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2002 United States House of Representatives elections

2002 United States House of Representatives elections

← 2000 November 5, 2002 2004 →
← outgoing members elected members →
All 435 seats in the United States House of Representatives 218 seats needed for a majority
Majority party Minority party   Leader Dennis Hastert Dick Gephardt (retired as leader) Party Republican Democratic Leader since January 3, 1999 January 3, 1995 Leader's seat Illinois 14th Missouri 3rd Last election 221 seats, 47.6% 212 seats, 47.1% Seats won 229 205 Seat change 8 7 Popular vote 37,332,552 33,795,885 Percentage 50.0% 45.2% Swing 2.4% 1.9%   Third party   Party Independent Last election 2 seats Seats won 1 Seat change 1 Popular vote 398,398 Percentage 0.5% Swing 0.2%
Results:      Democratic hold      Democratic gain      Republican hold      Republican gain      Independent hold
Speaker before election Dennis Hastert Republican Elected Speaker Dennis Hastert Republican

The 2002 United States House of Representatives elections were held on November 5, 2002, in the middle of President George W. Bush's first term, to elect U.S. Representatives to serve in the 108th United States Congress. This was the first congressional election using districts drawn up during the 2000 United States redistricting cycle on the basis of the 2000 census.

Although it was a midterm election under a Republican president, the Republican Party made a net gain of eight seats, giving the party their largest majority since 1995. This was one of three midterm elections in which the president's party did not experience a net loss of seats in either the House or the Senate (the other such midterm elections were in 1934 and 1998). Some speculate that this may have been due to increased support for the president's party in the wake of the September 11 attacks.^[1] It was the most recent midterm election in which the president's party did not lose control of the House.

Results[edit]

Federal[edit]

Summary of the November 5, 2002 United States House of Representatives election results

Political Parties		Seats				Popular vote
		2000	2002	Net change	Strength	Vote	%	Change
	Republican Party	221	229	8	52.6%	37,332,552	50.0%	+2.4%
	Democratic Party	212	205	7	47.1%	33,795,885	45.2%	-1.9%
	Libertarian Party	-	-	-	-	1,050,776	1.4%	-0.2%
	Independent	2	1	1	0.2%	398,398	0.5%	-0.2%
	Green Party	-	-	-	-	297,187	0.4%	+0.1%
	Constitution Party	-	-	-	-	129,748	0.2%	+0.1%
	Conservative Party	-	-	-	-	48,964	0.1%	-
	Others	-	-	-	-	1,653,045	2.2%	+0.4%
Total		435	434	0	100.0%	74,706,555	100.0%	-

Source: Election Statistics - Office of the Clerk

Maps[edit]

• 
  Winner's share of the vote
• 
  Popular vote by states
• 
  House seats by party holding plurality in state
• 
  Summary of party change of U.S. House seats in the 2002 House election

Retirements[edit]

In the November general elections, 35 incumbents did not seek re-election, either to retire or to seek other positions.

Democrats[edit]

13 Democrats did not seek re-election.

1. Florida 17: Carrie Meek retired.
2. Illinois 5: Rod Blagojevich retired to run for Governor of Illinois.
3. Indiana 2: Tim Roemer retired when redistricted from the 3rd district.
4. Maine 2: John Baldacci retired to run successfully for Governor of Maine.
5. Michigan 5: James A. Barcia retired to run for Michigan Senate.
6. Michigan 10: David Bonior retired to run for Governor of Michigan.
7. New York 28: John J. LaFalce retired when redistricted from the 29th district.
8. North Carolina 1: Eva Clayton retired.
9. Pennsylvania 13: Robert A. Borski Jr. retired when redistricted from the 3rd district.
10. Pennsylvania 14: William J. Coyne retired.
11. Tennessee 5: Bob Clement retired to run for U.S. Senator.
12. Texas 25: Ken Bentsen Jr. retired to run for U.S. Senator.
13. Wisconsin 4: Tom Barrett retired to run for Governor of Wisconsin.

Republicans[edit]

22 Republicans did not seek re-election.

1. Alabama 1: Sonny Callahan retired.
2. Alabama 3: Bob Riley retired to run for Governor of Alabama.
3. Arizona 2: Bob Stump retired when redistricted from the 3rd district.
4. California 39: Steve Horn retired when redistricted from the 38th district.
5. Colorado 4: Bob Schaffer retired.
6. Florida 13: Dan Miller retired.
7. Georgia 3: Saxby Chambliss retired to run for U.S. Senator.
8. Iowa 5: Greg Ganske retired to run for U.S. Senator.
9. Louisiana 5: John Cooksey retired to run for U.S. Senator.
10. Maryland 2: Bob Ehrlich retired to run for Governor of Maryland.
11. New Hampshire 1: John E. Sununu retired to run for U.S. Senator.
12. New Jersey 5: Marge Roukema retired.
13. New Mexico 2: Joe Skeen retired.
14. New York 19: Benjamin Gilman retired when redistricted from the 20th district.
15. Oklahoma 3: Wes Watkins retired.
16. Oklahoma 4: J. C. Watts retired.
17. South Carolina 3: Lindsey Graham retired to run for U.S. Senator.
18. South Dakota at-large: John Thune retired to run for U.S. Senator.
19. Tennessee 4: Van Hilleary retired to run for Governor of Tennessee.
20. Tennessee 7: Ed Bryant retired to run for U.S. Senator.
21. Texas 26: Dick Armey retired.
22. Utah 1: James V. Hansen retired.

Resignation and expulsion[edit]

2 seats opened early due to a resignation and an expulsion. Neither were filled until the November elections.

Democrats[edit]

One Democrat resigned and one was expelled.

1. Ohio 3: Tony P. Hall resigned September 9, 2002, to become U.S. Ambassador to the Food and Agriculture Organization.
2. Ohio 17: Jim Traficant was expelled July 24, 2002 for criminal conviction.

Republicans[edit]

No Republicans resigned.

Incumbents defeated[edit]

In primary elections[edit]

Democrats[edit]

Six Democrats lost renomination.

1. Alabama 7: Earl Hilliard lost renomination to Artur Davis, who then won the general election.
2. California 18: Gary Condit lost renomination to Dennis Cardoza, who then won the general election.
3. Georgia 4: Cynthia McKinney lost renomination to Denise Majette, who then won the general election.
4. Michigan 15: Lynn N. Rivers lost renomination in a redistricting race to John Dingell, who then won the general election.
5. Ohio 17: Thomas C. Sawyer lost renomination to Tim Ryan, who then won the general election.
6. Pennsylvania 12: Frank Mascara lost renomination in a redistricting race to John Murtha, who then won the general election.

Republicans[edit]

Two Republicans lost renomination.

1. Georgia 7: Bob Barr lost renomination in a redistricting race to John Linder, who then won the general election.
2. Indiana 4: Brian D. Kerns lost renomination in a redistricting race to Steve Buyer, who then won the general election.

In the general election[edit]

Democrats[edit]

Five Democrats lost re-election to Republicans.

1. Connecticut 5: James H. Maloney lost a redistricting race to Nancy Johnson.
2. Florida 5: Karen Thurman lost to Ginny Brown-Waite.
3. Illinois 19: David D. Phelps lost a redistricting race to John Shimkus.
4. Minnesota 2: Bill Luther lost to John Kline.
5. Mississippi 3: Ronnie Shows lost a redistricting race to Chip Pickering.

Republicans[edit]

Three Republicans lost re-election to Democrats.

1. Maryland 8: Connie Morella lost to Chris Van Hollen.
2. New York 1: Felix Grucci lost to Tim Bishop.
3. Pennsylvania 17: George Gekas lost a redistricting race to Tim Holden.

Open seats that changed parties[edit]

Democratic seats won by Republicans[edit]

Three Democratic seats were won by Republicans.

1. Indiana 2: Won by Chris Chocola.
2. Michigan 10: Won by Candice Miller.
3. Ohio 3: Won by Mike Turner.

Republican seats won by Democrats[edit]

Five Republican seats were won by Democrats.

1. California 39: Won by Linda Sánchez.
2. Georgia 3: Won by Jim Marshall.
3. Louisiana 5: Won by Rodney Alexander.
4. Maryland 2: Won by Dutch Ruppersberger.
5. Tennessee 4: Won by Lincoln Davis.

Open seats that parties held[edit]

Democratic seats held by Democrats[edit]

Democrats held five of their open seats.

1. Florida 17: Won by Kendrick Meek.
2. Illinois 5: Won by Rahm Emanuel.
3. North Carolina 1: Won by Frank Ballance.
4. Tennessee 5: Won by Jim Cooper.
5. Texas 25: Won by Chris Bell.

Republican seats held by Republicans[edit]

Republicans held fourteen of their open seats.

1. Alabama 1: Won by Jo Bonner.
2. Alabama 3: Won by Mike Rogers.
3. Arizona 2: Won by Trent Franks.
4. Colorado 4: Won by Marilyn Musgrave.
5. Florida 13: Won by Katherine Harris.
6. Iowa 5: Won by Steve King.
7. New Hampshire 1: Won by Jeb Bradley.
8. New Jersey 5: Won by Scott Garrett.
9. New Mexico 2: Won by Steve Pearce.
10. Oklahoma 4: Won by Tom Cole.
11. South Carolina 3: Won by Gresham Barrett.
12. Tennessee 7: Won by Marsha Blackburn.
13. Texas 26: Won by Michael C. Burgess.
14. Utah 1: Won by Rob Bishop.

Newly created seats[edit]

Of the 435 districts created in the 2000 redistricting, sixteen had no incumbent representative.

Democratic gain[edit]

Three Democrats were elected in newly created seats.

1. Arizona 7: Won by Raúl Grijalva.
2. Georgia 13: Won by David Scott.
3. North Carolina 13: Won by Brad Miller.

Republican gain[edit]

Thirteen Republicans were elected in newly created seats.

1. Arizona 1: Won by Rick Renzi.
2. California 21: Won by Devin Nunes.
3. Colorado 7: Won by Bob Beauprez.
4. Florida 24: Won by Tom Feeney.
5. Florida 25: Won by Mario Diaz-Balart.
6. Georgia 11: Won by Phil Gingrey.
7. Georgia 12: Won by Max Burns.
8. Michigan 11: Won by Thad McCotter.
9. Nevada 3: Won by Jon Porter.
10. Pennsylvania 6: Won by Jim Gerlach.
11. Pennsylvania 18: Won by Tim Murphy.
12. Texas 5: Won by Jeb Hensarling.
13. Texas 31: Won by John Carter.

Closest races[edit]

Thirty-eight races were decided by 10% or lower.^[2]

Special elections[edit]

Two special elections were held for members to serve the remainder of the term ending January 3, 2003.

Alabama[edit]

Alaska[edit]

Arizona[edit]

The state gained two seats in reapportionment.

Arkansas[edit]

California[edit]

The state gained one seat in reapportionment.

Colorado[edit]

The state gained one seat in reapportionment.

Connecticut[edit]

The state lost one seat in reapportionment.