The 2002 Iowa gubernatorial election took place November 5, 2002. Incumbent Democratic Governor of Iowa Tom Vilsack sought re-election to a second term as governor. He won his party's nomination uncontested, while Doug Gross, an advisor to former and future Governor Terry Branstad, narrowly won the Republican primary in a crowded and competitive election. In the general election, Vilsack was able to improve slightly on his margin of victory four years earlier to win what would be his second and final term as governor.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Results

Republican primary

Candidates

Results

[[File:2002 Iowa gubernatorial Republican primary county map.svg|thumb|150px|Primary results by county: Gross {{legend|#a70808|Gross—61-70%}} {{legend|#d60f0f|Gross—51-60%}} {{legend|#ff0000|Gross—41-50%}} {{legend|#f29b8a|Gross—31-40%}} Sukup {{legend|#353500|Sukup—81-90%}} {{legend|#909121|Sukup—71-80%}} {{legend|#ddde1f|Sukup—61-70%}} {{legend|#ffff00|Sukup—51-60%}} {{legend|#f2f26c|Sukup—41-50%}} {{legend|#f2f2a0|Sukup—31-40%}} Vander Plaats {{legend|#011e01|Vander Plaats—81-90%}} {{legend|#002400|Vander Plaats—71-80%}} {{legend|#003900|Vander Plaats—61-70%}} {{legend|#006400|Vander Plaats—51-60%}} {{legend|#59d622|Vander Plaats—41-50%}} {{legend|#90ee90|Vander Plaats—31-40%}} ]]

General election

Predictions

Polling

Results

Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic

Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican