Indiana gubernatorial election, 2004

Last updated
Indiana gubernatorial election, 2004
Flag of Indiana.svg
  2000 November 2, 2004 2008  

  Mitch Daniels.jpg Joe Kernan.jpg
Nominee Mitch Daniels Joe Kernan
Party Republican Democratic
Running mate Becky Skillman Kathy Davis
Popular vote1,302,912 1,113,900
Percentage53.2% 45.5%

INGovCounties04.png

Blue counties won by Kernan.
Red counties won by Daniels.
Purple denotes a tie.

Governor before election

Joe Kernan
Democratic

Elected Governor

Mitch Daniels
Republican

The 2004 Indiana gubernatorial election took place on November 2, 2004, to elect the Governor of Indiana.

Contents

Incumbent Democratic Governor Joe Kernan was defeated by Republican Mitch Daniels. Daniels' 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. [1] It was also the first time an incumbent governor had been defeated since the Constitution of Indiana was amended in 1972 to permit governors to serve two consecutive terms. [2]

Democratic Party (United States) political party in the United States

The Democratic Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. Tracing its heritage back to Thomas Jefferson and James Madison's Democratic-Republican Party, the modern-day Democratic Party was founded around 1828 by supporters of Andrew Jackson, making it the world's oldest active political party.

Republican Party (United States) Major political party in the United States

The Republican Party, also referred to as the GOP, is one of the two major political parties in the United States; the other is its historic rival, the Democratic Party.

Mitch Daniels Governor of Indiana and President of Purdue University

Mitchell Elias Daniels Jr. is an American academic administrator, businessman, author, and retired politician who served as the 49th Governor of Indiana, from 2005 to 2013, and a Republican. Since 2013, Daniels has been president of Purdue University.

Primaries

Republican

Former White House Director of the Office of Management and Budget Mitch Daniels easily defeated conservative activist Eric Miller in the Republican primary on May 4, 2004. [3] 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 President's nickname for Daniels, "My Man Mitch", became his campaign slogan. [4]

White House Official residence and workplace of the President of the United States

The White House is the official residence and workplace of the President of the United States. It is located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C. and has been the residence of every U.S. President since John Adams in 1800. The term "White House" is often used as a metonym for the president and his advisers.

Office of Management and Budget United States government agency

The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) is the largest office within the Executive Office of the President of the United States (EOP). OMB's most prominent function is to produce the President's Budget, but OMB also measures the quality of agency programs, policies, and procedures to see if they comply with the president's policies and coordinates inter-agency policy initiatives.

David M. McIntosh American politician

David Martin McIntosh is an American attorney and Republican Party politician who served as the U.S. Representative for Indiana's 2nd congressional district from 1995 to 2001. McIntosh was the Republican nominee for Governor of Indiana in 2000, losing to Democratic incumbent Frank O'Bannon. He was an unsuccessful candidate for the Republican nomination in Indiana's 5th congressional district in 2012. In December 2014, McIntosh was named the president of the Club for Growth, a fiscally conservative 501(c)4 organization.

Republican primary results [5]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Mitch Daniels335,82866.40
Republican Eric Miller 169,930 33.60
Total votes505,758100.00

Democratic

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. [6] State Senator Vi Simpson and Joe Andrew then vied for nomination for the next ten months. However, in September 2003, O'Bannon had a stroke and died, resulting in 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. [2]

Frank OBannon American politician

Frank Lewis O'Bannon was an American politician who served as the 47th Governor of Indiana from 1997 until his death in 2003.

Indiana State of the United States of America

Indiana is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern and Great Lakes regions of North America. Indiana is the 38th largest by area and the 17th most populous of the 50 United States. Its capital and largest city is Indianapolis. Indiana was admitted to the United States as the 19th U.S. state on December 11, 1816. Indiana borders Lake Michigan to the northwest, Michigan to the north, Ohio to the east, Kentucky to the south and southeast, and Illinois to the west.

A term limit is a legal restriction that limits the number of terms an officeholder may serve in a particular elected office. When term limits are found in presidential and semi-presidential systems they act as a method of curbing the potential for monopoly, where a leader effectively becomes "president for life". This is intended to protect a democracy from becoming a de facto dictatorship. Sometimes, there is an absolute or lifetime limit on the number of terms an officeholder may serve; sometimes, the restrictions are merely on the number of consecutive terms he or she may serve.

Democratic primary results [5]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Joe Kernan (Incumbent)283,924100.00
Total votes283,924100.00

General election

Campaign

Daniels campaigned by travelling throughout Indiana in his RV visiting all 92 Indiana counties at least three times. [2] 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. [2] The economy of Indiana was a major issue in the campaign with Kernan, as incumbent, facing pressure over the states budget troubles. [7]

Recreational vehicle type of vehicle

A recreational vehicle, often abbreviated as RV, is a motor vehicle or trailer which includes living quarters designed for accommodation. Types of RVs include motorhomes, campervans, caravans, fifth-wheel trailers, popup campers and truck campers.

Public utility an organization that maintains the infrastructure for a public service

A public utility is an organization that maintains the infrastructure for a public service. Public utilities are subject to forms of public control and regulation ranging from local community-based groups to statewide government monopolies.

All three candidates took part in two debates during the campaign. The first was held on September 28, 2004 at Franklin College with the candidates clashing over the state's economy, prescription drugs and the extension of Interstate 69 from Indianapolis to Evansville. [8] The second debate was held on October 17, 2004 in New Albany, Indiana. Negative campaigning was the major issue. [9]

Franklin College (Indiana) private liberal arts college in Franklin, Indiana, United States

Franklin College is a residential, liberal arts and sciences institution founded in 1834 in Franklin, Indiana. The campus, part of the Indianapolis metropolitan area, is located 20 miles south of downtown Indianapolis. It has a wooded campus spanning 207 acres including athletic fields and a 31-acre biology woodland. The college offers its approximately 1,000 students Bachelor of Arts degrees in 49 majors from 25 academic disciplines, 43 minors, 11 pre-professional programs and five cooperative programs. The college also offers a Master of Science in Athletic Training and a Master of Science in Physician Assistants Studies. In 1842, the college began admitting women, becoming the first coeducational institution in Indiana and the seventh in the nation. Franklin College has historically maintained an affiliation with the American Baptist Churches USA.

Interstate 69 in Indiana highway in Indiana

Interstate 69 (I-69) presently has two discontinuous segments of freeway in the U.S. state of Indiana. The original 157.3-mile-long (253.1 km) highway, completed in November 1971, runs northeasterly from the state capital of Indianapolis, to the city of Fort Wayne, and then proceeds north to the state of Michigan. This original section is also known as Segment of Independent Utility (SIU) 1 in the national plan for expansion of I-69.

Evansville, Indiana City in Indiana, United States

Evansville is a city and the county seat of Vanderburgh County, Indiana, United States. The population was 117,429 at the 2010 census, making it the state's third-most populous city after Indianapolis and Fort Wayne, the largest city in Southern Indiana, and the 232nd-most populous city in the United States. It is the commercial, medical, and cultural hub of Southwestern Indiana and the Illinois-Indiana-Kentucky tri-state area, home to over 911,000 people. The 38th parallel crosses the north side of the city and is marked on Interstate 69.

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. [10]

Statewide Results

Indiana gubernatorial election, 2004 [11]
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Republican Mitch Daniels 1,302,912 53.21% +11.54%
Democratic Joe Kernan (Incumbent) 1,113,900 45.49% -11.06%
Libertarian Kenn Gividen 31,664 1.29% -0.48%
Write-ins 22 0.00%
Majority 189,012 7.72% -7.16%
Turnout 2,448,498 57%
Republican gain from Democratic Swing

County Results

Kernan won 17 of Indiana's counties compared to 73 for Daniels. The candidates finish tied in 2 counties. [12]

County Daniels Votes Kernan Votes Gividen Votes Total
Adams 62.9%8,35036.3%4,8160.7%9913,265
Allen 57.2%73,68941.9%53,8990.9%1,183128,771
Bartholomew 59.4%16,85838.8%11,0081.8%51928,385
Benton 60.8%2,43237.2%1,4981.7%693,999
Blackford 51.2%2,74147.9%2,5670.9%465,354
Boone 70.9%16,18927.3%6,3261.3%30522,820
Brown 55.0%4,01042.8%3,1182.2%1647,292
Carroll 59.2%5,09039.4%3,3871.3%1158,592
Cass 56.9%7,94641.6%5,8081.6%22113,975
Clark 49.0%20,47150.2%20,9640.9%36041,795
Clay 54.3%5,72444.3%4,6771.4%14810,549
Clinton 63.8%7,53735.0%4,1291.3%14811,814
Crawford 49.3%2,23149.3%2,2311.4%604,522
Daviess 59.5%6,22338.7%4,0491.8%18310,455
Dearborn 61.3%12,51437.2%7,5731.5%29720,384
Decatur 63.4%6,35535.2%3,5241.4%14010,019
DeKalb 59.8%9,24239.0%6,0121.2%18115,435
Delaware 48.0%22,91750.6%24,1321.4%66347,712
Dubois 57.1%9,38541.9%6,8711.0%16916,425
Elkhart 62.7%38,43036.5%22,4060.8%50361,339
Fayette 53.4%4,98145.3%4,2241.3%1219,326
Floyd 50.1%16,86949.1%16,5030.8%27933,651
Fountain 61.6%4,78637.1%2,8781.3%1017,765
Franklin 59.4%5,82239.4%3,8621.2%1149,798
Fulton 58.4%5,10340.3%3,5131.3%1108,726
Gibson 50.1%7,28948.1%7,1011.1%16614,556
Grant 57.2%15,54341.8%11,3761.0%27527,194
Greene 51.7%6,79146.7%6,1231.6%21313,127
Hamilton 73.0%76,43326.1%27,3160.9%920104,669
Hancock 67.4%18,82531.3%8,7461.3%35927,930
Harrison 53.7%9,24245.3%7,8091.0%17117,222
Hendricks 68.6%35,76130.2%15,6911.2%64152,093
Henry 56.0%11,40842.6%8,6741.4%28920,371
Howard 53.7%19,88545.2%16,7421.1%41537,042
Huntington 67.1%10,48431.7%4,9531.2%18315,620
Jackson 58.8%9,58740.0%6,5271.2%19116,305
Jasper 58.2%6,78140.4%4,7011.4%16711,649
Jay 56.2%4,53742.8%3,4531.0%808,070
Jefferson 51.1%6,54247.7%6,1091.2%15012,801
Jennings 55.4%5,80642.8%4,4821.8%19010,478
Johnson 66.9%34,26931.7%16,2531.4%70151,223
Knox 48.5%7,56950.0%7,7971.5%22815,594
Kosciusko 71.0%20,04727.9%7,8851.1%31628,248
LaGrange 63.2%5,74835.2%3,1711.1%979,016
Lake 33.7%61,72064.9%118,6971.4%2,617183,034
LaPorte 38.5%16,23459.4%25,0492.1%88142,164
Lawrence 65.0%11,48033.5%5,9041.5%25717,641
Madison 51.4%28,14247.5%25,9721.1%62354,737
Marion 46.5%148,82552.3%167,0971.2%3,895319,817
Marshall 60.6%10,74538.2%6,7561.2%20417,705
Martin 53.7%2,66444.4%2,2051.9%944,963
Miami 60.9%8,15537.8%5,0621.3%17913,396
Monroe 44.5%22,03153.1%26,3172.4%1,19249,540
Montgomery 66.2%9,63932.4%4,7111.4%19914,549
Morgan 64.6%16,71633.8%8,7401.6%42425,880
Newton 54.5%3,16443.6%2,5311.9%1115,806
Noble 61.3%9,57037.6%5,8631.1%17615,609
Ohio 52.5%1,51246.1%1,3281.4%412,881
Orange 56.4%4,81842.4%3,6211.3%1098,548
Owen 55.0%4,17942.7%3,2492.3%1767,604
Parke 53.8%3,74544.6%3,1011.6%1086,954
Perry 43.0%3,55956.2%4,6400.8%648,263
Pike 41.1%2,51757.3%3,5101.6%996,126
Porter 43.2%27,56555.1%35,2061.7%1,10863,879
Posey 52.6%6,25246.5%5,5250.9%10911,886
Pulaski 57.8%3,18541.1%2,2671.1%615,513
Putnam 60.8%8,00237.8%4,9841.4%18513,171
Randolph 56.8%6,27441.9%4,6281.3%14611,048
Ripley 59.1%6,92539.6%4,6351.3%15111,711
Rush 61.9%4,52936.6%2,6761.6%1167,321
Saint Joseph 45.3%49,19853.8%58,3270.9%1,000108,525
Scott 44.7%3,86254.3%4,6811.0%908,633
Shelby 61.9%9,86236.9%5,8851.2%19415,941
Spencer 52.3%5,18346.5%4,6121.2%1149,909
Starke 46.6%4,02452.2%4,5391.5%1318,694
Steuben 60.2%7,68438.5%4,9151.3%16512,764
Sullivan 44.2%3,68754.4%4,5301.4%1168,333
Switzerland 49.3%1,78049.3%1,7801.4%483,608
Tippecanoe 54.9%28,45843.4%22,5041.7%86551,827
Tipton 60.5%4,72938.1%2,9731.4%1087,810
Union 61.5%2,04036.7%1,2171.8%593,316
Vanderburgh 48.9%34,12949.9%34,8191.2%86369,811
Vermillion 39.5%2,76958.8%4,1211.7%1187,008
Vigo 42.4%16,80455.6%22,0542.0%80639,664
Wabash 64.9%8,69134.1%4,5691.0%13413,394
Warren 56.0%2,21442.5%1,6791.5%583,951
Warrick 53.8%13,87745.2%11,6781.0%26225,817
Washington 59.2%6,41939.6%4,2971.2%13410,850
Wayne 52.5%14,53045.4%12,5652.1%59527,690
Wells 66.4%8,07132.7%3,9790.9%11312,163
White 57.5%5,98040.9%4,2601.6%16710,407
Whitley 62.9%8,33236.0%4,7581.1%14913,239

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References

  1. "Republicans to stand alone at state's helm". The Indianapolis Star . 2004-11-07. Retrieved 2008-02-21.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Daniels vows changes to government, economy after ending Democratic rule". The Indianapolis Star . 2004-11-03. Retrieved 2008-02-21.
  3. "The Race for Indiana Governor Is Now Set". NFIB.com. 2004-05-05. Retrieved 2008-02-19.
  4. "Daniels wins Ind. GOP nomination for governor". USA Today . 2004-05-04. Retrieved 2008-02-21.
  5. 1 2 http://www.in.gov/sos/elections/files/May_2004_Primary_Election_Canvass.pdf
  6. "Indiana election results 2004". The Washington Post . 2004-11-24. Retrieved 2008-02-20.
  7. "GOP, Daniels see breakthrough to governor's office". CNN. 2004-11-01. Retrieved 2008-02-21.
  8. "Indiana gubernatorial candidates outline differences in debate". Online NewsHour. 2004-09-29. Retrieved 2008-02-20.
  9. "Indiana gubernatorial candidates spar over negative campaigning". Online NewsHour. 2004-10-18. Retrieved 2008-02-20.
  10. "Spending Soars in 11 Gubernatorial Races". Fox News Channel . 2004-11-01. Retrieved 2008-02-21.
  11. "Indiana General Election November 2, 2004, Statewide". Indiana Secretary of State. 2004-11-02. Retrieved 2011-04-21.
  12. "Indiana General Election November 2, 2004, by County". Indiana Secretary of State. 2004-11-02. Retrieved 2008-11-09.

See also