2002Final results
2002 election for Iowa's 3rd District
U.S. House · Iowa
Leonard L. Boswell (D) won with 53.4% of the vote, defeating Stan Thompson (R) by 8.4 points.
Leonard L. BoswellDemocrat · winner
53.4%115,367
Stan ThompsonRepublican
45.0%97,285
Jeffrey J. SmithLibertarian
1.2%2,689
Edwin B. FruitSocialist Workers
0.3%569
215,985 votes
Source: MIT Election Data and Science LabUpdated Sep 30, 2026, 7:25 AM ET
The seat over time
D − R margin in this seat's races around 2002
Races before and after
Source: MIT Election Data and Science LabUpdated Sep 30, 2026, 7:25 AM ET
Money in this race
Each line compares the two campaigns on one scale.
Leonard L. BoswellStan Thompson
$1.3M
Raised by the campaign
$900.8K
$1.3M
Spent by the campaign
$895.3K
$14.9K
Cash on hand
$5.5K
Campaign money: FEC, through Dec 31, 2002.
Source: FEC campaign filingsUpdated Dec 31, 2002
The candidates
Leonard L. Boswell (D)Stan Thompson (R)
Also on the ballot: Jeffrey J. Smith (Libertarian), 1.2%; Edwin B. Fruit (Socialist Workers), 0.3%