2004 North Carolina State Auditor election

2004 North Carolina State Auditor election

November 2, 2004 (2004-11-02)
 
Nominee Les Merritt Ralph Campbell Jr.
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 1,662,354 1,633,639
Percentage 50.44% 49.56%

County results
Merritt:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%
Campbell:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%

State Auditor before election

Ralph Campbell Jr.
Democratic

Elected State Auditor

Les Merritt
Republican

The 2004 North Carolina State Auditor election was held on November 2, 2004, to elect the North Carolina State Auditor, concurrently with the 2004 U.S. presidential election, as well as elections to the United States Senate, U.S. House of Representatives, governor, the Council of State, and other state, local and judicial elections. Primary elections were held on July 20.

Incumbent Democratic state auditor Ralph Campbell Jr. ran for re-election to a fourth term in office, but lost to Republican candidate Les Merritt in a rematch of the 2000 election for the same office. Campbell conceded the race on November 10, and later alleged a factor in him losing re-election was because he was African-American. Following this election, Merritt became the first elected Republican state auditor in North Carolina history.