2002 Illinois gubernatorial election

George Ryan Republican Rod Blagojevich Democratic The 2002 Illinois gubernatorial election occurred on November 5, 2002.

Incumbent Republican governor George Ryan, who was plagued by scandal, did not run for a second term.

Congressman, ran against Republican Jim Ryan (no relation to the incumbent), the Illinois Attorney General.

Eventually, Cook County had reported all of its votes, with a slight advantage for Vallas over Burris.

In the early morning the day after the election, Vallas realized that with all of Cook County's votes counted he had lost.

"[5] Although the election was thought to be a close one early on in the campaign, Blagojevich's big numbers out of Cook County were too much for the Republicans to come back from.

County results
Primary results by county
Quinn
  • 40–50%
  • 50–60%
  • 60–70%
Washington
  • 40-50%
Kelleher
  • 40–50%
  • 50-60%
  • 60–70%
  • 70–80%
Ryan
  • 30–40%
  • 40–50%
  • 50–60%
  • 60–70%
O'Malley
  • 30-40%
  • 40-50%
  • 50-60%
  • 60-70%
Wood
  • 30–40%
  • 40–50%
Tie (40-50%)
Hawkinson
  • 30–40%
  • 40–50%
  • 50–60%
  • 60–70%
  • 70–80%
  • 80–90%
  • >90%
O'Connor
  • 30–40%
  • 40–50%
  • 50–60%
Owens
  • 40–50%