 2002 Republican Party (United States) Kerry Healey 159,667 62.76 Republican Party (United States) Jim Rappaport 88,061 34.62 241 0.09 100.00 247,969 Democratic primary Governor Candidates Thomas Birmingham, President of the Massachusetts Senate Shannon O'Brien, Treasurer and Receiver-General of Massachusetts Robert Reich, former United States Secretary of Labor Warren Tolman, former State Senator from Watertown and nominee for lieutenant governor in 1998 Withdrew Steve Grossman, former chair of the DNC and president of AIPAC The leader in most of the polls conducted was O'Brien, who was a longtime insider with four generations of heritage in the Beacon Hill political establishment. However, she faced criticism for some of the losing investments she had made as state treasurer. Reich's candidacy attracted considerable media attention, especially due to the 1997 publication of his memoir of working for the Clinton administration, Locked in the Cabinet. Reich had received criticism for embellishing events with invented dialogue, and the book had so angered Bill Clinton that he endorsed Grossman instead. Of the Democrats running, only Tolman elected to accept Clean Elections funding. Polling Poll source Dates administered Shannon O'Brien Tom Birmingham Robert Reich Warren Tolman Boston Globe/WBZ-TV September 13, 2002 31% 22% 22% 13% Results In the September 17, 2002, primary, O'Brien won with 33 percent of the vote; Reich came in second with 25 percent, followed by 24 percent for Birmingham and 18 percent for Tolman (Grossman had dropped out before then).thumb|Democratic primary results by municipality Massachusetts Democratic gubernatorial primary, 2002 Democratic Party (United States) Shannon O'Brien 243,039 32.52 Democratic Party (United States) Robert Reich 185,315 24.80 Democratic Party (United States) Tom Birmingham 179,703 24.05 Democratic Party (United States) Warren Tolman 132,157 17.69 Democratic Party (United States) Steve Grossman (withdrawn) 5,976 0.80 1,113 0.15 747,303 100.00 Lieutenant governor Candidates Chris Gabrieli, businessman Lois Pines, former State Senator from Newton John P. Slattery, State Representative from Peabody Eliminated at convention Sarah Cannon HoldenKeane, Jr. Thomas M. Convention system misses on all fronts Boston Herald June 7, 2002 Withdrew Cheryl A. Jacques, State Senator from Needham (ran for 9th congressional district)The 9th: Are we there yet? https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/bostonherald/access/75108651.html?dids=75108651:75108651&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT https://web.archive.org/web/20110629091821/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/bostonherald/access/75108651.html?dids=75108651:75108651&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT dead June 29, 2011 18 March 2011 Boston Herald July 7, 2001 Stephen Lynch, State Senator from South Boston (ran for 9th congressional district)Johnson Glen Prospective Candidates Walk a Fine Line on Moakley Seat https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/boston/access/73018335.html?FMT=ABS https://web.archive.org/web/20120724233704/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/boston/access/73018335.html?FMT=ABS dead July 24, 2012 4 October 2011 Boston Globe May 15, 2001 Gabrieli was the running mate of Shannon O'Brien, while Slattery and Pines were not affiliated with any candidate. Results Massachusetts Democratic lieutenant gubernatorial primary, 2002 Democratic Party (United States) Chris Gabrieli 306,043 46.18 Democratic Party (United States) Lois Pines 205,208 30.96 Democratic Party (United States) John P. Slattery 150,313 22.68 1,185 0.18 662,749 100.00 General election Candidates Carla Howell, Libertarian nominee for U.S. Senate candidate in 2000Former Presidents Entering Fray http://www.thebostonchannel.com/news/1712388/detail.html dead https://web.archive.org/web/20021226100556/http://www.thebostonchannel.com/news/1712388/detail.html 26 December 2002 6 April 2012 WCVB-TV Boston Hearst Television, Inc.October 6, 2002 Bilingual ed produces stark divide Worcester Telegram & Gazette (Libertarian) Running mate: Rich Aucoin, mechanical designer and candidate for Waltham Council in 2001 Barbara C. Johnson (Independent) Running mate: Joe Schebel, self-employed carpenter Shannon O'Brien, Treasurer and Receiver-General of Massachusetts (Democratic) Running mate: Chris Gabrieli Mitt Romney, businessman and Republican nominee for U.S. Senate in 1994 (Republican) Running mate: Kerry Healey, chair of the Massachusetts Republican Party Jill Stein, internist at Simmons College Health CenterWilliams Eric October 31, 2002 Political spoiler? Cape Cod Times (Green-Rainbow) Running mate: Tony Lorenzen, high school theology teacher Question of Romney's residency Before the primaries concluded, Democratic officials claimed that Romney was ineligible to run for governor, citing residency issues. The Massachusetts Constitution requires that a gubernatorial candidate be an "inhabitant" for seven consecutive years prior to a run for office.Massachusetts Ballot Law Commission Decision (June 25, 2002) via Scribd (another copy is available from the CNN content delivery network). Romney had attended business and law school at Harvard and spent his entire business career in Massachusetts until being hired to organize the Salt Lake Olympics in 1999. In 1999, Romney had listed himself as a part-time Massachusetts resident,Mcelhenny, John (Associated Press)https://archive.today/20130202044900/http://www.seacoastonline.com/articles/20020618-NEWS-306189981 "Romney defends right to run for governor" Portsmouth Herald, Tuesday, June 18, 2002. Retrieved July 12, 2012. Romney had claimed residency in Utah from 1999 to 2002, during his time as president of the Salt Lake Organizing Committee and received a $54,000 property tax break there. Romney now offered to pay back that exemption. Romney said that he had planned to return to Massachusetts all along. On June 8, 2002, the Massachusetts Democratic Party filed a complaint with the Massachusetts State Ballot Law Commission, which tended to be lenient in its interpretations of the requirements for residency. Butterfield Fox Fox Butterfield Republican's Candidacy Is Challenged By Democrats The New York Times June 8, 2002 https://www.nytimes.com/2002/06/08/us/republican-s-candidacy-is-challenged-by-democrats.html?pagewanted=print&src=pm At the time the commission was composed of three Republicans, one Democrat and one independent. On June 25, 2002, the commission unanimously ruled that Romney was eligible to run for office,http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-120282117.html https://web.archive.org/web/20130502183559/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-120282117.html usurped May 2, 2013 Mass. board confirms GOP gubernatorial candidate's residency Evan Osnos Evan Osnos Chicago Tribune HighBeam Research subscription Chicago, IL June 25, 2002 saying that "[Romney] never severed his ties to Massachusetts [and] his testimony was credible in all respects." The ruling was not challenged in court,Belluck, Pam. "Massachusetts Ballot Panel Allows Race By Republican" The New York Times (Page A-17), June 26, 2002. and Romney accused the Democrats of playing "ridiculous, dirty politics". Campaign Romney ran as a political outsiderBarone and Cohen, The Almanac of American Politics 2004, p. 772. and as an agent of change, saying he would "clean up the mess on Beacon Hill." He said he was "not a partisan Republican" but rather a "moderate" with "progressive" viewshttp://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2011/12/13/democrats-rail-against-romney-over-decade-old-comments/ Democrats rail against Romney over decade-old comments Killough, Ashley CNN December 13, 2011 February 15, 2012 December 14, 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20111214050837/http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2011/12/13/democrats-rail-against-romney-over-decade-old-comments/ dead See "Romney in 2002: I'm 'Moderate,' 'Progressive,' and 'Not a Partisan Republican' [VIDEO]" for video. Romney declared support for faith-based initiatives and campaigned as a pro-choice candidate who would protect a woman's right to an abortion. He rejected the endorsement of Massachusetts Citizens for Life, an anti-abortion organization. Kessler Glenn Glenn Kessler (journalist) Fact checking the CNN debate in Charleston The Washington Post January 20, 2012 https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/fact-checker/post/fact-checking-the-cnn-debate-in-charleston/2012/01/19/gIQALs8dCQ_blog.html 2012-01-23 O'Brien claimed Romney was "trying to mask a very conservative set of belief systems". While saying she would not criticize his membership in the LDS Church, she attacked his substantial donations to Brigham Young University, objecting to their bar on expressions of homosexuality. O'Brien came out in support of same-sex marriage. Supporters of Romney hailed his business record, especially his success with the 2002 Olympics, as that of one who would be able to bring a new era of efficiency into Massachusetts politics."Vote 2002: Massachusetts Governor's Race" https://web.archive.org/web/20030625184413/http://www.pbs.org/newshour/vote2002/races/ma_governor.html 2003-06-25 PBS Online News Hour (No Date). Retrieved November 1, 2006. His campaign was the first to use microtargeting techniques, in which small groups of voters were reached with narrowly tailored messaging.https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/07/04/AR2007070401423.html Romney's Data Cruncher Cillizza, Chris Chris Cillizza The Washington Post July 5, 2007 He proposed to reorganize the state government and stressed his ability to obtain federal funds for the state.Karl Jonathan In '02 Romney touted D.C. connections, federal funds https://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2012/03/exclusive-in-02-romney-touted-d-c-connections-federal-funds/ ABC News March 2, 2012Isikoff Michael Michael Isikoff Salt Lake City Olympics Earmarks a Double-Edged Sword for Romney http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/02/18/10444876-salt-lake-city-olympics-earmarks-a-double-edged-sword-for-romney?lite NBC News February 18, 2012 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20120603073730/http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/02/18/10444876-salt-lake-city-olympics-earmarks-a-double-edged-sword-for-romney?lite June 3, 2012 Romney said he would cut $1 billion out of the $23 billion state budget by eliminating the usual suspects of waste, fraud, and mismanagement while still reducing taxes over a phased period. He also said he was generally against tax increases, but refused to rule out the possibility of a tax increase. He did attempt to paint O'Brien as a 'tax-and-spend liberal'. O'Brien focused her attacks by portraying Romney as being out of place in Massachusetts. Romney had stumbled earlier in the year by not knowing that "MCAS" stood for the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System of school exams. To soften Romney's image, a series of "work days" had been staged over the summer, in which he performed blue-collar jobs such as herding cows and baling hay, unloading a fishing boat, and hauling garbage.Klein Rick New Ads, 'Work Days' Show Down-to-Earth Candidate The Boston Globe http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-7731101.html https://web.archive.org/web/20160415121048/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-7731101.html usurped April 15, 2016 HighBeam Research subscription Boston, MA September 26, 2002 Also available as "Mitt takes his shirt off as campaign heats up", Deseret News, September 27, 2002. Television ads highlighting the effort, as well as one portraying his family in gushing terms and showing him shirtless, received a poor public response. O'Brien responded, "Massachusetts doesn't need a governor who thinks getting in touch with working people is a costume party." By mid-October, Romney trailed O'Brien in most polls.Bayles Fred Romney may be losing his touch in Mass https://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2002-10-15-massgov-usat_x.htm USA Today October 16, 2002Miga Andrew Don't expect a warm and fuzzy Romney this fall http://www.postandcourier.com/article/20120405/PC1603/120409549 https://web.archive.org/web/20120929154441/http://www.postandcourier.com/article/20120405/PC1603/120409549 dead September 29, 2012 Associated Press The Post and Courier April 5, 2012 He responded with negative ads that accused O'Brien of mismanaging pension funds. Specifically, one ad featured a Basset Hound sleeping as men removed bags of money from the Massachusetts treasury. Another associated her husband Emmet Hayes, a former lobbyist, with the Enron scandal. O'Brien's campaign was hobbled by the short amount of time between the primary and the general election and by her having exhausted most of her funds by spending $4.5 million to win the nomination. Romney, able to focus on the general election in the absence of any primary contest, contributed over $6 million to his own campaign during the election, a state record at the time."Gabrieli surpasses spending record" Brian C. Mooney Boston Globe; August 22, 2006. Retrieved November 20, 2006. He raised nearly $10 million for his campaign overall.http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-94133968.html https://web.archive.org/web/20121129232942/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-94133968.html usurped November 29, 2012 Donor cash still floods campaigns Ted Bunker Boston Herald HighBeam Research subscription November 11, 2002 Jill Stein campaigned against requiring that students pass the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System tests to graduate high school and in support of clean air and bilingual education.McConville Christine October 13, 2002 Green Party Line Colors Governor's Race Debate Boston GlobeGitell Seth October 10, 2002 Jill Stein won the debate Boston Phoenix http://www.bostonphoenix.com/boston/news_features/daily/documents/02516391.htm dead 6 April 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120228044605/http://www.bostonphoenix.com/boston/news_features/daily/documents/02516391.htm 28 February 2012 Debates In the debates, O'Brien attacked Romney repeatedly. He referred to her style as "unbecoming", which engendered criticism that he was insensitive to women. After being excluded from the first debate, Stein and Independent candidate Barbara Johnson sued the media organizers of the debate.Candidates Sue Media Consortium Over Debate Exclusion http://www.thebostonchannel.com/news/1694291/detail.html WCVB-TV Boston Hearst Stations Inc. 6 April 2012 dead https://archive.today/20070701025827/http://www.thebostonchannel.com/news/1694291/detail.html 1 July 2007 Middlesex Superior Court Judge Linda Giles ruled against Stein and Johnson, stating that the state's campaign finance laws do not apply to the press organizing political debates and that the invitations to Shannon O'Brien and Mitt Romney did not constitute a campaign contribution.Marantz Steve Judge keeps third party candidates on sideline https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/bostonherald/access/202350411.html?dids=202350411:202350411&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT 6 April 2012 Boston Herald October 2, 2002 24 July 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120724233731/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/bostonherald/access/202350411.html?dids=202350411:202350411&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT dead Predictions SourceRankingAs ofThe Cook Political Reporthttp://www.cookpolitical.com:80/display.cfm?section=political&edit_id=225 https://web.archive.org/web/20021208065752/http://www.cookpolitical.com/display.cfm?section=political&edit_id=225 December 8, 2002 Governor Updated October 31, 2002 The Cook Political Report The Cook Political Report en October 31, 2002 September 18, 2018 dead mdy-all TossupOctober 31, 2002Sabato's Crystal Ballhttp://www.centerforpolitics.org:80/crystalball/governor_all.htm https://web.archive.org/web/20021212142349/http://www.centerforpolitics.org/crystalball/governor_all.htm December 12, 2002 Governors Races www.centerforpolitics.org en-US November 4, 2002 September 18, 2018 dead mdy-all Lean D FlipNovember 4, 2002 Polling Poll sourceDate(s) administeredShannonO'Brien (D)MittRomney (R)OtherBoston Heraldhttp://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/bostonherald/access/109793873.html?dids=109793873:109793873&FMT=ABS&FMTS Archives: Boston Herald July 25, 2012 July 28, 2024 July 25, 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120725015234/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/bostonherald/access/109793873.html?dids=109793873:109793873&FMT=ABS&FMTS deadFebruary 27, 200232%38%–Boston Heraldhttp://www.thebostonchannel.com/politics/1679467/detail.html Candidates Hold Rallies After Poll Shows Close Race - Politics News Story - WCVB Boston March 20, 2012 January 16, 2018 March 20, 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120320074724/http://www.thebostonchannel.com/politics/1679467/detail.html deadSeptember 20, 200245%42%–Institute of Politics/NECNhttps://www.thecrimson.com/article/2002/10/30/poll-says-governors-race-is-dead/ Poll Says Governor's Race Is Dead Heat | News | The Harvard Crimson www.thecrimson.comOctober 2–3, 200240%40%–RKM Research and Communicationshttps://news.google.com/newspapers?id=IBxOAAAAIBAJ&sjid=muwDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6930,1180221&dq The Deseret News - Google News Archive Search news.google.comOctober 4, 200243%42%–Institute of Politics/NECNOctober 24–27, 200241%39%11%Boston HeraldOctober 29, 200244%38%–Boston Globe/WBZhttp://www.thebostonchannel.com/politics/1754531/detail.html O'Brien, Romney Tied In Latest Poll - Politics News Story - WCVB Boston March 20, 2012 January 16, 2018 March 20, 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120320074744/http://www.thebostonchannel.com/politics/1754531/detail.html deadNovember 1, 200241%40%– background:#cff Hypothetical polling border:solid 1px silver; padding:8px; background:var(--background-color-base); color:var(--color-base); with Jane Swift Poll sourceDate(s) administeredJane Swift (R)Shannon O'Brien (D)Robert Reich (D)Tom Birmingham (D)Steve Grossman (D)Warren Tolman (D)Bill Galvin (D)Marty Meehan (D)Boston HeraldBoston Herald https://web.archive.org/web/20121105035053/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/bostonherald/access/68745350.html?dids=68745350:68745350&FMT=ABS&FMTS 2012-11-05 February 18, 200123%––––––37%25%–––37%–25%37%––––25%–25%–––25%––26%––Boston GlobeBoston Globe https://web.archive.org/web/20121105035105/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/boston/access/102727230.html?dids=102727230:102727230&FMT=ABS&FMTS 2012-11-05 January 27, 200221%39%––––––23%––35%–––23%–35%––––23%–––––33%25%–––27%––24%––––28%– with Robert Reich Poll sourceDate(s) administeredRobert Reich (D)Mitt Romney (R)OtherBoston HeraldFebruary 27, 200231%40%– Results Romney and Healey were elected governor and lieutenant governor with 49.2 percent of the vote over O'Brien and Gabrieli, who received 44.4 percent."2002 Election Results, Governor" CNN.com. Retrieved November 1, 2006. Ten years later, Romney and Stein ran against each other in the 2012 U.S. presidential election, with both losing to incumbent Democratic President Barack Obama. Romney performed strongly with Republicans and won many independents in the belt between Route 128 and I-495. He almost ran even with O'Brien in smaller working-class cities, and held down Democratic margins in large urban areas. This was the fourth consecutive win for Republicans in the state gubernatorial contest. Massachusetts gubernatorial election, 2002https://electionstats.state.ma.us/elections/search/year_from:1972/year_to:2020/office_id:1/stage:General PD43+ » Search Elections Republican Party (United States) Mitt Romney 1,091,988 49.77% 1.10 Democratic Party (United States) Shannon O'Brien 985,981 44.94% 2.50 Green-Rainbow Party Jill Stein 76,530 3.49% N/A Libertarian Party (US) Carla Howell 23,044 1.05% 0.64 Independent politician Barbara Johnson 15,335 0.69% N/A 1,301 0.06% 0.05 2,194,179 100.00% None Blank ballots 26,122 1.17% 2,220,301 Republican Party (United States) +1.40 Results by county 2002 United States gubernatorial election in Massachusetts (by county) County Romney - R % Romney - R # O'Brien - D % O'Brien - D # Others % Others # Total #Barnstable 56.3% 57,466 38.9% 39,640 4.7% 4,887 101,993Berkshire 32.2% 13,897 62.5% 26,963 5.3% 2,281 43,141Bristol 45.0% 71,189 50.7% 80,275 4.4% 6,860 158,324Dukes 40.4% 2,815 53.0% 3,688 6.6% 458 6,961Essex 55.5% 141,932 39.4% 100,798 5.1% 12,816 255,546Franklin 35.7% 9,381 55.0% 14,438 9.3% 2,455 26,274Hampden 48.8% 66,114 46.9% 63,470 4.3% 5,792 135,376Hampshire 33.7% 18,358 59.1% 32,229 7.2% 3,918 54,505Middlesex 49.4% 267,579 44.6% 241,934 5.9% 32,418 541,931Nantucket 50.3% 1,974 44.5% 1,746 5.2% 204 3,924Norfolk 53.4% 140,440 41.9% 110,198 4.7% 12,280 262,918Plymouth 57.6% 100,029 38.0% 65,978 4.4% 7,757 173,764Suffolk 34.5% 60,623 59.9% 105,280 5.6% 9,776 175,679Worcester 55.2% 140,191 39.1% 99,344 5.6% 14,308 253,843 Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican Middlesex (largest municipality: Cambridge) Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic Berkshire (largest municipality: Pittsfield) Bristol (largest municipality: New Bedford) right 300px Shift by county 300px Trend by county Legend #d40000 Republican — >15% #ff0000 Republican — +12.5−15% #ff2a2a Republican — +10−12.5% #ff5555 Republican — +7.5−10% #ff8080 Republican — +5−7.5% #ffaaaa Republican — +2.5−5% #ffd5d5 Republican — +0−2.5% #d5f6ff Democratic — +0−2.5% #aaeeff Democratic — +2.5−5% #77e3ff Democratic — +5−7.5% #4bdbff Democratic — +7.5-10% #09ceff Democratic — +10−12.5% #00bdec Democratic — +12.5−15% #00a1c8 Democratic — >15% 300px County flips Legend Democratic #92c5de Hold #0671b0 Flip Republican #f48882 Hold #ca0120 Flip See also Massachusetts general election, 2002 Governorship of Mitt Romney 2001–2002 Massachusetts legislature References External links "Massachusetts 2002 Election Statewide Results" from Elections Division Campaign sites http://www.barbforgovernor.com/ Barbara Johnson campaign site 2006-04-25 http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20021106180220/http%3A//www.barbforgovernor.com/ 2002-11-06 dead http://www.carlahowell.org/CHgovernor2002.html Carla Howell campaign site (archive) 2006-04-25 https://web.archive.org/web/20041208105444/http://www.carlahowell.org/CHgovernor2002.html 2004-12-08 dead Gubernatorial 2002 Massachusetts Category:Mitt Romney Massachusetts gubernatorial election, 2002