The 2002 Minnesota Attorney General election was held on Tuesday, November 5, 2002 to elect the Minnesota Attorney General for a four-year term. Incumbent DFL Attorney General Mike Hatch ran for reelection and won.[1] The election marked the ninth attorney general race in a row won by the DFL since 1970.
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  Hatch: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% >90% Kelly: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% >90% Tie: 40–50% 50% | |||||||||||||||||
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Democratic–Farmer–Labor primary
Incumbent attorney general Mike Hatch won the DFL nomination unopposed at the party's May 3 convention in Minneapolis.[2] There was some speculation that Hatch would not seek the endorsement for attorney general and instead launch his third run for governor, but it did not come to pass.
The primary was held on September 10. Incumbent attorney general Mike Hatch won the primary unopposed.[3]
Candidates
Nominated in primary
- Mike Hatch, incumbent Minnesota Attorney General
Declined
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic (DFL) | Mike Hatch | 216,309 | 100.00% | |
| Total votes | 216,309 | 100% | ||
Republican primary
Lawyer Thomas Kelly of Medina was endorsed uncontested at the state Republican convention in St. Paul on June 15.[4]
The primary was held on September 10. Kelly defeated perennial candidate and 1994 Republican nominee for attorney general Sharon Anderson.[3]
Candidates
Nominated in primary
- Thomas Kelly, lawyer at Dorsey & Whitney[5]
Eliminated in primary
- Sharon Anderson, activist, perennial candidate[5][6]
Results
- 50–60%
- 60–70%
- 70–80%
- 50–60%
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Thomas Kelly | 126,407 | 68.81% | |
| Republican | Sharon Anderson | 57,299 | 31.19% | |
| Total votes | 183,706 | 100% | ||
Independence primary
Lawyer Dale Nathan was the only candidate to seek the Independence Party endorsement for attorney general at the party's July 13 convention in St. Cloud. He did not receive the endorsement after word spread of a pending disciplinary action against him by the Minnesota Lawyers Professional Responsibility Board[5]
The primary was held on September 10. Nathan defeated challenger Richard Bullock.
Reform Party
Nominated in primary
- Dale Nathan, lawyer
Eliminated in primary
- Richard Bullock
Results
- 50–60%
- 60–70%
- 50–60%
- 60–70%
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independence | Dale Nathan | 14,410 | 54.04% | |
| Independence | Richard Bullock | 12,256 | 45.96% | |
| Total votes | 26,666 | 100% | ||
General election
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic (DFL) | Mike Hatch | 1,197,362 | 54.64% | +6.81% | |
| Republican | Thomas Kelly | 894,654 | 40.83% | -3.00% | |
| Independence | Dale Nathan | 96,817 | 4.42% | -1.38% | |
| N/A | Write Ins | 2,511 | 0.12% | +0.03% | |
| Total votes | 2,191,344 | 100.00% | |||