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

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v t e

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.

Democratic primary

Candidates

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

Results

Republican primary

Candidates

• Craig Benson, incumbent Governor of New Hampshire
• Charles Tarbell, New Castle Selectman

Results

General election

Predictions

Results

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)