2002 Hawaii gubernatorial election

2002 Hawaii gubernatorial election
	County results; Lingle: 50–60%; Hirono: 50–60%
Governor before election; Ben Cayetano; Democratic	Elected Governor ; Linda Lingle; Republican

The 2002 Hawaii gubernatorial election was held on November 5, 2002, to select the Governor of Hawaii. Incumbent Democratic Governor of Hawaii Ben Cayetano was term-limited and therefore could not run for re-election. Former Maui Mayor Linda Lingle, who had narrowly lost the 1998 election, was nominated once again by the Republicans while Lieutenant Governor Mazie Hirono earned the Democratic nomination in a tight race. Lingle and Hirono duked it out in a hard-fought campaign, with Hirono's campaign crippled by allegations of corruption within the Hawaii Democratic Party and many voters desiring a change.^[1] Ultimately Lingle defeated Hirono in a close election, making her the first Republican Governor of Hawaii elected since 1959 and the state's first-ever female governor. She was the first white person to be elected governor of the state since 1970. Lingle and Hirono faced off again in Hawaii’s 2012 U.S. Senate election; Hirono won that race and thus became the first female U.S. Senator in Hawaii history.

^ Broder, John M. (October 19, 2002). "THE 2002 CAMPAIGN: THE DEMOCRATS; Hawaii Democrats Reeling After Scandals and a Death". The New York Times. Retrieved August 21, 2019.

[nyt2002-1] Broder, John M. (October 19, 2002). "THE 2002 CAMPAIGN: THE DEMOCRATS; Hawaii Democrats Reeling After Scandals and a Death". The New York Times. Retrieved August 21, 2019.

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