2002 United States Senate election in New Hampshire

none March 2026 September 2023 2002 United States Senate election in New Hampshire New Hampshire presidential no 1996 United States Senate election in New Hampshire 1996 2008 United States Senate election in New Hampshire 2008 November 5, 2002 150x150px John E. Sununu (cropped).jpg John E. Sununu Republican Party (United States) 227,229 51.12% File:Jeanne Shaheen, official Senate portrait cropped.jpg Jeanne Shaheen Democratic Party (United States) 207,478 46.67% x245px County results x245px Municipality results Sununu: #FFB2B2 40–50% #E27F7F 50–60% #D75D5D 60–70% #D72F30 70–80% #a80000 >90%Shaheen: #a5b0ff 40–50% #7996E2 50–60% #6674DE 60–70% #584cde 70–80% #0d056c >90%Tie: #D2B1D9 40–50% U.S. Senator Bob Smith Republican Party (United States) John E. Sununu Republican Party (United States) The 2002 United States Senate election in New Hampshire was held on November 5, 2002. Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Bob Smith was defeated in the Republican primary by U.S. Representative John E. Sununu.https://www.nytimes.com/2002/09/12/us/campaign-season-gop-is-relieved-at-republican-s-loss.html?ref=robertcsmith The New York Times Carl Hulse Campaign Season; G.O.P. Is Relieved At Republican's Loss September 12, 2002 Sununu won the open seat, defeating Democratic Governor Jeanne Shaheen. 2025, this was the last time Republicans or a male candidate won the Class 2 Senate seat in New Hampshire; Shaheen defeated Sununu in their 2008 rematch for this seat and has held it since 2009. This was Shaheen’s only unsuccessful run for elected office. Smith later ran for this seat again in 2014 and lost the Republican primary. Republican primary Campaign Senator Bob Smith, the incumbent Republican Senator, briefly left the party in 1999 to run for president as an independent, claiming that the Republican platform was "not worth the paper it's written on".Cole Jim http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/politicselections/2002-09-10-nh-primary_x.htm Sununu ousts Smith in New Hampshire primary Associated Press September 10, 2002 April 8, 2015 He rejoined the GOP a few months later, saying he made a mistake. Nonetheless, the party never fully forgave him, and some of his fellow Republican Senators went so far as to endorse his primary opponent, Rep. John Sununu,Hulse Carl https://www.nytimes.com/2002/09/12/us/campaign-season-gop-is-relieved-at-republican-s-loss.html Campaign Season; G.O.P. Is Relieved At Republican's Loss The New York Times September 12, 2002 April 8, 2015 who would go on to win by more than eight percentage points. Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize"Key" Marginof error BobSmith JohnSununu Other UndecidedUniversity of New Hampshire/WMURhttps://scholars.unh.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1500&context=survey_center_polls Sununu Holds Comfortable Lead Andrew E. Smith University of New Hampshire September 4, 2002 September 16, 2025August 26 – September 3, 2002335 (LV)± 5.0%34%56%1%Ken Stremsky with 1%9%University of New HampshireJune 23 – July 1, 2002230 (LV)± 6.0%40%52%3%"Other/Neither" with 2%; Ken Stremsky with 1%9%American Research Grouphttp://www.americanresearchgroup.com/nhpoll/nhp36.html https://web.archive.org/web/20020802045912/http://www.americanresearchgroup.com/nhpoll/nhp36.html Keough Jumps to Second Place in Republican Race for Governor, Sununu Maintains Lead Over Smith in Republican Race for US Senate American Research Group June 26, 2002 August 2, 2002 September 16, 2025June 21–25, 2002600 (LV)± 4.0%41%48%–11%American Research Grouphttp://www.americanresearchgroup.com/nhpoll/nhp26f.html https://web.archive.org/web/20020607211901/http://www.americanresearchgroup.com/nhpoll/nhp26f.html Sununu Maintains Comfortable Lead Over Smith Following Giuliani Endorsement of Smith American Research Group June 6, 2002 June 7, 2002 September 16, 2025June 3–5, 2002600 (LV)± 4.0%38%55%–7%American Research Grouphttp://americanresearchgroup.com/nhpoll/nhp26e.html https://web.archive.org/web/20020605075507/http://americanresearchgroup.com/nhpoll/nhp26e.html Sununu Strengthens Lead Over Smith Among Likely Republican Primary Voters American Research Group May 3, 2002 June 5, 2002 September 16, 2025April 30 – May 2, 2002600 (LV)± 4.0%29%56%–15%University of New Hampshire/WMURApril 10–14 2002237 (LV)± 6.4%30%59%2%10%American Research GroupApril 2002600 (LV)± 4.0%33%51%–16%American Research Grouphttp://www.americanresearchgroup.com/nhpoll/nhp26c.html https://web.archive.org/web/20020408104802/http://www.americanresearchgroup.com/nhpoll/nhp26c.html Sununu Maintains Lead Over Smith Among Likely Republican Primary Voters American Research Group February 14, 2002 April 8, 2002 September 16, 2025February 6–10, 2002600 (LV)± 4.0%34%44%–22%University of New HampshireJanuary 25 – February 5, 2002230 (LV)± 6.5%37%51%4%8%American Research Grouphttp://americanresearchgroup.com/ https://web.archive.org/web/20020118044316/http://americanresearchgroup.com/ American Research Group American Research Group January 17, 2002 January 18, 2002 September 16, 2025January 5, 2002600 (LV)± 4.0%27%51%–22%American Research Grouphttp://www.americanresearchgroup.com/nhpoll/nhp26a.html https://web.archive.org/web/20011217001803/http://www.americanresearchgroup.com/nhpoll/nhp26a.html Smith Maintains Slight Edge Over Sununu Among Likely Republican Primary Voters American Research Group November 21, 2001 December 17, 2001 September 16, 2025November 16–20 2001600 (LV)± 4.0%47%39%–14%University of New HampshireOctober 19–29, 2001202 (LV)± 6.7%35%53%4%8%American Research Grouphttp://www.americanresearchgroup.com/nhpoll/nhp26.html https://web.archive.org/web/20011021092042/http://americanresearchgroup.com/nhpoll/nhp26.html Likely Republican Primary Voters in NH Give Smith Slight Edge Over Sununu American Research Group October 19, 2001 October 21, 2001 September 16, 2025October 16–18, 2001600 (LV)± 4.0%47%41%–12% thumb|right|160px|Results by county: #e27f7f Sununu #e27f7f 50–60% #ffdd55 Smith #ffdd55 50–60% Results Republican primary resultshttps://www.fec.gov/pubrec/fe2002/senate.htm Election and voting information John Sununu Republican Party (United States) 81,920 53.35% Bob Smith (incumbent) Republican Party (United States) 68,608 44.68% 150,528 100.00% General election Candidates Ken Blevens (Libertarian) Jeanne Shaheen, Governor of New Hampshire (Democratic) John E. Sununu, U.S. Representative (Republican) Campaign 2002 New Hampshire Senate election phone jamming scandal During the campaign, there was a major scandal that involved the use of a telemarketing firm hired by that state's Republican Party (NHGOP) for election tampering. The GOP Marketplace, based in Northern Virginia, jammed another phone bank being used by the state Democratic Party and the firefighters' union for efforts to turn out voters on behalf of then-governor Jeanne Shaheen on Election Day. The tampering involved using a call center to jam the phone lines of a Get Out the Vote (GOTV) operation. In the end, 900 calls were made for 45 minutes of disruption to the Democratic-leaning call centers. In addition to criminal prosecutions, disclosures in the case have come from a civil suit filed by the state's Democratic Party against the state's Republican Party (now settled). Four men have been convicted of, or pleaded guilty to, federal crimes and sentenced to prison for their involvement 2008 on. One conviction has been reversed by an appeals court, a decision prosecutors are appealing. James Tobin, freed on appeal, was later indicted on charges of lying to the FBI during the original investigation. Predictions SourceRankingAs ofSabato's Crystal Ballhttp://www.centerforpolitics.org/crystalball/senate_all.htm https://web.archive.org/web/20021118115505/http://www.centerforpolitics.org/crystalball/senate_all.htm November 18, 2002 Senate Races www.centerforpolitics.org en-US November 4, 2002 June 25, 2021 dead mdy-all Lean D FlipNovember 4, 2002 Polling Poll source Date(s)administered SamplesizeKey:A – all adultsRV – registered votersLV – likely votersV – unclear "Key" Marginof error JohnSununu (R) JeanneShaheen (D) Other UndecidedAmerican Research GroupNovember 2–3, 2002600 (LV)± 4.0%48%44%–8%UNH/CNN/USA Todayhttps://scholars.unh.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1490&context=survey_center_polls USA Today / CNN Poll - Too Close to Call Andrew E. Smith University of New Hampshire November 3, 2002 September 16, 2025October 30 – November 2, 2002644 (LV)± 3.8%46%45%6%B4O2 Ken Blevens (L) with 4%; "Other" with 2%2%47%With undecided voters allocated46%6%B4O2–Concord Monitorhttps://www.realclearpolitics.com/Congressional/Senate_02_Polls.html#NH Polling on 2002 Key Senate Races RealClearPolitics September 16, 2025October 29–31, 2002––46%47%–7%American Research Grouphttp://www.dfw.com/mld/dfw/news/politics/4415897.htm https://web.archive.org/web/20021219061849/http://www.dfw.com/mld/dfw/news/politics/4415897.htm N.H. Gubernatorial Race Nearly Even Fort Worth Star-Telegram October 31, 2002 December 19, 2002 September 16, 2025October 28–30, 2002600 (LV)± 4.0%48%46%–6%Franklin Pierce College/WNDS-TVhttp://www.politicsnh.com/press_releases/october2002/10_31_02_fpc.shtml https://web.archive.org/web/20021108152348/http://www.politicsnh.com/press_releases/october2002/10_31_02_fpc.shtml Franklin Pierce College/WNDS-TV Poll Shows Shaheen Leading Senate Race PoliticsNH October 31, 2002 November 8, 2002 September 16, 2025October 27–30, 2002926 (RV)± 3.0%40%45%4%BO210%University of New Hampshire/WMURhttps://scholars.unh.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1493&context=survey_center_polls WMUR / UNH Poll – NH Senate Race Down to the Wire Andrew E. Smith University of New Hampshire October 31, 2002 September 16, 2025October 23–29, 2002648 (LV)± 3.8%42%46%4%BO2 Ken Blevens (L) and "Other" with 2%7%American Research Grouphttps://www.nytimes.com/2002/10/29/us/the-2002-campaign-senate-new-hampshire-rivals-look-to-independents.html https://web.archive.org/web/20150527215242/https://www.nytimes.com/2002/10/29/us/the-2002-campaign-senate-new-hampshire-rivals-look-to-independents.html THE 2002 CAMPAIGN: SENATE; New Hampshire Rivals Look to Independents Pam Belluck The New York Times October 29, 2002 May 27, 2015 September 16, 2025October 20–22, 2002600 (LV)± 4.0%48%46%–6%American Research GroupOctober 16, 2002600 (LV)± 4.0%51%43%–6%University of New Hampshire/WMURhttps://scholars.unh.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1498&context=survey_center_polls Shaheen & Sununu, Neck and Neck Andrew E. Smith University of New Hampshire October 10, 2002 September 16, 2025October 3–10, 2002651 (LV)± 4.0%44%47%4%Ken Blevens (L) with 1%; "Other" with 3%5%American Research GroupOctober 2, 2002600 (LV)± 4.0%55%34%–11%GQR (D)https://www.realclearpolitics.com/Congressional/Senate_02_Polls.html https://web.archive.org/web/20021004041210/https://www.realclearpolitics.com/Congressional/Senate_02_Polls.html Polling on 2002 Key Senate Races RealClearPolitics October 4, 2002 September 16, 2025September 18–19, 2002––46%43%–11%American Research GroupSeptember 14–18, 2002600 (LV)± 4.0%47%38%–15%University of New Hampshirehttps://scholars.unh.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1504&context=survey_center_polls Senate Race Tightening Andrew E. Smith University of New Hampshire July 2, 2002 September 16, 2025June 23 – July 1, 2002529 (LV)± 4.0%51%42%3%4%American Research Grouphttp://americanresearchgroup.com/nhpoll/nhp40d.shtml https://web.archive.org/web/20021207033953/http://americanresearchgroup.com/nhpoll/nhp40d.shtml US Senate Race Remains Too Close To Call As Shaheen Slips American Research Group November 4, 2002 December 7, 2002 September 16, 2025June 2002600 (LV)± 4.0%37%33%–30%University of New Hampshirehttps://scholars.unh.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1507&context=survey_center_polls Sununu Pulls Away from Smith Andrew E. Smith University of New Hampshire April 22, 2002 September 16, 2025April 10–14, 2002526 (LV)± 4.3%50%42%2%6%American Research GroupMarch 2002600 (LV)± 4.0%40%36%–24%University of New Hampshirehttps://scholars.unh.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1511&context=survey_center_polls Little Change in U.S. Senate Race in NH Andrew E. Smith University of New Hampshire February 12, 2002 September 16, 2025January 25 – February 5, 2002554 (RV)± 4.1%49%42%4%6%American Research GroupDecember 2001600 (LV)± 4.0%39%29%–32%University of New Hampshirehttps://scholars.unh.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1512&context=survey_center_polls Tight Race for U.S. Senate in NH Andrew E. Smith University of New Hampshire November 14, 2001 September 16, 2025October 19–29, 2001505 (RV)± 4.4%50%38%3%9%American Research GroupSeptember 2001600 (LV)± 4.0%47%39%–14%American Research GroupJuly 2001600 (LV)± 4.0%49%35%–16%American Research GroupJune 2001600 (LV)± 4.0%50%35%–15% background:#cff Hypothetical polling border:solid 1px silver; padding:8px; background:var(--background-color-base); color:var(--color-base); Bob Smith vs. Jeanne Shaheen Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize"Key" Marginof error BobSmith (R) JeanneShaheen (D) Other UndecidedUniversity of New HampshireJune 23 – July 1, 2002529 (LV)± 4.0%45%47%3%4%University of New Hampshirehttps://scholars.unh.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1507&context=survey_center_polls Sununu Pulls Away from Smith Andrew E. Smith University of New Hampshire April 22, 2002 September 16, 2025April 10–14 2002526 (LV)± 4.3%42%49%5%4%University of New HampshireJanuary 25 – February 5, 2002558 (RV)± 4.1%43%46%4%6%University of New HampshireOctober 19–29, 2001505 (RV)± 4.4%44%45%5%6% Results General election resultsState of New Hampshire, Elections Division, State General Election - November 5, 2002 retrieved September 5, 2011 Republican Party (United States) John Sununu 227,229 51.12% +1.87 Democratic Party (United States) Jeanne Shaheen 207,478 46.67% +0.45% Libertarian Party (United States) Ken Blevens 9,835 2.21% -2.32% 19,751 4.44% +1.41% 444,542 100.0% Republican Party (United States) Results by county CountyJohn E. SununuRepublicanJeanne ShaheenDemocraticVarious candidatesMarginTotal votes cast # % # % # % # % Belknap 12,658 57.7% 8,765 39.9% 519 2.4% 3,893 17.8% 21,942 Carroll 10,650 55.2% 8,134 42.2% 503 2.5% 2,516 13.0% 19,287 Cheshire 10,737 41.5% 14,200 54.9% 918 3.6% -3,463 -13.4% 25,855 Coös 5,055 44.6% 5,957 52.6% 316 2.8% -902 -8.0% 11,328 Grafton 14,081 46.7% 15,266 50.7% 773 2.6% -1,185 -4.0% 30,120 Hillsborough 68,320 53.0% 57,354 44.5% 3,298 2.5% 10,966 8.5% 128,972 Merrimack 25,263 47.2% 26,898 50.3% 1,366 2.5% -1,635 -3.1% 53,527 Rockingham 55,710 54.2% 43,968 42.8% 3,099 3.0% 11,742 3.16% 102,777 Strafford 17,418 45.0% 20,109 52.0% 1,149 3.0% -2,691 -7.0% 38,676 Sullivan 7,337 50.1% 6,827 46.6% 487 3.3% 510 3.5% 14,651Totals227,22950.8%207,47846.4%12,4282.8%19,7514.4%447,135 Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic Grafton (largest city: Lebanon) See also 2002 United States Senate election Notes References External links Candidates at Vote Smart Campaign finance at FEC Campaign finance at OpenSecrets Official campaign websites (archived) John E. Sununu Jeanne Shaheen New Hampshire 2002 United States Senate