2002Flipped from RepublicanFinal results
2002 election for Arizona Governor
Governor · Arizona
Janet Napolitano (D) won with 46.2% of the vote, defeating Matt Salmon (R) by 1.0 points, a seat Republicans won last time.
Janet NapolitanoDemocrat · winner
46.2%566,284
Matt SalmonRepublican
45.2%554,465
Richard D. MahoneyIndependent
6.9%84,947
Barry HessLibertarian
1.7%20,356
Carlton RahmaniIndependent
0.0%29
Tracey SturgessIndependent
0.0%15
Naida AxfordIndependent
0.0%5
Raymond CapletteIndependent
0.0%5
D'Herrera TapiaIndependent
0.0%4
L. D. TalbowIndependent
0.0%1
1,226,111 votes
Source: English WikipediaUpdated Oct 5, 2026, 4:05 AM ET
The seat over time
D − R margin in this seat's races around 2002
Races before and after
Source: English WikipediaUpdated Oct 5, 2026, 4:05 AM ET
The candidates
Janet Napolitano (D)Matt Salmon (R)Richard D. Mahoney (I)
Also on the ballot: Barry Hess (Libertarian), 1.7%; Carlton Rahmani (Independent), 0.0%; Tracey Sturgess (Independent), 0.0%; Naida Axford (Independent), 0.0%; Raymond Caplette (Independent), 0.0%; D'Herrera Tapia (Independent), 0.0%; L. D. Talbow (Independent), 0.0%