2004 United States Senate election in Florida

The 2004 United States Senate election in Florida 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. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Bob Graham decided to retire instead of seeking a fourth term. Graham made an unsuccessful bid for the Democratic presidential nomination. The primary elections were held on August 31, 2004. Republican Mel Martínez won the open seat with 49.4% of the vote to Democratic nominee Betty Castor's 48.3%. With a margin of 1.1%, this election was the closest race of the 2004 Senate election cycle. This was the first open-seat United States Senate election in Florida for this seat since 1974.

Candidates

 * Betty Castor, former President of the University of South Florida, former Education Commissioner of Florida, and former State Senator
 * Peter Deutsch, U.S. Representative from Broward County
 * Bernard Klein, businessman
 * Alex Penelas, Mayor of Miami-Dade County

Republican primary
Martínez was supported by the Bush Administration.

Candidates

 * Johnnie Byrd, State Representative from Plant City
 * Doug Gallagher, businessman
 * Larry Klayman, attorney
 * William Kogut
 * Sonya March
 * Mel Martínez, former Secretary of Housing and Urban Development and candidate for Lieutenant Governor in 1994
 * Bill McCollum, former U.S. Representative and candidate for U.S. Senate in 2000
 * Karen Saull

Candidates

 * Dennis Bradley (V), activist
 * Betty Castor (D), former State Senator
 * Mel Martínez (R), Secretary of Housing and Urban Development

Polling

 * Graphical summary

Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican

 * Calhoun (Largest city: Blountstown)
 * Citrus (Largest city: Homosassa Springs)
 * Dixie (Largest city: Cross City)
 * Glades (Largest city: Moore Haven)
 * Gulf (Largest city: Port St. Joe)
 * Levy (Largest city: Williston)
 * Putnam (Largest city: Palatka)
 * Taylor (Largest city: Perry)
 * Jackson (Largest city: Marianna)
 * Lafayette (Largest city: Mayo)
 * Union (Largest city: Lake Butler)
 * Washington (Largest city: Chipley)
 * Brevard (largest municipality: Palm Bay)
 * Okeechobee (largest municipality: Okeechobee)
 * Polk (largest municipality: Lakeland)
 * Miami-Dade (largest city: Miami)
 * Osceola (largest municipality: Kissimmee)
 * Orange (Largest city: Orlando)
 * Escambia (Largest city: Pensacola)
 * Hendry (Largest city: Clewiston)
 * Marion (Largest city: Ocala)
 * Hardee (Largest city: Wachula)
 * Highlands (Largest city: Sebring)
 * Indian River (Largest city: Sebastian)
 * Lake (Largest city: Clermont)
 * Lee (Largest city: Cape Coral)
 * Suwannee (Largest city: Live Oak)
 * Duval (largest municipality: Jacksonville)
 * Charlotte (Largest city: Charlotte)
 * Columbia (Largest city: Lake City)
 * DeSoto (Largest city: Arcadia)
 * Gilchrist (Largest city: Trenton)
 * Sumter (Largest city: The Villages)
 * Bradford (Largest city: Starke)
 * Baker (Largest city: Macclenny)
 * Bay (Largest city: Panama City)
 * Clay (Largest city: Lakeside)
 * Holmes (Largest city: Bonifay)
 * Manatee (Largest city: Bradenton)
 * Martin (Largest city: Palm City)
 * Nassau (Largest city: Yulee)
 * St. Johns (Largest city: St. Johns)
 * Walton (Largest city: Miramar Beach)
 * Seminole (largest municipality: Sanford)