United States House of Representatives elections in Washington, 2004

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.

Overview

United States House of Representatives elections in Washington, 2004[1]
Party Votes Percentage Seats +/–
Democratic 1,608,751 58.93% 6
Republican 1,095,493 40.13% 3
Independents 25,751 0.94% 0
Totals 2,729,995 100.00% 9

District 1

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
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Jay Inslee (inc.) 204,121 62.28
Republican Randy Eastwood 117,850 35.96
Libertarian Charles Moore 5,798 1.77
Total votes 327,769 100.00
Democratic hold

District 2

Incumbent Congressman Rick Larsen has represented this Western Washington district, which extends from the northern and western suburbs of Seattle to the Canadian 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
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Rick Larsen (inc.) 202,383 63.91
Republican Suzanne Sinclair 106,333 33.58
Libertarian Bruce Guthrie 7,966 2.52
Total votes 316,682 100.00
Democratic hold

District 3

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
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Brian Baird (inc.) 193,626 61.93
Republican Thomas A. Crowson 119,027 38.07
Total votes 312,653 100.00
Democratic hold

District 4

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)
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Doc Hastings (inc.) 154,627 62.57
Democratic Sandy Matheson 92,486 37.43
Total votes 247,113 100.00
Republican hold

District 5

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)
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Cathy McMorris Rodgers 179,600 59.68
Democratic Don Barbieri 121,333 40.32
Total votes 300,933 100.00
Republican hold

District 6

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
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Norm Dicks (inc.) 202,919 68.99
Republican Doug Cloud 91,228 31.01
Total votes 294,147 100.00
Democratic hold

District 7

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
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Jim McDermott (inc.) 272,302 80.68
Republican Carol Cassady 65,226 19.32
Total votes 337,528 100.00
Democratic hold

District 8

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. 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)
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Dave Reichert 173,298 51.50
Democratic Dave Ross 157,148 46.70
Libertarian Spencer Garrett 6,053 1.80
Total votes 336,499 100.00
Republican hold

District 9

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
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Adam Smith (inc.) 162,433 63.28
Republican Paul J. Lord 88,304 34.40
Green Robert F. Losey 5,934 2.31
Total votes 256,671 100.00
Democratic hold

References

See also

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