Indiana gubernatorial election, 2004

Infobox Election
election_name = Indiana gubernatorial election, 2004
country = Indiana
type = presidential
ongoing = no
previous_election = Indiana gubernatorial election, 2000
previous_year = 2000
next_election = Indiana gubernatorial election, 2008
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_

---

map_size = 200px
map_caption = Election results by county
title = 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 2 November 2004 for the post of Governor of Indiana. The incumbent Governor, Democrat Joe Kernan, was defeated by Republican Mitch Daniels.

Daniel's victory was the first time the Republican Party had held the Governor's office for 16 years and gave the party control of all the important statewide offices.cite web| url = http://www2.indystar.com/articles/3/192728-8493-168.html | title = Republicans to stand alone at state's helm | accessdate = 2008-02-21 | date = 2004-11-07| publisher = "The Indianapolis Star"] It was also the first time an incumbent governor had been defeated for re-election since the Constitution of Indiana was amended in 1972 to permit governors to serve two consecutive terms.cite web| url = http://www2.indystar.com/articles/1/191537-2331-009.html | title = Daniels vows changes to government, economy after ending Democratic rule | accessdate = 2008-02-21 | date = 2004-11-03| publisher = "The Indianapolis Star"]

Republican primary

Former White House budget director Mitch Daniels easily defeated conservative activist Eric Miller in the Republican primary on the 4 May.cite web| url = http://www.nfib.com/object/4288131.html | title = The Race for Indiana Governor Is Now Set | accessdate = 2008-02-19 | date = 2004-05-05| publisher = "NFIB.com"] The Republican candidate for Governor in 2000, David M. McIntosh, had earlier dropped out of the race after President George W. Bush gave his support to Daniels. Daniels had quit as White House budget director in 2003 so he could return to Indiana and run for Governor. President Bush came to South Bend, Indiana before the primary to support Daniels and the Presidents term for Daniels "My Man Mitch" became his campaign slogan.cite web| url = http://www.usatoday.com/news/politicselections/state/indiana/2004-05-04-daniels-ind-governor_x.htm | title = Daniels wins Ind. GOP nomination for governor | accessdate = 2008-02-21 | date = 2004-05-04| publisher = "USA Today"]

Democratic nomination

Frank O'Bannon had been re-elected governor of Indiana in 2000 and was prevented from running for Governor again by term limits. His Lieutenant Governor Joe Kernan in December 2002 said that he would not be a candidate for Governor.cite web| url = http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/elections/2004/in/ | title = Indiana election results 2004 | accessdate = 2008-02-20 | publisher = "The Washington Post"] State Senator Vi Simpson and Joe Andrew then vied for nomination for the next ten months. However in September 2003 Frank O'Bannon had a stroke and died, resulting in Joe Kernan taking over as Governor. Kernan decided two months later that he would run for Governor in 2004 and was unopposed in the Democratic primary after both Simpson and Andrew dropped out.

Campaign

Daniels campaigned by travelling throughout Indiana in his RV visiting all 92 Indiana counties at least three times. Kernan fell behind in the polls in May 2004 and never caught up, despite closing the gap in September after attacking Daniels plan to sell an Indiana utility to an out of state firm. The economy of Indiana was a major issue in the campaign with Kernan, as incumbent, facing pressure over the states budget troubles.cite web| url = http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/11/02/governor.indiana/index.html | title = GOP, Daniels see breakthrough to governor's office | accessdate = 2008-02-21 | date = 2004-11-01| publisher = "CNN"]

All three candidates took part in two debates during the campign. The first was held on 28 September at Franklin College with the candidates clashing over the state's economy, prescription drugs and the extension of Interstate 69 from Indianapolis to Evansville.cite web| url = http://www.pbs.org/newshour/updates/in_gov_09-29-04.html | title = Indiana gubernatorial candidates outline differences in debate | accessdate = 2008-02-20 | date = 2004-09-29| publisher = "Online NewsHour"] The second debate was held on 17 October where negative campaigning was the major issue.cite web| url = http://www.pbs.org/newshour/updates/indiana_10-18-04.html | title = Indiana gubernatorial candidates spar over negative campaigning | accessdate = 2008-02-20 | date = 2004-10-18| publisher = "Online NewsHour"]

Between Daniels and Kernan the two candidates raised over 28 million dollars, easily surpassing the previous record set in 2000 of 19.2 million dollars.cite web| url = http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,137244,00.html | title = Spending Soars in 11 Gubernatorial Races | accessdate = 2008-02-21 | date = 2004-11-01| publisher = "Fox News Channel"]

Results

Election box candidate with party link
party = Republican Party (US)
candidate = Mitch Daniels
votes = 1,302,912
percentage = 53.2
change = +11.5Election box candidate with party link
party = Democratic Party (US)
candidate = Joe Kernan (incumbent)
votes = 1,113,900
percentage = 45.5
change = -11.1Election box candidate with party link
party = Libertarian Party (United States)
candidate = Kenn Gividen
votes = 31,664
percentage = 1.3
change = -0.5Election box majority
votes = 189,012
percentage = 7.7
change = Election box turnout
votes = 2,448,476
percentage = 57.0
change = +2.4Election box gain with party link
winner = Republican Party (US)
loser = Democratic Party (US)
swing =

Results by county

References

ee also