2004 Delaware gubernatorial election

For related races, see 2004 United States gubernatorial elections.

The 2004 Delaware gubernatorial election was held on November 2, 2004, coinciding with the U.S. presidential election. Incumbent Governor Ruth Ann Minner faced a serious challenge from retired Superior Court Judge Bill Lee but managed a five-point victory on election day. As of 2025, this is the last time Kent County voted Republican in a gubernatorial election, and the last time the Republican gubernatorial nominee won a majority of Delaware's counties.

2004 Delaware gubernatorial election

← 2000 November 2, 2004 2008 →

Nominee Ruth Ann Minner Bill Lee Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 185,548 167,008 Percentage 50.9% 45.8%

County results House district results Minner:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% Lee:      40–50%      50–60%

Governor before election Ruth Ann Minner Democratic Elected Governor Ruth Ann Minner Democratic

Primaries

Democratic Party

• Ruth Ann Minner, incumbent Governor of Delaware

Democratic primary results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Ruth Ann Minner (incumbent)	41,671	100.00

Republican Party

• Bill Lee, former Delaware Superior Court Justice
• David Charles Graham, state government employee
• Michael D. Protack, pilot

Republican primary results^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Bill Lee	15,270	70.47
	Republican	Michael D. Protack	5,108	23.57
	Republican	David Charles Graham	1,292	5.96
Total votes			21,670	100.00

Independent Party/Libertarian Party

• Frank Infante, Independent Party of Delaware and Libertarian Party of Delaware fusion ticket nominee

Campaign

Predictions

Source	Ranking	As of
Sabato's Crystal Ball[2]	Likely D	November 1, 2004

Results

Delaware gubernatorial election, 2004^[3]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Ruth Ann Minner (incumbent)	185,548	50.87%	−8.38%
	Republican	Bill Lee	167,008	45.79%	+6.04%
	Independent Party	Frank Infante	12,203	3.34%	+1.8%
Majority			18,540	5.08%	−14.42%
Turnout			364,759
	Democratic hold		Swing

By county

By county
County Ruth Ann Minner Democratic William Lee Republican All Others # % # % # % Kent 22,324 40.67 28,562 52.03 4,006 7.3 New Castle 128,953 55.26 99,479 42.63 4,942 2.12 Sussex 34,271 44.8 38,967 50.94 3,255 4.26 Totals 185,548 50.87 167,008 45.79 12,203 3.35 Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican Kent (largest city: Dover) Sussex (largest city: Seaford)

See also

• Politics of Delaware