2004 New Hampshire gubernatorial election

For related races, see 2004 United States gubernatorial elections.

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.

2004 New Hampshire gubernatorial election

← 2002 November 2, 2004 2006 →

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

County results Municipality results 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

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

Democratic primary

Candidates

• John Lynch, businessman and University System of New Hampshire Trustee
• Paul McEachern, perennial candidate

Results

Democratic Primary results^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	John Lynch	43,798	74.28%
	Democratic	Paul McEachern	14,403	24.43%
	Democratic	Write-ins	761	1.29%
Total votes			58,962	100.00%

Republican primary

Candidates

• Craig Benson, incumbent governor of New Hampshire
• Charles Tarbell, New Castle selectman

Results

Republican primary results^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Craig Benson (incumbent)	49,097	74.00%
	Republican	Charles Tarbell	13,621	20.53%
	Republican	Write-ins	3,632	5.47%
Total votes			66,350	100.00%

General election

Predictions

Source	Ranking	As of
Sabato's Crystal Ball[3]	Lean R	November 1, 2004

Results

New Hampshire gubernatorial election, 2004^[4]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	John Lynch	340,299	51.02%	+12.80%
	Republican	Craig Benson (incumbent)	325,981	48.87%	−9.75%
	Write-in		740	0.11%	n/a
Total votes			667,020	100.00%	n/a
	Democratic gain from Republican

Counties that swung from Republican to Democratic

• Coös (largest city: Berlin)
• Grafton (largest city: Lebanon)
• Merrimack (largest city: Concord)
• Strafford (largest city: Dover)
• Sullivan (largest city: Claremont)

See also

• U.S. Gubernatorial Elections, 2004
• New Hampshire gubernatorial election, 2006