2002 Pennsylvania lieutenant gubernatorial election

Summary

The Pennsylvania lieutenant gubernatorial election of 2002 was held on November 5, 2002. In Pennsylvania, the Lieutenant Governor is elected on the same ticket as the Governor, so the only campaign for this office was the primary election.

Democratic primary edit

Candidates edit

Pennsylvania Lt. Governor primary election, 2002[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Catherine Baker Knoll 264,528 25.4
Democratic Jack Wagner 233,680 22.4
Democratic Allen Kukovich 213,070 20.4
Democratic John Lawless 97,231 9.3
Democratic Thaddeus Kirkland 81,092 7.8
Democratic Ron Panza 78,389 7.5
Democratic Ron Williams 38,984 3.7
Democratic Edward C. Truax 22,754 2.2
Democratic J. David Woodard 13,198 1.3

Catherine Baker Knoll won a narrow and surprising victory to become Rendell's running mate. Jack Wanger, a State Senator from Pittsburgh, was the choice candidate of the party establishment. However, Allen Kukovich, a fellow senator from a Pittsburgh exurb, launched a vocal challenge to Wagner, that opened an ideological split within the party. Wagner ran as a traditional moderate with strong union ties, while Kukovich portrayed himself as a liberal. Knoll, a long time fixture in state politics, took advantage of the split and, using her strong support among women and senior citizens, scored an upset win.

Republican primary edit

Jane Earll, a State Senator from Erie was unopposed for the Republican nomination and thus became Fisher's running mate.

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Lieutenant Governor, 2002 General Primary". Commonwealth of PA - Elections Information. Pennsylvania Department of State. 2004. Archived from the original on May 15, 2008. Retrieved May 16, 2008.