2004 United States House of Representatives elections

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 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, South Dakota, and New York while ousting incumbents in Georgia and Illinois. Republicans won an open seat in Kentucky while ousting an incumbent in Indiana. They gained five seats in Texas after a controversial mid-decade redistricting placed several rural Democratic incumbents into new districts. Two seats in Louisiana swapped party control.

As of 2024, 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). Republicans would not make consecutive net gains in the House (after gaining seats in the 2002 election) until 2020 and 2022. This was also the last election in which the Republicans made any gains in a presidential election year until 2020.

Federal
! rowspan= 2 colspan=2 | Parties ! colspan=4 | Seats ! colspan=3 | Popular vote ! 2002 ! 2004 ! Net change ! Strength ! Vote ! % ! Change ! Republican Party ! Democratic Party ! Libertarian Party ! Independent ! Green Party ! Constitution Party ! Reform Party ! Independence Party ! Others ! colspan=2 | Total ! 434 ! 435 ! 0 ! 100.0% ! 113,192,286 ! 100.0% ! –
 * - style="background-color:#E9E9E9"
 * style="background-color:" |
 * style="background-color:" |
 * 229
 * 232
 * 3
 * 53.3%
 * 55,958,144
 * 49.4%
 * -0.6%
 * style="background-color:" |
 * style="background-color:" |
 * 205
 * 202
 * 3
 * 46.4%
 * 52,969,786
 * 46.8%
 * +1.6%
 * style="background-color:" |
 * style="background-color:" |
 * 1,056,844
 * 0.9%
 * -0.5%
 * style="background-color:" |
 * 1,056,844
 * 0.9%
 * -0.5%
 * style="background-color:" |
 * style="background-color:" |
 * 1
 * 1
 * 0
 * 0.2%
 * 674,202
 * 0.6%
 * +0.1%
 * style="background-color:" |
 * style="background-color:" |
 * 344,549
 * 0.3%
 * -0.1%
 * style="background-color:" |
 * 344,549
 * 0.3%
 * -0.1%
 * style="background-color:" |
 * style="background-color:" |
 * 187,006
 * 0.2%
 * style="background-color:" |
 * 187,006
 * 0.2%
 * style="background-color:" |
 * style="background-color:" |
 * style="background-color:" |
 * style="background-color:" |
 * 85,539
 * 0.1%
 * +0.1%
 * style="background-color:" |
 * 85,539
 * 0.1%
 * +0.1%
 * style="background-color:" |
 * style="background-color:" |
 * 76,053
 * 0.1%
 * +0.1%
 * style="background-color:" |
 * 76,053
 * 0.1%
 * +0.1%
 * style="background-color:" |
 * style="background-color:" |
 * 1,840,163
 * 1.6%
 * -0.6%
 * 1,840,163
 * 1.6%
 * -0.6%
 * -0.6%
 * - style="background-color:#E9E9E9"
 * style="text-align:left" colspan=9 | Source: Election Statistics - Office of the Clerk

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.
 * 1) CA's 20th congressional district: Cal Dooley retired.
 * 2) FL's 20th congressional district: Peter Deutsch retired to run for U.S. Senator.
 * 3) GA's 4th congressional district: Denise Majette retired to run for U.S. Senator.
 * 4) IL's 3rd congressional district: Bill Lipinski retired.
 * 5) KY's 4th congressional district: Ken Lucas retired.
 * 6) LA's 7th congressional district: Chris John retired to run for U.S. Senator.
 * 7) MO's 3rd congressional district: Dick Gephardt retired to run for U.S. president.
 * 8) MO's 5th congressional district: Karen McCarthy retired.
 * 9) OK's 2nd congressional district: Brad Carson retired to run for U.S. Senator.
 * 10) PA's 13th congressional district: Joe Hoeffel retired to run for U.S. Senator.
 * 11) PR At-large: Aníbal Acevedo Vilá retired to run for Governor of Puerto Rico.
 * 12) TX's 8th congressional district: Jim Turner retired when redistricted from the 2nd district.
 * 13) WI's 4th congressional district: Jerry Kleczka retired.

Republicans
Seventeen Republicans did not seek re-election.
 * 1) CA's 3rd congressional district: Doug Ose retired.
 * 2) CO's 3rd congressional district: Scott McInnis retired.
 * 3) GA's 6th congressional district: Johnny Isakson retired to run for U.S. Senator.
 * 4) GA's 8th congressional district: Mac Collins retired to run for U.S. Senator.
 * 5) LA's 1st congressional district: David Vitter retired to run for U.S. Senator.
 * 6) LA's 3rd congressional district: Billy Tauzin retired.
 * 7) MI's 7th congressional district: Nick Smith retired.
 * 8) NY's 27th congressional district: Jack Quinn retired.
 * 9) NY's 29th congressional district: Amo Houghton retired.
 * 10) NC's 5th congressional district: Richard Burr retired to run for U.S. Senator.
 * 11) NC's 10th congressional district: Cass Ballenger retired.
 * 12) PA's 8th congressional district: James C. Greenwood retired.
 * 13) PA's 15th congressional district: Pat Toomey retired to run for U.S. Senator.
 * 14) SC's 4th congressional district: Jim DeMint retired to run for U.S. Senator.
 * 15) VA's 2nd congressional district: Ed Schrock retired.
 * 16) WA's 5th congressional district: George Nethercutt retired to run for U.S. Senator.
 * 17) WA's 8th congressional district: 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.
 * 1) FL's 14th congressional district: Porter Goss resigned September 23, 2004 to become Director of the Central Intelligence Agency.
 * 2) NE's 1st congressional district: Doug Bereuter resigned August 31, 2004 to become president of The Asia Foundation.

Democrats
Two Democrats lost renomination.
 * 1) TX's 9th congressional district: Chris Bell lost to Al Green, who won the general election.
 * 2) TX's 28th congressional district: 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.

Democrats
Five Democrats lost re-election to Republicans.
 * 1) IN's 9th congressional district: Baron Hill lost to Mike Sodrel.
 * 2) TX's 1st congressional district: Max Sandlin lost to Louie Gohmert.
 * 3) TX's 2nd congressional district: Nick Lampson lost to Ted Poe.
 * 4) TX's 19th congressional district: Charles Stenholm lost a redistricting race to Randy Neugebauer.
 * 5) TX's 32nd congressional district: Martin Frost lost a redistricting race to Pete Sessions.

Republicans
Two Republicans lost re-election to Democrats.
 * 1) GA's 12th congressional district: Max Burns lost to John Barrow.
 * 2) IL's 8th congressional district: Phil Crane lost to Melissa Bean.

Democratic seats won by Republicans
Three Democratic seats were won by Republicans.
 * 1) KY's 4th congressional district: Won by Geoff Davis.
 * 2) LA's 7th congressional district: Won by Charles Boustany.
 * 3) PR At-large: Won by Luis Fortuño.

Republican seats won by Democrats
Three Republican seats were won by Democrats.
 * 1) CO's 3rd congressional district: Won by John Salazar.
 * 2) LA's 3rd congressional district: Won by Charlie Melancon.
 * 3) NY's 27th congressional district: Won by Brian Higgins.

Democratic seats held by Democrats
Democrats held nine of their open seats.
 * 1) CA's 20th congressional district: Won by Jim Costa.
 * 2) FL's 20th congressional district: Won by Debbie Wasserman Schultz.
 * 3) GA's 4th congressional district: Won by Cynthia McKinney.
 * 4) IL's 3rd congressional district: Won by Dan Lipinski.
 * 5) MO's 3rd congressional district: Won by Russ Carnahan.
 * 6) MO's 5th congressional district: Won by Emanuel Cleaver.
 * 7) OK's 2nd congressional district: Won by Dan Boren.
 * 8) PA's 13th congressional district: Won by Allyson Schwartz.
 * 9) WI's 4th congressional district: Won by Gwen Moore.

Republican seats held by Republicans
Republicans held sixteen of their open seats.
 * 1) CA's 3rd congressional district: Won by Dan Lungren.
 * 2) FL's 14th congressional district: Won by Connie Mack IV.
 * 3) GA's 6th congressional district: Won by Tom Price.
 * 4) GA's 8th congressional district: Won by Lynn Westmoreland.
 * 5) LA's 1st congressional district: Won by Bobby Jindal.
 * 6) MI's 7th congressional district: Won by Joe Schwarz.
 * 7) NE's 1st congressional district: Won by Jeff Fortenberry.
 * 8) NY's 29th congressional district: Won by Randy Kuhl.
 * 9) NC's 5th congressional district: Won by Virginia Foxx.
 * 10) NC's 10th congressional district: Won by Patrick McHenry.
 * 11) PA's 8th congressional district: Won by Mike Fitzpatrick.
 * 12) PA's 15th congressional district: Won by Charlie Dent.
 * 13) SC's 4th congressional district: Won by Bob Inglis.
 * 14) VA's 2nd congressional district: Won by Thelma Drake.
 * 15) WA's 5th congressional district: Won by Cathy McMorris.
 * 16) WA's 8th congressional district: Won by Dave Reichert.

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

Newly created seats
Of the thirty-two seats created in the 2003 Texas redistricting, 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.
 * 1) TX's 10th congressional district: Won by Michael McCaul.
 * 2) TX's 11th congressional district: Won by Mike Conaway.
 * 3) TX's 24th congressional district: Won by Kenny Marchant.

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

! KY's 6th congressional district
 * Ernie Fletcher
 * | Republican
 * nowrap | 1998
 * | Incumbent resigned December 8, 2003 to become Governor of Kentucky. New member elected February 17, 2004. Democratic gain. Winner was subsequently re-elected in November, see below.
 * nowrap |

✅ Ben Chandler (Democratic) 55.16%

Alice Forgy Kerr (Republican) 42.91%

Mark Gailey (Libertarian) 1.94%

! SD At-large
 * Bill Janklow
 * | Republican
 * nowrap | 2002
 * | 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 |

✅ Stephanie Herseth (Democratic) 50.59%

Larry Diedrich (Republican) 49.41%

! NC's 1st congressional district
 * Frank Ballance
 * | Democratic
 * nowrap | 2002
 * | 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 |

✅ G. K. Butterfield (Democratic) 71.15%

Greg Dority (Republican) 34.83%

Thomas Eisenmenger (Libertarian) 1.76%


 * }

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.

Minnesota


All incumbents were re-elected.

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.