On election day, 20 November 1802, Democratic-Republican candidate John Baptista Ashe was elected by the North Carolina General Assembly by a margin of 54 votes against his foremost opponent Federalist candidate William Polk, thereby gaining Democratic-Republican control over the office of Governor. Ashe was set to be sworn in as the 12th Governor of North Carolina on 6 December 1802, but died on 27 November 1802, resulting in a special election to be held on 4 December in order to replace him.[2]
