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 County results Hoeven: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% Satrom: 50–60% | ||||||||||||||||||||
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| Elections in North Dakota |
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The2004 North Dakota gubernatorial election took place on 2 November 2004 for the post ofGovernor of North Dakota.IncumbentRepublican governorJohn Hoeven was easily re-elected defeatingDemocratic-NPL formerstate senatorJoe Satrom.
Incumbent governor John Hoeven was unopposed for the Republican nomination and accepted the nomination by stating that the economy of North Dakota was his priority.[1]
Former state senator Joe Satrom defeatedNorth Dakota House of Representativesminority leaderMerle Boucher for the Democratic-NPL nomination. Satrom began campaigning for the nomination almost a year before theNorth Dakota Democratic-NPL Convention would choose the parties candidate for governor. Boucher announced his candidacy in December 2003 but struggled to make up ground against Satrom.
The two candidates debated at theUniversity of North Dakota, just before the convention, with education and the future of the state's youth the main topics.[2] The Democratic-NPL Convention voted by 632 to 341 to endorse Satrom as their candidate for governor.[3]
The two candidates met in three debates during the campaign, during the final debate on 9 October 2004 they clashed over asmoking ban, outmigration and a proposedconstitutional amendment to bansame-sex marriage.[4]
Satrom called for North Dakota to introduce a one thousanddollardonation limit, for individuals andpolitical action committees, to avoid any perception ofconflict of interest.[5] Hoeven named education, growth and jobs as his priorities but faced anger from some hunting groups over changes tohunt seasons.[6]
Opinion polls gave Hoeven a strong lead over Satrom with one in October 2004 showing Hoeven on 70% as against 22% for Satrom.[7] Hoeven raised far more money than his challenger and even a normally Democratic supporting teachersunion, the North Dakota Education Association, endorsed Hoeven for governor.[8][9]
| Source | Ranking | As of |
|---|---|---|
| Sabato's Crystal Ball[10] | Safe R | November 1, 2004 |
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | John Hoeven (Incumbent) | 220,803 | 71.26% | +16.23% | |
| Democratic–NPL | Joe Satrom | 84,877 | 27.39% | −17.58% | |
| Libertarian | Roland Riemers | 4,193 | 1.35% | ||
| Majority | 135,926 | 43.87% | +33.81% | ||
| Turnout | 309,873 | ||||
| Republicanhold | Swing | ||||
