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County results Specter: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% Hoeffel: 40–50% 70–80% | |||||||||||||||||
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Elections in Pennsylvania |
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Government |
The 2004 United States Senate election in Pennsylvania was held on November 2, 2004. Incumbent Republican Senator Arlen Specter won re-election to a fifth term. As of 2024, this is the last time a Republican statewide candidate won Montgomery and Delaware Counties and won more than 25% of the vote in Philadelphia. Specter later lost renomination in 2010 as a Democrat, having joined the party in April 2009.
Democrats had difficulty recruiting top tier candidates against the popular Specter. Among the Democrats to decline to run for the nomination were Treasurer (and former Republican) Barbara Hafer, Public Utilities Commissioner John Hanger, real estate mogul Howard Hanna, State Representative (and also former Republican) John Lawless, and State Senator (and future Congresswoman) Allyson Schwartz. [1]
Congressman Hoeffel ended up running unopposed for the Democratic nomination. Software businessman Charlie Crystle was considered a strong possible candidate, but he dropped out before the election. [1] [2]
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Joe Hoeffel | 595,816 | 100.00% | |
Specter faced a primary challenge from Representative Pat Toomey. Despite the state Republican Party's strong history of embracing a moderate philosophy, the influence of conservatism among rank-and-file members had been steadily growing for decades; because of his liberal social views, Specter was often considered to be a "Republican in Name Only" by the right. [3] Although Specter had a huge fundraising advantage, Toomey was aided by $2 million of advertising from the Club for Growth, a conservative political action committee that focuses on fiscal issues and targets moderate Republican incumbents. Toomey criticized Specter as a spendthrift on economic policy and as out of touch with his own party on social issues. Although Toomey had difficulty with name recognition early in the campaign, he built huge momentum over the final weeks preceding the primary, and Specter appeared to have transitioned from having a comfortable lead to being behind his challenger. [4]
Specter received a huge boost from the vocal support of President George W. Bush; most of the state's Republican establishment also closed ranks behind Specter. This included Pennsylvania's other U.S. Senator, Rick Santorum, who was noted for his social conservative views. Many Republicans at the state and national level feared that if Toomey beat Specter, he wouldn't be able to defend the seat against his Democratic opponent. [5]
Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size [6] | Margin of error | Arlen Specter | Pat Toomey | Undecided |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SurveyUSA | April 23–25, 2004 | 478 (LV) | ± 4.6% | 48% | 48% | 4% |
Quinnipiac University | April 20–24, 2004 | 617 (LV) | ± 4% | 48% | 42% | 10% |
the polling company, inc. (R) | April 22–23, 2004 | 500 (LV) | ± 4.5% | 46% | 39% | 15% |
Franklin & Marshall College | April 13–20, 2004 | 401 (RV) | ± 4.8% | 50% | 26% | 24% |
126 (LV) | ± 8.7% | 46% | 40% | 14% | ||
SurveyUSA | April 17–19, 2004 | 479 (LV) | ± 4.6% | 50% | 44% | 6% |
Quinnipiac University | April 12–18, 2004 | 431 (LV) | ± 4.7% | 49% | 44% | 7% |
SurveyUSA | April 3–5, 2004 | 490 (LV) | ± 4.5% | 46% | 40% | 14% |
Quinnipiac University | Mar 30–Apr 5, 2004 | 615 (LV) | ± 4% | 52% | 37% | 11% |
Franklin & Marshall College | March 25–29, 2004 | 258 (RV) | ± 6% | 50% | 28% | 22% |
193 (LV) | ± 7% | 46% | 33% | 21% | ||
SurveyUSA | March 13–15, 2004 | 399 (LV) | ± 5% | 47% | 38% | 15% |
the polling company, inc. (R) | March 9–10, 2004 | 500 (LV) | ± 4.5% | 47% | 37% | 16% |
Franklin & Marshall College | February 19–22, 2004 | 176 (RV) | ± 7.3% | 55% | 17% | 28% |
the polling company, inc. (R) | January 2004 | 500 (LV) | ± 4.5% | 51% | 28% | 21% |
Muhlenberg College (p. 2) | Nov 23–Dec 8, 2003 | 193 (V) | ± 7% | 52% | 25% | 23% |
Franklin & Marshall College | Oct 27–Nov 16, 2003 | 257 (RV) | ± 6% | 49% | 18% | 33% |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Arlen Specter (incumbent) | 530,839 | 50.82% | |
Republican | Pat Toomey | 513,693 | 49.18% | |
Total votes | 1,044,532 | 100.00% |
For Democrats, hope of winning the election centered on Toomey's defeat of Specter. However, after the challenge from the right failed, enthusiasm from the party establishment waned and Hoeffel had difficulty matching the name recognition and fundraising power of his opponent [7] Despite contempt from conservatives, Specter enjoyed high levels of support from independent voters and, as in previous elections, a surprisingly large crossover from Democratic voters. Even in the areas in which Toomey performed best in the Republican primary (mainly the state's conservative, rural center), Specter performed well. Except for his large margin of victory in almost uniformly Democratic Philadelphia, Hoeffel was crushed at the polls; his only other wins came by close margins in three metro Pittsburgh counties; although President Bush proved to be unpopular in the state, voters were not willing to abandon Specter over party affiliation. [8] Incidentally, Toomey was elected to the seat in 2010, after Specter switched to the Democratic Party in 2009 and subsequently lost renomination to U.S. Congressman and former Navy Admiral Joe Sestak.[ citation needed ]
Source | Ranking | As of |
---|---|---|
Sabato's Crystal Ball [9] | Safe R | November 1, 2004 |
Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size [6] | Margin of error | Arlen Specter (R) | Joel Hoeffel (D) | Jim Clymer (C) | Betsy Summers (L) | Undecided |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SurveyUSA | Oct 31–Nov 1, 2004 | 650 (LV) | ± 3.9% | 53% | 35% | 8% | 4% | |
Strategic Vision (R) | October 29–31, 2004 | 801 (LV) | ± 3% | 55% | 33% | 4% | 8% | |
Quinnipiac University | October 27–31, 2004 | 1,022 (LV) | ± 3.1% | 53% | 33% | 7% | 7% | |
Zogby International | October 27–30, 2004 | 601 (LV) | ± 4.1% | 54% | 31% | 15% | ||
Zogby International | October 26–29, 2004 | 602 (LV) | ± 4.1% | 57% | 28% | 15% | ||
Zogby International | October 25–28, 2004 | 603 (LV) | ± 4.1% | 53% | 30% | 17% | ||
Strategic Vision (R) | October 25–27, 2004 | 801 (LV) | ± 3% | 55% | 35% | 4% | 6% | |
Zogby International | October 24–27, 2004 | 602 (LV) | ± 4.1% | 55% | 29% | 16% | ||
Temple University | October 22–27, 2004 | 1,488 (RV) | ± 2.6% | 51% | 29% | 5% | 3% | 12% |
Zogby International | October 23–26, 2004 | 602 (LV) | ± 4.1% | 54% | 33% | 13% | ||
Quinnipiac University | October 22–26, 2004 | 1,340 (RV) | ± 2.7% | 52% | 29% | 6% | 13% | |
54% | 30% | 16% | ||||||
909 (LV) | ± 3.3% | 55% | 33% | 7% | 5% | |||
60% | 34% | 6% | ||||||
SurveyUSA | October 23–25, 2004 | 797 (LV) | ± 3.5% | 51% | 38% | 6% | 5% | |
Zogby International | October 22–25, 2004 | 602 (LV) | ± 4.1% | 53% | 35% | 12% | ||
Zogby International | October 21–24, 2004 | 603 (LV) | ± 4.1% | 48% | 38% | 14% | ||
Franklin & Marshall College | October 19–23, 2003 | 622 (RV) | ± 3.9% | 52% | 29% | 4% | 2% | 13% |
376 (LV) | ± 5.1% | 52% | 31% | 17% | ||||
Mason-Dixon | October 19–21, 2004 | 800 (LV) | ± 3.5% | 50% | 32% | 7% | 11% | |
Quinnipiac University | October 16–20, 2004 | 1,185 (RV) | ± 2.9% | 49% | 33% | 5% | 13% | |
52% | 34% | 14% | ||||||
841 (LV) | ± 3.4% | 51% | 36% | 6% | 7% | |||
55% | 37% | 8% | ||||||
Strategic Vision (R) | October 17–19, 2004 | 801 (LV) | ± 3% | 54% | 35% | 4% | 7% | |
SurveyUSA | October 15–17, 2004 | 608 (LV) | ± 4.1% | 48% | 41% | 6% | 5% | |
Quinnipiac University | October 9–11, 2004 | 1,980 (RV) | ± 2.2% | 51% | 33% | 16% | ||
1,343 (LV) | ± 2.7% | 55% | 36% | 9% | ||||
Strategic Vision (R) | October 9–11, 2004 | 801 (LV) | ± 3% | 52% | 33% | 3% | 12% | |
SurveyUSA | October 3–5, 2004 | 767 (LV) | ± 3.6% | 54% | 35% | 11% | ||
Franklin & Marshall College | Sep 30–Oct 4, 2003 | 594 (RV) | ± 4% | 46% | 32% | 6% | 16% | |
Strategic Vision (R) | September 27–29, 2004 | 801 (LV) | ± 3% | 53% | 33% | 3% | 11% | |
Mason-Dixon | September 27–28, 2004 | 625 (RV) | ± 4% | 53% | 31% | 16% | ||
Quinnipiac University | September 22–26, 2004 | 1,125 (RV) | ± 2.9% | 52% | 33% | 15% | ||
726 (LV) | ± 3.6% | 56% | 37% | 7% | ||||
Strategic Vision (R) | September 13–15, 2004 | 801 (LV) | ± 3% | 52% | 33% | 4% | 11% | |
Franklin & Marshall College | September 8–15, 2003 | 491 (RV) | ± 4.4% | 51% | 25% | 5% | 19% | |
Quinnipiac University | September 11–14, 2004 | 1,205 (RV) | ± 2.8% | 51% | 33% | 16% | ||
792 (LV) | ± 3.5% | 52% | 37% | 11% | ||||
SurveyUSA | September 7–9, 2004 | 684 (LV) | ± 3.8% | 51% | 33% | 16% | ||
Strategic Vision (R) | August 26–28, 2004 | 801 (LV) | ± 3% | 51% | 31% | 4% | 14% | |
Pew Research | August 13–21, 2004 | 1,006 (RV) | ± 3% | 54% | 36% | 10% | ||
861 (LV) | ± 4% | 56% | 36% | 8% | ||||
Strategic Vision (R) | August 16–18, 2004 | 801 (LV) | ± 3% | 49% | 32% | 3% | 16% | |
Quinnipiac University | August 11–16, 2004 | 1,430 (RV) | ± 2.6% | 48% | 33% | 19% | ||
Franklin & Marshall College | August 2–15, 2003 | 660 (RV) | ± 3.8% | 53% | 26% | 2% | 19% | |
SurveyUSA | Jul 31–Aug 2, 2004 | 740 (LV) | ± 3.7% | 49% | 34% | 17% | ||
Quinnipiac University | July 6–11, 2004 | 1,577 (RV) | ± 2.5% | 51% | 36% | 13% | ||
Quinnipiac University | June 21–22, 2004 | 839 (RV) | ± 3.4% | 50% | 35% | 15% | ||
Neighborhood Research (C) | June 7–16, 2004 | 631 (LV) | ± 3.9% | 52% | 23% | 2% | 23% | |
SurveyUSA | June 7–9, 2004 | 679 (LV) | ± 3.8% | 58% | 33% | 9% | ||
Quinnipiac University | May 24–25, 2004 | 701 (RV) | ± 3.7% | 49% | 37% | 14% | ||
Quinnipiac University | March 9–15, 2004 | 1,022 (RV) | ± 3.1% | 45% | 29% | 26% | ||
Quinnipiac University | February 10–16, 2004 | 1,356 (RV) | ± 2.7% | 50% | 31% | 19% | ||
Quinnipiac University | December 11–14, 2003 | 1,092 (RV) | ± 3% | 50% | 32% | 18% | ||
Franklin & Marshall College | Oct 27–Nov 16, 2003 | 593 (RV) | ± 4% | 47% | 25% | 28% | ||
Quinnipiac University | October 9–13, 2003 | 1,116 (RV) | ± 2.9% | 50% | 33% | 17% | ||
Quinnipiac University | Jul 30–Aug 4, 2003 | 1,037 (RV) | ± 3% | 53% | 29% | 18% | ||
DSCC (D) | June 10–12, 2003 | 500 (LV) | ± 4.4% | 53% | 26% | 21% |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Arlen Specter (incumbent) | 2,925,080 | 52.62% | |
Democratic | Joe Hoeffel | 2,334,126 | 41.99% | |
Constitution | Jim Clymer | 220,056 | 3.96% | |
Libertarian | Betsy Summers | 79,263 | 1.43% | |
Total votes | 5,769,590 | 100.00% | ||
Republican hold | ||||
Arlen Specter was an American lawyer, author and politician who served as a United States Senator from Pennsylvania from 1981 to 2011. Specter was a Democrat from 1951 to 1965, then a Republican from 1965 until 2009, when he switched back to the Democratic Party. First elected in 1980, he was the longest-serving senator from Pennsylvania, having represented the state for 30 years.
The 2004 United States Senate elections were held on November 2, 2004, with all Class 3 Senate seats being contested. They coincided with the re-election of George W. Bush as president and the United States House elections, as well as many state and local elections. Senators who were elected in 1998, known as Senate Class 3, were seeking re-election or retiring in 2004.
Joseph Merrill Hoeffel III is an American author and politician. A Democrat, Hoeffel was a member of the United States House of Representatives from 1999 to 2005, representing Pennsylvania's 13th congressional district. He also served multiple terms on the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners, and from 1977–84, was a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. A native of Philadelphia, he is a graduate of Boston University and Temple University School of Law.
The 1992 United States Senate elections, held November 3, 1992, were elections for the United States Senate. The 34 seats of Class 3 were contested in regular elections, along with special elections to fill vacancies. They coincided with Bill Clinton's victory in the presidential election. This was the first time since 1956 that the balance of the Senate remained the same.
The 1986 United States Senate elections were elections for the United States Senate. Held on November 4, in the middle of Ronald Reagan's second presidential term, the 34 seats of Class 3 were contested in regular elections. The Republicans had to defend an unusually large number of freshman Senate incumbents who had been elected on President Ronald Reagan's coattails in 1980. Democrats won a net of eight seats, defeating seven freshman incumbents, picking up two Republican-held open seats, and regaining control of the Senate for the first time since January 1981. This remains the most recent midterm election cycle in which the sitting president's party suffered net losses while still flipping a Senate seat.
The 1980 United States Senate elections were held on November 4, coinciding with Ronald Reagan's victory in the presidential election. The 34 Senate seats of Class 3 were contested in regular elections. Reagan's large margin of victory over incumbent Jimmy Carter gave a huge boost to Republican Senate candidates, allowing them to flip 12 Democratic seats and win control of the chamber for the first time since the end of the 83rd Congress in January 1955.
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The Pennsylvania Republican Party (PAGOP) is the affiliate of the Republican Party in the state of Pennsylvania. It is headquartered in Harrisburg.
The Pennsylvania Democratic Party is the affiliate of the Democratic Party in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. It is headquartered in Harrisburg and is the largest political party in the state. Its chair is Senator Sharif Street.
Pennsylvania is generally considered a swing state that leans slightly left. Throughout its entire history, it only voted for the nationwide loser on only 10 occasions, meaning it has voted for the national winner 83% of the time as of 2020. Although, it generally supported Republicans between the Civil War and New Deal eras, as it voted Republican in every election between 1860 and 1932, except for 1912, when the Republican vote was split. Even then, the state's strong Republican ties meant that it backed Republican-turned-Progressive Theodore Roosevelt. The state backed a Democrat in 1936 for the first time since 1856. Pennsylvania generally leaned Democratic since the 1990s, as it backed the Democratic presidential candidate in every election since 1992 except in 2016, when it was won by Republican candidate Donald Trump with a plurality.
The 2010 United States Senate election in Pennsylvania took place on November 2, 2010, during the 2010 midterm elections. Incumbent Republican-turned-Democrat U.S. Senator Arlen Specter ran for reelection to a sixth term, but lost in the Democratic primary to Joe Sestak. Republican nominee Pat Toomey then won the seat.
The 2004 United States Senate election in Arkansas took place on November 2, 2004 alongside other elections to the United States Senate in other states as well as elections to the United States House of Representatives and various state and local elections.
Pennsylvania held various elections on November 2, 2010. These include elections for a Senate seat, a gubernatorial race, and many state legislature races.
The 1994 United States Senate election in Pennsylvania was held November 8, 1994. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Harris Wofford, who was appointed to the position in 1991 and won a special election the same year, sought re-election to a full six-year term, but he was defeated by Republican Rick Santorum. By a margin of 2.5%, this election was the second-closest race of the 1994 Senate election cycle, behind only the election in California.
The 1998 United States Senate election in Pennsylvania was held November 3, 1998. Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Arlen Specter won re-election to a fourth term.
The 1978 Pennsylvania gubernatorial election was held on November 7, 1978. Incumbent Governor Milton Shapp was constitutionally ineligible to run for a third consecutive term in office. Republican Dick Thornburgh defeated Democrat Pete Flaherty in the general election.
The 1992 United States Senate election in Pennsylvania was held on November 3, 1992. Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Arlen Specter narrowly won re-election to a third term, garnering just forty-nine percent of the vote in what was described by The Philadelphia Inquirer as a "massive turnout for Bill Clinton."
The 1986 United States Senate election in Pennsylvania was held on November 4, 1986. Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Arlen Specter won re-election to a second term.
The 1980 United States Senate election in Pennsylvania was held on November 4, 1980. Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Richard Schweiker decided to retire, instead of seeking a third term.
The Democratic Party primary for the 2010 United States Senate election in Pennsylvania took place on May 18, 2010, when Congressman Joe Sestak defeated incumbent Arlen Specter, which led to the end of Specter's five-term Senatorial career. Just before the start of the primary campaign, after serving in the Senate as a Republican for 29 years, Specter had switched to the Democratic Party in anticipation of a difficult primary challenge by Pat Toomey; Toomey ultimately defeated Sestak in the general election. Political observers and journalists described the race between Specter and Sestak as one of the bitterest and most-watched of all the 2010 primary elections.
Democrats
Republicans