The 2004 New Castle County Executive election was held on November 2, 2004. Incumbent Democratic County Executive Thomas P. Gordon was term-limited and unable to seek a third consecutive term. County Council President Chris Coons won the Democratic primary by a wide margin and faced New Castle City Council President Chris Castagno, the Republican nominee, in the general election. Coons defeated Castagno by a wide margin, winning his first term with 58 percent of the vote to Castagno's 42 percent.