197,009 179,647 Start date November 5, 2002 | 51.56% 47.01% | |
 | ||
Winner Linda Lingle | ||
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 tightly fought race. Lingle and Hirono duked it out in a toughly-fought campaign, with Hirono's campaign crippled by allegations of corruption within the Hawaii Democratic Party and many voters desiring a change. Ultimately, Lingle won out over Hirono in one of the state's closest gubernatorial elections, allowing her to become the first Republican Governor since 1962 and the first female Governor ever.