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. The election marked the ninth attorney general race in a row won by the DFL since 1970.
Democratic–Farmer–Labor primary Incumbent attorney general Mike Hatch won the DFL nomination unopposed at the party's May 3 convention in Minneapolis. 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.
Candidates
Nominated in primary
Mike Hatch, incumbent Minnesota Attorney General
Declined
Matt Entenza, state representative from St. Paul
Results
Republican primary Lawyer Thomas Kelly of Medina was endorsed uncontested at the state Republican convention in St. Paul on June 15.
The primary was held on September 10. Kelly defeated perennial candidate and 1994 Republican nominee for attorney general Sharon Anderson.
Candidates
Nominated in primary
Thomas Kelly, lawyer at Dorsey & Whitney
Eliminated in primary
Sharon Anderson, activist, perennial candidate
Results
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
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
General election
Results
References