The New Brunswick Liberal Association held a leadership election in 2002 to replace former leader Camille Thériault with a new leader to lead the party into the 2003 election.

Shawn Graham was elected over Jack MacDougall, after a number of high-profile candidates decided not to seek the leadership or had dropped out.

The following candidates were rumoured to be considering runs but did not enter the race.

[1] The leadership contest was conducted in two-tiers.

First, Liberal members voted in their ridings for their leadership candidate of choice, after which delegates from each riding were elected proportionally to the votes of their members.