Editing The West Wing (section)

===2002 presidential election===
''The West Wing''{{'s}} 2002 presidential election pits Bartlet and Vice President John Hoynes against [[Florida Governor]] [[Robert Ritchie (The West Wing)|Robert Ritchie]] ([[James Brolin]]) and his running mate, Jeff Heston. Bartlet faces no known opposition for renomination, though [[Minnesota]] Democratic Senator Howard Stackhouse launches a brief independent campaign for the presidency. Ritchie, not originally expected to contend for the nomination, emerges from a field of seven other Republican candidates by appealing to the party's conservative base with simple, "homey" sound bites.

Bartlet's staff contemplates replacing Vice President John Hoynes on the ticket with [[Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff]] [[Admiral]] Percy Fitzwallace ([[John Amos]]), among others. After it is clear that Ritchie will be the Republican nominee, Bartlet dismisses the idea, declaring that he wants Hoynes in the number two spot because of "four words," which he writes down and hands to Hoynes and McGarry to read: "Because I could die."

Throughout the season, it is anticipated that the race will be close, but a stellar performance by Bartlet in the sole debate between the candidates helps give him a landslide victory in both the popular vote and the electoral vote.