The 2002 Rhode Island gubernatorial election took place on November 5, 2002. Incumbent Republican governor Lincoln Almond was term-limited. Republican Donald Carcieri won the open seat, defeating Democrat Myrth York. In the Republican primary election, Carcieri defeated James Bennett, who had won the endorsement of the state Republican Party. The 2002 campaign was particularly costly to York as she spent $3.8 million of her own money to finance what was to be her last bid for elected office. A key turning point in the campaign was when York criticized Carcieri for the actions of businesses he had been associated with but refused to answer Carcieri's request that she reveal what companies her personal assets were invested in.

Republican primary

A Republican primary was held on September 10.

Candidates

Results

Results by county

[[File:Rhode Island Republican gubernatorial primary results by county, 2002.svg|210px|thumb|Results by county Carcieri {{legend|#E27F90|Carcieri—50–60%}} {{legend|#CC2F4A|Carcieri—60–70%}} {{legend|#D40000|Carcieri—70–80%}} ]]

Results by municipality

[[File:Rhode Island Republican gubernatorial primary results by municipality, 2002.svg|210px|thumb|Results by municipality Carcieri {{legend|#E27F90|Carcieri—50–60%}} {{legend|#CC2F4A|Carcieri—60–70%}} {{legend|#D40000|Carcieri—70–80%}} {{legend|#AA0000|Carcieri—80–90%}} Bennett {{legend|#FFDC43|Bennett—50–60%}} {{legend|#DAAE00|Bennett—70–80%}} ]] Source:

Democratic primary

A Democratic primary was held on September 10.

Candidates

Polling

Results

[[File:Rhode Island Democratic gubernatorial primary results by county, 2002.svg|150px|thumb|Results by county York {{legend|#BDD3FF|York—30–40%}} {{legend|#A5B0FF|York—40–50%}} Whitehouse {{legend|#FFC5DA|Whitehouse—30–40%}} {{legend|#FFAACC|Whitehouse—40–50%}} ]] [[File:Rhode Island Democratic gubernatorial primary results by municipality, 2002.svg|150px|thumb|Results by municipality York {{legend|#BDD3FF|York—30–40%}} {{legend|#A5B0FF|York—40–50%}} {{legend|#7996E2|York—50–50%}} {{legend|#6674DE|York—60–70%}} Whitehouse {{legend|#FFC5DA|Whitehouse—30–40%}} {{legend|#FFAACC|Whitehouse—40–50%}} {{legend|#FF80B2|Whitehouse—50–60%}} Pires {{legend|#FFEEAA|Pires—30–40%}} {{legend|#FFDD55|Pires—40–50%}} ]]

Results by county

Results by municipality

Source:

General election

Predictions

Polling

Results