2004 United States gubernatorial elections explained

Election Name:2004 United States gubernatorial elections
Country:United States
Type:legislative
Ongoing:no
Previous Election:2003 United States gubernatorial elections
Previous Year:2003
Next Election:2005 United States gubernatorial elections
Next Year:2005
Seats For Election:13 governorships
11 states; 2 territories
Election Date:November 2, 2004
1Blank:Seats up
2Blank:Seats won
Party1:Republican Party (United States)
Seats Before1:28
Seats After1:28
1Data1:5
2Data1:5
Party2:Democratic Party (United States)
Seats Before2:22
Seats After2:22
1Data2:6
2Data2:6
Map Size:320px

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.

Election predictions

StateIncumbentLast
race
Sabato
[1]
Result
DelawareRuth Ann Minner data-sort-value="-59.2" 59.2% D data-sort-value="-50.9" Minner
(50.9%)
IndianaJoe Kernan
data-sort-value="-56.6" 56.6% D data-sort-value="53.2" Daniels
(53.2%)
Missouri data-sort-value="-49.1" 49.1% D data-sort-value="50.8" Blunt
(50.8%)
MontanaJudy Martz
data-sort-value="51.0" 51.0% R data-sort-value="-50.4" Schweitzer
(50.4%)
New HampshireCraig Benson
data-sort-value="58.7" 58.7% R data-sort-value="-51.0" Lynch
(51.0%)
North CarolinaMike Easley
data-sort-value="-52.0" 52.0% D data-sort-value="-55.6" Easley
(55.6%)
North DakotaJohn Hoeven data-sort-value="55.0" 55.0% R data-sort-value="71.3" Hoeven
(71.3%)
Utah data-sort-value="55.7" 55.7% R data-sort-value="57.7" Huntsman Jr.
(57.7%)
VermontJim Douglas data-sort-value="44.9" 44.9% R data-sort-value="56.3" Douglas
(56.3%)
Washington data-sort-value="-58.4" 58.4% D data-sort-value="-48.9" Gregoire
(48.9%)
West Virginia data-sort-value="-50.1" 50.1% D data-sort-value="-63.5" Manchin
(63.5%)

Race summary

States

StateIncumbentPartyFirst
elected
ResultCandidates
DelawareRuth Ann MinnerDemocratic2000Incumbent re-elected.nowrap
IndianaJoe KernanDemocratic2003Incumbent lost election to full term.
New governor elected.
Republican gain.
nowrap
MissouriBob HoldenDemocratic2000Incumbent lost re-nomination.
New governor elected.
Republican gain.
nowrap
MontanaJudy MartzRepublican2000Incumbent retired.
New governor elected.
Democratic gain.
nowrap
New HampshireCraig BensonRepublican2002Incumbent lost re-election.
New governor elected.
Democratic gain.
nowrap
North CarolinaMike EasleyDemocratic2000Incumbent re-elected.nowrap
North DakotaJohn HoevenRepublican2000Incumbent re-elected.nowrap
UtahOlene WalkerRepublican2003Incumbent lost nomination to full term.
New governor elected.
Republican hold.
nowrap
VermontJim DouglasRepublican2002Incumbent re-elected.nowrap
WashingtonGary LockeDemocratic1996Incumbent retired.
New governor elected.
Democratic hold.
nowrap
West VirginiaBob WiseDemocratic2000Incumbent retired.
New governor elected.
Democratic hold.
nowrap
  • Joe Manchin (Democratic) 63.5%
  • Monty Warner (Republican) 34.0%
  • Jesse Johnson (Mountain) 2.5%

Territories

TerritoryIncumbentPartyFirst
elected
ResultCandidates
American SamoaTogiola TulafonoDemocratic2003Incumbent elected to full term.nowrap
Puerto RicoSila CalderónPopular Democratic2000Incumbent retired.
New governor elected.
Popular Democratic hold.
nowrap

Closest races

States where the margin of victory was under 1%:

Washington, 0.005%
Puerto Rico, 0.2%

States where the margin of victory was under 5%:

New Hampshire, 2.1%
Missouri, 3.0%
Montana, 4.4%

States where the margin of victory was under 10%:

Delaware, 5.1%
Indiana, 7.7%

Delaware

Election Name:2004 Delaware gubernatorial election
Country:Delaware
Type:presidential
Ongoing:no
Previous Election:2000 Delaware gubernatorial election
Previous Year:2000
Next Election:2008 Delaware gubernatorial election
Next Year:2008
Election Date:November 2, 2004
Nominee1:Ruth Ann Minner
Party1:Democratic Party (United States)
Popular Vote1:185,548
Percentage1:50.9%
Nominee2:Bill Lee
Party2:Republican Party (United States)
Popular Vote2:167,008
Percentage2:45.8%
Map Size:210px
Governor
Before Election:Ruth Ann Minner
Before Party:Democratic Party (United States)
After Election:Ruth Ann Minner
After Party:Democratic Party (United States)

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., 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

Election Name:2004 Indiana gubernatorial election
Country:Indiana
Type:presidential
Ongoing:no
Previous Election:2000 Indiana gubernatorial election
Previous Year:2000
Next Election:2008 Indiana gubernatorial election
Next Year:2008
Election Date:November 2, 2004
Nominee1:Mitch Daniels
Party1:Republican Party (United States)
Running Mate1:Becky Skillman
Popular Vote1:1,302,912
Percentage1:53.2%
Nominee2:Joe Kernan
Party2:Democratic Party (United States)
Running Mate2:Kathy Davis
Popular Vote2:1,113,900
Percentage2:45.5%
Map Size:250px
Governor
Before Election:Joe Kernan
Before Party:Democratic Party (United States)
After Election:Mitch Daniels
After Party:Republican Party (United States)

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

Election Name:2004 Missouri gubernatorial election
Country:Missouri
Type:presidential
Ongoing:no
Previous Election:2000 Missouri gubernatorial election
Previous Year:2000
Next Election:2008 Missouri gubernatorial election
Next Year:2008
Election Date:November 2, 2004
Nominee1:Matt Blunt
Party1:Republican Party (United States)
Popular Vote1:1,382,419
Percentage1:50.8%
Nominee2:Claire McCaskill
Party2:Democratic Party (United States)
Popular Vote2:1,301,442
Percentage2:47.9%
Map Size:270px
Governor
Before Election:Bob Holden
Before Party:Democratic Party (United States)
After Election:Matt Blunt
After Party:Republican Party (United States)

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

Election Name:2004 Montana gubernatorial election
Country:Montana
Type:presidential
Ongoing:no
Previous Election:2000 Montana gubernatorial election
Previous Year:2000
Next Election:2008 Montana gubernatorial election
Next Year:2008
Election Date:November 2, 2004
Nominee1:Brian Schweitzer
Party1:Democratic Party (United States)
Running Mate1:John Bohlinger
Popular Vote1:225,016
Percentage1:50.4%
Nominee2:Bob Brown
Party2:Republican Party (United States)
Running Mate2:Dave Lewis
Popular Vote2:205,313
Percentage2:46.0%
Map Size:300px
Governor
Before Election:Judy Martz
Before Party:Republican Party (United States)
After Election:Brian Schweitzer
After Party:Democratic Party (United States)
Turnout:71.4%11.5[6]

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

Election Name:2004 New Hampshire gubernatorial election
Country:New Hampshire
Type:presidential
Ongoing:no
Previous Election:2002 New Hampshire gubernatorial election
Previous Year:2002
Next Election:2006 New Hampshire gubernatorial election
Next Year:2006
Election Date:November 2, 2004
Nominee1:John Lynch
Party1:Democratic Party (United States)
Popular Vote1:340,299
Percentage1:51.0%
Nominee2:Craig Benson
Party2:Republican Party (United States)
Popular Vote2:325,981
Percentage2:48.9%
Governor
Before Election:Craig Benson
Before Party:Republican Party (United States)
After Election:John Lynch
After Party:Democratic Party (United States)

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

Election Name:2004 North Carolina gubernatorial election
Country:North Carolina
Type:presidential
Ongoing:no
Previous Election:2000 North Carolina gubernatorial election
Previous Year:2000
Next Election:2008 North Carolina gubernatorial election
Next Year:2008
Election Date:November 2, 2004
Nominee1:Mike Easley
Party1:Democratic Party (United States)
Popular Vote1:1,939,154
Percentage1:55.6%
Nominee2:Patrick Ballantine
Party2:Republican Party (United States)
Popular Vote2:1,495,021
Percentage2:42.9%
Map Size:325px
Governor
Before Election:Mike Easley
Before Party:Democratic Party (United States)
After Election:Mike Easley
After Party:Democratic Party (United States)

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

Election Name:2004 North Dakota gubernatorial election
Country:North Dakota
Type:presidential
Ongoing:no
Previous Election:2000 North Dakota gubernatorial election
Previous Year:2000
Next Election:2008 North Dakota gubernatorial election
Next Year:2008
Election Date:November 2, 2004
Nominee1:John Hoeven
Party1:Republican Party (United States)
Running Mate1:Jack Dalrymple
Popular Vote1:220,803
Percentage1:71.3%
Nominee2:Joe Satrom
Party2:North Dakota Democratic-NPL Party
Running Mate2:Deb Mathern
Popular Vote2:84,877
Percentage2:27.4%
Governor
Before Election:John Hoeven
Before Party:Republican Party (United States)
After Election:John Hoeven
After Party:Republican Party (United States)
Map Size:250px

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

Election Name:2004 Utah gubernatorial election
Country:Utah
Type:presidential
Ongoing:no
Previous Election:2000 Utah gubernatorial election
Previous Year:2000
Next Election:2008 Utah gubernatorial election
Next Year:2008
Election Date:November 2, 2004
Flag Year:1922
Nominee1:Jon Huntsman Jr.
Party1:Republican Party (United States)
Running Mate1:Gary Herbert
Popular Vote1:531,190
Percentage1:57.7%
Nominee2:Scott Matheson Jr.
Party2:Democratic Party (United States)
Running Mate2:Karen Hale
Popular Vote2:380,359
Percentage2:41.4%
Map Size:220px
Governor
Before Election:Olene Walker
Before Party:Republican Party (United States)
After Election:Jon Huntsman, Jr.
After Party:Republican Party (United States)

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

Election Name:2004 Vermont gubernatorial election
Country:Vermont
Type:presidential
Ongoing:no
Previous Election:2002 Vermont gubernatorial election
Previous Year:2002
Next Election:2006 Vermont gubernatorial election
Next Year:2006
Election Date:November 2, 2004
Nominee1:Jim Douglas
Party1:Vermont Republican Party
Popular Vote1:181,540
Percentage1:58.7%
Nominee2:Peter Clavelle
Party2:Vermont Democratic Party
Popular Vote2:117,327
Percentage2:37.9%
Governor
Before Election:Jim Douglas
Before Party:Vermont Republican Party
After Election:Jim Douglas
After Party:Vermont Republican Party

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

Election Name:2004 Washington gubernatorial election
Country:Washington
Type:presidential
Ongoing:no
Previous Election:2000 Washington gubernatorial election
Previous Year:2000
Next Election:2008 Washington gubernatorial election
Next Year:2008
Election Date:November 2, 2004
Nominee1:Christine Gregoire
Party1:Democratic Party (United States)
Popular Vote1:1,373,361
Percentage1:48.873%
Nominee2:Dino Rossi
Party2:Republican Party (United States)
Popular Vote2:1,373,228
Percentage2:48.868%
Map Size:275px
Governor
Before Election:Gary Locke
Before Party:Democratic Party (United States)
After Election:Christine Gregoire
After Party:Democratic Party (United States)

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

Election Name:2004 West Virginia gubernatorial election
Country:West Virginia
Type:presidential
Ongoing:no
Previous Election:2000 West Virginia gubernatorial election
Previous Year:2000
Next Election:2008 West Virginia gubernatorial election
Next Year:2008
Election Date:November 2, 2004
Nominee1:Joe Manchin
Party1:Democratic Party (United States)
Popular Vote1:472,758
Percentage1:63.5%
Nominee2:Monty Warner
Party2:Republican Party (United States)
Popular Vote2:253,131
Percentage2:34.0%
Map Size:250px
Governor
Before Election:Bob Wise
Before Party:Democratic Party (United States)
After Election:Joe Manchin
After Party:Democratic Party (United States)

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 three 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

Election Name:2004 American Samoan general election
Country:American Samoa
Type:presidential
Ongoing:no
Previous Election:2000 American Samoan general election
Previous Year:2000
Next Election:2008 American Samoan general election
Next Year:2008
Image1:Togiola Tulafono official.jpg
Nominee1:Togiola Tulafono
Party1:Democratic Party (United States)
1Data1:48.4%
2Data1:6,407 (55.72%)
Nominee2:Afoa Moega Lutu
Party2:Independent politician
1Data2:39.4%
2Data2:5,091 (44.28%)
Image3:3x4.svg
Nominee3:Alo Paul Stevenson
Party3:Independent politician
1Data3:12.2%
1Blank:First round
2Blank:Second round

Puerto Rico

Country:Puerto Rico
Previous Election:2000 Puerto Rican general election
Previous Year:2000
Next Election:2008 Puerto Rican general election
Next Year:2008
Election Date:2 November 2004
Module:
Embed:yes
Election Name:Gubernatorial election
Type:presidential
Turnout:81.22% (1.00pp)
Image1:Anibal_Acevedo_Vila.jpg
Nominee1:Aníbal Acevedo Vilá
Party1:Popular Democratic Party (Puerto Rico)
Alliance1:Democratic Party (United States)
Popular Vote1:963,303
Percentage1:48.39%
Nominee2:Pedro Rosselló
Party2:New Progressive Party (Puerto Rico)
Alliance2:Democratic Party (United States)
Popular Vote2:959,737
Percentage2:48.21%
Governor
Before Election:Sila María Calderón
Before Party:Popular Democratic Party (Puerto Rico)
After Election:Aníbal Acevedo Vilá
After Party:Popular Democratic Party (Puerto Rico)

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: THE LAST LAST WORD The Crystal Ball's Final Projections for the 2008 Election . Sabato's Crystal Ball . 3 November 2008 . December 25, 2021 .
  2. Web site: Republicans to stand alone at state's helm . 2008-02-21 . 2004-11-07 . . https://web.archive.org/web/20071110004107/http://www2.indystar.com/articles/3/192728-8493-168.html . 2007-11-10 . dead .
  3. Web site: Daniels vows changes to government, economy after ending Democratic rule . 2008-02-21 . 2004-11-03 . . https://web.archive.org/web/20110605065733/http://www2.indystar.com/articles/1/191537-2331-009.html . 2011-06-05 . dead .
  4. News: The Midwest . 2008-02-24 . 2004-11-04 . .
  5. News: Blunt wins Missouri governor's race . 2008-02-24 . 2004-11-03. USA Today.
  6. Web site: Montana Voter Turnout. Montana Secretary of State. February 22, 2018 . 2022-05-26.
  7. Web site: Borders et al. v. King County et al. . SeattleWeekly.com . June 23, 2006 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20060525071425/http://www.seattleweekly.com/news/0523/050608_news_electiondecision.php . May 25, 2006 .