North Carolina — 2004 presidential election
Recent presidential results
Akashicstate2004 presidential electionNorth Carolina · PresidentBushR+12.4
How it voted
Share of the 2004 vote
| George W. Bush ✓Republican | 56.0% | 1,961,166 |
|---|---|---|
| John KerryDemocratic | 43.6% | 1,525,849 |
| OtherAll other candidates | 0.4% | 13,992 |
2004presidential margin
D+60R+60
100 counties, each filled by 2004 D-vs-R margin. Hover any county for its result.
North Carolina cast 15 electoral votes this cycle.
County-level results (100 counties) — table
| County | Winner | Margin |
|---|---|---|
| Alamance County, NC | Republican | R+23.3 |
| Alexander County, NC | Republican | R+40.4 |
| Alleghany County, NC | Republican | R+19.9 |
| Anson County, NC | Democratic | D+17.5 |
| Ashe County, NC | Republican | R+23.8 |
| Avery County, NC | Republican | R+51.5 |
| Beaufort County, NC | Republican | R+27.7 |
| Bertie County, NC | Democratic | D+23.4 |
| Bladen County, NC | Republican | R+0.5 |
| Brunswick County, NC | Republican | R+21.1 |
| Buncombe County, NC | Republican | R+0.6 |
| Burke County, NC | Republican | R+23.4 |
| Cabarrus County, NC | Republican | R+34.5 |
| Caldwell County, NC | Republican | R+35.7 |
| Camden County, NC | Republican | R+29.8 |
| Carteret County, NC | Republican | R+39.0 |
| Caswell County, NC | Republican | R+3.5 |
| Catawba County, NC | Republican | R+35.3 |
| Chatham County, NC | Democratic | D+0.02 |
| Cherokee County, NC | Republican | R+34.7 |
| Chowan County, NC | Republican | R+10.4 |
| Clay County, NC | Republican | R+32.5 |
| Cleveland County, NC | Republican | R+23.0 |
| Columbus County, NC | Republican | R+2.0 |
| Craven County, NC | Republican | R+25.3 |
| Cumberland County, NC | Republican | R+3.5 |
| Currituck County, NC | Republican | R+34.6 |
| Dare County, NC | Republican | R+20.6 |
| Davidson County, NC | Republican | R+41.8 |
| Davie County, NC | Republican | R+48.8 |
| Duplin County, NC | Republican | R+16.2 |
| Durham County, NC | Democratic | D+36.4 |
| Edgecombe County, NC | Democratic | D+22.4 |
| Forsyth County, NC | Republican | R+8.6 |
| Franklin County, NC | Republican | R+10.8 |
| Gaston County, NC | Republican | R+36.1 |
| Gates County, NC | Democratic | D+4.9 |
| Graham County, NC | Republican | R+35.6 |
| Granville County, NC | Republican | R+2.3 |
| Greene County, NC | Republican | R+17.5 |
| Guilford County, NC | Democratic | D+0.9 |
| Halifax County, NC | Democratic | D+17.5 |
| Harnett County, NC | Republican | R+28.7 |
| Haywood County, NC | Republican | R+12.8 |
| Henderson County, NC | Republican | R+30.1 |
| Hertford County, NC | Democratic | D+27.0 |
| Hoke County, NC | Democratic | D+4.8 |
| Hyde County, NC | Republican | R+8.2 |
| Iredell County, NC | Republican | R+36.2 |
| Jackson County, NC | Republican | R+4.3 |
| Johnston County, NC | Republican | R+36.1 |
| Jones County, NC | Republican | R+15.8 |
| Lee County, NC | Republican | R+21.4 |
| Lenoir County, NC | Republican | R+11.8 |
| Lincoln County, NC | Republican | R+35.9 |
| Macon County, NC | Republican | R+26.4 |
| Madison County, NC | Republican | R+9.9 |
| Martin County, NC | Republican | R+2.2 |
| McDowell County, NC | Republican | R+32.9 |
| Mecklenburg County, NC | Democratic | D+3.6 |
| Mitchell County, NC | Republican | R+46.2 |
| Montgomery County, NC | Republican | R+14.2 |
| Moore County, NC | Republican | R+29.1 |
| Nash County, NC | Republican | R+16.5 |
| New Hanover County, NC | Republican | R+12.0 |
| Northampton County, NC | Democratic | D+27.5 |
| Onslow County, NC | Republican | R+39.3 |
| Orange County, NC | Democratic | D+34.5 |
| Pamlico County, NC | Republican | R+22.3 |
| Pasquotank County, NC | Democratic | D+2.7 |
| Pender County, NC | Republican | R+17.8 |
| Perquimans County, NC | Republican | R+20.0 |
| Person County, NC | Republican | R+18.2 |
| Pitt County, NC | Republican | R+6.8 |
| Polk County, NC | Republican | R+15.0 |
| Randolph County, NC | Republican | R+48.7 |
| Richmond County, NC | Democratic | D+4.2 |
| Robeson County, NC | Democratic | D+5.8 |
| Rockingham County, NC | Republican | R+22.5 |
| Rowan County, NC | Republican | R+35.1 |
| Rutherford County, NC | Republican | R+33.1 |
| Sampson County, NC | Republican | R+13.2 |
| Scotland County, NC | Democratic | D+10.8 |
| Stanly County, NC | Republican | R+39.8 |
| Stokes County, NC | Republican | R+40.3 |
| Surry County, NC | Republican | R+35.7 |
| Swain County, NC | Republican | R+3.4 |
| Transylvania County, NC | Republican | R+21.1 |
| Tyrrell County, NC | Republican | R+7.8 |
| Union County, NC | Republican | R+40.7 |
| Vance County, NC | Democratic | D+12.0 |
| Wake County, NC | Republican | R+2.1 |
| Warren County, NC | Democratic | D+29.0 |
| Washington County, NC | Democratic | D+8.9 |
| Watauga County, NC | Republican | R+5.9 |
| Wayne County, NC | Republican | R+24.5 |
| Wilkes County, NC | Republican | R+41.7 |
| Wilson County, NC | Republican | R+6.7 |
| Yadkin County, NC | Republican | R+54.6 |
| Yancey County, NC | Republican | R+5.4 |
North Carolina results by county
100 counties. Third-party and independent votes are reported by the county source as one combined figure; every named candidate is listed in the complete result below.
| Led by | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alamance County | Bush, George W.+12,616 | 33,30261.5% | 20,68638.2% | 1870.3% | 54,175 |
| Alexander County | Bush, George W.+6,310 | 10,92870.1% | 4,61829.6% | 540.3% | 15,600 |
| Alleghany County | Bush, George W.+961 | 2,88359.7% | 1,92239.8% | 220.5% | 4,827 |
| Anson County | Kerry, John+1,617 | 3,79641.1% | 5,41358.7% | 160.2% | 9,225 |
| Ashe County | Bush, George W.+2,815 | 7,29261.7% | 4,47737.9% | 540.5% | 11,823 |
| Avery County | Bush, George W.+3,873 | 5,67875.5% | 1,80524.0% | 410.5% | 7,524 |
| Beaufort County | Bush, George W.+5,407 | 12,43263.7% | 7,02536.0% | 650.3% | 19,522 |
| Bertie County | Kerry, John+1,881 | 3,05738.1% | 4,93861.5% | 370.5% | 8,032 |
| Bladen County | Bush, George W.+65 | 6,17450.1% | 6,10949.6% | 300.2% | 12,313 |
| Brunswick County | Bush, George W.+8,022 | 22,92560.4% | 14,90339.2% | 1490.4% | 37,977 |
| Buncombe County | Bush, George W.+623 | 52,49150.0% | 51,86849.4% | 6540.6% | 105,013 |
| Burke County | Bush, George W.+7,194 | 18,92261.5% | 11,72838.1% | 1120.4% | 30,762 |
| Cabarrus County | Bush, George W.+20,977 | 40,78067.0% | 19,80332.6% | 2410.4% | 60,824 |
| Caldwell County | Bush, George W.+11,187 | 21,18667.6% | 9,99931.9% | 1630.5% | 31,348 |
| Camden County | Bush, George W.+1,141 | 2,48064.8% | 1,33935.0% | 110.3% | 3,830 |
| Carteret County | Bush, George W.+9,984 | 17,71669.3% | 7,73230.2% | 1270.5% | 25,575 |
| Caswell County | Bush, George W.+329 | 4,86851.6% | 4,53948.1% | 300.3% | 9,437 |
| Catawba County | Bush, George W.+20,744 | 39,60267.5% | 18,85832.1% | 2280.4% | 58,688 |
| Chatham County | Kerry, John+5 | 12,89249.7% | 12,89749.8% | 1330.5% | 25,922 |
| Cherokee County | Bush, George W.+3,882 | 7,51767.1% | 3,63532.5% | 470.4% | 11,199 |
| Chowan County | Bush, George W.+561 | 2,96755.1% | 2,40644.7% | 130.2% | 5,386 |
| Clay County | Bush, George W.+1,581 | 3,20965.9% | 1,62833.5% | 290.6% | 4,866 |
| Cleveland County | Bush, George W.+8,535 | 22,75061.4% | 14,21538.3% | 1140.3% | 37,079 |
| Columbus County | Bush, George W.+430 | 10,77350.8% | 10,34348.8% | 750.4% | 21,191 |
| Craven County | Bush, George W.+9,556 | 23,57562.4% | 14,01937.1% | 1620.4% | 37,756 |
| Cumberland County | Bush, George W.+3,351 | 49,13951.6% | 45,78848.1% | 2990.3% | 95,226 |
| Currituck County | Bush, George W.+3,104 | 6,01367.0% | 2,90932.4% | 540.6% | 8,976 |
| Dare County | Bush, George W.+3,209 | 9,34560.1% | 6,13639.5% | 670.4% | 15,548 |
| Davidson County | Bush, George W.+24,884 | 42,07570.7% | 17,19128.9% | 2300.4% | 59,496 |
| Davie County | Bush, George W.+8,139 | 12,37274.2% | 4,23325.4% | 750.4% | 16,680 |
| Duplin County | Bush, George W.+2,688 | 9,61158.0% | 6,92341.7% | 490.3% | 16,583 |
| Durham County | Kerry, John+39,910 | 34,61431.6% | 74,52468.0% | 5130.5% | 109,651 |
| Edgecombe County | Kerry, John+4,714 | 8,16338.7% | 12,87761.1% | 390.2% | 21,079 |
| Forsyth County | Bush, George W.+11,954 | 75,29454.1% | 63,34045.5% | 4910.4% | 139,125 |
| Franklin County | Bush, George W.+2,254 | 11,54055.2% | 9,28644.4% | 920.4% | 20,918 |
| Gaston County | Bush, George W.+22,998 | 43,25267.8% | 20,25431.8% | 2490.4% | 63,755 |
| Gates County | Kerry, John+197 | 1,92447.5% | 2,12152.3% | 80.2% | 4,053 |
| Graham County | Bush, George W.+1,421 | 2,69367.5% | 1,27231.9% | 220.6% | 3,987 |
| Granville County | Bush, George W.+434 | 9,49151.0% | 9,05748.7% | 530.3% | 18,601 |
| Greene County | Bush, George W.+1,135 | 3,80058.7% | 2,66541.2% | 70.1% | 6,472 |
| Guilford County | Kerry, John+1,788 | 98,25449.3% | 100,04250.2% | 1,0180.5% | 199,314 |
| Halifax County | Kerry, John+3,440 | 8,08841.2% | 11,52858.7% | 310.2% | 19,647 |
| Harnett County | Bush, George W.+9,359 | 20,92264.2% | 11,56335.5% | 860.3% | 32,571 |
| Haywood County | Bush, George W.+3,308 | 14,54556.1% | 11,23743.3% | 1500.6% | 25,932 |
| Henderson County | Bush, George W.+13,022 | 28,02564.8% | 15,00334.7% | 2060.5% | 43,234 |
| Hertford County | Kerry, John+2,199 | 2,94236.2% | 5,14163.2% | 490.6% | 8,132 |
| Hoke County | Kerry, John+537 | 5,25747.4% | 5,79452.3% | 370.3% | 11,088 |
| Hyde County | Bush, George W.+187 | 1,23553.9% | 1,04845.7% | 100.4% | 2,293 |
| Iredell County | Bush, George W.+20,610 | 38,67567.9% | 18,06531.7% | 2330.4% | 56,973 |
| Jackson County | Bush, George W.+614 | 7,35151.9% | 6,73747.5% | 860.6% | 14,174 |
| Johnston County | Bush, George W.+19,637 | 36,90367.9% | 17,26631.8% | 1880.3% | 54,357 |
| Jones County | Bush, George W.+714 | 2,60757.8% | 1,89341.9% | 130.3% | 4,513 |
| Lee County | Bush, George W.+4,177 | 11,83460.6% | 7,65739.2% | 520.3% | 19,543 |
| Lenoir County | Bush, George W.+2,732 | 12,93955.8% | 10,20744.0% | 330.1% | 23,179 |
| Lincoln County | Bush, George W.+10,618 | 20,05267.8% | 9,43431.9% | 930.3% | 29,579 |
| Macon County | Bush, George W.+3,959 | 9,44862.9% | 5,48936.5% | 870.6% | 15,024 |
| Madison County | Bush, George W.+941 | 5,17554.7% | 4,23444.7% | 540.6% | 9,463 |
| Martin County | Bush, George W.+232 | 5,33451.0% | 5,10248.8% | 160.2% | 10,452 |
| McDowell County | Bush, George W.+5,260 | 10,59066.2% | 5,33033.3% | 820.5% | 16,002 |
| Mecklenburg County | Kerry, John+11,744 | 155,08448.0% | 166,82851.6% | 1,1900.4% | 323,102 |
| Mitchell County | Bush, George W.+3,606 | 5,68672.9% | 2,08026.7% | 320.4% | 7,798 |
| Montgomery County | Bush, George W.+1,432 | 5,74557.0% | 4,31342.8% | 220.2% | 10,080 |
| Moore County | Bush, George W.+11,159 | 24,71464.4% | 13,55535.3% | 1130.3% | 38,382 |
| Nash County | Bush, George W.+6,209 | 21,90258.1% | 15,69341.7% | 780.2% | 37,673 |
| New Hanover County | Bush, George W.+9,779 | 45,35155.8% | 35,57243.8% | 3240.4% | 81,247 |
| Northampton County | Kerry, John+2,408 | 3,17636.2% | 5,58463.7% | 100.1% | 8,770 |
| Onslow County | Bush, George W.+14,640 | 25,89069.5% | 11,25030.2% | 1370.4% | 37,277 |
| Orange County | Kerry, John+22,139 | 20,77132.4% | 42,91066.9% | 4720.7% | 64,153 |
| Pamlico County | Bush, George W.+1,344 | 3,67960.9% | 2,33538.7% | 240.4% | 6,038 |
| Pasquotank County | Kerry, John+375 | 6,60948.4% | 6,98451.2% | 550.4% | 13,648 |
| Pender County | Bush, George W.+3,038 | 10,03758.7% | 6,99941.0% | 490.3% | 17,085 |
| Perquimans County | Bush, George W.+994 | 2,96559.8% | 1,97139.8% | 220.4% | 4,958 |
| Person County | Bush, George W.+2,775 | 8,97359.0% | 6,19840.7% | 430.3% | 15,214 |
| Pitt County | Bush, George W.+3,666 | 28,59053.3% | 24,92446.5% | 1290.2% | 53,643 |
| Polk County | Bush, George W.+1,353 | 5,14057.0% | 3,78742.0% | 941.0% | 9,021 |
| Randolph County | Bush, George W.+24,805 | 37,77174.2% | 12,96625.5% | 1730.3% | 50,910 |
| Richmond County | Kerry, John+674 | 7,70947.7% | 8,38351.9% | 530.3% | 16,145 |
| Robeson County | Kerry, John+1,959 | 15,90947.0% | 17,86852.8% | 940.3% | 33,871 |
| Rockingham County | Bush, George W.+8,410 | 22,84061.1% | 14,43038.6% | 1180.3% | 37,388 |
| Rowan County | Bush, George W.+18,180 | 34,91567.3% | 16,73532.3% | 2170.4% | 51,867 |
| Rutherford County | Bush, George W.+8,159 | 16,34366.3% | 8,18433.2% | 1310.5% | 24,658 |
| Sampson County | Bush, George W.+2,951 | 12,60056.5% | 9,64943.3% | 390.2% | 22,288 |
| Scotland County | Kerry, John+1,245 | 5,14144.5% | 6,38655.3% | 200.2% | 11,547 |
| Stanly County | Bush, George W.+10,164 | 17,81469.7% | 7,65029.9% | 890.3% | 25,553 |
| Stokes County | Bush, George W.+7,816 | 13,58370.0% | 5,76729.7% | 640.3% | 19,414 |
| Surry County | Bush, George W.+9,283 | 17,58767.7% | 8,30431.9% | 1010.4% | 25,992 |
| Swain County | Bush, George W.+174 | 2,59351.4% | 2,41948.0% | 320.6% | 5,044 |
| Transylvania County | Bush, George W.+3,289 | 9,38660.2% | 6,09739.1% | 1050.7% | 15,588 |
| Tyrrell County | Bush, George W.+124 | 85553.8% | 73146.0% | 40.3% | 1,590 |
| Union County | Bush, George W.+24,846 | 42,82070.2% | 17,97429.5% | 2070.3% | 61,001 |
| Vance County | Kerry, John+1,878 | 6,88443.9% | 8,76255.9% | 310.2% | 15,677 |
| Wake County | Bush, George W.+7,415 | 177,32450.8% | 169,90948.7% | 1,6110.5% | 348,844 |
| Warren County | Kerry, John+2,331 | 2,84035.4% | 5,17164.4% | 160.2% | 8,027 |
| Washington County | Kerry, John+485 | 2,48445.4% | 2,96954.3% | 180.3% | 5,471 |
| Watauga County | Bush, George W.+1,427 | 12,65952.6% | 11,23246.7% | 1590.7% | 24,050 |
| Wayne County | Bush, George W.+9,807 | 24,88362.1% | 15,07637.6% | 870.2% | 40,046 |
| Wilkes County | Bush, George W.+11,335 | 19,19770.7% | 7,86229.0% | 950.3% | 27,154 |
| Wilson County | Bush, George W.+2,058 | 16,26453.3% | 14,20646.5% | 650.2% | 30,535 |
| Yadkin County | Bush, George W.+8,365 | 11,81677.2% | 3,45122.5% | 460.3% | 15,313 |
| Yancey County | Bush, George W.+506 | 4,94052.4% | 4,43447.0% | 570.6% | 9,431 |
complete certified result
North Carolina candidate results
Top three shown first · expand for every reported candidate and write-in category
Source: MIT Election Data + Science Lab — U.S. President 1976–2024 state candidate returns
Nominees: John Kerry (D) · George W. Bush (R)
North Carolina's presidential margins
1892–2024, the 2004 contest in context
| Year | Margin (D minus R) |
|---|---|
| 1892 | +11.6% |
| 1896 | +5.8% |
| 1900 | +8.5% |
| 1904 | +20.1% |
| 1908 | +8.7% |
| 1912 | +47.3% |
| 1916 | +16.4% |
| 1920 | +13.5% |
| 1924 | +19.4% |
| 1928 | −9.9% |
| 1932 | +40.6% |
| 1936 | +46.8% |
| 1940 | +48.1% |
| 1944 | +33.4% |
| 1948 | +25.3% |
| 1952 | +7.8% |
| 1956 | +1.3% |
| 1960 | +4.2% |
| 1964 | +12.3% |
| 1968 | −10.3% |
| 1972 | −40.6% |
| 1976 | +11.0% |
| 1980 | −2.1% |
| 1984 | −24.0% |
| 1988 | −16.3% |
| 1992 | −0.8% |
| 1996 | −4.7% |
| 2000 | −12.8% |
| 2004 | −12.4% |
| 2008 | +0.3% |
| 2012 | −2.0% |
| 2016 | −3.7% |
| 2020 | −1.3% |
| 2024 | −3.2% |
Same ballot, 2004NC
Source. MIT Election Data + Science Lab — 2004 presidential returns · official county-level results. Real returns — nothing estimated.