2004 United States gubernatorial elections

United States gubernatorial elections were held on November 2, 2004, in 11 states and two territories. There was no net gain in seats for either party, as Democrats picked up an open seat in Montana while defeating incumbent Craig Benson in New Hampshire, while Republicans defeated incumbent Joe Kernan in Indiana and won Missouri after Bob Holden lost in the primary. These elections coincided with the presidential election.

2004 United States gubernatorial elections

November 2, 2004

13 governorships
11 states; 2 territories
  Majority party Minority party
 
Party Republican Democratic
Seats before 28 22
Seats after 28 22
Seat change Steady Steady
Seats up 5 6
Seats won 5 6

Map of the results
     Republican hold      Republican gain
     Democratic hold      Democratic gain
     Popular Democratic hold      Nonpartisan
     No election

Election predictions

State Incumbent Last
race
Sabato
November 3,
2008
[1]
Result
Delaware Ruth Ann Minner 59.2% D Likely D Minner
(50.9%)
Indiana Joe Kernan
56.6% D Likely R (flip) Daniels
(53.2%)
Missouri Bob Holden (primaried) 49.1% D Lean R (flip) Blunt
(50.8%)
Montana Judy Martz
(retired)
51.0% R Lean D (flip) Schweitzer
(50.4%)
New Hampshire Craig Benson
58.7% R Lean R Lynch
(51.0%)
North Carolina Mike Easley
52.0% D Likely D Easley
(55.6%)
North Dakota John Hoeven 55.0% R Safe R Hoeven
(71.3%)
Utah Olene Walker (retired) 55.7% R Lean R Huntsman Jr.
(57.7%)
Vermont Jim Douglas 44.9% R Likely R Douglas
(56.3%)
Washington Gary Locke (term-limited) 58.4% D Lean R (flip) Gregoire
(48.9%)
West Virginia Bob Wise (retired) 50.1% D Safe D Manchin
(63.5%)

Race Summary

States

State Incumbent Party First
elected
Result Candidates
Delaware Ruth Ann Minner Democratic 2000 Incumbent re-elected.
Indiana Joe Kernan Democratic 2003[lower-alpha 1] Incumbent lost election to full term.
New governor elected.
Republican gain.
Missouri Bob Holden Democratic 2000 Incumbent lost re-nomination.
New governor elected.
Republican gain.
Montana Judy Martz Republican 2000 Incumbent retired.
New governor elected.
Democratic gain.
New Hampshire Craig Benson Republican 2002 Incumbent lost re-election.
New governor elected.
Democratic gain.
North Carolina Mike Easley Democratic 2000 Incumbent re-elected.
North Dakota John Hoeven Republican 2000 Incumbent re-elected.
Utah Olene Walker Republican 2003[lower-alpha 2] Incumbent lost nomination to full term.
New governor elected.
Republican hold.
Vermont Jim Douglas Republican 2002 Incumbent re-elected.
Washington Gary Locke Democratic 1996 Incumbent retired.
New governor elected.
Democratic hold.
West Virginia Bob Wise Democratic 2000 Incumbent retired.
New governor elected.
Democratic hold.

Territories

Territory Incumbent Party First
elected
Result Candidates
American Samoa Togiola Tulafono Democratic 2003[lower-alpha 3] Incumbent elected to full term.
Puerto Rico Sila Calderón Popular Democratic 2000 Incumbent retired.
New governor elected.
Popular Democratic hold.

Closest races

States where the margin of victory was under 1%:

  1. Washington, 0.005%
  2. Puerto Rico, 0.2%

States where the margin of victory was under 5%:

  1. New Hampshire, 2.1%
  2. Missouri, 3.0%
  3. Montana, 4.4%

States where the margin of victory was under 10%:

  1. Delaware, 5.1%
  2. Indiana, 7.7%

Delaware

2004 Delaware gubernatorial election

November 2, 2004
 
Nominee Ruth Ann Minner William Swain Lee
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 185,548 167,008
Percentage 50.9% 45.8%

County results

Minner:      50–60%

Lee:      50–60%

Governor before election

Ruth Ann Minner
Democratic

Elected Governor

Ruth Ann Minner
Democratic

The 2004 Delaware gubernatorial election was held on November 2, 2004, coinciding with the U.S. presidential election. Incumbent Governor Ruth Ann Minner faced a serious challenge from retired Superior Court Judge Bill Lee, but managed a five-point victory on election day. As of 2022, this was the last time Kent County voted for the Republican candidate in a gubernatorial election or that the statewide margin was within single digits.

Indiana

2004 Indiana gubernatorial election

November 2, 2004
 
Nominee Mitch Daniels Joe Kernan
Party Republican Democratic
Running mate Becky Skillman Kathy Davis
Popular vote 1,302,912 1,113,900
Percentage 53.2% 45.5%

County results
Daniels:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%
Kernan:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%
Tie:      40–50%

Governor before election

Joe Kernan
Democratic

Elected Governor

Mitch Daniels
Republican

The 2004 Indiana gubernatorial election took place on November 2, 2004, to elect the Governor of Indiana.

Incumbent Democratic Governor Joe Kernan was defeated by Republican Mitch Daniels. Daniels' victory was the first time the Republican Party had been elected governor since 1984, and gave the party control of all the important statewide offices.[2] It was also the first time an incumbent governor had been defeated since the Constitution of Indiana was amended in 1972 to permit governors to serve two consecutive terms.[3]

Missouri

2004 Missouri gubernatorial election

November 2, 2004
 
Nominee Matt Blunt Claire McCaskill
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 1,382,419 1,301,442
Percentage 50.8% 47.9%

County results
Blunt:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%
McCaskill:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%

Governor before election

Bob Holden
Democratic

Elected Governor

Matt Blunt
Republican

The 2004 Missouri gubernatorial election was held on November 2, 2004 for the post of Governor of Missouri. The Republican nominee, Missouri Secretary of State Matt Blunt, defeated Democratic State Auditor Claire McCaskill. This gave the Republican Party control of both the governorship and the Missouri General Assembly for the first time in 80 years.[4]

McCaskill had earlier defeated incumbent Governor Bob Holden in the Democratic primary. This was the first time a sitting Governor of Missouri had been defeated in a primary and the first time any United States governor had lost in a primary since the 1994 elections.[5]

Coincidentally, McCaskill's mother Betty Anne had previously been defeated by Blunt's grandfather, Leroy Blunt, in a 1978 General Assembly election. Blunt's father Roy Blunt was a Congressman and served with McCaskill in the U.S. Senate from 2011 to 2019.

Montana

2004 Montana gubernatorial election

November 2, 2004
Turnout71.4%Increase11.5[6]
 
Nominee Brian Schweitzer Bob Brown
Party Democratic Republican
Running mate John Bohlinger Dave Lewis
Popular vote 225,016 205,313
Percentage 50.4% 46.0%

County results
Schweitzer:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%
Brown:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%

Governor before election

Judy Martz
Republican

Elected Governor

Brian Schweitzer
Democratic

The 2004 Montana gubernatorial election took place on November 2, 2004 for the post of Governor of Montana. Democrat Brian Schweitzer defeated Montana Secretary of State and Republican nominee Bob Brown with 50.4% of the vote against 46%. Schweitzer formed a ticket with a Republican running mate, choosing state legislator John Bohlinger for the lieutenant governorship.

New Hampshire

2004 New Hampshire gubernatorial election

November 2, 2004
 
Nominee John Lynch Craig Benson
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 340,299 325,981
Percentage 51.0% 48.9%

Lynch:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      >90%
Benson:      50–60%      60–70%      80–90%      >90%

Governor before election

Craig Benson
Republican

Elected Governor

John Lynch
Democratic

The 2004 New Hampshire gubernatorial election occurred on November 2, 2004, concurrent with that year's presidential election. Democrat John Lynch, a multimillionaire businessman from Hopkinton, narrowly defeated incumbent Republican Governor Craig Benson of Rye, winning a two-year term. Benson was the first New Hampshire governor in 80 years to lose reelection after one term. Lynch was sworn in on January 6, 2005.

To date, Benson is the most recent incumbent governor to lose reelection in any New England state.

North Carolina

2004 North Carolina gubernatorial election

November 2, 2004
 
Nominee Mike Easley Patrick Ballantine
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 1,939,154 1,495,021
Percentage 55.6% 42.9%

Easley:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90%
Ballantine:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%
Tie:      40–50%

Governor before election

Mike Easley
Democratic

Elected Governor

Mike Easley
Democratic

The 2004 North Carolina gubernatorial election was held on November 2, 2004. The general election was between the Democratic incumbent Mike Easley and the Republican nominee Patrick J. Ballantine. Easley won by 56% to 43%, winning his second term as governor. This is the last time a Democrat was elected governor of North Carolina by double digits.

North Dakota

2004 North Dakota gubernatorial election

November 2, 2004
 
Nominee John Hoeven Joe Satrom
Party Republican Democratic–NPL
Running mate Jack Dalrymple Deb Mathern
Popular vote 220,803 84,877
Percentage 71.3% 27.4%

County results
Hoeven:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%
Satrom:      50–60%

Governor before election

John Hoeven
Republican

Elected Governor

John Hoeven
Republican

The 2004 North Dakota gubernatorial election took place on 2 November 2004 for the post of Governor of North Dakota. Incumbent Republican Governor John Hoeven was easily re-elected defeating Democratic-NPL former state senator Joe Satrom.

Utah

2004 Utah gubernatorial election

November 2, 2004
 
Nominee Jon Huntsman Jr. Scott Matheson Jr.
Party Republican Democratic
Running mate Gary Herbert Karen Hale
Popular vote 531,190 380,359
Percentage 57.7% 41.4%

County results
Huntsman:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%
Matheson:      50–60%      60–70%

Governor before election

Olene Walker
Republican

Elected Governor

Jon Huntsman, Jr.
Republican

The 2004 Utah gubernatorial election took place on November 2, 2004. The incumbent governor was Republican Olene S. Walker, who had become governor following Mike Leavitt's resignation to join the George W. Bush administration. However, Walker placed fourth in the Republican primary, far behind Jon Huntsman Jr. Huntsman won the nomination and went on to win the general election, carrying 25 of the 29 counties and winning 57.7% of the overall vote. This was the last time that a Democratic nominee for any statewide office has received forty percent or more of the popular vote, and the most recent election in which a Democratic nominee carried more than three counties in the state.

Vermont

2004 Vermont gubernatorial election

November 2, 2004
 
Nominee Jim Douglas Peter Clavelle
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 181,540 117,327
Percentage 58.7% 37.9%

Douglas:      40-50%      50-60%      60-70%      70-80%      80-90%
Clavelle:      40-50%      50-60%      60-70%      70-80%
Tie:      50-60%

Governor before election

Jim Douglas
Republican

Elected Governor

Jim Douglas
Republican

The 2004 Vermont gubernatorial election took place November 2, 2004 for the post of Governor of Vermont. Incumbent Republican Governor Jim Douglas was re-elected. Douglas defeated Peter Clavelle, the Progressive Mayor of Burlington who ran as a Democrat.

Washington

2004 Washington gubernatorial election

November 2, 2004
 
Nominee Christine Gregoire Dino Rossi
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 1,373,361 1,373,228
Percentage 48.873% 48.868%

County results
Gregoire:      40–50%      50–60%
Rossi:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%

Governor before election

Gary Locke
Democratic

Elected Governor

Christine Gregoire
Democratic

The 2004 Washington gubernatorial election was held on November 2, 2004. The race gained national attention for its legal twists and extremely close finish, among the closest political races in United States election history. Republican Dino Rossi was declared the winner in the initial automated count and again in a subsequent automated recount, but after a second recount done by hand, Democrat Christine Gregoire took the lead by a margin of 129 votes.

Although Gregoire was sworn in as governor of Washington on January 12, 2005, Rossi did not formally concede and called for a re-vote over concerns about the integrity of the election. The Republican Party filed a lawsuit in Chelan County Superior Court contesting the election, but the trial judge ruled against it, citing lack of evidence of deliberate electoral sabotage.[7] Rossi chose not to appeal to the Washington State Supreme Court, formally conceding the election on June 6, 2005.

West Virginia

2004 West Virginia gubernatorial election

November 2, 2004
 
Nominee Joe Manchin Monty Warner
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 472,758 253,131
Percentage 63.5% 34.0%

County results
Manchin:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%
Warner:      40–50%      50–60%

Governor before election

Bob Wise
Democratic

Elected Governor

Joe Manchin
Democratic

The 2004 West Virginia gubernatorial election took place on November 2, 2004 for the post of Governor of West Virginia. Democratic Secretary of State of West Virginia Joe Manchin defeated Republican Monty Warner. Manchin won all but 3 counties. Despite Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry losing the state to George W. Bush by double digits in the concurrent presidential election, Manchin won by nearly 30 points.

Territories

American Samoa

2004 American Samoan general election

 
Nominee Togiola Tulafono Afoa Moega Lutu Alo Paul Stevenson
Party Democratic Independent Independent
First round 48.4% 39.4% 12.2%
Second round 6,407 (55.72%) 5,091 (44.28%)

Puerto Rico

2004 United States gubernatorial elections

2 November 2004
Gubernatorial election
Turnout81.22% (Decrease1.00pp)
 
Nominee Aníbal Acevedo Vilá Pedro Rosselló
Party PPD PNP
Alliance Democratic Democratic
Popular vote 963,303 959,737
Percentage 48.39% 48.21%

Results by municipality
Acevedo Vilá:      40-50%      50-60%
Rosselló:      40–50%      50–60%      60-70%

Governor before election

Sila María Calderón
PPD

Elected Governor

Aníbal Acevedo Vilá
PPD

See also

Notes

  1. Kernan took office after his predecessor (Frank O'Bannon) died.
  2. Walker took office after her predecessor (Mike Leavitt) resigned.
  3. Tulafono took office after his predecessor (Tauese Sunia) died.

References

  1. "THE LAST LAST WORD The Crystal Ball's Final Projections for the 2008 Election". Sabato's Crystal Ball. 3 November 2008. Retrieved December 25, 2021.
  2. "Republicans to stand alone at state's helm". The Indianapolis Star. 2004-11-07. Archived from the original on 2007-11-10. Retrieved 2008-02-21.
  3. "Daniels vows changes to government, economy after ending Democratic rule". The Indianapolis Star. 2004-11-03. Archived from the original on 2011-06-05. Retrieved 2008-02-21.
  4. "The Midwest". The Washington Post. 2004-11-04. Retrieved 2008-02-24.
  5. "Blunt wins Missouri governor's race". USA Today. 2004-11-03. Retrieved 2008-02-24.
  6. "Montana Voter Turnout". Montana Secretary of State. February 22, 2018. Retrieved 2022-05-26.
  7. "Borders et al. v. King County et al". SeattleWeekly.com. Archived from the original on May 25, 2006. Retrieved June 23, 2006.
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