2002 Wyoming state elections

none February 2026 September 2023 2002 Wyoming state elections Wyoming presidential no 1998 Wyoming state elections 1998 2006 Wyoming elections 2006 A general election was held in the U.S. state of Wyoming on Tuesday, November 5, 2002. All of the state's executive officers—the Governor, Secretary of State, Auditor, Treasurer, and Superintendent of Public Instruction—were up for election. Gubernatorial election 2002 Wyoming gubernatorial election Republican Governor Jim Geringer could not seek re-election due to term limits. Following a competitive primary, former State House Speaker Eli Bebout emerged as the Republican nominee. He faced Democrat Dave Freudenthal, the former U.S. Attorney. Despite the state's strong Republican lean, Freudenthal narrowly defeated Bebout, winning 50% of the vote to his 48%. 2002 Wyoming gubernatorial electionhttps://sos.wyo.gov/Elections/Docs/2002/02Results/02General/02_General%20Election_SW_Candidates.pdf Statewide Candidates' Abstract -- Official General Election Results -- November 5, 2002 Wyoming Secretary of State May 23, 2021 Democratic Party (United States) Dave Freudenthal 92,662 49.96% +9.51% Republican Party (United States) Eli Bebout 88,873 47.92% -7.68% Libertarian Party (US) Dave Dawson 3,924 2.12% -1.83% 3,789 2.04% -13.10% 185,459 Democratic Party (United States) Republican Party (United States) Secretary of State 2002 Wyoming Secretary of State election Wyoming presidential no 1998 Wyoming Secretary of State election 1998 2006 Wyoming Secretary of State election 2006 November 5, 2002 Joseph Meyer Republican Party (United States) 139,721 82.4% Dennis Brossman Libertarian Party (United States) 29,751 17.6% 250px County results 250px Precinct results 1 250px Meyer: #E27F7F 50–60% #d75d5d 60–70% #d72f30 70–80% #c21b18 80–90% #A80000 >90% Brossman: #F1C92A 50–60% Secretary of State Joseph Meyer Republican Party (United States) Joseph Meyer Republican Party (United States) Republican Joe Meyer, the incumbent Secretary of State, ran for re-election to a second term. He won the Republican primary unopposed and was originally challenged by retired attorney Jim Fagan, the Democratic nominee. However, shortly after winning the Democratic nomination, Fagan dropped out of the race, citing his lack of endurance for the contest.September 30, 2002 Choices limited in general election Barron Joan Casper Star-Tribune Casper, Wyo. A1 After Fagan's withdrawal, Meyer's only opponent was Libertarian Dennis Brossman, whom he handily defeated with 82% of the vote. Democratic primary Candidates Jim Fagan, retired attorney Results Democratic Party primary resultshttps://sos.wyo.gov/Elections/Docs/2002/02Results/02_Primary_SW_Candidates.pdf Statewide Candidates' Abstract -- Official Primary Election Results -- August 20, 2002 Wyoming Secretary of State May 23, 2021 Jim Fagan Democratic Party (United States) 30,918 100.00 30,918 100.00 Republican primary Candidates Joe Meyer, incumbent Secretary of State Results Republican Primary results Joe Meyer (inc.) Republican Party (United States) 81,476 100.00 81,476 100.00 General election Results 2002 Wyoming Secretary of State election Republican Party (United States) Joe Meyer (inc.) 139,721 82.44% +22.24% Libertarian Party (United States) Dennis Brossman 29,751 17.56% +17.56% 109,970 64.89% +44.48% 169,472 Republican Party (United States) Libertarian Party (United States) Auditor Incumbent State Auditor Max Maxfield, a Republican, ran for re-election to a second term. He faced State Senator Mark O. Harris, the Democratic nominee, in the general election. Harris launched a vigorous campaign against Maxfield, attacking the incumbent for a data breach in the Auditor's officeSeptember 20, 2002 Account of payroll problem questioned Barron Joan Casper Star-Tribune Casper, Wyo. A1, A14 and for delivering a no-bid contract to a Virginia-based security company.September 30, 2002 Maxfield wants Harris' apology Barron Joan Casper Star-Tribune Casper, Wyo. A1, A14 In a boost to his chances with the conservative electorate, Harris was endorsed by the NRA Political Victory Fund, which gave him an A+ rating and had previously awarded him the Defender of Freedom Award.September 27, 2002 NRA backs Harris for auditor Barron Joan Casper Star-Tribune Casper, Wyo. B1, B2 Maxfield ultimately ended up winning re-election over Harris in a landslide, winning 67% of the vote to Harris's 33%. Democratic primary Candidates Mark O. Harris, State Senator from Sweetwater County Results Democratic Party primary results Mark O. Harris Democratic Party (United States) 31,104 100.00 31,104 100.00 Republican primary Candidates Max Maxfield, incumbent State Auditor Results Republican Primary results Joe Meyer (inc.) Republican Party (United States) 80,829 100.00 80,829 100.00 General election Results 2002 Wyoming Auditor election Republican Party (United States) Max Maxfield (inc.) 119,857 66.76% -33.24% Democratic Party (United States) Mark O. Harris 59,668 33.24% +33.24% 60,189 33.53% -66.47% 179,525 Republican Party (United States) Democratic Party (United States) 250px|thumb|Results by county Maxfield: #E27F7F 50–60% #D75D5D 60–70% #D72F30 70–80% #C21B18 80–90% Harris: #7996E2 50–60% Treasurer Incumbent Republican State Treasurer Cynthia Lummis ran for re-election to a second term. No candidate filed to oppose her, and she won re-election entirely unopposed. Republican primary Candidates Cynthia Lummis, incumbent State Treasurer Results Republican Primary results Cynthia Lummis (inc.) Republican Party (United States) 79,557 100.00 79,557 100.00 General election Results 2002 Wyoming Treasurer election Republican Party (United States) Cynthia Lummis (inc.) 152,583 100.00% 152,583 Republican Party (United States) Democratic Party (United States) 250px|thumb|Results by county Lummis: #A80000 90–100% Superintendent of Public Instruction 2002 Wyoming Superintendent of Public Instruction election Wyoming presidential no 1998 Wyoming Superintendent of Public Instruction election 1998 2006 Wyoming Superintendent of Public Instruction election 2006 November 5, 2002 Trent Blankenship Republican Party (United States) 95,672 53.23% Kathy Emmons Democratic Party (United States) 84,056 46.77% 2002 Wyoming superintendent of public instruction election results map by county.svg 250px Blankenship: #e27f7f 50–60% #D75D5D 60–70% #d72f30 70–80% Emmons: #7996E2 50–60% #6674DE 60–70% Superintendent of Public Instruction Judy Catchpole Republican Party (United States) Trent Blankenship Republican Party (United States) Incumbent Superintendent of Public Instruction Judy Catchpole, a Republican, could not seek re-election due to term limits. Competitive primaries developed on both sides. In the Republican primary, Trent Blankenship, the Superintendent of the Carbon County School District 1, and Jim Twiford, the former President of the State Senate emerged as early frontrunners. High school teacher Neil Waring and retired university professor John Mingle were also candidates. The Wyoming Education Association endorsed Waring in the Republican primary. The WEA criticized Twiford's legislative record, specifically pointing to millions of dollars in cuts to the education budget under his leadership.July 16, 2002 Sniffin, Hickey, Freudenthal get teacher union endorsements Casper Star-Tribune Casper, Wyo. B1 From there, the Republican primary heated up, with Blankenship and Twiford attacking each other's records. Blankenship accused Twiford of misrepresenting his credentials and for his record in the legislature. Twiford, meanwhile, argued that Blankenship's school district "is flat broke under his leadership," with the district hemorrhaging administrators.August 14, 2002 Blankenship, Twiford trade harsh remarks Luckett Bill Casper Star-Tribune Casper, Wyo. B1 In the end, Blankenship narrowly edged out Twiford, receiving 37% of the vote while Twiford won 33%, Waring won 20%, and Mingle won 10%. In the Democratic primary, Kathy Emmons, the Director of the Wyoming Children's Action Alliance, emerged as the early frontrunner, earning the endorsement of the WEA. The candidates largely agreed on the issues, with all of the Democrats opposing charter schools,July 17, 2002 School chief hopefuls debate Strother Holly Casper Star-Tribune Casper, Wyo. A1, A14 and with Emmons and Shoults favoring increased audits of mining companies.June 9, 2002 Minerals audits split candidates Strother Holly Casper Star-Tribune Casper, Wyo. B1, B2 Hoffman ended up decisively winning the primary, winning 52% of the vote to Wiederspahn's 31% and Shoults's 17%. In the general election, Blankenship argued that Emmons had no roots in Wyoming and had no experience in the state's public school system. Emmons disputed Blankenship's characterization, pointing out that she had worked for the Wyoming Department of Health and had run pre-school programs for developmentally disabled students throughout the state.September 13, 2002 Candidates spar over experience Barron Joan Casper Star-Tribune Casper, Wyo. A1, A4 The ideological contrasts between the candidates were not significant, however, with both Blankenship and Emmons agreeing on the need to raise teacher paySeptember 17, 2002 Emmons, Blankenship: Raise teacher pay Casper Star-Tribune Casper, Wyo. B2 and to maintain the usage of individualized education plans,October 7, 2002 Candidates say IEPs valuable Strother Holly Casper Star-Tribune Casper, Wyo. A1, A8 though they disagreed on the philosophy of leasing school trust lands.October 17, 2002 Wyoming school funding needs change Strother Holly Casper Star-Tribune Casper, Wyo. A1, A12 Blankenship ended up narrowly beating Emmons, winning 53% of the vote to her 47%. Despite losing, she was the second-strongest performing Democrat in the 2002 elections behind Freudenthal, and managed to win in ancestrally Democratic and higher-populated areas throughout the state. Democratic primary Candidates Kathy Emmons, Director of the Wyoming Children's Action AllianceJune 7, 2002 Candidates united on vocational education Casper Star-Tribune Strother Holly Casper, Wyo. A3 Richard Wiederspahn, Dildine Elementary School principalApril 18, 2002 Wiederspahn in superintendent race Casper Star-Tribune Barron Joan Casper, Wyo. B1 Christopher Shoults, high school language arts teacher Results Democratic Party primary results Kathy Emmons Democratic Party (United States) 17,312 51.77 Richard Wiederspahn Democratic Party (United States) 10,393 31.08 Christopher Shoults Democratic Party (United States) 5,734 17.15 33,439 100.00 Republican primary Candidates Trent Blankenship, Superintendent of the Carbon County School District 1 Jim Twilford, former State Senate President Neil Waring, Glenrock High School teacherMay 4, 2002 Waring eyes superintendent post Casper Star-Tribune Casper, Wyo. B1 John Mingle, retired university professor Results Republican Party primary results Trent Blankenship Republican Party (United States) 28,162 36.50 Jim Twiford Republican Party (United States) 25,629 33.22 Neil Waring Republican Party (United States) 15,623 20.25 John Mingle Republican Party (United States) 7,742 10.03 77,156 100.00 General election Results 2002 Wyoming Superintendent of Public Instruction election Republican Party (United States) Trent Blankenship 95,672 53.23% -4.02% Democratic Party (United States) Kathy Emmons 84,056 46.77% +4.02% 179,728 Republican Party (United States) Democratic Party (United States) References Wyoming