United States House of Representatives elections in Kentucky, 2004
Encyclopedia
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.
Incumbent Republican Congressman Ed Whitfield
defeated Democratic challenger Billy Cartwright by a solid margin in this solidly-conservative west Kentucky
-based district.
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.
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 Clark
, the Circuit Court
Clerk for Jefferson County
was unable to defeat Northup and his campaign crumbled in a landslide.
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.
Incumbent Republican Congressman Hal Rogers
was unopposed for another term in this strongly conservative district based in East Kentucky.
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
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
occurred on November 2, 2004 to elect the members of the State
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Kentucky's delegation to the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
. 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
United States Senate elections, 2004
The United States Senate election, 2004 was an election for one-third of the seats in the United States Senate which coincided with the re-election of George W. Bush as president and the United States House election, as well as many state and local elections. Senators who were elected in 1998,...
(including one in Kentucky
United States Senate election in Kentucky, 2004
The 2004 United States Senate election in Kentucky 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 Republican U.S...
), 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 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Votes | Percentage | Seats | +/– | |
| Republican | 1,017,379 | 62.22% | 5 | +1 | |
| Democratic | 602,085 | 36.82% | 1 | -1 | |
| Independents | 15,779 | 0.96% | 0 | — | |
| Totals | 1,635,243 | 100.00% | 6 | — | |
District 1
Incumbent Republican Congressman Ed Whitfield
Ed Whitfield
Wayne Edward "Ed" Whitfield is the U.S. Representative of , serving since 1995. He is a member of the Republican Party.The district covers much of the western part of the state, including Hopkinsville, Paducah, Henderson and Kentucky's share of Fort Campbell.-Early life, education and...
defeated Democratic challenger Billy Cartwright by a solid margin in this solidly-conservative west Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
-based district.
District 2
Incumbent Republican Congressman Ron Lewis
Ron Lewis
Ronald E. "Ron" Lewis , an American politician who was a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives from 1994–2009, representing the 2nd Congressional District of Kentucky....
faced no difficulty seeking a fifth term in his conservative district based in west-central Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
, riding the coattails of President Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
's re-election in Kentucky over Democratic nominee Adam Smith.
District 3
Incumbent Republican Congresswoman Anne Northup
Anne Northup
Anne Meagher Northup is an American Republican politician from the state of Kentucky. From 1997 to 2007, she represented the Louisville-centered 3rd congressional district of Kentucky in the United States House of Representatives, where she served on the powerful House Appropriations Committee...
was used to facing tough elections in this swing district based in Louisville
Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kentucky, and the county seat of Jefferson County. Since 2003, the city's borders have been coterminous with those of the county because of a city-county merger. The city's population at the 2010 census was 741,096...
, but this election proved different. Despite the fact that John Kerry
John Kerry
John Forbes Kerry is the senior United States Senator from Massachusetts, the 10th most senior U.S. Senator and chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He was the presidential nominee of the Democratic Party in the 2004 presidential election, but lost to former President George W...
, the Democratic nominee for President, won Northup's district, her Democratic opponent, Tony Clark
Tony Clark
Anthony Christopher Clark, known as Tony , is a former Major League Baseball first baseman and current MLB Network studio analyst....
, the Circuit Court
Circuit court
Circuit court is the name of court systems in several common law jurisdictions.-History:King Henry II instituted the custom of having judges ride around the countryside each year to hear appeals, rather than forcing everyone to bring their appeals to London...
Clerk for Jefferson County
Jefferson County, Kentucky
As of the census of 2000, there were 693,604 people, 287,012 households, and 183,113 families residing in the county. The population density was . There were 305,835 housing units at an average density of...
was unable to defeat Northup and his campaign crumbled in a landslide.
District 4
When incumbent Congressman Ken Lucas
Ken Lucas
Kenneth Ray "Ken" Lucas is an American politician. Lucas, a Democrat, was a U.S. Representative from Kentucky's 4th congressional district from 1999 until 2005....
, 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
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
. Reporter Nick Clooney
Nick Clooney
Nicholas Joseph "Nick" Clooney is an American journalist, anchorman, and television host. He is the brother of the late singer Rosemary Clooney, and father of actor and film director George Clooney.-Early life:...
, the father of renowned actor George Clooney
George Clooney
George Timothy Clooney is an American actor, film director, producer, and screenwriter. For his work as an actor, he has received two Golden Globe Awards and an Academy Award...
, became the Democratic nominee; Geoff Davis
Geoff Davis
Geoffrey C. "Geoff" Davis is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2005. He is a member of the Republican Party....
, Lucas's opponent in 2002, became the Republican nominee. In what some dubbed "Heartland
Heartland (United States)
Heartland is an American term referring to states of the Union that – as in the words of one commentator – "don't touch an ocean," whether the Atlantic or Pacific...
vs. Hollywood," Davis rode a Republican tidal wave to victory, defeating Clooney by a fair margin.
District 5
Incumbent Republican Congressman Hal Rogers
Hal Rogers
Harold Dallas "Hal" Rogers is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1981. He is a member of the Republican Party.-Early life, education, and early career:...
was unopposed for another term in this strongly conservative district based in East Kentucky.
District 6
Emerging from a successful special election
Kentucky's 6th congressional district special election, 2004
The 2004 United States House of Representatives special election in Kentucky's 6th congressional district was held on February 17, 2004 to select the successor to Ernie Fletcher who resigned upon being elected Governor of Kentucky. Each party held a nominating convention to choose their nominee...
earlier in the year, freshman incumbent Congressman Ben Chandler
Ben Chandler
Albert Benjamin "Ben" Chandler III is the U.S. Representative for , serving since a special election in 2004. He is a member of the Democratic Party.-Early life, education and career:...
faced off against the Republican nominee, Kentucky State Senator Tom Buford. Chandler won a second term with relative ease in this conservative Central Kentucky
Central Kentucky
Central Kentucky is sometimes considered the Central and Southern part of the Bluegrass region, the Far Upper Western Eastern Mountain Coal Fields, and the Far Upper Eastern Pennyroyal regions. Its major cities include Lexington and Frankfort. Lexington citizens, especially radio and TV stations...
district.