"Mr. Monk and the Candidate" was first broadcast in the United States on the USA Network at 9 pm EST on July 12, 2002. According to Nielsen Media Research, the episode was viewed by an estimated number of 4.8 million viewers with a 3.5 household rating. This rating made it the highest rated program on cable television that night. Although Judith S. Gillies, writing for "Pittsburgh Post-Gazette", pointed it debuted in a period when other networks offer less competition, "Broadcasting & Cable"s writer Allison Romano said the numbers were "impressive".