The 1904 Delaware gubernatorial election was held on November 8, 1904. Though incumbent Republican Governor John Hunn was eligible to run for re-election, he declined to do so. Instead, as the intra-party battle in the Republican Party between the Addicks and anti-Addicks factions continued, Hunn stepped aside to avoid additional conflict.[1] The Addicks, or Union Republicans, nominated Henry C. Conrad for Governor, while the anti-Addicks, or Regular Republicans, held out with their own ticket and nominated Joseph H. Chandler for Governor.[2] On October 12, 1904, the two factions united and agreed to jointly nominate industrialist Preston Lea,[3] a favorite of the Regular Republicans.[4]
In the general election, Lea faced Chandler, the erstwhile candidate of the Regular Republicans, who refused to step aside for Lea and continued his campaign,[5] and former State Senator Caleb S. Pennewill, the Democratic nominee.[6] Lea ended up defeating his opponents by a decisive margin, though somewhat reduced from Hunn's victory in 1900.
