2004 United States House of Representatives elections in Washington

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2004 United States House of Representatives elections in Washington
Flag of Washington.svg
  2002 November 2, 2004 (2004-11-02) 2006  

All 9 Washington seats to the United States House of Representatives
 Majority partyMinority party
 
Party Democratic Republican
Last election63
Seats won63
Seat changeSteady2.svgSteady2.svg
Popular vote1,725,3161,189,147
Percentage58.93%40.13%
SwingIncrease2.svg 6.75%Decrease2.svg 4.66%

2004 United States House of Representatives elections in Washington.svg
2004 United States House of Representatives elections in Washington by county.svg

The United States House of Representatives elections in Washington were held on November 2, 2004. Washington has nine members in the House of Representatives, as apportioned during the 2000 census, and all nine seats were up for re-election. There were two open seats in the 5th and 8th districts when Republicans George Nethercutt and Jennifer Dunn, respectively, retired. No seats changed party this year.

Contents

Overview

United States House of Representatives elections in Washington, 2004 [1]
PartyVotesPercentageSeats+/–
Democratic 1,608,75158.93%6
Republican 1,095,49340.13%3
Independents25,7510.94%0
Totals2,729,995100.00%9

District 1

WA01 109.png

In this liberal-leaning district based in the northern suburbs of Seattle and parts of the Kitsap Peninsula, incumbent Democratic Congressman Jay Inslee did not face a serious challenge from Republican candidate Randy Eastwood and Libertarian Charles Moore. Congressman Inslee was able to crush both candidates in the general election to win his fifth nonconsecutive term in Congress.

Washington's 1st congressional district election, 2004
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Jay Inslee (inc.) 204,121 62.28
Republican Randy Eastwood117,85035.96
Libertarian Charles Moore5,7981.77
Total votes327,769 100.00
Democratic hold

District 2

WA02 109.png

Incumbent Congressman Rick Larsen has represented this Western Washington district, which extends from the northern and western suburbs of Seattle to the Canada–US border in the north since he was first elected in 2000. This year, he was challenge by Republican Suzanne Sinclair and Libertarian Bruce Guthrie, but he was easily able to win a third term due to the liberal nature of his constituency.

Washington's 2nd congressional district election, 2004
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Rick Larsen (inc.) 202,383 63.91
Republican Suzanne Sinclair106,33333.58
Libertarian Bruce Guthrie7,9662.52
Total votes316,682 100.00
Democratic hold

District 3

WA03 109.png

This Western Washington district, which spans from Olympia to the Washington-Oregon border, has a moderate profile and has been represented by Democratic Congressman Brian Baird since 1999. Seeking a fourth term, Baird was opposed by Republican Thomas Crowson, but the Congressman's popularity allowed him to crush his opponent in a landslide.

Washington's 3rd congressional district election, 2004
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Brian Baird (inc.) 193,626 61.93
Republican Thomas A. Crowson119,02738.07
Total votes312,653 100.00
Democratic hold

District 4

WA04 109.png

Incumbent Republican Congressman Doc Hastings, who won his first term in 1994 by defeating fellow Congressman Jay Inslee, ran for a sixth term in this conservative, central Washington-based district. Hastings faced Democratic nominee Sandy Matheson in the general election, whom he was able to defeat convincingly.

Washington's 4th congressional district election, 2004)
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Doc Hastings (inc.) 154,627 62.57
Democratic Sandy Matheson92,48637.43
Total votes247,113 100.00
Republican hold

District 5

WA05 109.png

When incumbent Republican Congressman George Nethercutt opted to run for Senate instead of seeking a sixth term, an open seat was created. The Minority Leader of the Washington House of Representatives, Cathy McMorris, emerged as the Republican nominee, while Don Barbieri, a well-known developer based in Spokane became the Democratic nominee. McMorris was able to defeat Barbieri by a wide margin to win her first term in Congress.

Washington's 5th congressional district election, 2004)
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Cathy McMorris Rodgers 179,600 59.68
Democratic Don Barbieri 121,33340.32
Total votes300,933 100.00
Republican hold

District 6

WA06 109.png

Congressman Norm Dicks, the dean of the Washington congressional delegation, sought a fifteenth term in this liberal-leaning district based on the Kitsap Peninsula. Dicks faced perennial candidate and conservative activist Doug Cloud in the general election, but he was able to trump Cloud to seal another term in Congress.

Washington's 6th congressional district election, 2004
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Norm Dicks (inc.) 202,919 68.99
Republican Doug Cloud91,22831.01
Total votes294,147 100.00
Democratic hold

District 7

WA07 109.png

Incumbent Democratic Congressman Jim McDermott, who has represented this solidly liberal district based in Seattle since he was first elected in 1988, ran for an eighth term in 2004. Facing Republican candidate Carol Cassady, McDermott was able to easily take victory, winning by the largest margin out of any Congressman that year in his state.

Washington's 7th congressional district election, 2004
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Jim McDermott (inc.) 272,302 80.68
Republican Carol Cassady65,22619.32
Total votes337,528 100.00
Democratic hold

District 8

United States House of Representatives, Washington District 8 map.png

Incumbent Republican Congresswoman Jennifer Dunn declined to seek a seventh term in this increasingly liberal district based in the eastern suburbs of Seattle and encompassing much of King County. King County Sheriff Dave Reichert became the Republican nominee. The Democratic primary attracted national attention with three major candidates: Heidi Behrens-Benedict, the Democratic nominee for the congressional seat in 1998, 2000, and 2002; former RealNetworks attorney Alex Alben; and KIRO radio host Dave Ross. [2] Ross won the primary and ran as the Democratic nominee. Despite a grueling battle and the fact that the Democratic nominee for president, John Kerry, won the district that year, Reichert managed to pull out a thin victory and went to Congress for his first term.

Washington's 8th congressional district election, 2004)
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Dave Reichert 173,298 51.50
Democratic Dave Ross 157,14846.70
Libertarian Spencer Garrett6,0531.80
Total votes336,499 100.00
Republican hold

District 9

WA09 109.png

This district has been represented by Democratic Congressman Adam Smith since he was first elected in 1996. Covering the densely populated area from the suburbs of Seattle to the northern portion of Olympia, the district has a moderately liberal population with a tendency to support Democratic candidates. Congressman Smith did not face a serious challenge from Republican Paul Lord and Green Party candidate Robert Posey and was re-elected to a fifth term with ease.

Washington's 9th congressional district election, 2004
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Adam Smith (inc.) 162,433 63.28
Republican Paul J. Lord88,30434.40
Green Robert F. Losey5,9342.31
Total votes256,671 100.00
Democratic hold

References

  1. "Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives".
  2. "The Seattle Times: Local News: Democrat promotes can-do ethic" . Retrieved April 26, 2010.

See also