2004 West Virginia Secretary of State election

none February 2026 December 2025 2004 West Virginia Secretary of State election West Virginia presidential no 2000 West Virginia Secretary of State election 2000 2008 West Virginia elections#Secretary of State 2008 November 2, 2004 Betty Ireland.jpg Betty Ireland Republican Party (United States) 375,024 51.88% Ken Hechler 2008.jpg Ken Hechler Democratic Party (United States) 347,780 48.12% 2004 West Virginia Secretary of State election results map by county.svg 250px County resultsIreland: #e27f7f 50–60% #d75d5d 60–70%Hechler: #7996e2 50–60% #6674de 60–70% #584cde 70–80% Secretary of State Joe Manchin Democratic Party (United States) Betty Ireland Republican Party (United States) The 2004 West Virginia secretary of state election was held on November 2, 2004, to elect the secretary of state of West Virginia. Democratic incumbent Joe Manchin chose to run for governor of West Virginia rather than seek a second term. Primaries were held on May 11, 2004. Manchin's predecessor, Democrat Ken Hechler, who had served as Secretary of State of West Virginia for 16 years prior, ran for a non-consecutive sixth term in office but was defeated by businesswoman Betty Ireland by a narrow margin of three percentage points. With her victory, Ireland became the first woman elected to the executive branch in West Virginia. This election, alongside the concurrent presidential election, were the only statewide victories for Republicans in West Virginia in 2004. Democratic primary Candidates Donna J. Acord Larrie Bailey, former West Virginia State Treasurer (1990–1996), (1976–1984) George Daugherty, lawyer Ken Hechler, former secretary of state of West Virginia (1985–2001) Mike Oliverio, West Virginia state senator (1994–2010) Roger Pritt Natalie Tennant, TV reporter Campaign Hechler won the primary by a razor-thin margin of 0.43 percentage points over TV reporter and future Secretary of State of West Virginia Natalie Tennant. Results Democratic primary results2004 SoS Pri.pdf https://sos.wv.gov/elections/Documents/HistElecDocs/2004/2004%20SoS%20Pri.pdf December 15, 2025 Democratic Party (United States) Ken Hechler 67,065 25.74% Democratic Party (United States) Natalie Tennant 65,947 25.31% Democratic Party (United States) Mike Oliverio 52,720 20.23% Democratic Party (United States) Roger Pritt 40,823 15.57% Democratic Party (United States) Larrie Bailey 17,590 6.75% Democratic Party (United States) Donna Acord 9,296 3.57% Democratic Party (United States) George Daugherty 7,139 2.74% 260,580 100.00% Republican primary Candidates Betty Ireland, businesswoman Campaign Ireland won the Republican nomination unopposed. Results Republican primary results Republican Party (United States) Betty Ireland 91,039 100.00% 91,039 100.00% General election Candidates Betty Ireland, businesswoman (Republican) Ken Hechler, former secretary of state of West Virginia (1985–2001) (Democratic) Results 2004 West Virginia Secretary of State election results2004 Secretary of State General Election Results - West Virginia https://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/state.php?fips=54&year=2004&f=0&off=7&elect=0 December 15, 2025 Republican Party (United States) Betty Ireland 375,024 51.88% N/A Democratic Party (United States) Ken Hechler 347,780 48.12% -41.32 722,804 100.00% Republican Party (United States) Democratic Party (United States) References External links Official campaign websites (archived) Betty Ireland (R) for Secretary of State of West Virginia Ken Hechler (D) for Secretary of State of West Virginia Natalie Tennant (D) for Secretary of State of West Virginia Mike Oliverio (D) for Secretary of State of West Virginia Roger Pritt (D) for Secretary of State of West Virginia Larrie Bailey (D) for Secretary of State of West Virginia Category:West Virginia Secretary of State elections Secretary of State West Virginia Category:November 2004 in the United States