2002 Alabama Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries election

2002 Alabama Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries election
November 5, 2002
	County results; Sparks: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90%; Alley: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80%
Commissioner before election; Charles Bishop; Democratic	Elected Commissioner ; Ron Sparks; Democratic

The 2002 Alabama Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries election election was held on November 5, 2002, to elect the Alabama Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries. Ron Sparks was elected to his first four-year term.

Democratic primary

Democratic primary^[3]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Ron Sparks	183,097	51.34
	Democratic	Nathan Mathis	120,861	33.89
	Democratic	Jacky Warhurst	52,670	14.77
Total votes			356,628	100.00

Lee Alley, associate commissioner of agriculture and former Dekalb County commissioner^[4]

Richard Nixon, restaurant owner (no relation to former president Richard Nixon)^[5]

Republican primary^[6]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Lee Alley	167,067	61.40
	Republican	Richard Nixon	105,009	38.60
Total votes			272,076	100.00

2002 Alabama Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries election^[7]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Ron Sparks	656,382	51.32
	Republican	Lee Alley	590,350	46.16
	Libertarian	Maude G. Hulcher	31,442	2.46
	Write-in		859	0.07
Total votes			1,279,033	100.00

^ "GOP's Alley to face Demo Sparks". The Birmingham News. Associated Press. June 5, 2002. p. 54. Retrieved February 13, 2026.
^ ^a ^b Sherman, Mike (May 19, 2002). "Commissioner of agriculture slot gains interest". The Montgomery Advertiser. p. 78. Retrieved February 13, 2026.
^ "2002 Agriculture Commissioner Democratic Primary Election Results - Alabama". Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Elections. December 22, 2014. Retrieved February 13, 2026.
^ Mitchell, Garry (October 10, 2002). "Agriculture post campaign starts heating things up". The Huntsville Times. Associated Press. p. 19. Retrieved February 13, 2026.
^ Reeves, Jay (April 9, 2002). "Birmingham candidate says his running is no joke". The Mobile Register. Associated Press. p. 12. Retrieved February 13, 2026.
^ "2002 Agriculture Commissioner Republican Primary Election Results - Alabama". Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Elections. December 22, 2014. Retrieved February 13, 2026.
^ ^a ^b "2002 Agriculture Commissioner General Election Results - Alabama". Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Elections. December 22, 2014. Retrieved February 13, 2026.