The 2002 Nebraska gubernatorial election, held on November 5, 2002, featured incumbent Republican Governor of Nebraska Mike Johanns defeating his Democratic opponent Stormy Dean in a landslide.
This was the first gubernatorial election in Nebraska where the winning primary candidates chose their running mates after the primary election. Prior to this, both the governor and the lieutenant governor were chosen at the primary election. This was also the first gubernatorial election in which a Republican was re-elected in more than forty years.
Republican Party primary
Candidates
Mike Johanns, incumbent Governor of Nebraska
Robert J. Wicht
Results
Democratic Party primary
Candidates
Stormy Dean, insurance company executive
Luis R. Calvillo
Results
Nebraska Party primary
Candidates
Paul A. Rosberg, farmer
Results
General election
Predictions
Results
Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican
Thurston (largest village: Pender) Burt (largest village: Tekamah) Lancaster (largest city: Lincoln) Saline (largest city: Crete) Cuming (largest city: West Point) Dakota (largest city: South Sioux City) Cedar (largest city: Hartington) Dixon (largest city: Wakefield) Knox (largest city: Creighton) Nance (largest city: Fullerton) Boone (largest city: Albion) Greeley (largest city: Spalding) Howard (largest city: St. Paul) Sherman (largest city: Loup City) Fillmore (largest city: Geneva) Gage (largest city: Beatrice) Jefferson (largest city: Fairbury) Johnson (largest city: Tecumseh) Pawnee (largest city: Pawnee City) Thayer (largest city: Hebron) Webster (largest city: Red Cloud) Nuckolls (largest city: Superior) Franklin (largest city: Franklin)