New York was won by Democratic nominee John Kerry with an 18.3 % margin of victory . Kerry took 58.37 % of the vote to Bush 's 40.08 % . Prior to the election , all 12 news organizations considered this a state Kerry would win , or otherwise considered as a safe blue state . The last Republican presidential nominee to have carried the state of New York was Ronald Reagan in 1984 . , this remains the last presidential election the Republicans won over 40 % of the vote in New York . Despite being a " safe blue state " , this was the best showing for a Republican candidate in New York since 1988 . This can largely be attributed to increased support for President Bush after the 9/11 attacks
9/11 attacks
September 11 attacks
2004 United States presidential election in New York