2002 Georgia gubernatorial election

The 2002 Georgia gubernatorial election was held on November 5, 2002. Incumbent Democratic Governor Roy Barnes sought re-election to a second term as governor. State Senator Sonny Perdue emerged as the Republican nominee from a crowded and hotly contested primary, and he faced off against Barnes, who had faced no opponents in his primary election, in the general election. Though Barnes had been nicknamed "King Roy" due to his unique ability to get his legislative priorities passed, he faced a backlash among Georgia voters due to his proposal to change the state flag from its Confederate design.

2002 Georgia gubernatorial election

November 5, 2002

Nominee Sonny Perdue Roy Barnes Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 1,041,677 937,062 Percentage 51.39% 46.23%

County results Perdue:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% Barnes:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% Tie:      40–50%

Governor before election Roy Barnes Democratic Elected Governor Sonny Perdue Republican

Elections in Georgia
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State government State elections 2000 2006 2008 2010 2014 2016 2018 2020 2022 Gubernatorial elections 1839 1841 1843 1845 1847 1849 1851 1922 1924 1926 1928 1930 1932 1934 1936 1938 1940 1942 1946 1948 1950 1954 1958 1962 1966 1970 1974 1978 1982 1986 1990 1994 1998 2002 2006 2010 2014 2018 2022 2026 Lieutenant gubernatorial elections 1990 1994 1998 2002 2018 2022 Secretary of State elections 2018 2022 Attorney General elections 2022 State Senate elections 2010 2016 2018 2020 2022 House of Representatives elections 2010 2016 2018 2020 2022
Ballot measures 2004 Flag referendum Amendment 1
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Savannah Mayoral elections 2015 2019 2023

Ultimately, Perdue was able to defeat incumbent Governor Barnes and became the first Republican to serve as governor of the state since Reconstruction. This was only the second election that a Republican won in the state's history, the other being in 1868. The result was widely considered a major upset.[1]