United States House of Representatives elections in Kentucky, 2004

The 2004 House elections in Kentucky occurred on November 2, 2004 to elect the members of the State of Kentucky's delegation to the United States House of Representatives. Kentucky had six seats in the House, apportioned according to the 2000 United States Census.

These elections occurred simotaniously with the United States Senate elections of 2004 (including one in Kentucky), the United States House elections in other states, and various state and local elections.

Though Democrats picked up a seat via a special election in the Sixth congressional district in February of that year, but this was later cancelled out by a victory for Republicans in the Fourth district.

Overview

United States House of Representatives elections in Kentucky, 2004[1]
Party		Votes	Percentage	Seats	+/–
	Republican	1,017,379	62.22%	5	+1
	Democratic	602,085	36.82%	1	-1
	Libertarian	8,121	0.50%	0	-
	Independents	5,270	0.32%	0	—
	Constitution	2,388	0.15%	0	-
Totals		1,635,243	100.00%	6	—

District 1

Incumbent Republican Congressman Ed Whitfield defeated Democratic challenger Billy Cartwright by a solid margin in this solidly-conservative west Kentucky-based district.

Kentucky's 1st congressional district election, 2004)
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Ed Whitfield (inc.)	175,972	67.32
	Democratic	Billy R. Cartwright	85,229	32.61
	Write-ins		186	0.07
Total votes			261,387	100.00
	Republican hold

District 2

Incumbent Republican Congressman Ron Lewis faced no difficulty seeking a fifth term in his conservative district based in west-central Kentucky, riding the coattails of President Bush's re-election in Kentucky over Democratic nominee Adam Smith.

Kentucky's 2nd congressional district election, 2004
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Ron Lewis (inc.)	185,394	67.92
	Democratic	Adam Smith	87,585	32.08
Total votes			272,979	100.00
	Republican hold

District 3

Incumbent Republican Congresswoman Anne Northup was used to facing tough elections in this swing district based in Louisville, but this election proved different. Despite the fact that John Kerry, the Democratic nominee for President, won Northup's district, her Democratic opponent, Tony Miller, the Circuit Court Clerk for Jefferson County was unable to defeat Northup and his campaign crumbled in a landslide.

Kentucky's 3rd congressional district election, 2004
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Anne Northup (inc.)	197,736	60.26
	Democratic	Tony Miller	124,040	37.80
	Libertarian	George C. Dick	6,363	1.94
	Write-ins		15	0.00
Total votes			328,154	100.00
	Republican hold

District 4

When incumbent Congressman Ken Lucas, a Democrat, declined to seek re-election as part of a campaign pledge to only serve three terms, an intense battle emerged in this conservative district based in northern Kentucky. Reporter Nick Clooney, the father of renowned actor George Clooney, became the Democratic nominee; Geoff Davis, Lucas's opponent in 2002, became the Republican nominee. In what some dubbed "Heartland vs. Hollywood," Davis rode a Republican tidal wave to victory, defeating Clooney by a fair margin.

Kentucky's 4th congressional district election, 2004
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Geoff Davis	160,982	54.40
	Democratic	Nick Clooney	129,876	43.89
	Libertarian	Michael E. Slider	5,069	1.71
Total votes			295,927	100.00
	Republican gain from Democratic

District 5

Incumbent Republican Congressman Hal Rogers was unopposed for another term in this strongly conservative district based in East Kentucky.

Kentucky's 5th congressional district election, 2004
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Hal Rogers (inc.)	177,579	100.00
Total votes			177,579	100.00
	Republican hold

District 6

Emerging from a successful special election earlier in the year, freshman incumbent Congressman Ben Chandler faced off against the Republican nominee, Kentucky State Senator Tom Buford. Chandler won a second term with relative ease in this conservative Central Kentucky district.

Kentucky's 6th congressional district election, 2004
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Ben Chandler (inc.)	175,355	58.61
	Republican	Tom Buford	119,716	40.01
	Constitution	Stacy Abner	2,377	0.79
	Libertarian	Mark Gailey	1,758	0.59
Total votes			299,206	100.00
	Democratic hold

References

1. http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/2004/2004Stat.htm#17