The 2004 United States House of Representatives elections were held on November 2, 2004, to elect all 435 seats of the chamber. It coincided with the re-election of President

George W. Bush George Walker Bush (born July 6, 1946) is an American politician and businessman who was the 43rd president of the United States from 2001 to 2009. A member of the Bush family and the Republican Party (United States), Republican Party, he i ...

as well as many Senate elections and gubernatorial elections. Prior to the election in the 108th Congress, Republicans held 227 seats, Democrats held 205, with two Republican vacancies and one independent. As a result of this election, the 109th Congress began composed of 232 Republicans, 201 Democrats, one independent (who caucuses with the Democrats), and one vacancy (Democrat Bob Matsui won reelection but died just two days before the beginning of the 109th Congress). Democrats won open seats in

Colorado Colorado is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States. It is one of the Mountain states, sharing the Four Corners region with Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah. It is also bordered by Wyoming to the north, Nebraska to the northeast, Kansas ...

South Dakota South Dakota (; Sioux language, Sioux: , ) is a U.S. state, state in the West North Central states, North Central region of the United States. It is also part of the Great Plains. South Dakota is named after the Dakota people, Dakota Sioux ...

, and New York while ousting incumbents in

Georgia Georgia most commonly refers to: * Georgia (country), a country in the South Caucasus * Georgia (U.S. state), a state in the southeastern United States Georgia may also refer to: People and fictional characters * Georgia (name), a list of pe ...

and

Illinois Illinois ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern United States. It borders on Lake Michigan to its northeast, the Mississippi River to its west, and the Wabash River, Wabash and Ohio River, Ohio rivers to its ...

. Republicans won an open seat in Kentucky while ousting an incumbent in

Indiana Indiana ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. It borders Lake Michigan to the northwest, Michigan to the north and northeast, Ohio to the east, the Ohio River and Kentucky to the s ...

. They gained five seats in

Texas Texas ( , ; or ) is the most populous U.S. state, state in the South Central United States, South Central region of the United States. It borders Louisiana to the east, Arkansas to the northeast, Oklahoma to the north, New Mexico to the we ...

after a controversial mid-decade redistricting placed several rural Democratic incumbents into new districts. Two seats in

Louisiana Louisiana ( ; ; ) is a state in the Deep South and South Central regions of the United States. It borders Texas to the west, Arkansas to the north, and Mississippi to the east. Of the 50 U.S. states, it ranks 31st in area and 25 ...

swapped party control. As of , this is the last election in which someone who was not from the Democratic or Republican Party was elected to the House (Independent

Bernie Sanders Bernard Sanders (born September8, 1941) is an American politician and activist who is the Seniority in the United States Senate, senior United States Senate, United States senator from the state of Vermont. He is the longest-serving independ ...

). Republicans would not make consecutive net gains in the House (after gaining seats in the 2002 election) until

2020 The year 2020 was heavily defined by the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to global Social impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, social and Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, economic disruption, mass cancellations and postponements of even ...

and

2022 The year began with another wave in the COVID-19 pandemic, with SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant, Omicron spreading rapidly and becoming the dominant variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus worldwide. Tracking a decrease in cases and deaths, 2022 saw ...

. This was also the last election in which the Republicans made any gains in a presidential election year until 2020.

Results

Federal

, - ! rowspan= 2 colspan=2 , Parties ! colspan=4 , Seats ! colspan=3 , Popular vote , - style="background-color:#E9E9E9" !

2002 The effects of the September 11 attacks of the previous year had a significant impact on the affairs of 2002. The war on terror was a major political focus. Without settled international law, several nations engaged in anti-terror operation ...

! 2004 ! Net
change ! Strength ! Vote ! % ! Change , - , style="background-color:" , ! Republican Party , 229 , 232 , 3 , 53.3% , 55,958,144 , 49.4% , -0.6% , - , style="background-color:" , ! Democratic Party , 205 , 202 , 3 , 46.4% , 52,969,786 , 46.8% , +1.6% , - , style="background-color:" , ! Libertarian Party , — , — , — , — , 1,056,844 , 0.9% , -0.5% , - , style="background-color:" , !

Independent Independent or Independents may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Artist groups * Independents (artist group), a group of modernist painters based in Pennsylvania, United States * Independentes (English: Independents), a Portuguese artist ...

, 1 , 1 , 0 , 0.2% , 674,202 , 0.6% , +0.1% , - , style="background-color:" , !

Green Party A green party is a formally organized political party based on the principles of green politics, such as environmentalism and social justice. Green party platforms typically embrace Social democracy, social democratic economic policies and fo ...

, — , — , — , — , 344,549 , 0.3% , -0.1% , - , style="background-color:" , ! Constitution Party , — , — , — , — , 187,006 , 0.2% , - , - , style="background-color:" , ! Reform Party , — , — , — , — , 85,539 , 0.1% , +0.1% , - , style="background-color:" , ! Independence Party , — , — , — , — , 76,053 , 0.1% , +0.1% , - , style="background-color:" , ! Others , — , — , — , — , 1,840,163 , 1.6% , -0.6% , - ! colspan=2 , Total ! 434 ! 435 ! 0 ! 100.0% ! 113,192,286 ! 100.0% ! – , - style="background-color:#E9E9E9" , style="text-align:left" colspan=9 , Source
Election Statistics - Office of the Clerk

Maps

File:US House 2004 Map by voteshare.svg, Winner's share of the vote File:2004 US House of Representatives Election by States.svg, Popular vote by states File:109 us house changes.png, Summary of party change of U.S. House seats in the 2004 House election

Retirements

In the November general elections, thirty incumbents did not seek re-election, either to retire or to seek other positions.

Democrats

Thirteen Democrats did not seek re-election. # : Cal Dooley retired. # : Peter Deutsch retired to run for U.S. Senator. # : Denise Majette retired to run for U.S. Senator. # : Bill Lipinski retired. # : Ken Lucas retired. # : Chris John retired to run for U.S. Senator. # :

Dick Gephardt Richard Andrew Gephardt (; born January 31, 1941) is an American attorney, lobbyist, and politician who represented in the United States House of Representatives from 1977 to 2005. A member of the Democratic Party, he was House majority lead ...

retired to run for U.S. president. # : Karen McCarthy retired. # : Brad Carson retired to run for U.S. Senator. # : Joe Hoeffel retired to run for U.S. Senator. # : Aníbal Acevedo Vilá retired to run for Governor of Puerto Rico. # : Jim Turner retired when redistricted from the 2nd district. # : Jerry Kleczka retired.

Republicans

Seventeen Republicans did not seek re-election. # : Doug Ose retired. # : Scott McInnis retired. # :

Johnny Isakson John Hardy Isakson (December 28, 1944 – December 19, 2021) was an American businessman and politician who served as a United States senator from Georgia from 2005 until his resignation in 2019 following health concerns. A member of the Republi ...

retired to run for U.S. Senator. # : Mac Collins retired to run for U.S. Senator. # : David Vitter retired to run for U.S. Senator. # : Billy Tauzin retired. # : Nick Smith retired. # : Jack Quinn retired. # : Amo Houghton retired. # :

Richard Burr Richard Mauze Burr (born November 30, 1955) is an American businessman and politician who served as a United States senator from North Carolina from 2005 to 2023. A member of the Republican Party, Burr was previously a member of the United Stat ...

retired to run for U.S. Senator. # : Cass Ballenger retired. # : James C. Greenwood retired. # : Pat Toomey retired to run for U.S. Senator. # :

Jim DeMint James Warren DeMint (born September 2, 1951) is an American businessman, author, and retired politician who served as a United States Senate, United States Senator from South Carolina and as president of The Heritage Foundation. A leading figure ...

retired to run for U.S. Senator. # : Ed Schrock retired. # : George Nethercutt retired to run for U.S. Senator. # : Jennifer Dunn retired.

Resignations

Two seats opened early due to resignations and were not filled until the November elections.

Democrats

No Democrats resigned.

Republicans

Two Republicans resigned. # : Porter Goss resigned September 23, 2004 to become

Director of the Central Intelligence Agency The director of the Central Intelligence Agency (D/CIA) is a statutory office () that functions as the head of the Central Intelligence Agency, which in turn is a part of the United States Intelligence Community. The director reports to the D ...

. # : Doug Bereuter resigned August 31, 2004 to become president of The Asia Foundation.

Incumbents defeated

In primary elections

Democrats

Two Democrats lost renomination. # : Chris Bell lost to Al Green, who won the general election. # : Ciro Rodriguez lost to Henry Cuellar, who won the general election.

Republicans

No Republicans lost renomination. This was the first time this had occurred since

1984 Events January * January 1 – The Bornean Sultanate of Brunei gains full independence from the United Kingdom, having become a British protectorate in 1888. * January 7 – Brunei becomes the sixth member of the Association of Southeas ...

In the general election

Democrats

Five Democrats lost re-election to Republicans. # : Baron Hill lost to Mike Sodrel. # : Max Sandlin lost to Louie Gohmert. # : Nick Lampson lost to

Ted Poe Lloyd Theodore Poe (born September 10, 1948) is an American politician who represented Texas's 2nd congressional district in the United States House of Representatives from 2005 to 2019. Poe was the first Republican Party (United States), Republi ...

. # : Charles Stenholm lost a redistricting race to Randy Neugebauer. # : Martin Frost lost a redistricting race to Pete Sessions.

Republicans

Two Republicans lost re-election to Democrats. # : Max Burns lost to John Barrow. # : Phil Crane lost to

Melissa Bean Melissa Bean (née Luburich; born January 22, 1962) is an Americans, American politician who served as the United States House of Representatives, U.S. representative for from 2005 to 2011. Bean is a member of the Democratic Party (United States ...

Open seats that changed parties

Democratic seats won by Republicans

Three Democratic seats were won by Republicans. # : Won by

Geoff Davis Geoffrey Clark Davis (born October 26, 1958) is an American businessman, politician and former U.S. Representative for , serving from 2005 to 2012. He is a member of the Republican Party. The district included 24 counties in the northeastern p ...

. # : Won by Charles Boustany. # : Won by

Luis Fortuño Luis Guillermo Fortuño Burset (born 31 October 1960) is a Puerto Ricans, Puerto Rican politician who served as the governor of Puerto Rico, an unincorporated territory of the United States, from 2009 to 2013. Fortuño served as the first Secre ...

Republican seats won by Democrats

Three Republican seats were won by Democrats. # : Won by John Salazar. # : Won by Charlie Melancon. # : Won by Brian Higgins.

Open seats that parties held

Democratic seats held by Democrats

Democrats held nine of their open seats. # : Won by

Jim Costa James Manuel Costa (born April 13, 1952) is an American politician serving as the U.S. representative for since 2023. He previously represented the 20th congressional district from 2005 to 2013 and the 16th congressional district from 2013 ...

. # : Won by

Debbie Wasserman Schultz Deborah Wasserman Schultz ( Wasserman; ; born September 27, 1966) is an American politician serving as the United States House of Representatives, U.S. representative for , first elected to Congress in United States House of Representatives elec ...

. # : Won by Cynthia McKinney. # : Won by

Dan Lipinski Daniel William Lipinski (born July 15, 1966) is an American politician and political scientist who served eight terms as the United States House of Representatives, U.S. representative for Illinois's 3rd congressional district from 2005 to 2021. ...

. # : Won by Russ Carnahan. # : Won by Emanuel Cleaver. # : Won by Dan Boren. # : Won by Allyson Schwartz. # : Won by Gwen Moore.

Republican seats held by Republicans

Republicans held sixteen of their open seats. # : Won by Dan Lungren. # : Won by Connie Mack IV. # : Won by Tom Price. # : Won by Lynn Westmoreland. # : Won by Bobby Jindal. # : Won by Joe Schwarz. # : Won by Jeff Fortenberry. # : Won by Randy Kuhl. # : Won by

Virginia Foxx Virginia Ann Foxx ( Palmieri;Foxx, Virginia Ann
. ''Biographical Directory of ...

. # : Won by

Patrick McHenry Patrick Timothy McHenry (born October 22, 1975) is an American politician who served as the U.S. representative for from 2005 to 2025, which includes the communities of Hickory, North Carolina, Hickory and Mooresville, North Carolina, Mooresvi ...

. # : Won by

Mike Fitzpatrick Michael Gerard Fitzpatrick (June 28, 1963 – January 6, 2020) was an American attorney and politician who served as a Republican Party (United States), Republican member of the United States House of Representatives, representing from 2005 to ...

. # : Won by Charlie Dent. # : Won by Bob Inglis. # : Won by Thelma Drake. # : Won by Cathy McMorris. # : Won by Dave Reichert.

Newly created seats

Of the thirty-two seats created in the

2003 Texas redistricting 3 (three) is a number, numeral and digit. It is the natural number following 2 and preceding 4, and is the smallest odd prime number and the only prime preceding a square number. It has religious and cultural significance in many societies ...

, three had no incumbent representative.

Democratic gain

No Democrats were elected in newly created seats.

Republican gain

Three Republicans were elected in newly created seats. # : Won by Michael McCaul. # : Won by Mike Conaway. # : Won by Kenny Marchant.

Closest races

Twenty-three races were decided by 10% or lower.

Election ratings

Special elections

There were three special elections held in 2004, all of them separate from the November elections. , - ! ,

Ernie Fletcher Ernest Lee Fletcher (born November 12, 1952) is an American physician and politician who was the List of governors of Kentucky, 60th governor of Kentucky from 2003 to 2007. He previously served three consecutive terms in the United States House ...

, , Republican , nowrap ,

1998 1998 was designated as the ''International Year of the Ocean''. Events January * January 6 – The ''Lunar Prospector'' spacecraft is launched into orbit around the Moon, and later finds evidence for Lunar water, frozen water, in soil i ...

, , Incumbent resigned December 8, 2003 to become

Governor of Kentucky The governor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky is the head of government of the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Kentucky. Sixty-two men and one woman have served as governor of Kentucky. The governor's term is four years in length; sinc ...

.
New member elected February 17, 2004.
Democratic gain.
Winner was subsequently re-elected in November, see below. , nowrap , , - ! ,

Bill Janklow William John Janklow (September 13, 1939January 12, 2012) was an American lawyer and politician and member of the Republican Party (United States), Republican Party who holds the record for the longest tenure as the governor of South Dakota: sixt ...

, , Republican , nowrap ,

, , Incumbent resigned January 20, 2004 when convicted of vehicular manslaughter.
New member elected June 1, 2004.
Democratic gain.
Winner was subsequently re-elected in November, see below. , nowrap , , - ! , Frank Ballance , , Democratic , nowrap ,

, , Incumbent resigned June 11, 2004 due to health issues.
New member elected July 20, 2004.
Democratic hold.
Winner was subsequently re-elected in November, see below. , nowrap ,

Alabama

Alaska

Arizona

Arkansas

California

Colorado

Connecticut

Delaware

Florida

Georgia

Hawaii

Idaho

Illinois

Indiana

Iowa

Kansas

Kentucky

Louisiana

On December 4, 2004, a run-off election was held to determine the winner of the 3rd and 7th congressional districts. In the 3rd district, Charlie Melancon narrowly defeated Billy Tauzin III. In the 7th district, Charles Boustany defeated Willie Mount. Thus, both seats switched to the opposite party.

Maine

Maryland

Massachusetts

Michigan

Minnesota

All incumbents were re-elected.

Mississippi

Missouri

Montana

Nebraska

Nevada

New Hampshire

New Jersey

New Mexico

New York

North Carolina

North Dakota

Ohio

Oklahoma

Oregon

Pennsylvania

Rhode Island

South Carolina

South Dakota

Tennessee

Texas

Utah

Vermont

Virginia

Washington

All seven incumbents who ran for re-election, none of whom faced viable challengers, were returned to Congress. None received less than 60% of the vote, and one received over 80%. In addition, the two seats vacated by retiring Republicans were both reclaimed by Republicans despite Democratic hopes to gain at least one seat in the vulnerable 8th district.

West Virginia

Wisconsin

Wyoming

Non-voting delegates

Notes

References

External links

United States Election 2004 Web Archive
from the U.S.

Library of Congress The Library of Congress (LOC) is a research library in Washington, D.C., serving as the library and research service for the United States Congress and the ''de facto'' national library of the United States. It also administers Copyright law o ...

{{Nancy Pelosi Presidency of George W. Bush Dennis Hastert Nancy Pelosi

Results

Federal

Maps

Retirements

Democrats

Republicans

Resignations

Democrats

Republicans

Incumbents defeated

In primary elections

Democrats

Republicans

In the general election

Democrats

Republicans

Open seats that changed parties

Democratic seats won by Republicans

Republican seats won by Democrats

Open seats that parties held

Democratic seats held by Democrats

Republican seats held by Republicans

Newly created seats

Democratic gain

Republican gain

Closest races

Election ratings

Special elections

Alabama

Alaska

Arizona

Arkansas

California

Colorado

Connecticut

Delaware

Florida

Georgia

Hawaii

Idaho

Illinois

Indiana

Iowa

Kansas

Kentucky

Louisiana

Maine

Maryland

Massachusetts

Michigan

Minnesota

Mississippi

Missouri

Montana

Nebraska

Nevada

New Hampshire

New Jersey

New Mexico

New York

North Carolina

North Dakota

Ohio

Oklahoma

Oregon

Pennsylvania

Rhode Island

South Carolina

South Dakota

Tennessee

Texas

Utah

Vermont

Virginia

Washington

West Virginia

Wisconsin

Wyoming

Non-voting delegates

See also