2004 North Carolina State Auditor election

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.^[1]

Quick facts Nominee, Party ...

2004 North Carolina State Auditor election

← 2000 November 2, 2004 (2004-11-02) 2008 →

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

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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.^[2] Campbell conceded the race on November 10, and later alleged a factor in him losing re-election was because he was African-American.^[3][4] Following this election, Merritt became the first elected Republican state auditor in North Carolina history.^[5]