2004 New Hampshire gubernatorial election

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.

Candidates

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

Candidates

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

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)