U.S. Senate election, 2004

The U.S. Senate election, 2004 was an election for the United States Senate which coincided with the re-election of George W. Bush as president and the U.S. House election, as well as many state and local elections.

Major parties

The Senate, as of the pre-election 108th Congress, was composed of 51 Republicans, 48 Democrats, and 1 independent. (The independent, Jim Jeffords of Vermont, is allied with the Democratic caucus and has voted with Democrats to give them the majority in the past.) The Democrats, therefore, needed to make a net gain of at least two seats from retiring or incumbent Republicans to gain control of the Senate. In the election, incumbent senators won reelection in all races but one (Democratic leader Tom Daschle, in South Dakota, lost to Republican John Thune). The seats of retiring senators were taken by the opposing party in Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Louisiana, North Carolina, and South Carolina. In fact, the only retiring senator whose seat was taken by a member of his party was Republican Don Nickles of Oklahoma, who was succeeded by Tom Coburn.

Related Topics:
108th Congress - Republican - Democrat - Jim Jeffords - Vermont - Democratic leader - Tom Daschle - South Dakota - John Thune - Colorado - Florida - Georgia - Illinois - Louisiana - North Carolina - South Carolina - Don Nickles - Oklahoma - Tom Coburn

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Republicans gained four seats in the 2004 elections, and entered the 109th Congress with a 55-44-1 lead. While such a majority is formidable, it is still less than the 60 seats needed to override a filibuster and completely control the body's agenda and procedures.

Related Topics:
109th Congress - Filibuster

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